Taste of Times Square

On Monday, June 3rd from 5:00-9:00 PM, Times Square will be hosting an event called, Taste of Times Square, which will be located on 46th Street between Broadway and 9th Avenue.  Right in the center of all the action of Times Square, people will get the chance to taste different foods from New York City's best restaurants!

Taste of Times Square is an outdoor food and music festival, which features international foods from the city's best restaurants. Times Square’s most popular culinary destinations set up tables on the street to offer “tastes” of their signature dishes.

People can enjoy cuisine from around the world including Italian, Chilean, Irish, Latin, Asian and more.  If you love food, you don't want to miss this event!

Click on the link below to view all of the Taste of Times Square  Participating Restaurants:

Taste of Times Square Restaurants

This is not only a great way to get the community involved, but an excellent way to get restaurants to advertise their food to a large number of people.  By getting a small taste of a restaurant's food is an excellent way to get people to come back to you.  Food is always a sure thing when it comes to events, and is always a large crowd draw.  I know I want to go and try all the different food selections!  I think it would be a fun date or afternoon with friends to go around and try everything.  Some of my favorite restaurants are listed to be there as well.  Check it out !

Singing Waiters, Oh My!

If you ever want to go to a fun, family restauraunt, Ellen's Stardust Diner is the place to go.  Located on the corner of 51st and Broadway (my office is convienenetly right next door), this New York Broadway diner is famous for their singing wait staff along with their retro 1950s theme.

 

The diner is named and owned by Ellen Hart, a former Misss Subway back in the 1950s.  "Miss Subway" was a beauty compeition that was held for more than 3 decades, but ended in the 70s.   The winners were featured on Subway trains, and back in the day, riding the subway was considered a luxury where people dressed up.  Below is a great and interesting video which talks about the story of Miss Subway and features Ellen Hart, owner of Ellen's Stardust Diner.

Ellen Hart has photos of all the Miss Subways that won from decades ago featured all over the diner.  The singing wait staff is also dressed up in 50s attire.  It's a great place to go back in time and relive that era!  If you check out their website, you can get a feel of the atmosphere and what Ms. Subway is all about.

Check out the main website:
  Ellen's Stardust Diner

The website features a bunch of articles regarding "Miss Subway" events, as well as photos of the singing waiters.  This diner is not just any restaurant, it's a unique and famous tourist destination.
 

The restaurant itself is known for it's fun energitic atmosphere, not so much the food.  It's your basic American-style food, but nothing out of this world.  I came across a food blog that mentions Ellen's Stardust diner and the blogger's experiences with it.

Adventures of the Foodaholic

The blogger, named Maria, also describes the food and the atmosphoere.  It's a wonderful place for Tourists, but not if you want to eat the best of the best.  You go more for the environment and the singing, not the quality of food.  I personally think they are a bit overpriced, but the salads and burgers are pretty good!

 All of the waiters are aspiring actors, hoping to catch their big break if an agent or manager happens to discover them. Since it is located in the heart of the theater district, is the perfect place for actor's to work! My boss, who is a booking agent, sometimes goes down to the diner if she needs to find a singer for an event we may have. It's essentially a showcase for actor's and at the same time a way for them to make a few bucks.

 

However, if you don't like singing, this probably isn't the place for you!  Check it out, it's a really fun restaurant to be in!

Inside Out

There is always something interesting going on in Times Square. This week, a Parisian street artist and photographer named J R is showcasing his art on the street in the middle of Times Square.  He is leading a huge participatory art concept called Inside Out.

J R set up a photo truck in Times Square, which is taking people’s portraits and instantly printing them on giant posters. People can take the poster home or paste it to the ground with buckets of wheat paste and brushes provided for them.

JR was quoted in an article in NY Times saying,

 “It’s an interesting thing about New York,” J R said in an interview on Friday, “that this is a very busy city, yet so many New Yorkers have come and given their time to the project, to taking their pictures, to pasting them and to being part of an exchange. And if you look at Times Square, you see that there is advertising everywhere, so where in other cities we put the portraits on the walls, and even on roofs, here we put them on the ground. So in a way, it’s people versus advertising. It’s people, amid all this advertising, saying, ‘We exist’ and ‘We’re together. ”

NY Times

A few of the portraits are projected on the electronic advertising screens in Times Square, taking the place of some Advertisements.

JR's request: to assemble a global Facebook, in which people have their pictures taken — or send their own portraits to J R by e-mail — as part of what he hoped would become the world’s largest participatory art project.

About 130,000 people have contributed their images. and the number is still growing.  It's amazing that this many people are willing to contribute in the name of art.  I find it a fantastic and beautiful thing!  Times Square is so full of surprises every single day.

JR's mission to advertise people is such an inspiring and powerful message.  It's so true that advertising has taken over our lives, and we forget about the people in our society.  By putting the portraits on the ground, people have no choice but to look on what they are walking on.  It is a great eye-opener, and a creative way to get a point across.

Things Got Weird..

A funny thing happened to me on the way to work on a beautiful summer day a few years ago.  Everyday I walk down 8th Avenue up to 51st Street to get to work.  For some reason, I decided to walk through Times Square in the morning. I don't know why because I really dislike walking through Times Square when I'm in a rush on my way to work.  Well, it was a beautiful day and I had gotten into the city earlier than expected.

As I was walking trying to walk around all the tourists, I was stopped suddently by a man. Usually, I ignore most people who try to sell me something or want money.  But this guy had six, yes SIX, rats on his shoulders!  Three on each side!   Obviously, my first reaction was "EWWWW WTF!"  I freaked out and I tried to run away from him, but this guy thougth it was funny and followed me!  Other people were screaming and running away as well.   I was NOT happy!  All I can say was that it definitly woke me up in the morning!

If I wanted to pet his rats, I would have asked.  People are SO weird.  Apparently this guy is ALWAYS in Times Square. If you google, "Rat Man in Times Square", his picture appears!  People will do anything for attention, but I find it creepy and just plain weird.      

Beware of all the weirdos in Times Square!   It could happen to you!

St. Peter's Square in Rome

I went to Italy a few years ago for a Study Abroad program with the University of Delaware, and was was fortunate enough to visit one of the most famous squares in Rome.  St. Peter's Square, or in Italian, Piazza San Pietro, is located in the heart of Vatican City. It's an extremely beautiful and very affluent place.
 

In April 1655, Alexander VII was elected as the new pope and commissioned sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini to create a new square. It took twelve years to complete his vision. 

St. Peter's Square is bordered on either side by semi-circular coloumns in a semi-circle which, according to Bernini, symbolize the stretched arms of the church embracing the world. The columsns were built in 1660 and consist of four rows of columns with in total 284 columns. The columns are 66 feet high.  140 statues were installed on top of the colonnades, all created by Bernini and his students. They represent popes, martyrs, evangelists and other religious figures.

 

 

On special occasions or holidays, such as the election of a new pope or on Easter, an average of 400,000 people are in the square.  It is a holy site and home to some beautiful and famous art. 

Unlike Times Square, there are no Street Performers and it is very clean.  This is after all, a holy site and home of the Vatican.  I was lucky enough to take a tour and learn about the history and art here.  It amazes me how wealthy Vatican city is, when just outside the gates the city is full of poor people.    

 

 

I hope to visit again soon.  I loved Rome and everything it had to offer.   

Times Square After Dark

There seems to be quite a difference from Times Square during the day and Times Square at night.  I don't know what it is about nighttime   Maybe it's the lights, but the atmosphere completely changes once the sun goes down. 

I actually prefer Times Square at night.  I think it's just more fun than during the day. The energy at night is indescribable, but something everyone should experience.  People aren't on their way to work anymore, and it's just more relaxed and fun.

The neon signs flashing and music coming from bars and cafes, with thousands of people walking around this exciting and vibrant area.  Taking a walk down 42nd is especially fun at nighttime because the whole entire street is lit up!  Pictures don't do it justice, and I think you just have to go and experience it for yourself.

There aren't that many street performers at night, but there is still so much to see and do.  It's fun to sit on the steps in the middle of the square or go eat at a restaurant, or see a Broadway show!  

"Should The Creepy Times Square Costumed Characters Be Regulated?" by the Gothamist Blog

As I write about Times Square, I like to draw inspiration from other related blogs.  I came across a blog that I love to read on a daily basis called, the Gothamist.  The Gothamist is a great interactive blog that is updated on a daily basis about all types of news and events happening in New York City. 

Lo and behold, today there was a blog post about the Costumed Characters in Times Square!  I recently posted about the same topic in a post called, Behind The Mask, so I found this blog post esepcially intriquing

On Sunday, a man dressed as Cookie Monster allegedly shoved a child and cursed at his mother when she didn't tip fast enough.. The situation has attracted so much media attention that now regulation is being considered.

 
 Check it out:  Gothamist .  This blog was written by Sophie Keelman, an avid Gothamist blogger.  She writes,

"Super Mario groped the woman...Elmost was ranting anti-Semitic things, Spider-Man punched a woman int he face.  Now a kid was attacked my Cookie-Monster.  And those are just ones where there's been an arrest!"

While these characters are supposed to be harmless and all in good fun, this situation is actually very frightening.  It even made the front cover the NY Post.  Cover of NY Post

Even though I have felt bad for the people that are forcred to work as a costumed character, there is no excuse for this type of behavior.  In fact, I'm glad I have become aware of what is going on.  It's sad that people have to ruin such a fun and enjoyable part of the Times Square atmosphere.  Kids get so excited when they see their favorite character, and they should never be victimized to any sort of this distrubing behavior.

I hope immediate action will be taken and there will be regulations for these characters from now on.

Restaurant Row

Restaurant Row is one of the funnest areas to eat in Midtown.  It's located on 46th Street between Broadway and 9th  Avenue in the heart of the Theater District.  The name says it all; it's simply a row of restaurants.  There is such a variety to choose from, and you can enjoy cuisine from all over the world.   

This are is perfect for those who are going to see a Broadway show, and many of the restaurants have pre-fixed menus.  It's fun to go at night and walk down the street trying to decide which restaurant to go to.  As you walk down the street, hosts from the restaurants stand outside trying to get you to come in.  It can be overwhelming, but it's still fun to experience. 

Le Rivage is my favorite French restaurant to go to.  It's been a tradition of my mom and I to go here before we see a show!  Check out their website: Le Rivage
It's located on 340 West 46th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenue.  The service is always great, and the atmosphere is nice.  It's cozy and intimate, and the food is great too!  Yum!

To get a list of the other restaurants on Restaurant Row check out:  Restaurant Row
Here you can see the variety of places to choose from.  There are Italian, Greek, American, French, Brazilian, Mexican, Irish, and more.  This area is great because there is something for everyone. 

Time Out New York has a great  review of their top ten favorite restaurants in Restaurant Row: Timeout New York

I reccommend Restaurant Row for anyone who hasn't been to New York and is seeing a Broadway show.  It's a perfect combination for a night out on the town!

What You See Is What You Get

For anyone who wants to get an idea of exactly how chaotic Times Square is, I found a great video posted on YouTube.  This video is a perfect representation of the sights and sounds of Times Square.  I like that there is no sound editing over it.  What you see and hear, is exactly what you get during a visit to NYC.

From this clip, you're able to get a better idea of the culture.  As you can see, there are so many different things going on, which is exactly why I wanted to write this blog.  There is never a dull moment, and Times Square is always PACKED with people.  Tourists, police officers, Elmo , street performers, and more!  From the weird to the weirder -That guy with the hamsters always scares me! He walks around with a bunch on his shoulders. (Gross!)  I also always see many different dancers and street performers, who are fun to watch.

From a tourist perspective, I'm sure just watching this video can be overwhelming, but that's what makes Times Square so interesting and exciting to be in.

The Grand Place

I decided to shake things up a little, and thought it would be fun to write about another famous square. 

The Grand Place is located in Brussels, Belgium.   I've been here many times and I think it's one of the most beautiful places to visit.   Here are some of my personal photos taken last year in the Grand Place.

 You will see hundreds of people walking around or sitting outside having coffee or desert.  By the way, the chocolates in Belgium are delish!  Within the square, there is a narrow ally with a row of restaurants (similar to restaurant row in Times Square), where my family and I love to eat.  The atmosphere is full of energy, and of course, always full of tourists.  Around the holiday season, there are lights on the buildings that are synced to flash with music playing over speakers.  It's a very cool sight to see!

 This square is the most important tourist destination in Brussels. Every two years in August, an enormous “flower carpet” is set up in the Grand Place for a few days. A million colorful flowers are set up in patterns covering pretty much the entire square.  If you ever plan a trip to Brussels, this is definitely the place to go.  



Unlike Times Square, there aren't a bunch of vendors here trying to sell you things.  I also find it to be cleaner and less cluttered.  There are very few street performers as well.  Europe is a different culture with a different feel.  As I mentioned, I love The Grand Place and can't get enough of it. 

Stay tuned readers, I just might post about more famous squares around the world.

The NYE Ball Drop

The New Years Eve ball drop in Times Square has been around for over 100 years. While billions of people around the world witness the ball's decent every year, few realize the amount of work, time, and thought that goes into creating it. With modern technology through history, the ball has gotten better and brighter.

Fun Historical Facts About the New Years Ball:

•The first ball was actually made out of iron and wood, weighing 400 pounds.
•Next, a 700-pound iron ball that lasted until the 1950s.
•An aluminum ball remained until 1999.
•Next came the Millennium Ball, a rhinestone bedazzled glitter ball lit by halogen lamps.
•It wasn't until 2007 that they experimented with LED technology before converting to a full LED ball in 2008.

After switching to the full LED ball, the ball gained 90 percent efficiency, and quadrupled the brightness.

The New Year’s Eve Ball is nearly 6 tons (11,875 pounds to be exact) and 12 feet in diameter. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, and is the largest crystal ball in existence with 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles varying in size. The Ball is illuminated by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.

For this past New Years (2013), 288 of the Waterford Crystal triangles introduced the new "Let There Be Peace" design of a dove with wings spread symbolizing a message of peace; engraving of people holding hands around the world.

A team of about 6 people operate and take care of the ball year round. Now completely computer controlled, they don’t need that many people to guide the ball as it comes down.

Maintaining the ball requires careful upkeep. To prevent spotting, a quarter cup of ammonia with lemon detergent is used, rising thoroughly and air-drying on a rack.

Next year when you see the ball drop, think of all that goes into creating the quick 60 second count down!

Big Bright Billboards

The billboard ads that live on our highways always seem to blend into the landscape.  We pass by them, but none of them really make that big of an impact. 

On the other hand, Times Square is an advertiser's dream.  It is home to:

1.8 Million Daily Passersby

32 Million Annual Tourists

48,000 Residents

158,000 Employees

1,500 Businesses

33,360 Households

40 Broadway Theatres

In total, Times Square signage advertising can expect to nearly 1.5 million impressions each day

Since there is such a large number of impressions every single day, there are so many different types of ads EVERYWHERE you look.  It can be overwhelming, especially to someone who has never experienced New York before.  This area is known for the huge bright billboards and signs.

According to The Wall Street Journal, it costs between $1.1 million and $4 million a year if you want to buy one of those flashy, digital or neon billboard in Times square.  The Tall tower in the middle of the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue makes $23 million a year from the billboards they cover. 

This image was taken from Business Insider.  (http://www.businessinsider.com/what-it-costs-to-advertise-in-times-square-2012-12)

In Times Square. you will see an array of advertisements such as billboards, digital signs, wall ads, neon, flashy and moving signs, and much more.

 The Wall Ad:

 I see these giant wall advertisements a lot.  Particularly  when you get out of Port Authority on 40th and 8th, right above the Duane Reed.  You can't miss it, or even ignore it if you tried!  This is definitely an eye catcher.

Billboards:

Times Square is known for it's huge billboards.  The colors, lights, and signs are overwhelming.  They mostly advertise Broadway shows, products, new tv or movies, or various celebrity endorsements.  Thees billboards are constantly changing.  It's a wonder to see, especially at night when the lights are bright.   





Electronic LED Ads:


These signs are the most attractive in Times Square.  They move, are flashy, bright, and bold.  I love seeing these signs, especially at night.  They grab your attention right away, and there is so much going on, sometimes you don't know where to look first.

For a company with (obviously) a large budget, Times Square would be an amazing place to advertise in order to reach a huge demographic.  Since this location is a melting pot of millions of people, advertising here is definitely a home-run.  While an ad averages about 2 million here (unless you are advertising on the Times Square Tower), it's still not as expensive as placing a 30-second commercial ad during the Super Bowl, which reportedly cost between $3.7 million and $3.8 million this year.

My 5 Favorite Things To Do in Times Square

So you want to go to Times Square.  But what is there to actually do once you are there?  Here are my top 5 favorite things to do.  (In no particular order):

1.  Walk Around. 
Seriously, just walking around is so fun!  I love people watching, and something exciting is always going on.  You never know what kind of people you will see or what street performers are there.  Sometimes you can catch a TV show being filmed.  The other day I saw Mario Lopez shooting for Extra!    

2. Visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Right on 42nd Street, this museum is a lot of fun (and a little creepy).  The wax figures are so life-like, and it's cool to see your favorite celebs up close!  It's a little pricey, but definitely worth it if you have never been.

3. See a Broadway show
Going to a Broadway show is one of my favorite things to do.  If you can't buy tickets in advance, just stand in like at the TKTs booth and get discounted tickets!  I actually work right next to the Mama Mia show at the Winter Garden Theater.

4. Go Shopping - Forever 21 (For the ladies) - I think this is the best Forever 21, it's 4 floors and and actually very organized!  You can always find a cute outfit in this store.  LOVE!

5. Go to Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is the best!  Especially during Christmas time with the tree is up.  It's beautiful, and never gets old.  You can also go ice skating here.  Sometimes when the weather is nice, I like to come here and eat my lunch.  It's just a great atmosphere  and fun to take people to.

Times Square is round the clock.  It never dies, no matter what time of day.  Personally, I like going at night when the lights are bright and flashing.  There is always something to do but I recommend doing any of my 5 fav things.  Get lost, take pictures, and just be silly with you're friends.  You can't go wrong.  

Hungry? Tony's DiNapoli is A Must!

Whenever people ask me where to eat in Midtown Manhattan I ALWAYS suggest Tony's DiNapoli.  Right on 43rd and 7th,  it's THE BEST Italian restaurant in midtown.  Check out their website: 
http://www.tonysnyc.com/


Tony DiNapoli's is a family style restaurant, so if you're with a large group of people, this is the place to be.  My friends and I always go here when we want some great Italian Food.  My favorite dish to eat is the chicken parm and penne vodka.  DELISH!  

The atmosphere is awesome and the service is always great.  The walls are covered with photographs of famous people so it's always fun to look around and see who you recognize.

I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to have a good meal in Times Square.  If you love Italian food, this is the place to be!