George M. Cohan (1878-1942) was a very famous figure in the theater scene as a composer, playwright, actor, and producer. Little Johnny Jones, his first big Broadway hit introduced his songs "Give My Regards To Broadway" and "The Yankee Doodle Boy". His statue in Times Square was put up in the 1960s in recognition of his musical contributions to the war effort through his songs, "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Over There".
The 7-foot tall statue of the American composer sits on an 8-foot tall base with inscriptions including "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway/Yankee-Doodle Boy," "You're a Grand Old Flag/Over There," and "Mary's a Grand Old Name/Harrigan". It is a pretty tall landmark, and hard to miss! You can see the statue of George M Cohan in Duffy Square, which is the northern triangle of Times Square, located on Seventh Avenue, Duffy Square, was dedicated in 1937. It has been a magnet for tourists, a staging area for public rallies, and even the scene of victory celebrations. Who knew there was such history in Times Square!
Zoom! The cab drove right by me. “Alright, maybe he didn’t see me…”
Let's face it, if you're not from around here, you do NOT know how to hail a cab! Hailing a cab can be difficult if you don't know what you're doing or what to look for. Here are a few easy steps on how to hail a New York City cab:
1. Know Which Cab is Available
The first trick to successfully hailing a taxi is to find one that's available. So how can you tell? It's all about the lights! On top of every cab is a light on the roof. To figure out which cab is available, pay attention to how these lights are lit. Look for the number in the center, with the words "Off Duty" on both sides of it.
Available Cab = Just the center number is lit and nothing else. HAIL AWAY!
Occupied Cab = None of the lights are lit. Don't try to hail it!
Off Duty Cab = Both the center number and the "off duty" lights are lit. The cab won't stop for you!
2. Hailing the Cab
Find an ideal spot
Street corners are the best places to a hail a cab.
Stand on the side of the street toward where you are going
Usually cab drivers don't want to turn around, so standing on the side of the street that has traffic going downtown if you're heading downtown is ideal.
Stick your arm out like you mean it
Lift your arm up and out! No time for timidness; This is New York City!
*Please Note:
Don't whistle or yell, "Taxi!" They only do that in the movies, and it makes you look like a tourist/dummy ;]
3. Getting In The Cab
Give the cross streets or an address, not just a place.
No more than 4 people in a cab at a time. Don't squeeze in 6 people in a cab. The cab driver won't move so don't even try it.
4. Taxi Etiquette
First come, first serve! If you show any hesitation for a cab that stops for you, don't be surprised if someone else takes it.
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!
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.
So I checked back to the Wikipedia post I previously changed regarding the TKTs booth in Times Square. Someone deleted everything I wrote! How rude! It is actually pretty funny to me that it got deleted so fast. Some people take Wikipedia very seriously, I guess.
What the post says as of today: "New York City's TKTS (pronounced phonetically "tee kay tee ess") first opened in 1973 and is operated by the Theatre Development Fund. There are three locations: one in Duffy Square (at W 47th Street and Broadway, the north end of Times Square); another in Downtown Brooklyn (Jay St. and Myrtle St. Promenade); and a third at the South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan (replacing the office formerly located in the lobby of the World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks).[1] The Seaport location has been temporarily closed after sustaining damage from Hurricane Sandy in the fall of 2012. The Times Square booth sells day-of-performance tickets only at a discounted price. Availability can vary, and some shows may not be available".
So since someone changed my post, I decided to change it again! It's kind of fun to change postings on Wikipedia. They don't necessearily have to be true or factual, which is the exact reason why teachers always tell you, Wikipedia is NOT a good source! These postings are done by anyone and can be edited at any given time. I didn't think what I wrote on Wikipedia was that bad, but apparently someone didn't like it. Let's see how long my new posting will last ;]
New post as of today: "The Times Square TKTs booth only sells day-of-performance tickets at discounted prices. After standing in line for what can be hours, ticket availability is always limited. Shows may not be available, especially the popular ones. Once you get to the window of the TKT booth, you must decide very quickly which show you want to see, as the people that work there have no patience and nor do the people behind you. To do this, there are electronic signs that tell you what is avaialble at that time, which speeds the process up. If you don't have a preference of which show to see, the TKT booth is your best option. It's always a toss-up. Good luck!"
I purposely wrote something silly to see how fast this posting gets changed on Wikipedia. I give it a week before someone deletes my post.
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!
If you ever wondered what the stereotype for New Yorkers is, then this is the perfect video to watch. This YouTube video is hilarious and pretty accurate! It pokes fun at the "typical New Yorker", and I can honestly say I find myself saying so many of these things.
I can relate to a lot of the things that they are saying and making fun of. I'm ALWAYS asking where the train is and of course always complaining about Tourists! Watch the video if you want a good laugh!
I find that New Yorkers have an edge to them, and people can always tell when you're not from the area. Here are 5 differences between New Yorkers and people from LA:
1. Los Angeles is the land of delusions. You can live your life thinking you’re the best invention since sliced bread and no one will question your self-importance. New York is different. if you do develop an ego and start to think you’re amazing, there will always be something to bring you back down to Earth.
2. People in L.A. always say that they want to move to New York one day. “It’s been a dream! I’m just so jealous that you get to live there!” New Yorkers, on the other hand, constantly talk about leaving the city. “But I could never move to L.A. I hate it there!”
3. Dating in L.A. is mystery. HOW DO YOU MEET ANYONE? In New York, it’s easier but no one wants to ever settle down.
4. In New York, you’re considered wealthy if you have a dishwasher in your apartment. In L.A., you’re rich if you live in a mansion.
5. L.A. knows how to make a good salad. New York knows how to make a good bagel. Somehow this crucial difference is more telling than anything else.
