Times Square

The camera stands on the paving in the middle of the square with the road on both sides, and the thing a panorama shows here that a photograph cannot is that there is no back. Every facade in every direction is a screen or a sign: video walls stacked four and five high, a curved band of moving light wrapped round a corner, an illuminated news zipper running a headline about smoke haze along the front of a building, brand names in every typeface at every scale. The buildings behind them barely register. It is dusk, the sky is still holding blue at the top of the frame, and the light on the ground is coming almost entirely off the advertising, which is why everybody in the crowd is lit from three directions at once. Yellow cabs are pushing through the traffic a few feet away and there is a traffic cone by the tripod.

Times Square is located smack in the middle of midtown Manhattan. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, Times Square is the famous place where the ball drops on New Years Eve, where music fans have cheered for their favorite artists outside the MTV studios, and where people come to secure discount Broadway theater tickets. In recent years, Times Square has had one significant change: parts of it are now closed to traffic and lawn chairs have been set up for both locals and visitors to take a seat and soak up the atmosphere.

Many travelers set foot in Times Square and wonder how it became the fascinating destination that it is today. The square made its premiere in 1904 when the name was changed from Longacre Square to Times Square in celebration of the opening of the new headquarters for the New York Times. The reputation for theater in Times Square dates back to World War I, when there were 113 productions in the 43 theaters during the 1914 – 1915 season. Today it is still an incredible center for the performing arts in New York City.

Central Park Some travelers wonder what is there to see in and near Times Square beyond the big billboards and neon lights. From this central location in Manhattan it is possible to wander and see some of the city’s best-known sights. Central Park is a short stroll away. Here you can enjoy a relaxing picnic in the Sheep’s Meadow or check out a memorial to John Lennon. Other popular things to do in Central Park include taking a horse-drawn carriage ride, ice skating in the winter, or visiting the Central Park Zoo.

Rockefeller Center Rockefeller Center is a particularly popular attraction during the winter season when visitors flock here for the chance to go ice-skating and admire the massive Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It is also possible to take an elevator up to the “Top of the Rock” for incredible 360 degree views of Manhattan, rivaled only by the Empire State Building. One reason to check out Rockefeller Center early in the morning is to watch (from outside) a live taping of NBC’s “Today Show.” During warm weather months, there are often outdoor segments and special music performances.