Times Square, New York

Times Square is a huge square in the northern part of Manhattan in New York, at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Times Square is one of the most vibrant pedestrian areas in the world, the centre of Broadway theatres and the heart of the global entertainment industry. About 330 thousand people pass through Times Square every day, many of them tourists.

Once known as Longacre, it was renamed Times Square in 1904 when the New York Times moved its headquarters here. The beautiful tower of Wan Times Square is where the twinkling ball drops on New Year's Eve, attracting more than 1 million visitors to this unique event.

Around 1989, Times Square had become a kitschy entertainment district and a dangerous place with pimps, seedy porn theaters and sex shops. At the beginning of the 21st century, Times Square is now a clean, well-guarded square with wide walkways and plenty of benches to rest on. In 2008, the renovated Duffy Square, the northern triangle of Times Square between 46th and 47th Streets, opened. Here is the new Theatre Ticket Office( TTCA) , which beckons with its illuminated glass staircase and where half-price tickets can be purchased before a performance.

Duffy Square is named after Father Francis P. Duffy, chaplain of the 69th Regiment during World War I. An imposing bronze statue of Father Duffy graces the square. There is also a statue of the famous American composer, playwright, producer and actor George M. Cohan (1908-1942), who is considered the "owner of Broadway", and his statue in the square commemorates his contributions to American musical theatre.

The Times Square Information Centre is housed in the landmarked Embassy Cinema, where many tourist services and tickets are available. The seven-storey Market Site tower rises in Duffy Square, illuminating the area around the clock. Around the cylindrical building, a high-tech electronic screen displays last-minute stock market information. From here, the major TV channels of CNN, CBS, BBC and others broadcast live breaking news.

Broadway theatres are true architectural masterpieces. The 1931 Brill Building was also known as the Tin Pan Alley, as it is believed to have been the center of the American music industry since the 1960s. The Paramount Building is a treasured landmark dating from 1926. It was home to the Paramount Cinema-a veritable palatial palace for its time. It is remembered for Frank Sinatra's brilliant concert when his fans used to faint in the aisles of the auditorium. The Paramount Theater had one of the largest and most delightful theater organs that still impresses with its wonderful tones, but now in a concert hall in Kansas. The theater closed in 1964, but it remains famous for its Diamond Horseshoe nightclub and 1940s shows. The Sardis Theatre Restaurant, which opened in 1921, is famous for the celebrity caricatures on the walls and the visits by members of the Actors' Union that continue to this day.

The Church of St. St. Mary's Church, dating from the late 19th century, is located in the heart of Times Square and was designated a New York City National Landmark in 1989.

Many of the iconic Times Square landmarks like Coney Island's Nathan's with its famous hotdog or Lindis with its delicious cheesecake are gone. Also gone is Hubert's Musical, where many famous entertainers have performed. The revamped Times Square is boosting tourism, the city's economy, and the overall pulse of New York City is beating full force.

Not to be missed are 43rd and 44th Streets in Times Square. One of the interesting buildings is the 1500-Broadway, a skyscraper located between 43rd and 44th Streets, completed in 1927, 119 meters high and 34 floors.

The Bank of America Tower is a skyscraper located at 42nd and 43rd Streets, completed in 2009 and named one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly buildings in the world.

The 1902 Algonquin Hotel has retained its original grandeur of furnishings and service. Since June 1919, daily meetings of the so-called Round Table have been held here for ten years. Famous journalists, writers, actors, and artists, including Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, Franklin Adams, Jane Grant, and many others, have participated in the group. The hotel's sophisticated ambience has been preserved to this day. It is a pleasure to have a cup of tea in the lobby, and waiters appear at the sound of a bell. The Algonquin's rooms are open for sophisticated dinners and regular cabaret programs. It is frequented by many celebrities who can be seen from the Roylton Hotel-Restaurant across the street.

The 44th Street General Merchants' Association building displays the exclusive collection of locks by John M. Mossman (1846-1912). He became involved with locking devices at the age of 12. During his lifetime, Mossman collected over 400 ingenious historic and valuable locks from around the world. The collection was displayed for visitors in 1903.

Also on 44th Street is the ornate 1899 New York Yacht Club building, which until 1989 was the headquarters of the America's Cup Regatta.

An interesting attraction in Times Square are the specialty street stalls, which offer homemade ice cream, freshly baked cookies and pastries, Belgian waffles with toppings, and bread pudding and pumpkin custard from the flatbeds of customized trucks.

So if you're planning a visit to New York, be sure to set aside at least a day for Times Square to soak up the hectic pace of life here.