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Times Square


Times Squares is Broadway crossing the Seventh Avenue. The "square" thus created is a lot like a gigantic Picadilly Circus, or, uh, well theres nothing like this in Paris. What defines the place is advertising. Probably one or two hundred different ads when you do a 360. The biggest are 15x10 meters giant screens, the famous Coca red storm, the ever-hot Nissin noodle cup, the HSBC-screen-where-you-can-appear-too (I did), etc. Its also home of the New York Times (the daily paper) headquarters, hence the name of the place. There's also the ABC studios, the MTV store, Toys'r'Us store, a Virgin megastore (as in Paris London Tokyo, I only need to see the last one now :p). And probably some other things. You've seen this place in movies, completely empty in Vanilla Sky for instance. I wonder how much they had to pay for that ! Our hotel, the Big Apple, was 100 meters from TS, which was perfect. This is probably the heart of the city.



A lot of famous american shows are hosted around here, including the Late Show, which I've seen a lot... when in Hong Kong. Many americans try to enter the set of these shows. Just for the record, this is the first shot I've taken in NYC.




When you're in the middle of TS, and you look north...




...and south. These two "advertising towers" define the place itself.




A bit farther south, on the 42nd street, looking north. I loved this ad with the two mobile phones (on the right) exchanging sms, making fun of the place, of tourists, or many other things. Simple and effective.




Ok this is really the 42nd street, with lots of theaters, broadway shows, etc. The 42nd sets the bottom of TS, and the thing goes up to the 47th street, around 400 meters long. The 42nd is now the "new 42nd", as it has been completely refurbished (almost done now).




As you can note from the middle left of the ads, alcohol commercials are not restricted.




The very small center of TS is home to TV shots or people claiming this or that, adressing multitudes on top of soap boxes.




Another under-construction building on the 42nd, also with mounted police here.




There's one in every city, heres its named Mme Tussaud, the wax museum, here with Samuel Jackson. I was walking and almost bumped into it, as it was displayed on the sidewalk just outside the entrance. The girl is real (I think).




You see a lot on this shot : a sidewalk packed with people from all origins, ads everywhere on the buildings, and the american flag topping it all. That's New York.




Just a bit north of TS is Carnegie Hall.




Some of the very few night shots. We were walking around all day, and night was used for sleep :p








Not far is the Museum for Television, Home of the Beast.




The brilliant Kodak ad, a resting face, with only one eye moving.



I conclude this Times Squares serie with the Toys'r'Us T-Rex, an impressive mechanical thing, turning its head, opening its jaw and eyes, moving anterior arms. It could also walk around a bit, they can certainly do it. But the store would be empty then.



Then look at the people looking at the T-Rex to get convinced the T-Rex is convincing.




Nor far from TS, a building with all possible time zones.




The famous Radio City building .




Another usual view from the United States, live stock market !




Besides our hotel, one of the numerous theaters of Broadway.




HSBC allows anyone to have his picture put in one of the small flash-like videos displayed at the top of TS.




Hey, wasnt that supposed to be 15 *minutes* of glory ??