The Red Stairs

This is a close up photo of the red stairs that was installed in the middle of Times Square above the new TKTS booths. The stairs are made of red plastic panels trimmed with metal strips and lighted from beneath. At night the structure looks like a glowing red wedge.

Notice the reflections on the plastic panels? The buildings in the reflections are some of the skyscrapers on Broadway and 45th Street. [N.B.: Excuse the quality of the photo. It was taken with my iPhone.]

So what is your favorite color?

Times Square Sanctuary

For the last two weekends, Times Square in midtown Manhattan has been shut down to automobile traffic to create a 'sanctuary' for locals and tourists alike to enjoy the 'crossroads of the world'. The city even provided lounge chairs (some of which were stolen) for the public. Motorist, especially the taxi drivers were not happy with this plan but most people (in the photo) think this is a great plan.

What do you think of the plan? Would you hang out at Times Square if there were no automobile traffic to worry about?

Mid-Month Subway Theme Day

It is mid-month subway theme day again. This photo was taken at the Times Square/42nd Street subway station. The station is one of the biggest and busiest in the city with connecting lines for the N, W, R, Q, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9 subway trains. It is also adjacent to the New Jersey PATH stations (subway service to New Jersey) and a block from the Amtrak tand other regional train services at Pennsylvania Station.

Subway day is a mid-month theme shared by the following blogs:

Budapest - London - New York City - Paris - Stockholm - Sydney

Approaching Times Square

This is the view looking north towards Times Square on Broadway Avenue in midtown. The photo, from my archive, was taken sometime between Christmas and New Year. I haven't had a chance to go out to take new ones yet.

So how has your week been?

Broadway Shows

Here are some of the Broadway shows that are playing in New York City right now. Musicals appear to be more popular than dramas. Lately, there has been a lot of Disney-fication on Broadway with more and more movie-themed shows coming to town, like The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins and Grease.

Recently, I was invited by a new friend from California to see South Pacific with her at the Lincoln Center. The production was spectacular and I really enjoyed it.

So what shows have you seen lately?

No Lines at TKTS

This is the line to the new TKTS booths that sell discounted Broadway tickets for same day shows only. The reason there was is no line here is because this photo was taken at about 10 AM in the morning and it was really, really cold.

So when was the last time you waited in a line to purchase something?

45th Street & Broadway Avenue

This building is located on Broadway Avenue between 45th and 44th Street, right in the middle of Times Square. I was standing across the street in front of ABC-TV's studio when I looked up and saw the clock face on the top. I quickly took a few photos and moved on. It was only when I got home that I realized the colors in this photo are quite amazing.

So what is your favorite color?

M&M Statue of Liberty

Here are some souvenirs from the M&M Store on Times Square. It's a favorite among tourists, especially those under the age of 10.

So what kind of souvenirs do you usually buy when you are traveling out of town?

TKTS Booths

These are the new TKTS booths in Times Square where one can get same day tickets to various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows at a steep discount. The lines can be long but it may be worth the money because you can save as much as $50 off the regular priced ticket per person.

Notice the red colored glass roof above the ticket booths? Click here to see what the roof looks like from the other side of the building.

So have you ever climbed on top of a roof?

Times Square

I took this photo last Wednesday as I was heading to the theater to see the Broadway musical, In The Heights (yesterday's photo). The weather was cool and dry, and the street was packed with tourists and locals alike. Times Square is probably one of the most exciting places to visit if you are not in a rush to go somewhere because the human traffic on the street can be quite taxing.

So where do you encounter the most human traffic in your city?

Broadway Stage for "In The Heights"

This photo was taken inside the Richard Rodgers Theater last Wednesday where I went to see the Tony Awards (Best Musical, 2008) Broadway show, In The Heights. Most Broadway shows forbid photography inside the theater. But at this show, everyone was taking photos of the set before the show started. So I did too. The attendants didn't seem to mind at all.

The show was amazing. It had a wonderful mix of hip-hop, rap, R&B, salsa and soul, which were all very modern and new for this genre of entertainment. If you liked West Side Story and Rent, this is the show for you. In fact, it is the West Side Story of the 21st Century.

So have you seen any good live shows lately?

Booth Theater at Times Square

This is the facade of the Booth Theater on 45th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue at Times Square. Currently, Thurgood starring Laurence Fishburne is playing here.

Sorry for the grainy photo. I used the regular daylight/highspeed setting on my camera to take this photo and the lack of light in the surrounding area tends to produce this graininess in the photo quality. If I had switched to the nightlight/lowspeed setting, the graininess would improve but it would require a tripod or a stable surface to take the photo or else it will come out blurry.

Such is the dilemma of taking photos at night when there isn't enough light in the area. What are some of your photography dilemma?

Body Art

Some out-of-town friends and I went to an Off-Broadway show called Naked Boys Singing yesterday evening when we came upon this impromptu body art project on 43rd Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue in Times Square. The artist was painting the bodies of some youngsters, including a very pretty girl who was also topless like these boys. I did not get a chance to ask the name of the artist nor what the project was about because the crowd was clambering over one another to take a photo of the girl's chest.

How serendipitous is that?!? Two R-rated events in one afternoon.

So what is the most serendipitous thing to happen to you?

Theme Photo: When People Think Of My City...

When people think of my city, they think of Times Square and the lights, the shopping and the crowds. This photo was taken about two years ago at around 9 PM in the evening during the Christmas holiday season.

This month, 135 daily photo bloggers are participating in the theme photo. Here are their sites: Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziège, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wrocław, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Toruń, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrücken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Terrell (TX), USA - Terrell (TX), USA

Junior's Cheesecake

Almost everyone who has tasted Junior's cheesecake says it is the best cheesecake in world. The company, started by Harry Rosen, began as a humble diner in downtown Brooklyn in 1929. The name of the diner was changed to Junior's in 1950 after Harry's children, Walter and Marvin, took over the business. Today, Junior's is a successful mail order business selling cheesecakes and other pastries, in addition to its original diner in Brooklyn and two new restaurants in Times Square and Grand Central Station.

When I used to work in downtown Brooklyn, I would occasionally stop by the original Junior's diner to get some cheesecakes and coffee. The diner, in my opinion, has lost much of its appeal due to poor customer service and mediocre food, but the cheesecake is still king. I have not been to the other two Junior's restaurants in Times Square or Grand Central Station but I hear the food and service are better there.

During holiday seasons, it is not uncommon to see a line of people at the diner and restaurants. especially at the take-out bakery section. It seems like everyone is there to buy a cheesecake (or two) for their families or friends.

So do you have a favorite dessert?