Times Square NY seen through my eyes

The New York Times Building (Zoom to get a clear picture)

Times Square is a major intersection in New York City in the borough of Manhattan and was named after the Times Building (now "One Time Square") which was the former offices of The New York Times. It is located at Broadway and Seventh Avenue and extends from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. Like city squares in many other famous cities around the world, Times Square has become a symbol and primary landmark in its home city. Its animated, digital advertisements help create an incredibly exciting vibe contributing to Times Square popularity to both tourists, locals and the Manhattan business community (it is the only neighborhood that actually requires building owners to display illuminated signs!!). Times Square is also home or adjacent to many of the Broadway theatres that feature some of the most popular award winning productions ever produced.

The word "Broadway" means theatre throughout the world. Broadway's shows represent the biggest, the brightest, and the most of their kind - popular live theatre.

New York Marriott Marquis

Even though many of us has  seen it on TV and movies, nothing beats the first time you step into Times Square.
If I were a New Yorker,  I might never go there, but because I am just a tourist, drunk on the image of Times Square for so long, that I end up doing all the touristy things, like gaping at the neon lights, taking pictures of myself everywhere.... this place radiates energy!
If you can afford, then go and see the long running "The Phantom Of Opera", or "Mamma Mia", or the famous " Lion King" and many more.
But I must warn you even the so called discounted tickets costs around  75 USD that is 3415.69 INR , and even then you may not get the seat you want. 

To attend a Broadway show is to be part of an event that millions travel from around the world to enjoy, and millions more simply dream about it, just like me.

I love NYC and I love Times Square !!

This place where I am standing is a very large tiered seating area where you can sit and people-watch. 

Look at the people's faces, they all seem to be in a trance

There are many upscale hotels in Times Square to choose from and the area is a cultural hub featuring music, nightlife and many quality shops that cater mainly to tourists. Don't worry, if you book well in advance you can get very good deals in the best hotels in and around Times Square. Because of the peak peak hours of the day, Times Square gets so congested that we are forced to walk in the streets and compete with traffic.

On New Year's Eve each year, well over one million people crowd into One Times Square to view the annual "New Year's Eve ball drop".  

I love Forever 21 shop.

The huge screen behind me, capturing everyone who passes in front of it or stands there. It is fun to try and spot yourself there, it is a bit tough but possible.

The onslaught of advertisements is almost beautiful in its excess.

The theaters of Broadway and the huge number of animated neon and LED signs have long made them one of New York's iconic images, and a symbol of the intensely urban aspects of Manhattan. Times Square is the only neighborhood with zoning ordinances requiring building owners to display illuminated signs. The density of illuminated signs in Times Square now rivals that of Las Vegas. Officially, signs in Times Square are called "spectaculars", and the largest of them are called "jumbotrons".

Notable signage includes the Toshiba billboard directly under the NYE ball drop and the curved seven-story Nasdaq sign at the NASDAQ Market Site at 4 Times Square on 43rd Street and the curved Coca- Cola  located underneath another large LED display owned and operated by Samsung. Both the Coca-Cola sign and Samsung LED displays were built by LED display manufacturer Daktronics. Times Square's first environmentally friendly billboard powered by wind and solar energy was first lit on December 4, 2008.

Yes it is very late as we return back to our hotel, one just doesn't know how time flies here or maybe 'Time' too stands still here with you in "Times Square".

All the shops are overcrowded, the road leading to Times Square, every where you see only a sea of people. Although, I must say the large presence of police makes one feel quite safe in this area.

The M&M's World features one of the world's largest displays of these bite-sized candies and a vast array of colors not found anywhere else. The three-story, 25,000 square-foot store features a 17-foot Miss Green dressed up as Lady Liberty. The store features over 4000 items including T-shirts, bags, pillows, M&M dolls, pencils and many more fun M&M souvenirs including some one-of-a-kind pieces

This store is what New Yorkers like to say is an "only in New York" experience, with its flashing lights and huge store displays set on a prime corner of midtown Manhattan. It's a great place for the whole family--it even features an interactive kids area--and is a triumph of American candy-making by Mars Inc.  Although there were many interesting things to buy there, we did not buy anything. It was too crowded, and some of the things were very tacky and gave you the feel of shopping in Big Bazaar in India.

Times Square during the day:

During the day is when you can shop for anything imaginable. Times Square boasts some of the most impressive and elaborate stores you will ever find. Day time is the time to do a lot of window shopping, without the crowds jostling, pushing you like during the night. Because we were there during summer, it felt very hot and also very bright, so sun glasses are a must. You can see people just hanging around window shopping, drinking coffee, and eating snacks sitting on benches under the sun umbrellas, generally just lazing or people watching.

 It is also the perfect time to take some good pictures, though the pictures taken by us are not so good, probably  because we were too tired and bored of taking pictures, and also it was our second time in NY on our way back to Bangalore.

The shops were very good especially the jewelery shops: all offering lots of discounts too! It was too tempting to resist, I had to take a look, so instead of just window shopping I just hopped into a jewelery shop, for a pair of large loop sapphire earring had caught my eyes, I had to find out the price.

Once inside, I was shown the earring, and also many other things to go with it. But I told the shop owner, that I was interested in only the earring and also one blue sapphire finger ring studded with a circle of white sapphires.

So now, the bargaining  started, on the already discounted price, for I felt, he had purposely hiked up the price.

That shop owner was a Syrian, and like our Indian jewelers was equally  well versed in the bargaining techniques, and thus we both  jumped into the field bent on outdoing each other with our bargaining skills, leaving my husband literally pulling whatever little hair he has on his head with disgust.

Oh God ! after about 45 minutes, of this drama, I told him my final price and told him,we did not have all day to argue with him as we have a plane to catch in the evening, and pretended to leave the shop like I am used to doing in India.

Sure like Indian jeweler  agreed to my price, and we finished the deal.

Times Square as seen during the day

The Macy's

Mannequins take to streets to help the garment districts, the show must have gone on till September 3rd (Times Square)

Do you see the waves of colors on the street?
Well that is Times Square Crazy and funky eye catching...

Time to say good bye to Times Square and to the beautiful New York City, for I doubt I will ever come back to this wonderful city ever again.

However, it is not goodbye to America yet, for I have to bore you people with our visit to Niagara Falls, and the rest of the US.
Are you game?

New York Seen Through My Eyes- Part 2.

The Statue of Liberty
                                    

The Statue of Liberty National Monument officially celebrated her 100th birthday on October 28, 1986. Standing at the entrance to New York harbor is 151 - foot statue of a woman holding a book and a torch on- high. 

It was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American independence.

The Statue Of Liberty is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. Its formal name is Liberty Enlightening the World. 

The start of our journey to the Statue Of Liberty: the ferry ride is great , we get to see the wonderful view of entire financial district's skyscrapers, we also get to see an all round view of the Statue Of Liberty, Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Pictures of some remarkable buildings before we start our Journey

 Approaching the famous Verrazano Narrow Bridge:  that is still the longest bridge in the United States.

When you  see the rising shape of the immense Verrazano 

shining in the late afternoon sun, know that you are

seeing a sight that defines New York City: big, impressive, and breaking 

the boundaries that separate people.

The bridge marks the gateway to New York Harbor; all cruise ships 

and most container ships 

arriving at the Port

of New York and New Jersey must pass

 underneath the bridge. Most ships, when built, must be built to

accommodate the clearance under the bridge.

The Liberty statue, made of copper sheets with an iron framework, depicts a woman escaping the chains of tyranny, which lie at her feet. Her right hand holds aloft a burning torch that represents liberty. Her left hand holds a tablet inscribed with the date "July 4, 1776" (in Roman numerals), the day the United States declared its independence from England. She is wearing flowing robes and the seven rays of her spiked crown symbolize the seven seas and continents.

From our boat we could see the famous beauty of the New York City Skyline

Manhattan Skyline shot from the ferry

Whitehall Street Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Manhattan

The Brooklyn Bridge ranks as one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century and remains one of New York's most popular and well known landmarks.

An elevated pedestrian path not only gives you the opportunity to cross the river without being bothered by the traffic that rushes past a level below, but it also offers a great view of the bridge's towers as well as downtown Manhattan's skyline. The views alone attract millions of visitors to this bridge each year.

        

Near the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor is Ellis Island. This island served as an immigrant station and a temporary shelter for people coming to the U.S. from other countries. Between 1892 and 1954, approximately 12 million people passed through Ellis Island seeking refuge, freedom and opportunity. The main building on Ellis Island is now a museum dedicated to the history of the Ellis Island Immigration Station.

Lady Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they arrived in the New World and continues to greet millions of tourists from around the world each year. 

Wall Street: this how it looks

The tour of NYC is not complete without a visit to the Wall Street. Being a Sunday, it was pretty empty. 

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Wall Street was “the place” to be if you were a large financial institution or other big business. So many buildings sprung up on this tip of Manhattan that the Wall Street district began to boast its own distinct skyline, separate from the buildings in Midtown.
People like J.P Morgan built headquarters like the one at 23 Wall Street, which was – for decades – the most important financial institution in the country.
(One can still see the pockmarks on the building, left there from an unsolved bombing that occurred in 1920.)

Federal Hall

Other notable buildings include the columned Federal Hall,  originally built to house City Hall and its offices. Major U.S. stock and other exchanges remain headquartered on Wall Street and in the Financial District, including the NYSE, NASDAQ,AMEX ,NYMEX,NYBOT.

Trinity Church is located at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway in downtown Manhattan. The  current Trinity Church was consecrated on May 21, 1846. A Gothic Revival structure designed by Richard Upjohn, its 280-foot spire was the highest in the city until the advent of the skyscraper.

The historic Episcopal church stood strong while office towers crumbled around it on September 11, 2001. However, the historic pipe organ was severely damaged by dust and debris and had to be replaced.

Staring at you from across the street is Trinity Church. This is the oldest church site in New York, though not the original building. 

The Trinity Church. This church simply looks gorgeous!

 

(Some more pictures of NYC) Rockefeller Promenade
It is very beautiful, one can spend hours looking at all plants and the cool fountains

Another View of the NYC from the Rockefeller Building: the Green Patch that you see is the Central Park

" When the weather turns warm, Rockefeller Center sends the Zamboni ice machine home and opens up its outdoor, below-ground-level rink as a restaurant and bar. Colorful umbrellas set a festive tone for the place, which, in addition to tourists, attracts a large after-work crowd. The menu offers burgers, salads and pastas, as well as a cocktail list that includes specialty margaritas and frozen drinks". as quoted by a travel review contributer: Karen Hudes.

Prometheus at Rockefeller Center 
Prometheus is said to be the best-known sculpture in Rockefeller Center and the most photographed monumental sculpture in all of NYC. Created by famed American sculptor Paul Manship, who held a great fascination for mythological subjects and events, it has become the main attraction of the Lower Plaza. 

Thank you for being with me on this short trip of NYC. More to come in the next blog.

Did you enjoy this trip?

Let me know.

New York Seen Through My Eyes- Part 1

                      The Central Park New York City

The Central park boasts several lakes, theaters, ice rinks, fountains, tennis courts, baseball fields, many playgrounds and other facilities. It is also home to the Central Park Zoo and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Especially during the weekends, when cars are not allowed into the park, Central Park is a welcome oasis in this hectic city.

Central Park is one of those places that make New York such a great place to live. The huge park, 843 acres large, is located in the center of Manhattan. Its design is an example for city parks around the world.

Central Park is situated in Manhattan between 59th and 110th street and between Fifth and Eight Ave.

Being a Saturday, the park had lots of Aerobics classes going  on, I wanted to take one picture near one of the classes, but a passerby came along and and offered to take a picture of us together: looks like we both needed some Aerobics class!
I love outdoor Aerobics class.

The crown jewel of Central Park, is one of the most famous and universally loved fountains in the world : The  Bethesda Fountain.

Emma Stebbins ( the Sculptor): the center piece of the "Angel of the waters" was the only sculpture commissioned as a part of the original design of the Park naming her the first woman to receive commission of a major work of art in New York City.

The idea of the "Angel Of Waters" comes from the gospel of Saint John, Chapter 5, the story of an angel bestowing healing powers on the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. Beneath the 8 foot gilded bronze statue are 4 smaller 4 foot figures symbolising Temperance, Purity, Health and Peace. The base of the fountain was designed by Calvert Vaux with detail work by Jacob Wrey Mould. Sculpted in 1868 and unveiled in 1873.

The Plaza, a timeless landmarked New York Hotel.
Central Park 5th Avenue, endless shopping- this is New York City!!!

The Rockefeller Building

From the top of the Rock

The Rockefeller Building:

Rockefeller Center - known as a 'city in the city' - is an exceptional example of civic planning. All buildings share a common design style, Art Deco, and are connected to each other via an underground concourse, the Catacombs. The complex is nevertheless well integrated in the city of New York, especially along Fifth Avenue. 

There are in total three levels open to the public, including the roof terrace. The first is on the 67th floor and is completely covered. 

The observation deck on the 69th floor has glass windshields while the 70th floor is completely open to the elements, offering visitors a fabulous 360 degree view. 

 View from the top of the Rock

The famous Radio City Music Hall : One of the greatest Art Deco structures ever built, is one of the most well known landmark of New York City. Opened on December 27th 1932, with a variety show it screened the first film with Barbara Stanwyck in " The Bitter Tea Of General Yen" on January 11th 1933.

The Flatrion Building that you can see behind me, was completed in 1902, and was the first building New York with a steel frame. It also has the honour of the only surviving skyscraper in New York City.
This was our 2nd day in New York , we had taken a local tour of the city, for there were some places for which we felt it was better if we went through the local tour bus. Our tour guide was very good, funny and very knowledgeable. But, the AC in our bus was not up to the mark and although it was on and making lot of noise it didn't serve  the purpose of keeping us cool. In fact I had read in the internet that this particular tour bus was not very reliable as far as the AC was concerned, but then one has to bear such things as part of life which seems to be the same as in India, but only difference is we don't make a big fuss about it. But otherwise as I told earlier the tour was pretty good.

The Empire State Building 5th Avenue

The Empire State Building:

Built during the Great Depression, the Empire State Building symbolizes America's limitless potential. Built in just 18 months, it was the world's tallest building from 1931-1972.

The shape of the Empire State Building was inspired by its developer, John Jakob Raskob, who is said to have pulled a pencil from his drawer, held it up to his architect (William Lamb), and asked, " Bill how tall can you make it so that it won't fall down?"

The top of the building is lit up at night in different colors to celebrate various holidays. For a long time, after September 11,2001, it was continuously lit, red, white and blue. After the 09.11.2001, it regained its title as the tallest building in New York. This again will be surpassed by one World Trade Center in 20013.

Source (Skyscraper Source Media Inc.)

The Empire State Building is a legend and remains a testament to the American fortitude and ingenuity.

Ananth captured this beautiful building: The Empire State Building in our camera.

Behind me you can see the Trump Tower: so many times I  have seen people being fired by Donald Trump and walking out of this building to the waiting Yellow cab in his famous show " Apprentice"

Some fun pictures on the streets of NY
Since our Hotel was centerally located, we just walked and walked and saw  all the places of interest. It was so much fun, not realizing how the time went by, and because it was bright for a very long time. If my husband was not there to remind me of the time, I would still be roaming the streets of New York...
More to come about this lively city in the next blog.

All About Chairs: Modern Classic Stylish Chairs.

Modern Classic chairs: will they ever go out of style, I am sure they will not. Designed by the mid-  century modern era gods of furniture designs, these chairs were the epitome of innovation when they were first conceived and still top the charts today as the greatest for their resilience and timeless design.

These classic designer chairs have a unique way of transforming a boring and ordinary room into something extraordinary: adds drama to a space which had nothing to really speak about.

But the trick is to use them correctly.

The Classic Egg Chair: was designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1958 for the interior design of the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Germany.

Its steel frame, high curved back and rounded bottom gives it great volume and works well in open modern spaces with high ceilings, like a loft or a library. It also looks good in a room like this.

Swan Chair: It a cousin of the Egg chair conceived by the same designer for the same hotel in 1958. It is the most influential of its time for its seamless curvature and has defined the Retro style which remains popular even till today.

The Swan chair with its vintage swagger has wide arms and a low back which sits perfectly as marvelous side or lounge chair. You even have the Swan Sofa, the perfect solution for stylish living rooms or hallways.

The Ball Chair- Eero Aarnio
Designed in 1963, this Retro Modern Ball Chair also known as the Globe Chair still looks like something out of the future! Eero Aarnio created the prototype for what would be the most unconventional chair of its time which started a new line of fiber glass seating. Originally, the chair was geared towards industrial design and today these reproductions also function as home furniture all over the globe.
The chair works well in any open living space or lounge space to create a playfully relaxing atmosphere.
Another version of this chair created by the same designer is the bubble chair. Take a look, they are all simply gorgeous!

It looks so cozy and stylish at the same time!

The see through swing and the Barcelona chair in the  background: lovely...

Note the use of clear fiber glass to let the light in from all angles for a weightless effect.

The Tulip Chair- Saarinen

This sexy Tulip Chair is famous for its curvaceous impression it made way back in1956. It made history with its pedestal base as the first one legged chair. It is a pure expression of modernism.
The Tulip Chair looks beautiful as dining chair with minimal modern furnishings and a table that is subtle enough to let the chair do all the talking. Well I like the figurines and the candles at the center of the table too.

 Barcelona Chair- Mies van der Rohe (German Chair)
If you think your bum is worthy of a seat fit for the king, you might consider parking it in a Barcelona Chair. This chair caused a sensation which lasted for nearly 8 decades. Today it is still a "must have"
piece  in the homes of wealthy aficionados, as well as architects and designers. This chair was even honoured with the Museum of Modern Art Award in 1977.

This beautiful red Barcelona chair belongs to my daughter( I am sure it must have cost her a lot).

 Originally designed before the advent of stainless steel and seamless ground welding, the frame was designed to be bolted together. However in 1950, with development of stainless steel van der Rohe redesigned the chair with a seamless metal frame. Cowhide replaced the expensive pigskin used in the original chair. But other than that, the Barcelona chair manufactured today are exactly as they were in 1929. Modern. Timeless. In a word perfect.

There are so many classic modern chairs, my favorites are the Swan chair, the Ball chair and  the Barcelona chair. Which is your favorite chair?
Let me know.