A Staycation in Times Square
A case for New Yorkers to reclaim the world's largest tourist trap as their own
Since I can remember, I have always had a love affair with all things shiny and kitschy — Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel lit up at twilight, the Empire State Building, the Twin Towers (before the unthinkable) when they would turn golden with the setting sun’s reflection, and — yes — the sensory overload of Times Square.
In elementary school, I produced a short film about the Nights on Broadway (set to the Bee Gees’ song of the same name). I also attended the High School of Performing Arts, spending four years on 46th Street just off Broadway, back when adult film halls and dirty arcades were the main tenants in the neighborhood.
Today, the M&M’s Store and McDonald’s have replaced most of the slime, with a touch of seediness like cheap Elmo impersonators to keep its sense of place. It’s also home to the Theater District and a stone’s throw from Central Park. Broadway shows and the incredible talent that graces the stages of New York’s theaters are unique to the world and a reason why people from around the globe visit the city.
There are so many other reasons to visit — the cabarets where talented performers workshop new routines or just show up and sing for the pure joy of it; the small independent restaurants and tiny bars, and the incredible light show, Midnight Moment, where the billboards of Times Square transform into a larger-than-life art gallery each night at 11:57 p.m. So, yes, Times Square and 42nd Street are worth a second look or — dare I say — an entire weekend.
Where to Stay
If you close your eyes and conjure up a picture of the center of New York City, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville might not be the first thing that comes to mind but when you walk through the doors of the Margaritaville Times Square Hotel, you’ll quickly be reminded that Manhattan and any Caribbean paradise have one thing in common — they’re both islands. In case you didn’t make the connection, the elevators welcome you to “the island of Manhattan”. The rooms are cozy with just a touch of coastal style mixed with a tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that, yes — you’re in Margaritaville in Manhattan. For instance, a New Yorker-esque picture of the Statue of Liberty graced the bathroom — but this time, Liberty was clearly enjoying a day off, trading her torch for a frozen blender drink.
The rooms do offer stunning views of the skyline, and the hotel’s 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar is a two-story rooftop bar on the 31st and 32nd floors offering panoramic views without the velvet ropes, lines, and cover charges that many other rooftop bars have.
Where to Eat
This Hell’s Kitchen bar and restaurant is the kind of hidden secret that usually needs a referral from a friend to discover its warmth. This cozy hideaway is warmly lit with candles, with black and white movies projected on its walls. There’s a good selection of beers on tap, and the burger is one of the best in New York City. Best of all, Bea is open late for a post-theatre meal or cocktail.
Located on “Restaurant Row”, just blocks from most Broadway theaters, don’t be surprised if everyone at the bar starts reviewing the various shows they’ve just seen. That’s actually the beauty of Joe Allen — it’s a pre- or post-show tradition that’s also very much an insider’s hangout. The menu is filled with classics from steak frites to meatloaf and sauteed liver, but the La Scala salad is hands down the most popular choice.
This Theater District classic has been in movies, television shows, and even been spoofed in Broadway musicals for good reason — it’s part restaurant/part homage to Broadway itself. The restaurant offers good standard fare and the upstairs bar is a cozy place for a pre-theater cocktail, but the real star of the show is in the Al Hirschfeld prints on the walls that depict just about every star that’s graced Broadway stages.
Where to Drink
If you’re looking for history, the Algonquin Hotel’s Blue Bar is steeped in it. Opened in 1933 (at the end of Prohibition), the Blue Bar was the stomping place of Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woolcott, Al Hirschfeld, and New York’s acting and writing elite. Get a taste of history with cocktails such as the Dorothy Parker, the Writer’s Block, and the Vicious Wit.
The rousing cabaret is within walking distance of most Broadway theaters, so don’t be surprised if someone you’ve just seen on stage gets up to sing at the piano. Don’t Tell Mama hosts regularly scheduled cabaret shows and open mic nights where anything can happen, and anyone can appear.
There are plenty of dive bars in the area, but Jimmy’s is a unique piece of New York history. This boxing-themed bar is as no-frills as it gets: No menus, no fancy drinks, no food, no outdoor beer garden. Just a narrow bar that makes the kind of drinks that have three ingredients — one being ice. But this beer and a shot place is gritty, authentic, and a slice of the real, old school New York that everyone says is slowly being lost. Skip the M&Ms store and drink here instead.
What to Do
For more than a century, the Great White Way has been one of the reasons New York City has attracted the most creative and talented people in the world. Broadway is truly the city’s heart, and live theater is like nothing else on earth. Shows like Hamilton and Wicked have ensured that theater is alive and well, with new generations coming to experience Broadway. This season is particularly ripe with talent — from Audra McDonald in Gypsy to George Clooney in Good Night and Good Luck — there’s an electric night of passion for every taste.
Each night in Times Square (except for New Year’s Eve), when the clock strikes 11:57 p.m., Broadway’s giant billboards transform into a giant art gallery, showcasing digital works from a variety of artists. This month, Cannupa Hanska Luger is the artist on display, with works rotating monthly.
and is easily accessible to most every subway line in NYC. It’s also