VIBE

The world’s most famous intersection started life as the decidedly low-profile Longacre Square at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, but the construction of the New York Times Tower here in 1904–and the ensuing New Year’s Eve fireworks to celebrate the building’s arrival–gave it an electrifying shot in the arm. The Times changed the square’s name, kicked off its legendary advertising craze (they put up their first ad three weeks after arriving), and started a tradition of raucous New Year’s festivities that still endures today. In the decades following the Great Depression, the neighborhood went into decline, earning a reputation for its X-rated bars, theaters, and shops, as well as the tawdry crowds they hosted. But a concerted clean-up effort since the 1990s has made it into what is today: a tourist-friendly hangout. Highlights include the Times Square News Ticker, the bright lights of Broadway, and the guitar-strumming Naked Cowboy.

GO HERE WITH

NYC first-timers; New Year’s revelers; friends; fans of bright lights

WHY WE LIKE IT

Visiting the “Crossroads of the World” (as the square is known) is an unmissable, albeit extremely touristy, NYC experience.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The crowds! Especially at peak tourist times, keep your elbows out and keep moving…or else you risk being trampled. (And watch your wallet too.)

GOOD TO KNOW

Believe it or not, Times Square actually has a building ordinance requiring businesses to display illuminated signs (which are officially known as “spectaculars”). If you need help navigating Times Square’s many brilliantly lit delights, check out the Times Square Visitors Center (between 46th and 47th Streets at Seventh Avenue)–their helpful info desk dishes out brochures, maps, theater tickets, and tour tickets. They also run free walking tours on Fridays at 12:00pm. If you’re looking for cheap tickets for shows at the glittering Broadway theaters nearby, check out the TKTS booth (inside the Visitors Center)–they offer discounts of up to 50%. And finally, fun facts for New Year’s Eve revelers: the ball–which is made from Waterford crystal–has been dropping since 1908, and about a million people come annually to watch it do so.

CLOSEST COMPS

Sunset Strip (Los Angeles)