New York City – Our First Visit to Times Square

Times Square Plaza on a Sunday morning.

New York, New York.

Though it wasn’t too far from our hotel to Times Square, we decided to take an Uber. After all, we would walk Broadway, Times Square, Fifth Avenue, and then over to Central Park before calling it a day.

When we were dropped off on Broadway, it was already 10:30, and the Times Square Plaza was crowded. I usually try to take photos of scenes without people, but for New York City, that just seems wrong. What is New York without people?

Times Square at 45th Street.

We walked from 42nd Street to 47th Street, taking in the sights. We thought we might see a Broadway show matinee, but one must jump at that chance well before Sunday morning to find acceptable seating or openings.

The Lion King on Broadway.

We had plenty of activities ahead of us without attending a Broadway play, though I must say I was a bit disappointed. That was soon forgotten, though, as we continued our exploration.

A group of cyclists.

I must say, I wouldn’t have thought I might see a group of bicyclists. Of course, I wouldn’t know why that might have been an unusual thought.

George M. Cohan statue.

The George M. Cohan statue is a prominent landmark in Duffy Square, a pedestrian plaza in Times Square. It honors the legendary American composer, playwright, actor, and producer. The statue is located between 45th and 47th Streets opposite Times Square.

Father Duffy Square.

Duffy Square is a pedestrian plaza located in the heart of Times Square, New York City. It’s bounded by Broadway, 7th Avenue, 45th and 47th Streets. The plaza is named after Father Francis P. Duffy, a Catholic priest who served as a chaplain in the United States Army during World War I.

Digital Advertising screen.

Times Square is nothing without its lighted electronic billboards. This billboard, wrapped around the corner of a building, is probably the largest electronic billboard I’ve ever seen.

Rockefeller Center, 30 Rock.

We detoured from Times Square to take a Sunday walk on Fifth Avenue. On our way, we passed the iconic Atlas statue at 30 Rock.

Art Deco door at 30 Rock.

The Art Deco door at 30 Rock is a beautiful example of the architectural style that characterized the building’s construction in the 1930s. It’s a large, double-door entrance made of bronze and features intricate geometric patterns and decorative motifs.

Fifth Avenue.

As we turned onto Fifth Avenue, we saw the spires of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in the distance. Coming closer to the cathedral, we thought we might stop to look at the interior, but that did not happen. The service had concluded, and a special event was held outside the cathedral.

Little Amal.

I previously told the story of Little Amal, the 12-foot (3.6 m) puppet representing a 10-year-old Syrian refugee. You can read about her story here. We didn’t get into the church but stayed safely across the Street from the crowd.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.

From across the Street, I tried a unique perspective shot that included the entire front facade of the church. Even with my cell phone at 2.2 mm, I couldn’t get the entire edifice in the frame without tilting the composition. My D500 with a 13 mm lens was even less helpful.

As we left Fifth Avenue, we turned toward Central Park. I’ll share more about that adventure in a future post. For those who like to pixel-peep, I’ve uploaded the entire gallery to my Flickr site in 2k HD here.

John Steiner

23 comments

  1. You’re right, it wouldn’t look like NYC without all the people! I love that door at 30 Rock – I remember being wowed by it when we visited and it’s great to see it again 🙂 And St Patrick’s is another favourite sight although as you say, hard to photograph in its entirety!

  2. It’s definitely possible to get discounted tickets (with half way decent seats) for some Broadway shows at TKTS locations for same day of purchase as long as you are flexible (meaning there is more than one option you are willing to see).

  3. The last time we were visiting relatives on Long Island, my husband wanted to see Times Square. We drove in, paid $30 to park the car, walked around and had lunch. I think that will do him! Your photos are great, especially that tilt on St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

    • Thanks, Anne! As we were going on the cruise, we parked the car at a park-and-ride to the Newark Liberty Airport and used Uber to get us to our hotel and around Manhattan. We’ll do that again the next time we drive to New York City, even if we aren’t taking a cruise. Let a New Yorker do the driving, I say. >grin<

      • I agree. I’d never drive in NYC again. I’m too old. Driving a pickup and 31 ft. 5th wheel through parts of the city was enough to age me further! I have another cousin who lives further on Long Island. They take the train into Manhattan to see shows.

  4. It looks lovely now. Whenever I see it these days I remember walking through Times Square at night in the 80s, on my way to Penn Station. Those were true adventures. But I’m glad it is different and more colourful now.

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