Fifth Avenue - TailoredTours.com

Transcription

New York City ΙΡΥ.ΛΓς
Fifth Avenue
Central Park to Rockefeller Center
Duration: 1 to 6 hours
Distance: 1.5 miles
Interest Category: For Kids
MAP
61
Central Park
MAP KEY
MAP
60
Tour Route
Parks
Bus Stops
East 58th St.
Bergdorf
Goodman
East 57th St.
Tiffany & Co.
Crown
Building
Trump Tower
East 56th St.
World of Disney
East 55th St.
East 54th St.
East 53rd St.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Madison Avenue
Subway
Stations
East 59th St.
General Motors
Building
Fifth Avenue
? Information
Sixth Avenue / Avenue of the Americas
Restaurants
CBS "Early Show"
Studio
FAO
Schwartz
F
Notable Buildings
Restrooms
The Sherry Netherland Hotel
Apple Store
Pedestrian Areas
Shops
Recommended
Eateries
East 60th St.
Plaza
Hotel
Bodies of Water
Monuments
N
R
START
W
Grand
Army
Plaza
E
V
'21'
East 52nd St.
Museum of Television and Radio
Atlas Statue
Prime Burger
East 51st St.
Upper East Side
Central Park
Midtown
West 50th St.
British Empire
Building
General
B Electric
D Building
F
NBC
Experience
V
Lower
Plaza
Channel
Gardens
Maison
Francaise
East 50th St.
Saks Fifth
Avenue
East 49th St.
END
West 49th St.
Greenwich
Village
END
Nintendo World
Financial
District
Saint Patricks
Cathedral
Saks
Upper West Side
Palazzo
d'Italia
Music Hall
Harlem
International
Building
Fifth Avenue
Manhattan
International
Radio City
Building
Studio 1A
Maps are not to scale
East 48th St.
MAP
62
All images and content
C
2006 Lisochris LLC. All rights reserved.
Fifth Avenue
The half-mile between Central Park s southeastern corner and Rockefeller Center is packed with architectural
wonders, glamorous shops and people from all over the world. Although there are quite a few kid-friendly sights
and activities, this is one of the few places on the planet where the whole atmosphere is loud, bright and exciting
enough to keep kids' attention just walking down the street.
GETTING THERE: In Manhattan, "north" is uptown, the direction in which street numbers increase. For example, 49th
St. is uptown from 42nd St. "South" is downtown. If uptown is on your right and downtown is to your left, you're facing
west. Fifth Avenue is the dividing line for "East"-"West" streets. If you get lost, don't be afraid to ask for help.
Take the N, R or W subway trains to the 5th Ave. / 59th St. station. You can also take the F subway train to East 57th St.,
then walk north to East 59th St. and east to 5th Ave. Alternatively, catch the M1, M2, M3, M4, M30 or Q32 bus up
Madison Ave. (from the south) or down 5th Ave. (from the north) and get off at the East 59th St. stop. If you get off on
Madison Ave., just walk one block west to 5th Ave.
START in Grand Army Plaza, at the northeast corner of East 60th St.
and Fifth Ave. Completed in 1916, the plaza commemorates the Union Army
of the Civil War. Each half of the plaza, which is bisected by 59th St., bears
its own noteworthy feature: On the northern half stands a gilded bronze
equestrian statue of Union Army General William Tecumseh Sherman. The
centerpiece of the southern half of the plaza, across 59th St., is the Pulitzer
Fountain. Once you reach the fountain, turn right, towards the Plaza Hotel
(photo at right). This 19-story National Historic Landmark was completed in
1907, and is perhaps most famous as the setting for Kay Thompson s series
of Eloise books in the 1950s. The hotel has also been featured in many
movies, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Funny Girl and Arthur.
Leaving the Plaza Hotel, head east past the fountain and across Fifth Ave. to the General
Motors Building. At it s feet you ll find several noteworthy sights, beginning with the
studios for CBS s Early Show on the 59th St. side of the building. In the middle of the
building's plaza sits a 32-foot glass cube that serves as a street-level entrance for the
subterranean Apple Store. Finally, on the 58th St. side of the building, you'll find FAO
Schwartz (photo at left). Famously featured in the Tom Hanks movie Big, the store sells
a huge selection of high-end toys, games and dolls. At regular intervals throughout the
day, store employees recreate the movie s most memorable scene by dancing on giant
piano keys. Once you ve marveled at the life-size stuffed animals and indulged in a
sundae at FAO Schweetz, continue walking south along Fifth Ave.
Once past Tiffany & Co. and Trump Tower, cross 56th St. to the three-story
World of Disney store (photo at right). In addition to selling Disney
merchandise, the store offers character meet-and-greets, "Build-Your-OwnCrown" and "Build-A-Potato-Head" stations, and special events and activities
(visit http://destinations.disney.go.com/wod/store/index for details). Next, exit
World of Disney and turn left and follow Fifth Ave. down two blocks. Once
you've crossed 53rd St., turn right and cross to the other side of Fifth Ave.
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Go to Itinerary Page 2
Fifth Avenue
From the corner of Fifth Ave. and 53rd St., you have an option: down this block
of 53rd St., toward Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave.), sits the new $860
million home of one of the world's best art museums, the Museum of Modern
Art (MoMA) (photo at right). It takes about 5 hours to do the museum justice,
but if you want to expose your kids to great modern art, this is the place to do
it. (Visit www.moma.org for admission fees, hours and special exhibit listings.)
If you choose this route, you can loop around the end of the block and return to
Fifth Ave. via 52nd St. There are two points of interest on this block: First, at
25 West 52nd St., you ll find the Museum of Television & Radio, a clearing
house for programming from both media, all of which is made available for
viewing or listening in private 1- to 4-person booths. (Visit
www.mtr.org/visiting-ny/info.htm for more information.)
Further down the block is '21' (average main course: $40), a restaurant and former speakeasy (a place where
alcoholic drinks were sold illegally during Prohibition) famous for the cast-iron jockeys that adorn its facade.
Every U.S. president since Franklin Roosevelt has dined at '21'.
If you choose the alternate route, you can rejoin the route map at 52nd St. and Fifth Ave. If you'd prefer to stick
with the original route, continue down Fifth Ave. and cross 52nd and 51st Streets. The statue of Atlas, with a
great view across the avenue to St. Patrick's Cathedral, sits mid-block. Cross Fifth Ave. here and step inside
the largest gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the U.S. Across 51st St. from "St. Pat's" is Prime Burger (average
main course: $6). The kids will love the swivelling tables almost as much as the great burgers and milkshakes.
Next, head south on Fifth Ave. and across 50th St. to Saks Fifth Avenue. If
you're visiting in late November and December, don't miss the store's holiday
window displays and light show.
Use the mid-block crosswalk in front of Saks to cross Fifth Ave. and take in the
majestic view down Channel Gardens, so called because it runs between the
Maison Francaise ("French Building") and the British Empire Building. At the
end of the promenade is the Lower Plaza, which houses the Rink at Rockefeller
Center (photo at left) in the fall and winter and the Rink Bar (average main
course: $21) during the warmer months of the year. Elevators provide access to
the Lower Plaza and Underground Concourse, a network of tunnels, filled with
shops and restaurants, that connects all of the buildings in the complex.
Continue around the Lower Plaza to the foot of the 71-story General Electric Building, the centerpiece of
Rockefeller Center. As headquarters for NBC, it houses most of the network's New York studios, including
those of Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The building is capped by the Top of the
Rock observation deck. Although not as high as the Empire State Building observation deck, the lines are
shorter and the views are unobstructed. Glass ceilings in the elevators allow guests to see the elevator shaft
whiz by as they rocket up to the roof (reservations required, visit www.topoftherocknyc.com).
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Fifth Avenue
At the corner of 50th St. and Avenue of the Americas, you'll find the
6,000-seat Radio City Music Hall. The theater was opened in 1932 and
named for Rockefeller Center's first major tenant, The Radio Corporation
of America (RCA). Radio City Music Hall hosts the Daytime Emmy
Awards and the Tony Awards, and is the permanent home of the
Rockettes, a precision dance troupe famous for their synchronized
choreography. The Rockette's star in the Christmas Spectacular, an
amazing show presented at the hall every holiday season.
Walk one block south on Avenue of the Americas and then turn left on 49th St.
This block is home to the NBC Experience (photo at right), a store that sells
merchandise related to NBC television programs. The centerpiece of the store is a
giant globe, covered with thousands of tiny lights, that contains a thirty-seat
video theater. Kiosks around the store allow you to "interact" with NBC
personalities such as Al Roker, Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno. You can even buy a
recording of your "interview" to take home. The store is also the starting point for
NBC Studio Tours. Cross over 49th St. to Studio 1A, home of the Today show.
'
Next door to Studio 1A sits the 10,000-square foot Nintendo World. In addition to sections devoted to the DS,
Game Boy Advance and GameCube videogame consoles, the store has a large selection of Pokemon products.
From Nintendo World, head back to 49th St. and turn right. END your tour at the corner of 49th St. and Fifth
Ave., or continue south along Fifth Ave. with Tailored Tour #62, which highlights familty-friendly sights and
activities from 49th to 42nd Streets. That tour includes American Girl Place, Build-A-Bear Workshop and
Bryant Park.
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Fifth Avenue
Rockefeller Center to 42nd Street
Distance: 1 mile
MAP
62
Atlas
Statue
Radio City
Music Hall
Anthropologie
Bodies of Water
F
V
General
Electric
Building
Barnes
& Noble
Studio 1A
Lids
Journeys
MAP
63
East 47th St.
District
Build-a-Bear Workshop
East 46th St.
Barnes & Noble
East 45th St.
East 44th St.
Madison Avenue
Bus Stops
Diamond
Fifth Avenue
Subway
Stations
Best Buy
Europa Cafe
East 43rd St.
Ricky's
B
D
F
V
7
East 42nd St.
END
McDonald's
Bryant
Park
Harlem
Upper East Side
American Girl Place
TGI Friday's
West 49th St.
Information
Central Park
Channel
Gardens
Nintendo World
Restaurants
Upper West Side
START
Maison
Francaise
NBC
Restrooms
Manhattan
Lower
Plaza
Experience
Shops
Recommended
Eateries
?
British
Empire
Building
J. Crew
Notable Buildings
Monuments
d'Italia
Prime Burger
Saks
Parks
B
D
Pedestrian Areas
International
Building Palazzo
West 50th St.
Tour Route
61
Fifth Avenue
AP
Building
MAP KEY
MAP
Sharper Image
New York
Public
Library
East 41st St.
Carousel
Lowell Fountain
East 40th St.
Bryant Park Grill
Midtown
N
Greenwich
Village
East 39th St.
Financial
District
E
S
C
Fifth Avenue
During the 1990s, as New York transformed itself into one of the safest and cleanest cities in the U.S., some
critics lamented what they saw as the "Disney-fication" of the city. Although these comments were aimed
specifically at Times Square (once a dangerous, dirty haven for criminals and now home to the world's largest
toy store), that effect can be seen along Fifth Avenue as well. Whether you agree with the critics or not, one
thing is indisputable: Today, New York is a much more kid-friendly place than it was just 10 years ago, and the
stretch of Fifth Avenue covered in this tour is a prime example.
Take the B, D, F or V subway trains to the 47th-50th St. / Rockefeller Center station. Alternatively, catch the M1, M2, M3,
M4, M30 or Q32 bus up Madison Ave. (from the south) or down Fifth Ave. (from the north) and get off at 50th St. If you
get off on Madison Ave., just walk one block west to Fifth Ave.
START on the southwest corner of 51st St. and Fifth Ave. and walk south, so
that Saint Patrick's Cathedral is on your left side. Mid-block between 50th and
51st Streets, you'll find Lee Lawrie's 1936 statue of Atlas. Aside from giving
you a close-up view of this impressive sculpture, the small plaza at its base also
provides a great spot from which to admire "St. Pat's" across Fifth Ave.
Continue south across 50th St. and, about halfway down the block, the buildings to your right
will open up onto a majestic promenade. This is Channel Gardens (photo above), so named
because it lies between the Maison Francaise ("French Building") and the British Empire
building. This promenade, with fountains fed by whimsical bronze sea creatures, is the grand
entrance to Rockefeller Center, a 19-building complex developed by John D. Rockefeller,
Jr. between 1929 and 1940. During the month of December, the giant Rockefeller Center
Christmas tree (photo at left) adds another grand element to an already awesome scene.
At the end of the gardens is the Lower Plaza, which houses the iconic Rink at
Rockefeller Center (photo at right) during the fall and winter and becomes an
outdoor eatery, the Rink Bar (average main course: $21), during the warmer
months of the year. The centerpiece of the Lower Plaza is a gilded 1934 statue of
Prometheus, set in a fountain and lit by multi-colored lights. Elevators provide
access to the Lower Plaza and the Underground Concourse, a network of tunnels,
filled with restaurants and shops, that connects all of the buildings in the complex.
Turn right at the end of Channel Gardens and continue around the Lower Plaza to the foot of the 71-story
General Electric Building, the centerpiece of Rockefeller Center. As headquarters for the NBC television
network, the building houses most of the network's New York studios, including those of Saturday Night Live
and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. The building is capped by the Top of the Rock observation deck, an
original feature of the building that reopened in 2006 after a 20-year closure. Although not as high as the
Empire State Building observation deck, the lines are shorter and the views are unobstructed. Glass ceilings in
the elevators allow guests to see the elevator shaft whiz by as they rocket up to the roof (reservations required,
visit www.topoftherocknyc.com).
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Fifth Avenue
At the corner of 50th St. and Avenue of the Americas. you'll find Radio City
Music Hall (photo at left). Named for Rockefeller Center's first major tenant, the
Radio Corporation of America (RCA), the theater hosts the Daytime Emmy Awards
and the Tony Awards. It's also home to the annual Christmas Spectacular, featuring
the Rockettes. The hall's movable stage system, still one of the largest in the world,
was so innovative that the U.S. Navy borrowed its technology for use in the design
of WWII aircraft carriers. Visit the American Society of Mechanical Engineers web
site at www.asme.org/communities/history/landmarks/Radio_City_Music_Hall.cfm
for a fascinating article about the stage. For information about backstage tours, go
to www.radiocity.com/themusichall_tours.html.
Turn left on Avenue of the Americas, then turn left again at 49th St. Stay on the
north side of the street and halfway down the block you'll come to NBC
Experience, which sells merchandise related to NBC TV programs. The
centerpiece of the store is a giant globe, covered with thousands of tiny lights, that
contains a 30-seat theater (photo at right). At regular intervals, the theater shows
video presentations in high-definition panoramic video and surround sound. Kiosks
around the store allow you to "interact" with NBC personalities such as Al Roker,
Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno. You can even buy a recording of your "interview" to
take home. The store is also the starting point for NBC Studio Tours. Studio 1A, the
home of the Today show, is directly across 49th St. from NBC Experience.
'
Next door to Studio 1A sits the 10,000-square foot Nintendo World. In addition to sections devoted to the DS,
Game Boy Advance and GameCube videogame consoles, the store has a large selection of Pokemon products.
Head back across 49th St. again and take a few minutes to explore Rockefeller Plaza. Pick up the tour again by
skirting the Lower Plaza and exiting Rockefeller Center via Channel Gardens. Walk straight across Fifth Ave.
via the mid-block crosswalk to the iconic department store Saks Fifth Avenue. During the winter, the store
presents a holiday show with giant, lighted snowflakes attached to the front of the store. This show is a recent
addition, but Saks' holiday windows, also in the front of the store, have been a holiday tradition for decades.
Turn right in front of Saks and cross 49th St. to American Girl Place (photo at
right), a store and mini-theme park dedicated to the popular American Girl line of
dolls. The store includes a doll hair salon, photo studio, cafe, theater and several
boutiques selling the full range of American Girl dolls and accessories. The store
also presents special events (visit www.americangirlplace.com for details.) Turn
left as you leave American Girl Place and cross 48th St. Make a right across Fifth
Ave. and then turn left, past Lids and Journeys.
As you cross 47th St., you'll notice two diamond-topped lamp posts marking the entrance to the Diamond
District. Ninety percent of the diamonds sold in the U.S. pass through this one-block stretch of mid-rise
buildings and street-level jewelry shops. It's estimated that the 2,600 independent businesses on the block do
$400 million in retail and wholesale business in an average day.
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Fifth Avenue
Once you get to 46th St., cross back over Fifth Ave. to Build-a-Bear Workshop. This store, now ubiquitous in
shopping centers around the country, lets children create a completely personalized teddy bear from scratch.
With your new bear in tow, continue south along Fifth Ave., past Barnes &
Noble, Best Buy and Ricky's, a funky and eclectic sundries shop. Turn
right at 42nd St. and go down half a block to the mid-block crosswalk that
leads into Bryant Park. This eight-acre sanctuary surrounded by towering
skyscrapers hosts events and activities throughout the year, including free
ice skating and a holiday market in the months of November and December.
Stroll around the park to the end of the park closest to Avenue of the
Americas. This part of the park is home to the Lowell Fountain year-round
and the Bryant Park Christmas Tree during the month of December.
Walk along the 40th St. side of the park to Le Carrousel (photo above), a French-style carousel (open April October). Nearby, the Bryant Park Grill (average lunch main course: $20) is a full-service restaurant with a
great view of the park. A great alternative, weather permitting, is to buy food at one of the take-out sandwich
shops along 42nd St. and have a family picnic in the park.
Continue up 40th St. toward Fifth Ave. and make a left once you
reach the corner. END your tour at the foot of the magnificent
New York Public Library (NYPL) building (photo at right).
Opened in 1911, this building actually houses the NYPL's
Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library. Admittedly,
there's not much for kid's to do at this particular branch of the
library, but the lions out front are beloved throughout the city. In
the 1930s, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia named them after the two
qualities he thought New Yorkers would need to endure the Great
Depression. As you face the front of the building, "Patience" is
on your left while "Fortitude" stands proudly to your right.
C
Times Square
Distance: 1 mile
MAP
63
Broa
MAP KEY
Tour Route
B West 50th St.
D Rockefeller Center
N
R
F
V
W
M&M's World
Pedestrian Areas
TKTS
Notable Buildings
Monuments
Restaurants
? Information
Subway
Stations
Lyceum
Theater
Swatch
Booth
Theater
Majestic
Theater
Astor
Plaza
Planet
Hollywood
Toys R Us
Bubba Gump
Shrimp Co.
ABC Studios
New York
Times
Hard
Rock
See detail map below START
Upper East Side
Central Park
Upper West Side
Manhattan
62
West 45th St.
West 44th St.
7
Gap Kids
The Children's
Place
American
Airlines
Sanrio Theater
END Bryant
Park
New York
Public
Library
New
Ford
Victory
Center Theater
West 42nd St.
AMC Empire
Movie Theater
MAP
West 46th St.
Dave &
Buster's
Madame
Tussaud's
Wax Museum
New
Amsterdam
Theater
Red Lobster
dw ay
Financial
District
District
Br o a
Greenwich
Village
Eighth Avenue
Midtown
N 1
R 2
W 3
Q 7
Westin
Hotel
Diamond
West 47th St.
Seventh Avenue
Harlem
West 48th St.
F
V West 42nd St.
ESPN Zone
West 41st St.
West 49th St.
B West 43rd St.
D
NASDAQ MarketSite
A
C
E
S
61
Starbucks
Sardi's
Bus Stops
MAP
Fifth Avenue
Restrooms
?
Virgin Megastore
Eighth Avenue
Shops
Recommended
Eateries
Times Square
Visitors Center
Duffy
Square
?
Hershey's
Times Square
Bodies of Water
dw ay
Parks
Seventh Avenue
1
START
Juan Valdez
Cafe
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Times Square
Although we call it a "square," Times Square is actually a bowtie-shaped gap in midtown Manhattan's street
grid, caused by the intersection of Broadway and 7th Ave. Broadway, an ancient Indian trail, runs crooked while
the rest of the avenues are perfectly straight. There are similar "squares" throughout Manhattan, wherever
Broadway crosses one of these other avenues.
During the 1970s and 80s, Times Square was the last place you'd want to find
yourself, much less your kids. But the area went through a complete
transformation in the 1990s, and today many of Times Square's attractions are
geared toward young people. Home to the world's largest toy store (complete
with indoor ferris wheel) and the biggest entertainment store on the planet,
Times Square is full of unique and exciting things for kids to see and do.
TIP: There are a number of Broadway plays and musicals tailored to
children, and while Times Square is incredible, the real spectaculars take
place in the theaters dotted around the area. Ticket outlets featured in this tour
include the Times Square Information Center, Virgin Megastore and TKTS.
Take the N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3 or 7 subway train to Times Square / 42nd St. Alternatively, take the A, C or E subway train
to 42nd St. / Port Authority Bus Terminal and then walk east to Broadway, or take the B, D, F or V train to 42nd St. and
walk west to Broadway. You can also catch the M42 bus, which runs east-west along 42nd St., and get off at Broadway, or
catch the M6 or M7 bus, which runs north-south on Broadway, and get off at 42nd St. TIP: There are often anti-abortion
protesters mid-block on the south side of 42nd St. between Broadway and 6th Ave. (in the opposite direction of your tour).
The bullhorn they use and explicit posters they display could frighten children, so pass on the north side of the street if
you're walking from the east to the start point on 42nd St.
START
at the "Crossroads of the World," the intersection of 42nd St. and
Broadway. From just outside the Gap store on the southeast corner, walk west along
42nd St., across Broadway and 7th Ave. Continue past Disney's New Amsterdam
theater to the 85,000-square-foot Madame Tussaud's wax museum. The museum
houses six themed, interactive galleries containing over 200 incredibly life-like wax
figures. Although the replicas are amazing, there's more to do here than just stroll
through the museum: In one activity, the museum provides guests with costumes, props
and scripts so they can act out a movie scene with "Will Smith." Another attraction gives
guests the chance to mix their own music with pop star "Usher." The music is created by
moving your hands through multi-colored light beams. There's also an interactive
Pirates of the Caribbean area and other activities featuring Beyonce, American Idol's
Simon Cowell, J.Lo and more (visit www.nycwax.com for more information.)
42nd Street
Further down 42nd St. is Dave & Buster's (average entree: $13), a combination bar/restaurant/game room. This
is a great place for the adults to take a break while the kids play skee-ball and whack-a-mole. Next to Dave &
Buster's is the Hilton Times Square. Note the cartoon-like bronze sculptures affixed to the sign. These are by
local artist Tom Otterness, who has similar works placed throughout the city.
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Times Square
It's time for a riddle: What building has been on 42nd St. for over ninety years, but is new
to its location? In 1998, the 3,700-ton Eltinge Theater was moved 168 feet to the west and
converted into the lobby for a 25-screen multiplex. Built in 1912, the structure is now
known as the AMC Empire. The theater has a roof deck with great views of 42nd St.
Before you reach the corner of 42nd St. and 8th Ave., look across the street at the building
that rises above Chevy's restaurant. This is the Westin Hotel (photo at left), a 45-story
prism-shaped skyscraper split by a lighted arc. Now, cross 42nd St. and turn right, back
toward Times Square. Pass under the $2 million Loew's Cineplex E-Walk sign and past
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. Just beyond B.B. King's is a Sanrio store, which sells the
"Hello Kitty" line of products.
Continue east past the American Airlines Theater, Ford Center and New Victory
Theater. Turn left on 7th Ave. and then cross 43rd St. Turn right in front of Hard Rock
Cafe (average main course: $18), across 7th Ave. to the "island" between 7th Ave. and
Broadway. This a great place to get a a 360-degree view of Times Square. It's also the best
place to see the pole used for the lowering of the crystal ball on New Year's Eve, which
sits on a terrace near the top of One Times Square (noted with a red star on the route
map). Each year, 750,000 people crowd into Times Square and join a worldwide TV
audience of over a half billion to usher in the new year with the lowering of a huge crystal
ball. The pole where it all happens is highlighted with an arrow in the photo at left.
Cross
One more thing to check out while you're on the island is the globe-capped
building with the lighted clock face back across 7th Ave. This is the Paramount
Building (photo at right), built for the movie studio in 1927. The stepped
design of the building was intended to mimic the studio's mountain logo.
Walk north on the island and then cross back over 7th Ave. to Bubba Gump
Shrimp Company (average main course: $16), a theme restaurant filled with
memorabilia from the movie Forrest Gump.
Next, cross 44th St. The office tower on Broadway between 44th and 45th Streets is
Astor Plaza, home to Viacom and MTV Networks. MTV's Total Request Live is shot
in the studio overlooking Times Square (photo at left), and it's not uncommon to see
celebrities and production crews filming on the island in front of the building. There
is a cluster of historic theaters on the block of 45th St. west of Times Square, so once
you've crossed 45th St., take a moment to check out the old marquees lining the block.
At the corner of 46th St., you have an option: If the family isn't too tired, and if they love chocolate, follow the
smaller, red arrows to Hershey's Times Square (photo on next page), recently named one of the "retail
wonders of the world" by BusinessWeek magazine. The store's 215-foot tall, 60-foot wide facade looks like a
giant's candy stash, and is the largest permanenet advertising fixture ever built in Times Square.
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Times Square
At Hershey's, turn right, across Broadway to M&M's World, a huge two-level store
dedicated to that famous, colorful candy. From M&M's World, go straight across 48th
St. and then across 47th St. to Duffy Square, home to discount day-of-performance
ticket seller TKTS (visit www.tdf.org/tkts for more information.) Duffy Square is
also a great vantage point from which to get a 360-degree view of Times Square.
From Duffy Square, turn left, crossing 7th Ave. to the Times Square Information
Center, which provides free visitor information and also sells postage stamps, theater
tickets and Times Square souvenirs. The center offers free internet access and will let
you send free electronic postcards to friends and family back home. Exiting the
information center, turn left, heading down 7th Ave. back into the heart of Times
Square. Cross 46th St. and re-join the main tour route at the Virgin Megastore.
To skip the Hershey's detour, continue with the main tour route by crossing Times Square to the biggest
entertainment store on the planet, the three-level, 75,000-square-foot Virgin Megastore. The store claims to
have the world's largest inventory of CDs, DVDs and videogames, and provides 200 listening stations so guests
can sample some of the music sold in the store. Next store to the Virgin Megastore is the Times Square outlet
of the showbiz-themed international restaurant chain Planet Hollywood (average main course: $18). Like her
twenty or so sister stores, this Planet Hollywood is filled with authentic costumes and movie props. The
exhibits rotate among the chain's restaurants, so you never know what you'll find at a single location.
Cross 45th St. to the largest toy store in the world, Toys R Us Times Square. Opened
in 2001, the 110,000-square-foot, three-level flagship store features a sixty-foot
indoor ferris wheel (photo at right), a thirty-foot-long animatronic T-Rex and a 4,000square-foot, two-story Barbie doll house. There are also huge Lego versions of the
Statue of Libery, the Empire State Building and other New York landmarks. The kids
can create their own stuffed toy in the "Filled with Love" section. The latest DVD's,
CD's and video games can be found in the store's 5,500-square-foot "R Zone," which
also has huge plasma TV screens so you can try some of the games for yourself.
Continue south across 44th St. to Times Square Studios, home of ABC's Good Morning America. On the
other side of 43rd St. sits the NASDAQ MarketSite, a 7-story cylindrical tower that serves as the physical
embodiment of the NASDAQ stock market. The ground floor of the tower is a TV studio which is used by
reporters from major financial news outlets. At $37 million, the 8-story curved screen wrapping the facade is
one of the most expensive installations in Times Square.
Next to the NASDAQ MarketSite is ESPN Zone (average entree: $18).
This bar/restaurant/game room is similar to Dave & Buster's, but with a
sports theme. Turn left on 42nd St. at ESPN Zone and walk east toward
6th Ave. Cross 6th Ave. and then turn right, across 42nd St. and into
Bryant Park. Although this is the END of your tour, Bryant Park is a
wonderful little park where the kids can ride a carousel (April-October,
photo at right) or go ice skating for free (November and December).
C

Fifth Avenue - TailoredTours.com

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