uncovered - Times Square

20
local-approved
things to do
TIMES
E
R
A
U
SQ
d
uncovere
Nonchain
cheap eats
Genuinely
cool bars
A peep at
the past
2 have it all
great food, cool drinks
& fun games
daveandbusters.com/events
with purchase of $10 game play
EXPIRES: 02/28/2011. Present this coupon at Front Desk to redeem. Limit one
coupon per person per visit. Minor policies vary by location – please check
www.daveandbusters.com/locations for details. Not valid with any other offers,
including Eat & Play Combo and Special Price Game Days. Not valid with Special
Events Packages. Coupon must be surrendered at time of redemption and may not
be photocopied or duplicated. Non-negotiable. Power Card purchase price is $2. ($3
Times Square) NOT FOR RESALE.
cover: Paul Warchol; this page: jeff quinn
free
game play
103001013 E02282011
7ND3TREETRD&LOORss4IMES3QUARE
Larger than life, brash, lurid and utterly
hypnotic: For more than a century,
Times Square has provided an eyepopping arena for news, entertainment
and advertising. From the birth of the
Broadway theater district in the early
20th century through 42nd Street’s
spiral into a crime-ridden fleshpot to
the area’s recent reinvention as a
family-friendly theme park, the ups and
downs of America’s most famous
square have reflected the country’s
fortunes, preoccupations and
struggles. Perhaps partly because of
the constantly breaking news snaking
around its central structure, 1 Times
Square, it has been a natural gathering
spot on such historic and euphoric
occasions as V-J Day and Barack
Obama’s election.
New Yorkers have a love-hate
relationship with Times Square. Yes,
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
at the
crossroads
the 1 & only place
there are crowds, chaos and crass,
in-your-face commercialism, but there
are also under-the-radar nightspots,
great old Gotham institutions and some
of the best theater in the world. Although
reaction to Mayor Bloomberg’s
pedestrian “plazas” on Broadway has
been mixed, they have helped to ease
congestion. Likewise the TKTS ticket
booth’s red glass steps in Duffy Square
have proved a genius solution to the
problem of milling gawkers, getting
some of them off the sidewalks and onto
a perfect viewing platform for the
surrounding light show. Recently,
downtown businesses like Shake Shack
and Bowlmor have moved into the area.
Is Times Square becoming—dare we say
it—hipper? One thing is certain, like the
paper that gave the glittering bow tie its
name, it’s a mirror of the times, and as
such always changing.
1
things to do in
Times Square
Camp it up with cabaret
queens
What good is singing alone in your
room when you can sing along
with show tunes at Don’t Tell
Mama? Showbiz pros and pianobar buffs adore this dank but
Russian Samovar
Russian Samovar: Virginia Rollison
LOL till late
Fire Eater (formerly known as
Beware those faintly desperate
Insectivora) make like a dragon.
Look out for surprise guests like gregarious types hanging around
42nd Street, asking “Wanna
the Enigma, who sports horn
implants and a full-body jigsaw- see a comedy show?” Serious
cringefests may lurk in the area’s
puzzle tattoo.
more marginal dives. But you’ll
Want to see more? Pay the
never see anything less than
admission to venture inside and
professional at Carolines on
marvel at such bizarre
Broadway (1626
artifacts as a six-legged
Broadway between
cow, the world’s
TIMES
49th and 50th Sts;
largest collection of
SQUARE
212-757-4100,
shrunken heads and
TRIVIA
carolines.com)—the
a cache of weird art
Wrapped in
best place to catch
that includes a
billboards, 1 Times
Square is almost
marquee names,
portrait of President
COMPLETELY
including sitcomObama composed of
EMPTY.
ready stars, familiar
12,600 gumballs. 234
faces from the ’80s comedy
W 42nd St between
boom, Friars Club–style
Seventh and Eighth Aves (212398-3133, ripleysnewyork.com). spritzers and cable-special ravers.
On select dates through March 27,
$26.95, seniors and students
including 12:30am weekend slots,
$21.95, children 4–12 $19.95,
Paul Mooney airs the honest,
children under 4 free.
Albert Cadabra at
Ripley’s Believe It or
Not! Odditorium
Discover a stage secret
It’s not one of those trendy pseudospeakeasies, but if you didn’t
know it was there you’d walk right
past Bar Centrale, hidden
behind the unmarked door of an
unassuming brownstone above
Joe Allen Restaurant. The elegant,
ungimmicky space comes alive
after curtain call (around 11pm),
when folks like Nathan Lane
start to roll in, though you’ll
probably have better luck getting
in for a pretheater tipple. Drinks—
such as pricey martinis and
Manhattans—are competently
made and ample. 324 W 46th St,
between Eighth and Ninth Aves,
second floor (212-581-3130)
Sip Stoli with Russian
expats
Get a Russian experience (without
going to Brighton Beach) and
fortify yourself against the winter
chill with the national spirit. At
Russian Samovar (256 W
52nd St between Broadway and
Eighth Ave; 212-757-0168,
russiansamovar.com), the vibe is
czarist Russia (circa 1860), with
gold-mesh lamps that grow
more gorgeous as you down shots
Ogle five-figure Fenders
Music Row may have diminished since
its midcentury heyday, but would-be
and real-deal guitar heroes can still
drool over rare instruments at Sam
Ash Custom Guitars. Head to the
back and through the door labeled
guitars of distinction to the store within a
store specializing in custom models.
Presided over by guitar specialist and
acoustic musician Steve Pisani, who
has worked at Ash for 30 years, this is
the repository of such treasures as a
Gibson Les Paul signed by Jeff Beck
($15,999) or an immaculate 1961
Fender Jazz Bass ($26,999), though
you can pick up a custom Fender
Stratocaster for a mere $2,500. Who
knows, you might find store regulars
Steve Miller (pictured with Pisani
above) or Twisted Sister’s Jay Jay
French fingering the strings.
The creation of these A-list axes is
overseen by master builders, from the
selection of the woods to the
construction, explains Pisani. “Some of
the better master-built guitars even
have a certificate with the builder’s
name on it,” he says. Look for Fender’s
Todd Krause or Gibson’s Tom Murphy if
you’re considering a big splurge.
156 W 48th St between Sixth and
Seventh Aves (212-768-4831,
samashcustomguitars.com)
of the house-infused vodkas.
(Teetotalers will find that tea from
a samovar—a large urn—still
provides warmth.) Bookish types
should keep an eye out for regular
readings held upstairs by Farrar,
Straus & Giroux (David
Bezmozgis previews his new
novel, The Free World, on
February 8; see on.fb.me/
russiansamovar for information).
Directly across the street, the vast
New York
City’s first
Automat, Horn
& Hardart,
opens at 1557
Broadway.
The first
dynamic electric
billboard—
advertising
Wrigley’s gum—
is erected.
1927
The impressive new HQ of The New York
Times, in the triangle formed by Seventh
Avenue, Broadway and 42nd Street, opens
with a party and fireworks on December
31—kicking off an NYC New Year’s tradition
(the first ball is lowered three years later).
1917
William K. Vanderbilt opens the
American Horse Exchange at 50th
Street and Broadway. In this period,
the area—the center of the carriagemaking industry—is called Longacre
Square, after its London counterpart.
1912
Highs and lows
1904
2
Gawk at real freaks
Carrying the torch for gritty
bygone attractions like Hubert’s
Museum, which featured a flea
circus and such legendary freaks
as Zip the Pinhead on 42nd
Street from the mid-1920s until
the late ’60s, Ripley’s Believe
It or Not! Odditorium
provides a platform for a new
generation of sideshow
performers. You don’t even
have to pay admission to catch
their acts: In winter, free
performances take place under
the marquee on weekends from
1pm to 6pm (once an hour on
Friday, every half hour on
Saturday and Sunday), and the
schedule expands when kids are
out of school. See Albert
Cadabra, the human blockhead,
eat razor blades or hammer a nail
into his nose, or Angelica the
1885
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
Raunchy relics, hidden thespian hangouts, a spot of culture
and an endless supply of street theater…big Broadway
shows and Blade Runner–style electronic billboards aren’t
the only attractions at the Crossroads of the World.
By Lisa Ritchie
homey Restaurant Row stalwart,
where acts range from the strictly
amateur to potential stars of
tomorrow. The lineup in the
cabaret room may include pop,
jazz and musical-theater singers,
as well as comedians and drag
artists ($10–$20 plus two-drink
minimum) such as Judy Garland
impersonator Tommy Femia.
Performers often congregate in the
piano bar before and after their
numbers, and best of all, there’s no
cover charge, just a two-drink
minimum. 343 W 46th St between
Eighth and Ninth Aves (212-7570788, donttellmamanyc.com)
Reflecting Times Square’s
emergence as New York’s
entertainment center, a
record 264 shows are
presented in 76 theaters
in the 1927–8 season.
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
20
racially charged—and
hilarious—opinions that landed
him the job of Richard Pryor’s
cowriter back in the day, and more
recently, the role of Negrodamus
on Chappelle’s Show. At the
Broadway Comedy Club (318
W 53rd St between Eighth and
Ninth Aves; 212-757-2323,
broadwaycomedyclub.com), which
showcases TV faces and other
regulars from the club circuit,
you might catch rising stars like
Myq Kaplan, who won last
spring’s ECNY Award for Best
Emerging Comic.
3
there. Tad’s Steakhouse on 47th
Street is just like the porn-video
stores in Times Square: No male
ever admits to going there, but if you
walk by, it’s full of guys eating this
cheap steak dinner. It’s the only
steakhouse I’ve ever been to where
you stand in line with a cafeteria
tray. A lot of comics go there at
midnight when they have the beer
munchies. The Texas toast is very
addicting—kind of like garlic bread
without the garlic, and probably the
best thing on the menu.
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
Comedian Rich Brooks has
worked in the area for about ten
years. He appears regularly at the
Broadway Comedy Club.
What are your favorite places
in Times Square?
Smith’s—it still has all the cool
vintage signs. Up until a few
years ago it was a very rough bar—
the folks there were five to ten
dollars away from being homeless
and the women looked like Tom
Waits. Now the place is a little
more upscale, but it still has a
good vibe and New Yorkers still go
4
Sephora
The electric news
“zipper,” which was
installed on 1 Times
Square in 1928,
announces the stock
market crash.
1933
1929
horseshoe-shaped bar of the
Russian Vodka Room (265 W
52nd St between Broadway and
Eighth Ave; 212-307-5835,
russianvodkaroom.com) is always
packed with a mix of young
Russian and American rowdies
with roving eyes.
What do you love most about
Times Square?
It’s hip to say that you hate Times
Square, but I still love getting off
the subway on a Saturday night to
head over to the Broadway
Comedy Club, or to a show or
movie, and seeing the thousands
of people who have come to the
city, and who are so excited to see
it. It sounds corny and schmaltzy,
but I love that energy, and it makes
me grateful to live in this city.
nearby (1592 Broadway at 48th
St, 212-247-8169). The prices are
as appealing as the spectrum of
shades: Eye shadows and lipsticks
start at $12, and the star product, a
“breathable” nail polish based on
the same polymer as contact
lenses, is $14. The Freedom
System lets you create your own
combo palette (starting at $16 for a
compact of three) from a mindboggling array of concealer, cheek,
lip and eye colors.
Enter a Roman brothel
If you found the recent King Tut
exhibition fascinating, the
blockbuster show opening March
3 at the Discovery Times
Square Exposition will blow
you away. “Pompeii: The Exhibit”
vividly evokes life in the city just
before the A.D. 79 eruption of
Vesuvius through art, artifacts…
And what annoys you about it?
and 20 plaster casts of its
The same reason that I love it—all
residents. “Most of the people who
the people coming to the city and
died in Pompeii didn’t burn to
being excited to be here.
death; they were suffocated by
pumice and ash, so you can
Get groomed and
literally see their last poses—
glammed
lying, sitting or reaching for
Upscale beauty supermarket
something as they were covered in
Sephora has branches all over
ash,” explains lead producer
the city, but the 9,608-square-foot
Natalie Gilhome. “Obviously, they
Times Square location (1500
were buried for many years and
Broadway between 43rd and 44th
the bodies decomposed. During
Sts; 212-944-6789, sephora.com)
excavations in the late 1800s,
is one of two that feature an
archaeologists discovered all
Anastasia Brow Studio,
these cavities where
operated by staff
bodies had been, so
TIMES
trained by the Beverly
they poured in plaster
SQUARE
Hills brow guru.
of paris and started
TRIVIA
Recline on a fauxexcavating around it.
The New Year’s Eve
ostrich-skin chair in
The result was these
Ball is 12 FEET in
diameter and weighs
the mini salon at the
amazing plaster casts
11,875 POUNDS.
back of the store while
of humans in their last
your arches are defined
moments of life.” In
(appointments are required).
addition to the casts (which
Last year, Polish makeup brand
range from single forms to family
Inglot opened its first U.S. outpost groups), large frescoes, statuary
In the depths of the
Great Depression, only a
handful of live theaters
remain, as the movies
(and strip shows) take
center stage.
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top: zenith richards; sephora: virginia Rollison
My Times Square
346 WEST 46TH STREET
(BETWEEN EIGHTH AND NINTH AVES)
(212) 245-2030
WWW.BOURBONNY.COM
Pulse Karaoke Lounge &
Suites, you can let your star
fantasies soar on the 20-foot-wide
stage outfitted with LED lighting
effects. Private suites (from $30
per person for two hours with
unlimited drinks) are equipped
with Guitar Hero and Rock Band
(mike, guitar, drums and bass)
video games. 135 W 41st St
between Sixth Ave and Broadway
(212-278-0090, pulsekaraoke.com)
Browse authentic
pop relics
Push the musical-note door
handles to enter a portal to Times
Square’s past; Colony Records,
a longtime resident of the rockin’
Brill Building, was founded in
1948. In addition to sheet music
(the selection covers everything
from an AC/DC songbook to hot
And what annoys you about it?
Trying to move from one block to
the next. Sometimes I don’t even
go out there because I know I’m
going to come back to work mad.
Rise above the fray and
admire the view
Broadway musicals such as Billy
Elliot), CDs and vinyl, browse
Times Square may have lost most
glass cases full of era-spanning
of its grit, but the spectacle is still
ephemera. Get a whiff of the
exhilarating. The TKTS ticket
King with Elvis “Teddy
booth’s red structural
TIMES
Bear” perfume from
glass steps in Duffy
SQUARE
the ’50s ($500) or pay
Square (Broadway
TRIVIA
tribute to the
at 47th St) are the
All Times Square
original superwaif
perfect spot to pause
buildings are REQUIRED
in a pair of lace
and enjoy dazzling
BY LAW to have bright
tights “inspired by
sweep of the Great
signs, measured by LUTS
(light units Times
Twiggy” ($50).
White Way. Ticket
Square).
1619 Broadway
tip: Show up a
between 49th and 50th
couple of hours after
Sts (212-265-2050,
the booth opens to avoid
colonymusic.com)
long lines—or try the TKTS
booth in Downtown Brooklyn.
Warm up and chill out
Retreat from the frenzied streets to Become a hoofer
the sanctuary of Bikram Yoga
If you’ve been inspired by what
NYC—one of four locations in the you’ve seen onstage, the Theater
city. According to cofounder (and
District is also the place to hone
former Broadway dancer) Donna
your own craft—or start from
Deep Throat
premieres in
one of the
many Times
Square porn
theaters.
In only one
year, 2,300
crimes are
reported on
“the Deuce”
(42nd Street).
Disney’s restoration of
the New Amsterdam
Theatre heralds a new
age of family-friendly
entertainment. Two years
later, The Lion King opens.
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
What do you love most about
Times Square?
Every time I come out of the
subway, I see the big Lion King sign
at the Minskoff Theatre and
sometimes I have to pinch myself
and say, Do I really work here? In
between shows, you sometimes
want to get some fresh air and
Rubin, even yoga virgins can
easily master this style, based on
hatha. What sets it apart from
other forms is the combination of
very specific poses with a room
heated to between 100 and 105
degrees. The heat enables you to
warm up much faster, so you can
go deeper into your postures
without pulling a muscle, explains
Rubin. “It’s very good for
detoxifying because you’re
sweating a lot,” she adds, “and the
heat actually makes it more
challenging because it tends to
raise your heart rate more.”
Introductory rates start at $27 for
a week or $59 for 30 days.
Individually tailored massage is
also available courtesy of
husband-and-wife therapists Mr.
and Mrs. Shelley. Sweet! 797
Eighth Ave between 48th and 49th
Sts, fourth floor (212-245-2525,
bikramyoganyc.com)
1995
The Beatles
make their U.S.
debut on The Ed
Sullivan Show,
filmed near
Times Square.
some food. Only on Broadway can
you walk around in that big
makeup. You get so many
questions, and when you tell
people they get so excited.
1983
A front-page story in
The New York Times
names 42nd Street
between Seventh and
Eighth Avenues as the
“worst block in town.”
TKTS
What are your favorite places
in Times Square?
I eat at Kodama, on 45th Street at
Eighth Avenue, at least once a
week. I like the double spicy tuna,
with jalapeños and spicy mayo,
and the avocado crab salad. It’s
very homey, there’s nothing fancy
about it, but the food is incredible.
I play guitar and I love going into
Sam Ash. They’re so nice in there,
and sometimes you find people
just jamming. It’s kind of a
hangout spot.
1972
In his battle against burlesque,
Mayor La Guardia shuts down one
of the last holdouts, Minsky’s
(now the New Victory Theater),
which had showcased the talents
of Gypsy Rose Lee.
Colony Records
Selloane Nkhela, African funk-pop
solo artist and a cast member in The
Lion King, has performed on
Broadway for four years.
bowlmor, colony and tkts: virginia rollison
Catch a downtown diva
Although it’s a jazz club, Iridium
extends its reach: Scottish folk
legend Bert Jansch recently
stopped by the club’s weekly Les
1964
and personal objects will be on
display, plus—appropriately for
the neighborhood—an “adult”
section featuring a re-created
brothel room. “When you go to
Pompeii,” says Gilhome, “the
longest line is always the one for
the brothel.” 226 W 44th St
between Seventh and Eighth Aves
(888-988-8692, discoverytsx.
com). $25, seniors $22.50,
children 3–12 $19.50, children
under 3 free.
My Times Square
Paul tribute hang (the father of the St between Seventh and Eighth
electric guitar made Iridium his
Aves (212-239-6200, lct.org)
Monday-night base until his death
Be uplifted at B.B. King’s
in 2009). Singer, songwriter,
Despite the name, B.B. King
accordionist, feminist,
Blues Club & Grill has
erstwhile Playboy model
TIMES
one of the most
and veteran
SQUARE
varied calendars in
downtown avantTRIVIA
town. Cover bands
garde scenestress
Midnight Cowboy, starring
and soul tributes
Phoebe Legere
Jon Voight and Dustin
fill the gaps
currently has
Hoffman and set against
between big-name
a monthly
Times Square’s seedy
tableau, was RATED X
bookings such as
residency. 1650
when it was released in
Chuck Berry.
Broadway at 51st
1969 (it’s now
Lately, the club has
St (212-582-2121,
rated R).
also proved a viable
iridiumjazzclub
space for extreme-metal
.com)
bands (Napalm Death, Obituary,
Preview new talent
Dark Funeral) and neosoul and
from Lincoln Center
hip-hop acts. But one thing is
Lincoln Center may be more than constant: Every Sunday NYC’s
20 blocks north, but until
own Harlem Gospel Choir, which
completion of its new 131-seat
has performed for President
Claire Tow Theater atop the
Obama, Nelson Mandela and the
Vivian Beaumont in 2012,
Pope, is on the menu, along with a
The Duke is the home of LCT3,
Southern-inflected buffet brunch.
which presents the work of
The sets include such feel-good
emerging playwrights and
gospel standards as “Oh Happy
directors, more daring than the
Day” and “Man from Galilee,”
usual Lincoln Center fare. All
and audience participation is
tickets are $20, and the past
warmly encouraged. 237
couple of seasons have yielded
W 42nd St between Seventh and
some excellent productions. The
Eighth Aves (212-997-4144,
next show, When I Come to Die,
bbkingblues.com)
written by Nathan Louis
Get your 15 minutes
Jackson, whose assured,
of fame
bighearted Broke-ology made its
You don’t have to be a cast
LCT3 debut in fall 2009, begins
previews January 31. 229 W 42nd member to get a crowd—at
1960
6
For 72 years, New Yorkers from Rudy
Giuliani to Jimmy Fallon have practiced
their arm swing at Greenwich Village
institution Bowlmor Lanes. Now,
after spreading its reach as far as
Miami and Orange County, California,
the company has opened its biggest
facility yet. At 90,000 square feet
spread over two floors, the tastefully
appointed pleasure zone features 50
lanes, an upscale sports bar, a kitchen
helmed by David Burke offering
laneside service, and a loft-style
nightclub spotlighting indie bands and
burlesque. Seven Gotham-themed
alleys include the pagoda-sheltered
Chinatown (bang the gong if you bowl a
strike); the Times Square, enhanced by
(tastefully clad) pole dancers; the
elegant Prohibition, secreted behind a
hat-shop facade; and Pop New York,
channeling the vibe of Andy Warhol’s
Factory. 222 W 44th St between
Seventh and Eighth Aves (212-6800012, bowlmor.com). $12 per person
per game, shoe rental $6.50.
1942
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
Bowl the whole city
7
Mayor Bloomberg
designates stretches of
Broadway pedestrian
“plazas,” complete
with tables and chairs
for lingering.
It’s hard to remember when 42nd Street
was throbbing with triple-X-rated movie
theaters, adult bookstores and peepshow emporiums instead of multiplexes,
Madame Tussauds and McDonald’s. One
of the last vestiges of sleaze on the strip,
Peep-O-Rama closed in 2002 (although
“video booths” are still freely available at
Show World on Eighth Avenue). Now it’s
back—in a new free mini museum within
the Times Square Visitor Center.
The salvaged Peep-O-Rama sign hovers
above three original booths, equipped
with fog glass buttons that allow you to
obscure (or reveal) the window between
you and your fellow peeper. Set against
the lavish, landmarked interior of the
1925 Embassy Theater, the displays
will intrigue anyone with an interest in
local-specific ephemera; see a model
of 1 Times Square (an elegant 1904
structure) without its sheath of
billboards, and the 2007 New Year’s Eve
Ball, which performs a dazzling light show
every 20 minutes, including the classic
countdown, representations of the
seasons and a meteor shower. In homage
to the Embassy’s former life as America’s
first newsreel theater, a five-minute
“newsreel” telling the story of the Square
plays on a loop. Seventh Ave between
46th and 47th Sts (timessquarenyc.org)
PROMOTION
Unlock the City
Visit the “people’s
auditorium”
and Edna St. Vincent Millay
gave her first public reading,
Designed by McKim, Mead &
in 1928. These days, the
White as a meeting
emphasis is on music:
house for a suffragist
Acoustics are
TIMES
organization, the
superb. Randy
SQUARE
stately 1921
Newman, whose
TRIVIA
Town Hall has a
latest album, Harps
364,000 PEOPLE
distinguished history passed through Times and Angels, includes
Square on a single day biting political
of activism and
in December.
progressive culture.
commentary, takes
It was here that
the stage on March 5.
Margaret Sanger was
123 W 43rd St between
arrested for attempting to give
Sixth Ave and Broadway (212a lecture on birth control,
840-2824, the-townhall-nyc.org)
Two street vendors raise the alarm about
smoke from a parked SUV on West
45th Street. Faisal Shahzad is arrested
and sentenced to life imprisonment
for attempting to detonate a crudely
assembled car bomb.
Experience everything that’s happening in the city that never sleeps
with Time Out New York’s mobile app for iPhone and Android.
Use it to find the latest concerts, clubs, exhibits and shows, as well
as nearby places to eat and drink in NYC.
top: Paul Warchol; center: Masaya Yoshimura; bottom: virginia rollison
Muji
Sneak a peep at the past
2010
8
Buy stuff without logos
A bastion of understatement and
good taste on Times Square’s
southern border, the midtown
outpost of Muji beckons behind
the glass of Renzo Piano’s New
York Times Building. Design
purists adore the Tokyo-based
line for its simple aesthetics and
smart, streamlined packaging.
Clear plastic storage boxes in
various sizes, minimalist
kitchenware, subtly stylish
clothing for both genders and
innovative items like portable
cardboard speakers ($38 each) are
affordable style statements—and
there isn’t an i  ny T-shirt in sight.
620 Eighth Ave at 40th St (212382-2300, muji.us)
2009
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
scratch. For Latin and ballroom
dancing, check out Dance
Times Square (156 W 44th St
between Sixth and Seventh Aves,
third floor; 212-994-9500,
dancetimessquare.com); classes
are available in bundles of five
($75 total), and “Latin Lunch”
classes are $20 each (Thu
12:15pm). Need the requisite shoes
or leotard? Stop by Capezio
Dance Theater Shop (1650
Broadway at 51st St, second floor;
212-245-2130, capeziodance.
com), which has been shoeing
showfolk since theatrical cobbler
Salvatore Capezio set up shop on
Broadway in 1887.
Do
it freewnload
dial *! Simply
(**86 *TONY
6
your 9) from
phon
e.
Nonchain
cheap eats
True, Freshii is a global chain,
but the first NYC location is a
welcome addition to the area
for a quick, nutritious meal.
Start by choosing a bowl, salad,
wrap or soup, then customize
your order with a selection
of proteins and vegetables, plus
toppings that range from black
beans to crispy wontons—dishes
average $8–$9. Grab a table and
eat in the contemporary,
industrial space, or
take your food—packed
in biodegradable
containers—to go. 1407
Broadway at 39th St (212719-3737, freshii.com)
The proximity of Heartland
Brewery’s burger restaurant to
Times Square pretty much
guarantees a touristy crowd, but
New Yorkers shouldn’t shy away.
The straightforward, griddleseared patties ($7.50) are juicy
and bursting with beefy flavor;
add a side of bacon-cheese TaterTots for just four bucks. 127 W
43rd St between Sixth Ave and
Broadway (212-575-5848)
Margon
On weekdays, this Dominicanowned midtown lunch counter is
jammed with patrons, whom you’ll
get to know better when sharing
one of the precious few tables.
They gather for roasted chicken
($8.50) and excellent octopus
salad (starting at $6.75)—thin,
chewy slices of pulpo tossed with
piquant olives. The Cuban
sandwich ($6) is a standout:
Crammed with roasted pork, ham,
salami, sliced pickles and white
cheese, it comes dressed with
mayo and mustard unless you
specify otherwise. Lines are
longest on Wednesdays, when
Margon offers the supersucculent
roasted-pork special ($9.50).
136 W 46th St between Sixth and
Seventh Aves (212-354-5013,
margonrestaurant.net)
Beyond the generic-sounding
menu, bright lights and gaudy
decor—the walls are vivid purple—
lurks a solid Vietnamese
restaurant. Steer clear of the
Chinese-style stir-fries and Thaistyle curries, and opt instead for
more traditional Vietnamese
dishes like greaseless, crisp spring
rolls ($6.50) and succulent grilled
lemongrass chicken ($13),
or a rice-flour crêpe ($11–
$12), which delicately
bundles chicken or shrimp.
234 W 48th St between
Broadway and Eighth Ave
(212-247-8669)
Green
Symphony
A favorite of healthconscious Times Square
workers, this vegetarian
spot challenges the
stereotype that healthy
food is more expensive.
The $4.49 Avocado
Delight is pita bread filled
to capacity with ripe Hass
Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen
11
Saigon 48
Sapporo
Café Edison
Back when most people
thought ramen was just an
instant food, Sapporo was
already dishing out
steaming bowls of the real
stuff at its bare-bones
location just north of Times
Square. Among the various
broths available, including
salt and soy, the Sapporo
Free Soda or Coffee
with LUNCH or DINNER
top: Virginia Rollison; bottom: danielle parhizkaran
Freshii
HB Burger
Shake Shack
top: Virginia Rollison; bottom: Andrew Fladeboe
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
10
Now in its 31st season, this
no-frills family-run eatery could
qualify as one of Broadway’s
longest-running shows. It draws
tourists, theatergoers, actors and
everyone else in search of oldworld deli staples such as cheese
blintzes ($8.35) and giant openfaced Reubens ($10.50). The
matzo ball soup ($4.35) is so
restorative, you can almost feel it
bolstering your immune system.
Hotel Edison, 228 W 47th St
between Broadway and Eighth Ave
(212-840-5000)
avocado, hummus, tomato,
mesclun and sprouts. Not full
yet? Spring for the homemade
crunchy-chewy energy bar, or a
silky soy-milk cappuccino. 255 W
43rd St between Seventh and
Eighth Aves (212-391-4747)
Smith’s Bar &
Restaurant
From the stately neon sign hanging
above the windows on 44th Street
to the 50-foot-long
mahogany bar, this
dive evokes preDisney Times
Square. The vinyl
tablecloths are
sticky, the chairs are
rickety, and the
barstools tend to be
filled with grouchy
old men hunched
Schnipper’s Quality
over cheap beer. As
Kitchen
a history lesson,
Andrew and Jonathan
Saigon 48 Smith’s is
Schnipper—best known for their
unsurpassed. As a
Hale and Hearty Soup chain—
that sloppy joe ($6.50). The New
restaurant, it’s easily left in the
have turned their attention to
York Times Building, 620 Eighth
dust, but the standard pub grub
comfort foods. Sidle up to the
Ave at 41st St (212-921-2400,
(burgers, nachos and fish-andcounter and enjoy the bustle of
schnippers.com)
chips, for example, at prices
the open kitchen, where all dishes
hovering around $10) is adequate if
Shake Shack
are made to order. If you’ve got
you want to soak up the divey vibe.
the
appetite,
grab
a
side
of
mac
Danny
Meyer’s
wildly
popular
701
Ave 1
at 44th St (212-246CP59
Times
Sq
arts.qxd:Layout
1
12/21/10
1:50
PM Eighth
Page
and cheese ($3.99) to go with
burger joint now has its name in
3268, smithsbar.com)
Never resort to a pretheater Big Mac again.
These budget-friendly spots are all within a
chorus-line kick of the Great White Way.
Café Edison
lights. The widely acclaimed
burgers (starting at $4.75), frozen
custard shakes ($5.25) and
plenty of seating are a boon
for theatergoers and office
workers alike. 691 Eighth Ave at
44th St (646-435-0135,
shakeshack.com)
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
Special ramen’s
miso base is our
favorite. At $9.25,
it comes studded
with scallions and
bits of corn,
fluorescent rounds
of pink-and-white
fish cake and sliced
pork. Those
seeking a larger
meal can fortify
their order for just
$5 with crispy fried
pork gyoza or savory donburi (eggand-onion-topped rice). While it’s
no longer New York’s best option
for the soup—the noodles could be
springier, the flavors richer—it’s
still one of the tourist-packed
area’s better spots for a meal.
152 W 49th St between Sixth and
Seventh Aves (212-869-8972)
Comfort food and fine dining
overlooking Broadway.
LUNCH SPECIALS AND
FIXED-PRICE PRE-THEATER DINNER.
INSIDE THE CROWN PLAZA TIMES SQUARE
1605 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
212-977-4000
Manhattan.CrownePlaza.com
The best bars
THIS WINTER, LET OUR FIRE AND
FRENCH FARE KEEP YOU WARM
We’ve sleuthed out your perfect watering hole. By Amanda Waas
To avoid
the
crowds
TIMEOUTNEWYORK.COM
For beer
geeks
For
dazzling
views
To make
a splash
The drinks
Jimmy’s Corner
While Jimmy’s is a full-service
bar, don’t embarrass yourself
by ordering a Caramel
Appletini. Stick to beer.
At $4 a pint, it might be the
cheapest drink in the area.
Village Pourhouse
The second offspring of the East Village pub
manages to feel cozy and cavernous at the
same time. Exposed-brick walls are adorned
with framed sports memorabilia and more
than 21 HDTVs that are tuned indefinitely
to ESPN. The kitchen churns out the type of
standard pub fare (gooey mac and cheese,
spicy wings and crispy chicken tenders)
that goes perfectly with the bar’s phonebook–size beer list.
The Pourhouse is all about
beer, with more than 100 to
choose from. Craft-brew
aficionados can knock back
a Flying Dog Horn Dog from
Maryland, while less
adventurous drinkers can
order a Bud Light. Happy-hour
deals, including $1 drafts at
lunchtime, are truly special.
R Lounge
With the R Lounge, a laid-back space in
the Renaissance Hotel, the Bromberg
brothers (the sibling team behind the
Blue Ribbon empire) expand their reign
over late-night grub. The floor-to-ceiling
windows offer breathtaking views of the lights
and mayhem on the street, and the bar-snack
menu includes spins on some of the brothers’
most classic dishes. Be on the lookout for
their famous Northern-fried chicken wings
and pork-chip nachos (each $15). Want
to take in the sights all night? Do it—in the
spirit of the Blue Ribbon eateries, the kitchen
stays open late.
Surprisingly, you won’t pay
through the nose for the
incredible view—the average
cocktail is $12. Looking for
something hearty? Knock
back a Partners & Spade, a
Bloody Mary designed by
messenger-bag guru Andy
Spade. Jonesing for
something sweet? Try the
Empire Apple—a cinnamonsugar–laced cocktail
featuring apple liqueur, apple
cider, and brown-sugar syrup.
Aspen Social Club
Want to take someone on an extravagant ski
trip but can’t pony up the cash? Look no
further than Aspen Social Club, where the
roaring fireplaces, towering birches, worn
wood and antler accents transport you to a
cozy ski lodge in the mountains. Spend an
hour by the fireplace and you’ll swear you’re
in Colorado.
Prices are a bit steep. The bar
prides itself on artisanal
cocktails ($15–$20),
especially “The Biff,” a shot of
Baileys Irish Cream topped
with Chivas Regal—a favorite
of notorious boozer Hunter
S. Thompson.
Room Mate Grace Hotel
pool bar
A dip in the Room Mate Grace Hotel’s pool bar
ranks among the most unusual Times Square
experiences. For $10, you can gain access to
this urban oasis, complete with sunken swimup bar, underwater lighting and a DJ spinning
on weekends. Never thought you’d wear a
bikini in Times Square, did you?
In addition to the admission
fee, there’s a two-drink
minimum, but once you taste
the Passion Fruit Martini or
the Green Tea Vodka Martini
(each $15), we’re pretty sure
that won’t be a problem.
140 W 44th St between Sixth Ave
and Broadway (212-221-9510)
366 W 46th St between Eighth
and Ninth Aves (212-979-2337,
villagepourhouse.com)
Renaissance New York Times
Square Hotel, 714 Seventh Ave at
W 48th St (212-765-7676,
rloungetimessquare.com)
12
To
impress
your date
The scene
Escape the madness at Jimmy’s Corner, a
bona fide dive that harkens back to the old
days. Jimmy Glenn, the owner for more than
30 years, stays true to his boxing-coach roots—
the wall behind the bar is a shrine to the sport,
covered with shots of famed fighters.
157 W 47th St between Sixth and
Seventh Aves (212-221-7200,
aspensocialclub.com)
125 W 45th St between Sixth Ave
and Broadway (212-354-2323,
room-matehotels.com)
World-renowned Chef Todd English adds panache to French Cuisine with his
newest restaurant concept, Ça Va Brasserie, located in the heart of New York City’s
Theater district. To help fight off the winter blues Ça Va Brasserie is heating it
up in the kitchen. From now until March 15, 2011, bring in this advertisement to
receive 20% off your restaurant bill for all meal periods (restaurant only*).
jimmys: jeff gurwin; village pourhouse: Virginia Rollison; aspen: Gregory Goode
The place
Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner as well as Pre-Theater Dining
310 West 44th Street New York NY 10036
212–803–4545 • www.cavatoddenglish.com
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* Certain Restrictions apply • Offer ends March 15, 2011 • Not redeemable for cash • One certificate per party