Why Times Square?

[6rkate]

Why Times Square?  nypost.com/2014/07/13/tourists-hawkers-costumed-pests-overrunning-times-square/
As Meagan and I walked through Times Square a couple of days ago, we were constantly being shoved and yelled at. The smoke of food vendors, the trash, and the gross naked cowboys (I mean come on have a little respect!) disgusted me. As I sat on the Q train on my way to Saturday Dance Class, a whole group of tourists carrying ” I LOVE NYC” bags desperately searched the subway map in hopes of finding the train that led to Times Square. It annoys me that people who come to NYC for vacation only get to see this horrible, noisy, and annoying part of the city. When they think of NYC they automatically think Broadway shows, bright lights, the city that never sleeps, and sky scrapers. It is a disappointment to be greeted by an array of cartoon characters, poser statue of liberty’s, and nudists. In this article, by the NY Post one tourist remarks “Americans will do anything for money” Meagan and I realized that many tourists do not get to see the true beauty of NYC, some place other than Times Square. Just across the street from our school is the epitome of the arts, Lincoln Center. NYC is all about the arts, this is the place for opportunities and as cliché as it might sound NYC is where your dreams come true. As oppose to being pushed and cursed at by a taxi driver in Times Square, take the 1 train to 66th Street (although, you might not want to take it at 7 am in the morning on a school day as a crowd of LaGuardia students pack themselves in a subway cart.) and enjoy the Philharmonic Ensemble, a performance by New York City Ballet, or simply visit the Performing Arts Library. I want to hear your responses on why tourists are so attracted to places like Times Square when there are so many more beautiful places to visit. In my opinion, Lincoln Center should be the number one place to visit when coming to the Big Apple.

[3gsofia]

I completely agree with you on the idea that Times Square has become a place where energy runs high while morals run low. But in itself, isn't that the beauty of it all? I moved to New York City right before my freshman year and my number one goal was to go to Times Square and see the bright lights and see where the ball drops and so much more. I couldn't wait to see where celebrities had walked and shopped. Although I was disappointed when I saw how small the ball is, I was still mesmerized by the insanity that is New York. Tourist aren't so thrilled about the nasty smells and abundance of Elmo's and Minnie Mice but they do however find a comedic value in the normality of it. It's the idea of suburbia vs the city, and despite Lincoln center is my favorite place in the world, I would go to Times Square to get a bite out of the Big Apple.

[6ckenatea]

I agree that Times Square is one of the most nosiest and crowded places in New York City. It is actually so crowded that you have to walk in the bus lane on the street. But the lights and the commercials just make my day. Also, Broadway shows are just around the corner, and Times Square becomes every musical theater person’s home. I just love New York and when I think about it, I can’t believe that I live here, in the “city that never sleeps”. When someone asks me what my favorite place or thing in New York is, I immediately say the subway. Everybody instantly thinks that I’m crazy. But the rats in the tracks, the varying stenches, seeing people of all different ethnicities come together, are just irreplaceable. However, I agree with Kate when she states that tourists often don’t get to see the true beauty of New York. They should take a walk along the Hudson River, sit in Central Park, or go to Lincoln Center to see an opera or a ballet. I believe that part of the reason tourists often don’t do these things is because there are just so many things to see in such a small amount of time in which they are visiting.