Smack in the middle: Times Square and Broadway

 

Times Square on Monday morning. Not our most favorite place in NYC, but a must-see. We had an appointment at 1 Times Square (building on the left photo, right), the highrise from which the New Year's Ball is dropped. 

There, a new attraction opened this summer: Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Experiences. From a new plattform, called Skywalk, with a partial glass floor, it's possible to view the Ball up close and have 360-degree views of Times Square and NYC. There are a couple of "interactive journeys" through the history of Times Square, too. Below some of the views and sights:

On the left photo is the button they pull to activate the "ball drop" on New Year's Eve. Below, two of the "experiences", one showing the construction of the building, the other imitates a taxi drive on Times Square.

A couple of the former glass balls (not in use anymore) are to be seen in one exhibition hall. The new (9th) ball - The Constellation Ball - shows a display of over 5,000 Waterford crystals and radiant lights and is positioned on top of One Times Square (photo further above).

Passing the Flatiron Building (left), we walked to our lunch appointment at a new modern Turkish bakery - "Red Beard Bakery" (named for the owner's beard). Though it is only a hole in the wall in the East Village, the baking goods were exceptionally good: croissants, hand-held borek with spinach & feta, cube-shaped croissants with a filling, Babka swirls, Baklava Donuts, etc., and, of course, Turkish Simit and Turkish coffee. We talked to the very friendly Turkish owner and his Turkish baker about their concept and their recipes, and, had a good time eating and chatting. 

 

A welcome break before we headed out along Broadway to explore NoHo, SoHo (North & South of Houston St.), Chinatown and Little Italy. The weather was so gorgeous, sunny and warm, and it was fun to explore the different neighborhoods and to admire the elaborate architecture in SoHo.

Broadway above and one of the Mitzvah Tanks, a mobile Jewish promo vehicle, used by ultra-orthodox groups like the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim.

Chinatown below with its street vendors, merging into Little Italy (further below):

 

In the evening we met with our friends Magdalena and Michael in the West Village and checked out a new client of them, another Turkish restaurant, "Foursome", with a bar and really good food. The table went never empty, from different mezzes to watermelon salad and köfte, short ribs and manti to different desserts. A wonderful last evening in town!