Times Square – This Is Where The Heart of New York Beats Fastest

Been to New York but not stopped by Times Square? Sorry, then the trip doesn’t count! Times Square IS New York, the heart of the city beats here, the Big Apple is so lively, so diverse and more international than anywhere else in the metropolis.

So whether you are in NYC for the first, tenth or hundredth time – it just doesn’t work without Times Square. For repeat offenders, it is comforting to know that Times Square is more than “just” a world-famous square. Today an entire district bears this name and invites you to linger, look and be amazed with bars, restaurants, shops and theaters. The latest news and stock exchange prices can also be followed live.

A newspaper writes city history

Even those who haven’t been paying too much attention in the history lesson know that the United States of America is still a young country. Under the original name of “New Amsterdam”, New York was one of the first settlements that Europeans founded in the New World, but Times Square was far from being mentioned at the time. It was not until the turn of the 20th century that “Longacre Square, as the square was called at the time, became more popular and aroused desire. So it was only around 110 years ago that the area was still dominated by horse stables and coach houses. But then an influential newspaper decided to move its offices there. The New York Times settled on the square. Shortly thereafter, in the meantime the year 1904, it was named after the paper.

This place lives from advertising

The settlement of the New York Times had enormous consequences for the place. Wherever there is communication, where influence, fame and money meet, there is a pull. About ten years after the name was changed, there were hotels and theaters, restaurants and bars in Times Square. It was the ultimate place in New York where you could have fun, see and be seen and where you could meet people who were rich, beautiful, or at least beneficial for your own career. A place where you were also open to new ideas and developments. The first “billboards” or billboards were soon erected there. Back then, theaters advertised their performances with large signs that were lit all around by white lightbulbs.

Today there is hardly a square centimeter on the facades in Times Square that is not paved with illuminated panels or digital advertising screens. The facades of even the oldest houses were straightened so that they could be rented to the advertising industry. Advertising in Times Square today has almost something of a cult status and appears to visitors in its entirety like a single huge work of art. The advertising motifs that have been remembered include the gigantic Pepsi Cola waterfall, the striking cowboy with the camel cigarette and the skinny models who showed skin for jeans by Calvin Klein.

Where there is light, there is also shadow

Time never stands still in Times Square. This is a fact that has also revealed its downside in the past. With the invention of television, the theaters, but also the bars and restaurants in Times Square, suffered from a decline in visitors. In a first step it slipped into the second class, later dubious establishments, fast food chains and cheap shops settled. Times Square seemed doomed, and with it Broadway. But as I said, time does not stand still in Times Square and after a radical cleanup by the New York administration, the square was able to find its old glory. Today, well-known companies, music and film studios and, last but not least, the Nasdaq technology exchange ensure that the old quality standards are met again and even exceeded. With a redesigned pedestrian mall and a New Year’s Eve party broadcast worldwide every year, Times Square is as famous, popular and colorful as ever.

Times Square in facts and figures

If you want to know exactly when you are in Times Square, you have to pay attention to the street signs. You have officially arrived at the point where Broadway meets Seventh Avenue. In fact, the entire “Theater District” between 42nd and 47th Streets is now listed as Times Square. The big musical theaters, where glamorous performances take place night after night, are just as much a part of Times Square as the many chic designer hotels that have opened near Broadway. There are also some smaller theaters among the 40 or so theaters, in which serious plays are shown. Times Square is part of Mid Manhattan.

Times Square in a nutshell

• In the 19th century there were stables and coach houses on what was then “Longacre Square”
• In 1904 it was renamed after the New York Times newspaper
• Decline in the fifties to seventies of the last century
• Today Times Square has returned to its former meaning and is the heart of the New York theater district with more than 40 venues

TRANSPORTATION IN NEW YORK CITY

With over eight million residents, New York City is one of the largest metropolises in the world. A well-functioning transport network seems all the more important. Most of all, New York City people travel by bus, subway, and taxi.

1. LAWRENCE RIVER – A RIVER THAT WHALES LOVE TOO

Before the Saint Lawrence River crosses the Canadian province of Québec, it first forms the border between the US state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario.

Canada is a country of great scenic beauty. Framed by two huge oceans, criss-crossed by high mountain ranges and equipped with crystal clear lakes, it is a paradise for flora, fauna and also for humans. Have we forgotten anything? Oh yes, there are also the big rivers that shape the face of this country. The most famous and longest of these is the St. Lawrence River. Part of its course forms the border between the Canadian province of Ontario. But that is by no means the most exciting thing that can be reported about this current.

Long or longer, that is the question

“Electricity”. That is actually the most appropriate expression for this body of water, which the word “river” cannot really do justice to. The St. Lawrence River has immense dimensions. How long it is, however, can be argued about. It all depends on where you measure from. If you take the entire river system, you will come to the proud length of 2900 kilometers. Anyone who “only” takes that part of the river system that actually bears the name “St. Lawrence River” will only come to about 1200 kilometers. But that is also a considerable length. Wherever you look at the river, it is considered to be the third longest river on the North American continent.

Energy from electricity

The economic importance of the river should not be underestimated. The St. Lawrence River is navigable along its entire length and is therefore an important transport route. The major cities of Montreal and Quebec are located on its banks, and it has a catchment area of ​​well over a million square kilometers. Over the decades, various locks, dams and, last but not least, hydroelectric power stations have been built along the course of the river. They supply a huge area with energy.

Fish in abundance

A river like the St. Lawrence River is not only of immense importance for the economy. It also offers indispensable living conditions for many animals. There shouldn’t be many rivers in the world where whales can be found. The St. Lawrence River is such a river. Several species of whale are at home in its nutrient-rich waters, including the blue and white whales. But many other fish also inhabit the river. For example, carp can weigh up to 25 kilograms here. So it’s no wonder that the 2011 World Carp Fishing Championship was held on the St. Lawrence River. Herring, trout, char, pike, smelt and perch are also found in abundance here. So if you discover a fish restaurant on the banks of the river, you can look forward to freshly caught specialties.

The scene of a great disaster

It would be unrealistic if a river as large as the St. Lawrence River hadn’t been the scene of tragedy in its long history. So in May 1914 one of the greatest disasters in shipping occurred here. The Canadian passenger ship “Empress of Ireland” collided with another steamer in thick fog. The Empress sank, killing over 1,000 people with it.

Incidentally, the river owes its name to the French Jacques Cartier. The adventurer and discoverer came across the river on August 10, 1535. Since it was the name day of Lawrence of Rome, he gave his discovery this name.