Should NY make Times Square Pedestrian Mall permanent?- Page 5

[Q]

Posted: 2/11/10 at 11:00pm

"I'm glad I was around for the 'real' Times Square era."

I've heard that said by people who were there in the 40's and 50's - who also decried the devolution into squalor that took place, and is now romanticized.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/11/10 at 11:23pm

"How I long for the old view."

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/11/10 at 11:26pm

"New can mean worse, as is evident with this event.

I'm glad I was around for the "real" Times Square era. The new one has no character, no charm. Just another mall."

Remember that's just your opinion, not "evident". Who are you to tell the rest of us what the "real" Times Square is? You're not that much older than I am. And I remind you again, without the tourists, you have no job. Some respect for the people who make your paycheck possible, please, instead of calling them "ugly crowds". You hate them so much, get out of the business.

I'm with best12 (and Q, and others), here. New York is behind the times in this situation - but hey, better late than never.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/11/10 at 11:29pm

Yep, I'm deleting. I always try to ignore you. I'm mad at myself for even responding to you.

Updated On: 2/12/10 at 11:29 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/11/10 at 11:49pm

"You are real sick".

Now that's a pretty nasty personal attack - and you base that on what, exactly? Simply because I disagree with you?

I'm not wild about tourists either, but I don't call them "ugly crowds". They make my paycheck possible too, and as much as they might annoy me, I still respect them, rather than insult them, and you just insulted me, for no apparent reason.

And only a few posts ago I complimented your photography, too. And I'm the one who's sick?

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/11/10 at 11:53pm

Updated On: 2/11/10 at 11:53 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 12:07am

"Having tourists does not depend on that mall. There always have been tourists, and there always will be. That you don't realize that is remarkable."

I never said it did, Jane, and I'm not angry at all. Calling tourists "ugly crowds" does sound like anger to me, though.

"I'm with best12 (and Q, and others), here. "

"um, no comment. "

So...does that mean you're insulting them also? You're the one who sounds angry here. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Q]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 1:44am

"Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we would do

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.
La la la la...
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I'd see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end . . ."

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 11:22am

When I was 12 years old, my parents took me to see my first Broadway show. It was June, 1988, and it was the revival of Sweet Charity. We drove in from Jersey, parked the car and walked to the Minskoff. My mother, who grew up in NYC, said to me, 'Walk quickly, don't look around, DON'T TALK TO ANYONE.' That was my introduction to Broadway. Thank God for Michael Rupert.

For years, my parents would tell me stories of taking the subway at all hours, seeing the original casts of Guys and Dolls and My Fair Lady. Frankly, I'm thrilled to live in the safest large city in America. I love being able to get to an audition or the theatre without feeling like I'm running with the bulls in Pamplona. I don't know...but my guess is that Times Square is now closer in spirit to the time my parents enjoyed the theatre during the Golden Age.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 11:43am

While I wouldnt think to tell people how to feel about NYC, because we all have different nostalgiac feelings especially about the theater district (and, for me, the west village and chelsea, where i first lived in 1984).

I too miss the NYC of the mid 80s...probably because that was MY New York. I loved it so much and never felt in danger, especially in mid-town.

Moving to the lower east side in 1990, now that was scary!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 12:00pm

Doodle, I think you nailed it. My Times Square will always be the one of Urban decay, Chase lights on marquees that are in need of a cleaning, mysterious dark alleys with shady characters lurking. Inside the theatres though a world of magic and wonderful escapism.
That was how I was introduced to Times Square and that is the one I grew to love. I am sure 40 years from now people will be fondly reminiscing of Hello Kitty stores, large television screens that lit up the night with an unearthly glow and Madame Taussauds which is now a bordello.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 12:54pm

Exactly, you guys. Who's job is it to tell people that what was gritty or decayed isn't something you should miss? How's this for decay- I was in LOVE with the old Henry Miller's Theater, the way it was just before the renovation. I was in heaven in there. And they were staging Fassbinder's Bitter Tears of Petra Van Kant. I was assistant house manager during that run and loved every minute of watching that play in that decadent house. I'll never forget it.

And when I moved into the west village, it was grittier and had the gay community. LOVED it! Now it's upscale families and designer stores. There are people who may love that. Fine, but I miss the old village.

And I"m not telling anyone what they should love.

[Corine2]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 12:58pm

I think it adds double the traveling time to get there now. It used to take me 20 minutes to get to Times Square by bus and now can take 30-1 hour because the traffic is so backed up. I personally hate it and think it is making the city a nightmare.
Worse traffic and more hectic to get around.

I can understand having it in the Summer and Spring but it is plain dumb in 12-40 degree weather and makes the city a nightmare. Tourists enjoy it but they don't deal with the traffic 365 days a year.

DUMB DUMB DUMB.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 1:39pm

The cynical part of me believes that Bloomberg does want the added traffic. The pedestrian walkway in Times square and the narrowing of Broadway below Canal adds the the traffic nightmare creating more of a need for the congestion tax.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 3:42pm

SNAFU, I'd be willing to bet money on that Bloomberg did expect this, though he doesn't seem to need excuses to get things done. He wants smoke free bars and restaurants? It happens. A pedestrian thoroughfare? It happens. A third term? Well, you get the idea...I'll very surprised if the tax congestion plan isn't revisited soon.

On topic, I used to love to walk my visitors along The Deuce back in the '70's, and I forget who mentioned it, but I remember friends getting fake IDs there (sadly, I didn't need one). It was interesting, and I'm glad I saw it - it's almost hard to believe that it ever was that seedy and dangerous. Nothing wrong with nostalgia, but personally, I don't miss it. I do miss BOND's though, the Morosco, and the Bijou.

eta:how could I forget the old Helen Hayes theater?
Updated On: 2/12/10 at 03:42 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 6:08pm

I'm not getting how the pedestrian mall somehow makes Times Square more bland. Is car traffic somehow characterful in a way I'm not seeing?

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 12:07am

the following post is directed not specifically to Plum, but to anyone to whom it is not "okay" to have one's own opinion. It isn't necessary to "get" everyone's point of view. Why can't we all just respect the fact that we all are entitled and have our opinions?

So what if others don't agree with you? What I don't understand is why it bothers some people so much what other people think? SO effin' WHAT??????

Updated On: 2/13/10 at 12:07 AM

[Q]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 12:22am

I don't think Plum was saying she doesn't get why you have your opinion, I think she was asking for more description.

But I doubt she'll be back to find out.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 12:34am

I know what she was saying Q.



Here's an analogy that I hope helps anyone who doesn't understand tastes and/opinions- you're eating out with a friend. Your friend orders one thing, you order something else. You like one thing, they like another. It's just the way things are. And no one should have to defend why they like something.

If Plum doesn't want to return here, she shouldn't.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 8:05pm

"Moving to the lower east side in 1990, now that was scary!"

Oh, doodle, you should have seen the lower east side in the late '70's-early '80's. The after-hours clubs, the homeless shanty town in Tompkins Square. Pity they tore down that bandshell. There was some interesting music coming from that area then. I remember the riot, cops beating down anyone in reach - most of the bars locked their doors, but The Aztec Lounge on e 9th let us in and we escaped unscathed.

There was some really wild performance art. I remember some Japanese group (I forget their name) mostly naked, painted white, dancing/rappelling/writhing down the outside wall of a bar called 8 BC (on east 8th, between B&C, of course). there were some great little art galleries. The Pyramid (that might still be there) and their drag and circus shows- and I still love the Russian/Turkish baths, still going strong after over 100 years.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 8:43pm

I frequented 40 duece in the 60's

Although it was not like the 30's & 40's, it still had an edge . Right now, it is homogenized & it is, IMO, no longer the Times Square I grew up with. Time passes & things change as stores come & go. The whole feel of Times Square is tame.

Recently, Vegas gave up its attempt to become kid friendly. Thank God.If I were visiting the city, I would want to see the Times Square I heard about & not a version of Disneyworld crossed with The Mall Of America.

Updated On: 2/13/10 at 08:43 PM

[MEINNYC2]

Posted: 2/18/10 at 9:56pm

As a long time New Yorker it's really sad what is happening to Times Square...it's just a continued bastardization of the space with more and more Tourist Disney Bull****....you can't call it the crossroads of the world if the streets don't CROSS!!!
Put it it back the way it was with the traffic and noise and confusion going on....THAT is what Times Square was...and all they're doing now is sucking the life right out of it with all this "Tourist friendly" CRAP!

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 4:51pm

Here's how I liked Times Square to look!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 5:52pm

Fond memories of what it used to be but is no longer

R.I.P Times Square - You really kicked ass at one time.Your time has sadly passed .

[Plum]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 10:58pm

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

I'm not telling anyone to change their minds - I'm asking why the pedestrian mall is seen as another step in the Disneyfication of Times Square. I'm just not seeing the connection between A and B.