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The Theater District is a popular area of Manhattan in New York City, situated on the western side of Midtown. There is more to this area than just theater, with revivified neighborhoods to the west and north of the core entertainment zone.

The Theater District is occasionally referred to as Midtown West (to distinguish it from "Midtown East").

[edit] Understand

This district stretches from 34th St, through the heavily commercial West 30s up to 59th St (beyond which is Central Park), and lies west of 6th Ave. The West Side is home not only to the famed "Great White Way" (Broadway), but to the emerging business district centered on the now thoroughly Disneyfied Times Square. The Theater District centers on the outlandishly commercial "New" 42nd Street and heads up Broadway and 7th Avenues, melding to the west with the resurgent neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen and its commercial strip on 9th Avenue, and to the north with the newly-built Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. The area becomes increasingly residential as you go north or west, and more commercial to the east and south. Many of Manhattan's largest hotels (including the Hilton and the Sheraton) are located on 6th or 7th Avenue in this area.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By subway

The Times Square-42nd St. subway station is one of the major nerve centers of public transit in New York, with the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, R, Q, W, and S (Grand Central Shuttle) lines all stopping there, while a pedestrian tunnel affords a free transfer to the 42nd St.-8th Av. station, which serves the A, C, and E lines. Nearby, though not connected to the Times Square-42nd St. station, the B, D, F, and V lines stop at 42nd St. and 6th Avenue.

South of Times Square, the 1, 2, and 3 lines run under 7th Avenue, the A, C, and E lines run under 8th Avenue, the N, R, Q, and W lines run under Broadway, and the B, D, F, and V lines run under 6th Avenue, with all lines stopping at 34th Street.

North of Times Square, the 1, 2, and 3 lines run under Broadway, with the 1 stopping at 50th St. and 59th St-Columbus Circle. The A, C, and E lines run under 8th Avenue, with the C and E stopping at 50th St., before the E branches east to head under 53rd St. to Queens, stopping at 7th Av, while the A and C lines continue north, stopping at 59th St-Columbus Circle. The N, Q, R, and W lines run under 7th Avenue, stopping at 57th St. (a ideal stop for Carnegie Hall), with the N, R, and W lines stopping at 49th St. The F train continues along 6th Avenue, stopping at 57th St., while the B and D trains head northwest, stopping at 7th Av. and 53rd St. and 59th St-Columbus Circle.

[edit] By MTA bus

Quite a number of city bus routes serve the area (see the MTA website [1] for a map), but crosstown routes in particular can be subject to gridlock at peak times.

[edit] By long distance bus

Manhattan's main long distance bus station is the Port Authority Bus Terminal, between 8th and 9th Avenues between 40th and 42nd Streets. Connections are available on commuter buses to New Jersey and Rockland County, New York, and to long-distance routes through the country and to Canada.

[edit] By taxi

Taxis ply the area day and night but can slow to a standstill during rush hour, lunch time, and even mid-afternoon. However, if you need a taxi and are unfamiliar with normal taxi fares, do not hail anything but a yellow cab. Drivers of black limos who offer to pick you up may try to cheat you.

[edit] On foot

Walking is the way you can see the most, but even walking can be a problem, particularly on Broadway and 7th Av. between 48th and 42nd Sts. Large numbers of tourists are liable to be standing still and looking up every few feet, and of course, you may be one of them. But if you prefer to take a walk at a steadier pace, take a side street and walk on another avenue.

[edit][add listing] See

• Times Square, Broadway and 7th Avenue, stretching from 42nd to 48th Streets. A place filled with video screens, LED signs, and flashing lights; a world wonder or a tourist nightmare depending on your perspective, the "new" Times Square is a family-friendly theme park of themed restaurants, theaters and hotels, as well as a developing business district. Times Square is also well known for its famous New Year's Eve ball drop. Those looking for the seedy Times Square of old will find it around the Port Authority Bus Terminal, and around Broadway several blocks to the south.  edit
  • TKTS Booth, 47th Street (between Broadway and 7th Avenue, at the north end of Times Square). A ticket booth selling discounted Broadway and off-Broadway shows. However, the cheaper tickets aren't the only attraction, as the back of the booth is a large, red-lit glass staircase facing Times Square, which serves as a set of bleachers and offers an excellent opportunity to get above the street and just watch the crowds and flashing signs.  edit

• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86 (12th Ave & 46th St), ☎ +1 212 245-0072, [2]. Apr-Sep M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa-Su 10AM-6PM; Oct-Mar Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. The aircraft carrier Intrepid is docked here and loaded with spacecraft and aircraft including the very cool Blackbird spy plane. On the other side of the dock is a guided-missile submarine and a Concorde, both of which you can tour also, and some tanks. $16.50 adult.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57th St, [3].  edit
• AMC Empire 25 Theatre, 234 W 42nd Street (A,C,E,N,Q,R,W,S,1,2,3,7 subway to 42nd St), ☎ (212) 398-3939, [4]. First showings begin around noon, last showings begin at around 11pm. This large multiplex cinema shows first-run, mainstream films on 25 screens. It also contains an IMAX cinema showing mainstream feature films. $6-$14.  edit
• Hudson Theatre, 145 West 44th Street, ☎ 212-768-4400, [5]. This theatre is over 100 years old and remains the third oldest theatre in Broadway. Located right next to the Millennium Broadway Hotel, this NYC theatre now offers wedding, event and meeting space in an elegant, historic setting.  edit
• Kramer's Reality Tour, 358 West 44th Street (At: The Producers Club Theater), ☎ +1 212 2685525 (toll free: 1800 5726377, fax: +1 212 4659327), [6]. Sa Su noon. For Seinfeld fans. Kenny Kramer, said to be the inspiration for the caracter Kramer, tells about the show, in a fun way. And guides on a tour to places seen in the show. Stop for photo outside the restaurant seen in the show. $37.50.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Macy's, 151 W 34th St (between 7th Av. and Broadway), ☎ +1 212 695-4400. Billing itself as "The World's Largest Store" on the large signs outside, this is the flagship store of the national chain and covers an entire city block. Its holiday window displays are so popular that they usually have a corporate sponsor. One useful tip for visitors is to go to the Macy's guest center on floor 1 1/2 and they will give you a guest card that discounts virtually everything in the store by 11%.  edit
• Kinokuniya, On 6th Ave. between 41st and 40th Streets is a Japanese book dealer, carrying a huge selection of Japanese reading material. It also sells a number of books by Japanese authors in English translation. It is also known as a source of excellent Japanese anime and manga, much of which is difficult or impossible to find anywhere else in the United States.
• 48th Street- Between 6th and 7th Avenues is just off to the northeast of Times Square. Most of this block is occupied by musical instrument dealers. The largest, Sam Ash, has multiple storefronts there, each of which caters to a different family of instruments and equipment.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Budget

• Cranberry Gourmet II, 115 W 45th St. (1 block from Times Square). Always open.. A huge variety of sandwiches, pizza, sushi, and udon. Hot and cold salad bars. Sandwiches are $4-$6. Very popular with local workers, so it gets very busy at breakfast and lunch time. There is ample seating upstairs.  edit
• Poseidon Bakery, 629 9th Av. (between 44th and 45th Sts.), ☎ +1 212 757-6173. Serves wonderful Greek pastries, savory and sweet alike. There is no place to sit, but the staff are very friendly and helpful, and you can have a delicious, cheap meal for takeout.  edit
• Yoshinoya, 255 W. 42nd St (Times Square), [7]. Daily 10AM-3AM. Cheap Japanese fast food (very fast). Beef or chicken teriyaki bowls for about $4.  edit

[edit] Mid-Range

• Carnegie Deli, 854 Seventh Ave (at 55th St), ☎ +1 212 757-2245, [8]. 6:30AM-4AM. This popular deli is a place some love and some hate. They serves enormous sandwiches -- each of which could easily feed two hungry people.  edit
• Vice Versa, 325 West 51st St (between Eighth and Ninth), ☎ +1 212 399-9291, [9]. Simple, but tasty Italian fare. $10-$25.  edit
• Ariana Afghan Kebab House, 787 9th Avenue (between 52nd and 53rd St.), ☎ +1 212 262-2323 or +1 212 262-0065, [10]. Daily 11:30AM-10:30PM. Very good food, which of course includes kebabs, but also peppery Aush (a type of beany noodle soup), Badinjan Burani (a fried eggplant appetizer garlic and yogurt, served with bread), etc. Salads, which come with main dishes, have a dressing which includes mayonnaise. Ask for no dressing and put the green hot sauce on them yourself. About $20-30/person for a large 3-course meal with a non-alcoholic beverage.  edit
• Ocha, 350 West 46th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues), ☎ +1 212 581-3198. Japanese restaurant with good sushi.  edit
• Hudson Cafeteria, 356 West 58th Street, [11]. Ivy League dining hall type of atmosphere in the Hudson Hotel.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42 St (Times Square), [12]. Consists of two areas: the Showcase Room which features bigger name performers and the smaller Lucille's Grill which offers free music.  edit
• Birdland, 44 St. (between 8th and 9th). This historic club (though not at the original location of W. 52 St.) features a great lineup of justly famous performers and has good acoustics. Expect to pay a fair price for that quality. Pricey drinks, good desserts. Dinner is also available and might be worth a try.  edit
• The Perfect Pint, 123 W 45th Street (at Broadway), ☎ +1 212 354-1099. Two-story pub off of Times Square with good Irish beers on tap and pricey entrées. Definitely not typical pub-grub, but the price matches. $15-25 (per entrée).  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Big Apple Hostel, (near Times Square).  edit
• Hotel Carter, 250 West 43rd Street, [13]. It's close to Times Square, but is often cited as an extremely dirty hotel, and indeed the savings may not be worth the bed bug bites.  edit
• Jazz on Times Square Hostel, 341 West 51 Street, ☎ +1 212 974-6400, [14]. Newly opened backpackers hostel with dorm beds from $35.  edit
• Square Hotel, 132 west 47th Street, [15].  edit

[edit] Mid-Range

• Casablanca Hotel, 147 West 43rd Street (just east of Broadway), ☎ +1 212 869-1212, [16]. Boutique hotel just off Times Square. High-speed Wi-fi and complimentary refreshments in Rick's Cafe 24 hours a day including breakfast in the mornings and wine and cheese receptions in the evenings except for Sunday nights.  edit
• Hilton Garden Inn, 790 Eighth Avenue (between 47th and 48th Sts.), ☎ +1 212 581-7000, [17]. Completely remodeled in 2005 with flat-screen TVs, comfy bedding. Free wireless, business center and in-room fridge. $200-$400.  edit
• Hotel 41, 206 West 41st Street, [18]. Times Square boutique hotel next door to the Nederlander Theatre, home of the musical "Rent".  edit
• Hotel Mela, 120 West 44th Street (44th Street & Broadway), ☎ +1 877 452-MELA, [19]. Luxury boutique hotel in Times Square.  edit
• GEM Hotel, 449 W. 36th Street, ☎ +1 212 967-7206, [20].  edit
• Regency Inn & Suites, 215 W 34th St., [21]. Close to everything. Complimentary morning newspaper and continental breakfast.  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Belvedere Hotel, 319 West 48th Street, [22]. Art Deco hotel.  edit
• Crowne Plaza Times Square, 1605 Broadway at 49th Street, ☎ +1 212 977-4000 (tollfree +1 800 593-5434), [23]. Upscale hotel with 770 guest rooms, Manhattan's largest indoor lap pool, Samplings Restaurant, meeting facilities.  edit
• Flatotel, 135 West 52nd Street, [24]. A boutique hotel with 288 apartment size deluxe rooms and suites, custom designed furniture and state-of-the-art amenities.  edit
• Helmsley Park Lane, 36 Central Park South, ☎ +1 212 371-4000, [25]. Views of Central Park. The staff is extremely efficient and treat you like royalty. The rooms are decorated in a very expensive fashion that verges on gaudiness. $250+.  edit
• Hotel Edison, 228 West 47th Street (btw. 8th & Broadway), [26]. Art deco hotel built in 1931, steps from Times Square.  edit
• Hudson Hotel, 356 West 58th Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues), ☎ +1 212 554-6000; reservations +1 800 606-6090 (fax: +1 212 554-6001), [27]. A fashionably trendy upmarket boutique hotel which is great for celeb spotting. Rooms are comparatively tiny with little storage space, so think again if you travel with a big wardrobe. Otherwise, the subdued lighting, designer fittings, and relatively lower prices tend to attract a younger vibey crowd, especially to the über-trendy bar at the foyer level. standard double room from $295-$375.  edit
• Jumeirah Essex House, 160 Central Park South,, [28]. Built in 1931, The Jumeirah Essex House is a well known and recognized feature of Manhattan.  edit
• The London NYC, 151 West 54th street, ☎ +1 866 690-2029, [29].  edit
• Manhattan Club, 200 West 56th Street, [30]. Luxury suites and first class services and amenities. Each suite features appliances, plush fabrics and elegant furnishings with marble baths. Timeshares available.  edit
• New York Marriott Marquis Times Square, 1535 Broadway, ☎ +1 212 398-1900, [31]. Updated hotel rooms, high-speed elevators and six hotel restaurants and lounges. It is known for its revolving bar and the view from its clear-sided elevators.  edit
• Park Central Hotel, 870 Seventh Avenue at 56th Street, [32]. Right next to Carnegie Hall and close to the Theater District. Recently spent $65 million on renovations. While its renovations have significantly improved this hotel, it is, at best, a four-star hotel and clearly not one of New York's luxury hotels.  edit
• Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square, 714 7th Avenue., [33].  edit

[edit] Get out

Too many travelers spend all or most of their time in the Theater District and other largely non-residential areas of Midtown Manhattan. From the viewpoint of many New Yorkers, the "real New York" is elsewhere, in the residential neighborhoods uptown, downtown, and even a couple of blocks west of Times Square and the bright lights of the Great White Way. If you want to find out how New Yorkers live, work, and party and feel the pace of the city, go to neighborhoods like Greenwich Village, the East Village, Chinatown, Harlem, the Upper West and Upper East Sides, or just walk to 9th Av.

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