The South Street Seaport historic district in lower Manhattan is NYC’s offering as a real tourist area, resembling other marketplaces such as the Harborplace of Baltimore, Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, Market East in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6th Street Marketplace in Richmond, Virginia, Portside Festival Marketplace in Toledo, Ohio, and Bayside Marketplace in Miami, Florida. The cloned look of the aforementioned is not a coincidence. They were all done by the Rouse Company, a pioneer in the development of shopping malls and marketplaces since 1956. Although substantial efforts have been made to restore South Street to its original condition and feeling of its past, Pier 17, adjoining Fulton Street and the Fulton Market Building, really defines the area as a tourist-oriented shopping district. Pier 17 itself was converted into a 3-story enclosed mall with shops and a food court.

However, for those willing to eschew the commercial, it is easy to find much to enjoy in this area. To start with, the vistas alone are reason enough to visit, as one can see in the photo, taken from one of the wraparound outdoor decks at Pier 17. Also, the maritime past really can be felt just strolling through the area. The area has streets of restored buildings, most notably Schermerhorn Row and numerous galleries and moored ships. At Pier 16, seen in the photo, one can find a number of ships, some permanently moored and available for boarding: the Peking (1911), Wavertree (1885), and Ambrose (1908). The Peking and Wavertree are two of the largest masted ships in existence. The training vessels the Pioneer (1885), Lettie G. Howard (1893), and W.O. Decker (1930) offer sail training, public sails, and charter opportunities. The South Street Seaport Museum (207 Front Street) was established in 1967. Start on Front Street: 207 (Visitors’ Center), 209 (Museum Charts and Book Store), 211 (Print Shop), and 213-215 (the Seaport Gallery)…

This is Times Square, where 7th Avenue intersects Broadway. No area better symbolizes urban density and intensity in NYC and this country – it is an international icon. The Times Square neighborhood is generally defined as the area in the 40s, north of 42nd Street, between 6th and 8th Avenues. The area was named Times Square in 1904 after the New York Times erected a building and established operations there (this building is now known as One Times Square and is where the ball is dropped on New Year’s Eve). The area is also known as the theater district, home of Broadway theaters and hotels – a constant that has kept the area alive.

Seasoned New Yorkers know, however, that for most of its recent history, Times Square was quite a seedy and dangerous neighborhood in decline, known for its sex shops, porn theaters, crime, drug dealers, and disreputable retailers. Efforts at major rehabilitation began in the 1990s. Most agree that the area has improved, although many feel that it has been too “Disneyfied.” Animated and illuminated signs/ads, neon, and lights have always been a mainstay here, and today this has further intensified with the addition of more sophisticated and brighter LED signage – the area now rivals Las Vegas as far as visual impact. In the future, I plan to do some photography at night – the best time to see the area. Until then, I recommend visiting. Make special notice of the spectacular seven-story illuminated NASDAQ sign at 43rd Street – don’t worry, you can’t miss it 🙂