Lights, Culture, and History

Times Square is not a single square, but rather a bowtie-shaped intersection where Broadway cuts diagonally through Seventh Avenue. the former New York Times headquarters — is now mostly empty inside but generates over $20 million a year in advertising from its exterior billboards. Pedestrian plazas added in the 2000s have transformed it into a more walkable space, with the iconic red TKTS steps becoming a favorite meeting point and photo spot.

Known as “The Great White Way,” Broadway earned its nickname because of the bright electric lights that first illuminated the district in the early 1900s. By law, buildings in Times Square are required to have illuminated signs — ensuring that the area remains visually dazzling day and night.Home to long-running classics (The Lion King, Wicked) and new productions. Characters dressed as Spider-Man, Elmo, or the “Naked Cowboy” are now part of the cultural fabric.

September 7, 2025 | 12:03 am