46th St Between 6th Ave and 7th Ave

This street has a dual nature which serves as a prime example of how quickly Times Square can sneak up on you. While I'm certainly no flag-bearer for the starch-pressed, glass-clad atmosphere of midtown, I prefer it anytime to the sheer sensory overload that is the crossroads of the world. It's interesting how from just a block away, the crowds and madness of Times Square are completely masked by the narrow streets. The corner on 6th Avenue is pleasant enough, with wide-open spaces and interesting architecture on the north side – at the very least it's not completely offensive.

Halfway down the block an anomaly appears in the form of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School. It's not that the architecture is strange (though it is very nice) But just, if you could, imagine for one minute going to grade school less than 100 yards from the world's largest Toys R Us? It boggles my mind.

As you get closer to 7th Avenue (which is also known as "the one place in the world I'd just like to see them install people mover conveyer belts and be done with it") the buildings get shorter and tighter-packed. Cheap gift shops spill over onto the otherwise quiet corner while quaint statues sit neglected one story above the sidewalk. It's all truly a sad sight. 

 

Comments

[jorge]

has anyone ever been as far as to want to go to do more like it?