46th St Between 9th Ave and 8th Ave

Perhaps the arguable center of the pre-theater dinner universe, this stretch of 46th St, also known as Restaurant Row features an endless array of potentially overpriced cuisine. Each door on the street is dressed up more than the last in an attempt to draw ones attention in. The street is charming enough (hey, it won the "Dress Up Your Neighborhood" award for 1989...a 20-year-old prize has to be worth something, right?), but unless you're looking for food (or are a signage nut like myself), there isn't much else offered here.

The flanking avenues of 8th and 9th provide you're typical midtown fare of old video stores, more restaurants and Duane Reades.

View Larger Map

Broadway Between 52nd St and 54th St

I know the new Shrek musical has been getting good reviews, but damn if the front of their theater isn't just ripe with terrifying imagery (see above).

Compared to the hustle and bustle to the south in Times Square, this stretch of Broadway is pretty quiet and tame. Besides the Late Show with David Letterman and Shrek the Musical, there's nothing in the way of theater on this block (though several shows can be found on the side streets surrounding it).  The visual noise downtown seems to echo up this way as one looks in that direction. I was happy to see a Crumbs Bake Shop location to be coming soon - it will compliment the nearby Jamba Juice nicely. But otherwise, for a midtown stretch of Broadway, it's surprisingly barren here.

View Larger Map