With the holiday crush upon it, Times Square is boasting an elegant new visitors center worthy of its Broadway location.
Located in the refurbished Embassy Theatre, the center's floral leafing and other architectural features from the 1925 movie house provide a historical setting for a host of modern touches, including four ATM machines and a bank of six computers for Web-surfing travel sites or sending e-mail.The 6,000-square-foot center features a central information booth beneath a domed rondel light fixture, along with a newsstand, a Broadway ticket center, a booth for sightseeing tours and a brochures rack. Also worth noting are the public restrooms -- a rarity in New York -- though they are tiny and modern and not in keeping with the grand theater tradition.
Another welcome touch is the 21 padded theater seats awaiting the foot-weary.
The info desk offers detailed maps and fields questions about the whole city, not just Times Square. An information agent said that since the center opened in September, the busiest times are from noon to 5. The center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It's on the east side of Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets, just across from the TKTS discount-ticket location. (The visitor-center ticket sales are not discounted.)