Times Square is the most famous intersection in the world -- a canyon of light, energy, and spectacle at the heart of Midtown Manhattan where Broadway crosses Seventh Avenue.

In this episode of Walking Tour of New York, we explore the full story of Times Square: from its origins as a gritty carriage district called Longacre Square to its transformation into the world's most iconic entertainment neighborhood. We trace the remarkable history of publisher Adolph Ochs and the New York Times, how a newspaper headquarters gave this neighborhood its name and its most beloved New Year's Eve tradition, and how the first ball drop in 1907 -- a 700-pound iron orb lowered from a flagpole -- grew into the global celebration watched by over a billion people each year. We walk through the Theater District, explore more than forty Broadway houses and the stories behind them, visit the TKTS discount booth at Father Duffy Square for same-day Broadway tickets, and stop at the Museum of Broadway to understand the world behind the curtain. We also cover dining highlights: Sardi's on West 44th Street, the legendary Broadway institution open since 1921 whose walls are covered with over a thousand celebrity caricatures; The View Restaurant and Lounge at the Marriott Marquis, New York's only revolving restaurant; Joe Allen on West 46th Street; and Los Tacos No. 1 right in the square. Nearby sites covered include Rockefeller Center, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Bryant Park, the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, and Lincoln Center.

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