Last night, thousands of fans converged in Times Square to travel back in time to Manhattan in the 1960s. The season premiere of Mad Men screened for the costumed masses in Duffy Square, who watched the episode with January Jones (aka Betty Draper) and Elisabeth Moss (aka Peggy Olson). The latter told the Daily News, "It's a dream come true to be here in the middle of Manhattan for the premiere. I live in New York. I love this city and I'm proud of it." more ›

File this one under unsurprising: The shiny new TKTS booth in Times Square that's supposed to finally open this month over 18 months late is also way over budget, the Post reports. The ambitious new discount theater ticket outlet, which features an all-glass skin with an amphitheater-style roof (pictured) and "a shimmering and floating carpet of color and light," has cost 100 percent more than its original $8 million estimate. more ›

Remember the plans for that fancy new TKTS theater ticket booth in Times Square that were unveiled back in Aught Six? Producer Ken Davenport (Altar Boyz) does, and the other day he was just wondering, you know, why the hell it’s not ready yet, since they originally said it would be open for business in just six short months. (The Times Square TKTS has been operating at the Marriot Marquis in the meantime.) more ›

Yesterday morning, police arrested a homeless man for three separate stabbing incidents on Tuesday afternoon and early Wednesday morning. Four cabbies who witnessed Kenny Alexis stab two women near the Times Square W Hotel called 911 and followed him until police apprehended him at a McDonald's. Alexis's brushes with the law started before the first stabbing on a downtown C train - he was stopped by the police are trying to enter the 42nd Street and 8th Avenue subway without paying, but since he didn't have a record, the police just issued him a summons. The NY Times has a map and timeline of Alexis's actions. more ›

Yes, the TKTS booth is moving from Duffy Square to the Marriott Marquis until December of this year while the new TKTS booth that looks like a huge red staircase (the ticket counters are under the stairs) is being constructed. But why did it take so long? Because the Times Square Alliance decided to spiff up Duffy Square, that sliver of land between Broadway and Seventh Avenues, between 47th and 46th Streets, in a $12.5 million project the meantime. The Times Square Alliance's Tim Tompkins says the TKTS steps will be "the Spanish Steps on steroids (it's okay to say "steroids" in development), and remaking Duffy Square is part of the bigger plan to make Times Square more pedestrian friendly. We can't wait! more ›

Besides the Calvin Klein live perfume ad, there's some interesting action in Times Square today: FDNY firefighters will be at Duffy Square (the TKTS island) between 11AM-3PM autographing copies of the new 2006 Calendar of Heroes! There are apparently some firefighter models in their 40s in the calendar (hey, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, and Brad Pitt are all in their 40s) for the calendar to have a broader appeal. Sigh, we guess we'll get one of these for our mom. Gothamist wonders if the Naked Cowboy will be upset that the Bravest are invading his turf? more ›

Times Square, the crossroads of the world, wants to be a little less roady and more of a place for pedestrians to cross. The Times Square Alliance has a ten point plan to further improve Times Square, namely to make it look more beautiful and for pedestrians to have an easier time of it. Times Square Alliance president Tim Tompkins said, "While Times Square is gorgeous from the neck up, it needs a makeover from the neck down." Word - you can't walk more than five steps without bumping into someone who has suddenly stopped to be conned. Main goals of the plan: Rebuild and expand Duffy Square; increase the sidewalk space and reduce sidewalk clutter; redesign newspaper boxes and stands; do not let cars "cross over" where Broadway and Seventh Avenue meet; install new signal timing for traffic lights. Now, the problems with Times Square are familiar to all, from sidewalk planters in front of buildings to slow moving packs of tourists. Gothamist is intrigued by this plan, because we're all for keeping pedestrians a priority, but the idea of Times Square as anything but a logjam of people trying to get from one place to another (look at 1957's Sweet Smell of Success - all Sidney Falco does is elbow his way around) seems like a pipe dream. more ›

have done it again. Those brilliant marketers are throwing their own debate Sept. 30 at 1 PM in Times Square's Duffy Square on 46th Street and Broadway, featuring singing candidates, free popcorn, cotton candy, balloons, and more. more ›

More: Look at Times Square from the Earth Cam. Here's some very limited information about Times Square's 100th Anniversary from the Times Square Bid; apparently there will be activities, but there are no details. The Times Square website is interesting, but no other birthday details. The Times on Times Square's Duffy Square and the NY Times-Times Square name connection (it has something to do with the subway...). Also, the NY Times Times Square building is a city landmark. more ›