Renee Gannon
Prince Gomolvilas
Arlan Hamilton
Sanford Marcus
Susan Norfleet
I live on 42nd Street, the world's most famous street and I love it. Even as a native Manhattanite, I still find it thrilling to walk along the street that intersects with Broadway in Times Square and holds the extraordinary distinction of being one half of the crossroads of the universe. Out-of-towners find it difficult to imagine that anyone actually lives on 42nd Street--dances maybe--but not lives. In fact, like any street or avenue in Manhattan, 42nd Street delivers a unique and intense diversity of life. And, in fact, the reason 42nd Street is the astonishing place that it is has to do with the astonishing range of activities on this one relatively short street--1.75 miles from end to end. Cutting across the entire width of the island of Manhattan, 42nd Street runs from the East River and the FDR Drive to the Hudson River and the West Side Highway.
Simply stroll from one end to the other and you'll pass world famous Broadway theaters and shows, a range of Off-Broadway theaters, huge multi-plex cinemas, luxury apartment buildings, foreign embassies, corporate headquarters, famous skyscrapers, hotels, great restaurants, historical landmarks, one of the world's largest public libraries, romantic parks, giants of publishing and journalism and at the eastern most end, the United Nations. Oh, and at the halfway point between the East River and the Hudson River, the world's most famous ball--the one the world watches drop on New Year's Eve. Do I sound boastful? I am. After all, this is 42nd Street. And if you can't boast about living on 42nd Street what can you boast about?
Tourist can't fail to notice that in addition to being at the heart and soul of the world of live theater, 42nd Street is also a major center for television and publishing, hosting headquarters for HBO, The New York Times, the WB and Conde-Nast (publishing magazines that include Vogue, W, Details, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and GQ among many others.) Now those are some serious gay credentials!
One of the little known historical facts about 42nd Street is that it was once the beginning stretch of America's first transcontinental highway. Conceived in 1913, the "Lincoln Highway" officially started at Times Square and ran west on 42nd Street to reach the Weehawken Ferry. After crossing the Hudson River to Weehawken, New Jersey, it continued about 3,000 miles across the country to San Francisco.
My friend Gabe (pictured above) and I decided to take you on a tour of this miraculous street, beginning at the eastern most end by the East River and the United Nations and ending our journey on the Hudson where you'll find the Circle Line. Gabe had never taken this walk of walks and was amazed at the spectacle and the history (I didn't shut up for a second.) Whitney loves crack, Willie loves pot. I love Manhattan. And while one can't claim that the entire length of 42nd Street is gay, when I'm on it with a friend as gorgeous as Gabe (even though he's straight), it is as queer as Christopher Street. Click through to my latest gallery and see if you don't agree. You'll also learn that 42nd Street is much more than just flashy neon and the place to be on New Year's Eve.
42nd Street
Reader Comments
(Page 1)