On Broadway

Boston's Some Other Magazine (Published April, 2005)

Every road has its story. Every stretch of pavement has been tread on by foot and steel, by rubber and paw. Every street in every town in every state in this country of ours has been a silent and supine participant in countless conversations, in hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects. Every street has been a runway for a child's imagination, whether acting as football field, racetrack, gathering place or merely a conduit to a friend's home. Every street has been tread on by man and element alike, and every street has been known to countless people as "home."

And yet, we often overlook these societal ducts when discussing tangible locales. We talk about buildings, we talk about structures, we talk about neighborhoods and towns and landmarks and commons, but rarely does anybody pay any mind to the path that connects us to "that place," let alone ask us to think of that path as a place itself. This is why I was so happy when the editors of Some Other Magazine began their street study series, and why I was even happier when they accepted my offer to cover a little-known street of my own.

Not too far from Boston (about a 4 hour bus ride) is a city in New York State, called New York City. Now it's not a tremendously big city like NY's state capital, the bustling hotbed of metropolitan activity that is Albany - or the burgeoning metropolis of Poughkiepsie, or a paradise like the tropcal environs of a Buffalo or a Rochester, but if you look hard enough, you'll find that there are a few people who are proud to call it their home. And I think it would be good if some of us up here in Boston got to know a little bit about our quiet neighbors to the south, and the streets that they inhabit. In New York City there are a number of streets that act as major arteries and heavily-traveled throughways for the town, but I instead chose to take a few days studying one of New York City's smaller passages, a street called "Broadway."

Now don't let the name fool you, sitting at just under eighty feet wide and accomodating just eight cars (nine at the MOST) across its width, Broadway is hardly broad. But it is home to some of this small Mid-Atlantic town's favorite haunts, and sees its share of pedestrian activity as well. What truly sets this street apart in my mind however - and why I chose to study it instead of one of my other favorite little-known streets - can be wrapped up in one word: ENTERTAINMENT VARIETY.

If you're looking for entertainment, you've got it! On Broadway there are countless small local theatre troupes that put on performances for their family and friends, and any out-of-towners who happen to stop by for a show. And the plays? Talk about diverse! At one playhouse, you can see Mama Mia, a musical based on the family-friendly 70's pop of musical group Abba. At another, you can see Movin' Out, a musical based on the family-friently 70's pop of singer/songwriter Billy Joel. At another, you can see Good Vibrations, a musical based on the family-friendly 60's pop of musical group The Beach Boys. At yet another, you can see All Shook Up, a musical based on the family-friendly 50's pop of performer Elvis Presley. The choices are almost endless! In fact, one local theatre group is even trying their hand at a production of Disney's The Lion King and I wish them the very best of luck - but if you set out to see this show, be forewarned that a similarly-named show is happening a few blocks away. And while The Loin King certainly is entertaining and well worth the $3.50 (plus tips) it won't be quite what you were expecting.

If the theatre's not your thing but you do love the arts, it's just a short walk up to the "Times Square" section, where you can see the town's best and brightest up-and-coming dancers perform at various hotspots. (And ladies, don't let the name "gentlemen's club" fool you, you are definitely welcome!) Or if music's more your cup of tea, just another block or so away, there's an office building that plays the "MTV" television channel almost non-stop from its third story, sometimes even going so far as to pretend to take requests from people passing by on the street. The small crowd that gathers always gets a kick out of it when coincidentally, the song that someone has requested actually gets played next. There's also a few small movie theatres offering the best that Hollywood has to offer, as well as lower-budget favorites from lesser-known local independant filmmakers like Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese (pronounced "score-SAZE-ee" not "score-SEESE.")

And when you're all tuckered out from being entertained, what better way to relax than with a fantastic meal? Well, Broadway's got you covered in that department too! If you're in the mood for Italian, there's "The Olive Garden," a locally-owned and operated establishment that promises "When you're here, you're family." Ha! I wish my family gave me all-I-could-eat salad and breadsticks! Or if you prefer something more Tex-Mex, there's a small place called "Chili's," which serves up authentic Mexican favorites like quesidillas, tostadas, and hamburgers. And if you'd rather relax with the locals in a pub-like atmosphere, there's always "T.G.I. Friday's" (the T.G.I. stands for "Thank Goodness It's...") which offers all the local flavor you would expect from a small neighborhood pub, and mozzarella sticks that are to die for!

Also, if you're planning on spending the night, and you don't know anyone in the area to stay with, there actually are a few hotels on or near Broadway, including the Hilton (no relation to Paris...MEOW!) and the Ritz-Carlton, both of which offer reasonable accomodations at decent prices, and leave a complimentary USA Today at your door in the morning. So while it's not Comm or Mass Ave or Kenmore, there's still a lot to do on New York City's "Broadway" and the next time you find yourself driving to Philadelphia or Baltimore and have a little time to kill or need a place to stop for lunch, consider taking a slight detour to see what this small town has to offer you. You might be surprised at what you discover!