(Photo) Statue of George M. Cohan in Times Square.

Piece 1: Theater District/Museum of Broadway/Carmine’s Restaurant. The Broadway Theater District is an area of Midtown Manhattan bounded by West 40th Street on the south, West 54th Street on the north, Sixth Avenue on the east and Eight Avenue on the west. The District includes Times Square, a bowtie-shaped commercial plaza that extends five blocks between 42nd and 47th Streets, and roughly 40 theaters (most of which were established in the early 20th Century).

A symbolic piece of public art in Times Square is a bronze statue of George M. Cohan, who wrote more than 50 shows and published more than 300 songs during his lifetime, including the standards “Over There”, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, “The Yankee Doodle Boy” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.

Unveiled in 1959 to honor Cohan’s contributions to theater and music, the statue stands near the north end of Times Square (at West 46th Street and 7th Avenue) against a backdrop of dazzling lights and towering billboards.

A short walk from the Cohan Statue is the Museum of Broadway (145 West 45th Street) where visitors travel through the timeline of Broadway, from its birth to present day. The exhibits showcase a diverse range of artifacts, and highlight some of the most beloved plays and musicals of all time (including Oklahoma and Showboat).

A really interesting element of the museum gives theater fans a peak “behind the curtain” to see the making of Broadway show, with a special exhibit showing what happens onstage (and off) to bring plays and musicals to life every night.

One of the more memorable food experiences in the Times Square neighborhood is Carmine’s, a family style eatery specializing in Southern Italian cuisine. The restaurant immerses diners in a warm and inviting atmosphere featuring rustic wooden furnishings, vintage photographs on the walls, and soft lighting that creates an intimate setting.

Restaurateur Artie Cutler founded Carmine’s in 1990 with a singular vision; serve generous family-sized portions and make a meal from his restaurant feel like an Italian American wedding feast.

We shared an appetizer of fried calamari, and a large platter of spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce. The highlight of the meal, however, might have been Carmine’s take on a traditional dessert…strawberry shortcake. Homemade swirl pound cake piled high with fresh whipped cream and strawberries, topped with pistachio nuts. Wow!

The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City

Piece 2: The Richard Rodgers and Lunt-Fontanne Theatres. The Richard Rodgers Theatre, named after the legendary composer, is located at 226 West 46th Street in New York City. This historic Broadway venue opened in 1924, and greets visitors with a grand facade and ornate interior featuring a Beaux-Arts architecture style.

The Richard Rodgers can accommodate just over 1,300 patrons, and its stadium seating design provides excellent sight lines and acoustics throughout the facility.

Furthermore, the modern version of the theatre has cutting-edge technical capabilities such as advanced lighting systems, innovative stage rigging, and versatile set designs that enable seamless scene transitions and captivating visual effects.

We enjoyed a production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” at the Richard Rodgers, and it was a great theatrical experience.

The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, situated at 205 West 46th Street, is literally across the street from the Richard Rodgers. Named after the legendary acting couple Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, this iconic venue has been captivating audiences since its opening in 1910.

The theatre has seating for over 1,500 patrons, but still creates an intimate environment.

Like the Richard Rodgers, the Lunt-Fontanne follows a Beaux-Arts architectural design and features an elegant interior.

The modern version of the theatre has a state-of-the-art sound system and lighting fixtures that enhance the auditory and visual experience of the audience.

We enjoyed a production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at the Lunt-Fontanne, featuring the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim. Singer/songwriter/actor Josh Groban performed the title role, and was outstanding.

Junior’s Restaurant on 45th Street in NYC

Piece 3: Junior’s Restaurant/Carlo’s Bakery/Madame Tussauds Times Square. Junior’s Restaurant was started by Harry Rosen and his family in 1950 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City. There are now other locations, including two in the Broadway Theater District (one on 49th Street and another on 45th).

Junior’s may be best described as a mash up of a diner and a delicatessen, with a sprawling menu that includes deli staples like corned beef, pastrami, and brisket.

We visited the Junior’s Times Square location on 45th Street for breakfast. The spacious dining area there has a classic diner-style décor and retro charm, with murals of New York City landmarks covering the walls. Our morning meal of corned beef hash, poached eggs, everything bagels with cream cheese, and smoked salmon was quite good, but the generous servings were more than we could finish.

Probably the main reason most people dine at Junior’s is to have a slice of its legendary cheesecake. Baked fresh daily using a secret recipe, it is delicious.

Carlo’s Bakery in Times Square (625 8th Avenue) is an extension of the iconic bakery founded in Hoboken NJ by Italian immigrant Carlo Guastaffero in 1910.

Carlo’s gained recognition for its delectable pastries and cakes, and progressively expanded its operations to other locations.

However, it was not until Buddy Valastro Jr., popularly known as the “Cake Boss,” inherited Carlo’s Bakery that it achieved global fame through television.

We visited the Times Square location and tried a couple of Carlo’s Bakery staples, “lobster tails” (crispy horn-shaped pastry shells filled with custard) and cannolis (crispy Italian pastry shells filled with ricotta cheese mixed with powdered sugar and chocolate chips). They were both very tasty; especially with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Times Square (234 West 42nd Street) is one of 23 locations of the long-standing tourist attraction, established in London in 1835.

Founder Marie Tussaud learned the art of wax modeling at an early age, and made death masks for beheaded dignitaries during the French Revolution. These masks became the foundation of her collection, which evolved into a popular display of lifelike wax figures depicting famous individuals.

Madame Tussaud’s Times Square includes the expected collection of wax casts; well-known celebrities, performers, artists, athletes, and political figures.

There was a special exhibit of Marvel Comic Super Heroes, which featured a fun 4-D movie that included air blasts, water sprays, gentle pokes, and vibrations all coordinated with the screen action.

Probably the best part of Madame Tussaud’s in Times Square is something that (I think) is unique to this location; the Warner Brothers Icons of Horror. The area is too intense for some, but we really enjoyed it.

Two displays in the Icons of Horror exhibit featured wax models of characters from “The Conjuring” movie franchise, Annabelle the doll and The Nun.

A display inspired by the 1973 horror classic “The Exorcist” has a wax model of the possessed character, Regan MacNeil, floating above her bed.

Finally, there is a particularly creepy wax model of the Bill Skarsgård version of “Pennywise the Dancing Clown” from the 2017 movie based on the Stephen King horror novel “It.”

It’s kinda fun to be scared.

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