52nd St Manhole Fire At My Office

With my headphones on listening to Blink-182 (old school, I know) and fidgeting on pivot tables, I hear a mumbled male voice over the intercom saying something about a fire and Viacom but nothing about evacuating, so I went back to doing work.  Fire? Meh, nothing to be alarmed about.  Turns out there ACTUALLY was a big fire right downstairs of my office at 52nd St and Broadway.  A manhole exploded from an underground fire around 4 pm.

The video below shows the manhole explosion:

Every five minutes after the fire, I could hear a muffled siren heading our way.  Around 7 pm, the voice over the intercom told us they were shutting down the A/C in the building (my network server was also shut down, no warning was given) and wanted us to turn off all lights not being used in order to use less electricity, as ConEd demanded.  I left work right after.  I exited the lobby elevators and the building's Southwest entrance that faced the blast was roped off.  Over 15 fire trucks were parked at the intersection.  Evacuated-Broadway show attendees, television crews and nosy tourists crowded the streets.  The ridiculous number of fire trucks parked in the middle of Times Square was more of a spectacle than the hopefully smothered fire.

Walgreens Share A Kiss Times Square Billboard

Today holds another life record.  My face was on a giant Times Square billboard.  Digitas Chicago with branding firm Gilmore Group developed Walgreens' Share A Kiss campaign where you can upload a photo of you and your sweetheart to be shown on a billboard in Times Square OR go to Times Square today from 11 am-2 pm and have the Walgreens street team take your photo which would show up 15 minutes later on the billboard located above Times Square Walgreens.

Now that I have moved out of Gramercy and work at the edge of Times Square, I decided it wouldn't hurt to wrestle with sidewalk peddlers and lost tourists.  The snow had stopped, the sun was out and the roads were plowed.  I walked through Times Square unsure of what to look for, but obvioulsy right out side of Walgreens was a team of red parkas holding clipboards and taking photos of tourists.

I really like the current Walgreens Valentine's campaign, especially the TV spot where the boyfriend buys his girlfriend contact solution in an attempt to top the other guy, because everyone knows your girlfriend always needs contact solution.

Don't be sad if you didn't make it down to Times Square or don't live in NY, it's not too late to have your pretty face show up on the billboard, submit your photo here.

1-Day NYC Date - Part Two

After a long day of park lounging, MacNCheese eating and boat rowing (1-Day NYC Date-Part One), it's time to relax with a fine dining meal.

French Dinner in Soho:
L'Ecole, the Restaurant of the French Culinary Institute (Restaurant choice I have my friend Jason to thank) - Broadway between Broome and Grand St
Five Course Prix Fixe Menu - Appetizer, Fish Course, Meat Course, Salad and Dessert
Cost = $42 per person *If you're doubting this decision, I just want to say that you'll be beyond satisfied at the end of the meal. SO GOOD.

Below is the Prix Fixe menu served on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday:
Cold Poached Salmon with Cucumber Salad, Whitefish Roe and Smoked Leek Vinaigrette
Pan-Seared Branzino with Curried Artichoke and Buckwheat Crepes
Artic Char with White Asparagus and Paella
Duo of Lamb with Spring Onion, Roasted Potato Salad and Motel Sauce
Hanger Steak with Baby Bok Choy and Thai Basil Sauce
Chocolate Bread Pudding and Ginger Coconut Sorbet with Carmalized Bananas
Tiramisu

End the night on the TKTS booth in Times Square:
Recently, Times Square has been making itself more appealing by closing down its streets and placing lounge chairs for people to relax and take in the sights. TKTS, the people who sell cheap show tickets, built a large red staircase above the booth so people can also sit and enjoy how pretty the square gets at night.
Well I hope after all of this your girlfriend isn't pissed or your first date was a success. If not, sorry, that sucks.