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    Father Duffy Square

    4.2 (20 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Phil H.

    The statue of Father Duffy stands tall overlooking the minions of tourists, locals, street performers, and unique individuals which crowd into Times Square. Sure, it's a tourist trap area, and can be quite annoying with it's throngs of humans posing for pics, but there is some fun people watching here. Climb up the lit red stairs behind him, take a seat, and be entertained. Not going to get into the history of Father Duffy here as it's been written many times before. Also, this is where you find the TKTS booth to score Broadway theater tickets when live performances are happening.

    Denise W.

    Father Duffy Square is located in the center of Times Square or is it part of Times Square or is it really called Father Duffy Square but people just call it Times Square? It is some what strange for the Father Duffy Statue to be in the middle and being surrounding by bright lights. Behind it, you have the TKTS stairs/red steps seats. I feel like the statue was here first and as time went by, it got busier and things started to develop around it. Anyways, it is somewhat strange to see a statue and plaque stating this is Father Duffy Square when everyone knows it by the name Times Square. There are so many people here. Seems like no one really notice this square is called Father Duffy or even notice the statue. This is where hundreds and millions of tourist come every year.

    Tom G.

    Every single day, thousands of people pass through Times Square to take pictures on the gigantic red steps that sit over the TKTS booth. Even though the north end of Times Square is a well-known part of the iconic American landmark, not many people know it has its' own name: Father Duffy Square. Father Francis Patrick Duffy was a chaplain and officer in a New York infantry regiment known as the Fighting 69th. Father Duffy was a celebrated war hero and is one of the most highly decorated chaplains in US Army history. When his time in the military came to an end, he returned to Manhattan to serve as the Pastor of Holy Cross Church in Hell's Kitchen until he passed away. In 1937 a bronze statue and granite monument installed in the northern triangle of Times Square to honor the life of Father Duffy. Most people don't care about Father Duffy only that the stairs make a good photo op. Sad.

    Tina C.

    Sits on the northern triangle of Times Square, "Crossroads of the World," Father Duffy Square is open to the public and definitely a tourist trap where locals and out-of-towners flock to the red steps resting, mingling, reading, eating lunches, couples smooching and smoochs with mistresses/forbidden lovers other than boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife. This outdoor space is a magnet for tourists, a staging area for public rallies, the scene of victory celebrations, Christmas caroling since 1973, plus more. Below the red steps is home to one of the TKTS Booth which sells day-of-performance tickets only to broadway and off-broadway shows. The northern statue honors the namesake of this parkland, Father Francis Patrick Duffy (1871-1932), a military chaplain and a priest in the Times Square area.

    View of Father Duffy Square from DoubleTree Hotel, NYC
    Kevin K.

    My teen daughter wanted to visit New York City for the first time so we went there for two days. I think the best way to see this area is at night since that is really when all the signs show their true colors. This place is really crowded with tourists so if you get any anxieties with crowds then this place is not for you. If you get up early (about 06:00) in the morning you get the see everything except the crowds.

    Duffy square overlooking Times Square
    Sarah H.

    just follow the red lit stairs and your smack standing /sitting in duffy square! which ever position you prefer! either way this place is pretty awesome to view all of times square and to take your touristy photo shots! i prefer going in September when the weather is just right! definitely is a nice place to people watch! so much going on around you its hard not to get bored just sitting here drinking coffee or just a bite to eat and watch the city go by!

    red stairs!

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    Review Highlights - Father Duffy Square

    Surrounded by hundreds of people and street performers, the statue is almost a beacon to Times Square.

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    Bryant Park

    Bryant Park

    4.6
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Just blocks from Times Square and the Theater district in Midtown Manhattan, Bryant Park is…read moredirectly next to the main branch of the New York Public Library. It's a park that my wife and I have passed by during the day on visits to New York City. But we finally saw it come alive as a community gathering place at night, with its many tables to talk or eat, permanent and temporary food trucks and carts, and a large greenspace lawn that was cordoned off this night, but can be the location for free summer movies on the lawn and an ice skating rink in the winter. On a warm summer night, the night atmosphere was magical, especially walking through the walkways with the London plane trees, after a great Broadway show. The current park is 9.6 acres and is located on two city blocks (5th and 6th avenue on the NW/SE, 40th and 42nd street on the NE/SW). The western half of the park contains a lawn, walkways, and a french-inspired carousel. Down below are the repository/stacks of the public library, located on the eastern half of the park. It opened in 1847 as Reservoir Square, later renamed for abolitionist William Cullen Bryant in 1884. It fell into disrepair in the 1960s. In 1980, the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation was formed as a non-profit, to try to create a long term solution for the maintainability of the park. Massive renovation was planned and implemented, with a complete rebuilding of the park (after the library stacks had been first built underneath). It reopened in 1992, to great acclaim. Since then, the value of the real estate around the park has greatly increased, attracting new development. The reclamation of the park has been often used a model for a successful urban renewal.

    If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you notice about Bryant Park is how everybody…read moreis trying so damn hard to act like they're having the time of their life. I walk by there on my way to Grand Central Terminal to get Metro North to my goddamn job at the law firm whichbis 45 minutes away, its so far,I think im gonna quit. It's right behind the New York Public Library on 42nd Street, trapped right in the middle of all these massive, skyscrapers looming over the trees like giant glass monsters. ​During the warmer months, they've got this giant green lawn laid out, and people sit around in these little green metal folding chairs looking like they're in some kind of advertisement for happy urban living. You see all these tourists and families sprawling out on the grass, taking pictures of each other with their fancy phones and fancy shopping bags and laughing at what seems to me like absolutely nothing. They sit there eating overpriced sandwiches and pretending they aren't surrounded by millions of tons of steel and exhaust fumes. It depresses hell out of me, it really does. Every single one of them acts like they just discovered nature because someone put a patch of sod between 5th and 6th Avenue. ​Then in the winter, the whole place transforms into this "Winter Village" deal. They put up a big ice skating rink right in the middle and surround it with all these tiny wooden kiosks selling fifty dollar scarves and gourmet hot chocolate whichbis pricd probably at about ten bucks. The tourists go completely crazy for it. You watch these parents pushing their little kids out onto the ice in those goofy plastic skate aids. Half the grownups are wobbling around like they're about to break a leg, but they keep smiling for the cameras because they want everyone back home in Ohio Belgium or wherever they are from to think they're having a marvelous time in New York. ​I mean, the kids are alright, it's actually kind of nice seeing a little kid who hasn't been ruined by everything corporate yet having fun on the ice, but the whole commercial spectacle of it kills me. Everybody's acting, and everybody knows everybody else is acting, but they just keep on doing it anyway. ​It's not the worst place in the city, I guess. If you need to sit down for ten minutes and watch a bunch of outta towners pretend to be relaxed, you could do worse. Just don't buy the hot chocolate unless you want to spend your last ten bucks on hot water and cocoa powder.

    Photos
    Skating rink
    Skating rink
    First snow of the season
    First snow of the season
    Ice fountain

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    Ice fountain
    St. Vartan Park

    St. Vartan Park

    4.1
    (22 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Nice big park great for different age groups! Entrance on 1st ave for big playground and bathroom…read more Plenty of benches and equipment to play on. There is also a basketball quart and small field. Pretty clean and safe.

    Slowly trying to hoop at all the basketball courts in the city, so I came here after work before a…read morelong weekend. We were on our 4th game of 5 on 5 on this slanted, slippery court with double rims as the Midtown skyline looked over us. We had gone 3-0 and already on wobbly legs but wanted one more to really push ourselves to exhaustion and be WHOOPED. A group of 5 17 year olds showed up and I was lowkey like damn I don't wanna play these little kids for our last game but whatever, they got next. We were going back and forth, and to be fair they were actually pretty good but just too frail to give us any problems. At 5'10 174 lbs, I'm a BIG guard. I'm left handed, but shot a right handed floater fading to my right as I'm trying to get better. If you can hit a weak hand floater on the run you will be tough to stop. I bricked it and this little 17 year old kid goes "that's a TERRIBLE shot" looking at me dead in the eyes. Like bro y'all are losing and you suck why you talking? He woke me up and I started actually trying really hard and lowkey busting their ass... but tbh normally I'm not even that good. It was just one of those days where everything was falling. I hit a 3 and yelled out "THAT'S A LAYUP." I drove hard left, euro stepped and hit a tough finish through 2 and yelled "I"M TOO BIG," while flexing. I switched onto little homie and he took a terrible stepback shot after I turned him 3 times and bricked it. I just whispered to him "I don't even gotta say nothing after that one it speaks for itself" which really pissed him off. Then I hit the game winning 3 and did the Dame wave to him as he walked off the court PISSED as hell. I sat down and then he got the courage to say "STOP TALKING SO MUCH" while he put his hand together to mimic me YAPPING. I almost stood up and said "HOW BOUT U GET WIN?" But then I realized I'm a grown ass man and there is absolutely no reason to be jawing at this little kid on a beautiful Friday in New York City. I just kind of laughed at myself and asked what is wrong with me lol. All in all, these runs were kind of weak and this court is in horrendous condition. The court on the westside highway is still my favorite in the city. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

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    St. Vartan Park
    Park entrance
    Park entrance
    Summer colors in 2025

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    Summer colors in 2025
    Herald Square

    Herald Square

    3.4
    (93 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    Ian's Cookie Jar (Located in Herald Square Holiday Market)…read moreW. 35th. St. & Broadway New York, NY 10001 The Bucket Located in the Herald Square Holiday Market adjacent to Macy's is a chocolate chip cookie kiosk. This secret recipe was handcrafted by food influencer Ian Martin and Hungry Gnome bakery owner Danielle Sepsy. All cookies are freshly baked on the spot in these cookie ovens. An entire batch is immediately scooped up with a french fry scooper and handed off for your enjoyment. The Bucket: The primary ingredients in these cookies are all butter, brown sugar, and premium Callebaut chocolate. As soon as you try your first one, you will be far from done. They are warm and crispy on the outside while gooey on the inside. As a bonus, the holiday themed visual design on the bucket was hand drawn by Ian's sister. There is a decent amount of seating at the holiday market for you to enjoy your dessert. Be sure to arrive early because Ian's cookies are immensely popular and they will sell out. Stop by Ian's Cookie Jar kiosk at the Herald Square holiday market and indulge in this warm, gooey treat during the most wonderful time of the year. #ianscookiejar #chefdaniellesepsy #IanMartin #thehungrygnome #TheBucket #chocolatechipcookies #HeraldSquare #heraldsquareholidaymarket #nycholidaymarket #imma_eat_this #callebautchocolate #40cookies

    I really enjoy coming to this area of the city. So much to do and see, lots of shopping and food…read moreoptions. Madison square garden is also nearby. The historical Macy's Herald sq is here. It's beautiful in this area esp during the holidays. However, expect heavy crowds on weekends or after events like concerts

    Photos
    Christmas day at Macy's
    Christmas day at Macy's
    05/02/25
    05/02/25
    Holiday carousel

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    Holiday carousel

    Father Duffy Square - parks - Updated August 2026

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