| The Shopping Guide to Times Square |
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| Written by Michelle Grundman and Brad Balfour | |
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Lights, action and stores!  One of the myriad souvenir shops in New York's Times Square--some shops offer I (heart) NY tees for only two dollars! From such stores as the whiz-bang Toys 'R Us to the scrumptuous Dale & Thomas Popcorn, shoppers of all kinds can find the memorable experience to suit them. From its once-tawdry past (which, for the nostalgically inclined, can still be found nearby), the area has been transformed into the ultimate consumer's paradise--one so glittery and gussied up that it's almost surreal. And besides all the themed and highfalutin branded stores, there is still that vast array of cheesy souvenir shops within this 10-block area. Every few steps throughout Times Square, you'll encounter a myriad of stores with every silly NYC object, from snow globes of the Statue of Liberty to FDNY caps; these stores carry a mostly identical stock of every possible New York trinket--so if you can't find it in one spot you can always find it elsewhere. And don't forget the dozens of street vendors, crowded along the Avenues, and down 42nd Street, selling stomach-toughening foodstuffs like kebobs or knishes and offering everything from cell-phone accessories to kitschy Americana. That's Times Square for you--and the rest of the world. CBS Store1697 Broadway (at 53rd St.) Dale and Thomas Popcorn1592 Broadway  The exterior of the Hershey's Store features mock-ups of its famous candy brands Hershey's Time Square Store1593 Broadway (at 48th St.)New York, NY 10019 212-581-9100 hersheystimessquare.com The Hershey's Time Square Store is a candy heaven. When you enter the store you are drawn to immediately to the candy-related songs playing in the store. Once inside the store features the best of Hersey brands--Reese's cups, Hershey bars, Baby Ruth, Kit Kats and many more delicious creamy chocolate treats. And if you don't like milk chocolate, they have creamy white and rich dark chocolate bars as well. You can personalize your very own giant Hershey's Kisses Chocolate and create your own original candy mix with the help of the "Original Automatic and Gravitational Chocolate Machine." Hershey, the company, is a candy legend. Starting back in 1894 they produced sweet chocolate as a coating for caramel. In the 1900, Hershey's began making milk chocolate bars, wafers and other shapes and from that start they became so successful that the brand has it's own cartoon characters--jumping and singing to their music--and a store in the Times Square area.
 M&M's World, just across the street from its competitor, Hershey's, has a great selection of M&M-based souvenirs and exclusively colored chocolates M&M's World1600 Broadway (at the corner of W. 48th St.)New York, NY 10019 212-295-3850 to order: 800-848-3606 mmsworld.com M&M's World features one of the world's largest displays of these bite-sized candies and a vast array of colors not found anywhere else. The three-story, 25,000 square-foot store features a 17-foot Miss Green dressed up as Lady Liberty, a grooving Elvis M&M, a full-sized Ford Fusion NASCAR and an m&m color-mood analyzer that allows visitors to see what color best suits their daily mood. They have over 4000 items including T-shirts, bags, pillows, M&M dolls, pencils and many more fun M&M souvenirs including some one-of-a-kind pieces. This store is what New Yorkers like to say is an "only in New York" experience, with its flashing lights and huge store displays set on a prime corner of midtown Manhattan. It's a great place for the whole family--it even features an interactive kids area--and is a triumph of American candy-making by Mars Inc.
Modells234 West 42nd Street The MTV Store1515 Broadway  Now, at the base of the building is MTV's gift shop, which draws a endless flow of customers who purchase MTV souvenirs. From branded T-shirts to small tote bags to scooter radios, the store offers ever imaginable product that can carry an MTV logo. And it sits just below the studio from which "TRL" is broadcast to a gaggle of screaming girls and curious tourists. They also sell books on current bands and hot TV shows such "The Real World"--MTV's ground-breaking reality show. If you are hungry and want the ultimate customer experience, then you can buy an "Eat MTV" --the officially sanctioned packaged fizzy pops and jawbreakers. By coming to the MTV store, you enter the center of the pop culture universe--well, sort of. Quiksilver3 Times Square (at 42nd St. & Seventh Ave.)  Surfer's paradise: The Quiksilver store on the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway Quiksilver's signature use of rich visuals with bright colors infuses the urban surroundings of this boutique with imagery depicting the passion and adventure of the boardriding lifestyle. The store is like no other in New York City, offering full lines of Quiksilver and Roxy brands--though there is another one downtown (at 519 Broadway between Spring & Broome Sts. in Soho, 212-226-1193). This is an excellent stop for clothing, accessories, and footwear for "young-minded people." Sanrio233 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Ave.)  It's cute, it's pink... it's the Sanrio store! Actually the store is called Sanrio for the company that owns the Hello Kitty characters and images. But in bringing the popular cast of Hello Kitty characters to life for many little girl, it is forever known as the store for those almost ubiquitous characters. The store is a Hello Kitty collectors' dream because they sell it all-- Hello Kitty watches, clothing, stationery, and electronics but Sanrio has many more characters, and the store will carry all that stuff too. Toys "R" Us1514 Broadway at 44th St.  The Toys 'R Us in Times Square has a full-size neon ferris wheel right inside the entrance For all those girls who love playing with Barbie, they will be ecstatic to see the giant Barbie area. But the most amazing thing at the Toys "R" Us in Times Square is the indoor 60-feet-high ferris wheel. Each car on the wheel relates to a toy from Barbie, "Toy Story" (the movie), Sesame Street or other favorites. There's also such attractions as the giant T-Rex from "Jurassic Park" (for those brave enough to handle the roaring) and the Candy Land area for those who have a sweet tooth. This is a great place for the whole family. The Virgin Megastore1540 Broadway  Virgin has two Megastores in NYC--one in Times Square and another downtown in Union Square. The Times Square location, however, has a full-fledged Loews Theater inside And if somehow you can't find something to buy amongst everything there from the latest pop music offerings to offbeat eclectic European titles, then at least you can watch and listen for free to the store's more than 600 listening posts and 100 video viewing stations. Hell, just watching the bizarre mix of the crowds drifting into store from Euro-chic to punk-flash makes for an entertaining experience.
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