Where the ball drops

"During the 1990s, Times Square changed its colors, from a notoriously seedy (some would say sleazy) urban center to a family-friendly, corporate-sponsored entertainment district." "Interweaving description and analysis, Makagon reveals an ongoing urban drama that thrives on the contradictions of public and private life, on individual desires for belonging and anonymity, and on a sense of place and placelessness. Never losing sight of the connection and disconnect between larger political and economic developments and what goes on in the streets, Makagon deftly moves between identification with the district's many personalities and broader social commentary - from Times Square's image as "Crossroads of the World" to conflict in the streets to a swank party with a view of the New Year's festivities."--BOOK JACKET.