vip in the city

Everyone’s a winner

Live entertainment, filled 46th Street with music. I’d read that the stars from “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” were to perform at the TOTS food festival, but I must have just missed them.

I did a doubletake as we passed this accordian player, propped up on a cement pillar at the corner of 46th and Eighth. For a brief moment, I thought were were revisiting the wild days of pre-Disney Times Square, but upon closer examination it seems the street performer actually was wearing a tube top underneath her instrument.

An ominously loud clap of thunder followed by a torrent of rain sent crowds scrambling for cover under the large Swing 46 tent on Restaurant Row, where swing band Double Down led by John Kozan entertained with toe-tapping tunes. Some impressive moves were on display on the dance floor, though I suspected most of the participants were ringers from the nearby jazz and supper club.

At the Times Square Alliance booth, festival-goers lined up for a chance to spin for fabulous prizes. When my turn came, I gave the cage a vigorous turn. As a bright blue ball rolled out, I was treated to enthusiastic whoops from the stall workers who bestowed upon me a black “Times Square Alliance”-logoed t-shirt like the one pictured here. It was a tough act to follow, but SYB did: improbably so, winning a white and pink “Taste of Times Square” apron (along with some unsolicited advice.) Sweet!

Our luck did not follow us to the “Broadway Insider” booth where festival attendees were lined up for a chance at free show tickets. My wheel spin “won” me one of the consolation prizes: a “Phantom of the Opera” fridge magnet. No matter: we cashed in our remaining tickets for $1 NYC-partnered Snapples and went home winners anyway.

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