Neon/bright billboard districts in your city (think Times Square etc.) - Page 3

muppet · #41 Posted: **Mar 11, 2010, 4:22 PM**

Chongqing by night: neon spectacular - this is about as lighted up as you can get at the moment:

• Video Link

JDRCRASH · #42 Posted: **Mar 11, 2010, 5:10 PM**

I like Shanghai better.

Busy Bee · #43 Posted: **Mar 11, 2010, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirrus

^
I wrote that.

Cirrus, that's awesome. I saw that it was cross posted on Beyond DC, which I equally enjoy as much as G-G-W, but just assumed it was from another publication. So the credit is all yours. Good article!

L.A.indenver · #44 Posted: **Mar 20, 2010, 2:29 AM**

Denver 16th street mall has a small lit up area

image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...all_Lights.jpg

Chase Unperson · #45 Posted: **Mar 20, 2010, 2:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A.indenver

Denver 16th street mall has a small lit up area

image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...all_Lights.jpg

Give me a break! A subway sign and a few christmas lights. What a freaking joke! That's your downtown!. What a feakin joke

Chase Unperson · #46 Posted: **Mar 20, 2010, 2:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crawford

I like how the first LA live pic just barely misses the Chevron station, car wash and surface lot just across the street.

At least it is more impressive than the downtown denver picture of a subway store. WHat a freaking joke.

mthq · #47 Posted: **Mar 20, 2010, 8:36 PM**

What I don't like about these neon districts in Los Angeles and Toronto is that they're artificial and built with the sole purpose to serve as a Times Square like area. Times Square, Ginza, Shibuya, etc on the other hand are organic and developed over time in what was already a busy intersection of the city. Unlike LA or TO, none of the buildings in these other cities are from the same time period with the same architecture and whatnot. They also don't have the fancy pedestrian only plazas (obviously TS is heading that direction but that's a different story) and stupid spotlights. I'm particularly bothered by LA Live and how it seems Nokia and ESPN are advertising in the district the same way a corporation would sponsor a sports stadium or arena. The seeming over emphasis on the Lakers is pathetic too, imo. I absolutely love the JW Marriot tower though.

Potsdamer Platz in Berlin is a similar example. It was rebuilt from WWII rubble in the 90s with the support from Diamler-Chrysler (at the time), Sony, and Deutsche Bahn in the hopes of establishing an electrifying place-to-be destination for Berlin. They went about it in a different and original style of more conservatism and less neon, but regardless, the area at times in the day is quite dead including the Sony Center.

dktshb · #48 Posted: **Mar 20, 2010, 10:21 PM**

^ There isn't a neon district in Los Angeles. I hardly think LA Live or H&H could qualify...
We do have some pretty spectacular neon signs tho throughout the city especially downtown's historic core around Broadway.

MonkeyRonin · #49 Posted: **Mar 20, 2010, 10:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mthq

What I don't like about these neon districts in...Toronto is that they're artificial and built with the sole purpose to serve as a Times Square like area.

I hear this criticism a lot from SSP, but you all fail to realize that Yonge Street has always been full of neon advertisements and bright lights, as its always been a large, high-traffic retail zone. The only thing thats "artificial" about the Yonge & Dundas area is the square itself - which is mostly free of advertisements.

JDRCRASH · #50 Posted: **Mar 20, 2010, 10:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mthq

I'm particularly bothered by LA Live and how it seems Nokia and ESPN are advertising in the district the same way a corporation would sponsor a sports stadium or arena.

What do you call New York City advertising itself (more specifically, Times Square) on ABC News EVERY morning and evening?

alps · #51 Posted: **Mar 21, 2010, 2:06 AM**

source

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Agonist

Give me a break! A subway sign and a few christmas lights. What a freaking joke! That's your downtown!. What a feakin joke

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Agonist

At least it is more impressive than the downtown denver picture of a subway store. WHat a freaking joke.

aanywho I find 16th St mall is a very nice space and is always lively well into the evening.

Avanine-Commuter · #52 Posted: **Mar 22, 2010, 12:42 AM**

L.A.

Source: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/23...3f3846a8fd.jpg

DaveofCali · #53 Posted: **Mar 23, 2010, 4:47 AM**

L.A. is underrepresented as usual...

Our "organic" signage district (as in that it naturally developed) would be West Hollywood's Sunset Strip, a popular area full of boutiques, restaurants, rock clubs, and nightclubs and as a "hangout" area for the entertainment industry. And it's about 2 miles long:

- by Marcus Hoai Nguyen

- by hudson jeans

by amyblog (flickr)

- by ForYourArt (flickr)

- by Jeff Costlow (Wikipedia)

- by Terry Guy (flickr)

- by 2harborview (flickr)

Sunset Strip back then:

- by Larrythefrog (flickr)

by Larrythefrog (flickr)

vanman · #54 Posted: **Mar 23, 2010, 8:27 PM**

LA live looks very impressive.

Vancouver is actively trying to restore neon in the city but it is pretty much anti billboards. Granville Street and Chinatown are where you'll find the most neon:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gord99/4374370674/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2594805...77027/sizes/o/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianivar...08631/sizes/o/

destroycreate · #55 Posted: **Mar 23, 2010, 8:42 PM**

Wow I'm super impressed with Granville! I love it, looks so lively! What is that area of Granville comprise of mostly? Clubs/bars (nightlife), or is it more of a a retail area? PS - random, but what times do bars and clubs close in VAN?

vanman · #56 Posted: **Mar 24, 2010, 5:00 AM**

^ Granville street is admittedly more like that second picture than the first one. The first one was taken during the Olypmpics where it was the place to be. It just underwent a major reconstruction where the streets were straightened, repaved, large trees removed, and lots of light was added, including those white tubes that you see. Many of the businesses along the street in correlation added new signage / restored old neon. Since Granville is the designated the entertainment district for Vancouver, it is mostly comprised of bars, clubs, restaurants, and theaters. There is also a ton of retail along the strip.

To answer your last question, most bars and clubs close by 3am on weekdays and weekends and on special occasions (sporting events,holidays etc) are open til 4am.

If you're interested you should really check out entheosfog's photo thread on Granville:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=178572

alps · #57 Posted: **Mar 25, 2010, 8:49 PM**

The neon on Granville looks great! Pretty sure the past couple times I went to Vancouver the street was still closed for construction.

pesto · #58 Posted: **Mar 26, 2010, 12:22 AM**

I like the retro neon in Vancouver. LA's Broadway re-do should look like that but a bit more due to the theaters there and the general excess that people expect from LA.

Hollywood Blvd. has legitimate neon areas between La Brea and Gower (not every block, but heading that way). The Strip is more classic billboards, rather than neon. More impressive visually during the day than at night.

The next big thing might be Koreatown on Wilshire, Western, Vermont, Olympic or some other street. The Korean language signs already give it an exotic look.

Tony · #59 Posted: **Aug 7, 2010, 3:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mthq

What I don't like about these neon districts in Los Angeles and Toronto is that they're artificial and built with the sole purpose to serve as a Times Square like area.

While I don't disagree that TO's Yonge-Dundas Square does try to emulate NYC TS, I certainly wouldn't consider it artificial. The area has always been a high pedestrian and commercialized area with neon signage since at least the 50's.

credit listed at bottom of image, image can be found here: https://gencat4.eloquent-systems.com...13_id49320.jpg

J. Will · #60 Posted: **Aug 8, 2010, 1:07 AM**

Toronto's biggest such area would be the Yonge Street strip, especially the corner of Yonge and Dundas, which has dozens of massive advertisements and huge video screens looking over the streets and the plaza.

Chinatown would be another area. There are lots of neon signs (there are many restaurants open until 4am or later 7 nights a week), and a large video screen at the corner of Spadina and Dundas.

Yonge + Eglinton would be another area, especially with the Yonge-Eglinton Centre and Canada Square.

North York City Centre would sort of qualify - around Empress Walk. The corner of Yonge + Sheppard will be another such major intersection with huge colourful signs and bright lights when the Hullmark Centre is complete, combined with the existing Yonge-Sheppard Centre.

When 1 Bloor East if finished Yonge + Bloor will likely be another such area.

Quote:

What I don't like about these neon districts in Los Angeles and Toronto is that they're artificial and built with the sole purpose to serve as a Times Square like area. Times Square, Ginza, Shibuya, etc on the other hand are organic and developed over time in what was already a busy intersection of the city.

Wrong. Toronto's Yonge Street strip also developed over many decades and has been Canada's busiest intersection for many decades. It was not artificially built to be a Times Square like area. If had massive advertisements and large, colourful signs 60+ years ago. It wasn't entirely built up recently.