See the Pope or buy a new iPhone? New Yorkers decide
By
USA TodaySeptember 25, 2015 | updated 11 years ago
Pope Francis, center, addresses the crowd on Capitol Hill as he stands, from left, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, and Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., as they stand on the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The Pope addressed a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)
NEW YORK — As crowds filled around 58th Street and 5th Avenue, not everyone was awaiting the arrival of the Pope.
The site diagonal to Central Park is also home to Apple’s flagship 5th Ave Store. True to form, lines have been increasing over the last few weeks for its own big event: the first in-store sales of the new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.
As of midday Thursday, lines for Apple’s new phones, which have been available for pre-order since Saturday, stretched a half block around the 58th Street store. One security guard monitoring the scene said he expected Apple’s line to grow over to 1,000 people by the evening.
Pope Francis, center, addresses the crowd on Capitol Hill as he stands, from left, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, and Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., as they stand on the Speaker’s Balcony on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The Pope addressed a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)Pope Francis talks with President Barack Obama after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. The Pope is spending three days in Washington before heading to New York and Philadelphia. This is the Pope’s first visit to the United States. First lady Michelle Obama is at right. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)President Barack Obama walks across the tarmac with Pope Francis upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)Pope Francis waves from his car, a Fiat 500, after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. The Pope is spending three days in Washington before heading to New York and Philadelphia. This is the Pope’s first visit to the United States. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)The plane with Pope Francis on board arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. The Pope is spending three days in Washington before heading to New York and Philadelphia. This is the Pope’s first visit to the United States. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)Pope Francis gets into a Fiat 500L before his motorcade departed from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, after being greeted by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and others, greet Pope Francis upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)A police vehicle passes Our Lady Queen of Angels School, where Pope Francis is scheduled to visit, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in New York. The Pope arrives in New York on Thursday after visiting Cuba and Washington. (AP Photo/Bryan R. Smith) (Bryan R. Smith)The plane with Pope Francis on board arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. The Pope is spending three days in Washington before heading to New York and Philadelphia. This is the Pope’s first visit to the United States. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)Members of the Armed Forces Full Honor Cordon from the Military District of Washington practice for the arrival of Pope Francis, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, at Andrews Air Force Base in Md. The Pope is spending three days in Washington before heading to New York and Philadelphia. This is the Pope’s first visit to the United States. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)Pope Francis arrives at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Pope Francis will visit the White House on Wednesday and address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday.(AP Photo/Cliff Owen) (Cliff Owen)Pope Francis arrives at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Pope Francis will visit the White House on Wednesday and address a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) (Cliff Owen)Pope Francis rides past his plane in a Fiat 500L as his motorcade departs Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, after being greeted by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)Pope Francis waves as he arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. The Pope is spending three days in Washington before heading to New York and Philadelphia. This is the Pope’s first visit to the United States. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)First lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by President Barack Obama, greet Pope Francis upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)Pope Francis arrives at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in a Fiat 500. Pope Francis will visit the White House on Wednesday, becoming only the third pope to do so. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) (Cliff Owen)Priests and a Sister wait for Pope Francis to arrive at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Pope Francis will visit the White House on Wednesday, becoming only the third pope to visit the White House. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) (Cliff Owen)Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, speaks with school children after Pope Francis arrived at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Pope Francis will visit the White House on Wednesday, becoming only the third pope to visit the White House.(AP Photo/Cliff Owen) (Cliff Owen)Children who’s parents work at the Argentine Embassy wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in the heart of Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Pope Francis will visit the White House on Wednesday, becoming only the third pope to visit the White House. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) (Cliff Owen)A photograph of Pope Francis is reflected while on display at Pauline Books and Media, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 in New York. The Pope arrives in New York on Thursday afternoon after visiting Cuba and Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Bryan R. Smith) (Bryan R. Smith)Solar Pope souvenirs are displayed for sale at Kikkerland Design, Inc., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, in New York. The Pope arrives in New York on Thursday after visiting Cuba and Washington. (AP Photo/Bryan R. Smith) (Bryan R. Smith)Solar Pope souvenirs on display for sale at Kikkerland Design, Inc., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 in New York. The Pope arrives in New York on Thursday afternoon after visiting Cuba and Washington. (AP Photo/Bryan R. Smith) (Bryan R. Smith)President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, second from right, accompany Pope Francis to his motorcade upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)Clergy brace for the wind as they stand along the red carpet on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, as the plane carrying Pope Francis arrives. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama watch as Pope Francis motorcade departs Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)A man holds up a Papal flag as he waits for Pope Francis departure from the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican’s diplomatic mission in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. Pope Francis will visit the White House where President Barack Obama will host a state arrival ceremony. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) (Cliff Owen)President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Pope Francis wave to the crowd on the South Lawn from the Truman Balcony of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, during a state arrival ceremony. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais)Pope Francis holds the head of a small child as he leans from the popemobile during a parade, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool) (Alex Brandon)Spectators wait for the arrival of Pope Francis on South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (Alessandra Tarantino)President Barack Obama talks with Pope Francis in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)People wave and cheer on the parade for Pope Francis, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, in Washington. Earlier, President Barack Obama hosted the pope at the White House during a state arrival ceremony. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool) (Alex Brandon)President Barack Obama and Pope Francis are flanked by a U.S. and Vatican flag during a state arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. The Washington Monument is in the background. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (Andrew Harnik)Bishop J. Kevin Boland, left, accompanied by Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer from Savannah, Ga., takes a photo prior to the Midday Prayer Service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. The Pope began his first trip to the U.S. at the White House followed by a visit to St. Matthew’s Cathedral, and will then hold a Mass on the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. (Mark Wilson/Pool Photo via AP) (Mark Wilson)Pope Francis give the thumbs-up from the popemobile during a parade around the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster)Pope Francis is applauded as he arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, to address a joint meeting of Congress, making history as the first pontiff to do so. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster)Pope Francis arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, to address a joint meeting of Congress. (Michael Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP) (Michael Reynolds)Pope Francis paused before a statue dedicated to Joseph Damien De Veuster, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, prior to his address before a joint meeting on Congress. De Veuster was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 11, 2009. (Michael Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP) (Michael Reynolds)Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. Listening behind the pope are Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster)Pope Francis, left, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., center, point to someone in the crowd as they stand next to House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, right, on the Speaker’s Balcony on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. The Pope earlier addressed a joint meeting of Congress making him the first pontiff in history to do so. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)Pope Francis listens to applause before addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (Alessandra Tarantino)Pope Francis uses his hands to make a point during his address before a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster)Congressional staffers and guests strain to view and photograph the departure of Pope Francis in his Fiat 500L, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, after his speech before a joint meeting of Congress. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (Steve Helber)Pope Francis, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, waves to the crowd on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, as they stand on the Speaker’s Balcony on Capitol Hill, after the pope addressed a joint meeting of Congress inside. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio applaud Pope Francis after his address before a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, making history as the first pontiff to do so. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster)Pope Francis waves to the crowd upon his arrival at St. Patrick’s Church in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, following his address to a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (Jose Luis Magana)House and Senate members applause on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, as Pope Francis begins his addresses before a joint meeting of Congress, making history as the first pontiff to do so. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais)People watch Pope Francis on a large screen television from the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, as the Pope walks through Capitol Hill after he addressed a joint meeting of Congress . (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh)
