http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=1319

As a special holiday treat, we’ve teamed up with ProtonCharging.com to bring you our first-ever New York City locations contest!

Say what you will about Ghostbusters II - every time a New York politician does something unbelievably detrimental to the city, I think of this quote from Ray Stantz:

A few months ago, I posted an exhaustive then-and-now look at the New York shooting locations in Ghostbusters. As it turns out, I’m not the only one with an unhealthy obsession! Chris, who runs ProtonCharging.com (THE go-to source for the latest in Ghostbusters news) has been diligently combing the Google Maps NYC Street View to uncover some of the more obscure locations used in Ghostbusters II (including L.A., where the producers egregiously chose to shoot several scenes).

Despite figuring out a number of obscure locations, one in particular has eluded him. He emailed to ask if I had any ideas about it, and after a lot of head-scratching and Google mapping of my own, I had to agree: this was a tough one. It looks familiar, but herein lies the danger – it’s familiar enough that it could practically be anywhere in Manhattan (if it is in Manhattan!).

We’ve decided to hold a contest and turn it over to our readers to identify the location. Below are shots from the film and the clues we’ve picked out. If you can identify the New York street depicted, simply send an email to nycscout@gmail.com with your name, address, and where you believe the location is (street / cross streets). From the correct answers, we will choose one winner to receive a special Ghostbusters prize pack, made up of some to-be-announced goodies! Wooh!

FINALLY: DO NOT REPLY IN THE COMMENTS OR YOU’LL GIVE IT AWAY TO EVERYONE!

Ready?

Early in the film, we find Raymond Stantz and Winston Zeddmore appearing at a children’s birthday party, their ghostbusting business having been shut down by the city. The big question: where is the street featured as the exterior of the birthday party scene?

First, a series of stills from that scene, followed by the clues we feel help identify the location.

Seems like it could be anywhere, right? And yet, there are a number of clues…

To me, this first shot gives away the most information.

1/2) Note the direction of the traffic on the avenue in relation to this side street. With a few exceptions, most avenues in NY are one way going either north or south; with a few exceptions, side streets are one way, with even-numbered streets heading east and odds going west. Thus, if that avenue is facing north, there’s a pretty good chance the street is even-numbered; if it’s south, the street would likely be odd-numbered. Or, maybe this is totally wrong and misleading.

OR

3/4) Note that the corner buildings are 4-5 story brick buildings, while the buildings further down the street are 10+ story high-rise apartments. Where do you find that? Upper West Side facing the park? How about in the West Village somewhere? The mid-20’s come to mind, as well as the East 60’s. Or maybe we’re way over on York Ave.

5) Note the PARK sign, suggesting underground public parking. This might possibly still be there.

6) An awning. Not particularly helpful, but who knows?

7) Note the foliage at the end of the street. This could be a park (Central Park being the most obvious possibility), but it could just as easily be a tree-lined street (that gap in the middle is suspicious).

7b) That’s a street sign. Yes, it’s nearly impossible to make out, but that is indeed an old yellow NYC street sign. Though you can’t make out what it says, there is a major clue here: it appears to be short:

In Manhattan, the numbered avenues are often written “7 Ave” or “5 Ave,” which would seem to match up with the above sign, as opposed to something longer like BROADWAY or PARK AVE.

8 ) You can just make out numbers poking out from behind the wreath, and they seem to be double-digits. Or are there three? More on this in #11.

9) Very distinguishable doors/windows across the street.

10) Another unusual door.

11) Over Ray’s shoulder, we can just make out another set of numbers on a door. They also appear to be double digits, and if we’re north of Houston Street, it definitely narrows down the search. In Manhattan, the city is split into East and West halves, the dividing line being Fifth Avenue (or Central Park, depending on how far north you are). The double digit numbers only spread out 2-3 city blocks from the dividing line.

12. Finally, look at those balconies jutting out from the building across the street. Not the most typical design – does this give it away?

Not a New Yorker and feeling like you’re at a disadvantage? Not a problem! Your best bet, city resident or not, is to play around with Google’s Street View map function (more info here, for those that haven’t used it). The intersection should be pretty obvious, even if the neighborhood has changed a bit, and winning this contest could be as easy as plunking the little yellow man down in the right place. Note that Chris has managed to uncover pretty much every location in the film from his home in Canada – so no whining!

The contest is open until January 10, 2010, which should give you plenty of search time. The fine print? This contest is purely for fun, and the rules are subject to change at any time for any reason as scoutingny.com and/or protoncharging.com see fit.

Happy hunting!

-SCOUT, Chris, & scoutingny.com/protoncharging.com

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This photo is driving me bonkers – what intersection is this?

I’ve lived near madison square park for 4 years and i have never seen this view. Where is this? If this was the intersection of 23rd and b’way where is the plethora of cars?

Well, most people realized pretty quickly that my last post was riddled with lies! If you didn’t recognize the pictures, they’re a combination of Disney World and Universal Studio’s wonderfully wrong New York City streetscapes. If you’re a NYer, the subway entrance should have been the first giveaway…

The W and D trains of course run on completely separate lines, and Jersey travelers would be amazed to find a PATH train at 18th Street. So why WD? Walt Disney, of course! Also note that the steps lead nowhere.

My parents never took me to Disney World as a kid, and my first time visiting was at the ripe age of 25. I was all set to be cynical and unimpressed, only to have my preconceived notions blown out of the water. I’m clearly a huge fan of detail work, and I think a major reason why Disney World is such a singular phenomenon is the overwhelming attention to every single inch of the parks.

I was down in Orlando recently and stopped in for the second time. I was hoping to do a full article on the park’s hidden treasures, but I didn’t have time. Here are a few of my favorite bits…

As you’re walking down Main Street, you might notice the building proportions seem a bit off. The reason is, of course, forced perspective. While the first floors are full-sized, the second (fake) floors are all 3/4 size, and the upper floors even smaller.

This effect is used most notably on Cinderella’s Castle, which, while actually 189 feet tall, appears much larger in person.

Also on Main Street, if you note the windows on the upper floors…

…you’ll see names listed along with the fake businesses. These are all former Disney employees who have made various contributions. Yale Gracey, for example, was a park “Imagineer” who designed many of the special effects in the Haunted Mansion ride (the Mansion’s “owner,” Master Gracey, is named after him). Wathel Rogers was an imagineer who was responsible for many of the Animatronics in the Hall of Presidents.

My favorite part of Tomorrowland are the elements of retro-futurism that have managed to survive various renovations (modern futurism is so boring!). This “future salon” as seen on the People Mover ride is pretty great.

I also dig this view of a futuristic diner along one of the rivers cutting through the park.

Most people run past the entrance for the Muppet 3-D show, but if you stop and take a moment to look at the front desk…

…You’ll see a sign that says “key is under mat”…

…Yes, there is a mat…

And hey, there’s a key! (glued down, unfortunately – Disney! This should be a souvenir for those who find it!).

To me, the rides are great, but I have the most fun taking in all the details…Like looking up and noticing the huge ACME anvils being held up by giant magnets overhead…

And there is no better place for detail than the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, which, late at night, is exactly where my 8 year old self hoped to live.

Someday, I’d love to do a full behind-the-scenes article on the over-looked details of Disney World. Any favorites?

-SCOUT

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http://www.lunesse.com/hotm/?p=809

We just had some waffles DLJ made. Urp.

Getting ready for the holidays. We did our first gift last night, we are giving Derek one gift a night up until Christmas Day, when he will get a few including his big one.

It’s a sweet holiday this year, he doesn’t get yet about the presents so he loves everything else so much, the lights, the songs, all the trees in windows…

NYE is just sitting at home. I bet next year we can do Pink Martini again, finally, if they do the show and we nab our fabulous sitter early enough.

Busy day…my parents are stopping by on their way out to the coast, flying in from AZ. We are putting together a dresser for Derek in his room that is half finished, he’s a bag lady boy right now, living out of bags.

What are you all doing for your holidays?

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http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=1292

Dear Scout – Love your site! I’ll be visiting Manhattan for the first time in a few weeks, but I’ll only be in town for a few days. Can you offer any advice on what to see/do in my short time there? Thanks! – A Frequent Reader

Every week, I receive a number of emails asking what I’d recommend covering on a visit to NYC – not the obscure, quirky, and out of the way stuff that I tend to write about, but rather, my favorite major attractions and sights. Well, here it is, for tourists and locals alike, I present you with the long overdue…

First off: DO NOT FEAR THE SUBWAY. The subway is not the gritty, dangerous underground hovel you remember from such movies as The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3. The system is now safe, cheap, extremely easy to use, and at times, a work of art. Don’t believe me? Check out this great entrance near Fifth Avenue:

Don’t want to confuse you though – Most subway entrances look like this:

Common mistake: just because a subway line is a certain color doesn’t mean its trains make identical stops. For example, while both the W and D “yellow line” trains stop at 18th Street, one is express and the other is local. Ask for a free subway map at the teller booths located at every station. Also, be sure the subway entrance actually leads somewhere.

Another great way to travel through the city and see it at the same time: take a bus! Far cheaper than a cab and with much bigger windows for taking in the view, you can catch a bus within a block of anywhere (so nice of the MTA to spring for holiday decorations for this kiosk, what with the Doomsday budget cuts and all):

No brainer: Central Park. Find an entrance and just go exploring. I could write up a walking tour, but that’d take away the excitement of all the treasures there are to stumble upon on your own. Beware of numerous souvenir stands lining the walks selling every sort of cheap knick-knack imaginable, from key chains to cigarette lighters.

And sure, everyone knows Central Park, but Manhattan actually has a number of other wonderful “green spaces” worth visiting: Riverside Park, Washington Square Park, and Gramercy Park, pictured below:

Make sure to try one of the park’s funnel cakes, known among locals as the authentic New York treat!

Next up: no visit to New York would be complete without a trip to the world famous Plaza Hotel, home to the lovable storybook character Eloise and the backdrop for such movies as North by Northwest and Home Alone 2: Lost in NY.

As you may have read in the news, the Plaza has gone through some hard times financially in recent years, resulting in an ownership change and major renovation work that unfortunately included the removal of most of the upper floors. Still, the lobby remains largely intact, and is unparalleled in beauty. Have a drink in the Oak Room bar – just watch out for any pages for George Kaplan!

Grand Central Station is a must-see – I guarantee the cathedral-like interior will leave you breathless. The exterior has been decorated for the holidays, as seen below.

Next up: the Flatiron building, located at 23rd Street and Broadway (note the Christmas decorations spanning Fifth Avenue):

The Flatiron Building, or Fuller Building, designed by Daniel Burnham to fill an unusual triangular lot, was completed in 1902 and at the time was city’s tallest building. The front angle measures a minuscule 25 degrees!

Another archetypal symbol of the city, the New York Public Library’s main branch building is an incredible example of Beaux-Arts design. Two lions flank the exterior; they were given the names “Patience” and “Fortitude” in the 1930’s by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, the two qualities he felt New Yorkers needed to survive the Great Depression.

Recently, a controversial track has been erected in front of the library as part of a new state-of-the-art mass transit system being built throughout the city. While historians and conservationists have denounced it as an utter desecration to the magnificent landmark, the MTA maintains that it is worth the “115+ mph speeds New Yorkers will come to rely on in their daily commutes.”

Though often thought to be over 40 blocks away, the Guggenheim Museum is actually located just next to the Library (visible in the above picture) and features a renowned collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art pieces. If the admission price is too steep for you, at least take a moment to admire the “coffee-cup”-like exterior, a work of art in itself.

In the mood for shopping? Be sure to swing by the enormous two-story Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street, which shares an entire city block with just one other building! Bringing the kids? Take them by to Santa’s Workshop for a Christmas they won’t soon forget.

This gorgeous archetypal Tribeca firehouse is another unfortunate victim of the city’s new mass transit project. Sold off by the FDNY in the mid-80’s, a thriving paranormal investigations/eliminations company was forced to vacate the premises under questionable eminent domain laws to make way for a portion of the track.

Be sure to take a trip through Little Italy. Though significantly diminished in size over the years, it stills retains much of its authentic character, as evidenced by this strip of restaurants: Louie’s Bar & Grill, Louie’s Restaurant, and Louie’s Italian Restaurant.

Another NY Public Library branch, proving that all are worth a visit.

Last but not least: I know it’s a trek, but if you’re driving in from JFK via the Long Island Expressway, you should think strongly about visiting Flushing Meadows in Queens, home to the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs (I wrote an extensive post about the park here). Below, two of the observation decks from the fair, both in excellent condition.

And that concludes the first edition of the Scouting NY Guide to the Big Apple! Hopefully, this helps you out-of-towners plan your next city vacation itinerary. And who knows? Maybe some of you local readers have learned that the city is a bit different than you ever knew.

-SCOUT

PS – As always, if you’ve made it this far, think about subscribing to our RSS feed, Facebook page or Twitter account for future updates!

http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=1285

A few weeks ago, I was working on a shoot in an amazing 100+ year-old mansion in Long Island. In the hallway leading from the dining room into the kitchen, I noticed something on the wall near the butler’s pantry…

This glass-covered box:

Later, I was in the living room…

…And noticed this button on the wall.

Of course, I couldn’t resist…

Immediately, I heard a loud noise in the kitchen. Turns out, this is the original call system for servants. Press a button, and in the kitchen, a buzzer goes off and a number drops indicating which room is in need of assistance (below, I had pressed the living room button, as well as an upstairs bedroom):

Though broken for years, the new owner recently rewired it back into working condition for fun. There’s a button in each of the downstairs rooms as well as the bedrooms…But for some reason, I couldn’t find one in the dining room.

Turns out, it’s a foot pedal located on the floor beneath the table (currently covered by the rug). A host or hostess could signal for servants without ever leaving the table!

The device was made by the “Knickerbocker Annunciator Co.,” which is a pretty great company name for this sort of thing. A quick Google search reveals their business address at 116 West Street in Manhattan in 1921.

To reset the numbers, you just turn the knob below…

And they crank up into the box!

-SCOUT

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