12 Movie Locations in Central Park through the New York City Pass

Of all the places I've been to in New York City, it was the Central Park Movie Tour that excited me the most. Going around the park while reminiscing the movies that were shot there, for me, was magical. It was like watching movies, only in my mind.

Here are some of the things to see in Central Park and the movies that were shot in each place:

1. Plaza Hotel
This was where Yvone Biasi (Bridget Fonda) and Charlie Lang (Nicolas Cage) of the movie It Could Happen to You accidentally bumped into each other.  They both stayed a night. Walter (Bill Pullman) and Annie (Meg Ryan) of Sleepless in Seattle also stayed a night here.  Much of the hotel was also seen in the movie Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.  It's at the Oak Room of the hotel where Lt. Col. Frank Slade (Al Pacino) and Charlie Simms (Chris O'Donnel) of Scent of a Woman had their fancy dinner.

2. The Maine Monument at the Columbus Circle
It was here when Robert de Niro made his assassination attempt of politician Palantine in the 1976 Martin Scorsese masterpiece Taxi Driver.

3. Wollman Skating Rink
This was the setting where Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) had their ice skating escapades in Serendipity.  This was also the location where they saw each other again at the end of the movie.  The rink was also featured in other movies like Stepmom, Autumn in New York and Love Story.

4. Sled Dog Memorial
In the live-action animated adventure Balto, the film ended in this memorial.  It was a tribute to Balto, a dog that led a team of sled dogs in the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska to save people's lives from the diphtheria epidemic happening at that time.

5. The Dairy
This beautiful Victorian building was featured in Independence Day and Ella the Enchanted.

6. The Mall (or Promenade)
I think this is probably one of the most highlighted places in Central Park. Hot shots has filmed here. Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz for Vanilla Sky, Audrey Hepburn for Breakfast at Tiffany's, Jennifer Lopez for Maid in Manhattan, Adam Sandler for Big Daddy, Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman of Kramer vs. Kramer have done at least a scene here.

7. The Bandshell
This was the place where Doc Golightly (Buddy Ebsen) revealed the true identity of Holly (Audrey Hepburn) to Paul (George Peppard) at Breakfast at Tiffany's.  And if you've been here, you have something in common with Martin Luther King Jr. and so many other musicians.

8. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain
This was where Michelle Pfieffer and George Clooney together with their kids ran and splashed themselves in a puddle of water in One Fine Day.  This was also the location where Mel Gibson's son was kidnapped in Ransom.  It was also the place where Falcon was killed in Stuart Little 2. Macaulay Culkin walked the same grounds in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

9. The Lake and the Bow Bridge 
This bridge was so pretty.  This was the backdrop of Autumn in New York's ending where Richard Gere was sitting in a boat with her daughter carrying his grandson in his arms after Winona Ryder passed away. And who would forget? This was where MJ broke up with Peter Parker in Spiderman 3.

11. Strawberry Fields - Little Manhattan
The memorial to the famous Beatle John Lennon was featured in the movie Little Manhattan as a still-young Josh Hutcherson was walking with his first crush Charlie Ray while eating ice cream.

12. The Dakota 
The building where the famous musician John Lennon was shot made its debut in Rosemary's Baby and was also featured in Vanilla Sky.

Cost: 

Free if availed through the New York City Pass (which we did)

$23 + $2 ticket fee (if bought individually)

Location and Directions:

Tour departs in front of the N/R subway station on 59th St (Central Park South) between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Estimated Tour Length: 
2 hours

Reminder:
You must call (212) 683-2027 or email office@onlocationtours.com. Reservation is required to secure your slot.  For other information, you may also click on this link - http://onlocationtours.com/tour/central-park-tv-movie/

Disclaimers:
We've taken the tour in 2008.  All photos are taken and owned by the author.

Memories of NYC and The New York City Pass - Day 1

This post is 6 years late.  Ramir and I took our first US trip last July 2008.  R was just two years old.  It was the first and only time that Ramir and I would leave our kid behind without any parent to stay with her.  We're lucky that my in-laws were very accommodating. You may say that this series of post is a trip down memory lane.  I realized that I haven't blogged about it, so here I am, reminiscing and writing as much as I can remember.

I have always dreamed of New York City.  Who haven't?  The opportunity came knocking on our doors in guise of a 3-day conference in New York.  What went on in between was a series of adventures we wouldn't forget.  Ramir and I started our trip in New Jersey.  We spent two days there.  Then we went to NYC.  We stayed there for 10.  Before going to the US, we listed all the sights and attractions that we wanted to see.  Then we scoured the net for info.  We saw the NY Pass, a tourist card that would let you in more that 80 plus attractions in NYC with line skipping privileges on a discounted rate. We compared prices and realized that we would save some moolah if we'll just purchase the pass.  So we did.  We chose the 7-day pass. We felt that if we plan our itinerary right, our pass would be worth it. We purchased our pass here http://www.newyorkpass.com and redeemed our card at Planet Hollywood at 1540 Broadway (at 45th Street).  Please bear with me as I re-construct our itinerary.

DAY 1

1. NBC Studio Tour

I felt that as a media practitioner, I should do this.  The tour took us behind-the-scenes of the peacock studio operations.  Although it was rather brief, we were happy that we were able to set foot on the grounds of America's top network. We also had our photos taken at the news desk. But the Today show was set-up just outside the entrance.

Location and Directions:

All tours begin inside the NBC Experience Store which is located in the GE Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza (Corner of 49th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue) across from the TODAY Show studio. We were able to catch a glimpse of the TODAY show because we took our tour early.

Estimated Tour Length:
Around 1 hour and 30 minutes

2. Rockefeller Center Tour

We headed to Rockefeller Center for our next tour.  

We were given headsets so that we can listen to its history while we walk the buildings, gardens and spaces that make up this world-renowned "city within a city."  

The historian who accompanied us in the tour was very animated. He entertained us with his story-telling skills, plus the audio compliment was cool because you really get to see what's being narrated. 

 
Location and Directions:
30 Rockefeller Plaza (guests enter on 50th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Estimated Tour Length:
1 and 1/2 hour 

3. Radio City Music Hall Tour

The Radio City "Stage Door Tour" is a walking tour of the interior of Radio City Music Hall. It is the perfect outing for the entertainment and theater enthusiast.  

We learn about the Great Stage, the amazing art decos, the legendary women's precision dance team known as the Rockettes,  and vast art collections.  We even met a real Rockette.  It makes me giddy that we're actually seeing the backstage of NY's premiere entertainment venue where the biggest names in show business have performed.

 
Location and Directions: 

At the heart of Rockefeller Center at 1260 Avenue of the Americas - 6th Ave and 50th Street. Tour departs from the Music Hall lobby.

Estimated Tour Length:
1 hour

4. Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
It's funny how I whispered to Ramir that a guy who looked like Morgan Freeman was standing near the entrance of the museum.  Then we both realized that we're looking at a wax statue of Morgan Freeman.  It was like a photo-op playground where you can roam around and pose with any of your favorite icons. 

We had a grand time goofing around.  And we really took our time because it was our last stop for the day.

Location and Directions:
234 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues) in the heart of Times Square

Estimated Tour Length:

Depends on your pace.  We stayed for about 2 1/2 hours.

Times Square in New York City

Surreal - Just saw this on TV

Billboards, Billboards, Everywhere

Yellow NYC taxis

Lights of NY

If it's New York, Times Square is not only a must-see but also a must-experience. The hustle and bustle of New York City life is so evident here. It's cool to picture the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball descending (just like on TV every year), even if it wasn't really there.

Central Park in New York City

I think this is one of the most exciting places to visit in New York. We went here the first time we set foot in the city. It helped that our apartelle was within walking distance of the park. It was huge to say the least. We weren't able to walk through the whole park but we were able to got a glimpse of a few locations where some famous movies were shot. I think for movie buffs, it is a must to take the Central Park Movie Tour. We actually booked this Tour 2 months in advance. It was free with the New York City Pass. Although it was tiring because it was a two-hour walking tour, the experience was like walking into different movie scenes.

Walkers on the tour will have an opportunity to visit the Boathouse Café used in When Harry Met Sally, the Bandshell from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Kramer vs. Kramer, along with Bethesda Fountain as seen in Gossip Girl and Enchanted. The tour also includes a stop to take photos at Tavern on the Green, from Ghostbusters, a glance at Wollman Rink used in Love Story and Serendipity, and time to feed pigeons at the exact spot where Macaulay Culkin fed them in Home Alone 2.

The tour also brought us to the John Lennon memorial. A stone's throw away is The Dakota - where the famous Beatle member was shot.

SUPERWOMOM'S NOTES
The Central Park Movie Tour is courtesy of On Location Tours. It is always good to call and reserve in advance. Telephone numbers - (212) 209-3370. For other details, you may log-on to www.screentours.com

ATS
(A)ddress = departing location - Meet the tour guide holding the blue flag at the entrance of N/R subway entrance on 59th st., between 5th and 6th Avenues
(T)ime and (S)chedule - Tour departs every Saturday at 12nn. There might be additional tour times.