New York Just About Any Time

The movie You've Got Mail takes place in a tiny radius of the Upper West Side of New York City, which cleverly fits the film's story of two people interacting through "the internet" using pseudonyms. It is a silly romantic story, but it is earnest, and truthful. I like the perseverance of the main characters, determined to get the best of, or at least some happiness in, life.

But, I like it especially because it is the part of New York I know better than other parts (although it is a little further south then I am accustomed to, although the neighborhood - the shops, coffee houses, parks, newspaper kiosks - looks exactly the same). And for all the "big cityness" of New York, it is very much a city of neighborhoods. The two main characters of You've Got Mail hardly venture out of ten blocks from their neighborhood, and bump into each other in the grocery store, the coffee houses, and the bookstores.

On my next trip to New York, I will try to visit these places, as seen in You've Got Mail.

Unfortunately, the Shop Around the Corner was a fictitious place, and it is now an uninteresting dry cleaners. Here is the history of the location, at 69th St., between Broadway and Columbus::

For the exterior, they filmed at Maya Shaper’s Cheese and Antique Shop, which has since closed sadly. Then, it turned into Cafe Sonatina, which has also shut down. These days, it’s La Mode Cleaners.

I have to add that everyone criticizes Meg Ryan, but I find her authentic, and a good actress.


Verdi Square: Broadway and 72nd St., in the Fall


Verdi Square Greenmarket, late summer
I'm not sure if the film's Verdi Square Greenmarket on 72nd St. and Broadway,
as shown in the film on still exists,
but NYC.gov lists several outdoor markets in the Upper Westside,
at 79th, 97th, and 125th street.


72nd Street Subway


The Starbucks on 81st. and Broadway


Kathleen's apartment on 89th and Riverside Drive


Joe Fox's apartment which says 152 Riverside Drive in the film is
in on 210 Riverside Drive along West 93rd Street


Zabar's, on 80th and Broadway


Barney Greengrass Deli, between 86th and 87th street on Amsterdam


Gray's Papaya, 72nd and Broadway


Cafe Lalo, on 83rd between Broadway and Amsterdam


L'Occitane, somewhere around Broadway and 70th and 80th


Ocean Grill Restaurant, on Columbus Ave and 78th St.


91st Street Garden in Riverside Park, in Spring


Kathleen in her "Shop Around the Corner" putting up Christmas Decorations
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Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat
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