I’m considering developing a ’Been There’ drinking game. Anytime a movie has the Eiffel Tower, for example, you sing out ‘been there’ and have a drink.
This is, of course, strictly a home game as consumption of recreational intoxicants plus being loudly smug in a movie theatre is actively discouraged.
New York, however, is the first place I’ve ever been to where it seems every street, every building and every park has ‘been there’ in a movie or tv show. I swear on our first day there I nearly dislocated my neck several times swivelling around to stare at a cafe or a store front or even a freaking tree in front of an apartment. Didn’t I see that street in…I’m sure that’s the park where…
There was a park near our BnB that reminded me of the “Panic in Needle Park” park. I don’t know what the locals call it but every morning on the way to the subway, all I could think of was a cocker spaniel puppy and the Staten Island ferry. If you’ve ever seen the movie, you’ll know what I mean. If you haven’t seen it, ah, may I suggest “When Harry Met Sally”.
Instead of playing been there, it was “that’s that place, you know in that movie, I think it was Woody Allen’s ….”. Or, more likely, “I’m sure I saw this place in CSI Whatever or NYPD Blue or was it Castle…hey, sweetheart? Where are…hello…?”
Maybe it wasn’t a drinking game so much as my dearest herding a five year old in very rumpled old lady suit through gang central.
But it usually ended in someone needing a drink.