FILM FORUM （209 W HOUSTON ST., NEW YORK, NY 10014）： Josh mentions that there’s a Buster Keaton retrospective at this nonprofit theater. As a self-proclaimed “film person,” I believe the cinema-going experience is incredibly transformative and powerful. If nothing else, we need movie theaters as locations for dates! （Note: movies are for fourth-date-and-higher evenings only.）
Shopping
STRAND BOOKSTORE （828 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10003）： Yes, it can get really touristy at peak times and the front is mostly non-book merch but it truly is one of my top recs for a first date and I love browsing the sale carts on the street in front.
DUANE READE （WEST 4TH ST., NEW YORK, NY 10012）： Duane Reade （the setting for Ari’s “victorious” pervertables challenge） is an only-in-NYC drug store chain that is now owned by Walgreens, which means we can expect them all to be converted to Walgreens in a few short years.
BABELAND （94 RIVINGTON ST., NEW YORK, NY 10002）： The inspiration for “CreamPot.” Babeland was one of the first chains to make shopping for sex toys accessible. I was once interviewed for a trend piece in The New York Times where they called me a “devoted Babeland customer.” I also took my mother here once and she was a great sport.
ACADEMY RECORDS （415 E 12TH ST., NEW YORK, NY 10009）： My partner is a DJ, so I had to include a record store and its denizens in this story. This is where Josh listens to the Brian Eno mansplainer.
HOUSING WORKS BOOKSTORE （126 CROSBY ST., NEW YORK, NY 10012）： In the final chapter, Ari and Josh are waiting in a line outside this store, for a Moth Story Slam. They host a number of events here, but it’s worth stopping in just to check out the books!
Museums
NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY （170 CENTRAL PARK WEST, NEW YORK, NY 10024）： Every romcom must include an event where people are dressed up and dancing. It’s the law. I had the New Year’s Eve gala set here since I wrote the first version of the story in 2018. In 2022, I came here with my mom because it was an easy walk from our friend’s apartment, and lo-and-behold, the actual Historical Society put on an exhibit about Jewish deli culture titled “I’ll Have What She’s Having.” I manifested it!
THE FRICK COLLECTION （1 E 70TH ST., NEW YORK, NY 10021）： One of my favorite museums, this is the former home and collection of a famous robber baron, as Ari points out. It’s more intimate and easy to tackle than the Met.
BROOKLYN MUSEUM （200 EASTERN PKWY., BROOKLYN, NY 11238）： Ari canvasses in front of this museum in the first scene of the book. This part of Brooklyn offers so much of what makes Manhattan exciting, but at a slightly more manageable scale. Case in point: the grandeur of the Brooklyn Museum, which sits adjacent to Prospect Park.
Points of Interest
RAMBLE STONE ARCH （CENTRAL PARK, OAK BRIDGE, NEW YORK, NY 10024）： Picturesque little arch where Josh and Ari kiss on New Year’s Eve. There’s a trick to finding your way around Central Park （the light posts have a numerical code that corresponds to the cross streets） but the paths in the Ramble are so curvy that you will get lost. Enjoy.
GREYSHOT ARCH （CENTRAL PARK WEST & W 61ST ST., NEW YORK, NY 10023）： This is the arch Ari and Josh pass under after witnessing the proposal at The Frick. It does smell a bit like a basement as you pass underneath.
STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL （345 CHAMBERS ST., NEW YORK, NY 10282）： One of NYC’s specialized public schools and Josh’s alma mater. （He’s an overachiever.） Also a tribute to my amazing, overachieving college friends who grew up as cool NYC kids.
About the Author
Kate Goldbeck grew up in a literal village and always dreamed of living in New York, even though her parents warned her that the apartments on Friends were not realistic. In college, she studied film and art history—limiting her employment prospects to “film museum.” This line of work did not lead to sitcom-sized living arrangements. Since earning a master’s degree at an engineering school, she’s designed award-winning museum exhibits and immersive experiences all over the world. She adores bantering with her partner, falling asleep to British audiobook narrators, and scratching dogs behind the ears.