food news: julie & julia

Between having one foot firmly planted in New York and dipping the toes of my other in Los Angeles, I operate simultaneously on two different time zones, follow two separate weather systems, and keep up on two different news scoops on the same entertainment biz. So when my two coasts collide in the form of a movie set on location in the streets of New York (as they so often do), I am rarely surprised. Excited, yes, but rarely surprised.

On my walk home from work last night, I noticed a number of shiny trailers lining Prince Street in SoHo. I immediately assumed they were filming yet another episode of Law & Order. But then I heard a fabulous voice say: "Julie & Julia? Like, Julia Roberts, Julia? Where aare yoouuu, America's Sweetheart?!?"

Upon hearing this call, I immediately recognized the name of the upcoming food movie, Julie & Julia, and the street licenses confirmed that it was indeed filming here in SoHo. But no, the movie isn't starring Julia Roberts. Rather, it stars America's perennial mother-figure, the talented Meryl Streep, as Julia Child, and America's new funny-gal sweetheart, Amy Adams, as Julie Powell.

Julie & Julia started filming yesterday on location at Provence, a restaurant très français on MacDougal and Prince. The film is inspired by Julie Powell, whose blog-turned-book-turned-movie tells the story of how she endeavored "to revitalize her marriage, restore her ambition, and save her soul by cooking all 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I, in a period of 365 days" (says amazon.com). Julie's blog, "What Could Happen?", can be found at juliepowell.blogspot.com.

The movie is being directed by Norah Ephron (foodies and romantic comedy lovers rejoice!), and is now filming all over New York City streets. You see, here in the city, we don't have wide open, private back lots and sound stage space (though we do have Silvercup Studios in Queens), so we film on the street. Apartments and restaurants and retail stores are turned into movie sets faster than you Angelenos can make it through freeway traffic.

So next time you're out and about in SoHo, you shouldn't be surprised to see Meryl Streep or Amy Adams. Also on set is one of New York's favorite actors (and "veteran subway rider"), Stanley Tucci (as Paul Child). No celebrity sightings for me yet, but I'll keep you posted if I see Meryl cracking eggs and making crèpes suzette flambée on the sidewalk.

Julie & Julia is currently in production in New York and will come in theaters in 2009. Julie Powell's book of the same title can be purchased here: amazon.com.



Many big thanks to New York Magazine's Grub Street for the shout out!
Grub Street, 5/2/08: Meryl Streep/Julia Child Movie Shot Footage at Provence