New York City is frequently the backdrop for movies and television. When you think about it, filming in NYC makes perfect sense. For starters, it’s just easy to shoot here because the infrastructure is in place–the city actively pursues movie and TV production, skilled crewmembers live here, and a lot of studios are either based here or have offices here. More importantly, the city has the unique ability to transform into any urban setting dreamt up by a writer. It can be glamorous (see: Sex in the City or Gossip Girl). It can be romantic (see: When Harry Met Sally or countless Woody Allen films). It can be gritty (see: pretty much any crime procedural drama on tv).
Manhattan can also be depicted as a place where normal, working people can live. That is certainly the case with Louie, Louis C. K.’s HBO sitcom. As is the frequently the case with series set here, New York City feels like a character. Louie frequently shoots on location, so you get to see the guy struggle to make it.
This may be best captured in the show’s opening, which is a simple trip from the subway, a stop into a pizza joint for a quick bite to eat, and then off to work at a comedy club. All of these locations are easily found in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan.
I’m a huge fan of Louis C. K., so I took an evening and recreated the opening credits for myself. I gotta say, it was pretty fun and highly suggest it. You can recreate it for yourself in three easy steps:
1. Subway: West 4th St. Subway Stop
The opening credits begin with Louis C. K. emerging from the subway. If you want to be REALLY accurate, you need to get off at the exit at West 3rd St. and Sixth Avenue.  I’ll be the first to admit, this part of the journey is probably the least fun–especially if you live here and ride the subway frequently.
2. Ben’s Pizzeria: 123 MacDougal St. New York, NY 10012
This is where the evening starts picking up. Why? Because it involves pizza. Grab a slice. Louie gets a plain slice (that’s what true New Yorkers call a slice of cheese pizza), but you can get whatever kind you want. To eat it like a native, you fold it and half and consume it as quickly as possible.  If you’re on a date, maybe slow down and enjoy your company.
3. The Comedy Cellar: 117 Macdougal St. New York, NY 10012
It’s safe to assume you won’t be performing on stage like Louie, but it’s also safe to assume you’ll have a great time at the show. The Comedy Cellar is one of the city’s go-to places for seeing up-and-coming comics. On occasion, big names drop by to test out new material.
Bonus Points:Â If you do all this while listening to or singing the Louie theme song on repeat.
