‘Sex and the City’ NYC filming locations draw hoards of fans

And just like that, COVID-weary New York Metropolis turned into a playground for the “Sex and the City” ladies.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis (sans Kim Cattrall) are filming scenes for their HBO Max spinoff, “And Just Like That . . .,” all over the Major Apple, sending superfans into a tizzy trying to capture a glimpse of the stars or land a scoop. Various Instagram accounts have sprung up to chronicle the on-locale magic, which is bringing back again a touch of pre-pandemic glamour and frivolity to the town.

“[The present] is the most popular social hunt of the summer months,” Gregory Littley (@littleylittley), a articles creator who has captured footage for his additional than twenty,000 Instagram followers, informed The Put up. “It’s thrilling, nostalgic and enjoyable to article. The reaction on social has been a resounding ‘Welcome back again, ladies.’ “

Littley, 37, helped suggestion off lovers to a doable juicy plot line when he recorded the first sighting of Bridget Moynahan, a k a Big’s ex Natasha, on set in close proximity to Balthazar, as he was browsing in Soho with his spouse.

“Bridget Moynahan was there, but no one was buying up on it. My spouse even imagined it was Kristin Davis,” recalled Littley, who acknowledged that her presence was a big scoop — in particular immediately after Web page Six documented that Major (Chris Noth) and Carrie (Parker) would be obtaining divorced.

“Big’s ex is back again? What are the implications?” he mentioned. The self-proclaimed “SATC” superfan made a brief TikTok video clip of a chic-looking Moynahan strolling on set. The video clip was viewed additional than 200,000 periods in just the first 24 hours and spawned headlines on nearly just about every amusement web site.

Other lovers say sightings of SJP and Co. are confirming plot twists in their personal life. Stumbling on Parker on a Nolita set helped trend govt Shay Gipson know her impending go from Los Angeles to the Major Apple was the appropriate one.

Gipson, a former New Yorker, went West a couple decades in the past but was not long ago summoned back again by a new employer. Past thirty day period, she was in city looking for housing and went to a trend occasion at the Crosby Street Hotel, where by a film crew was set up in front. Right after her occasion wrapped, Gipson arrived out at the actual moment Parker pulled up to the set in a pink frock.

“I was like, ‘Oh, this is my big return to New York and right here is SJP filming,’ ” mentioned Gipson, who, decades in the past, employed to bump into Parker at the Serge Normant salon on 23rd Street where by the two would chat about the trend market. Gipson mentioned the run-in felt like the universe was telling her she was in the appropriate position.

“It solidified my return. I am certainly back again in New York,” she mentioned. “I felt like it was certainly an omen.”

For neighborhood organizations, the filming is also proving to be auspicious.

When the present not long ago shot a brunch scene at the East Pole on East 65th Street, crowds shaped all-around the popular cafe it was like A person Path was in city.

“The pleasure from the lovers was palpable,” East Pole proprietor Anthony Martignetti informed The Put up. “When [the solid] bought out of the city autos, men and women were screaming the characters’ names. They were genuinely freaking out for Stanford [Willie Garson].”

Martignetti first opened the East Pole with his brother 10 decades in the past. When the two discovered that “And Just Like That . . .” would be filming a brunch scene at their position, it was an exciting honor.

“I keep in mind currently being a bartender in the town when the present was in its first period,” Martignetti recalled. “Places like SushiSamba and Magnolia Bakery, they genuinely made it on there.”

In the aftermath of the shoot, a continuous circulation of superfans from the far reaches of Extended Island have arrive into the cafe, hungry for both farm-to-desk fare and plot aspects.

“A good deal of mother-and-daughter teams who abide by the filming on Instagram have arrive in for brunch for the first time,” mentioned Martignetti, incorporating that it’s been a vibrant spot for his workers in a rough pandemic yr. “It was genuinely exciting for us to have a momentary distraction from the mandates we are below.”

The East Pole was not the only one to get its shut-up. Server Mark Sopcyk was there when they were scouting, and he and Nixon hit it off. She requested that they not solid a random actor as their waiter but use Sopcyk, who is a phase performer.

“They signed him up with SAG appropriate absent and bought his paperwork. He was tremendous thrilled to be on there,” Martignetti mentioned.

The shoot has also turned the town into a runway, showcasing the ladies’ over-the-top fashions. First stylist Patricia Area is not doing the job on the revival because she’s toiling absent on Season Deux of “Emily in Paris,” but her collaborator Molly Rogers has taken the sartorial reins. Her head-turning appears to be like have brought fashionistas to the set and impressed Instagram accounts devoted to the type.

“The sets are also a trend present,” photographer Steve Sands, who has shot the stars on locale, informed The Put up. “That’s what lovers arrive to see.”

Some clothing decisions have been controversial — these types of as the rumored Forever 21 dress worn by Carrie that a Venice Beach, California, boutique named Raga later on claimed. The models have been feverishly chronicled by Rogers’ personal fan trend account, @AndJustLikeThatCostumes, as well as unaffiliated popular accounts these types of as @JustLikeThatCloset, @SexAndTheCity_NewYork and @CarrieBradshaw_SexAndTheCity.

“I have been taking pictures distinct videos for a when, and this is the first time I have observed men and women this enthusiastic. You can experience it in the air,” mentioned photographer Elder Ordonez, who has shot quite a few on set-type moments, like the contentious boho dress. But he also feels the pleasure on social media. He mentioned his “SATC” revival snaps “are obtaining additional interaction than any of my other shots. There is so much fascination.”

Littley pointed out that, in the existing moment, frenzy all-around the filming transcends the hottest between Carrie and Major.

He mentioned: “It feels like a rebirth [in the town].”