STARS IN THE CITY

Photo:nypost.com

New York's film industry is not quite as large as Hollywood’s, but its billions of dollars in revenue makes it an important part of the city's economy. This makes it the second largest center for the film industry in the US. Between the years 2010-2011 there were 18 TV series produced in NYC and in 2013-2014 the number jumped to 27. The amount of films shot in NYC was 188 in 2011 and in 2012 it got as high as 267. No wonder that so many of our guests report star sightings almost daily while they’re exploring the city. That is exactly what happened to one of our guest from Paris, France.

Mrs. Gombeau and her family had ordered a large pizza earlier in the day and offered the leftovers to a homeless man. She had no idea that it was Richard Gere. Gere was filming his next movie “Time Out of Mind” in which he plays  homeless dressed in grimy clothes eating a burger from a trashcan.

Mrs. Gombeau saw him near Grand Central and felt the urge to help by offering him food also apologizing that it had gotten cold. Gere gladly accepted her offering and replied, "Thank you so much. God bless you”.

Two days later, Mrs. Gombeau saw her picture on the TV with news of her offering Richard Gere pizza and came down to our front desk to tell us all about her exciting encounter. She had felt sad that people waste so much food and at the same time many have nothing.

Photo: nypost.com

In a city of 8.4 million people, more than 36,000 homeless men, women and children sleep in homeless shelters and at least 3,200 more sleep on the streets and subways in the dead of winter.  If you are in NYC this June 11^th and want to help the homeless, join the Carnival Night for Kids in Central Park’s Victorian Gardens to help raise funds to fight homelessness. This is a family event with arts, crafts, and amusement park rides, arcade games, magicians, BBQ and authors signing and giving away complimentary children’s books to participants. More info on this fun packed event here:  http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/events/entry/2014-carnival-night-for-kids/