Sopranos in Queens - NY Daily News article...
Tony, crew hit Maspeth
'Sopranos' 2-day shoot delights neighborhood
By ROBIN HAAS
DAILY NEWS WRITER
The Sopranos made the people of Maspeth an offer they couldn't refuse: We'll come to your neighborhood and film our show and you'll love every minute of it.
The award-winning cast and crew of the HBO show spent two days on the streets of Maspeth yesterday and Sunday, stopping hearts and traffic.
James Gandolfini, who plays Tony Soprano, a second- generation wiseguy who heads up the fictional DiMeo family - the most powerful criminal organization in New Jersey - was on Grand Ave. both days signing autographs and taking pictures with fans between takes.
When asked if he could reveal who might get knocked off this season, he said - with a poker face - 'I die.'
When told that the folks of Maspeth were saying good things about him, the wiseguy joked, 'They don't know me.'
Neighbors poured onto Grand Ave. and along Flushing Ave., where 'Sopranos' stunt men and doubles spent two days filming a seven-vehicle car chase, featuring Tony's white Cadillac Escalade SUV crashing into a Boar's Head meat delivery truck. Fans also got to see Tony doing several takes crossing the street, darting in and out of traffic and heading toward Maspeth Pizza at 71st St.
For safety reasons, the production crew stopped both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, sometimes for up to 25 minutes at a time, while filming the car scenes.
Traffic jams snarl sales
Pedestrians and cars were not permitted to park along Grand Ave. on both days, which sparked mixed reactions from retailers and shoppers along the street, home to mostly mom-and-pop shops and small, family-owned businesses.
'It's horrible. The traffic is blocked up for miles,' said Steve Denaro, a 37-year-old firefighter who lives in Ridgewood. 'It took me about 25 minutes to get up Grand Ave.'
The owners of Grand Bicycle Center, at 70-13 Grand Ave., said they lost about $1,500 in sales over the two days because customers could not make it through.
'It kinda cut business a little, with the street being closed all day,' said Dean Pappas, co-owner with his father.
But the Pappases' wheels weren't too badly bent out of shape; Dean Pappas is a fan of the show and he was able to get his picture taken with Tony.
'I have to say he did not let one person go without signing an autograph,' Pappas said. 'He was a real gentleman.'
Besides, he added, 'It was good to see something different in Maspeth. It's such a quiet town. It put Maspeth on the map.'
Originally published on July 29, 2003
'Sopranos' 2-day shoot delights neighborhood
By ROBIN HAAS
DAILY NEWS WRITER
The Sopranos made the people of Maspeth an offer they couldn't refuse: We'll come to your neighborhood and film our show and you'll love every minute of it.
The award-winning cast and crew of the HBO show spent two days on the streets of Maspeth yesterday and Sunday, stopping hearts and traffic.
James Gandolfini, who plays Tony Soprano, a second- generation wiseguy who heads up the fictional DiMeo family - the most powerful criminal organization in New Jersey - was on Grand Ave. both days signing autographs and taking pictures with fans between takes.
When asked if he could reveal who might get knocked off this season, he said - with a poker face - 'I die.'
When told that the folks of Maspeth were saying good things about him, the wiseguy joked, 'They don't know me.'
Neighbors poured onto Grand Ave. and along Flushing Ave., where 'Sopranos' stunt men and doubles spent two days filming a seven-vehicle car chase, featuring Tony's white Cadillac Escalade SUV crashing into a Boar's Head meat delivery truck. Fans also got to see Tony doing several takes crossing the street, darting in and out of traffic and heading toward Maspeth Pizza at 71st St.
For safety reasons, the production crew stopped both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, sometimes for up to 25 minutes at a time, while filming the car scenes.
Traffic jams snarl sales
Pedestrians and cars were not permitted to park along Grand Ave. on both days, which sparked mixed reactions from retailers and shoppers along the street, home to mostly mom-and-pop shops and small, family-owned businesses.
'It's horrible. The traffic is blocked up for miles,' said Steve Denaro, a 37-year-old firefighter who lives in Ridgewood. 'It took me about 25 minutes to get up Grand Ave.'
The owners of Grand Bicycle Center, at 70-13 Grand Ave., said they lost about $1,500 in sales over the two days because customers could not make it through.
'It kinda cut business a little, with the street being closed all day,' said Dean Pappas, co-owner with his father.
But the Pappases' wheels weren't too badly bent out of shape; Dean Pappas is a fan of the show and he was able to get his picture taken with Tony.
'I have to say he did not let one person go without signing an autograph,' Pappas said. 'He was a real gentleman.'
Besides, he added, 'It was good to see something different in Maspeth. It's such a quiet town. It put Maspeth on the map.'
Originally published on July 29, 2003
