Joshua Jackson – IAMNOTASTALKER

May 4, 2020May 1, 2020

First Church of Christ, Scientist from “Little Fires Everywhere”

Though I stalked and blogged about Little Fires Everywhere locations ad nauseam, amazingly there is still one spot I have yet to cover – Pasadena’s First Church of Christ, Scientist, which masked as the Shaker Heights courthouse on the new Hulu series. I recognized the building as soon as it came onscreen in episode 7 (though, truth be told, I often get it confused with the similar-looking Second Church of Christ, Scientist in West Adams). Not only did I used to live just a few blocks from the temple and pass by it regularly on my thrice daily walks to Starbucks, but I am very familiar with it thanks to its appearance in Scream 2. I was sure I had taken pictures of the place for my October 2016 write-up on the horror flick’s Los Angeles locales, but when I went to look, I couldn’t find any in my photo library. So onto my To-Stalk List it went. Then, late last week, my friend Kim sent me a text asking about must-see places in Pasadena. Turns out she was heading to Crown City for a little (socially distant) stalking trek the following day. Thrilled, I asked if she might pop by First Church of Christ, Scientist to snap some pics for me, which she gladly did. Thank you, Kim!

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First Church of Christ, Scientist was designed by Franklin Pierce Burnham beginning in 1909. The Classical Revival building was one of the architect’s last works and he, sadly, didn’t live to see it completed. Burnham passed away unexpectedly in December 1909, at which point Marston & Van Pelt (who also gave us Arden Villa from Vacation, the Gilmore mansion from Gilmore Girls, the S.S. Hinds Estate from Beaches, and the A.L. Garford House from Twins) took over.

The structure’s most notable feature is its central dome, inspired by the Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, aka the religion’s “mother church.”

When it was completed, First Church of Christ, Scientist had the distinction of being Pasadena’s largest building. Though that is no longer the case, it remains one of the city’s prettiest. As such, it is no shock that it found its way to the screen.

The church first pops up as the Shaker Heights courthouse in the seventh episode of Little Fires Everywhere, titled “Picture Perfect,” as the custody battle for Mirabelle McCullough/May Ling Chow (I cannot find the name of the actress who plays her anywhere!) gets underway.

The building also appears a couple of times in the Little Fires Everywhere finale, titled “Find a Way.” It is first shown as in an establishing shot as the McCullough/Chow trial continues.

And then later, after the verdict is announced, the McCulloughs’ lawyer, Bill Richardson (Joshua Jackson), holds a press conference on the front steps.

Only the exterior of the building was used on the series. Interiors were shot elsewhere, though I am unsure of where.

As I mentioned earlier, First Church of Christ, Scientist is also featured in Scream 2. Though little of it can be seen, it is outside of the building that Ghostface gets into a car crash and kills Hallie McDaniel (Elise Neal) in the 1997 horror flick. In the caps below, Hallie is standing at the eastern end of the church’s Green Street side, with the camera facing west.

Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) shoots August Marks (Billy Brown) in front of First Church of Christ, Scientist in the series finale of Sons of Anarchy, titled “Papa’s Goods,” which aired in 2014.

That same year, the building posed as Washington, D.C.’s United States Department of Justice at the top of the Season 1 episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. titled “Nothing Personal.”

Huge THANK YOU to my friend Kim for stalking this location for me and taking all of the photos that appear in this post!

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: First Church of Christ, Scientist, aka Shaker Heights courthouse from Little Fires Everywhere, is located at 80 South Oakland Avenue in Pasadena.

October 9, 2017June 22, 2018

The “One Hour Photo” House

Today’s location is not spooky – at all, in fact. It’s actually quite exquisite. But it did figure rather heavily in the creepiest scene from one of the creepiest movies I’ve ever seen, so I thought it would only be fitting to include it in my Haunted Hollywood postings. I am talking about the contemporary residence where the Yorkin family – Will (Michael Vartan), Nina (Connie Nielsen) and Jakob (Dylan Smith) – lived in One Hour Photo. I first got interested in tracking down the ultra-modern pad after coming across this The Straight Dope message board while researching Lacy Park, another of the 2002 thriller’s locations. In the thread, user Ins&Outs&What-have-yous inquired if anyone had any information on the dwelling, though no one seemed to. Shortly thereafter, I found my way to this page on the FilmGrab site in which a commenter named Melissa also inquired about the Yorkin home. Her query did not garner any responses, either. So, since facts about the house seemed to be nil, I decided it was my duty to track the place down and blog about it come October.

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Finding this spot took quite a while, I am loathe to admit. I knew from the movie’s production notes that the Yorkin home was located somewhere in Brentwood. My first stab at tracking down its exact address was to do a Google search for “Brentwood” and “modern house,” which yielded a slew of links to a slew of gorgeous properties, but none of them were the Yorkins’. I then added “filming” to the mix and scoured countless more links and images – so many that I ultimately do not remember the exact details of how I was finally led to the right place. At some point, though, I came across the video below which showed the pad as it appeared in an episode of Californication. The clip’s caption proved especially forthcoming, providing not only the property’s name, Benton House, but its architect, Ray Kappe. From there, Google prompted me to 90210Locations’ Californication page which detailed the residence’s exact address –136 South Canyon View Drive. Thanks, 90210Locations! I ran right out to stalk the place shortly thereafter.

In 1989, psychologist/mom/architecture buff Dr. Esther Benton purchased a large home on a shaded plot of land in Brentwood with the intention of performing a vast remodel. She commissioned Kappe for the job, but the incredibly prolific architect wound up razing the structure and rebuilding in his signature style instead, generating magic out of glass, wood and concrete. His creation, which took three years to complete (from 1991 to 1994), was designed with the working mom in mind. The residence boasts three large rooms, or “suites” as a 1998 New York Times article described them – a master bedroom suite, a suite for Esther’s daughter, and an office suite, which Kappe fashioned with a swiveling wall so that the doctor could “watch over the house without interrupting her time at work.” The property is also fashioned with 20-foot ceilings, a large skylight, Douglas fir embellishments, multiple fireplaces, a sunken bathtub, a frameless glass shower, and a towering glass and steel staircase. Zillow estimates the pad is worth a whopping $8.9 million today! Though absolutely stunning, as you can see in photos here and here, sadly none of it is visible from the street.

But, as I’ve said before, that’s why God created aerial views.

For those who have not seen One Hour Photo, the movie centers on Seymour Parrish (Robin Williams), aka Sy, a Sav-Mart photo developer who becomes obsessed with the Yorkins, a family whose film he regularly develops. Though things are definitely not perfect in Will, Nina and Jakob’s world, through Sy’s eyes, the family and their home is idyllic, arcadian and devoid of any typical everyday problems. As Williams is quoted as saying in the film’s production notes, “In the outside world Sy stands out, especially when you get near the Yorkins’ house, which is very warm and incredibly beautiful, almost painfully beautiful because it is his idealized home.” Production designer Tom Foden further describes the dwelling as “representing a place of dreams and ideals.”

In the movie’s creepiest scene, Sy ventures into the Yorkins’ residence while they are away and proceeds to look through their things, put on their clothes, use their bathroom, watch their TV, and generally just make himself at home. In the end, it turns out the experience was all just a fantasy taking place in Sy’s mind, but because Williams played the role to such creepy perfection, the segment is seriously disturbing. The real life interior of the Benton House was utilized in the scene . . .

. . . as well as throughout other portions of the film.

When I first started looking into the Yorkin home, I couldn’t help but think about how much it resembles the residence belonging to Sebastian Stark (James Woods) on the television series Shark. So I was not too surprised to discover during the course of my research that the Shark pad was designed by Ray Kappe’s son, Finn Kappe. That property, one of my favorite TV homes ever, can be found at 2315 Live Oaks Meadow Road in Malibu.

What I was absolutely bowled over to learn, though, was that the inside of the Benton House was utilized as the inside of Sebastian’s home in Shark’s pilot episode, which aired in 2006. I had always assumed the Live Oak Meadows residence had been used for both interiors and exteriors! You can check out photos of the inside of that property here. As you can see, it looks nothing like Sebastian’s pad.

The Benton House interior was later re-created on a soundstage for the filming of all of Shark’s subsequent episodes. That set re-creation is pictured below. (And yes, that’s a young Matt Lanter – my favorite actor – in the second screen capture! <3)

In the Season 1 episode of Californication titled “Girls, Interrupted,” which aired in 2007, the Benton House plays itself. Well, sort of. In the episode, Hank Moody (David Duchovny) takes his ex-wife, architecture enthusiast Karen (Natascha McElhone), to see the home of director Todd Carr (Chris Williams). Though said to be in Bel Air and not Brentwood, the pad is described as a Ray Kappe house in the segment.

The residence’s interior also appeared in the episode.

Back in 1999, the Benton House popped up in Cruel Intentions as the supposed Long Island, New York-area home of Blaine Tuttle (Joshua Jackson).

As Geoff from 90210Locations also informed me, the Benton House portrayed the residence of Samantha Winslow (Susan Sarandon) during the fifth season of Ray Donovan.

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Big THANK YOU to Geoff, of 90210Locations, for finding this location!

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: The Yorkin house from One Hour Photo is located at 136 South Canyon View Drive in Brentwood.

April 29, 2016April 29, 2016

The Filming Locations of “Dawson’s Creek”

Many, many moons ago, I began to compile what I call my “Stalking Bucket List” – a catalog of far-off filming locations that I would like to visit at some point during my lifetime. At the very top of that list is Wilmington, North Carolina, which masqueraded as the fictional “Capeside, Massachusetts” on one of my favorite television series of all time, Dawson’s Creek. Though the coming-of-age teen drama went off the air over a decade ago, I am still just as obsessed with it now as I was then. And while I have yet to make it to Wilmington, a fellow stalker/longtime reader named Toni Frazer has visited the coastal city several times over the years and was nice enough to write up her adventures to share on IAMNOTASTALKER. Thank you, Toni! Take it away!

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In high school, I used to escape to a little town in North Carolina called Wilmington.

Not literally…I lived in Australia; but every Thursday night Wilmington was shown as the location of Dawson’s Creek’s small Cape Cod town: Capeside, Massachusetts.

Wilmington (and its surrounds) has been used as a backdrop for many productions, most notably another teenaged focused show One Tree Hill and films like Domestic Disturbance, I Know What You Did Last Summer and A Walk to Remember.

Growing up, it was the ONE location I wanted to visit when I mentally planned my first overseas trip to the United States. When it finally happened in 2008, Wilmington was at the top of the list. I had to see it. I had to stand in front of Dawson’s house. I had to ‘enter’ Capeside (and by then, Tree Hill as well due to the current popularity of One Tree Hill which I loved just as much!)

I fell in love with Wilmington from that very first trip; and over the past decade I have managed to visit 3 times, seeing different locations every time I have done so (and returning to those I love, too). Things have changed over this time. Locations once there are no longer. Things don’t look how they did back on that first trip. But that’s ok. I just love being in this town any chance I get, whether I can see locations or not. It feels like home to me.

Here are 10 of my favourite locations over the 3 visits I have taken. I would include all of them, but there’s always time for other posts. I’ve placed these locations within the region of Wilmington they belong to so you can see which locations are where when you head there!

Maybe your favourite location made the cut?

Downtown Wilmington

Dawson Leery’s House – 6424 Head Road, Wilmington

On my very first trip to Wilmington in 2008, I trekked (as in walked for ages!) to Dawson’s house (pictured above) and it blew me away with how amazing the experience turned out. The house is not located right in the centre of town, so it isn’t easy to get there. It was closest to the mall more than anything, so I managed to get to that and then walked to the house as I was too scared to hire a car being only 22 and everything was the on the opposite side anyway. (These days, I love driving over there!)

Head Road residences fork off the street as you go along it, so you need to follow the fork to the right where Dawson’s and Jen’s houses are located. Mailboxes are near the road so it isn’t hard to find the right spot and the two houses are also located at the beginning of the road which helps.

Being a private residence, I arrived at the house and knocked on the door to ask if it was ok to take photos. But no one answered. Only planning on spending less than 10 minutes there, I had to risk the chance of trespassing because I had traveled too far to go back, and there is no actual fence on the property, so you literally can walk between the two houses and out to the creek from the driveway, just like in the show.

I will preface this by saying, I didn’t enter into Jen’s house (pictured below) whilst there, as it does have a fence and I am not sure the owner loves all the attention. But at least you can take a photo of it in any case.

Making my move, I walked to the back of the Leery house (which is actually the front on the show); and took some snaps. I saw Dawson’s famous window – the one Joey climbed into – and felt goose bumps immediately. Walking on the lawn and taking in the whole house as I stood on the dock that had also been used in the show many times (including that infamous crying face Dawson does when Joey chooses Pacey over him in Season 3); well, I cannot describe how it felt standing here. When you have watched the show as much as I have, every scene that played out there I could remember in that instant: the weddings, baby showers, elicit affairs being discovered…it was like walking through memory lane. Except, they weren’t my memories.

Everything looked exactly as it did on the show: the outdoor furniture, the creek, the house…which was all I wanted in seeing this spot. So many times, when tracking down a location, the owners have changed the façade or even re-modeled or painted the residence. Luckily for me, it was as if I was standing on a preserved set (which I was)…and seeing it all made it that much more amazing! I couldn’t believe I was actually standing right there!

I walked out onto the dock and took a few more photos, sitting on the edge just like Joey and Dawson did many a time. The creek is just beautiful! Anyone who has a house along there is just lucky. What a view!

As I went to leave, ecstatic with my experience, the owners did pull up and I found they were an older aged couple who had lived there for many years. The female owner invited me inside for a cold drink (as it was a very hot day), and I couldn’t pass up the chance to see what the real inside of the house looked like (plus I was thirsty).

The Leery house was beautiful and getting a tour from the owner was more than I ever could have wished for. Seeing the real interior was awesome. It was so different from the Leery’s interior, but similar too. Many marriage proposals happen out there on the dock, which the owner was telling me about; and as a lover of the show I can see why this would be the place to do it if you’re dating a real Dawson’s Creek fan. (Future husband -whoever you are…take note!) She told me about the filming that took place on their lawn and about meeting Goldie Hawn’s son, Oliver, who joined the show in Season 5 as Eddie – and how lovely he was.

Finally, we went out onto the covered-in porch area that was featured many times on the show. It was EXACTLY as it was back then, down to ‘The Leery’s’ house sign on the wall near the door. After filming of the series ended, the owners kept the furniture and outdoor setting the show provided and left it as it was – which explains why everything looked so familiar…and again was information that I would never have known! Standing on the porch remembering all the different scenes that took place there was amazing. There was a replica porch built (which was featured when Dawson took Joey onto the set of his show in the later years), which means not everything was filmed at the actual house for every scene.

I left the house by exiting from the porch just as I had seen the many characters do and I truly felt like I was in an episode of the show. It was just amazing standing there and a real dream come true. Being able to see this house in such detail only 5 years after the show ended is a moment I will never forget. Whether the house still has all these features, I don’t care. I got to see it all for myself and it’s all I need. I don’t think I will re-visit this location because nothing will beat that first visit, and I don’t want to ruin the memories that I have if it has changed. Maybe one day I will change my mind. But I doubt it.

*Please do respect the privacy of the owners. Whether or not the owners still feel comfortable having people visit their house, I do not know. My experience was definitely an exception to any I have read.

Capeside High School – University Of North Carolina at Wilmington, 601 South College Road, Wilmington

The one mistake Dawson’s Creek made in their locations was to use a university campus for their high school setting. Why? Because when the college years came along…they had to go to Duke to get the feel for college life. But, it did mean that high school life in Capeside was a dream. And walking around the UNCW Campus in Wilmington is a dream.

I have visited the campus on many occasions and standing on the courtyard lawn is just stunning for a location, whether it is associated with a television show or not.

Alderman Hall is the only building that was featured on the show, and when I was last there in 2012, the park bench that is situated at the entrance of Alderman Hall (on the right) had a plaque on it about the show, which I thought was very sweet for them to acknowledge.

The interior was not used obviously, but many scenes took place on the campus whether it was Joey and Dawson’s massive fight at the dance after Jack and Joey’s kiss is discovered; or Pacey talking to Kristy Livingston for the first time thanks to Andie (even if he had to fake a “heart stripe”), or the high school graduation on the great lawn. So much happened right there, it is a Dawson’s Creek-lover’s delight.

Alderman Hall is located right off the roundabout on Wagoner Drive, so it is quite easy to find once you enter the campus. If you look at Alderman Hall on Google Maps, it actually has a tag saying ‘Capeside High School’ on it, which is pretty funny too.

Historic Wilmington

Market Street/Water Street/ Cape Fear Riverwalk

Market Street and Water Street are well-known locations from Dawson’s Creek. Numerous scenes were filmed there and along the adjoining Riverwalk. When I first arrived in Wilmington, I literally felt déjà vu unlike any other moment in my life.

I mean, I walked along the roads and recognized places that I had never seen in person before. I actually felt like I was walking in a dream. That I was in a place that felt like home – because it was. I knew it so well. It was extremely surreal.

Market Street runs vertical towards the Cape Fear Riverwalk, whilst Water Street runs along the Cape Fear River and intersects with Market Street. The minute you visit these streets, you will recognize them immediately.

Locations which are found here include:

In Season 1, the bus shelter where Joey and Dawson buy tickets so that they can head to the prison to see her dad, and the street where Pacey almost gets run over by Jen’s NYC boyfriend, Billy.
The art gallery that Joey and Jack visited in Season 2 and where Pacey picked up Andie and Jack for the Prom, which is actually the Alton Lennon Federal Building.
The many walk-and-talk scenes, whether it was Season 1 when Dawson and Joey shopped for an anniversary gift for Mitch and Gail, Season 2 when Dawson attempted to shoplift with Jen, or when Dawson, Mitch and Tamara Jacobs met on the street. This was right where it all happened.
Scenes from Season 3’s boat race regatta when Pacey and Dawson dueled it out for Joey were also filmed here. Honestly, it is endless.

No matter where you walk around here, you will feel like you’re in Capeside. That is a fact.

Two cool locations that also need to be checked out here are two of the restaurants that were featured on the show: Leery’s Fresh Fish and Pacey’s Restaurant in the last ever episode.

Leery’s Fresh Fish has changed owners over the years and is currently the Kabob & Grill Downtown, which specializes in Indian cuisine. The interior still looks exactly the same as it did during the filming of the show, and fans are proudly invited inside for a meal so they can enjoy seeing it!

The location of this restaurant is 5 South Water Street, Wilmington.

Pacey’s restaurant is on the Riverwalk, at a place called Elijah’s. It is one of the popular restaurants in the historic area of Wilmington, with gorgeous views of the Cape Fear River alongside it.

The location of this restaurant is 2 Ann Street, Wilmington.

“The Rialto” Movie Theatre – Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 310 Chestnut Street, Wilmington

Thalian Hall opened in 1858 and is one of the United States’ oldest theatres. It is a stunning place, whether you like the show or just history itself and is well worth the visit. Upon my first visit to Wilmington in 2008, I knew I had to see this location no matter what. Not only was it a huge part of my favourite episode (the pilot), but it was also used in other key moments in the series as well, which made me want to see it that much more.

Thalian Hall was the location of the Capeside cinema named “The Rialto.” The 3 scenes here that were featured on the show were more than memorable.

In Season 1’s pilot episode, Dawson takes the gang to the movies so that he can have a semi-quasi-date with Jen. Dragging Pacey and Joey along to take the pressure off, he instead finds Pacey is too interested in flirting with his new English teacher, Ms. Jacobs, and Joey is too love struck for Dawson to be spectator to his advances towards Jen. It ends in disaster and verbal and physical punches are thrown in more ways than one in the lobby.

In Season 2, however, Dawson and Joey have their first date at the Rialto. Things don’t go well, though, with Jen crashing their date and that lone yellow flower left on Joey’s seat is one of the show’s saddest moments. An honorable mention must also go to Grams who tells Jen that she came to the cinema for the Rialto’s final night (before its makeover) to be with her recently passed love.

Finally, in Season 3, Joey is the one crashing dates, as she tries to save Andie from her sleazy boss after he takes her here on a date.

The main stage and lobby of Thalian Hall were used in these episodes which means lovers of the show can truly reminisce about these particular scenes.

Sitting in Thalian Hall is a must for all fans of the show. They do hold events there and also offer tours Monday-Friday for $10 per person.

Hell’s Kitchen – 118 Princess Street, Wilmington

During the college years of Dawson’s Creek, Joey worked in a bar. This bar, much to the delight of fans, remains open and is still a bar today…and still named Hell’s Kitchen.

Hell’s Kitchen is just how it was in the show, which makes eating a meal or having a drink here that much more enjoyable. You can pretend you’ve got Eddie behind the bar, Joey waiting tables…it’s a real-life set right here. How amazing that we still get to enjoy it?

Joey’s Wall – Southern Side of City Limits Saloon, 28 South Front Street, Wilmington (across from The Reel Café)

Unfortunately, this is one location that is no longer around. Back in 2008, it was though. So luckily for me, I was able to see it for myself and stand in front of it just like Joey did in the show. Standing there was a dream come true. Of all the locations I have seen from the show, this was the most thrilling to see, because of what it represented: true love.

Although there were no words painted on it, and no one asking me to stay…a girl can still dream right?

The area itself was used as a vacant lot for many years following its use on the show. But, over the proceeding years, they did begin to build on it; last I saw it was a seating area for a restaurant. It looks nice, but alas; no wall. If you make the trek to this location, use your imagination and you’ll still see it.

Editor’s Note – Sadly, an outdoor seating area is now situated in front of Joey’s wall. You can check out comparison Google Street View images of the wall from 2008 and 2012 below.

The good news is that, despite the seating area, the top portion of the wall is still visible. This is especially good news for me because out of all the locations featured on Dawson’s Creek over the years, Joey’s wall is the one I want to see the most.

Wrightsville Beach Area

Airlie Gardens – “The Ruins,” 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington

Ever since the first season of Dawson’s Creek, with episode 3’s “The Kiss”, I dreamt of seeing this location.

The Airlie Gardens were used many times throughout the show’s run. The most notable episode was when Dawson took Jen to “The Ruins”, a private residence, to film the closing scene of his horror film. But instead, he ended up accidently filming Pacey and his English teacher, Ms. Jacobs, doing the deed.

It all worked out for Dawson though, as he finally got his first kiss.

Other scenes that were filmed here include when Dawson and Joey went to The Ruins to make out after getting a sex-ed talk from Mitch and Gail. Airlie Gardens have also been featured in other productions , too.

The location of The Ruins can be found in Airlie Gardens’ Pergola Garden. Staff will be happy to assist and direct you to this area with a map of the grounds. It really is a stunning place, even if the show hadn’t filmed here, I’d still want to see it.

Airlie Gardens is open every day from March 21st-December 31st; and Tuesday-Sunday from January to mid-March. Tickets are $9.

Dockside Restaurant – “The Icehouse,” 1308 Airlie Road, Wilmington

There were 2 locations used as The Icehouse, the restaurant Joey’s sister, Bessie, owned. One was located in Historic Wilmington on the Cape Fear River, but the show was no longer able to shoot there after Season 2, which is most probably why producers decided to write a storyline in which The Icehouse burned down in the episode titled “Parental Discretion Advised.”

Starting in early Season 2, the Dockside Restaurant was used as The Icehouse. Scene filmed there include when Abby and Jen met Vincent, their older seafaring man, and the time Devon, the actress playing ‘Joey’ in Dawson’s film, mirrors her as she waits on her table and ultimately freaks her out.

You can definitely tell scenes in which Dockside was used because the restaurant actually sits on the water in the marina, unlike the other location that faced the Cape Fear River. But best of all, you can eat at Dockside and enjoy being on the set of Dawson’s Creek. People actually park their boats to eat here too. Pretty cool huh?

The Roadside Bend – Airlie Road, Wilmington

Airlie Road also has 3 key scenes from the show that are a must for any fan to remember.

Coming onto Airlie Road from Eastwood Road, just past Dockside Restaurant, there is a clear bend in the street up ahead. For all of the Pacey and Joey lovers out there, right before this bend is the very location of the kiss that changed the show.

The second scene worth remembering was when Joey was pulled over by Deputy Doug for going too slow, all because he wants to inform her that Pacey is leaving for the summer.

The third scene that was filmed here involved the death of Mitch Leery in Season 5. This was the spot where his car accident occurred. In later episodes, this was the place Pacey took Dawson to deal with his father’s death to help him move on.

This is the one location any true fan must see. I actually had goose bumps standing here and remembering those scenes.

Southport – The Marina, Yacht Basin Drive and West Brunswick Street

Southport is a famous place. Home to I Know What You Did Last Summer and Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven to name just a few. Dawson’s Creek really made use of Southport as a location over the years.

The key location here was the Marina that sits right on Yacht Basin Drive and West Brunswick Street. The most famous episode took place in this spot, Season 3’s “The Longest Day” – you know, the episode that repeats over and over as Pacey and Joey’s affair is finally discovered by Dawson?

In the episode, Pacey finishes his boat and the gang celebrates by christening it at the dock. As the episode repeats over and over, the marina is featured numerous times.

This location plays a large part in other Season 3 episodes, as well. One of the first scenes of the season starts right here, as Joey works at her job at Logan’s Marina…which Dawson ends up crashing Mitch’s boat into after an afternoon with Eve.

And it is at the marina that Joey finally professes her love for Pacey with her “I think I’m in love with you” speech in the Season 3 finale, which ends with the two sailing off into the sunset. Funnily enough, the real location that sits on the marina is called Potter’s Seafood. Go figure.

Standing here is a true moment and one I was so happy to find. You will also notice that West Brunswick Street was also used in quite a few scenes – in Season 1 when Billy comes to town and speaks to Dawson about Jen and in Season 3’s “The Longest Day” when Joey confides to Jen about her relationship with Pacey.

There are many locations in Southport that were also used in the credits over the years, from the swings they all sit on, to Pacey standing on his anchor. Many other scenes from the series were shot there, as well, primarily from Seasons 1, 2 and 3, which I could discuss all day.

Southport is well worth a stop.

BONUS LOCATIONS: Pacey’s Boat – Screen Gems Studio – 1223 North 23rd Street, Wilmington/Dawson’s Windows – The Children’s Museum of Wilmington – 116 Orange Street, Wilmington

Two ‘locations’ I have been lucky enough to see were Pacey’s boat and the windows from Dawson’s bedroom; yes the windows Joey climbed through herself!

These were both seen in 2008 & 2011, so whether they are still something one can see now is another story.

Firstly, Pacey’s boat, aka the ‘True Love,’ was at Screen Gems Studios, where the Dawson’s Creek set could be found. They used to do studio tours, however during the visits I took, I was only able to see things from One Tree Hill, but that was still pretty awesome.

The ‘True Love’ was sitting in the backlot, though, and since it had been 8 years since the show ended, most people walked past it without even knowing what it was. The tour guide did explain that the boat had been auctioned and never picked up when we asked if it was Pacey’s boat. How is this even possible?? They no longer offer tours at Screen Gems, but when they did, tours were offered every weekend at 12pm for $10, should they resume it.

As for Dawson’s windows, they were and still are located at The Children’s Museum of Wilmington. At one point, Joey’s dorm room from Seasons 5 and 6 was also there, but I never saw it. The windows are a little weird, though, as they are closed shut and fixed into the wall. So it is a little odd to see a wall with huge windows, but for a fan and knowing what these windows represent? Well, it is just priceless!

These locations are really just the beginning. There is so much to see and experience in Wilmington from the show and other productions, too; it really is a TV show lover’s paradise.

If you’d like to see more filming locations from these shows and others, check out my website Enchanted Serendipity. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Editor’s Note – Big THANK YOU to Toni for this fabulous Dawson’s Creek write-up. Reading it only has me wanting to visit Wilmington more than I already did!

January 9, 2012January 8, 2012

Charles W. Eliot Middle School from “The Mentalist”

Located directly across the street from the Larry Crowne apartment building in Altadena, which I blogged about last Friday, is Charles W. Eliot (not Elliot) Middle School – a very unique and arresting structure that looms over the neighborhood thanks to its large fortress-like bell tower. My veterinarian is located just up the street from Eliot and I had driven by the school countless times during my ten-plus years of living in Pasadena, and whenever my mom happened to be with me, she would comment, “That school is just so picturesque! I can guarantee you that it has been in a movie!” Well, as it turns out, she was right! I never did much research on the place, though, or even thought to stalk it, until January of 2010 when it popped up in the Season 2 episode of The Mentalist titled “Rose-Colored Glasses”, at which point I recognized it immediately. So, two weekends ago, after stalking the Larry Crowne apartment building, I dragged the Grim Cheaper across the street (and I say “drag” because even though it was located less than 10 yards away from where we were then standing, he complained about having to walk over to it) so that I could finally stalk the place.

Charles W. Eliot Middle School was originally founded in 1931 and, at the time, was known as Eliot Junior High School. It was named in honor of Charles William Eliot – a professor who, with a term of 40 years, became Harvard University’s longest-running president and transformed the institution into a premiere research college. Surprisingly, even though Eliot Middle School is extremely unique, I could find no information whatsoever about its architecture or its history. Hmph! I was able to dig up the names of a couple of the school’s famous alumni, though. As it turns out, not only did actor Edward Furlong attend Charles W. Eliot Middle School, but, in an unfortunate twist, so did Sirhan Sirhan, the Jordanian nationalist who assassinated presidential hopeful Bobby Kennedy on June 6, 1968.

As you can see above, the most recognizable and striking aspect of Charles W. Elliot Middle School is its tower. It is that tower that has also captured the imagination of the many location scouts who have returned time and time again to film on the school grounds.

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In the “Rose-Colored Glasses” episode of The Mentalist, Charles W. Eliot Middle School stood in for the supposed Northern-California-area Rancho Rosa High School where Patrick Jane (aka Simon Baker) and the rest of the CBI team investigated the murder of a married couple which took place at a 15-year high school reunion. In the episode, several areas of the school were used, including the rear blacktop;

the gym;

and the boy’s locker room.

Fellow stalker Allyn let me know that Charles W. Eliot Middle School was also featured prominently in the 1998 flick Devil in the Flesh. In the movie, Eliot was the school where Debbie Strand (aka Rose McGowan) was transferred to after her mother and her mother’s boyfriend were killed in a fire.

The real life interior of the school was also used in the production.

In the 1998 film Apt Pupil, Charles W. Eliot Middle School stood in for Santa Donato, the high school attended by Todd Bowden (aka Brad Renfro). And yes, that is none other than Ross Gellar himself – aka Friends’ star David Schwimmer – pictured in the last screen capture above!

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that cutie Joshua Jackson, aka Dawson’s Creek’s Pacey Witter, had a minor role in the flick, as well. Sigh. Love him!

The school’s interior was also featured in Apt Pupil. And, in an odd twist, a lawsuit was actually filed against the filmmakers for a scene that took place on location in the Eliot Middle School locker room. Three teenaged extras hired to act in a shower scene alleged that director Bryan Singer had forced them to strip naked for the shoot against their will. The lawsuit was ultimately dropped due to insufficient evidence, but you can read more about it on the Entertainment Weekly website here.

The interior of Charles W. Eliot Middle School also stood in for the interior of Haddonfield Elementary, the school attended by a young Michael Meyers (aka Daeg Faerch), in the 2007 Rob Zombie-directed Halloween.

The school’s library was also used as the library of the fictional Haddonfield High School, where Michael Meyers spied on his younger sister, Laurie Strode (aka Scout Taylor-Compton).

And, according to a March 1987 Los Angeles Times article, Charles W. Eliot Middle School was also set to be used as a location in a low-budget movie titled Night School. Unfortunately though, I could find no such movie listed on IMDB, so I am guessing that it was not ever completed.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! Smile

Stalk It: Charles W. Eliot Middle School, from the “Rose-Colored Glasses” episode of The Mentalist, is located at 2184 North Lake Avenue in Altadena. Please remember that this is an active learning institution and you should not trespass or visit the grounds during school hours. The Larry Crowne apartment building is located directly across the street from Eliot at 906 Boston Street in Altadena. And Thalia’s store from Larry Crowne is located at 2104 North Lake Avenue in Altadena.

May 19, 2010May 19, 2010

Mickey’s Diner from “The Mighty Ducks”

I thought I’d give y’all a break from the myriad of Beautiful Girls locations that I’ve been blogging about as of late by dedicating today’s post to a very famous and historic St. Paul restaurant named Mickey’s Diner. The diner is something of a Twin Cities landmark and pretty much every Native Minnesotan that my parents and I met while in the North Star State two weeks ago – from the concierge at our hotel to the barista at the local coffee shop – told us that we absolutely HAD to grab a bite to eat there. Ironically enough, though, like any good stalker, I already had Mickey’s at the very top of my Must-See-While-In-Minnesota list long before our plane even touched ground at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. I first found out about the diner a few weeks prior to my trip thanks to the the IMDB Mighty Ducks filming locations page and, since I loved the entire Mighty Ducks series – especially its leading man, Joshua Jackson – I was dying to see the place in person. Unfortunately though, because I had over twenty locations on my To-Stalk list, I didn’t have time to actually eat at Mickey’s, which is a real shame as I hear the food there is absolutely to die for! Not eating at Mickey’s is truly my only Minnesota stalking regret. 🙁 Ah well, there’s always next time!

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Mickey’s Diner was founded by friends David “Mickey” Crimmins and John “Bert” Mattson, who decided to purchase a dining car after attending the National Restaurant Convention in Chicago in 1937. The fifty foot by ten foot car, which was one of the first to be designed in the Art-Deco-style, was originally built in Elizabeth, New Jersey by the Jerry O’Mahoney Company. In 1939, the completed restaurant was transported by a flatbed railcar to its current location at the corner of West 7th and St. Peter Streets in Downtown St. Paul. It has been in continuous operation – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – ever since and, after three generations, is still owned and operated by the Mattson family. On February 23, 1983, Mickey’s was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Mickey’s Diner is an incredibly cool little spot and the people there truly could NOT have been nicer. They answered all of my silly little questions about the filming that has taken place there over the years and allowed me to take all of the photographs of the interior that I wanted, even though I wasn’t actually dining there. I’m hardly the first stalker to visit the place, though. According to this article written by Chicago Sun-Times staff writer Dave Hoekstra, the restaurant’s current owner, Melissa Mattson, conducted a survey back in 1999 to determine how many of her patrons were actually movie buffs who had come to stalk the diner due to its many cinematic appearances. According to her findings, stalkers account for five percent of her customers. Love it!

In Disney’s The Mighty Ducks, Mickey’s was the spot where Charlie Conway’s (aka Joshua Jackson’s) mom Casey (aka Heidi Kling) worked. The diner also appeared in the movie’s sequels, D2: The Mighty Ducks and D3: The Mighty Ducks. And yes, that is a VERY young Joshua Jackson pictured in the above screen captures! 🙂

In 1996’s Jingle All The Way, Howard Langston (aka Arnold Schwarzenegger) pushed his car to Mickey’s Diner after running out of gas on a Minnesota bridge. And while the real exterior of the restaurant was used in the filming . . .

. . . the interior was actually a set that was recreated on a soundstage. As you can see in the above screen captures, the set was built to be much larger than the actual restaurant. In real life, the diner boasts four booths, which are located at the far west end of the dining car, 17 counter stools, and can only accommodate a maximum of 36 patrons.

The 2006 movie A Prairie Home Companion actually opens up at Mickey’s Diner, where private investigator Guy Noir (aka Kevin Kline) is shown feasting on “a grilled cheese sandwich with beans for a chaser” before heading across the street to work at the Fitzgerald Theatre one rainy Saturday night in St. Paul.

The diner is also the site of the movie’s closing scene, in which Guy, along with his friends Rhonda Johnson (aka Lilly Tomlin), Yolanda Johnson (aka Meryl Streep), Lola Johnson (aka Lindsay Lohan), Dusty (aka Woody Harrelson), GK (aka Garrison Keillor), and Lefty (aka John C. Reilly), discuss taking their former radio show on the road for a farewell tour. And apparently, quite a few of the stars of A Prairie Home Companion would stop into Mickey’s quite regularly to grab a bite to eat during their time on location in St. Paul. So cool! Mickey’s Diner has also been featured in the television series Rachel Ray’s Tasty Travels, Unwrapped, Roker on the Road, Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt, and Jesse Ventura’s Minnesota. The diner is also something of a celebrity hotspot and has attracted the likes of Roseanne Barr, Tom Arnold, Liv Tyler, Bill Murray, Andy Garcia, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, John Stewart, the Beach Boys, New Kids on the Block, and Julio Iglesias, who once spontaneously serenaded a Mickey’s waitresses while on bended knee.

On a side note – While making A Prairie Home Companion, the movie’s stars, including Woody Harrelson, Lindsay Lohan, Lily Tomlin, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Kline, Virginia Madsen, and John C. Reilly, all bunked at the absolutely gorgeous St. Paul Hotel. The St. Paul was built in 1910 by the Minnesota-area architectural firm of Reed and Stern, who are perhaps best known for designing Grand Central Station in New York. The hotel is absolutely beautiful inside and if you are in the area, I HIGHLY recommend stalking it. The next time I visit Minnesota, I am DEFINITELY booking myself a room there! 🙂

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: Mickey’s Diner is located at 36 West 7th Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. The restaurant is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can visit the Mickey’s Diner website here. The St. Paul Hotel is located at 350 Market Street, also in St. Paul, Minnesota. You can visit the St. Paul Hotel website here.