Doings and Shakings in Madison Square Park

I spend a lot of time in Madison Square Park, as the office where I work is right across the street. I usually take the bus to work and walk through the park every morning, and eat lunch there a few times a week.

For a park that is just 6.2 acres, it is one of the more happening places in the city. There are always beautiful people soaking up the rays, and a line of people wrapped around the perimeter waiting to get some of the Shake Shack's delicious fare.

But lately the park has been busier than ever. Just in the last week there have been numerous filmings; with each one I try a little harder to get a gig as an extra, or to get my ugly mug into a commercial.

One day, a film crew interrupted my morning walk across the park. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous, or perhaps stand around long enough to get noticed and to be asked to sit on a bench and do nothing. You'd think with all the buzz surrounding the set that Johnny Depp was in the vicinity, but no. They were filming the TV show "White Collar" and the big star on set was Willie Garson. I was annoyed for the rest of the day that these snarky production people were acting like they had to protect the president, and it was just Willie Garson.

A few days later, a new film crew appeared and there were actors playing cops all over the place. I scoured the area for the little fliers that they put up to see what it was they were filming, only to be disappointed that they were there for "Blue Bloods," another cop show set in the city. But wait, it stars Tom Selleck! Old Magnum, P.I. himself! The man, the myth, the legend. Would I catch a glimpse of that famous mustache? I prayed that he might ditch the day's filming and speed me off in his Ferrari 308 to a waiting helicopter. From there we would head to Oahu to fight crime together.

I must have stood on the corner of 26^th Street and Madison Avenue for an hour, daydreaming. When I finally snapped out of it and asked one of the production assistants when we could expect to see Mr. Selleck on set, she said he wasn't coming today. They were filming one of Bridget Moynahan's scenes. I couldn't get to work fast enough after I heard that.

Hopefully next week there will be a new film crew and a new cast of characters in Madison Square Park. Maybe this time I'll be able to see someone worth seeing!