What You're Used To

I grew up in New York City and have walked around Manhattan at some strange hours of the night but I've never felt out of place or worried. Last night (Sunday), I was walking around a part of Washington, D.C., that was mostly office buildings and it felt a little creepy. It wasn't that late at night, only 7:00 p.m., but the sun had set and the were few cars around. There were people walking and running, but it didn't feel quite right.

I guess it's just what you're used to that makes the difference.

No Hotels in NYC Good Enough?

My wife and I enjoy watching a show called "Unforgettable" on CBS. It premiered in the 2011-12 TV season but lost its way in the middle and we thought it would be gone for good, but it has now reappeared as a summer series in 2013. This isn't meant to be a review of the show, but I wanted to give a little background so you'll know why I'm a little upset with the producers of the show.

The show is a police procedural drama that was originally set in Queens but now takes place in Manhattan (boroughs of New York City). In the latest episode that we watched from Season 2, "Incognito" (episode 2), the lead character Carrie Wells (Poppy Montgomery) goes undercover to meet a team of bank robbers who will meet in a swanky NYC hotel called the "Alcazar Hotel."

Screen shot from "Incognito."

At 14:08 of the episode, we see brief footage of the "Alcazar" as Carrie is going there for the meeting. Here's my beef: why did they have to use an outside b-roll shot of the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington D.C. as a stand-in for the fictitious Alcazar?

Don't get me wrong, I've stayed at the Mayflower and I love the old school charm of the hotel and the guest rooms, but surely the producers could have found a nice, upscale hotel in NYC to be the stand-in. Aren't there any hotels in NYC that are good enough for the show?

In any case, here are the two things that gave it away: the Washington, D.C. flag on the right of the screen shot; and the Red Top Cab flashing by in the foreground.

Washington, D.C. flag

Red Top Cab of Arlington

My wife hates it when I spot errors like this in the shows and movies we watch but I can't help it. I love the details and sometimes it just thrills me to catch the mistakes, especially continuity errors.

By the way, if you're planning a visit to Washington D.C. and you're looking for a little history in your lodging, check out the Mayflower Renaissance, you'll enjoy it.

Mayflower Renaissance Hotel