UPDATE: September 17, 2019 at 3:45 p.m.
Alright Friends fam, we went inside the New York City pop-up and it was every bit as magical as we hoped it would be. There are dozens and dozens of iconic props from the show, including Rachel's 18-page (front and back!) letter to Ross, Phoebe's Smelly Cat cat litter box, a Thanksgiving turkey with a hat and giant sunglasses, and so much more.
Since we know not all the Friends superfans could make it—tickets sold out crazy fast—we're taking you on a tour through the space. Even better, Maggie Wheeler (aka JANICE!) and James Michael Tyler (Gunther!!!) were on hand to partake in the fun. And if you are in the NYC area from now through October 6, you can still walk into the merchandise and coffee shop area and catch a glimpse of the beloved orange couch!
ORIGINAL POST: August 06, 2019 at 12:43 p.m.
While most of Friends took place in either Central Perk—the iconic (fictional) coffee shop—or the characters' apartments, it's still a distinctly New York City show. Remember 'The One Where Joey Speaks French,' the episode in which Chandler shows Erica around New York? Or the time Joey wound up in a million subway ads for a venereal disease? How about Rachel's job at Bloomingdales?
All that to say, it is about damn time a Friends pop-up came to New York—ICYMI, London and Los Angeles have already housed Central Perk recreations. Starting September 7, New Yorkers and tourists alike will have a chance to visit nine rooms made to look like a Friends episode, with one room dedicated to each of the six main characters.
Unlike pop-ups before it, this Warner Bros.-sponsored event will give fans the chance to recreate several famous scenes outside of the crew's favorite coffee shop. You can take a picture in front of Monica's purple door, scream 'pivot' in Ross' stairwell, and hang out in Chandler and Joey's recliners, The Hollywood Reporter says. There will also be a merch store and small café (hopefully with Central Perk mugs!) as well as a recreation of the fountain from the opening credits.
Tickets for the month-long pop-up are sadly already sold out, but per the event's website, "Like Janice, you never know when we’ll be back." You can sign up to their email service to stay in the loop on the pop-up and merch, some of which will be sold online. If you are attending, be sure to head to 90 Bedford St. before or after—it's the real apartment building exterior seen on the show and is less than a mile from the 76 Mercer St. pop-up!
