I SPY NY: Bethenny Frankel, Arctic Monkeys and More

I spy in NY…

A pregnant Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel posing next to a replica of her 58-foot PETA billboard in Times Square Tuesday (top photo), Arctic Monkeys rocking Terminal Five Thursday night (middle photo), Guy Ritchie talking shop at the Apple Store: SoHo’s Meet The Filmmakers Q&A Wednesday (bottom photo), Ellen Burstyn at the premiere of The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond Thursday at City Cinemas 123, Zoe Saldana hanging at MTV Studios Wednesday, and Project Runway‘s Althea Harper partying at The Eldridge Thursday night.

Dave Brubeck Does SoHo

It’s a great night to be a New Yorker!!!

Especially when Jazz great Dave Brubeck visits the Apple Store SoHo for a free performance!

Brubeck, 88, and his quartet, performed four songs in honor of the 50th anniversary of his 1959 record Time Out, and even did a Q&A with the audience about what it was like to travel to foreign countries in search of “new sounds.”

So cool!

Nia Vardalos Talks My Life in Ruins

It’s a great day to be a New Yorker!!!!

Actress Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), along with director Donald Petrie (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days), hit the Apple Store SoHo Friday to chat with fans about their latest flick, My Life in Ruins.

The romantic comedy features Vardalos as a disgruntled bus tour guide in Greece who gets her groove back after traveling with a busload of tourists led by powerhouse Richard Dreyfuss.

“It was a dream come true to shoot in Greece,” Vardalos says, of filming. “It was surreal on the set, to stand by the Acropolis, close my eyes before they say ‘Action’ and feel the wind blowing through the columns. It doesn’t get any better.”

My Life was the last movie to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival Saturday night, but is first on our list of must-sees!!

Eric Bana’s First Love: His Ford GT Falcon Coupe

Australian actor Eric Bana stopped by the Apple Store SoHo Tuesday to talk shop about his directorial debut: an indie doc about his first love, a Ford GT Falcon coupe, appropriately titled Love the Beast.

“Everyone has a beast in their lives,” Bana told guests during the one-hour Q&A. “Whether it’s a car or a computer or going to the gym…. This was my chance to put my head on the chopping block.”

Bana, who’s starred in blockbusters such as Munich and Black Hawk Down, says he understands the effort needed to put a smaller film on the map. Especially when that map is the Tribeca Film Festival.

“I’m really thrilled and appreciative to be at Tribeca,” Bana said. “I’ve acted in a lot of smaller films… (so) I know how lucky I am to be here.”

The film, which features appearances by Dr. Phil and Jay Leno, premieres at Tribeca tonight, but check out an exclusive clip of Bana below, talking about a crash that totaled his Falcon and nearly cost him the movie. (“Tony and I went into a tree head-on at about 50 mph,” he says.)

[Photo by Jeanine Onischuck]

Spike Lee Talks Shop

It’s a great day to be a New Yorker!!!!!

Director Spike Lee visits the Apple Store SoHo to talk with fans about two of his projects: Passing Strange, the rock doc turned film, and Kobe Doin, Lee’s documentary about basketball star Kobe Bryant.

Both screen at Tribeca Film Festival this week!

Clive Talks Duplicity

It’s a great day to be a New Yorker!!!!

Clive Owen stopped by the Apple Store SoHo Tuesday to talk about his latest flick, Duplicity, co-starring Julia Roberts.

Says Owen:

“I went crazy for the script. I was going through a phase where I was turning everything down. This gem landed. I finished the last page and called my agent. It was a rare gem.”

Mario Batali Visits SoHo

It’s a great day to be a New Yorker!!!!!

World renowned Food Network chef Mario Batali hits the Apple Store SoHo Thursday for a “Meet the Chef and Author” Q&A.

Thanks for being u, M!!

Santigold Plays Free Show

It’s a great day to be a New Yorker!!!

Santigold, who recently changed her name to avoid infringement, treats visitors at the Apple Store in SoHo to a free performance Friday.

We don’t care what you call yourself. 

Just keep playing yr music!!

Pineapple Express Comes to NYC

It’s a great day to be a New Yorker!!!!

Pineapple Express‘ Bill Hader and Danny McBride, and Director Jody Hill talk shop to guests at the Apple Store SoHo Monday.

When’s the next Tropic Thunder, boyz??

The Fray Rock SoHo Apple Store

It’s a great day to be a New Yorker!!!

The Fray played a free show to visitors at the Apple Store in SoHo yesterday.

The performance was synched with the release of the band’s new self-titled record. 

Don’t forget to pick it up!!!!