Prop or not?: Looking at Avenue A during the 'Caught Stealing' shoot

Crews yesterday continued to undress parts of Avenue A after standing in for a late-1990s version of itself for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed crime thriller "Caught Stealing."

The Benny's Burritos signage was removed from its one-time home (RIP 2014) on the SW corner of Sixth Street and Avenue A, a main hub during the several evenings of filming.

At times, it was hard to distinguish between the props for the shoot and the everyday randomness you'd expect to find along Avenue A.

Here's a quick guide to help determine what was a prop or not.

Bikes in a bunch: PROP

Michigan football flag outside Offside on the NE corner of A and Sixth: NOT a prop

Burgeoning sewer collapse on A and Sixth: NOT a prop

Pigeons devouring the 50 pounds of bread someone dumps in the once-mucky tree pit: NOT a prop, obviously

Obey Giant wheat pastes on the side of Amor Y Amargo: PROPS

Canopy left atop the M14 stop between Fifth Street and Sixth Street: NOT a prop

A sketchy-looking casting notice for a Young Zendaya: NOT a prop (and actually legit) 

Stop Warehousing Apartments Flyers: PROPS

Stack of school desks of the SE corner of A and Sixth: PROPS (sadly)

Phone booth: PROP

Bikes locked up outside the Cherry Tavern: NOT SURE!

Unhoused encampment on Sixth near A: PROP

Building-wide tags on the NW corner of Avenue A and Second Street: NOT props

REVS COST tags on Sixth Street plus other tags: PROPS

Jesus Loves You ("Think About That") flyer: NOT a prop

Rather hunky-looking guy dressed as if he could either be the building's porter or a serial entrepreneur who incubates and invests in breakthrough fintech companies: Guy, NOT a prop (though an actor); Car, PROP

Sidewalk message: NOT a prop 

The Hairy Balls signage outside Key Food: NOT a prop

We haven't heard anything official... but we're guessing that we haven't seen the last of the "Caught Stealing" shoot. We've heard rumors (and seen evidence of) a Pyramid Club and Mars Bar redux.

As we've been reporting, "Caught Stealing," based on Charlie Huston's novel of the same name, features a cast that includes Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson.

Paul's Bar no more for the movies, Double Down Saloon returns to service

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Top photo and text by EVG

After serving as a set for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed 1990s-based crime thriller "Caught Stealing" in recent weeks, the Double Down Saloon reopened on Oct. 2 here at 14 Avenue A between Houston and Second Street.

During the week of Sept. 9, we noticed a Pauls Bar marquee behind a temp-looking Double Down Saloon banner.

We thought someone uncovered ghost signage. (We recalled previous tenants like Julep and Mekka.) 

Then, an EVG reader told us this was for a set, and Zendaya would be filming here. Made some sense, as Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus shot a music video here in October 2020. 

EVG's Stacie Joy stopped by the (suspiciously clean) bar on Sept. 14 and was told the DD would be closing for a few weeks for renovations and a refresh. A staffer told us, "We'll be back and better than ever," saying not to expect "big changes; most of the work will be in the basement and with the taps." And fear not, as the adult films would be back on the TVs, and the DD's infamous Ass Juice would still flow from wherever it flows from. Multiple DD staff at the time said they knew nothing about filming. 

Later, after the film notices arrived up and down Avenue A, DD management confirmed the movie part but wouldn't disclose any details. (We heard that locations had to sign a strict NDA. And DD didn't tell us that as it would break said NDA.) 

Anyway, these are photos from Sept. 14... the day before the bar temporarily closed on Sept. 15 so crews could set up for the interior filming ...

Here's how the place looked during late-night filming on Sept. 20...

Based on Charlie Huston's novel of the same name, "Caught Stealing" stars Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Will Brill, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson. 

This outpost of the 24/7 Las Vegas fixture opened in 2006.

And now, Austin Butler (in character) carrying a bag of laundry

Photos by Stacie Joy 

This afternoon's filming of the 1990s crime thriller "Caught Stealing" was centered on Sixth Street at Avenue A. Austin Butler's character is spotted depositing a garbage bag on the sidewalk and carrying a laundry bag (we're guessing TBH)...

He was also seen huddling with director Darren Aronofsky (an East Village resident with an impressive body of work)...

... and walking alongside the resurrected Benny's Burritos...

And a few other set pieces... featuring some familiar names from the past...

As we've been reporting, "Caught Stealing," based on Charlie Huston's novel of the same name, has been giving parts of Avenue A a 1990s look during the shoot, which is expected to last through Friday. 

The impressive cast includes Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, Matt Smith, Liev Schreiber, Will Brill, Bad Bunny, Griffin Dunne, Vincent D’Onofrio and Action Bronson.

Cyber Cafe joins Kim's Video and Benny's Burritos in 1990s throwback for 'Caught Stealing'

Photos by Stacie Joy 

A late-1990s-looking Avenue A and Sixth Street will be the epicenter of filming this week for the Darren Aronofsky-helmed crime thriller "Caught Stealing." 

Filming is expected to continue here tomorrow through Friday. 

Yesterday saw the arrival of the Cyber Cafe signage on A to go next to Kim's Video (RIP 2004).

... and the prop folks added more details to the resurrected Benny's Burritos (RIP 2014) on the corner...

The crew also continues to work on the Nenos Pizza set on the Sixth Street side at A (Amor Y Amargo). It's not quite our Nino's from Avenue A and St. Mark's Place.

Also spotted on Sixth Street for the shoot... a REVS COST tag... (we already noted the Obey Giant wheat pastes on Sixth).

The film stars Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Bad Bunny and, most recently, Action Bronson. 

The plot, based on Charlie Huston's novel, per IMDB: 

Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson (Butler) unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined.

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• Kim's Video is the latest of the departed Avenue A businesses to return for a set piece

• On Avenue A, Benny's Burritos returns for the movies 

• Dressing up Avenue A for a 1990s crime thriller