So, when the opportunity to take the "Sex and the City" bus tour arose, we giddily accepted. A three-and-a-half hour estrogen-on-wheels adventure, highlighting location scenes, trivia tinglers and the promise cupcakes and cosmos? Sign us up.
We started at 11 a.m sharp at the Plaza and zipped down Fifth Avenue. A guide shouted location and trivia points along the route.
Episode clips played on the overhead TVs. Uptown scenes flew by: The Paris Theater, Takashimaya, Tiffany & Co., Jimmy Choo.
Then the first cringe of the tour: We drove by the midtown church where Samantha's friar worked and our tour guide, Lou, recited a "Diva Prayer." Starting with the lines "Armani, who art in Neimans." She sped through a litany of creepy consumerist jingles, and ended with an emphatic "Amex."
Suddenly, we felt car sick.
Once downtown, we cruised cute guys at the Equinox Gym, went through the Meatpacking district and made our first stop at the West Village sex shop, The Pleasure Chest.
Next up: Fresh cosmetics and Magnolia Bakery. Then on to the stand-in for Carrie's apartment, where the owner makes tour-takers walk single file down the opposite side of the street in silence. Cringe.
The last stop was at Steve's bar Scout (actually Nolita's O'nieal's). We kind of pitied the bartender who apparently makes over 1,000 cosmos a week. But then again, at $9 a pop, maybe we're in the wrong profession.
For information on the Sex and the City tour, go to www.screentours.com
