Our Neighborhood
What’s a story without its setting?
The neighborhoods of South Brooklyn are more than just the backdrop for the film, they are its lifeblood.
We’re proud to introduce you to the locations that made each scene sing.
Lioni Italian Heroes
The film truly begins when the characters arrive at Lioni, and for good reason. Lioni is what it means to be a Brooklyn deli, and their menu is 150+ sandwiches (and counting) filled with house made mozzarella and Italian imports. The camaraderie runs deep here and shows what a neighborhood is all about.
Villa Mosconi
Just before you get to Houston going south on MacDougal you’ll find Villa Mosconi, the setting for the film’s finale. Open since 1976 the Mosconi family has been serving up some of the best northern Italian food in all of New York. It’s been a favorite of the entire It’s Always Been You! crew for years and we couldn’t think of a better place to conclude the film.
5th Avenue Record and Tape Center
One of Park Slope’s gems is the record shop at 5th ave and 9th street and it’s been going strong since 1972. It was the first truly must-have location when we began writing the film, it’s so iconic and has always been a favorite spot to duck into a hot summer day to cool down and check out their extensive collection. Every couple of years it comes close to closing down and disappearing for good, and somehow it always survives, the neighborhood wouldn’t be the same without it.
Greenwood Cemetery
One of the original Brooklyn icons, and still is, since it was founded in 1838. In almost 200 years it’s been the final resting place to familiar names like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Boss Tweed, and of course, Lola Montez. Greenwood is a deep and sprawling place to get lost in, with hills to see for miles (and the Manhattan skyline) and valleys of seclusion. Our young lovers in the film choose Greenwood for their romantic sprint through Brooklyn.
Prospect Park
Brooklyn’s largest park and another icon. In the film Jacquie’s character escapes the city streets to find a moment of transcendent beauty, in touch with a world beyond. The park’s maze of trails and hidden places have that effect on anyone.
The Neighborhood of Park Slope
The streets of Park Slope are the backdrop for the majority of the film’s outdoor scenes and we couldn’t have selected a more welcoming, and vibrant, slice of Brooklyn. Our characters wander and wonder the day away on 7th avenue, visit the record shop, and attend the Labor Day parade.
Grand Army Plaza
One of the final stops in the daylight portion of the film is the iconic archway at Grand Army Plaza on their way to the Labor Day parade. It’s a long unbroken take as Carla walks under the arch and one of Brooklyn’s most memorable pieces of architecture.
The Neighborhood of Sunset Park
One of the boroughs best views is from Sunset Park itself, and the neighborhood gives some of New York’s most vibrant streets in any borough. Packed, busy and full of life from 5th Ave to 8th Ave, Sunset Park is never dull. Our characters wander these streets and encounter many faces.
The Neighborhood of Bensonhurst
When the film opens, it’s the streets of Bensonhurst that provide the backdrop for the entrance. Instantly recognizable and setting the stage, the neighborhood of Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst is home to some of Brooklyn’s most iconic history, and the home of Lioni’s famous Italian Heroes and mozzarella.
Club Xstasy
Not far from the fifth avenue arched entrance to Greenwood Cemetery is the disco-tech Club Xstasy. The club serves as the backdrop for the final act of It’s Always Been You!, a digital dreamscape of light and sound.
Smiling Pizza
One of the key locations in Park Slope that appears during the opening montage of the film’s world is Smiling Pizza. We love the location’s unique design and, even better, we love their pizza!
Cafe Steinhof
Another key location featured in the opening montage is neighborhood favorite, Cafe Steinhof. As with many of the classic locations featured in the film, they won’t last forever, and Cafe Steinhof is now a fond memory. The Cafe closed its doors in 2020 due to Covid-19.
Pablito’s Taqueria
Last, but not least, is a place in the neighborhood that is not onscreen in the film, but was the breakfast, lunch and dinner of our cast and crew for many shoots. They are also one of the locales where many of the film’s scenes were written over a plate of their legendary Huevos Rancheros. Pablito’s is one of the best restaurants in all of New York.