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'Boardwalk Empire' Shoots in the East Village

By Patrick Hedlund | July 6, 2011 3:32pm | Updated on July 7, 2011 7:15am

By Patrick Hedlund

DNAinfo News Editor

EAST VILLAGE — East 12th Street was transformed into a stretch of Prohibition-era Manhattan Wednesday during a shoot for the hit HBO series "Boardwalk Empire."

Decked out in 1920s garb, cast members used the vintage-looking John's Italian Restaurant between First and Second avenues as the backdrop to shoot scenes for the second season of the award-winning drama, starring Steve Buscemi.

Golden Globe-nominated actor Michael Stuhlbarg, who plays notorious crime kingpin Arnold Rothstein, was joined on set by New York native Vincent Piazza, who portrays mobster Lucky Luciano on the show.

The series is set in Atlantic City at the start of Prohibition, and focuses on the life and crimes of corrupt politician Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, played by Buscemi.

Characters from the hit show
Characters from the hit show "Boardwalk Empire" shot scenes in the East Village.
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DNAinfo/Patrick Hedlund

The show used a dark alley on the edge of TriBeCa to film a period scene last month, hanging garments on clotheslines for a shot evocative of tenement living in the early 20th century.

East 12th Street is apparently a popular destination for HBO, as scenes for the Mark Wahlberg-produced series "How To Make It In America" were filmed on the block between Second and Third avenues in March.

"Boardwalk Empire," which picked up awards for acting, writing and directing during its first season, debuted its record-breaking $50 million pilot episode last year under the direction of show producer Martin Scorsese.