FINANCIAL DISTRICT — The Financial District isn’t known for being a star-studded New York neighborhood, but Grammy Award-winning rapper and actress Eve likes it that way. Though she spends most of her time in London these days, the star’s pied-à-terre in the W Downtown offers respite from the chaos of the city.
This year has been a busy one for the artist, who first came to prominence for her collaboration with Gwen Stefani on the 2001 hit “Let Me Blow Ya Mind.” In May, Eve released “Lip Lock” — her fourth studio album, and her first in 11 years. She’s also starring in the post-apocalyptic action film “Bounty Killer,” which is set to hit theaters and video on demand (VOD) on Sept. 6.
We caught up with the songstress to chat about her Downtown digs, her favorite New York neighborhood and her recently acquired knife-wielding skills.
Q: We hear you’ve been living downtown lately.
A: I stay at the W Residences in the Financial District, which I love because it’s quiet and the amenities are amazing. The gym is ridiculous. There’s actually great restaurants right around it. BLT, which is attached, has the best gruyere popovers. They’re ridiculous.
Q: Where else do you go out to eat in the area?
A: Then there’s this little cobblestone street [Stone Street] by the Stock Exchange. It has a row of restaurants, like a sick whiskey bar. That’s not a place I’ll go to all the time. Usually I’ll jump in a cab and go to SoHo, but if I do want to stay in that area, there’s so much going on right on that little street and really good food, it’s a place I recommend.
Q: Where do you dine and shop in SoHo?
A: My best friend lives in SoHo, so I pretend it’s my neighborhood. She lives right around Houston and Sullivan, so we go to The Dutch all the time. Blue Ribbon Sushi is right there. Miss Lily’s is right on the corner and then two of my favorite healthy places — Juice Press is right around the corner from her and Organic Avenue. There’s so much around there and obviously, the shopping there is ridiculous. Everything is there. It’s a great neighborhood. If I was to move back permanently to New York, I would move back to SoHo.
Q: Do you get stopped a lot in the street?
A: It depends. You know how New Yorkers are, though. New Yorkers are real cool. Everybody’s like "Hey girl, what’s up?" which I love. It’s almost like you’re their friend or their cousin. I always feel like people in New York are like, "Where you been? What’s going on? How are you?" I don’t know why people say New Yorkers aren’t friendly because I think they are so friendly and so sweet.
Q: In “Bounty Killer” you play a gypsy who is intent on avenging her king in a post-apocalyptic world where corporations go to war against each other. How did you get involved?
A: When I read the script I was like, "Oh my god, I want to do it," just because it is such a different type of film. For me, it’s different from any role I’ve ever had. I love the description of Mocha Sujata, who I play, and I loved that I would learn how to fight with a knife with this crazy face makeup on. I think it’s just a really cool concept. Just the whole thing about big business ruining the world — I think a lot of people can relate to that. Although it is a fantasy in this movie, I think a lot of people will get it.
