Eden Espinosa stars in 'Lempicka.'
It’s been 16 years since actress and singer Eden Espinosa has been on Broadway, but now, she’s back in a big way as the lead in the new and highly acclaimed musical “Lempicka.”
It’s a riveting story centered on Tamara De Lempicka, a Polish artist best known for her Art Deco portraits, as she flees the upheaval of the 1917 Russian Revolution to Paris.
Below, she shares her New York loves.
Where do you live in the city?
I live in Sugar Hill, Upper Manhattan.
What is your favorite neighborhood in New York and why?
Probably the West Village. I just love how quaint it is, how it has so many old, vintage feels. Like the small streets that go nowhere, the cobblestone streets, the little cafes, the beautiful little restaurants, and cute boutiques. It feels almost like a movie set at times.
Can you share some of your favorite spots in the Theater District and what makes them so great?
Some of my favorite spots in the Theater District are honestly sometimes the new outdoor spots in Times Square to just hang out. Sometimes I like to go with my headphones to the red steps and just people watch if I have time to kill and if it’s nice weather. I love Bryant Park because it’s just such a beautiful spot to sit and enjoy a bite to eat or to people watch. They also have a lot of craft fairs or food trucks around there; it’s just a nice spot to sit and relax.
Where is the best place for a pre-or post-theater meal and why? What are go-to dishes at each?
One of my favorite places is Green Symphony and I like the health salad there. I also love Real Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns; the soup dumplings are my favorite, the scallion pancake, the tea egg, and the sautéed bok choy.
What is the best Theater District watering hole and the drink to get?
I’m going to have to shout out Hurley’s next to our theater at the Longacre, it’s just a great and convenient place. It’s that old school pub vibe, any of the drinks are good. I also love Glass House Tavern, because they have great snacks there and I love their martini.
Please share your insider tips for enjoying a Broadway show. Anything to make the experience better as an audience member?
Make sure you go to the bathroom before! And just go with an open heart, an open mind, and buckle up and enjoy the ride! It’s a way to escape, it’s a way to have a cathartic experience, it’s a way to be joyful and see what people have been working so hard on.
What’s the New York City theater you love to go to and why?
I love to go to the Palace because there’s just so much history, I mean all of the theaters have such history, but the Palace for some reason, because there’s so many iconic people who have done concerts there, that one holds a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to see when it’s back up and running and open for us to enjoy shows again.
What other Broadway shows are on your radar right now?
This season is so abundant with art, and I am so grateful to be a part of it! The shows that are on my radar that I have yet to see are: Tommy, I have so many beautiful friends in that, The Notebook, I saw which I loved, I’m going to shout out those two. Hell’s Kitchen, which has so many of my friends in that one as well. Suffs, Water for Elephants, they are all just so amazing and I can’t believe we’re all in the same season together!
Share your insider New York gems.
My insider New York gems are just to experience the city as much as possible. There are so many neighborhoods that I still have yet to enjoy and explore. I just feel like it’s so much a walking city, so much an exploration city, and a discovery city, and there’s so much history here that it just gets richer and richer with each year that I live here.
