Don’t count Anthony Edwards among those who long for the city’s grittier days. The actor, who moved here seven years ago after leaving “ER,” says he appreciates that New York is constantly evolving — mostly for the better. “People say, ‘Times Square is ruined. It’s too commercial,’ ” Edwards says. “Well, wasn’t it commercial when it was just porn theaters? It was just a different kind of commercial. What was uncommercial about prostitution?” His latest project is “Motherhood,” now in theaters, in which he plays husband to a struggling stay-at-home mom (Uma Thurman) in the West Village. This is his New York.1. Clearly First, 978 Madison Ave., at 76th Street
“It’s just one of those only-in-New-York things, where, of course, they’d have a singularly high-end Swedish store. They have nice glass, art books, clothes. I really like it.”
2. Peking Duck House Restaurant, 28 Mott St., at Mosco Street
“As a parent, my favorite part of New York is if you have three or four hours, you can hop on the train in any direction and end up with an adventure. A favorite trip is to hop on the 6 train and go down to Chinatown. We spend a few hours walking around then come back home. I love this restaurant. They have just amazing Peking Duck.”
3. Mayflower Hotel, formerly at 15 Central Park West
“The first time I came to New York, I was 19 and stayed at the Mayflower. Going to Columbus Circle meant being hounded by people selling you loose joints. I was doing a TV show with Helen Hunt [“It Takes Two”], and this guy was trying to sell me pot, and he goes, ‘Hey, you’re that guy on the TV show!’ It was this surreal mix of being recognized and being sold drugs on the street.”
4. Morandi, 211 Waverly Place, at Seventh Avenue
“One of my daughters goes to the West Village for school, so I go down there and eat at Morandi for breakfast. It’s not like you have to eat pasta for breakfast. It’s European. They have great bread and coffee.”
5. Central Park Bridle Path
“I’m the chairman of a charity that has been asked by the Kenyan government to help build the first public children’s hospital in Africa [shoe4africa.org]. We’re spearheading that fund-raising effort, and one of the ways we’re doing it is a team of us is running the New York Marathon. I haven’t run a marathon in six years, but I ran Chicago three times when I was doing ‘ER.’ I’ve been training all summer, running the Bridle Path of Central Park. You can do an eight- or nine-mile run staying on dirt in the park. There are not a lot of cities you can do that in.”
6. Alice’s Tea Cup, 22 E. 81st St., between Second and Third avenues
“If you have younger kids, it’s a great place. The kids love the festiveness of the big tower coming with all the scones and cookies and sandwiches on it.”
7. Girasole, 151 E. 82nd St., between Lexington and Third avenues
“Going there is going to make me feel better. It’s quiet and has a slightly elegant feel to it. You’re not slumming it. You’re stepping it up just a little bit, but it’s not snooty in any way. They have a crab and string bean salad that’s been a special every day I’ve gone for the last six years.”
8. Enchanted, 1179 Lexington Ave., at 80th Street
“It’s a not-for-profit store that my wife created. It has Waldorf [School]-inspired toys in it. It’s a lot of wood toys and handcrafted dolls. No plastic, no computers. Very hands-on. A big part of the Waldorf curriculum is to not be on computers or watching TV until you’re 12 or 13. The younger kids, there’s no video games, so as a result, your kids end up a lot craftier — literally with crafts.”
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