The Oscars are back on, and we're celebrating with a series on the New York City locations you might've seen in this year's nominated films. Our Oscar Movies Map will be your golden statuette.

"American Gangster" didn't turn out to be the Oscar juggernaut Universal was hoping for, but it did pick up nods for Best Art Direction and Best Supporting Actress for Ruby Dee.

Dee, a career actress best known to movie buffs as the human embodiment of good in "The Stand," plays the mother of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), a black gangster who controls the Harlem drug trade with his exceptionally pure "Blue Magic" heroin, imported direct from Southeast Asia. Lucas enlists his brothers and cousins in the business and faces not only the competition of other local drug lords like Nicky Barnes (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) but also catches the attention of jealous cops looking to collect bribes from him.

That's Where Russell Crowe Comes In]]> egw 2008-02-21T16:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/11/1/223930/980

We just love how practically every serious drug smuggling movie is set in the 1970s. Guess times were just way grittier then and the city sets were more believable. (Or the cops were just busier doing other stuff.) Anyways, today's pick, American Gangster, takes place in Harlem and revolves around a heroin kingpin (surprisingly Denzel Washington!) who is smuggling smack into the U.S. in the coffins of soldiers returning from Vietnam. Whoa there.

Thankfully there is a great detective on his case--that would be Russell Crowe--who senses a shift in the NYC drug scene and steps up.

This was actually shot in parts of New York, from the Bronx to today's neighborhood pick: Harlem, an up-and-comer that's got great history:

Where To Stay: 102 Brownstone Check into this cozy boutique brownstone hotel West 118th Street and pretend it's your own place. There are six tastefully themed suites for the choosing, from "Zen" to "Chalet" and all offer wireless, fully equipped kitchens and huge bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs. It's a great neighborhood secret spot so keep it on the DL please.

Where To Eat: Sylvia's Let's get this straight, you do not go to Harlem and skip Sylvia's. It's a family-owned institution and offers the best of soul food in the neighborhood. Black-eyed peas, veggies and other treats make this a popular tourist stop, but it's worth it to fill up.

Where To Listen: Lenox Lounge Opened in the 1930s, this is the spot for jazz in NYC. Lenox Lounge has played host to folks like Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and even (supposedly) Malcolm X. It was restored in 1999 to its original furnishings and features up to three shows a night.

Related Stories:
· Movie Set Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· New York coverage [Jaunted]
· New York Hotels [HotelChatter]

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