On the road with Jake [Updated] - skating with Jake - and talking Jarhead

Jake Gyllenhaal's tour of New York continues through a plethora of sightings from the city's shops and restaurants. I may not have been to NYC myself (I'm not counting a drunken wedding many years ago), but my list of places to eat and windowshop is growing. And today, we have a picture of Jake leaving his hotel with an old friend.



Gawker put Jake and Reese at Del Posto. This restaurant, on 10th Avenue, is owned by Gyllenhaal friend Mario Batali and is, no doubt, a favourite of Jake's. It focuses on "Cucina Classica" and highlights 'the distinctive regional and seasonal variations for which Italian cuisine is celebrated. The Italian-American style of cookery will be included under the umbrella of "Cucina Classica", in recognition of its legitimacy as a great cuisine flowing from the Italian tradition.' The menu looks wonderful, with amazing desserts, in particular the chocolate souffle.


Another sighting put Jake and Reese - and, coincidentally, Natalie Portman - at Cafe Sabarsky. Located on 5th Avenue, this restaurant focuses on the specialities of Austria and Germany, including goulash, sauerkraut, bratwurst and strudel. Speaking as a vegetarian who lived in Bavaria, this is a menu to work around, although a genuine Bavarian torte is a treat indeed.


Finally, OK! spotted Jake and Reese at Takashimaya boutique. Also on 5th Avenue, this boutique sounds beguiling with its collection of Japanese scents, beauty products and robes.


Brothers encounter

A few weeks ago, we were discussing here the schedule for the filming of Brothers and noted that it was moving to the Los Alamos ice rink. Yesterday, an account was given of the experience a bunch of little kids had who spent nine hours skating on the ice with Jake, Natalie and Tobey. 'The kids had a long but enjoyable day of skating on the humble rink in Los Alamos, NM with the likes of Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire. I was particularly impressed with Jake’s response to our son, Cade, falling on the ice and banging his head. Jake took the time to come over to Cade and see if he was going to be okay. Cade was rather shy of course — the day had been rather long (approximately nine hours).' This is a lovely account of Jake.


And finally something completely different

What with one thing and another, it's been a while since I posted an interview with Jake. To make amends, here is a radio interview (with The Edge) Jake recorded back in November 2005 to publicise Jarhead. This link will take you to the right page - just look down the list of interviews to find Jake's.

Jake is asked about the preparation needed to play Swoff and it's exhausting reading: 'I trained like crazy. I did a lot of running and biking and swimming and lifting weights and stuff like that.'


Of course, it's not long before the subject of Jake's 'butt' comes up and Jake is asked if he had a 'butt double': 'That's my real butt! That's it, man, in all its glory.' When the interviewer reminisces that it's been no time at all since we saw the young Jake popping his shoulder in City Slickers and now he's baring his ass in Jarhead, Jake comments: 'That's nice, I like that. Quite an evolution.' As for the santa hat scene: 'That was the most gruelling and emotional scene of the movie - a lot of acting classes and preparation.'


On being one of Hollywood's hottest properties: 'It's very nice, I don't mind it!... It's nice to know that your work is getting out there and people are seeing it and that they like it. It's a good feeling - a good feeling.'


Includes pictures from IHJ and Just Jared.