On a scale from the Top of the Rock to the top floor of Pebble Bar, where does Arian Moayed fit? This is NYQ, a series in which we find out how “New York” notable New Yorkers really are.
How many years have you lived in New York? Twenty-four years.
You could make one subway etiquette rule law — what would it be? If there’s an elderly person on that train, stand up and let them sit.
Your cab driver is taking you on a horrible route. Do you interrupt? Oh yeah. Get in there. I taught my daughters that, and my oldest daughter actually told the guy off.
How often do you take public transportation to the airport? The last time, probably like a year ago maybe. Sometimes it’s just faster coming back.
It’s a blinking red light and you’re about to cross — do you wait it out till it says walk, or are you crossing? Yo, I’m walking here.
You have family coming to town in 24 hours — what do you do with them on short notice? You just walk them till they’re tired. And then that’ll be that.
Someone you want to impress asks for restaurant advice — what neighborhood do you send them to for the best Iranian food? This is very controversial. I’m gonna say the Upper East Side — and go to Persepolis, baby. When I came to the city we had very few, and I went to Persepolis, and so that’s my jam.
What grocery store do you go to to get hard-to-find ingredients? We’ve got a World Market right near us, on 40th and Ninth.
What’s the hardest ingredient to find? Right now, saffron.
What’s the most iconic old New York SWANA spot in the city? Outside of the shit that was stolen from Iran — and that’s at the museum, which I do have a fondness of, but it’s crazy that it’s at this museum — I would say Masquerade in Brooklyn. It’s this incredible Iranian-themed music community venue.
Someone says the rats are actually cute — what’s your honest response? Are you blind?
What’s your area code? 646.
Do you think they still matter? My daughter’s got a 212.
What’s the longest you’ve waited on a subway platform? I remember one night I literally spent the last dollars I had to get on the subway. I must have waited an hour and 20 minutes.
What’s the most you’ve ever paid for a coffee in New York City? Sadly, I think I’ve paid 15 bucks for a coffee. Maybe it had booze in it.
What’s something a tourist does that you secretly still do? I absolutely adore the High Line.
Bed bugs or roaches? We were living in a slumlord building. We had bed bugs with kids. I do not wish that on my worst enemy.
Roaches or rats? Rats, I guess.
What’s your go-to public bathroom? Lincoln Center. In that atrium, they’ve got a bathroom there that’s, like, perfect.
Best New York celebrity sighting? Paul Newman. I was doing a show at BAM, I opened the door, and Paul Newman was standing in front of me. I literally said, “Uh … uh … uh …”
I’m old enough to remember when … The 9 train.
What about NYC still makes no sense to you? How people think that we’re rude. I think that’s bullshit.
Sexiest New Yorker? I’m gonna say Rosie Perez.
How much do you pay when you go to the Met? I think we might have a membership.
What percent did you tip your last Uber driver? I go full. The third one.
Last thing you used your famous-person status to get in New York? There was a night — a bunch of us were on Broadway at like a Tony party and we were leaving. There was nowhere to eat, and we were just walking. At the time, Succession was a thing. And I went in and I said, “Listen, there’s a lot of famous people here. I’m on Succession.” They’re like, “No seats.” So I was like, “All right, man.”
What’s the worst place to film in New York City? When I was shooting You Hurt My Feelings, we were shooting in Union Square. There was so much paparazzi there that we just had to change the story so that paparazzi wouldn’t get involved. Union Square was kind of like the worst place we’ve ever shot.