Jake Shane's New York: From Washington Heights Roots to Broadway Lights
Jake Shane’s story is a classic New York tale. He grew up in Washington Heights, dreamed of the Upper West Side, and left for Los Angeles, where his Instagram comedy account @passthatpuss—started to review octopus—turned into a career. Now, back for a Broadway run in 'All Out' at the Nederlander Theater, he’s rediscovering the city that shaped him. He shared his personal map of Manhattan with us, from a cherished uptown brow salon to a decadent downtown hotel.
'Washington Heights is where I became a person,' Shane says. He recalls the rhythm of his youth: taking practice ACTs, endless meals at Swagat Indian restaurant, riding the 1 train to school. 'I was painfully insecure I didn’t live on the Upper West Side. My mom always said how cool our neighborhood was. Now I get it.' He praises its tight-knit, Dominican and Jewish community, championing the chicken and rice at Malecon and the reliable aisles of Frank’s Market, his childhood grocery. 'I’d walk those aisles listening to Fetty Wap or The Strokes, just tapping out.'
His local self-care staple is Perfect Brows NYC. 'I’m an anxious person about people touching me. They were the first to do a great job. It made me feel like an adult,' he admits. For nights out, his path often leads to the Lower East Side, drawn by family history and the late-night pull of The Box. 'We’ll start at Chez Margaux, end up there at 2 a.m. It’s freaky, sexual performances some nights, but a good vibe.' His drink of choice has matured from Red Bull vodka to a dirty martini.
Currently staying at The Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca, he walks daily to Flatiron. 'I feel like Eloise at the Plaza. The staff makes it feel like home.' He frequents nearby Teakwood Thai Chophouse and Tamarind. As for the octopus that inspired his handle? He hasn’t found a New York spot to rival his Los Angeles favorites, Angelini Osteria and Cecconi’s. For Shane, New York’s magic isn’t in any single dish, but in the familiar streets that finally feel like cool.