Entertainment

My New York: Michael Emerson

Michael Emerson is heading off one island, Hawaii, and straight to another, Manhattan. The actor, best known as “Lost” character Ben Linus — that delightfully squirrelly Other who was once a villain and is now a wild card — is a longtime New Yorker and veteran Broadway actor who lives on the West Side with his wife, Carrie Preston (the actress who plays Arlene on “True Blood”). Like all true city-dwellers, the couple are versed in hidden culinary treasures near home. “We eat at the hundred little places that don’t get many stars, but they suit our tastes,” says Emerson, 55. Will he miss Hawaii, where he’s spent much of the past five years shooting “Lost,” which wraps up next Sunday? “It’s lovely in Hawaii, but I’ll be glad to get back to the big city where I feel more at ease.” This is his New York.

1.The Campbell Apartment,
15 Vanderbilt Ave., between 42nd and 43rd streets


“I love this place. It was at one time a private apartment belonging to the man who built Grand Central. He had an office there. And then they made it into a bar. It’s really cool, old-school, kind of fabulous and groovy. And they do very nice mixed drinks.”

2.Pegu Club, 77
Houston St., between West Broadway and Wooster Street


“I like places that deal in that sort of new mixology revival, where they make those
prewar recipes. If someone can make me a decent Sazerac, they will have won my heart forever.”

3.Film Forum,
209 Houston St., between Sixth Avenue and Varick Street


“About 15 years ago, I [started going to] more plays than movies, and I think I’m happier that way. But I do go to revivals and foreign films. I like to go to Film Forum — that’s one of my favorites. They always have something. I wish there were more revival houses. I miss those days when you had the Carnegie Hall Cinema that used to be in the basement there. Those were the days.”

4.Joe Allen,
326 W. 46th St., between Eighth and Ninth avenues


“I tend to go to the theater watering holes. You have the nice atmosphere and the good food, and then you have the added fun that you may run into people you

5.Il Buco,
47 Bond St., between Lafayette Street and the Bowery


“I like a cozy restaurant. We like those country-inn-type of environments. Il Buco downtown — we just love that place, everything about it. I haven’t had anything there that wasn’t sensational.”

6.American Folk Art Museum,
45 W. 53rd St., near Sixth Avenue


“I’m a big fan of the Folk Art Museum. I like smaller museums. I get overwhelmed by the Met or the MoMA, and the Whitney has always been a little inexplicable to me.”

7.Columbus Circle Wine and Spirits,

1802 Broadway between 58th Street and Central Park South“

I’m a bourbon drinker — any kind will do, but I like the nicer ones, like Maker’s Mark. I received a fabulous bottle of bourbon called Hirsch from the studio when I won an Emmy this year. It’s really fine bourbon that comes from Chicago.”

8.Danal, 59 Fifth Ave.,
between 12th and 13th streets


“We’ve had some of our best anniversary and birthday meals there over the years.”

9.Museum of Arts and Design,

2 Columbus Circle, near 58th Street

“They had the finest show there when I was home for the holidays. It was a show of works based on the idea of cutting paper, and it was unbelievable, the scope and variety of artwork. Some of them were just so beautiful, I thought, ‘Oh yes, this is a museum after my own heart.’”

Not ‘lost’

Emerson reveals his true, Anti-Ben Linus persona

*He’s got an adorable new puppy!

“We’ve had our dog for a week now. He’s a little rescue dog. We’re not sure what he is — he looks to be poodle and maybe a little Maltese and some kind of terrier. He’s a cute little gray, curly-headed dog with black ears, a black nose and black paws. We’re in Los Angeles because [wife] Carrie [Preston] is still filming ‘True Blood,’ but he’ll be out [in New York] soon. New York is a great town for dog owners. There’s so many little parks and dog runs.”

* He’s got roots in the visual-art crowd

“I used to be a magazine illustrator and do a lot of drawings. We have quite a few of my things on the walls in our apartment. That’s kind of lame, I guess. But it’s easier than keeping them in a closet. I’ve had friendships with artists over the years, so most of the art we have has a personal connection.”

* He’s not very Type A

“I have no idea [what I’m doing next]. I have nothing lined up. I’ve been very busy for five years, and I have neglected family and friends, and, you know, household projects. So it’s all right with me if I spend a couple months catching up with everything. But I hope there’s some theater work in the not-too-distant future. I’ll be looking around. I’ll keep auditioning for movies and TV, and just see what happens.”