Although we enjoy Bored to Death’s hilarious story lines and overarching themes, we get at least as much pleasure out of its details — the literary references, the in-jokes, the real, New York City locations. So, this season, we’re publishing a weekly series of Bored to Death footnotes. Follow along with us after the jump as we go minute by minute through episode six, shouting out places we recognize and explaining some of the show’s oddball allusions. Feel free to point out anything we may have missed in the comments.
1:07 — We were pretty sure we weren’t going to find Katz’s Furriers, the shop Jonathan visits in New Jersey to inquire about the sperm bank where his biological father was a donor. But Fair Lawn Bagel Shop, the joint next door, seems to actually exist.
3:07 — “Nice mink,” Mr. Stephenson says to Jonathan, who has purchased a fur at Katz’s. “It makes me feel very Dr. Zhivago,” Jonathan replies. See what he’s talking about above.
Pablo Picasso’s 1937 Portrait of Dora Maar, one of his many mistresses
4:16 — After Leah catches Belinda scrubbing down Ray, he suggests that they explore a more open relationship. “Did you know that Picasso lived with two women?” he asks. Pro tip: When attempting to smooth over your adultery, it’s probably best not to name-drop one of history’s most notorious womanizers.
11:00 — You might expect a trio of smoking, drinking men to play poker — but the card game Jonathan, Ray, and George choose is one we remember from childhood: War. Learn how to play it here.
16:41 — Jonathan mentions that he fenced at Princeton. Seeing as both the school’s men’s and women’s teams were undefeated Ivy League champions (PDF) last year, he must have been pretty good.
17:55 — Mr. Stephenson, despite his lack of funds, is staying at the Waldorf=Astoria, which has been located at 301 Park Avenue since 1931. A suite at the hotel will run you at least $319 a night.