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Article snippet: HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — In this village perched along the Hudson River, boys pedal up to one of the spots downtown for drinks and snacks after school. At a pizza parlor, the owner lets a regular customer walk off with a plain slice with the understanding that she will pay the next time she comes in. Around the corner, the hardware store has set up its barbecue grills for sale on the sidewalk, welcoming spring’s arrival. Then an unusual contraption creeps down the street: a tow truck outfitted with cameras and light reflectors, tugging a sedan. Actors are sitting inside, being filmed for a scene. For many, it was just another day in Hastings-on-Hudson, where film crews blocking off streets and celebrities hanging out between shoots have become practically routine in this otherwise quiet town north of New York City. One week, a movie envisioning life after an apocalypse films in the library; another, an HBO comedy takes over a block downtown. Hastings-on-Hudson in Westchester County has long attracted commuters with its highly rated public schools and balance between open space and proximity to the city. A small-town vibe, with downtown streets lined mostly with small businesses, is also part of the appeal. But for film and television producers, the setting is perfect in another way: They see a village just generic enough to defy geography and time, able to stand in as Anytown, U.S.A., whether it be for a car commercial or for a TV show set in Brooklyn. “It can ... Link to the full article to read more