A Single Picture Of Every Stop Along New York City’s Longest Subway Line
Last week, in the midst of packing for a pretty big move, I decided to take a break and do […]
Five Amazing Locations That Prove Why Staten Island Is New York’s Most Versatile Borough For Filming
There’s a saying when it comes to location scouting in New York City: if you can’t find it anywhere, try
A 19th Century Stable Hidden in the Heart of Midtown Manhattan
Some time ago, I was walking down West 55th Street in midtown when I happened to notice a peculiar building
This Mysterious Building on West 31st Is The Last Remnant Of Old Penn Station
This past week, I was heading to a show at Madison Square Garden when I happened to notice a building
The Best Construction Fence Ever In New York City
For the past week, I’ve been scouting dozens of construction sites around Brooklyn and Queens, which means I’ve been running
This Is What The Top Of New York Looks Like
In case you’ve ever wondered what the top of New York looks like, here it is! Last weekend, some friends
The Strange Little Building Next To The Empire State Building
Last week, I was scouting around midtown when I happened to notice the building at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue…
They Don’t Build ‘Em Like They Used To: A Public School Art Deco Gem in Valley Stream
A while back, I was driving around southern Long Island when I happened to pass by Valley Stream High School.
The Angels by the Brooklyn Bridge
One of my favorite things to stumble across are bits of architectural ornamentation that are nearly invisible from the street.
Scars In Limestone: Finding Traces of the 1920 Wall Street Bombing
As I was scouting around Wall Street this past weekend, I noticed a number of tourists taking pictures of the
Can You Identify These Mystery New York City Locations?
Hey folks – For a week now, I’ve been working on my latest then-and-now movie locations installment, and this handful
New York City’s Prettiest Subway Station Is In The Bronx
One of the things I love most about New York City’s prettiest subway station is the way it unexpectedly appears
Rattlesnakes and Buffalo on the Upper West Side: A Southwestern Art Deco Masterpiece
Last week, I was taking pictures of the bridge over 96th Street on Riverside Drive… …when a detail caught my
The Most Famous Sitcom Residences In New York City
Did you know Lucy and Desi lived on the Upper East Side? I had no idea, but apparently, their apartment
Retracing Ichabod Crane’s Journey Through Sleepy Hollow
Last week, I was heading home from a day of scouting in Westchester when I found myself passing through Sleepy
How To Cover Up A 100-Year-Old Brooklyn Landmark
I’ve been spending some time in downtown Brooklyn recently, and as I was walking down Fulton Street last week, I
A 19th Century Ghost Town In Brooklyn
Last week, I was scouting downtown Brooklyn for apartments when I happened to turn onto Duffield Street and come across
In Search of Manhattan’s Last Remaining Skybridges
Last week, I was driving down West 24th Street when I noticed something… They’re tearing down the West 24th Street
Will This 200-Year-Old Farmhouse Be Torn Down For Condos?
I’ll never forget the day I first spotted the 19th century West Village farmhouse that shouldn’t exist. I was driving
The White Castle Regional Office Looks Like A White Castle
In case you’ve ever wondered what the regional office of White Castle looks like… …it looks like a White Castle.
The Giant Tetris Game On Third Avenue
Last week, I was walking up Third Avenue near 22nd Street when I noticed something I don’t think I’ve ever
There’s A Gold-Dispensing ATM on West 57th Street
A few days ago, I was scouting for office space around West 57th Street when I happened to walk by
The Mystery of the Hell’s Kitchen Ghost Sign
For the longest time, I’ve wondered about a mysterious ghost sign at the corner of 51st & Ninth Avenue in
Is Mad Max Driving A Limo In New York?
Last week, I was driving down Division Place in Greenpoint when I noticed something at the corner of Porter Avenue…
In Search Of The Highest Natural Points in New York City
One of my long-term life goals is to climb to the highest point in each state (only 48 left to
The Last Two L-Shaped Streets in Manhattan
When driving in Manhattan, I love taking a random turn and finding myself on a curved street. While commonplace pretty
The Predator on East 7th Street
A while ago, I was walking down East 7th Street in the East Village when I suddenly got the feeling
Exploring the Secrets of the Astral Apartments
A year ago, I heard that plans were in the works to remake Rosemary’s Baby, and my reaction was exactly
The Weirdest Building In Midtown
Last week, I was trudging through a very slushy midtown when I happened to turn onto 47th Street… …and walk
The Last Five Stand-Alone Diners in Manhattan
Last week, I was walking around the Financial District when I found myself staring at the little diner on Pearl
The Prettiest Building In Times Square Has Been Saved
Last year in September, I wrote an open letter to the new owners of the property at 1552 Broadway in
What’s Wrong With These Bronx Townhouses?
One of the worst kept secrets in New York is the phony townhouse at 58 Joralemon Street. Once an actual
There’s Something Wrong With This Staten Island Church
Last weekend, I was scouting some locations on Staten Island, and the last on my list was this church at
Hogwarts In Manhattan: The 1,000 Gargoyles & Grotesques of City College
Last week, I took a trip up to 138th Street and Amsterdam to scout a location I’ve been meaning to
Visiting The Apocalypse (in Queens)
A week ago, I was out taking pictures of Citi Field… …and for some reason, I found myself paying attention
A Very Creepy Owl Has Landed On Flushing Ave
The other day, I was driving down Flushing Avenue in East Williamsburg when I happened to look over at this
The Mystery Ballroom on East 125th Street
For the past week, I’ve been going into Manhattan via the Triboro, and each time I drive down 125th Street,
The 8 Best Fake Storefronts & Phony Building Facades In New York City
Way way back, when I first started Scouting NY, I did a post about a great tailor shop window I
Why You Should Visit The Times Square Visitor Center (Even If You Live In New York)
UPDATE: This is now closed, sadly. OK, I’ll admit it: I was a Times Square Visitor Center snob. From my
Is This Times Square Grate A Portal To Another Dimension?
Last week, I was scouting a building in Times Square. After, I was standing on that large grate on the
The Apartment Building In the Shadow of Yankee Stadium
For the past five months, I’ve been working on a movie shooting exclusively in the Bronx, and almost every day,
The Strangest Neighborhood In New York City
Last week, I was driving around in a southeastern area of the Bronx… …when the road I was following came
The Ruins of Old Union Square
A couple of weeks ago, I was taking pictures in Union Square for my article on The Warriors filming locations,
How A Beautiful 19th-Century Marble Archway In Manhattan Became An Auto Body Shop
The other day, I was driving up Broadway toward the northern tip of Manhattan when something caught my eye off
A Ghost Railway Line In The Bronx
Last week, I was scouting for woodland trails, which brought me up to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. I’d
The Creepy Book-Reading Gargoyle at West 181st Street
I was waiting at a light yesterday at the corner of 181st and Fort Washington Ave, when I happened to
The Little Townhouse In The Shadow Of 30 Rock
Last week, I was scouting office space in midtown, and I stopped by one of my favorite buildings on Sixth
A Haunted Mansion In The Bronx
This is why I love scouting the Bronx. Because you’ll be driving down a street lined with typical Bronx apartment
The Little Greenhouse Across From The Cemetery
Last Saturday, I had the always enjoyable task of going to Time Warner Brooklyn, where I waited for an hour
Want To Take A Trip To 1940s New York? Step Into Mishkin’s Drug Store
UPDATE: This is now gone. Last week, I was scouting around 145th Street at night, which gave me the perfect
Is That A Woman Holding A Decapitated Head on the New York Public Library?
The other day, I was scouting the steps of the New York Public Library main branch. I’ve had to do
Something Wicked To Bleecker Street Comes
Every October, I make it a point to take a walk down Bleecker Street and check out the Ralph Lauren
The Smallest Graveyard In Manhattan
One of my favorite cemeteries in New York is so small, I must have walked by it dozens of times
The 200-Year-Old Hotel On East 61st Street
I was walking around East 60th Street and 1st Avenue when I suddenly realized I’ve rarely explored this area of
Planes, Trains and Owls: Art Deco Awesomeness at 20 Exchange Place
Last week, I took a trip down to the Financial District to scout 20 Exchange Place, a building you’ve almost
An Open Letter To Express: Will You Help Save A Times Square Treasure?
Dear Express, The other day, I was walking through Times Square and discovered you are signed on to be the
The Floating Farmhouse on East 29th Street
The other day, I was scouting on Third Avenue when I noticed something on East 29th Street… …Was that a
The Long Death of the Sad Little Diner On West Street
One of my favorite diners in New York is so small, you could literally blink and miss it while driving
The Brooklyn Car Dealership Caught In A Time Warp
Updated with car models and years, thanks to diligent Scouting NY readers! Let me know if I got any wrong!
The Skinniest Store in Manhattan?
Last week, I was scouting around the Upper West Side when I noticed something nestled in the miniscule gap between
Kermit The Frog In Queens
So I’ve been scouting rooftops in Queens recently. Quick question: am I nuts… …or does it look like this lawn
The Saddest House In New York City
This is the story of a little house in Queens that broke my heart.
The Oldest Outdoor Manmade Object in New York – Cleopatra’s Needle
The following article was produced in participation with the Partners in Preservation program, which will be awarding $3 million in
Meet You At the Corner of 19th & Tennis Court
After I wrote about about the amusingly named Lois Lane in Staten Island, reader Brian K. wrote to me about
The House That Created Howard Stern
A few weeks ago, I was driving out to Long Island to scout some airports while listening to the Howard
Reader Emails About The Little Abandoned Terra-Cotta Building!
I was thrilled that so many of you love the little building under the 59th Street bridge as much as
A Very Creepy House in Brooklyn
Scouting NY is having a Halloween contest in which you submit a picture of your favorite local eerie property and
Artificial Legs on Livingston Street
I was walking to pick up a fire hydrant permit in Brooklyn yesterday when I noticed a really interesting ghost
The Jungles of West 28th Street – Exploring New York’s Flower District
I was scouting near Chelsea the other day, and happened to walk through one of my all-time favorite green spaces
A 19th Century Candy Store Hidden Near Wall Street
Last week, I wrote about a World War I fighter plane on the roof of 77 Water Street. As it
A Ghost House In Queens
This property was demolished in April 2013. Growing up in Massachusetts, there was never any shortage of ghost houses: crumbling,
Looking Through The Sixth Avenue Peepholes
Last week, I got an email from photographer Thanassi Karageorgiou about a really cool little find on Sixth Avenue at
The Creepiest Hospital Grounds in Manhattan (Arkham Asylum in NYC?)
From the 20’s-30’s, First Avenue is better known as Hospital Row. Lined with numerous medical facilities, including Bellevue and NYU
The Mysterious 10-Foot Wide Brownstone on East 37th Street
I swear, I’ve taken the East 37th Street exit from the Midtown Tunnel a zillion times over the years and
1970’s Porno Reveals Long Gone West Village Gas Station! (100% work safe)
For the longest time, I’ve wondered about that odd little building at the corner of Commerce Street and Seventh Avenue
Awesome Brooklyn Truck Looks Like A Subway Car
I noticed something really cool while driving home through Greenpoint the other night… Some guy painted his truck to look
The Coolest Locksmith Shop in New York City
Chances are, you’ve noticed Greenwich Locksmiths in your travels through the West Village. It occupies a small storefront just south
The Three Private Graves In Manhattan
If you’re ever up at Riverside Park around Grant’s Tomb, be sure to take a moment and visit a slightly
A Forgotten Sign in Times Square
To find one of my all time favorite signs in Times Square, you have to go a few blocks from
The 150-Foot Hole in Park Avenue
“Hi scoutingny! I don’t know if this would interest to you, but it is definitely unique, and should experienced at
Pocket Change – A Plane Crash In Brooklyn
This is 126 Sterling Place in Park Slope. Most likely, you’ve never paid much attention to it… …and if you
If I Were Embarking On An Amazing Adventure…
…I’m pretty sure this van would be the optimal choice for transportation. Canoe? Check. Extra gallon of gas? Check. Antlers
Eagles on the BQE
The Brooklyn Queens Expressway, or BQE, is one of New York’s more miserable driving experiences. For some reason, the BQE
The Smallest Plot of Land In New York City
One of my favorite bits of unusual New York City history is located on the sidewalk in front of West
Shopping Cart Gets Cement Shoes In Williamsburg Park
Note: This is no longer there. I was walking by the small, triangle-shaped Macri Park in Williamsburg near the Lorimer
The Haunting of 136 Clinton Avenue (From the NY Times!)
While searching the NY Times archives recently, I stumbled on a bunch of amusing articles about New York City hauntings
How To Make Other Doors Jealous
Spotted next to the Queensboro Bridge: Boring building… …Rock star door handles: Sort of makes up for it. -SCOUT
Ghosts of a Brooklyn Pencil Factory
Continuing my search for a usable elevator in Greenpoint, my boss had given me a few addresses to check out,
The Forgotten Cemetery at Home Depot
The Jericho Turnpike, cutting east-west through Long Island, is pretty much a wasteland of strip malls, corporate office parks, and
A NY Road Sign the DOT Forgot About
I think this is quite possibly my favorite road sign in New York: You can find this decaying sign on
Forgotten Storefronts in Williamsburg
I’m always on the lookout for the remnants of old storefronts. You can pretty much find them in any residential
The Pigeon Master of Delancey Street
I saw the coolest thing as I was driving over the Williamsburg Bridge the other day… Above this building at
Burger-Klein!
I love stumbling on New York’s ghost signs – essentially, signs or advertisements for businesses long since deceased. I wrote
The Animal Building on East 67th Street
I was walking past this art deco apartment building on East 67th Street yesterday… …when I noticed a series of
The Addams Family House Near Union Square
I have to admit, when I saw the incredible two-story mansard roof of 881 Broadway (at 19th Street) illuminated from
The Weird Little Building on Lafayette Street
There’s a strange little building at the corner of Lafayette and Howard Street, and for years, I’ve wondered what the
Half A Brownstone on West 58th Street
I was walking down West 58th Street when I saw it: exactly half a brownstone (12.5 feet), gloriously smooshed between