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 […]
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 Largest Pizzeria In The United States Is In A 19th Century Times Square Church
When you first come to Eighth Avenue between 43rd & 44th, it appears to be nothing more than a strip
What Will Happen To Times Sq’s Historic Embassy Theater?
Last year, I wrote a post encouraging everyone to visit the Times Square Visitor Center, regardless of whether you were
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
Searching For An Underground River in Morningside Heights
About a year ago, I got a letter from a reader about an underground river hidden somewhere in Morningside Heights:
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 Weirdest Building In Midtown
Last week, I was trudging through a very slushy midtown when I happened to turn onto 47th Street… …and walk
A Visit To The Daily Planet
A few weeks ago, I was scouting office spaces during a particularly ugly snowstorm, and found myself heading to an
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
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
NYC Holiday Shopping Suggestion: Fantasma Magic
This year’s holiday shopping suggestion is one of my favorite stores in New York, and I highly recommend a visit
There’s A Subway Car Inside This Manhattan Office
Last week, I was scouting some studio spaces in a Chelsea office building when I happened to notice a vacant
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,
Searching For The Remains of Manhattan’s Bloomingdale Insane Asylum
I was up scouting the Columbia University campus last week… …and in the spirit of Halloween, I decided to swing
Spiders on Sutton Square
I’m always on the lookout for creative Halloween decorations every year, and I thought this was neat… Spiders have taken
The Secret Courtyard On Perry Street
I was scouting in the West Village last week… …when I happened to notice a cute stuccoed building on Perry
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
The Mystery of the Broken Players Club Window
For the longest time, I’ve been wondering about a legend I heard involving the Players Club, a New York social
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 1930s Bus Station Hidden In A Times Square Hotel
The other day, I received an email asking if a bus station, dating to the 1930s, still existed at the
Was This Midtown Hardware Store Once A Theater?
So here’s a mystery. A few months ago, I got an email from reader Matthew J. advising me to check
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
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
The Fanciest Diner In New York: The Polish Tea Room of Times Square
Some time ago, I was meeting up with some friends to eat in Times Square, and they suggested we go
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
NYC Holiday Shopping Suggestion: The Compleat Strategist
If this is your idea of a board game… …you really, really need to take a trip to one of
A Secret World on the Upper West Side: A Trip Down Pomander Walk
When you first turn onto West 95th Street from Broadway, it seems like pretty much any Upper West Side block:
And To Think That I Saw Bees On Mulberry Street
I was just going through an old hard drive when I came across some pictures of one of the odder
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
The Last Dirt Road In Manhattan
The other day, I was out scouting alleys, and decided to take a walk up to Broadway Alley, which runs
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
The Secret Train Car in Bloomingdale’s
The other day, I was searching for restaurants around midtown when something came up on my phone that seemed too
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 Secret Pool In The Woolworth Building
Recently, I had the pleasure of scouting the Woolworth Building, which, as far as I’m concerned, is as close as
Is This George Jetson’s New York City Apartment??
The other day, I was scouting a midtown office space with some pretty great views. As I was taking pictures,
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
A Surprise In The Freight Entrance
Last Friday, I was walking down West 37th Street off of Eight Avenue when I happened to pass by this
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
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
Sniffin’ Around Sniffen Court
The best way to encounter Sniffen Court is to stumble upon it by accident…which is exactly what I did the
Gone For Good: The Elk Hotel & The Navy Yard Cocktail Lounge Finally Bite The Dust
One of the weirdest little holdovers of a bygone Times Square can be found at 42nd Street and 9th Avenue,
Happy Holidays From Bellevue Hospital
The old Administration Building at Bellevue Hospital, America’s oldest public hospital, is one of my favorite buildings in New York
Santaria At Old Trinity Cemetery
Last week, I was scouting the Church of the Intercession in Washington Heights… …and after, I took a quick swing
The Ghost of Spring Street
Though Manhattan Bistro might seem like your typical Soho eatery, hidden beneath its dining room lies a secret…
The Creepiest Statue in New York City
The other day, I was scouting the old Customs House building when I suddenly got the feeling I was being
Awesome Art Deco WPA Painting Hidden in a NYC Post Office
Last year for Open House NY (happening soon – get your tickets now!), I wrote about the 8th Avenue Post
Sylvan Terrace: A Hidden Gem In Washington Heights
Last week, I was scouting up in Washington Heights and found myself heading south down Amsterdam. As I was walking,
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
How To Land A Plane On A New York City Skyscraper
For over 40 years, a mysterious World War I fighter plane perched on the roof at 77 Water Street has
Forget It, Gweilo – It’s Chinatown
Next time you’re passing through Chinatown, take a look at some of the business signs on buildings and you’ll notice
Little Italy Dupes Another Tourist
Haha, OK, I’ll come clean: Little Italy duped me. All this time, I thought that this… …was this…
From The Hundred Acre Wood To Midtown – Winnie The Pooh in New York
To see one of the most important exhibits at the New York Public Library, skip the main entrance… …and take
Please Do Not Urinate On The Smallest Street In Manhattan
Weehawken Street, located as far west in the Village as you can go, bears the title of Manhattan’s smallest street.
New York City Firehouse Actually Has A Pet Dalmatian!
I was driving down Houston the other day when a firetruck raced by, sirens blazing… Nothing unusual about that. But,
Exploring The Abandoned McKittrick Hotel on West 27th Street
Since I became a location scout, it’s been my dream to get into the old McKittrick Hotel at 530 West
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
The Sideways Library
When is a bookcase not a bookcase? When it’s the floor… ..and ceiling and walls to D’Espresso cafe at 317
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
The Last Arcade in Chinatown – A Trip To Chinatown Fair
Note: Chinatown Fair closed for good about two weeks after I posted this article. It’s in Chinatown, and it’s best
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
Exploring The (Nearly!) Empty Post Office Building On 8th Ave
The 8th Avenue Post Office is extremely film friendly – shoot me an email for details at nycscout@gmail.com! On October
NYC Subway Now Takes You Around The World
On my way out of the city for Christmas, I had to take the Shuttle train to Times Square, and
The View From An A-Lister’s Hotel Room
Bonus points if you can guess the hotel without looking at a map! Paid for by the same studio that
On Top of An Old Elevator
The other day, while scouting a rooftop, my guide took me through an old elevator room and showed me the
The Abandoned Palace At 5 Beekman Street
Update 9/11/2013 – Been meaning to update for a while. 5 Beekman is NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR FILMING, EVENTS, OR
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
That Abandoned Rooftop Greenhouse on 60th Street
From the ground, you’d never know there was anything special about the building at 409 East 60th Street… …but, as
Ruins in the Hudson
Two of my favorite ruins in Manhattan can be found partially submerged in the Hudson River, overshadowed by the nearby
The Most Famous Classroom In New York City
If you believe Hollywood, every single college lecture hall in New York City looks like the one below: Rows of
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
Inside The Fletcher Mansion on Fifth Avenue
If you’ve ever been annoyed at the fact that most of Fifth Avenue’s mansions probably don’t want you knocking at
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
Awesome NY Souvenir Map From The 50’s
This past Christmas, my aunt gave me a really neat gift she found in storage. Apparently, my grandmother took a
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
The Old Operating Theatre on Columbus Ave
I was scouting around the West 50’s recently when I noticed a really interesting building on West 59th I’d never
Danger and Intrigue in Cortlandt Alley
As far as I’m concerned, Cortlandt Alley between Walker and White Streets is the most beautiful of Manhattan’s few remaining
Scouting A Crypt
Nothing beats days when you’re asked to scout something as unusual as a crypt. Though you’d expect location scouting would
Aliens Have Landed At Bergdorf
No joke: this is one of the new spring window displays at Bergdorf Goodman. Yep, aliens have landed at Bergdorf
Grabbing Electricity at the Old G.E. Building
You probably know 570 Lexington as the skyscraper behind St. Bart’s Church: a towering 50-story behemoth of salmon brick, clearly
A Secret Courtyard Just Blocks From Times Square
I was walking down West 46th Street in Hell’s Kitchen recently when I noticed a break in the buildings… Most
Inside the Clocktower
When it was completed in 1909, the original Met-Life headquarters at 5 Madison Ave was the tallest building in the
They’re Watching You Above Madison Square Park
Note: This exhibition is now over. There’s a really great new art installation in and around Madison Square Park… …which