My name is Nick Carr, and for the past ten years, I’ve worked as a New York City movie location scout. I’ve been pretty much everywhere, from the highest rooftops to the deepest subway tunnels, from abandoned ruins to zillion-dollar luxury penthouse apartments.
What always amazes me about New York is how much there is to see if you take the time to look. Every street has a hidden gem or two, and yet they go largely ignored by the thousands of passersby daily who simply don’t have the time to pay attention.
As it happens, my entire job consists of paying attention, and I’ve started this blog to keep a record of what I see.
-SCOUT
Dear Scoutingny, What a great site. I was born in St. Claire’s Hospital on 52nd and 9th in Manhattan. I have a digital version of my christening at St. Albert’s Church on w 47 St. in October 1952. My parents had an apartment across the street at 428 W 47. If you would like to see it, you are welcome to contact me. Naturally, I am a big fan of films using NYC locations and I really like your revisiting locations. Have you done one for the French Connection 1? I have always wondered where Sal’s luncheonette is. Do you know by any chance?
Des Herlihy
Sal’s restaurant was in Bushwick, Brooklyn at 91 Wyckoff Ave. It’s now a Mexican restaurant called Mesa Azteca (which has a really great brunch and margaritas).
Hey, I found your website from Stumbleupon, and I think its great. Sounds like you have a pretty cool job (I know that sometimes jobs sounds cooler than they really are, but yours actually sounds like a cool one, lucky you). I will be back. Thanks.
Hello there. I found this site through StumbleUpon and I had a couple questions that weren’t covered in the FAQ section.
If you have a minute, I’d love it if I could email me back.
Thank you,
Christopher
Really enjoy reading your blog. I wish there was an mobile phone app that chronicled every building in Manhattan. I bought my son the book One Thousand New York Buildings, and hope to take a walk with it some day.
Looking at your images helps satisfy the curiosity about random places.
Hi Nick~ I would like to use my 17 Room Jersey City house as a film location shoot. You can view photos of my home at http://www.tinyurl.com/decoratit or at my facebook page. I will look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
Hi Juliet – Are you still interested in using your home as a film location. I am scouting for a web series and from the photos, your place looks perfect! Please let me know. Thank you.
Hey Nick – As a filmmaker in the Lehigh Valley, PA, who will hopefully utilize your services in the not too distant future, a question: are you strictly NY and NYC or are you interested in charming, quaint, unique, etc. locations out here in the boonies? While scouting locations for my own films I’ve come across a trove of sites that I’m sure other filmmakers would find useful and graphically compelling. Hope to hear back from you.
i have a 9500 sq ft. warehouse/ motorcycle garage in park slope brooklyn that i’m interested in putting on the market for just about any kind of shoot. pictures on Facebook ( Vax Moto ) 523 3rd Ave btw. 12th & 13th St. It’s a impressive space.
all the best
Hey, Nick!
Someone forwarded me a link to your American Psycho article and as I was reading, I kept thinking, could this be Nick???
After I clicked on the “About” tab, it did turn out to be you!
*lol*
How random and wonderful at the same time.
Hope all is well with you.
Great blog.
Will definitely keep up with it.
Best,
Jully
Tuxedo Park, NY is an exclusive, gated enclave, 23 miles north west of NYC dating back to the late 1800’s.
The Park is centered upon a large glacier lake feeding two smaller lakes. My home is a Portuguese style villa located directly at one of the lakes. The interior is that of a country villa.
I believe it would lend itself to various genre of films and I would like to be able to show it to you upon request.
Please phone me at 845 351 2361.
Thank you for your consideration. Vikyana Dike
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You win, Nick. I’ve been on the site for far longer than 10 minutes. For fear of my job I won’t tell you how long, but you have a very interesting site here. Great to meet you!
Thank you, Nick, for your wonderful site!!! My ruling passion is Manhattan, particularly it’s glorious past, and most specifically, during the Gilded Age. I spend my time seeking out little-known and historic sites, architecture, places w/a “story”. I envy you your job!!! Good luck and, again, thank you! P.S. do you guide walking tours by any chance?
Very cool site! Anything like in San Fran?
I was in NYC a few years ago when I found an awesome little store. I’ve tired to find a website and haven’t. I was there 2 weeks ago and thought I could find it but no luck. It would be greatly appreciated if you could help. Please email me back and I can give a general location. All I need is a name and address.
Hey ScoutingNY, how did you ever come across such an awesome job? How does one even become a film scout?
Ever scouted my co-op, the Riviera (790 Riverside Drive) or anywhere else in the recently named Historic Audobon Park area? It’s a great building on a great block. Big aparmtents, classic 100-year old design inside and out.
Shoot me an email if you’re interested in seeing it, and I’ll put you in touch with our board.
Great site!
Michael
Hi there…I am a photography hobbyist always looking for burnt down abandoned places…i found your hotel in CA…what an amazing story… a little sad because the place is amazing…but beautiful!
Can you recommend places in the CA area to go…I love places like salton sea…and old hospitals…creepy stuff but i am afraid I am running out!
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Fantastic goods from you, man. I have be mindful your stuff previous to and you are simply extremely great. I really like what you have obtained right here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you. That is really a tremendous website.
Hi Nick,
I’m a radio producer for a national program at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. We’d like to talk to you if possible. Please email me a contact number. Thanks,
Loren McGinnis
Hi – We have a 50, 000+ sq foot warehouse (over a 100 years old) and offices (built later) just outside of Manhattan/Bronx in Yonkers. We never really thought about it, but if you want to scout the building for use in a media, we’d be interested in renting space. The warehouse is very old with pulley doors in case of a fire. The building was original part of a large textile mill that employed most of the people around here at the turn of the century. Many remnants from that era and mill are still left in the building. The rafters are all wood. The brick work is amazing. Even the boiler room and all the piping is cool to look at. For example, the dry fire system has a pumped that is easily 75 years old and still works!! We have a ton of old industrial lights hanging from the ceiling. Lots of things to see. We even have a steel ramp that goes directly over the Saw Mill River. If interested in checking it out, shoot me an email. Great site by the way! Thanks!
Hey Nick,
I admire your work. I too am a location scout and I have a couple of questions. I would appreciate it if you emailed me. Hope to hear from you!
-Hilda
Hey Nick what happened to the Andrew Freeman article?
I’m from Boston. It’s in my genes to not like things New York ie; the Yankees, Knicks, Jets etc. I like the Giants because when I was a kid, before the Patriots, we were brought up on the New York Football Giants. That won’t be the case today though at 6:00 PM. So I stumble upon your site and immediately become hooked on “all things NY”. I’ve been on the site for an hour now and I have to tell you it’s fantastic. ( Don’t let word get out to my beantown buddies). I also remember reading the article in Pop Photo as a subscriber. Anyway, great site. I’ve got a few hours before the Super Bowl starts so I’ll be right here. Oh! and by the way. I will donate.
About Scouting NY – just great!
I love stumbling across blogs like this. What a cool job. Or so it would seem.
Thanks,
-Matt
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Nick, nice article. I’ve been a location scout for quite some time in Los Angeles and absolutely love this career. Keep up the blog.
Any idea where this is or was?
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Fantastic site! Your job is one of my favorite past-times, looking for bits and pieces of old NY in the present landscape and photographing them.
I’m an archaeologist in the city and occasionally come across some interesting places. If you’re ever in need of an old farmhouse, one of the best in the city is the Hendrick I Lott House. The exterior is stunning and the interior historically intact and mostly empty.
Thanks for sharing all the great sights you come across.
Just came across this site, it’s fantastic. I stumbled upon your site because I just found out that the oldest building in the western hemisphere is in North Miami Beach. I googled it, and up came your site. As a Miami native and resident, I’m pretty ashamed to say I never knew that.
One of the best niches on the web. Truly. Can’t remember how I found you but I’ve been a devoted reader ever since!
This is an amazing site, I absolutely loved King Zog’s old house!
Thanks for all brother i like ur this page
I do consider all of the ideas you have offered on your post.
They’re very convincing and will definitely work.
Still, the posts are too short for beginners. May just you please extend them a
little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
Appreciation to my father who told me about this webpage,
this website is actually remarkable.
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most
certainly donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for
now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to new updates and will share this blog with
my Facebook group. Talk soon!
Its such as you read my mind! You seem to understand so much about
this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something.
I think that you just can do with a few % to drive the message house a little
bit, however other than that, this is fantastic blog.
An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.
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Hi Nick,
I want to register my house to be used in Films & or Ads, how do I go about it?
Thanks for your feedback
Vie
Hey Nick,
I was wondering if i could chat with you regarding making a church a location. I just have a few questions thanks.
Maria Porto
Generally I don’t learn post on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up
very pressured me to try and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me.
Thank you, quite great article.
LOVE your site amazing. i spend every weekend doing the same. but i never tell anyone where it is.
Hi Nick .
I am from Bombay , India .
I first visited New York in 1952 ( when I was 6 years old ) with my parents .
And several times thereafter .
At 60 something , the city still fascinates me . I love New York and I love your website and blogs !
Keep them coming .
Mr. Kumar Worlikar .
p.s. If you ever run for Mayor , you have my vote .
No matter if some one searches for his vital thing, therefore he/she wishes to be
available that in detail, thus that thing is maintained over here.
Feel free to surf to my web site: Hip Hop Beats for Sale
Have a beautiful duplex apartment in a NYC brownstone that would be great in a film. It has a chef’s kitchen with a 10 foot island that opens into a private garden. The opulent carrara marble master bath is 14′ x 14′ plus a shower and toilet room, a wonderful soaking tub, 2 sinks and a 6′ seating area.
thanks for running such a cool site. i will donate money to the movie when i can. take care
I love your site and shots. What kind of camera do you use? I apologize if you’ve listed that info and I just didn’t see it…
First two years, Canon Rebel XT with the kit lens. The rest, Canon 5D with a 24-70mm lens.
Thanks a lot a whole lot with regard to giving that with individuals you undoubtedly recognise what you will be speaking about! Book marked. Please likewise discuss with this site Is equal to). We could possess a backlink trade agreement among us
Just using this to sign up for new post emails 🙂
Hopefully you know it by now, but if not, there are wonderful “hidden” gems all over in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and Long Island City and Blissville and Sunnyside, Queens. Gerristsen Beach in Brooklyn (Coney Island Area) can really be used to showcase other areas such as the Jersey Shore etc. It has that old Rockaway Beach feel. Whitestone, ueens is another area that with the exception of some newer homes in Malba, there are many homes from the Victorian era.
Love your blog and would love to know the location of that Old World Caged Elevator with the Green Leather Bench. I beleive I have ridden on that elevator as a little girl back in the 50’s with my Mom, but for the life of me cannot remember where it was.
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check out lougis in brooklyn old school pizza place filmed big daddy there
Hi we’ve got a five story town house upper west side love for you to scout.
http://richardgns.wix.com/mccafferylocations
i have a great location for filming movies. Two filming companies have already filmed at my house. if you are looking for a location feel free to contact me via email.
Hi Nick – Been a fan for years! I was wondering if you have ever found a similar site to yours about Los Angeles? I live in the historic part of Downtown Los Angeles, and we’re going through a major revitalization (NY Times even talked about it once…) I think it would be incredibly awesome to have a site dedicating to Scouting LA. My boyfriend and I spent a lot of our tv watching time trying to guess the locations of all the shows/movies. Maybe you could expand? ANYWAY! Good luck on the movie making, and keep up the awesome work.
Love from LA,
Stephanie
Dear Nick and associates; Currently touring the Bronx by internet as I retired and anticipate a move there. Zeroed in on Grand concourse-Fordham area, now stumbled upon your tour of apartment building lobbies. Perfect and thanks !
So sad to see that you are shutting down here and moving to LA!
Your website and Facebook updates were always a delight to come across!
Those updates are going to be missed, but alas, all god things must come to an end, as they say.
Follow your dreams and MAKE IT HAPPEN!
From one fellow New York explorer to another.
Good Luck and God Bless!
I’m new to your blog & totally enjoying it. Wonderful postings!
Thank you,
Angela
Hi Nick,
happy to discovery you.
Very interesting.
Congratulations for your historical research.
Daniele from Venice Italy
Gerristsen Beach in Brooklyn (Coney Island Area) can really be used to showcase other areas such as the Jersey Shore etc. It has that old Rockaway Beach feel.
Fantastic site! Your job is one of my favorite past-times, looking for bits and pieces of old NY in the present landscape and photographing
I think it would be incredibly awesome to have a site dedicating to Scouting LA.
Hi Nick,
Just read your post about The St.George Hotel in Brooklyn New York. Reach out to t
“The Brooklyn historical Society” or “ The Brooklyn Public Library “ (located at Grand Army Plaza.
I will research some sources related to Art History in an effort to help out.
All the best
Hello my husband and I and 3 other couples are looking for an abandoned town that we can camp at is this location available for camping or do you have any suggestions that where we can go??