Holy Crap! There’s An Outhouse In New York City!
Last week, I was out scouting a semi-abandoned farmhouse in the outer boroughs dating to the early 1900s. After touring […]
My First Trip to New York City
A few weeks ago, I was at my parents’ house when my mom dug out a box of pictures from
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
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
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
Magic In An Old Vacuum Bag Factory – The World of Tom Otterness
Down among the industrial warehouses in Gowanus… …bordering on the canal… …is an old vacuum cleaner bag factory. Today, there’s
The Prettiest Cab Stand In New York
I swear I’ve gone by the Yakuel cab stand on 12th Street and the Queensboro Bridge a million times without
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
1920’s Atlantic City in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
After watching the premiere of Boardwalk Empire last night, I was really excited to check out the Atlantic City set
An Abandoned Treasure May Soon Be Lost – The Fight to Save St. Paul’s
Over the past few months, I’ve been getting letters from readers about an abandoned school in Garden City, Long Island,
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,
Exploring An Empty Mansion: Master Bedrooms, The Abandoned Orphanage, and Beyond
Over the past three days, we’ve taken a look at the grounds of Hempstead House, the opulence of its first
Exploring An Empty Mansion: Forgotten Rooms, A Decaying Basement
We’ve taken a look at the exterior of Hempstead House, as well as the beautifully restored rooms of the first
Exploring An Empty Mansion: Inside Hempstead House
This is Hempstead House today: In comparison, the below picture was taken in 1940, shortly after Hempstead became a home
Exploring An Empty Mansion: The Grounds
When you own an enormous castle like the one pictured below, and it’s only used to house your servants and
Hidden In An Abandoned Orphanage
This is the third-floor hallway of an abandoned orphanage. Opened in 1940 to house English children orphaned because of World
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
Ruins in the Hudson
Two of my favorite ruins in Manhattan can be found partially submerged in the Hudson River, overshadowed by the nearby
Scouting The Occult in Brooklyn
On two different movies I’ve scouted for recently, I was asked to find a genuine “occult store.” Of course, by
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 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
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
Graffiti From Mom
Not sure how long this graffiti has been up on White street east of Broadway, but it always makes my
Inside An Old Airplane Factory
Some time ago, I had the opportunity to scout the defunct Grumman airplane factory in Bethpage, Long Island. Once the
A Mad Look At 225 Lafayette Street
You’ve probably passed 225 Lafayette Street at the corner of Spring Street in Soho a zillion times in your travels
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
Abandoned Coney Island – Last Chance To See?
Note: Most of this has since been torn down. When I heard the rumors that Satan’s real estate division, Thor
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
I Spy A Boardwalk in Soho
Have you ever seen those I Spy children’s books? Each page features a large picture of a whimsical location filled
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
Evil Birds, Ghost Ads, Forgotten Alleys…
Every Friday, I try to put together a post of random tidbits from my week in scouting. Enjoy! While scouting
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
Scouting an Abandoned Hotel in Southern California
Whenever I see a sign like the one below hanging outside of an abandoned property, I immediately feel an intense
Inside the Clocktower
When it was completed in 1909, the original Met-Life headquarters at 5 Madison Ave was the tallest building in the
Friday Odds & Ends: Umbrella Graveyard, Batman, Dutch Kills, & More!
Quick announcement – I’m going to be a guest on the Leonard Lopate show on NPR! I should be on
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
Owls With Glowing Eyes in Herald Square
I took this picture of Herald Square (6th Ave btw. 34th & 35th) this morning at about 6:45. A second
Chinatown’s “Bloody Angle” – A Trip Down Doyers Street
Pell Street is one of those iconic Chinatown blocks that filmmakers love to shoot on. Short and narrow, lined with
The Most Impressive-Looking Sex Shop in Manhattan
It’s one of those archetypal New York scenes: a squat, three-story building dwarfed on all sides by towering skyscrapers, the
The Cutest Little House in Brooklyn
Just wanted to share a building with you that really made my day while out scouting recently. I was searching
A Closer Look at the Chanin Building
Chances are, when looking at the Chanin Building at the corner of 42nd and Lex… (picture credits: Emilio Guerra) …You’ve
Manhattan’s East 20th Street Beach
It might come as a surprise, but Manhattan has beaches. Yes, they’re small, often submerged at high tide, and you’d
The Death of Theatre Alley
Nothing annoys me more than scouting New York for an Ext. Dank Alley scene. For some reason (probably because of
A Bit of the Southwest on 53rd Street
In keeping with yesterday’s theme of streets in New York that have an other-worldly feel to them, I have to
Walking The Streets of Europe in Manhattan
I love streets in New York that make you feel as far from the city as possible. Obvious examples include
Someone Planted a Bicycle Garden in Queens!
Note: this has since been removed. I was driving along Vernon Blvd in Queens when I spotted something you don’t
The 1920s Movie Theater Hidden In A Rite Aid
Don’t let the squat little Rite Aid storefront on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint fool you… It has a big history.
Where Racquetballs Go To Die
I’ve been scouting warehouse rooftops in Brooklyn on the East River recently. Though this one in Greenpoint has a pretty
A Rainbow at 22 Stories Up
I’ve been scouting midtown office spaces recently, many of which have had some pretty great views of the city like
Brooklyn’s Mansion on the East River
I was walking down Hudson Ave today in Brooklyn’s Vinegar Hill neighborhood when I realized I’d never taken any of
Did Scouting NY Readers Help A Guy Get Engaged?
A few weeks ago, I ran a post about a guy who emailed me for help in finding a unique
Latest NYC Graffiti Helps You Take Good Pictures!
There’s a pretty great photo op of the Empire State Building at 33rd & Park – at least, when New
What’s Going On With This Red Mini-Van?
I was shooting some buildings around Madison Ave in the 20’s Tuesday (just before the snowpocalypse of 2010 hit) when
Treasures on the East 25th Street Courthouse
One of my favorite buildings in Manhattan is the marble courthouse on 25th & Madison, home to the Appellate Division
Times Square Recycle Billboard Made From Recyclables
Note: This is long gone. I was scouting near Times Square on Friday when I noticed this neat new billboard
Where Should This Reader Propose To His Girlfriend?
Quick note: A reader wrote me asking for a good place to propose to his girlfriend. Rather than limit it
Abandoned on East 43rd Street
Each time I walk down East 43rd Street, I expect it to have been torn down: A beautiful Italianate marble
Chelsea Birds Are Watching You
Wanted to share some really neat details I noticed while scouting in Chelsea the other day. This building, at the
The Legend of the Metrocard Bike
When I saw it today at 59th and 8th, I didn’t realize I had come across a legend. At the
Masked Vigilante on 42nd Street
In these troubling times, it is refreshing to know that somewhere in the Socony-Mobil building… …Perched high above 42nd Street…
The Case of the Missing Church Half
Walking west on 12th Street from 3rd Ave, you probably wouldn’t give it a second glance: a stone church located
The Tiniest Church in Manhattan
Just a cute bit I noticed while walking down Great Jones Street today… On the firehouse, I saw something peeking
Forgotten Ruins in Dobbs Ferry
At first glance, it would be hard to figure out what this bland modern nursing home… …has to do with
The Mysterious Stonehenge on West 22nd Street
I was walking north of 21st Street on Tenth Avenue when I noticed something odd… …A pair of stones, each
Scouting Disney World
This photo is driving me bonkers – what intersection is this? I’ve lived near madison square park for 4 years
The Scouting NY Tourist Guide To The Big Apple
Dear Scout – Love your site! I’ll be visiting Manhattan for the first time in a few weeks, but I’ll
Local & Interstate Moving & Storage
I was scouting recently in northern Long Island and happened to drive by this old moving/storage company garage… I love
Stumbling On A Prohibition-Era Bowling Alley Speak-Easy
I received a very unexpected email last week asking if I’d like to check out a hidden prohibition-era bowling alley in
45 Years Late to the World’s Fair
By the time I got there, it was gone. The World’s Fair, you ask? Nope. I am referring to something
The Abandoned Farm Cemetery in Queens
Staring down 54th Street from 31st Ave in Woodside, Queens, a street lined with boxy brick apartments and a scant
The Hidden Cemetery on Second Avenue
I must have walked past the entrance to Marble Cemetery on Second Ave (btw. 2nd & 3rd Sts.) countless times
A Closer Look at the PS 110 Owls
A few weeks ago, I wrote about PS 110, an elementary school located just south of the Williamsburg Bridge… …whose
Halloween in NY: Bleecker Street
Halloween is the only time of the year that I actually pay attention to store window displays, and I’m always
The Film Locations of Rosemary’s Baby
“New York, You’ve Changed” is a new Scouting NY feature in which the New York depicted in movies is compared
The Film Locations of Taxi Driver (Part 3)
Just finding us? Start with Part 1 of our Taxi Driver examination to avoid confusion! Continuing along where we last
The Film Locations of Taxi Driver (Part 2)
Today, we delve into Part 2 of our Taxi Driver coverage (Part 1 is here). When we last left off,
The Film Locations of Taxi Driver
If locations were billed alongside actors, Robert DeNiro would share co-starring credits on Taxi Driver with New York City.
The White Mana Diner
Recently, I’ve been scouting New York looking for Detroit (don’t ask), a search that ultimately led to me to northern
The Owls of PS 110
Next time you’re heading over the Williamsburg Bridge to Brooklyn, either driving or on the pedestrian walkway, be sure to
The Film Locations of Ghostbusters (Part 2)
This is Part 2 of our look at Ghostbusters – Click here for Part 1! With this article, we’re completing
The Film Locations of Ghostbusters (Part 1) (NY, You’ve Changed)
Though there are many movies I’m excited to cover for “New York, You’ve Changed,” I had no choice but to
The Unbelievable Buried Town on Governors Island
Note: This does not exist anymore! Read the comments for more information! Do not go out to Governors Island looking
Long Island’s Empty Jail
Whenever a film or TV show needs to film in a prison location, the go-to place to scout is a
The Abandoned Bates Motel of Cape Cod
Truro, Massachusetts, is the first town south of Provincetown (for those of you unfamiliar with Massachusetts geography, Provincetown is located
I Should Really Be Driving This Car
I’m speechless… I wish I could say that this is the new “SCOUTING NY” official website car, but it’s not.
The Strange Main Street USA on Roosevelt Island
Did you ever play with the Fisher Price Little People when you were a kid? Or Lego village sets? Did
They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To
It’s amazing what you find still working in old houses in New York City. It blows my mind that this
Frenchie’s Gym – Not Your Local Crunch
Hidden on the second floor of this building adjacent to the JMZ elevated train line in South Williamsburg is Frenchie’s
The Wall Street Fish
I love that thousands of New Yorkers go about their business every day unaware of the countless eyes watching from
The Ghostbusters Firehouse Dressed For Christmas
This isn’t a secret or anything, but Hook & Ladder #8 has been dressed for the season and looks great,