I work as a film location scout in New York City. My day is basically spent combing the streets for interesting and unique locations for feature films. In my travels, I often stumble across some pretty incredible sights, most of which are ignored every day by thousands of New Yorkers in too much of a rush to pay attention.
As it happens, it's my job to pay attention, and I've started this blog to keep a record of what I see.
I love traveling down Flatbush Ave past Prospect Park because there’s so much history to find hidden on every block. I noticed this Oldsmobile ghost sign (ghost sign: a business sign remaining from a long defunct business) at the corner of Avenue D and Flatbush above a liquor store. God knows how long ago this was put in, but I’m guessing at least 50 years. Was there an Oldsmobile dealership on or near this spot? Or was it just a neon advertisement to interest Flatbush passersby? [...]
I was on Roosevelt Island recently, and was absolutely blown away by the blooming trees on the south-west side of the island, opposite the entrance to the Coler-Goldwater hospital. Really, really beautiful. The petals were falling off the trees and amassing in these huge piles...Definitely worth a look if you’re in the area. On a related note, if anyone is wondering about the smallpox hospital ruins, you’ll be glad to know that the recent stabilization project was in full swing when I was there, with crews erecting scaffolding that will hopefully save this beautiful relic from falling down. New Yorkers who have never ventured outside of Manhattan have at least probably seen this lit up from the FDR-North. Non-New Yorkers may recognize it as the final battle location in the first Spiderman movie.
One of the most beautiful and pleasant places in the city is the campus of Columbia University. It is simply incredible that such a place exists in the tightly packed metropolis that is Manhattan, and I never pass up a chance to visit.Located in the center of campus is the statue of Alma Mater (actually the goddess Minerva), by Daniel Chester French. Now known as a symbol for the university, Alma Mater’s arms are raised invitingly toward the campus, as if she is welcoming in the knowledge surrounding her. As it turns out, Alma Mater has a secret: an owl, hidden somewhere in the folds of her robe. I won’t tell you exactly where it is - half the fun is taking a few minutes to search for the owl and being surprised at how cleverly it is hidden. Also, there are a number of legends about what happens to those who find the owl on their own (marry a Barnard student within the year, get straight A’s, etc.), and I’d hate to deprive you of any of these rewards.
I was eating lunch in my car at 113th & Riverside when I noticed an interesting sign on this beautiful apartment building. Next to the gate on the right side of the building is this sign: “Servants & Tradesmens Entrance,” complete with one of those great old-fashioned directional hand illustrations. Servants? Tradesmen? I imagine it’s been quite a number of years since this sign has had any applicability for the building’s tenants, but I love that it still exists as a fading relic of a bygone era.
For those that have never been, Bethesda Terrace in the middle of Central Park is one of the most beautiful spots in New York. A two-tiered plaza leads to an incredible fountain and a lake beyond, in which people row boats around. The area is lush with foliage, and on a warm, blue-sky summer day like yesterday, nothing compares to it.When you walk into the plaza, your eye is immediately drawn to the fountain, which might cause you to miss the incredible design work on the sides of the staircase (something I only noticed for the first time today). It’s really amazing: a three-dimensional stone rendering of animals and plantlife, all of which I imagine can be found in the park. If you get close, you’ll see that the craftsmanship is incredible - every animal looks perfectly frozen in time...Definitely worth a look if, like me, you’ve been to the Bethesda Fountain a million times and never noticed.
Scouting NY
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