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Alison Stewart: This is All of It on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. We'd like to especially celebrate all that's great about New York during our pledge drive, and there is perhaps no better champion of the diverse corners of the city than New York Nico. New York Nico is known online as the unofficial talent scout of New York. He's also a filmmaker, he's a social media creator. He combines all of those skills for his popular Instagram and TikTok accounts that have drawn millions of followers. He wanders all around the city making videos with the most quintessential New York street characters.

Now, New York Nico is an author. His new book is called New York Nico's Guide to NYC, with the stories of 100 of his favorite local businesses in all five boroughs, from the Sweet Pickles Bookstore to classics like The Lemon Ice King of Corona. The book is out tomorrow. He has a launch party on October 25th at Shopify New York starting at 6:00 PM. For anyone who is planning to come to this year's after-party for the New York Public Radio gala, New York Nico will be hosting the event. That's another reason to go and get your tickets at wnyc.org/join. Nicholas Heller, also known as New York Nico, welcome back.

Nicholas Heller: Thank you. So honored to be here again.

Alison Stewart: You're born and raised in New York, yes?

Nicholas Heller: Yes, Union Square.

Alison Stewart: We'll get there. You write in the book that you didn't truly appreciate New York until you moved to LA and you couldn't find a good slice.

Nicholas Heller: Correct.

Alison Stewart: Why did leaving New York change your perspective of home?

Nicholas Heller: When I went to Los Angeles, I did a cross-country road trip. I got to experience all the cities between-- not all of them, but a handful of cities between New York and LA. It just really made me realize how special and unique New York is. After I failed at being an LA guy, I moved back to New York, and that's when things started to click.

Alison Stewart: When you came back from LA and you set out to explore not just Manhattan, you went all over the place, what was something you realized about New York by visiting all corners?

Nicholas Heller: Really, it's the people that make New York. When I came back to New York from LA, I started this web series where I would profile fascinating New York City street celebrities, and it just made me realize that New York has the best people in the world, and that's what made me kind of re-fall in love with the city I was born and raised in.

Alison Stewart: Yes. One of your guys you profiled was a guy was carrying a sign reading, "6'7" Jew will freestyle rap for you."

Nicholas Heller: Yes, he was the first. He was the one who made me re-fall back in love with New York.

Alison Stewart: What do you remember about connecting with that guy particularly?

Nicholas Heller: Well, it was at the lowest point in my life. I was 22, I think, and I had just come back from failing miserably in LA, and I was living with my parents again. I was sitting in Union Square Park, kind of contemplating what I was going to do next, and I just noticed him out of the corner of my eye. I'd seen him all throughout high school.

Generally, I was pretty shy up until this point, but I used it. I used this point as an opportunity to just talk with this guy. We ended up walking around the city together. Afterwards, I asked if I could make a documentary on him, and I'd never made one before. Made this documentary, and it kind of led to 16 other short documentaries about New York City celebrities, street celebrities.

Alison Stewart: You mentioned New Square. You were the mayor of 16th Street, right?

Nicholas Heller: Well, according to my parents, I was.

Alison Stewart: East or West?

Nicholas Heller: West.

Alison Stewart: Oh, okay. We'll get into that in a minute. Do you have a business or a store in the book that reminds you of your childhood?

Nicholas Heller: Well, Veniero's Pastry is where my mom got my first birthday cake. That's just the first thing that comes to mind. I mean, all these businesses, so I profile 100 businesses. Some of them are more new to me, but a lot of them, I've been going to for forever. These businesses are 20, 30, 40, even 200 years old, so a lot of them, I remember from being a kid, and they haven't changed that much, which is awesome. I want them to stay around forever.

Alison Stewart: My guest is New York Nico, Nicholas Heller. He's a filmmaker, social media creator, and known as the unofficial talent scout of New York. He's an author. His new book is called New York Nico's Guide to New York City. He's hosting a book launch party on October 25th at Shopify at 6:00 PM. You write that this book isn't just a New York City guidebook. It's a document of a moment in New York City.

Nicholas Heller: That's true.

Alison Stewart: What kind of New York moment?

Nicholas Heller: Well, New York is ever-changing. Since we actually started writing the book, about eight of the businesses have closed for one reason or another. I hope that the remaining businesses in this book stay forever, but in reality, stuff happens. I'm hoping that 10, 15, 20 years from now, people could pick up this book and be reminded of this time in New York history with these amazing businesses, the amazing people who run these businesses, and their stories.

Alison Stewart: All right, let's talk about Army Navy Bag video, this video. It's pinned to your TikTok account, which has over 20 million views. You visit Henry Yao, owner of Army Navy Bags on Houston Street. I said Houston, can you believe it?

Nicholas Heller: Yes, you did. You corrected yourself pretty quickly, though.

Alison Stewart: Oh my God. Only lived here, what, 40 years? Good lord. What's so special about Henry? It's the brain surgery. What's so special about Henry?

Nicholas Heller: During the pandemic, a friend reached out to me and told me that this business was struggling and needed some help. He had a GoFundMe set up. I think the goal was $50,000. He asked me if I could share it. I said, "Well, look, I know this guy. I'm not on a first-name basis with him, but I would love to interview him, post it on my page, and see what happens."

I went in, did this interview, posted it on Instagram. I think, within a day, he reached his goal of $50,000. That's kind of like when I realized the power of social media and how people are willing to help New Yorkers in need. Henry is just such an iconic New Yorker. He's been there forever. Means a lot to a lot of people. Yes, he's just so special. His reaction to seeing me is the most heartwarming thing ever.

Alison Stewart: We got it. Texas Veniero's best Italian pastry shop in Manhattan. Agreement there. Let's talk about Astor Place. Hairstylist. You've been getting your hair cut there since you were 10.

Nicholas Heller: Yes.

Alison Stewart: What makes it a local landmark?

Nicholas Heller: I believe Astor Place is from 1965. I think it's one of the oldest barbershops in Manhattan. It's also the biggest barbershop in Manhattan. I included a barbershop in a guidebook, which is kind of strange, but to me, it's more than a barbershop, it's a museum. In fact, one of the co-owners, Big Mike, who's been there for 40-plus years and actually just retired, has a gallery of all his paintings in the back room. I actually made a film about that a few years ago called Big Mike Takes Lunch. It's just such a special place. It truly is a museum. There's all different types of people. The sign, when you walk in, it says-- oh, man, it's kind of hard to explain without seeing it, but it says, "We speak," and then it's like every single language you can think of, at the end, and a little bit of English.

Alison Stewart: Let's head up to the Bronx, 239 City Island Avenue, a business called Dan's Parents' House. You write that this is the best way to describe the place, is walking into a 19th-century home that is actually a time warp to your childhood memories.

Nicholas Heller: Yes, it's true.

Alison Stewart: Please explain.

Nicholas Heller: Well, first of all, Dan's Parents' House is on City Island, which is-

Alison Stewart: So fun.

Nicholas Heller: -so fun. I actually have two businesses in the book from City Island. That and Johnny's Reef, which is best fried fish in the city. Dan's Parents' House, there's just not a lot of places like it. It's like vintage toys from the '60s, '70s, '80s. Every time you go in there, or every time I go in there, it seems like he has new stuff, which is great. Yes, it's just like you're time-warped into a different era. It's so fun.

Alison Stewart: It's fun to look through your books. I'm like, "Oh, been there. Love that. Did that. Oh, that's new."

Nicholas Heller: I have a checklist in the back where you can check off all the places you've been to. I'd love for you to do that. I'm curious. I'm sure you've hit a bunch of them.

Alison Stewart: I've hit a few. Let's talk about Queen, The Lemon Ice King of Corona.

Nicholas Heller: Yes.

Alison Stewart: What makes an old-school place like this still the best?

Nicholas Heller: Oh my God. I love Lemon Ice King of Corona. The peanut butter ice is to die for. I never use that term, but it's to die for. There's chunks of peanut butter chocolate chips in there. Anyway, what was your question? I got distracted because I really want Lemon Ice King.

Alison Stewart: That's all you need to say. You just got distracted.

Nicholas Heller: It's such a classic spot.

Alison Stewart: Well, you think about how many sort of fancy pants ice cream places.

Nicholas Heller: No, this is not fancy pants. It's so not fancy pants that they don't mix flavors. I think I say it in the book, he would not mix flavors for his dying grandmother. You have to buy it separately.

Alison Stewart: We're going to head to Brooklyn for a place that you describe as New York Nico HQ, Anthony & Son Panini Shoppe.

Nicholas Heller: Yes, Anthony & Son's Panini Shoppe.

Alison Stewart: What's good here besides the panini?

Nicholas Heller: Well, I have my own sandwich there, actually.

Alison Stewart: Oh, I see.

Nicholas Heller: Yes, but I'm a little embarrassed by it beause I created it eight years ago when I was on a health kick. It's a very healthy, you know, it's not like what I want to be represented. It's a great, great spot. Been around for 30-plus years, and it's a breeding ground for talent. A lot of the talent that you would see on my page actually came from the panini shop. Yes, I recommend going there.

Alison Stewart: You have to tell me what's in your sandwich now.

Nicholas Heller: Oh, man. I was hoping you didn't ask. I'm so embarrassed to say this.

Alison Stewart: It's okay.

Nicholas Heller: I've actually--

Alison Stewart: We're a judgment-free zone.

Nicholas Heller: I've asked. Well, I don't know if your audience is, but I've asked them to take it off the menu, but they say it sells too well, so they can't.

Alison Stewart: Okay.

Nicholas Heller: It's a lettuce wrap.

Alison Stewart: Aw, man. Come on.

Nicholas Heller: I know. I'm telling you. I wasn't--

Alison Stewart: I'm kidding.

Nicholas Heller: No, I wasn't doing bread at the time, but I do have my own sandwich at La Bonbonniere, which is a turkey club, and that's an actual sandwich with actual bread. That's the best. They use real turkey. They carve a turkey every day.

Alison Stewart: I walk by there almost every day.

Nicholas Heller: Yes. Oh, get the New York Nico Turkey Club.

Alison Stewart: So good. What's a day for you? I'm imagining your day wandering around New York, just picking up people.

Nicholas Heller: Yes, something like that. There's no typical day, hanging out with you.

Alison Stewart: All right. For those who want to use your book, they want to use it as a guide, they want to use it as a map, how do you suggest they use it?

Nicholas Heller: The book is for locals as much as it is for tourists. For tourists, if you're coming to New York and you want to check out some cool spots, order the book, do a little research. I have maps for each borough, so you can kind of figure out where you're going to go. I recommend that if you're a tourist. If you're a local, a lot of these spots, you probably know about, but I bring the storytelling aspect of my Instagram to the book. It's really sort of a deep dive into the history of these places and the people that run them.

The frequently asked question I get is, what makes this guidebook different? Truly, it's just my guidebook. These are my favorite spots. I don't really do fine dining. I focus more on the mom-and-pop shops, the greasy spoon diners, luncheonettes, and then obviously, retail, like the Chess Forum and Village Revival Records and Casey's Rubber Stamp, spots that there's kind of only one of. I don't know. I just started rambling.

Alison Stewart: It's all good.

Nicholas Heller: The book is for everybody.

Alison Stewart: The name of the book is New York Nico's Guide to New York City. It is out tomorrow. He's hosting a book launch party, October 25th at Shopify New York at 6:00 PM. He will also be at our gala fundraiser afterward.

Nicholas Heller: I will say, the Shopify event, I think we just capped it because it's at capacity, but I have some other things coming up, so if you follow me on Instagram, I'll be talking about those.

Alison Stewart: Thanks, Nico.

Nicholas Heller: Yes, thank you.