Did you miss our conversation with Nicolas Heller, aka New York Nico? Register here to watch a recording of this fun episode of PRINT Book Club.
Documentarian, commercial director, and “Unofficial Talent Scout of NYC” Nicolas Heller, aka New York Nico, joined Debbie Millman and Steven Heller last week to discuss his first book, New York Nico’s Guide to NYC.
So, why a book? And why this topic?
One has to understand Heller’s origin story. Like many independence-seeking kids, even those born and raised in Manhattan with design celebrities for parents and whose nickname at three years old was “Major of 16th Street,” Heller wanted to spread his wings. That meant getting out of New York. First, it was Boston for college. Then, Heller went to Hollywood. After three failed driving tests and six months of no bookings, he returned to NYC without a plan and looking for his next step.
On a fateful walk through Union Square, Heller met a local street celebrity, Te’Devan, a “6-foot-7 freestyle-rapping Jew.” Heller made a five-minute documentary of the man, and he never looked back.
Author headshot: Jeremy Cohen
Heller spoke about how the pandemic cemented Heller’s focus on struggling mom-and-pop businesses across the city, his effort to raise money for Army Navy Bags in the Village, and his desire to help preserve what the city is starting to lose.
The most frequently asked question he gets asked by his audience is, “I’m going to be in New York; what should I do?” So, when he was approached about doing a book, he couldn’t turn it down. The book furthers his mission to document what New York is in danger of losing as it changes. Over a year and a half, Heller and a team consisting of a co-writer, photographers, and others traversed the boroughs to interview the proprietors of each of the 100 quaint, classic, small businesses included in the book, all places Heller loves.
It was the best experience of my life, and I want to keep making books.
Nicolas Heller
Register here to watch the recording and get the insiders’ take: Heller’s top five places to visit (one for each borough, yes, even Staten Island). There’s an East Village barber shop home to Big Mike’s art gallery, a nearly 200-year-old tavern (where parts of Goodfellas were filmed), a Sri Lankan restaurant, an old-school panini shop, and a Latin music store run by a 93-year-old man.
We learned of a Harlem man who collected items he found in the trash for 35 years and how he’s curated his private collection in the back of an active garage. The book taught his curious and NYC-knowledgeable father something, too.
Many other NYC gems are waiting to be discovered by you; buy your copy of New York Nico’s Guide to NYC.
Coming up on Tuesday, December 10, PRINT Book Club will host designer, lettering artist, and retail shop owner Jessica Hische to talk about her latest book for kids. Learn more and register here.