Norman Reedus is no stranger to NYC. He’s lived in Manhattan for decades and raised native New Yorkers here. His photo gallery “In Transit” takes place at Soho Grand Hotel but only until May 18th. Even if you missed the gallery you can still snag his photography book “In Transit” and Secret NYC readers get 10% off when you use the code: SECRET, go here for more!
We caught up with Reedus to chat all about his favorite city! He shared stories of when he first moved here, the biggest lesson he’s learned and even where his notable character Daryl Dixon would live if he were to re-locate to NYC.Check out our full interview with Reedus below.
Talk a little bit about your relationship with NYC and what this city means to you?
I’ve been here 26 years, I guess. God, I’m old. I remember the very first time I ever went to NYC, with a friend of mine who’s in a band called Flush for Eve. We stayed over by Empire Diner, it was like this penthouse on top of this building when I was like 17 – the sun was coming up and I opened up the big double doors at the top of this, apartment heard, “F— you!” And I was like, “God, I love this place.”
My son grew up here, he went to school in the West Village, then he went to NYU. I raised my daughter here. I’ve lived all over the city, I’ve lived in Chinatown, Tribeca, the West Village, the East Village. All my friends are here.
I remember after 9/11, seeing the lines of people around the block to give blood, that had an impact on me and all of the food carts giving firefighters free food. There was something about NYC Strong that really resonated with me during that moment. I’ve had some of the most important moments of my life in New York.
You’ve lived all over Manhattan, any funny apartment stories?
I have some weird stories. There was an apartment in Chinatown that I had – this little loft apartment. There was one guy who was kind of like the face of the building, and I thought he was the owner, and he, like, rolled up in a Benz and always had a driver.
Then there was a janitor who was always in the hallway, and he was always mopping the floor in sweatpants, this older guy. The Janitor knocks on my door one day and he’s like, “You owe me, you’re late on your rent!” And I was like, “Yeah, yeah, it’s coming. Tell so and so I’m gonna have it for him.” He looked like he was going to kill me and then, I found out he was the owner of the building. He owned like eight buildings down there. He owned all the Popeye’s Fried Chicken down there!
What is a major NYC lesson that you either have with you and you take. Or even a NYC lesson that your kids have taught you just from being New Yorkers?
Oh, I think stay in your lane. There’s so many people that want to tell you what to do. I hate people telling me what to do and what to say and how to say it and what I’m not allowed to say – I hate that mentality of “Get ’em, gang up on ’em.” New Yorkers have this thing where they’re like, “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
Everyone thinks New Yorkers are so rude and I don’t. I’d rather somebody tell me the truth than smile in my face and tell me a lie. My kids grew up here – they’re very honest, they don’t put up with s–t but they’re not rude about it either.
Do you have a Secret spot that you love to eat, drink, or hang out in, that you’re willing to part with?
I really love Peking Duck House. I used to go there for Christmas and it used to be a bring your own booze place. But yeah Peking Duck House – I’ve had a lot of serious, really good conversations in the corner of that place.
I get the full duck with the pancakes on the side and beer. When people visit, that’s where I take them. There’s a bunch of places, but that’s one of my go-tos.
Is there a neighborhood that you wish you could just explore freely that maybe you haven’t yet?
Harlem, I think – I hear is it has some of the best restaurants I’ve never really gone up. There’s a bunch of hidden jazz bars up there that you kind of have to just know, that people don’t talk about. As far as food and culture and music and all that, Harlem.
Because you have played Daryl Dixon for such a large part of your acting career, which neighborhood do you think he would live in if he had to take up residence in NYC?
I don’t know, maybe he’d go to Chinatown– something he never would have expected. Maybe he would like having the anonymity of walking around Chinatown – all the colors, all the smells. I think it’s an interesting place to get lost in.
You don’t see Daryl in the wilderness or greenery, somewhere like Central Park or any sizable patch of grass in NYC?
I love Central Park – I taught my son how to ride a bike in Central Park and ran around that park.I think if he sees horses used for tourists I think that would bother him, maybe. I think having those big apartment buildings around him might make him feel trapped in there. There’s something about Chinatown where there’s so much visual stimulation that people don’t notice you, you can just blend in.
Our thanks to Norman Reedus for the interview & be sure to check out his free “In Transit” gallery open until May 18th!