The City Speaks: Experience The Languages Of New York City

I’ve been on a lot of walking tours and this one is my new favorite! You can tell Nic has put a lot of work into crafting the tour, doing research, making props, and incorporating music and costume changes. I had a lot of fun learning about the neighborhood because Nic is really passionate about sharing his knowledge on history, linguistics, and culture and he converted really interesting topics. I also appreciated that he encouraged interaction between the whole tour group and by the end it felt more like a conversation with friends rather than a lecture. Super fun and unique tour, highly recommend!

We can recommend this tour 10/10. The guide is a real New Yorker, knows what he's talking about, and absolutely knows his job and how to present. There is much to learn about and there are some surprises on the way. It is interactive and socially so also a great possibility to meet other people and not a problem to go alone.

So much fun, walking tour meets street theater. I highly recommend this tour, informative & entertaining.

It was fun! Nic had a ton of energy and was super knowledgeable able the LES. I've lived in this neighborhood for years and didn't know a fraction of the things we learned on the tour. It was DEFINITELY not your average tour. I love taking city walking tours, and I've never been to one quite like this. I won't spoil it for you, but I will say that there are a large variety of cultures, styles, and histories represented – all themed around linguistics. I highly recommend it.

Two hours of a lot of fun. Interesting insights on what makes New Yorkers talk how they do and the differences with how people from outside the city speak. Nic works very hard and is very engaging, involving those on the tour in a series of activities, including a scavenger hunt. Great way to experience the diversity and history of the Lower East Side.

I enjoyed the talk and more specifically Nic is such an interesting person and 💯 genius on building the tour based on his gifted multi talents of hip hop, illustrations, languages and films. I really appreciate this chance to get to know another crazy fascinating NYC soul 😁 Love the consciousness of trying to create an atmosphere where the group can mingle with each other as well!!! Recommended 👍

This was a truly wonderful, educational, interactive, and fun experience. I highly recommend it, even if you’ve lived in NYC for a while (like me). It encouraged me to look at my surroundings and really understand the depth and breadth of history and the impact of our presence on the city and vice versa.

The City Speaks tour was unlike anything I've ever done. It's part walking tour, part linguistics class, part one-man show. If you've ever wondered about the history and influences behind New York slang and dialect, Nick will take you on a deep dive that's both genuinely educational and wildly entertaining. Fair warning: Nick is a whole entire person. He changes costumes, he acts, he dances, and he brings the energy and confidence that only a former (current?) actor can embody. If you love interactive experiences and don't mind being pulled in, you're going to have a GREAT time. If the phrase "audience participation" makes you want to disappear into the sidewalk, you've been warned (but honestly, he makes it hard to stay grumpy about it). What really sets this tour apart is the variety. There are activities, surprises, surprise costume changes, and enough new information to make even longtime New Yorkers feel like they're learning something (I assume...disclosure I am not from NYC). Highly recommend for the curious, the theatrical, and anyone who's just looking for something weird to do.

Came in not knowing what to expect and was super impressed! The experience was super engaging and I really loved all the different characters that "the tour" played. As someone who's lived near NYC for a while but never knew much about its history or culture, I thought it was really cool how the tour was structured around things that are a part of typical New York scenery as opposed to focusing for example on the more iconic tourist attractions. Highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in learning about NYC culture, both for tourists and for those living in / near New York!

Our tour gave a really unique experience which highlighted the way that local New Yorkers interact with each other in everyday life. I love how the tour focus on culture and history than the famous tour attractions that everyone knows about . The tour was super engaging as well!!!

Great knowledge great time, good way to break the conventional barriers between neighbors and others

The tour was such a fun experience and much more interesting than any other tours in NYC area! Highly recommended if you are looking for a tour that is engaging and educational. Nic is a great tour guide and brings so much energy to his tours! Don’t miss out and sign up for the next available slot!

Really original way to learn about and experience how the languages of New York come alive. Creative, insightful, and a fresh way to see the city from a different perspective. I would highly, highly recommend Nic's tour to anyone visiting!

If you’re looking for a NYC tour that’s engaging I highly recommend Nic’s tours. His tours stand out- he involves the group, asks questions, and makes you feel like you’re part of the experience instead of just listening to a lecture. On top of that, he’s incredibly charismatic and clearly passionate about what he does. You can tell he’s really good at his job. By the end of the tour you not only learn a lot about the city, but you also walk away feeling like you experienced it in a deeper way. Highly recommend if you want a tour that’s fun, informative, and memorable.

Such an awesome time! Definitely my favorite tour I've been on in NYC. It was fun, and I learned so many things about all the cultures and languages of the Lower East Side.

This tour revolutionized how I see Soho. Our guide, Nic, had great energy. Very funny and made us feel welcome. Knowledgeable about the area, he made learning fun and conversational. 10/10 recommend this experience!

I've been on tours in Hong Kong, Montréal, Istanbul, Naples (Italy), and New York City, and this tour continues to stand out in its part-theatrics, audience engagement, and scavenger hunt. Stretching the materiality of the subject itself: the languages & slang of a single neighborhood in NYC — the tour guide treats the city as a stage, cleverly utilizing and embracing the seemingly mundane nooks and pockets of this eclectic city and turning them into a spotlight for cultural knowledge that sparks curiosity and appreciation. I've lived here for nearly two decades and still learned so much! Highly recommended for tourists and locals alike.

I’ve traveled to many parts of the world and gone on countless walking tours, and this was honestly one of the most well-crafted tours I’ve ever experienced. When I visit a city, I’m most curious about its subcultures. The parts that aren’t immediately obvious to newcomers, yet give the city its real character. This tour absolutely delivers that for New York. NYC is a mosaic shaped by waves of immigrants across generations. On this walk through the Lower East Side, those histories don’t just get explained, they come alive. Nic Reale doesn’t simply lecture about the neighborhood. He performs it. His storytelling blends deep knowledge of local history with acting, language, dance, and humor. At several moments during the tour, Nic suddenly peeled off a layer of clothing and instantly transformed into a completely different character from another era of the neighborhood, launching into a new story. This happened again and again throughout the walk, and each time it brought a different slice of NYC’s cultural history vividly to life. These are the kinds of stories and perspectives you would never discover just wandering the streets on your own. Even many lifelong New Yorkers would probably learn something new. If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to understand the soul of a city, not just see the sights, I highly recommend letting Nic take you on this journey.

This experience is so much more than just a dry typical tour pointing out sites with a bit of history thrown in. These tours are a journey of discovery into language, culture, and music all bubbling from the human stew that is New York City. Nick, the tour operator, radiates with enthusiasm and energy and could be characterized as Noam Chomsky meets street performer who also happens to be a damn good hip hop dancer! If your bored of Broadway shows and museums, then treat yourself to this truly entertaining and enlightening experience. Jump in and be prepared to be engaged and challenged.