Tom Delgado – Giving the whole world tours of New York City during the pandemic, by Brian Abate

The coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions have halted tourism in New York City, but Tom Delgado is still giving virtual tours of it’s different neighborhoods, including Red Hook.

Delgado’s tours are different from most in that he shows entire neighborhoods. He devotes time to the Red Hook Houses in addition to places like Hometown BBQ and Sunny’s Bar.
For Delgado, the path to becoming a tour guide has been an interesting one, and it has become a full-time job for him during the pandemic.

Delgado attended the University of Florida and earned a law degree before moving to New York 13 years ago. While practicing law he got involved in acting and stand-up comedy. What began as something he enjoyed doing in his free time soon became a bigger part of his life, until he decided to stop practicing law.

“It’s funny that a lot of people ask me about how I took the leap from working as a lawyer to an actor and comedian, but it wasn’t difficult for me,” Delgado said. “I became more and more involved in doing stand-up and acting until I reached the point where I didn’t have time to keep practicing law anymore. By then it didn’t feel like a leap. You can start small, devote a little bit of time each day to what you’re passionate about and see where it takes you.”

After that, Delgado began to also work as a New York City tour guide. During the pandemic he hasn’t been able to do comedy so his focus has shifted to giving virtual tours of different neighborhoods, which he posts on YouTube.

“I have someone film me but I do all of the editing and research,” Delgado said. “I’m trying to do them every week so I’ve actually been really busy.”

While Delgado has been limited to giving tours locally during the pandemic, he plans to travel once it’s safe to do so and give tours in other states and countries.

“My parents are Nicaraguan and I grew up traveling there every year,” Delgado said. “I’d love to do more traveling. I did one tour in Puerto Rico and I speak Spanish so I’d like to do some more tours in Spanish as well.”

For now though, there is plenty for Delgado to do in New York City. In addition to giving tours of neighborhoods, he gives tours of landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and shares the history of various traditions like Tickertape parades and Fashion week.

“One of the coolest things is seeing people experience something like the Empire State Building for the first time,” Delgado said. “It’s a beautiful thing because even though I’ve been there so many times, it’s like I’m experiencing it for the first time because they’re experiencing it for the first time.”
Delgado also talked about New York City, saying “You have to have the energy to be in New York and it filters you out if you don’t.” One ‘welcome to New York’ moment came while he was giving a tour.

“This lady started heckling me and when she heard that I had been a lawyer and was giving tours of the city she said ‘oh you must be doing great,’” Delgado said. “I didn’t really say anything but this lady in my group started really ripping her,” he said while laughing. “There’s no price on feeling like yourself and when I’m doing this I feel like myself.”

“While we were talking about New York City and the differences between here and any other place in the world, he asked me if I had ever read “Here is New York” by E. B. White and Roger Angell.

“When I said I hadn’t, he said that I should check it out and it should be required reading for anyone who writes and lives in New York City. While reading it last night I was struck by how much the letter still applies to New York City today, even though it was written in 1949. One particular quote stood out to me.

“White talks about three types of New York cities. The first is made up of those who were born here, the second is made up of those who commute here and the third is made up of those who were born somewhere else but moved here.

“Of these three trembling cities the greatest is the last—the city of final destination, the city that is a goal. It is the third that accounts for New York’s high-strung disposition, its poetical department, its dedication to the arts, and its comparable achievements. Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness; natives give it solidarity and continuity; but settlers give it passion.”

Of these three great cities that White describes, Tom Delgado is the third and that is just what he is giving this city: its passion