Greenwich Village - Escape from the Skyscrapers
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Greenwich Village, also known as the West Village, or simply The Village, is a charming and vibrant old town-homes neighbourhood, home of artists, writers and musicians – from Bob Dylan to Dylan Thomas, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and many more – located below the 14th Street, above Houston Street and west of Broadway. The Village was known as the place to live the “free life” and is home to a large gay community.
The neighbourhood was originally a rural outpost of the city, so you won’t see any tall building, also because the area is landmarked and new structures must adhere to strict rules. The sunshine lights all the tree lined streets, which run diagonally and it’s pleasant to get easily confused or lost in these quaint crisscrossing roads.
Walk around Washington Square Park, where most buildings belong to NYU, reach the triangle formed by West 10th Street, 6th Avenue, and Greenwich Avenue to visit the Jefferson Market Library. Visit the Forbes Galleries for a selection of arts exhibitions at 62 Fifth Avenue (at 12th Street). Reach Christofer Street, the heart of the gay rights movement and have a homemade chocolate crunch at number 120 at the Li-Lac Chocolate Shop.
Shopping Galore
Look for Bleecker Street, east of Sixth Avenue, famous for its nightlife, its fun stores and boutiques. Line up at the Magnolia cupcake bakery for old fashioned delicious buttery vanilla cakes, at Bleecker street number 401, shop for new and used books at number 400 at the Biography Bookshop, or cross the street for the hip Marc Jacobs shop at number 403. Shop at Tommy Hilfiger at number 375, featuring designer vintage pieces or at number 381 for Ralph Lauren and 376 for Cynthia Rowley. If you get hungry, at number 278 is John’s Pizza, at 260 is Faicco’s Pork Store, and the Murray’s Cheese Shop is at 254. More places to stop are at number 239: Bleeker Street Records; number 237: Beasty Feasty pet store housed in an old original wooden frame building, and number 309: the former home of Thomas Paine.
Food, Drink and Song
Have breakfast at the bohemian and cosy Doma Cafè in 7 Perry St., at Seventh Ave (tel +1 212 929 4339). You can sip your coffee and have a slice of cake or a Mediterranean sandwich while reading a magazine or a book, or browsing the internet with your laptop in this silent place, and feel at home (that’s what “Doma” means in Czech).
A cheap and cosy place to grab a beer and a delicious burger is the Corner Bistro, at 331 West 4th Street (at Jane St, tel + 1 212 242 9502), open Mon-Sat 11:30am–4am; Sun 12pm–4am.
If you are craving an Italian crispy pizza, dine at Otto on 1 Fifth Avenue at 8th Street (tel +1 212 995 9559). Modelled after an Italian train station, this restaurant carries on the Italian restaurants tradition with its warm atmosphere, offering also a typical gelato of all flavours.
Chumley’s at 86 Bedford Street (between Grove and Barrow Streets) is one of the oldest city’s literary bars, a rustic hidden place where to enjoy pub food and beers. Just like during the Prohibition era, it has no sign at the entrance, and the walls are adorned with photographs of its famous literary clientele such as Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway and Eugene O’Neill. Open Mon–Thu 4pm–midnight; Fri 4pm–2am; Sat 11am–2am; Sun 11am–midnight. Tel +1 212 675 4449.
At night, listen to some of the finest jazz or blues at the Blue Note, at 131 W 3rd St, also offering a great dining experience, open nightly, seven days a week: dinner is served from 6pm, regular showtimes are at 8pm and 10:30pm. Jazz Brunch is served Sundays at 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Tel +1 212 475-8592.
Useful links
Forbes Galleries
Otto Pizzeria
The Blue Note
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