October Programming at Village Preservation

Hosting over 80 programs annually, nearly all of which are free and open to the public, Village Preservation programming brings the architectural and cultural history of our neighborhoods to life through tours, lectures, conversations, webinars, and much more. 

You can revisit many of these programs on Village Preservation’s YouTube channel. Today, we take a look at some of our upcoming October programs, which feature a wide variety of both in-person and virtual tours, lectures, and book talks!

Special Events:

Enjoy fall in Greenwich Village with these two special events!

Tree Wonder Washington Square Park – October 19

Join us for this free drawing session, especially for Village Preservation, at the base of Washington Square Park’s English Elm. The session is led by an invited artist who shares drawing techniques with participants or inspires them with prompts to draw from. Free drawing materials and paper are always provided, and all ages and experience levels are encouraged to participate!

Plaque Unveiling: Amelia Earhart – October 27

Join us for the ceremonial unveiling of a plaque honoring pioneer aviator Amelia Earhart at Greenwich House, where she once lived and worked as a social worker. We will hear about her record-breaking feats, her life in the Village, and her cultural legacy. Read more about Amelia Earhart’s life in Greenwich Village here.

This is our 26th plaque unveiling. Our plaque program has honored and marked the homes of local figures from Jane Jacobs to James Baldwin; Allen Ginsberg to Charles Mingus; Frank O’Hara to Frank Stella; and Martha Graham to Lorraine Hansberry, as well as historically significant sites such as the former NAACP headquarters, Julius’ Bar, and the Fillmore East.

In-Person Book Talks

Our book talk series features an exciting roster of experts whose research and writing illuminate various aspects of our neighborhoods. A Q&A session follows each in-person book talk.

Vinyl NYC – October 14

Join acclaimed photographers and Village Preservation friends James and Karla Murray as they talk about their newest book, exploring New York’s vibrant vinyl scene in a tribute to 33 1/3 of the city’s favorite record shops. Spanning all 5 boroughs, including our neighborhoods, these havens have become essential to the cultural fabric of the city, bringing together communities through a shared passion for music.

Hello (and goodbye) To All That – October 21

Join us for a unique first-hand exploration of our changing neighborhoods and city. Hello (and goodbye) To All That (Post Hill Press) is a memoir about a child of suburban Chicago who grew up hearing fabled stories about the New York City of his father’s day—from the World’s Fair to Mayor La Guardia to his grandfather’s drugstore in Midtown—and who eventually moves to New York as an aspiring writer and teacher.

Home to some of the country’s worst tragedies and upheavals, New York has also been a place of national recovery and inspiration. The book presents intriguing encounters with everyday characters, celebrities, and writers; ironic intersections between the past and present; and a touching intergenerational story of father and son.

Creative Ozone: The Artists of Westbeth – October 22

A captivating portrait of Westbeth, the legendary artists’ residence that has shaped contemporary art, activism, and New York’s cultural landscape for over fifty years. From legendary photographer Diane Arbus and conceptual artist Hans Haacke to avant-garde theater pioneers like Joe Chaikin and Gloria Miguel, Westbeth has nurtured some of the most influential voices in contemporary art. In Creative Ozone, Miriam Chaiken offers a rare insider’s look at this extraordinary community.

The Great Disappearing Act: Germans in New York City

In 1880, New York City was the third-largest German-speaking city in the world, with half of its 1.2 million residents either German-born or their American-born children. These immigrants clustered in Kleindeutschland (Little Germany), now called the Lower East Side.

Historian Christina A. Ziegler-McPherson will discuss her book, The Great Disappearing Act: Germans in New York City, 1880-1930, which analyzes the assimilation of one of New York City’s largest immigrant communities in the early 20th century. 

Virtual Lectures:

Join us from anywhere in the world for our spectacular October webinars!

Kleindeutschland and the Church of Most Holy Redeemer

The magnificent Church of Most Holy Redeemer on East 3rd Street is in danger. Sadly, it was recently announced that the church, constructed in 1852 with 1913 alterations, will soon close.

Dena Tasse-Winter of Village Preservation will discuss Most Holy Redeemer’s architecture, history and current preservation challenges. Additionally, Dr. Richard Haberstroh will present on the Lower East Side’s Kleindeutschland neighborhood. Village Preservation and allied groups are seeking to save the church via landmark designation.

The Sounds of the Village: A Conversation with Richard Barone

Join us for an evening with acclaimed recording artist, performer, producer, author, and professor Richard Barone, the subject of Village Preservation’s most recent oral history. His lifetime of work has been profoundly influenced by, intertwined with, and a celebration of the musical history of Greenwich Village.

With any questions about our upcoming programming, email rsvp@villagepreservation.org. To donate to Village Preservation and support our free and low-cost programming, visit our website.