Class of 2016 Village Award Winners — Where Are They Now?
Each year, Village Preservation honors and celebrates the invaluable people, places, and organizations that make our neighborhoods some of the most interesting and exceptional in the city.
In 2016, Village Preservation (then GVSHP) gathered at The New School for our 26th Annual Village Awards. Ten years later, New York City has changed but the legacy of the 2016 awardees remains a vital part of our neighborhood fabric. Today we explore where those seven 2016 Village Award winners are today.
East Village Meat Market
The neighborhood around Second Avenue and East 9th Street has seen many old-school shops disappear, but the East Village Meat Market is still going strong. It remains a rare, living link to the “Ukrainian East Village” of the mid-20th century, continuing to serve its famous kielbasa, borscht, smoked hams, and so much more to the Ukrainian community and New York foodies alike. They have been strong advocates for the people of Ukraine via one of our 2022 Village Awardees, Razom for Ukriane.
The Strand Bookstore
A decade after its award, the “18 miles of books” is still the crown jewel of Broadway. It remains a bustling hub for bibliophiles, not just surviving the pandemic but thriving among a shifting retail landscape by doubling down on its legendary event series and expanding its “Book Hookup” subscription services. Its rare and collectible book room is one of our favorite places in the East Village.
Smalls Jazz Club
Since 2016, Smalls has become a global leader in digital preservation with close to 5,000 artists in their archive. Through SmallsLIVE, the club now livestreams every set, ensuring that even if you can’t make it down the narrow stairs, you can hear the world’s best jazz from anywhere on Earth.
Julius’ Bar
Already a legend in 2016, Julius’ has since achieved the highest levels of formal recognition. In 2022, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission officially designated the building as an individual landmark, honoring its role as the site of the 1966 “Sip-In”—a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history. Today, it remains one of the city’s oldest and most welcoming neighborhood taverns.
Jaffe Art Theater (Village East by Angelika)
The 2016 award recognized the incredible restoration of the theater’s Moorish Revival interior, including its breathtaking central dome. Today, the theater is as beautiful as ever. While it was rebranded as “Village East by Angelika” in 2021, it remains the city’s premiere destination for independent film, housed within a New York City designated landmark.
Save Gansevoort (Regina Kellerman Award)
The 2016 Regina Kellerman Award went to this grassroots group for their fierce defense of the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Following the long tradition of local activism, this group formed in response to the threat posed by plans to demolish, replace, and build on top of several historic buildings in the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Save Gansevoort mobilized and brought in a broad cross-section of the community including long-time residents to newcomers to fight a developer’s plan to drastically alter the historic block of Gansevoort Street between Washington & Greenwich Streets.
Save Gansevoort is now fighting another advocacy battle alongside Village Preservation and others against the 600-foot “Gansevoort Square.” Read more and take action here.
In Memoriam – Steve Cannon
As the founder of A Gathering of the Tribes, Steve Cannon was the unofficial mayor of East Village bohemia. Sadly, he passed away in 2019 at the age of 84. While his physical gallery on East 3rd Street is gone, his archives were acquired by NYU’s Fales Library, and the “Tribes” spirit lives on through the countless writers and artists he mentored. Village Preservation is leading a campaign to landmark 285-287 East 3rd Street, which was, for decades, the home of Steve Cannon and his “Gathering of the Tribes” organization. Click here to urge City officials to deliver on their “Equity Framework” and landmark this property.