121 Charles Street: A Chat with Ingrid Bernhard
Long-time Off the Grid readers will remember the stir that was caused last summer when an ill-informed real estate listing described the property at 121 Charles Street as a development … Continued
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Author: Amanda
Diana Davies Collection of Historic LGBT Images
Following on some groundbreaking events last week – the LPC designation of the Stonewall Inn as the city’s first LGBT individual landmark and then the Supreme Court ruling on marriage … Continued
Building (817) Broadway: Remembering George B. Post
On the corner of 12th Street, the highly ornamented 817 Broadway is a visual treat. The building, which turns 120 years old this year, was constructed in 1895 to the … Continued
Where Was Laura Keene’s Theatre?
In remembering the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln assassination, the Merchant’s House Museum displayed a dress in the house that was worn by a member of the Tredwell family to … Continued
What the Lower East Side Means to Me
The Lower East Side means many things to many people. Working as an architectural historian in New York City, it means a great deal to me. I always consider it … Continued
Sunday, May 3rd – Our Village House Tour!
Okay, everyone, if you’ve been considering joining us for our annual house tour, but haven’t yet purchased tickets,then now is your chance! It’s this Sunday, May 3rd from 1 – … Continued
2015 House Tour Preview: The Studio of Jack Levine
We’re just under two weeks away from our annual house tour. We hope you’ll be joining us! Six Village townhouses will be opening their doors to help benefit the work … Continued
Our 2015 House Tour Preview: Bleecker Gardens
We’re excited to announce that individual tickets for our 17th annual house tour are now available for purchase! There are a number of different types; scroll to the bottom of … Continued
Broadway and 14th Street, Then & Now
The history of Broadway is a diverse one. In our neighborhood, this famous thoroughfare has seen upscale townhouses be replaced by store-and-loft buildings, many of which have since been converted … Continued
Where Did Ross on “Friends” Live?
It seems like there are countless mentions on the Internet of the apartment building in which Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey lived on “Friends,” the hit show that ran from … Continued
Village Scenes: A March of Snow and Sunshine
After a long, cold, and snowy January and February, Mother Nature decided we weren’t quite ready for spring just because our calendars told us it was March. Only a few … Continued
Handy Resource: LPC Hearing/Meeting Videos
First off, this is our 1,100th blog post! Be sure to click on the blue image in our sidebar to read more of our posts categorized by neighborhood. For today’s … Continued
What’s in Store for 237 Bleecker Street
If you love walking our Village streets, chances are you’ve come across the neglected little building at 237 Bleecker Street. Once a stagecoach house when it was built c. 1835, … Continued
Happy “Landmark” Birthday, 203 Prince Street!
Today we’d like to wish 203 Prince Street a happy “landmark” birthday. On this day 41 years ago, in 1974, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated 203 Prince Street an … Continued
Fifth Avenue and 12th Street, Then & Now
Today, the building that houses the Salmagundi Club at 47 Fifth Avenue is a bit of an odd duck. At four-and-a-half stories, the 1853 Italianate style rowhouse is sandwiched by … Continued
Celebrating Washington’s Birthday
This post is the third in a three-part series about holidays held in the Village, a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2014 Intro to Public History … Continued
Lincoln and Memorial Day
This post is the second in a three-part series about holidays held in the Village, a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2014 Intro to Public History … Continued
Irish Parade Riots
This post is the first in a three-part series about holidays held in the Village, a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2014 Intro to Public History … Continued
Building (801) Broadway: McCreery’s Cast-Iron Gem
For today’s Building Broadway post, we thought we’d take a look at the former McCreery’s Dry Goods Store at the corner of Broadway and 11th Street. Featuring this building is … Continued
Tearooms of the Village
Though a rare surviving architectural element today, the tearoom (also known as a back porch or tea porch) was an original feature of Greek Revival rowhouses throughout New York City … Continued
121 Charles Street, from Yorkville to the Village
By now, many of you have heard about the controversy over the little house at 121 Charles Street, at the corner of Greenwich Street. If you haven’t, ERG Property Advisors … Continued
Then & Now: 117 7th Avenue South
Earlier this month the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved a revised design for a new building at 192 7th Avenue South, corner of West 11th Street. It will replace a … Continued
A Tale of Two Tenements: 338-342 East 13th Street
Today on “A Tale of Two” I actually have three tenements to share and compare. This group can be found on the south side of East 13th Street between 1st … Continued
Your Neighborhood Landmark: Firehouse Engine Co. 33
We love our landmarks. So we thought we’d show it with our new series: Your Neighborhood Landmark. This series will highlight and celebrate individual landmarks across our neighborhoods that have been … Continued
Sharpen Your Pencils: A History of 710 East 9th Street
Kids today still know what a pencil is and how to sharpen it, right? In any case, following the news of P.S. 64 we reported on earlier this week, we … Continued
The “Fighting Ninth Precinct” at 321-323 East 5th Street
Since 1912, this site has served as a station house for the NYPD (it replaced a 19th century stable and feed store). Originally known as the 15th Precinct Police Station, … Continued
A Happily Ever After for 43 MacDougal Street?
Many longtime residents of the Village have wondered about the fate of 43 MacDougal Street, which has sat vacant for decades. Located at the corner of King Street on the … Continued
Building (841) Broadway: A Majestic Terra-Cotta Beauty
It’s been a while since our last Building Broadway post, but that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped admiring all those stunning structures along that oh-so-famous thoroughfare. Today’s feature is 841 Broadway, … Continued
Map It! Manhattan Street
Last month reader Mike commented on our Lewis Street post that his aunt lived nearby on Houston, and that he remembered seeing a ‘Manhattan Street’ when he visited. I hadn’t … Continued
A Tale of Two Tenements: 226 & 228 East 6th Street
This week we thought we’d take another look at sister tenements – designed by the same architect, built the same year, and located next to each other – in the … Continued
Map It! A Day in the Life of 121 Charles Street
Much has been said lately about the potential sale of 121 Charles Street in the Greenwich Village Historic District. This summer, members of the Glass family (owners of the house … Continued
Map It! Looking Back at Lewis Street
Today on Map It! we’re unearthing some old maps and photos of Lewis Street, which once ran diagonally from Grand Street to East 8th Street between Avenue D and the … Continued
277 West 10th Street, Then & Now
Located at the corner of West 10th and Washington Streets, the imposing building at 277 West 10th Street was built between 1894 and 1896 to the designs of Martin V.B. … Continued
Throwback Thursday: 392 West Street
With the summer breeze , a stop along the Greenwich Village waterfront to reminisce about its past seems in order. The building at 392 West Street (A.K.A. 6 Weehawken Street) … Continued
McKim, Mead & White on Avenue D
Here’s an unassuming building with some interesting connections to one of our country’s premiere architectural firms — McKim, Mead & White. Meet 119 Avenue D, which at first glance … Continued
Throwback Thursday: First Avenue Market Scenes
Welcome back to another post in our Throwback Thursday series where we feature everyday scenes of yesteryear. I recently came across some neat market photos taken by Andrew Herman as … Continued
Beware the Lot Line Window
Do you know what a lot line window is? Could you identify them in the historic photo of the Bayard-Condict Building above? They’re a little tricky to see given the … Continued
One Year Ago Today: PFLAG Plaque Unveiled
One year ago today outside the Church of the Village at the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 13th Street, GVSHP helped to unveil a plaque to commemorate the first … Continued
What’s That Orange Netting On My Neighbor’s Rooftop?
Every so often we get a call or an email here at GVSHP asking about a scaffold-like structure that suddenly pops up on a rooftop of a neighboring building. What … Continued
2014 Village Award Winner: New York Marble Cemetery
Here’s a neighborhood old-timer for you. The New York Marble Cemetery, which turns 184 years old this year, was developed in 1830 as the first privately owned, nonsectarian cemetery in … Continued
Check for Violations Before Buying a Landmark
In continuation of our Landmarking 101 series, today we’re focusing on active violations on a landmarked property and just who is responsible for them. Whether you’re a broker or a … Continued
“Is my building a landmark?” – CityMap Edition
Last week we shared one tip on how to find out if your building is a landmark. Today, we’d like to offer a second. CityMap has a helpful feature that … Continued
“Is my building a landmark?”
One of the questions we’re asked every so often here at GVSHP is whether or not a building is a landmark (and by “landmark” we mean one officially designated by … Continued
A Tale of Two Tenements
As I was walking along East 11th Street recently I happened to notice two tenements sitting side by side that appeared to be “sister buildings” (built at the same time … Continued
Throwback Thursday: The Kickoff on King Street
Welcome to the inaugural post in our Throwback Thursday series where we will share some of our favorite old photos of everyday life in the Village, East Village, and Noho. … Continued
All the World’s a Village on Shakespeare’s 450th Birthday
Today marks William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, although some sources say his exact date of birth is unknown. He never set foot in the Village – he lived before it was … Continued
April 12, 1901: Back When the “New Law” was New
The 20th century had hardly begun when the New York State legislature signed into law a new act to address old problems in this city regarding tenement construction. This groundbreaking … Continued
293 and 297 West 4th Street: Then & Now
At 293 and 297 West 4th Street, between Bank and West 11th Streets in the Greenwich Village Historic District, sit two new townhouses that, at first glance, look like three. … Continued
1980s Tax Photos: Then & Now
For today’s post in our Then & Now series, we thought we’d feature a few locations in our neighborhoods as they looked in the 1980s. Similar to last week’s post … Continued
Map It! Finding the Lost Stuyvesant Alley
Recently, someone contacted us asking about the location of Stuyvesant Alley, which no longer exists. As it turns out, historic maps were able to help shine some light. This long-gone … Continued
Happy 45th To Neighboring 1830s East Village Cemeteries
The New York Marble Cemetery and the New York City Marble Cemetery (yes, it’s confusing) both turn 45 tomorrow. Well, they’re actually a lot older than that (over 180 years … Continued
Photos of the Merchant’s House as a Young Museum
We always love talking about the Merchant’s House here on Off the Grid (here’s some proof); how could you not be amazed by a house that was occupied by one … Continued
The Beatles Arrive in Greenwich Village
“Yeah, yeah, yeah” – as the New York Times wrote in February 1964 – it was in fact February 7, 1964 that the Beatles arrived for the very first time … Continued
Remembering Pete Seeger
“The artists.” Without a doubt, that response is the one I hear most often when I ask what people love most about the Village’s history. And when it comes to … Continued
8-Story Apartment Building to Replace Old East Village Theater
Many of us have known for some time that the former theater at 98 Avenue A would be facing the wrecking ball. In June of last year, a demolition application … Continued
A Block of West Street, Then & Now
In the Far West Village, along the Greenwich Village waterfront, sits a block of West Street between 10th and Charles Streets. Of the buildings on this block, only 396 and … Continued
“The Ink Pot” on Sheridan Square, Then & Now
Happy New Year! And what better way to kick off a brand new year than by sharing one of our favorite series with you: Then & Now. Let’s turn the … Continued
Hard Luck Town: A 1930s Shantytown in the East Village
This post is the last of a four-part series called Everyday Lives, Ordinary People: A History of East Village Immigrants, a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall … Continued
A Rite of Passage for Jewish Gangsters of the Lower East Side: The Manhattan Third District Magistrate’s Court
This post is the third of a four-part series called Everyday Lives, Ordinary People: A History of East Village Immigrants, a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall … Continued
Skirmish in the Subway: A Not So Merry Christmas for Gangster Monk Eastman
This post is the second of a four-part series called Everyday Lives, Ordinary People: A History of East Village Immigrants, a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall … Continued
323 East 6th Street: Religious Centers Bookend a City Disaster
This post is the first of a four-part series called Everyday Lives, Ordinary People: A History of East Village Immigrants, a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall … Continued
Building Broadway: Incredible Photographs from 1920
Here we are in the midst of the holiday season. The city was blanketed with snow this weekend and shoppers are frantically working through their holiday gift-giving lists. For today’s … Continued
Great Scot! The Designs of D. & J. Jardine
Today we thought we’d feature a few designs by the late 19th century architecture firm of D. & J. Jardine. A prolific firm in New York City in general, the … Continued
Building (670) Broadway: Pilasters with…Bird Feet?
For today’s “Building Broadway” offering, I couldn’t help but notice a curious detail as I walked along the bustling thoroughfare: pilasters with bird feet bases at 670 Broadway! Well, that’s … Continued
Building Detective: Where in the East Village Was Bernard Herrmann?
Citizen Kane Psycho North by Northwest Taxi Driver Recognize these movies? Can you guess what they all have in common? As the title of this post suggests, they are all … Continued
Zito’s Bakery: Past, Present, and Future
Yesterday the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved an application for a new storefront at 259-263 Bleecker Street in the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension II. If this address rings a … Continued
Joni Mitchell, in a Bleecker Street Cafe
We here at Off the Grid are obviously big fans of the Village folk scene of the 1960s, and today we’re thrilled to spotlight one of its biggest stars. Singer/songwriter … Continued
72 Fifth Avenue, Then & Now
Today we take a look back at a piece written by former GVSHP staffer Dana Schulz about an interesting piece of history on Fifth Avenue involving scandal, cigarettes, and urban … Continued
Building (808) Broadway: Halloween Edition
It’s that time of year again. Someone dressed as Minnie Mouse passes you on your way to the office (just this morning, in fact) and dogs in their Halloween finest … Continued
Where Have You Gone, Fugazy Theatre?
Last month we featured the drawings of Anthony F. Dumas, a man who was responsible for illustrating countless theaters across the world. One of the beauties of his drawings is … Continued
440 West 14th Street: Then & Now
Near the southern end of the High Line, the Meatpacking District bustles with designer clothing stores, outdoor cafes, and trendy hotels. Tourists in particular flock to this area, and it … Continued
Building (693) Broadway: The Wise Old Owl
For today’s “Building Broadway” post we thought we’d do things a little differently. With Broadway being such a busy thoroughfare, it’s not uncommon to find lots of great details on … Continued
Behind the Seams of the Butterick Building
Do you have childhood memories of your mom sewing your clothes? Or have you ever come across your grandmother’s old sewing machine and huge stash of patterns and fabrics? If … Continued
Hebrew Actors’ Union: Then & Now
It’s always fun to look at then and now photos of buildings and streetscapes we’ve long come to admire here on Off the Grid. Today, just ahead of the Labor … Continued
The Artist: Anthony F. Dumas and His Theater Drawings
An amazing resource that we have featured here and there on Off the Grid is the theater drawings of Anthony F. Dumas. From the Jewish Rialto along lower Second Avenue … Continued
The Mystery Behind Henington Hall
A couple of weeks ago I was walking along 3rd Street in the East Village and stopped in front of a sculpture park that I had seen many times before. … Continued
Building (809) Broadway: Keep on Manufacturing
Our Building Broadway series provides a glimpse into the manufacturing past of Broadway’s historic loft buildings. From Houston to 14th Streets, read more posts in this series by clicking here! … Continued
A Light Plate for Landmarks in August
As the summer rolls on, we thought we’d take the time to do a little Landmarks update. The above screenshot from our Landmarks Applications Webpage shows three Certificate of Appropriateness … Continued
Building (620) Broadway: A Colonette Confection
Building Broadway is a new series from Off the Grid that highlights the beautiful historic loft buildings that line Broadway between Houston and 14th Streets. These posts cover only bits … Continued
33 MacDougal Alley, the Lost Studio of Isamu Noguchi
MacDougal Alley is one of those hidden enclaves of Greenwich Village that many passersby may not notice, but if they do they are treated to a wonderful piece of city … Continued
Back When Furniture Filled the 107 West 13th Street Garage
On West 13th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues stands a parking garage on the very edge of the Greenwich Village Historic District. It happened to catch my eye one … Continued
The Village Vanguard is Singin’ in the Rain
On this particularly rainy Monday, an image of Gene Kelly singin’ and dancin’ in the rain sure does come to mind. Lo and behold, an exciting discovery was made: the … Continued
NoHo East Historic District Turned 10 Yesterday!
Today, the Landmarks Preservation Commission will be holding a public hearing on the proposed South Village Historic District. Yesterday, the NoHo East Historic District turned ten years old! Yes, on … Continued
What’s Happening at 688 Broadway?
Lately we’ve been receiving emails asking about what’s happening at 688 Broadway in NoHo, which is located on the east side of the street between East 4th and Great Jones … Continued
Bil Baird and His Marionette Theater
While Bil Baird may not be a household name today, his legacy lives on across the globe through a famous scene in the 1965 movie, The Sound of Music. Baird, … Continued
Bowery Alliance of Neighbors: 2013 Village Award Winner
The Bowery Alliance of Neighbors (BAN), a grassroots organization, has been a passionate force within the New York City preservation community since 2007. Co-founded by David Mulkins and Anna Sawaryn, … Continued
Follow-Up: The Minetta Place That Could Have Been
Last week, as part of our Map It! series, we featured the long-forgotten Minetta Place, which used to be located on the block just west of Minetta Street and south … Continued
Map It! Minetta Street, Lane, and…Place?
We’re gearing up for tomorrow’s LPC public meeting in which the commissioners will vote to “calendar” the proposed South Village Historic District. With this in mind, we thought we’d take … Continued
McCreery’s Then & Now: Dry Goods to Duplexes
The middle of the 19th Century saw an influx of wealthy New Yorkers moving north of Washington Square. To cater to this growing population, lavish new developments began to … Continued
Happy Birthday NoHo Historic District Extension!
Today, we’d like to extend a “Happy ‘Landmark’ Birthday” to the NoHo Historic District Extension, which the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated on May 13, 2008. As you can see … Continued
Happy 5th Landmark Birthday, East 11th Street Baths!
How time flies – five years ago last March, the former East Eleventh Street Baths between Avenues A and B became an official New York City Landmark. I remember it … Continued
A Walk in the Park Leads to Our Village House Tour!
Warm, sunny days in the Village have us here at GVSHP looking forward to our annual house tour, which takes place this Sunday, May 5th. There’s still time to buy … Continued
Step Into History on this Year’s Village House Tour
In just a week and a half, GVSHP will hold our 15th Annual Benefit House Tour. There’s still time to buy tickets to see six beautiful private homes in the … Continued
Then & Now: Washington Mews
A familiar site to New Yorkers and visitors alike, the charming Washington Mews sits just one block north of Washington Square Park. There are a few street names in New … Continued
The Story Behind 316-318 Bowery
Last week, GVSHP co-sponsored an event with Fourth Arts Block (FAB) at LaMaMa Experimental Theater Club at 6 East 1st Street, just off the Bowery. If you attended the book … Continued
Two Great Maps for One Great City
Do you recognize the three-dimensional map in this photo? Hint: half a century ago, the model-making team of Raymond Lester Associates was meticulously recreating the city’s five boroughs in preparation … Continued
Mad Men’s Village People
This Sunday, the Season 6 premiere of Mad Men will transport us back to late 1960s New York. Along with the characters’ backgrounds, props, and costumes, locations play a big … Continued
Then & Now: A Home Fit for Fifth Avenue (and Mark Twain)
For most, lower Fifth Avenue conjures up images of grand early to mid-20th century apartment houses that guide the eye towards Washington Square Arch, the gateway to one of the … Continued
LPC Spotlights Women in the Arts
March is Women’s History Month; the month-long celebration highlights the accomplishments of women in various fields throughout our history. With so much to choose from in New York City alone, … Continued
My Favorite Things: 1 Astor Place
On the corner of Broadway and Astor Place stands one of my favorite things: the beautiful red brick and terra cotta building at 1 Astor Place. Its bold color lends … Continued