Vice President, Villager Shoots and Kills Hamilton
1804. Weehawken. Dawn. Guns. Drawn.* Perhaps the most famous duel in American history took place on July 11, 1804, a result of a bitter political rivalry. Aaron Burr and Alexander … Continued
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Author: Lannyl Stephens
Pride Month in NYC: More Historic LGBT sites to visit in our neighborhoods
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village. The … Continued
It’s the Butter that binds us! 2017 Village Award Winner Patisserie Claude delights and defines.
Off the Grid is highlighting our 2017 Village Awards winners in our upcoming June 6th Annual Meeting & Award Ceremony. Click here for more information about the event and to RSVP. Read about other awardees here. … Continued
A History of the East Village in 10 Objects
The following is an updated re-posting originally authored by Dana Schulz. As May is Lower East Side History Month, we at GVSHP thought it would be nice to revisit a … Continued
2017 Regina Kellerman Award Goes to a Memorial, a Park, and a Restoration
GVSHP’s Annual Village Awards Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 6th at the New School Auditorium, 66 West 12 Street from 6:30 PM until 8 PM. The Regina Kellerman … Continued
2017 Village Award Winner: The Public Theater
The arts are the soul and life of our civilization. They are the link which we use to identify individual and shared expressions. It is widely recognized that The … Continued
The 19th Annual Spring House Tour Benefit is This Sunday!
EXPLORE SIX STATELY GREENWICH VILLAGE HOMES ON THE 19TH ANNUAL SPRING HOUSE TOUR BENEFIT
The 2017 Spring House Tour is right around the corner!
This year’s Spring House Tour Benefit is right around the corner; on Sunday, May 7th to be exact! This year’s tour features seven incredibly beautiful Village properties including hidden gardens, … Continued
April 19, 1927: Mae West Sentenced on Morals Charges at Jefferson Market Courthouse
“Miss West, are you trying to show contempt for this court?” “On the contrary, your Honor,” Mae sweetly responded. “I was doin’ my best to conceal it.” Known for her … Continued
Bob Dylan’s First NYC Gig: April 11, 1961
He blew into town on a cold January day in 1961, slammed the door of his car, walked into Café Wha and landed a gig that night. That’s the legend, … Continued
Women’s History Month Celebration of Jane Jacobs
The celebration of Women’s History Month cannot go without being reminded of the venerable Jane Jacobs. Much has been written about her here on Off the Grid, but let’s pause a … Continued
Celebrate the beauty of Grace Church! Landmarked March 15, 1966
Today we celebrate the glorious structure on the corner of Broadway and East 10th Street: Grace Church in New York. On this day in 1966, Grace Church in New York … Continued
Private Tour of ‘Inventing Downtown’ Exhibit for GVSHP Members
Our friends at the Grey Art Gallery hosted a wonderful private tour of their most recent exhibition for GVSHP members last night! The exhibition, entitled Inventing Downtown: Artist –Run … Continued
Nickelodeon Theater with a Varied History: The Variety
Browsing through GVSHP’s recently updated image archives, I came across photographs of the Variety Theater, which was, once upon a time, a favorite place of mine to go and see … Continued
Christodora House: A leader in the settlement house movement
The Villages and Noho have long been recognized a breeding ground of activity around civil rights and social justice — a fact GVSHP has recently sought to highlight with our … Continued
The ACLU: Hope for uncertain times
Uncertain times bring a certain amount of anxiety. Concern about the future of our basic constitutional rights is something many of us are currently feeling. While the new era of … Continued
Vesuvio Playground: A Haven for the South Village
The Vesuvio playground, one of the few green spaces in the newly designated Sullivan-Thompson Historic District, is a true haven for South Village children. In the 1920s, the New York … Continued
Celebrating the Birthday and Legacy of Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat, born December 22, 1960, may have lived just 27 short years. But in that time he created a language of art which may resonate more than ever today, … Continued
Honoring Patti Smith
On Saturday, December 10, 2016, the extraordinary Patti Smith accepted the Nobel Prize for Literature on behalf of Bob Dylan in Stockholm, Sweden. In a transcendent performance, Smith was overwhelmed … Continued
Happy Birthday Calvin Trillin!
Happy (slightly late) birthday to Greenwich Village resident and long-time GVSHP supporter Calvin Trillin, born December 5, 1935. Mr. Trillin was a contributor to GVSHP’s publication Greenwich Village Stories (available for … Continued
Bob Dylan’s South Village
Bob Dylan in Sheridan Square The South Village has many reasons to be celebrated these days. Of course, the (hopefully) impending designation of the Sullivan Thompson Historic District is a … Continued
3000 Beatniks and the Right to Free Speech
There is an absurdity in the photos and video which depict the event now known as “The Beatnik Riots” in Washington Square Park on April 9, 1961. At face value, … Continued
This Day in 1979: The Talking Heads’ ‘Life During Wartime’ is released
On this day in 1979, The Talking Heads released their single ‘Life During Wartime‘ from the album Fear of Music. The song not only went on the be a classic … Continued
THE PUBLIC THEATER! The former Astor Library and the quest for a Public Theater
Landmarks for Sale—or the Wrecker’s Ball Following on the heels of great success with his free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, Joe Papp, the … Continued
Groundbreaking Musical Hair Premieres at the Public Theater October 17, 1967
The year was 1966. Lyndon Baines Johnson was in his second term as president, America was in the trenches in Vietnam. Both President Kennedy and Malcom X had been assassinated, … Continued
Le Corbusier: Master of Modern Architecture born October 6, 1887
When it comes to modern urban design and planning, perhaps no name figures more prominently than that of Le Corbusier. A Swiss born French architect, he was one of the … Continued
Autumn is in the air! Time for a stroll through the Neighborhood
A stroll through the Village on a crisp autumn day offers so many alluring bakeries and cafes that it is almost impossible to choose one in which to spend your … Continued
Edward Albee: Icon of American Theatre
“I’d read about the Village, how Bohemian it was, and after getting thrown out of college, couldn’t wait to get here.” So were the words of groundbreaking playwright Edward Albee … Continued
East Village Saturday Festivals Abound!
Village Preservation is fortunate to be participating in two terrific events this coming Saturday, September 17th and we invite our friends and readers to come and visit us! Astor Alive! … Continued
Thirsty Thursday! Some Cool East Village Bars
Looking for a cool place to hang in the East Village? We have a few ideas for you. Since the Village abounds with some of the coolest places on earth … Continued
Man Ray: The darling of the revolutionary set (art revolution that is)
Man Ray was born on August 27, 1890 in Philadelphia to Russian Jewish immigrants. His father was a tailor and his mother a seamstress. He was named Emmanuel Radnitzky but … Continued
Birthday Blog with Charles Busch!
Charles Busch is the quintessential Villager. A prolific playwright and actor, he has lived in the West Village for most of his adult life. This reporter has been a life-long … Continued
Greenwich Village: Birthplace of Modern American Drama part 4 in a series
Believe it or not, the Soho Playhouse is actually within the Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District, which was designated 50 years ago this week, a district which is part of the larger … Continued
Farewell to Al Orensanz, a Lower East Side Cultural Hero
Today GVSHP pays its respects to Al Orensanz, the Director of the Angel Orensanz Foundation for the past 30 years, who passed away on Saturday, July 23. Al, along with … Continued
Happy Birthday, John Leguizamo, Passionate Preservationist
…save the Provincetown Playhouse and Apartments, against NYU’s overwhelming expansion plan, and for landmarking the South Village. To read more about Leguizamo, click here and here. And to see John…
Jean-Michel Basquiat and the East Village art scene of the 1980’s
Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life and work are synonymous with the East Village/NoHo art scene of the 1980’s. From his early years as a burgeoning young artist while studying at City-as-School, a … Continued
Greenwich Village: Birthplace of Modern American Drama Part 3 in a series
This is part 3 in a series discussing the Village’s role in the development of Modern American Theatre. Click here to read parts 1 and 2. Today we turn our … Continued
Greenwich Village: Birthplace of Modern American Drama part 2 in a series
I burn my candle at both ends, It will not last the night. But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends, It gives a lovely light. — Edna St. Vincent … Continued
Greenwich Village: The Birthplace of Modern American Drama
Greenwich Village has been a hot-bed for creative theatrical minds since at least the beginnings of the 20th century. In fact, among the most important of the movements in American … Continued