Ella Fitzgerald in the Village
Greenwich Village has drawn countless determined artists and performers into its midst. While she is known for launching her career at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, Ella Fitzgerald also occasionally … Continued
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Author: Sandra Pomeleo-Fowler
Inside the Cage: The Mighty Basketball Courts of West 4th Street
“We don’t Ball—We Battle.” That’s the slogan of the West 4th Street League, which has ruled the small yet mighty basketball courts at West 4th and 6th Avenue since 1977. … Continued
Crystal Eastman, Greenwich Village’s Suffragist Lawyer
From the domestic sphere to politics, Crystal Eastman challenged many fundamental elements of women’s roles in early twentieth century American culture. She was a trained lawyer, outspoken pacifist, fair labor … Continued
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn: Labor Activist and ‘Rebel Girl’ of the Village
It is no surprise that social movements for workers’ rights and freedom of speech were propelled by activists from Greenwich Village. The neighborhood in the early twentieth century was a … Continued
How Harlem Renaissance Artists Made Their Mark in the Village
The Harlem Renaissance brought together a generation of Black artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers who transformed American culture. In the early 20th century, many Black Americans from the South sought … Continued
Touring the Former ‘Book Row’
From the 1890s through the 20th century, the area between Astor Place and Union Square was full of second-hand booksellers who formed what was known as ‘Book Row.’ Each store … Continued
How Lockwood de Forest brought South Asian Design to Greenwich Village
During the Gilded Age, Western artists and designers were looking outside of their own aesthetic traditions for inspiration. A resurgence of intricate, organic forms had taken the design world by … Continued
Janis Joplin and Greenwich Village
Known for her powerful, raspy voice and electric stage presence, Janis Joplin was one of the most outstanding musicians of her generation. Her combination of 1960s folk rock and southern … Continued
Lee Krasner Paints Gansevoort Street
Although she is best known for her Abstract Expressionist paintings, Lee Krasner never ceased to transform her artistic style throughout her career. Born in 1908 to Russian Jewish parents, Krasner … Continued
Glass and the Gilded Age: Tiffany Windows in the First Presbyterian Church
Known as the Gilded Age, the period following the Civil War in late nineteenth century New York City was filled with glamour and bold, imaginative aesthetics. However, one person, and … Continued
Touring the Gardens of the East Village
The 1970s was a dangerous and difficult time for New York City. Arson and neglect left many poor and working-class neighborhoods with abandoned lots, filled with hazardous debris. Residents of … Continued
Glass and the Gilded Age: Tiffany Windows in the First Presbyterian Church
Known as the Gilded Age, the period following the Civil War in late nineteenth century New York City was filled with glamour and bold, imaginative aesthetics. However, one person, and … Continued
South of Union Square: Home of the Abstract Expressionists
The area South of Union Square has drawn artists into its corridors for many decades. From social realist painters of the early twentieth century to contemporary practitioners, this section of … Continued