Village Preservation is working with fellow local preservation organizations and parishioners to preserve the endangered, historic Most Holy Redeemer Church at 173 East 3rd Street, between Avenues A and B in the East Village. The church was once one of the city’s tallest structures. Founded in 1844 by German-speaking Redemptorist missionaries amid the growing German […]
The East and West Village are not just neighborhoods. They are thresholds. They take people who feel like they do not fit anywhere and tell them this is where misfits learn to fly. Music is the way this part of New York speaks. It does not whisper. It roars. For decades, these streets have given […]
At the turn of the last century, our neighborhood was in the midst of yet another transformative era. For decades prior, a fashionable, bourgeois class resided around Washington Square Park and lower Fifth Avenue, as grandiose red-brick Greek Revival townhomes attracted the wealthy, cementing the area’s cosmopolitan population. But with time, the neighborhood’s residents began […]
Today we welcome a new small business to our neighborhoods — help us welcome the next. Tell us which new independent store in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo you’re excited about by emailing us at info@villagepreservation.org. As advocates for local small business, we find great satisfaction in hearing of new independent establishments opening […]
In a time when much of our creative life happens online, it’s a gift to find places in our neighborhoods where you can still browse shelves, feel materials in your hands, and talk with someone behind the counter who cares deeply about their craft. The following five shops are all part of Village Preservation’s Business […]
Back in the late 20th century, there were no streaming services. If someone had a specific taste in film they would have to physically go to a store and rent something called a VHS. There were video rental stores across the city and everyone had their favorites. While national chains such as Blockbuster dominated total […]
Our blog series “Hidden in Plain Sight” highlights the many architectural curiosities and unique features found on buildings throughout our neighborhoods — details you might not notice on first pass, but if you’re paying attention, they tell easily overlooked and often forgotten stories. Peeking above the one-story building at the corner of Sixth Avenue and […]
Richard Morris Hunt, born on on October 31, 1827, is usually remembered for the grandiose mansions, museums, and monuments of the Gilded Age such as the Lenox Library, grand Fifth Avenue homes, the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, and the façade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But his fingerprints are also on a […]
On October 30th, 1912, a little girl named Sarah celebrated her eighth birthday in a Federal-style row house at the corner of Avenue D and East 3rd Street. She was the third of five daughters of Cecilia and Morris Brenner, German-Jewish immigrants who had arrived in New York City in 1901, and her childhood on […]
On West 9th Street, small acts of care have led to remarkable change. Thanks to the efforts of longtime Village resident and volunteer Nina Kaufelt, the humble tree bed, those rectangles of soil surrounding our street trees, has become a symbol of how beauty, attention, and collective effort can transform a neighborhood block. Tree beds, […]
On October 21, the stretch of Great Jones Street between Lafayette Street and the Bowery in NoHo was officially co-named Jean-Michel Basquiat Way to recognize the artist whose explosive creativity helped define downtown Manhattan in the 1980s. The honor highlights not only Basquiat’s extraordinary artistic legacy but also the profound connection between his life and […]
Behind every street corner, alleyway, and front stoop lies an untold story. Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate styles dominate the neighborhood’s architecture, but how did they come to be here in the first place? Luckily, we have our comprehensive collection of landmark and historic district designation reports which provides us with the official record of […]
A multitude of NYC histories, cultures, and architectural styles converge on the corner of Second Avenue and 12th Street in the East Village. Each building that occupies a corner of this notable intersection has a distinct aesthetic and cultural importance to the neighborhood. Today, we will take a look at these four buildings, detailing the […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. Shaving cream locked behind glass to ward off […]
While many today take the right to vote for granted, that simply wasn’t the case for most of American history. Women, Indigenous people, Blacks, Asians, Jews, Quakers, Catholics, and non-landowning white Protestant males were not always guaranteed this right. In early American history, some states did allow women to vote, but this right was taken […]
Historic neighborhoods are filled with details that tell their story. Old trolley tracks peek through the asphalt, boot scrapers remind us of the city’s even more distant horse-driven past, and ghost signs give us a glimpse into the businesses that once filled our neighborhoods. Ghost signs are the faded, hand-painted advertisements found on historic buildings, […]
Once soaring 250 feet high, the steeple of the church of the Most Holy Redeemer has defined Alphabet City’s skyline for nearly 200 years. Picture this spire, the equivalent of a 20–25 story building, in the mid-1800s (as in the image above), when no other structure would have come close to reaching its height in […]
Greenwich Village and the East Village have long been a nexus for poets from across the country and for poetry of innumerable styles. As we celebrate National Black Poetry Day coming up on October 17, we honor the many Black poets who have called our neighborhoods home over the decades and shaped the literary form […]
As New York City heads toward the 2025 general election, we are making sure that historic preservation and thoughtful urban planning remain front and center in public debate. Our Elections 2025 webpage offers an invaluable civic resource. While the mayoral race tends to draw the headlines, the decisions made by City Councilmembers and Borough Presidents […]
October is Italian-American Heritage Month, a rich opportunity to reflect on the profound contributions of Italian Americans to our city and nation. Here in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, Italian immigrants and their descendants shaped neighborhoods, built small businesses, joined civic life, and wove their stories into the fabric of New York. At […]
The dead live among us! But that’s no reason to barricade yourself in your home, armed and ready to fire on anyone who might eat your brains. To the contrary, if you believe that the story of your ancestors forms part of your own and that you should keep their memory alive, then their presence […]
Come election day, New Yorkers get to vote not only for candidates, but often also on ballot questions that can change how our city government works. This year, Ballot Questions 2 through 4 might sound like they’re about speeding up housing approvals. But in reality, they’re about who holds the power to decide what gets […]
In an age of increasing digital reliance, with endless content curated by apps and algorithms, generations young and old are returning to older technologies. With CDs and records all back in style, there is no better place to begin or restart your analog music collection than our neighborhoods. Many incredible record stores dot the streets […]
Before the subways, the skyscrapers, and even the cut through of Seventh Avenue South, New York was once a horse-drawn city. Little remains from that equine era, but traces of the past can still be seen through the buildings and homes of our neighborhood. In honor of Archtober, New York City’s month-long festival of architecture […]
Maia Farish (née Reardon) was born at St. Vincent’s Hospital in 1953. Her childhood was spent in Greenwich Village during its 1950s and ‘60s heyday, where she played in Washington Square Park and attended local institutions such as Greenwich House, P.S. 41, P.S. 3, I.S. 70, and Miss Murphy’s Greenwich House Children’s Theater. First living at 135 Perry […]
Throughout 2025, Village Preservation has been marking the 60th anniversary of the passage of the New York City Landmarks Law. Enacted in 1965 in response to the devastating loss of iconic structures like the original McKim, Mead & White-designed Penn Station, the law empowered the freshly formed Landmarks Preservation Commission to protect buildings and districts […]
On Sunday, September 28, families, friends, and neighbors set off on an adventure through Greenwich Village, uncovering history, mystery, and plenty of fun at our Great Village History Hunt. The adventure began beneath the iconic Washington Square Arch, where participants set off with treasure maps leading them to six historic Village landmarks — from Edward […]
We’ve all seen them: signs tucked under the official names of local streets, honoring a neighborhood notable with a “Way,” “Place,” or “Corner.” Unfortunately, more often than not, the people on these “co-named” street signs are often unknown to most passers-by. But a New York City agency has offered a way for those who are […]
Explore Transit History in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo with Village Preservation’s Blog While much about the present and future may preoccupy us, today we’re going to take a look back about 200 years. The story of modern rail transport is often traced to September 1825, when a small steam locomotive, known as […]
Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo share a coffee lineage tied to immigration, countercultural movements, and the aesthetic of the “third place” that’s neither home nor work. You can trace that history from the storied cafés of the past, the old‐style importers, and the many dearly departed coffee shops to our new favorites. The […]
Our neighborhoods are more than streets and brownstones; they’re a living song. At Village Preservation, we showcase the voices that made that song—the oral histories of the artists, musicians, and activists who turned cobblestones into stages, neighborhood corners into concert halls. These aren’t dusty archives. They are conversations with the people who lived, breathed, resisted, […]
Today we welcome a new small business to our neighborhoods — help us welcome the next. Tell us which new independent store in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo you’re excited about by emailing us at info@villagepreservation.org. As advocates for local small business, we find great satisfaction in hearing of new independent establishments opening […]
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 […]
Since its opening to the public in 2009, the High Line has become an irreplaceable New York City landmark. Stretching from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street and 11th Avenue, the elevated park offers residents and visitors sweeping Hudson River views, carefully manicured landscaping, and plenty of places to lounge, sit, people watch, and take in […]
September marks the start of school and the return of busy work routines, as life picks up a more regular rhythm after summer’s pause. It’s no surprise that this busy month is also well-represented in our archives, including those of consisting of historic images, neighborhood histories and oral histories. Part of our extensive collection of online resources, these collections focus […]
Richard Barone’s vision of Greenwich Village began long before he moved here. Growing up in Florida, he was captivated by stories of its bohemian spirit and artistic ferment. That sense of the Village as an almost mythical place was reinforced when he met musician Tiny Tim as a teenager. Both eventual mentor and friend, Tiny […]
There’s something magical about a good map. It’s not just a tool for finding your way — it’s a window into another world, a story waiting to be uncovered. At Village Preservation, we’ve long believed that maps are one of the most powerful ways to connect people with the neighborhoods we work to protect. Our […]
While the U.S. Constitution, as signed on September 17, 1787, was a groundbreaking leap forward in human history, many were opposed, as they believed it would lead to a loss of individual liberties, a decrease in state sovereignty, and the potential for the rise of tyranny. To address these concerns, Congress drafted twelve amendments to […]
As Director of Research and Preservation here at Village Preservation, a good portion of my time is dedicated to researching historic buildings, of which there is a treasure trove in our neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. While we already know a great deal about the architectural and cultural history of many […]
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain, and in New York City the news quickly electrified both Patriots and Loyalists. Only five days later, on July 9, General George Washington had the Declaration read aloud to his troops assembled at the Commons (today’s City Hall Park). The mood turned fiery: […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. Much has changed since the heyday of diners […]
New York is the city of the world. Dozens of languages fill the streets; foods from any corner of the world can be found on any block; and people of all kinds, regardless of nationality, creed, race, gender, or socio-economic background, can and do end up here. It’s a city that thrives off difference, with […]
The Salmagundi Club has championed the visual arts in our neighborhood since its founding in 1871. Created by artists and patrons, the club serves to support painters and art enthusiasts, hosting exhibitions, lectures, painting demonstrations, classes, and auctions. The club moved to its permanent home at 47 Fifth Avenue in 1917, where it has been […]
On September 8, 1998, then-Governor George E. Pataki Signed the Hudson River Park act in law. Approved by the State Legislature in June of that year, this milestone legislation formally designated the waterfront area as a park and established the Hudson River Park Trust to continue the park’s planning, construction, management, and operation. The legislation […]
Contained within 24 colorful and informative pages, Village Preservation’s 2024–2025 Annual Report paints a vivid picture of an organization deeply committed to protecting the architectural and cultural legacy of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, while pushing forward with innovative community educational programs. Advocacy remained central to Village Preservation’s mission over the last year, […]
September is here, and its back to school time! While children across NYC sadly gather their pencils and get their backpacks ready, and parents exuberantly ensure the children are out the door on time, Village Preservation is also gearing up for the start of another school year! For 35 years, Village Preservation’s Children’s Education programs […]
Have you ever had one of those moments where you catch yourself talking about talking about something, and suddenly realize you’ve gone full Inception? Well, welcome to ours. Today, we’re writing a blog post… about our blog. Yes, we know. Very meta. But Off the Grid isn’t just any blog — it’s Village Preservation’s digital […]
The area South of Union Square is where the story of modern American art took shape. From the late 19th century through the 20th, this small area of Greenwich Village and the East Village, stretching roughly from Third to Fifth Avenues and 8th to 14th Street, was home to a stunning array of artists who […]
As late summer gently yields to autumn’s crisp embrace, Village Preservation invites you on a journey through time—where history, culture, and community converge in a rich series of September events. We have events that take advantage of the lingering warmth, including outdoor tours and a garden party, while other events explore the history of our […]
When people think of the East Village, they often think of punk attitudes and political unrest (and for good reason). They don’t necessarily think of religiosity and houses of worship. And that’s unfortunate, because, in fact, the neighborhood has a high concentration of churches that have been built over the past two hundred twenty five-plus […]
The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is more than a hospital on East 13th Street and Second Avenue. It is a living monument to innovation, inclusion, and resilience. Founded in 1820 by Drs. Edward Delafield and John Kearny Rodgers, the Infirmary became the first specialty hospital in the Western Hemisphere, setting […]
The East Village’s Art Deco structures may not immediately catch the eye, but at a closer look, they exemplify the many unique and handsome features from within the Art Deco tradition. As a part of Village Preservation’s recently published Art Deco Storymap, we dive into the history and architectural details of the East Village’s Art […]
In April of 1965 the New York City Landmarks Law was approved and took effect. Created to protect the City’s invaluable stock of historic sites, it allows for the preservation of buildings, neighborhoods, and other historic locations through landmark designation. To celebrate the law’s 60th Anniversary, Village Preservation created an interactive Timeline Map, showing the history […]
Standing at the corner of University Place and East 11th Street is Greenwich Village’s historic Hotel Albert, a conglomeration of four buildings built in stages between 1875 and 1924, part of which started off as an apartment complex for respectable clientele and an early example of the then-revolutionary residential concept known as French flats. By […]
When audiences first saw The Seventh Victim following its release on August 21, 1943, they were introduced not only to a chilling mystery centered on a vaguely homoerotic satanic cult in Greenwich Village, in a story that served as a prequel to the successful thriller Cat People, which was released the year before. They also […]
Sills get all the credit. Sitting pretty at the bases of windows, they support what’s above them and provide a ledge for flower pots or a perch for birds. But there’s another architectural element integral to any window, a perhaps lesser-known vocabulary word but one of equal importance: the lintel. Lintels are the load-bearing horizontal […]
It was the summer of 1965; the United States and the USSR were racing to the moon; the U.S. escalated its involvement in the Vietnam war; and years of civil rights protests led to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. The 1960s are often remembered as a time of social upheaval, […]
On August 18, 1970, New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission landmarked the Greek Revival gem at 37 East 4th Street. Often referred to as the Samuel Tredwell Skidmore House, it was constructed 1844-45 by leading businessman Samuel Tredwell Skidmore (1801–1881). Skidmore was a cousin, once removed, of Seabury Tredwell of the Merchant’s House Museum, located […]
In 1925, a Jewish-Polish immigrant named Eve Adams opened a tearoom at 129 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. The spot quickly became a gathering place for artists, poets, activists, and, most notably, members of the lesbian community. An outspoken lesbian and activist herself, Eve undoubtedly changed the course of queer culture and history in our […]
The New Deal is one of the most consequential presidential achievements in the history of this country. Context matters. The national economy at the time was on the verge of collapse. A third of the workforce was unemployed; panicked withdrawals threatened the viability of banks; soup kitchens had lines that went around the block; half […]
Clara Tice (May 22, 1888 — February 2, 1973) was never one to blend quietly into the background. Dubbed the “Queen of Greenwich Village,” she emerged in the early 20th century as a vivid figure in the bohemian art world. Her short bobbed hair, daring fashions, and provocative illustrations made her a striking emblem of […]
When the Singer Building rose in stages between 1897 and 1908, it briefly crowned the Lower Manhattan skyline with one of the city’s most ornate vertical statements: a richly detailed, slender tower designed for the Singer Sewing Machine Company by the Beaux-Arts architect Ernest Flagg. Less than sixty years later, the tower was intentionally demolished […]
August is often, or ideally, spent soaking up the sun and relaxing by the water. Considered a period of rest before the busy fall season, there are a surprising number of pieces in our archives that come from this quiet month. Our archives include historic images, neighborhood histories and oral histories. Part of our extensive […]
Our Summer 2025 intern team truly is the best and brightest! This dynamic group is one of the largest cohorts we’ve ever hosted, and they’ve impressed us with their organization, attention to detail, and genuine passion for our neighborhoods. Energetic and self-motivated, they’ve made meaningful contributions across a wide range of projects, and left a […]
Café Wha? sits half-underground at 115 MacDougal, a basement once used to stable horses. In 1959 actor Manny Roth hauled in broken marble for the floor, sprayed the walls black, and lit candles on cast-off tables. Capacity: 325 souls and one restless dream of fame. Greenwich Village already pulsed with poetry, but Roth’s “swingingest coffee […]
Decades after the show’s debut on September 22, 1994, the corner of Bedford and Grove Street remains a must-see destination for fans of a certain iconic ‘90s sitcom. From 1994 to 2004, Friends dominated television screens, influencing a generation into talking a certain way and a certain kind of haircut. Primarily set in our neighborhood, […]
At the dawn of the 20th century, Greenwich Village was a densely populated immigrant neighborhood, a mix of mainly Italian, Jewish, Irish, German, Spanish, and Chinese newcomers who together faced overcrowding, unsanitary housing, and exploitative landlord practices. Social worker Mary Kingsbury Simkhovitch founded Greenwich House in 1902 at 26 Jones Street to tackle these systemic […]
Most every historic building in New York City holds several different stories within its walls. Buildings in our neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo have been host to a kaleidoscopic array of artists, musicians, politicians, small businesses, activist organizations, and so much more. Village Preservation’s many online resources help you know which […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. Think back of the time when computers were […]
Landmarked on August 2nd, 1967, the MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District, is the one of the City’s oldest. Comprised of only 22 buildings, it is one of the City’s smallest historic districts, but also one of its most unique. Encompassing two rows of houses, twelve facing MacDougal Street and ten on Sullivan Street, they were originally […]
While they may no longer be large foldout papers that you can never seem to fold back together, maps remain incredibly important, even if they are now digital tools on our smartphones. Take a moment and think if this has this happened to you: you’re zooming in on Google Maps on your phone trying to […]
Do you live in an apartment? Well, for most New Yorkers, that was not always the case. Apartment living, while now synonymous with New York life, is a newer phenomenon, having not gained popularity with most New Yorkers until the late 19th century. Before the Civil War, unless they were poor or working class, or […]
Through her existence, action, and reflection, Sarah Schulman (b. July 28, 1958) has deeply impacted the fabric of New York City’s bohemian, LGBTQ+, and artistic communities. A native Villager, she was born on 10th Street and has lived on 9th Street for over 40 years. Her deep understanding of our neighborhoods, prowess as a writer, […]
Long before the soft hum of a window unit or the whisper-cool breezes of central air, residents of Greenwich Village and the East Village faced the full force of the city’s steamy summers head-on. For wealthy New Yorkers the most obvious way of dealing with the heat was to escape it. They headed to Newport, […]
The designation of 486 and 488 Greenwich Street as individual New York City landmarks on July 24, 2007, marked a critical milestone in the long-standing effort by Village Preservation to safeguard the remaining examples of early 19th-century Federal-style architecture in Lower Manhattan. Located in the Hudson Square neighborhood, these modest yet elegant row houses offer […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was passed on April 19, 1965. During the first year of the law, some impressive sites in Greenwich Village and the East Village were named into the inaugural class of landmarks, and all but one were in a few blocks of one another, more or less where the neighborhoods […]
On July 22, 1974, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the nearly completed West Village Houses, a complex of low-rise walk-up apartment buildings spanning portions of the blocks between Morton and Bank Streets, and Washington and West Streets, in the far West Village. Not without its adversaries (most of all Robert Moses), the project emerged […]
Voices and Landmarks of Social Change in the Village There are moments when a building becomes more than brick and stone — when it holds not just architectural value, but the emotional weight of the people who passed through it. And sometimes, it is through the voices of those people that we learn to see […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. They say even cowgirls get the blues. But […]
Explore the History Behind the WallsStep into the story of the French Flats—19th-century apartment buildings that transformed how New Yorkers lived. With Village Preservation’s interactive map, you can explore each site, view historic images, and uncover the lives of artists, activists, and everyday people who called these flats home.Experience the map In the 1870s, something […]
On July 16, 1951, the best-selling novel, The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger, was released. It’s a coming-of-age story that follows the depressed and increasingly dejected sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield in his aimless escapades around Manhattan. An aspiring lost soul, Holden spends an unchaperoned weekend wandering the streets of the city he grew up […]
In the mid-1980s, staff members of the Landmarks Preservation Commission embarked on the Federal Rowhouse Project, an ambitious effort to document Manhattan’s remaining federal era rowhouses. These houses, dating from about 1790 to 1835, represent the oldest remnants of English settlement in Manhattan. Many were located below 14th Street, with the highest concentration in Greenwich […]
During the long days of summer, there is nothing better than lounging in one of our neighborhood’s parks. Many notable visual artists have been captivated by the natural beauty of our parks, as well as the interesting convergences of human activity. Today, we will take a closer look at some depictions of our most famous […]
Martin Wong (July 11, 1946 – August 12, 1999) was one of the most affecting and visionary artists to emerge from New York City’s East Village and Lower East Side art scene in the late 20th century. A painter, archivist, and chronicler of the marginalized, Wong transformed crumbling walls on the Lower East Side into […]
We’ve all seen them: signs tucked under the official names of local streets, honoring a neighborhood notable with a “Way,” “Place,” or “Corner.” Unfortunately, more often than not, the people on these “co-named” street signs are often unknown to most passers-by. We look at three of thosehonorees: Bella Abzug, Sara Curry, and Frieda Zames.
New York City was changing rapidly in the early 1900s. Industrialization and exponential population growth led to a shifting architectural landscape: single-family homes gave way to grand high-rise apartment buildings, and several neighborhoods increasingly became host to commercial and manufacturing uses. One such area was the Meatpacking District where, in 1887, the City widened Gansevoort […]
Born March 11, 1936, author and architect Nathan Silver was best known for his 1967 book, Lost New York, which documented great New York City landmarks and architecture that had disappeared. Silver passed away on May 19, 2025, but remains a towering figure in the preservation of New York City’s architectural memory. Lost New York was not just […]
William Kunstler (Born July 7, 1919) was more than just a defense attorney — he was a fierce advocate for civil rights, social justice, and the marginalized. Known for taking on some of the most controversial and groundbreaking legal cases of the 20th century, Kunstler made his home on Gay Street in Greenwich Village, a […]
The 1975 Daily News Headline, “Ford to City: Drop Dead,” has become symbolic of the state of New York City during the 1970s. Bankruptcy was looming, and as many middle-class and wealthier residents left for the suburbs, the City was unable to fund key public services. While President Gerald Ford never actually used the words “Drop […]
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 […]
Today we welcome aboard Gaël (pronounced Ga—el) Evers as our new Director of Communication and Design, joining current and continuing Communications and Design Director David Herman. Gaël is a graphic designer and creative strategist who’s passionate about crafting clear, compelling communication that connects deeply with audiences. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raised […]
Each year, thousands of self-identified lesbians take to the streets of New York City for the annual Dyke March, where participants march from Bryant Park to Washington Square Park in a proud display of protest and community. And while the New York Dyke March has become a local tradition, the first Dyke March, however, orginated […]
At her prime, she was called “the most dangerous woman in America.” At her core, she was a Jewish Russian immigrant who relentlessly advocated for women’s equality, workers’ rights, free speech, and political reform. Emma Goldman (1869–1940) was an anarchist and activist at heart, a pivotal leader in the American progressive movement. And it was […]
Few graphic designers get to achieve national recognition for their work in a variety of media, and have their designs continue to influence and delight the public after their careers end. Milton Glaser, who received a National Medal of Arts in 2009, was one such outstanding designer, and he got his start here in the […]
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed on April 19, 1965 by Mayor Robert Wagner. Since then, about 38,000 NYC properties have been protected under the law. To mark that occasion, we created a StoryMap showing a timeline of all landmark designations in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, from 1965 to 2025. […]
In addition to being a community facility beloved by generations; a landmark important to many groups including LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities; the backdrop for several feature films; a significant holdout as the last remaining bath house on the west side of Manhattan; and an important work of architecture by the firm Renwick, Aspinwall & Tucker, […]
Tony Dapolito Recreation Center stands in the heart of Greenwich Village and has served these many years as much more than just a city rec center. It’s a place where generations of New Yorkers learned to swim, shoot hoops, and connect with their neighbors. It’s also a cultural touchstone — immortalized in films like Raging […]
Lillian Hellman, Greenwich Village, and Her Stand Against HUAC Greenwich Village has always been more than just a charming New York neighborhood — it has been a crucible for radical ideas, artistic experimentation, and political defiance. Among the many bold voices shaped by the Village’s spirit was Lillian Hellman, a trailblazing playwright and screenwriter who […]
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — help us to select the next. Tell us which independent store you love in Greenwich Village, the East Village, or NoHo: click here to nominate your favorite. Want to help support small businesses? Share this post with friends. When you shop at a market, you notice […]
On June 18, 2015, Village Preservation unveiled a plaque in collaboration with The New School, honoring the legacy of Modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. The plaque was placed at 66 Fifth Avenue, where Graham’s company rehearsed and forged new performances in the 1930s and 40s. See images of the unveiling here and a video here. Graham […]
