Samuel Jones and Great Jones Street
Great Jones Street is located between Lafayette Street and the Bowery and is named for Samuel Jones, who was born on July 26th, 1734. Jones was born in what is now … Continued
David Bowie’s ‘Fame’ Released July 25, 1975
David Bowie’s plastic soul-funk hit “Fame,” his first (and one of only two) American number one singles and a biting cautionary tale about success and excess in the entertainment business, was released … Continued
The Tree of Heaven in Washington Square
I recently read the novella Washington Square for the first time, eager to see how this 1880 work by Henry James might paint the Square of olden days. Although the … Continued
What was here before the West Coast (95 Horatio Street)?
We received several emails from readers asking about the history of their building following our post about Bagatelle. 95 Horatio Street, aka “The West Coast” is a 320-unit rental property … Continued
Extra! Extra! Newsies Strike of 1899
Today there are many ways for us to access the news: radio, print, television and internet. However, back in 1899 the only way to get the news besides word-of-mouth was … Continued
The Busts of Little Germany
On Friday, July 17, 2015, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation lead tours around the East Village looking at buildings that made up the German immigrant community in the late … Continued
Business of the Month: Yakub Shoe Repair, 229 Sullivan Street
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — and we need your help selecting the next. Tell us which independent store you love in … Continued
Donald Trump’s Illustrious Record of Offenses
The Donald has been in the news quite a bit lately, which is always fun for everyone. Mr. Trump’s recent verbal assaults on our senses and sensibilities have reminded us … Continued
Navigating Historic Districts: NYCityMap
NYCityMap is a user-friendly portal containing various ways to access the wealth of information it contains. Users can locate specific buildings – with links to relevant websites for each facility … Continued
Parks and Gardens
It’s summer and the flowers are in bloom! We are so lucky to have so many parks and gardens in Greenwich Village and the East Village, where we can enjoy … Continued
Why “Double Designate” Stonewall?
Stonewall was designated an individual landmark on June 23, 2015. Since then, people have asked us why, if the building was already located in a designated historic district, was the … Continued
Slavery, Gentrification, and the Last Execution in Washington Square
On July 9th, 1819, Rose Butler was executed in the Potter’s Field located in what is now Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. Rose, a nineteen year old black female … Continued
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
22 East 12th Street: From Firehouse to Movie House
Cinema Village, located at 22 East 12th Street, is the oldest continuously operated cinema in Greenwich Village and one of the oldest continuously operated art cinemas in the city. Information … Continued
GVSHP summer programs
Although the summer months mean vacation time for some people, here at GVSHP, we don’t slow down! Our free public programs are still in full swing. This Wednesday evening we’ll … Continued
What Was Here Before Bagatelle?
Many people know the restaurant Bagatelle located at 1 Little West 12th Street for their lavish brunch parties, where as one recent brunch reviewer stated “I’ve never seen so many bottles of … Continued
The HOWL! Festival
Historically, the Village and East Village have always been the place for artists, writers, performers, and a slew of other creatives in New York City, a fact that is widely … Continued
The History of the Rainbow Flag
Last week’s landmark Supreme Court decision ruling that same-sex couples can marry nationwide occurred nearly 46 years to the day after the famed Stonewall Inn Riot. Supporters continue to show … Continued
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
A New Plan to Preserve the Small Businesses We Love and Need
Think about the neighborhood where you live, whether West Village or East, Astor Place or University Place. Regarding your retail shopping options, if you could pick one of the following … Continued
Disappeared LGBT Sites: Oscar Wilde Bookshop and St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center
On June 23, 2015, The Stonewall Inn, the place where the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights movement was born, was officially designated a city landmark, becoming the … Continued
Eleanor Roosevelt: First Lady, Activist, Villager
There are many reasons to celebrate the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, the longest-serving First Lady of the United States. Not only did she change the role from passive hostess to … 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
Gay Liberation in Photos
In June of 1969, a not uncommon police raid of the gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, was met with a spontaneous resistance that launched the modern Gay Liberation Movement here … Continued
Art in the Village: East 10th Street Galleries
Perhaps the most well-known art movement associated with Greenwich Village is Abstract Expressionism (also known as the New York School). Abstract Expressionism, which focused on the portrayal of emotions rather … Continued
Business of the Month: Cobblestones, 314 East 9th Street
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — and we need your help selecting the next. Tell us which independent store you love in … Continued
Village Awardee — James and Karla Murray
This is the final post on the 2015 Village Awards. Previous posts highlighted Barbara Shaum, Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, David Rothenberg, The Renee and Chaim Gross Foundation and the 201 East 12th Street Renovation. Join us tomorrow … Continued
Happy Birthday, Shirley Hayes
Shirley Hayes is a pioneering figure in the preservation of the Village and the fight against Robert Moses’ planned Lower Manhattan Expressway through Washington Square Park. She was born on … Continued
Village Awardee — 201 East 12th Street Renovation
Off the Grid is highlighting the winners of GVSHP’s 2015 Village Awards, in the lead up to our June 17th Annual Meeting & Award Ceremony. Previous entries include Barbara Shaum, Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, David Rothenberg, and The … Continued
How to Play a Historic Building
Structures from New York City’s past are leading vibrant new lives all around us every day. An 1878 military drill hall is now an exhibition space for cutting-edge art and … Continued
Welcome Aboard, Lauren Snetiker
Today we welcome Lauren Snetiker, the newest member of our staff, who joins the GVSHP team as our Development and Communications Manager. Lauren is looking forward to managing the individual … Continued
2015 Village Award Winner The Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation
Off the Grid is highlighting the winners of GVSHP’s 2015 Village Awards, in the lead up to our June 17th Annual Meeting & Award Ceremony. Previous entries include Barbara Shaum, Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, and David … Continued
Welcome Aboard, Matthew Morowitz
Today we welcome to the GVSHP staff Matthew Morowitz, GVSHP’s new Administrative Assistant, replacing Meaghan Collins. We’re very excited to have Matthew on board, who will be involved in everything … Continued
2015 Village Award Winner David Rothenberg
Off the Grid is highlighting the winners of the 2015 Village Awards in the lead up to the June 17th Annual Meeting & Award Ceremony. Previous entries include Barbara Shaum … Continued
June is Gay Pride Month
This year’s Gay Pride Month certainly got off to an auspicious start with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission finally agreeing to consider the Stonewall Inn for individual landmark … Continued
What the Preservation Movement Needs Now
If you’ve been involved in a movement for going on 40 years, you probably have a few things to say about it. And if you’re as observant and educated about … Continued
Program Recap: The Origins of Little Spain and The Whitney Museum
GVSHP presents free public programs all year long, at various venues throughout the East Village, West Village and everywhere in between. Our past two programs were particularly amazing, and got an … Continued
2015 Village Award Winner: Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks
This is the second of six posts highlighting 2015 Annual Awards recipients. Visit here for more information on the 2015 Village Awards and Annual Meeting. The first blog post highlighted Barbara … Continued
Happy Birthday, Rite of Spring
On May 29th, 1913, the revolutionary musical and dance composition “The Rite of Spring,” by Igor Stravinsky, was first publicly performed at Paris’ Theatre des Champs Elysees. To say 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
2015 Village Award Winner: Barbara Shaum
With our Annual Awards coming up on June 17th, over the next few weeks on our blog we will present a little more information about each of our 2015 Annual Village … Continued
2015 Village Awards and Annual Meeting
Join us on Wednesday, June 17th for the 35th GVSHP Annual Meeting and 25th Village Awards Co-hosted by The New School
The Making of the Whitney Museum
The new location of the Whitney Museum, near the High Line in the neighborhood known as the Meatpacking District, has been in the news lately, and has drawn large crowds. … Continued
Building Profile: 321-323 East 5th Street
Since 1912, this site has served as a police station for the NYPD (it replaced a 19th century stable and feed store). Originally known as the 15th Precinct Police Station, … Continued
Happy Birthday, Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Vivian Hansberry was born on May 19, 1930. The trailblazing playwright, activist, and Nina Simone song inspiration was perhaps most closely associated with Chicago, but in fact she lived, … Continued
Community Gardens Need Just One Thing: Gardeners
This past Saturday morning, after a cooling rain shower, a gaggle of curious people went traipsing around a handful of community gardens in the East Village. We visited eight gardens, plus … 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
Business of the Month: Greenwich Locksmiths
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — and we need your help selecting the next. Tell us which independent store you love in … Continued
Sacred Sites Open House Weekend Coming Up!
GVSHP is proud to be a co-sponsor of the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Open House Weekend, which is this weekend, Saturday May 16th and Sunday May 17th. According … Continued
Finding Out More About New York City Buildings Research
An Off the Grid reader contacted us to ask for more background information and history about the buildings mentioned in last week’s e-newsletter “Pushing the Envelope in the West Village“. Fortunately, … Continued
Happy Birthday Martha Graham
Modern dance pioneer Martha Graham was born on this day, May 11, in 1894. In the 1930’s, Martha Graham’s dance studio was located at 66 5th Avenue. This part of … Continued
The East Village in Photos: 1984 vs. 2014
In 1984, East Village resident Dan Root took some photographs for a book that a friend of a friend was going to write about the changing East Village. For a … Continued
100 Years of Preservation: A Conversation with Anthony C. Wood
Last week, GVSHP had the honor of hosting a public program “100 Years of Preservation: A Conversation with Anthony C. Wood”, founder of the New York Preservation Archive Project and … Continued
For Downtown’s Unsung Heroes: Love, Passion, and a Party
“The Lower East Side is not gone yet,” Ryan Gilliam told the group assembled in the upstairs auditorium of University Settlement on the corner of Eldridge and Rivington Streets, the … Continued
Real Estate’s Attempt to Hijack the Affordable Housing Discussion
Reprinted from Gotham Gazette, May 1, 2015. Think of the classic pieces of advice you’ve heard from parents, teachers or mentors along the way in life: Look before you leap. … Continued
2015 Benefit House Tour A Smashing Success!
Yesterday’s 17th Annual GVSHP Benefit Village House Tour and reception was a smashing success. One of our highest grossing benefits ever, we had incredible weather, spectacular houses, a glorious reception … Continued
2015 House Tour Promises To Be Great!
The weather forecast for this Sunday is beautiful — 70’s and sunny — the perfect day for a leisurely stroll through some of the most beautiful homes in Greenwich Village, … Continued
What happened on this day in 1789?
On this day, April 30th, in 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America. After leading the Continental Army to victory over Britain … Continued
A Brief History of “Rent”
On April 29, 1996, playwright Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical “Rent” made its Broadway debut at The Nederlander Theatre. As many Broadway show-goers and longtime East … 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
This May: A Crowdsourced History of the Lower East Side
A friend of mine – and unabashed New York City chauvinist – has been known to observe a street in Manhattan and pronounce something like, “There’s more style on this … Continued
Greenwich Village CSAs
The organic food movement is no longer just a trend, but a necessity for many consumers — as evidenced by the long lines endured at grocery stores such as Whole … Continued
Millay and the Magnolia Tree
It’s that blooming, buoyant, too-brief time of year again, when flowers abound – particularly, this week, the fragrant pink flowers of the saucer magnolia. It was among the branches of … Continued
Let’s Celebrate Abingdon Square
This past week we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the New York City Landmarks Law, but there are many other anniversaries to celebrate this time of year as well. And … Continued
This Day in History: NYU Incorporated
Today is the 184th anniversary of the incorporation of NYU. Originally chartered as the “University of the City of New-York”, in 1831 admission was open to all during a time … 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
A Preservation Agenda For Landmarking’s 50th Birthday
For weeks now we’ve all been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the signing of New York City’s landmarks law, which actually took place on April 19, 1965. As we approach … Continued
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Landmarks Law
A lot can happen in 50 years, and many of us are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the New York City Landmarks Law. It was signed into law on April … Continued
Tax Day History in the West Village
Tax Day may not be our favorite day of the year. But it bears an important connection to one of our favorite Far West Village landmarks. Before the U.S. Income … Continued
Business of the Month: B&H Dairy
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — and we need your help selecting the next. Tell us which independent store you love in … Continued
REBNY’s Affordable Housing Double-Speak
Last week GVSHP released a report entitled “Check the Facts and Consider the Source: Campaign CA$H and REBNY’s Real Record on Affordable Housing.” The report looks at the Real Estate … Continued
Landmarks of a Capital of Jazz
It’s been a heavy spring so far, with troubling news around the world, the nation, and in our city. But the colorful blooms of spring are finally opening – crocuses, daffodils, … Continued
W.P.A. Anniversary
On April 8, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act. This act granted the President the authority to establish programs such as the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration, later … Continued
Celebrating & Remembering Margot Gayle
The New York City Landmarks Law turns 50 years old this month! In the spirit of this important anniversary, we have decided to revisit our 1996 Oral History Interview with NYC Landmarks Law … 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
The Lowline
At last, it appears that spring has finally arrived in New York City, and not a moment too soon. Many of us feel sun and nature deprived after months 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
The Small Business Spring of 2015
It was just shy of a month ago, on March 5, that a forum called “Solutions to Save Small Businesses, Art and Cultural Institutions” was held at Judson Memorial Church, … Continued
Tragedy in the East Village
Last Thursday an explosion and fire led to the destruction of three buildings at 119, 121, and 123 Second Avenue in the East Village. Tragically, two lives were lost, more … Continued
Annual Village Awards Nominations Now Open
Nominations are now open for the 2015 Annual Village Awards. This year’s Awards will be held on June 17th. We invite you to submit nominations for anyone and anything that contributes … Continued
Press Conference Raising Objections & Calling for Changes to Citywide Rezoning Plan
The Mayor’s proposed citywide rezoning proposal, ‘Zoning for Quality and Affordability’ will weaken neighborhood zoning protections. The proposal as currently structured includes many benefits for market rate developments, with some … 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 Preservation Brokers Partnership Comedy Night
A limited number of tickets are still available to Village Preservation’s Brokers Partnership Comedy Night. Tonight’s event is a fundraiser to support the Rebecca Ritter Daniels Scholarship. Rebecca was a … Continued
When Sundays Ran Dry
On March 23, 1896, a law introduced by New York State Senator John Raines was passed by the state legislature, making the sale of liquor illegal on Sundays, except at … Continued
Happy Birthday to the Manhattan Street Grid!
Happy birthday to the Manhattan Street Grid! Hailed by many historians as “the single most important document in New York City’s development,” the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811, better known as … Continued
Hawks With a Taste for Quality Construction
It’s easy to see, from the many blogs devoted to the subject, that New Yorkers are fans of our local hawks. These raptors add notes of wildness and grace to … Continued
Happy Landmark Anniversary to Webster Hall!
Built in 1886, Webster Hall was designated a New York City landmark on a March 18, 2008. According to the Landmarks Designation Report,Webster Hall is “one of New York City’s … Continued
Our Irish Heritage
The history of Greenwich Village is a history of immigration. Although the St. Patrick’s Day Parade as we know it follows an uptown route along 5th Avenue, the original Irish … 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
March 14th — A Big Day for Village Birthdays
March 14th is a date when several people with important connections to the Village will celebrate, or would have celebrated, their birthdays.
On this day in history…
GVSHP is marking March, Women’s History Month, with some great public programs. But today I am going to focus on two men who helped to shape the history, geography, and … Continued
Business of the Month: bookbook
Your input is needed! Today we feature our latest Business of the Month — and we need your help selecting the next. Tell us which independent store you love in … Continued
Preservation Alert
PRESERVATION ALERT: New City Proposal Would Slash Neighborhood Zoning Protections; Hard-Fought-For Height Limits Would Be Lifted, Now and In the Future Dear friend, The City has just released a … 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
The Kinks: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Met Preservation
Preservation and rock ‘n’ roll are rarely mentioned in the same breath, it seems fair to say – with at least one notable exception. When the great British rock band … 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
The Jones-Shafroth Act Begins Puerto Rican Migration to the Lower East Side
Free Image from Creative Commons The Jones-Shafroth Act, which conferred United States citizenship upon residents of Puerto Rico and set the stage for the huge migration of Puerto Ricans to … Continued
On this day in history…
It was on March 3, 1967, that Ingrid and Sven Bernhard purchased the lot at 121 Charles Street in the West Village. It was just a vacant lot, but that’s … Continued
Happy Birthday Lou Reed
Famed Rock n Roll legend and Greenwich Village icon, Lou Reed, was born on March 2, 1942.Reed grew up on Long Island and moved to New York City at the … Continued
Have a drink! The historic public drinking fountains of the Village and East Village
I have often noticed these old drinking fountains on historic buildings – there is one at the Jefferson Market Library on the corner of 6th Avenue and 10th Street, one … Continued
