Astor Place: Then and Now
Astor Place — in one form or another — has been part of Manhattan’s landscape for centuries. It follows the path of an old Native American trail that appears … Continued
Astor Place — in one form or another — has been part of Manhattan’s landscape for centuries. It follows the path of an old Native American trail that appears … Continued
On Sunday, May 6, GVSHP will present its 14th Annual Village House Tour, a benefit that raises funds to support our work to educate about and advocate for the preservation … Continued
By Sheryl
In the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, the 883 foot long, 50 ton, and reputedly unsinkable ocean liner the RMS Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage from England … Continued
A recent visit to the highly-anticipated Keith Haring exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, Keith Haring: 1978-1982 did not disappoint. The show looks at the early years of Haring’s career before … Continued
As recently reported, the condo construction project at 61 Fifth Avenue (at 13th Street) has been getting closer and closer to completion. The condo site sits across the street from … Continued
By Drew
Walking along East 2nd Street, between Avenue A and First Avenue, you might have noticed a historic building that, in terms of its age and style, seems out of context … Continued
By Amanda
There’s lots to love about the culture, architecture, and history of the East Village, and the Fourth Arts Block (East 4th Street between the Bowery and Seond Avenue) is a microcosm … Continued
By Andito
Any restoration of a historic site within our neighborhoods is exciting. But when that project is a stone’s throw away from our office space at the Neighborhood Preservation Center, we … Continued
On April 8 1935, the creation of the Works Progress Administration was approved by Congress as a part of FDR’s New Deal. The New Deal was born at the height … Continued
At their March 27th public meeting, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated four individual landmarks located in Hudson Square. These new landmarks – 32 Dominick Street, 34 Dominick Street, 36 Dominick … Continued
Image via Gothamist. It was five years ago today at 86 Bedford Street that a chimney separated from an interior wall and collapsed into the world-famous Chumley’s bar in Greenwich … Continued
While we look back and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., it’s interesting to also note that one of his early influences and closest confidantes, Bayard Rustin, had … Continued
Yesterday, the National Archives released its records of the 1940 Census. And that’s a big deal because census records remain sealed for 72 years. So historic researchers, genealogists and family … Continued
Many of us awoke to the sad news today of the passing of Charles Lockwood. Charles was an architectural historian whose book, “Bricks and Brownstones, The New York Rowhouse 1783-1929” … Continued
This spring, Greenwich Village business Your Neighborhood Office was named best “doorman substitute” in 2012 by New York Magazine. We hate to say I told you so, but . . … Continued
Following a recent post about the Roman Catholic Church of Mary Help of Christians at 440 East 12th Street, we conducted a Q & A with one of its parishioners, Janet … Continued
EV Grieve broke the news this morning that the beautiful early 19th century rowhouse at 316 East 3rd Street has alas been demolished. We knew it was coming, but the … Continued
By Dana
Trinity Real Estate, the major property owner in the Hudson Square neighborhood, is proposing to rezone more than a dozen blocks in Hudson Square, stretching from Houston to Canal Street, … Continued
Last Thursday, GVSHP led a rally on the steps of City Hall calling on Borough President Scott Stringer to hold a public hearing before he votes on the NYU 2031 … Continued
This Sunday, March 25, marks the 101st Anniversary of the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. The 1911 fire took the lives of 146 workers, mostly immigrant women, inspiring the young … Continued
We are thrilled to share with you the news that GVSHP successfully nominated the South Village to the Preservation League of New York State’s “Seven to Save” list — their … Continued
Please join GVSHP, NYU faculty and students, and Village, SoHo, NoHo, Union Square, and Chelsea Community groups for a press conference calling upon Borough President Stringer to vote ‘NO’ on … Continued
If you’ve gotten our program email or flyer you know that Time and Space on the Lower East Side is the title of one of our upcoming events. But it’s … Continued
With St. Patrick’s Day just this past Saturday, we thought we would take a look at two seminal Irish institutions in Greenwich Village, The University Parish of St. Joseph’s and … Continued
New York City has no shortage of Irish watering holes, but if you’re looking to escape the parade crowds there are plenty of Village pubs where you can celebrate St. … Continued
Last week Time Out New York compiled a list of the 100 Best NYC Songs. While perusing this list we were surprised to see the number of songs with a … Continued
The Village Voice recently released its annual 10 best picks for the best restaurants in the East Village. Check it out and see how it compares to your personal list … Continued
The Village is full of beloved landmarks and winding streets familiar across the world. However, one of the wonderful things about being involved with this vibrant community is discovering the … Continued
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, … Continued
EV Grieve puts together a 1st Avenue penthouse striptease and reveals the new Retina mural on the Bowery You can now buy creations by the Mosaic Man on Etsy (Gothamist) … Continued
By Dana
Exhausting images of Astor Places (Bowery Boys) Two townhomes of Downing Street have a big day (Curbed) Writer Mickey Rapkin buys his greeting cards at Greenwich Letterpress (Racked) Carrie Bradshaw’s … Continued
By Dana
Strolling through Father Demo Square at 6th Avenue and Carmine and Bleecker Streets, one might naturally assume that the name of the park has something to do with the neighboring … Continued
Forty-four years ago today, music promoter Bill Graham opened the Fillmore East at 105 Second Avenue. This 2,600 seat venue hosted concerts from 1968 to 1971, including performances by the … Continued
Many vestiges of the immigrant communities that called the East Village home remain to this day. The area in and around First Avenue and Avenue B between East 11th and … Continued
It was on this date in 1951 that the infamous espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg began. The Jewish-American Communists, along with Soviet spy Morton Sobell, were accused of … Continued
One of my favorite things about historic architecture research is uncovering the fascinating histories of lesser-known buildings (and then sharing those facts with anyone who will listen!). When I worked … Continued
One of the most interesting things about New York City’s public parks is the rich history that lies beyond the grass and trees. Abingdon Square, bounded by 8th Avenue, Hudson … Continued
By Dana
We’re coming up on the sixth anniversary of the landmarking of the Keller Hotel at West Street and Barrow Street in the Far West Village. The Keller Hotel (built 1897-98) … Continued
For historic preservationists, who often use the built environment as a major source of information about a community’s past, the hardest stories to capture are those where the physical trace … Continued
As I was considering a topic for last week’s Presidents’ Day post, I came across a great find from our nation’s past that took place right here in present-day NoHo. … Continued
Last year, Off the Grid featured a look at some of the Village’s more specialized bookshops, including shops featuring cookbooks, comics, and mystery books. If you didn’t catch it, be … Continued
The East Village is renowned for its avant-garde, Off-Off Broadway theaters. One of the great examples is the Theater for the New City. Founded in 1971 by Crystal Field, George … Continued
This week marks the one year anniversary off GVSHP’s blog Off the Grid. We launched Off the Grid to engage new audiences in the dynamic history of the neighborhoods we … Continued
Can you name the only United States president to be born in New York City? Here’s a hint: he served as the city’s Police Commissioner when the 9th Police Precinct … Continued
With Presidents’ Day, celebrating George Washington’s birthday (among other things) just around the corner, we thought we would take a brief look at one of the Village’s most conspicuous monuments … Continued
On February 16, 1990, we lost one of the most memorable and enduring figures of the 1980’s Downtown arts scene, Keith Haring (born May 4, 1958). Haring came to New … Continued
Walking west along Charles Street, it is hard to imagine that the area bounded by West 4th, Bleecker, and Perry Streets was still rural until the mid-1860s. At the center … Continued
Calling all procrastinators! It’s not too late to buy your special someone a tasty chocolate treat. To make your last-minute Valentine’s shopping easier we’ve put together a list of our … Continued
Standing where Broadway begins its curve to the west at 10th Street, the landmarked Grace Church has been a fixture of Broadway’s landscape for over 160 years. James Renwick Jr.’s … Continued
By Drew
If you’ve taken a trip to the new Cooper Union building or gone for a beer at McSorley’s, you’ve most likely noticed that small one-block street that runs between St. … Continued
Have you ever come across a peculiar street pattern in the city and wondered how it became that way? It’s a topic that’s especially prevalent in the Village, where street … Continued
Pigeons shake their wings on the copper church roof out my window across the street, a bird perched on the cross surveys the city’s blue-grey clouds. Larry Rivers ‘ll come … Continued
February may be the shortest month, but that does not mean that there is any shortage of important things happening this month on the Village Preservation calendar. Far from it. … Continued
A recent inquiry by a researcher looking to document the emerging folk scene in the Village had me looking through the archive of Robert Otter, a photographer who captured the … Continued
Between the 2nd and 3rd stories of this handsome building at 310-312 East 11th, between 1st and 2nd Avenues, there is a faint sign that reads “Knickerbocker Boarding.” Today the … Continued
On this day in 1979, Sex Pistols punk rocker Sid Vicious was found dead of a heroin overdose in a Greenwich Village apartment. Born John Simon Ritchie, Vicious (as he … Continued
To those who had grown accustomed to keeping time by glancing at the four-faced clock on the grand tower of the Jefferson Market Library, the past several years have been … Continued
As EV Grieve recently reported, the final credits may be on the way for a movie theater turned grocery store on Avenue A. As the end may be coming for … Continued
On Thursday evening, Village Preservation and the New School for Public Engagement hosted a lecture titled, “Jackson Pollock’s Downtown Years” given by art historian and MoMa educator Larissa Bailiff. While … Continued
Last week, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to landmark East 10th Street, from Avenue A to Avenue B. So we thought we would welcome our newest district … Continued
A research request by a New York Times writer regarding the Cherry Lane Theatre at 38 Commerce Street unearthed a rich history of entertainment in the West Village. (For a … Continued
Last week we had a bittersweet victory when the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted in favor of designating the East 10th Street Historic District mere minutes after the Department of Buildings … Continued
“Superblock” is a term that we have been hearing more and more with the publication of the NYU 2031 Plan and its roadmap for massive additional development on two of … Continued
In an earlier post we cleared up some common misconceptions about landmarking, one of which is the notion that landmarking “freezes a building in time.” Every Tuesday the Landmarks Preservation … Continued
By Sheryl
Today we celebrate the birthday of tortured but beloved poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe. Born in Boston in 1809, and long associated with Baltimore, Poe called New York City … Continued
It is hard to imagine Bleecker Street, with its high fashion boutiques, small businesses, cafes, and food shops as farmland, but then again it is hard to visualize any part … Continued
Today we are thrilled to welcome Amanda Davis – our new Director of Preservation and Research – to the Village Preservation team! Among many others, Amanda’s projects will include design … Continued
By Sheryl
As a reminder on Tuesday, January 17, the Landmarks Preservation Commission will have a hearing for the proposed East 10th Street Historic District. It is very important for you … Continued
The final performance of the off-Broadway hit The Fantasticks took place at the Sullivan Street Playhouse at 181 Sullivan Street in the South Village on January 13, 2002. That marked the end … Continued
61 Washington Square South, before it was demolished in 1948, was known as the House of Genius, part of the so-called genius row named for the artists and writers who … Continued
Have you ever walked on 14th Street near Irving Place and looked up to see that this section of the thoroughfare had a secondary street sign naming it “Cus D’Amato … Continued
What an amazing picture! Talk about the good old days. We love historic images here at Village Preservation. They help us with our research, like our building-by-building documentation of the … Continued
Tonight will be a critical first public hearing in the public review and approval process for NYU’s massive proposed twenty-year expansion plan. Come to Community Board #2’s Zoning Committee tonight … Continued
Friends of Eater seem to agree that the West Village was the best dining neighborhood of 2011! Puddin’ by Clio to open on St. Mark’s and serve all pudding based … Continued
The Downtown Piano Queen played at the space of the former Circle in the Square Theater (Bowery Boogie)…and Van Halen played at Cafe Wha! (NY Times) The Thompson Street location … Continued
After 28 years Polonia, Polish restaurant, closes due to small-business-killing landlords (The Local East Village) PS 64 principal wages dress code war on teachers (DNAinfo) EV Grieve notes many neighborhood … Continued
We often receive research requests here at GVSHP that ask a very particular question about a particular address in one of the Village historic districts. So when we received a … Continued
This is the latest installment of Off the Grid’s series, “My Favorite Things,” in which we showcase some of our very favorite spots around the neighborhood, highlighting the incredible architecture, … Continued
We hope that you had a wonderful New Year celebration! With the arrival of 2012 we all have some resolutions that we plan to work on in the coming months … Continued
Walking East 7th Street is a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2011 Intro to Public History course. Each pair of students was tasked with researching the … Continued
Walking East 7th Street is a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2011 Intro to Public History course. Each pair of students was tasked with researching the … Continued
Walking East 7th Street is a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2011 Intro to Public History course. Each pair of students was tasked with researching the … Continued
Walking East 7th Street is a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2011 Intro to Public History course. Each pair of students was tasked with researching the … Continued
Walking East 7th Street is a collaboration between GVSHP and the students in NYU’s Fall 2011 Intro to Public History course. Each pair of students was tasked with researching the … Continued
In response to our recent post “A Sign That Tells More Than Just Street Names,” about the oddly ‘elevated’ street sign embedded above the third floor of 128 Charles Street, … Continued
This one was a long time coming. Just in time to ring in the new year, the fake ivy over at 47 West 8th Street has finally come down!
Last Saturday night I joined hundreds of other holiday revelers in one of my favorite offbeat, annual Village traditions: Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night. Now in its twentieth year, Unsilent Night … Continued
Anthony Amato, the founder and artistic director of the Amato Opera, died last Tuesday at the age of 91. Through his company, Anthony Amato created a home for opera within … Continued
You may have seen 60 Minutes last night with a segment about the impact of the mortgage crisis on neighborhoods in Cleveland, Ohio. With owners and banks abandoning homes the city has … Continued
As we enter the final phase of the holiday shopping season we thought we would continue our look at some of the historic retail establishments in our area. Last week … Continued
The settling in of cold weather has us here at GVSHP feeling a little nostalgic for snowfalls past. Images from the GVSHP archive of Washington Square Park covered in snow … Continued
In recent years, the East Village on the whole has come to be known for its budding gastronomy scene. One street in particular that has really hit it big in … Continued
Chances are you are familiar with the timeless Christmas special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which has played on television every holiday season since it first aired in 1964 on the … Continued
The iconic early 19th century rowhouses that flank the north side of Washington Square Park are in many a passersby’s mind synonymous with the early history of the neighborhood. Originally, … Continued
Nearly four centuries ago, Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant, whose life has been the stuff of legend on account of his wooden leg and his role in losing New Amsterdam to … Continued
Yesterday we explored some of the history of elevated train lines in the Village. Today we’re going to take a quick look at another elevated part of our neighborhood’s history.
An Off the Grid reader asks: “Why is there a set of stone markers embedded between the third and fourth floors of the building at 128 Charles Street saying ‘Greenwich … Continued
‘ Tis the season! Since we’re in the midst of both the holiday and presidential campaign season we thought it would be appropriate to share a precious moment from holidays … Continued
City Council Member Rosie Mendez recognized the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation in its thirtieth anniversary year by proclaiming December 2, 2010 as Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation … Continued
On December 4th, 1971, John Stanley Wojtowicz married Ernest Aron in Greenwich Village, in what Mr. Wojtowicz described as a Roman Catholic ceremony. This event might be considered noteworthy for taking … Continued