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Tag: south of union square

Preserving and Honoring Women’s History

For decades, Village Preservation has been advocating for the landmark designation of buildings in our neighborhoods significant not only for their architectural merit, but for the many important layers of cultural heritage present at these sites. We’ve had some great successes, and achieved landmark status for places including: Yet landmarking buildings for their cultural significance […]

A Look at the History of Female Nightlife Activists in the Village

Our neighborhoods have long thrived on an electric, eclectic energy that fuels creativity, rebellion, and cultural ferment. Amid the many powerful forces shaping the area’s nightlife history, women are among the pivotal yet often overlooked figures — transforming not only the local scene but the wider social and political landscape. These women were not just […]

Business of the Month: ISHTA Yoga, 816 Broadway

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. If your plans for the year ahead involve […]

The Artists of 30 East 14th Street Show

In November, 2024, Village Preservation released a report detailing the extensive artistic history of the area South of Union Square. Part of our ongoing campaign to designate this area as a historic district, we have also been working to gather letters of support from individuals and institutions with ties to these artists. We ended up […]

A New Newsletter for a New Year

The new year brings with it plenty of fresh opportunities to explore and enjoy. For Village Preservation, that includes the latest issue of our semi-annual newsletter, jam-packed with new content, and a brand new design for our longstanding publication. Within the space of 20 pages, the Winter 2025 newsletter gives readers the chance to explore […]

The Force is Strong with This One: Science Fiction in the Village

Will technology destroy the world or save it? This recurring conundrum has provided fertile ground for speculation; and it was precisely this sort of speculation that once gave rise to a new artistic genre: science fiction. Its roots are diffuse, and its impact pervasive. But we know this much — the story of the development […]

The Cast and the Curious 3: South of Union Square

The neighborhood South of Union Square is one of New York City’s great centers of cast iron architecture. This area includes some of the city’s earliest surviving fully cast-iron buildings, as well as predominantly masonry buildings with distinctive and elaborate cast iron ground floors or ornament. Our South Of Union Square Cast Iron Tour includes […]

    Cast Iron Architecture, South of Union Square Part II

    The neighborhood South of Union Square is one of New York City’s great centers of cast iron architecture. This area includes some of the city’s earliest surviving fully cast-iron buildings, as well as predominantly masonry buildings with distinctive and elaborate cast iron ground floors or ornament. Our South Of Union Square Cast Iron Tour includes […]

      Arshile Gorky: A Bridge to Abstract Expressionism

      Arshile Gorky, an influential figure in the earliest inception of the Abstract Expressionist movement, is celebrated for a unique style that merges surrealism with a profound emotional depth. One of the most transformative periods in his life unfolded in Greenwich Village during the 1930s and 1940s. The neighborhood, with its vibrant artistic scene and diverse […]

      Cast & Curious: Cast Iron Architecture, South of Union Square Part I

      The area south of Union Square is one of New York’s great centers of cast iron architecture. This neighborhood includes some of the city’s earliest surviving fully cast-iron buildings as well as predominantly masonry buildings with distinctive and elaborate cast iron ground floors or ornament. Our South Of Union Square Cast Iron Tour includes 32 […]

        Little Histories Add to Big Picture South of Union Square

        In 2018, Village Preservation launched its campaign to designate South of Union Square a historic district, and protect an architecturally rich neighborhood alive with New York and national history that was (and remains) endangered by ongoing development plans. The area roughly between Third and Fifth Avenues from 9th to 14th Streets played a key role […]

        The Feast of San Gennaro — A Legacy of Early 20th-Century Neapolitan Immigrants

        Every September in NYC’s Little Italy, thousands flock to the neighborhood for a multi-day celebration of Italian-American culture. The Feast of San Gennaro, named after Saint Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, has been a staple tradition for the city’s Italian-American community for nearly 100 years. What began in 1926 as a one-day block party […]

        Business of the Month: Forbidden Planet, 832 Broadway

        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. In the pioneering sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet, Commander […]

        In Celebration of Independent Bookstore Day

        Purveyors of knowledge, solace, companionship, humor, community, and much more, bookstores enrich our lives and our neighborhoods in countless ways. It’s only fitting, then, that we have found numerous ways to promote them as part of our efforts to support local independent small businesses. On the occasion of independent bookstore day, we highlight a few […]

        History Remembered with Preservation and Plaques

        May is coming just around the proverbial corner on our calendars. Those 31 days bring us Preservation Month, when we celebrate historic sites across the country as well as highlight the social, cultural, and economic benefits of their preservation. It’s also a good time to reflect on the noteworthy places and histories that organizations like […]

        Business of the Month: A Sustainable Village, 318 East 9th Street and 50 University Place

        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. It’s rare to come across a store with […]

        Welcome to the Neighborhood: Unregular Bakery, 124 Fourth Avenue

        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 […]

        Celebrating Even More Women Artists #SouthOfUnionSquare

        This is the latest installation of “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism,” a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Village Preservation’s proposed South of Union Square historic district attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations […]

        The Diversity and Beauty of Loft Buildings South of Union Square

        The area South of Union Square, where Greenwich Village meets the East Village, is a dynamic blend of history, commerce, and culture. It’s where great leaps forward in social movements, literature, music, and industry took place, reflected in its diverse array of 19th- and early 20th-century architectural styles. Notably, the loft building emerged as a […]

        A Vibrant Tapestry: African American History in Our Neighborhoods

        Our neighborhoods are renowned for their rich cultural history and storied past. While often associated with artistic bohemia and progressive movements, our streets hold a lesser-known narrative that significantly shaped the African American experience in America. From the Harlem Renaissance to the Civil Rights Movement, Greenwich Village, the East Village, NoHo, and the area South […]

        Welcome to the Neighborhood: Hex & Co., 801 Broadway

        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 […]

        Isamu Noguchi: Artist of the Century

        He was one of the most significant, prolific, and versatile artists of the 20th century, and he produced several of his many iconic pieces from a studio located in a hidden Greenwich Village alley. We are referring to Isamu Noguchi, whose design work observed no boundaries. Drawing from influences as diverse as Italian marble work, […]

          The Legacy of The Brownies’ Book

          On October 10, 2023, Chronicle Books published The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families. It’s an anthology assembled by Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer that combines the work of more than 50 contemporary Black artists and writers with selections published over a century ago from the original Brownies’ Book. Published by […]

          South of Union Square: Where Bowlmor Lanes Began

          Bowlmor Lanes was opened at 110 University Place by Nick Gianos in 1938, at the beginning of what has been referred to as the “Golden Age of Bowling”. During this time, roughly the 1940s through 1960s, the popularity of the sport exploded with the introduction of the automatic pinsetter. From the beginning, Bowlmor Lanes was […]

          Business of the Month: Unregular Pizza, 135 4th Avenue

          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. Eating of the forbidden fruit separated us from […]

          The Lives of Writers #SouthOfUnionSquare

          Today we’re celebrating the accomplishments of some historic writers and authors who made their mark in the neighborhood South of Union Square. Writing is one of the many creative professions that has thrived in this district (one that has yet to be recognized and protected by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but you can help preserve […]

          Finding George Spaventa #SouthOfUnionSquare

          “I don’t go around looking for trouble, and yet these experiences often lead me out of sculpture to realms of danger — fantastic, literal, psychic danger.” — George Spaventa, ARTnews, September 1961 It is always exciting to find more strands of the expansive history in our neighborhoods; whether incidentally, or while following a direct lead. In this […]

          Theater Thursday: Classic Stage Company

          Classic Stage Company (known as CSC amongst theatergoers) is an East Village theatrical landmark and one of the longest-running Off-Broadway companies. CSC has been committed to re-imagining classic stories for contemporary audiences since 1967. It is a home for both established and emerging artists to grapple with great works of the world’s repertory that speak […]

          #SouthofUnionSquare: Department Stores and the New Woman

          In the later years of the 19th century, the area South of Union Square became a hub of consumerism, bringing in department stores like Macy’s to entertain a new wave of capitalism. One of these stores, later featured in the works of artist Isabel Bishop, was Hearn’s Department Store. Established in 1879 by James A. […]

            Martha Graham: Dancer of the Century

            Focus on your breath. It all begins there. Notice its natural rhythm and let that movement expand into a full-body contraction and release. This will form the basis of a stylized movement vocabulary that will allow you to explore the dynamic tension between the need to vent your passion and the desire for control. Now […]

              Documenting New York ca. 1940 via ‘Tax Photos’

              From 1939 until 1941, the New York City Department of Taxation collaborated with the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) to take photographs of each building in the five boroughs. Known then as the “Real Property Tax Card Record System for the City of New York,” the initiative started in 1938 when the Department of Taxation […]

                Celebrating Irish Heritage On the Town!

                St. Patrick’s Day is finally upon us! While we deeply appreciate the cultural, political, social, religious, and economic heritage that the Irish have brought to our neighborhoods, let’s not forget the infusion of important gathering places and civic centers that the Irish brought to our shores: The Irish Pub. New York City’s drinking culture has […]

                  The Village Backdrops of Oscar-Winning Films

                  Originally broadcast through radio in 1929, the Academy Awards have evolved over time to become one of the most anticipated award ceremonies in the world. A trademark of Hollywood, the event has always been hosted in Los Angeles, California, an area where many of the nominated films were made and nominated actors reside. However, our […]

                    #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Celebrating Women’s History Month

                    “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Isabel Bishop, Fourteenth Street, 1932. Image via Radford.edu. Village Preservation’s proposed South of Union Square historic district attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical […]

                    A Celebration of One Hundred Businesses of the Month

                    Your input is needed! Today we celebrate 100 Businesses 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. In November 2014, we started our popular Business of […]

                    Joan Mitchell’s Village

                    Joan Mitchell (February 12, 1925 – October 30, 1992) is one of the most well-known New York Abstract Expressionist painters. Born and raised in Chicago, Mitchell moved to New York City in 1949 after graduating from the Art Institute of Chicago and completing a fellowship in France. Naturally, she settled in Greenwich Village and the […]

                    A trip through our neighborhoods down Cheesy Street

                    It is perhaps the most versatile of foods, easily customizable to cultural and personal tastes and endlessly variable in style and ingredients. It is somehow both simple enough for home cooks who want to pop whatever is on hand into a toaster oven, and complex enough for chefs who turn its ingredients and their application into […]

                      Making Beautiful Music Together: The Grammy-Winning Artists #SouthOfUnionSquare

                      Known for its eclectic ambiance and creative energy, the area South of Union Square has historically acted as a magnet for hundreds of musicians, painters, photographers, and the like. As a center of music history, dozens of South of Union Square spots hosted Grammy-award-winning musicians, singers, and producers that shaped the music industry we know […]

                        Village Preservation Resources for African American History Month

                        Welcome to February, and African American History Month! Village Preservation has long documented the stories behind the streets, buildings and people of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. Those investigations have enabled us to offer several great resources to learn more about our neighborhoods, including our African American history, including our Civil Rights and […]

                        #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Joann Gedney

                        “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. The neighborhood south of Union Square, which Village Preservation has proposed be designated an historic district, has attracted painters, writers, publishers, and […]

                        #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Sonia Gechtoff 

                        “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. The area south of Union Square, which Village Preservation has proposed be designated an historic district, has attracted painters, writers, publishers, and […]

                        #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Mabel Dwight 

                        “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. This area, which Village Preservation has proposed be designated an historic district, has attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations throughout […]

                        #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Elizabeth Olds 

                        “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. The area south of Union Square, which Village Preservation has proposed be designated an historic district, has attracted painters, writers, publishers, and […]

                        Business of the Month: Paradis To Go, 114 Fourth Avenue

                        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. If you had access to a place that […]

                        #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Peggy Bacon

                        “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Throughout the 20th century, the area South of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations.  Art, politics, industry, commerce, […]

                        Literary Rebels: Five Banned Book Authors Connected to the Village

                        Everyone knows our neighborhoods have been home to some of the world’s most celebrated literary icons. However, for some of these icons, their revolutionary writing has been a magnet for scorn and animus as much as it has been for admiration. These authors have often found their work censored by private individuals, government officials, or […]

                        Manahatta: The Ecological Blueprint of Activism

                        Last year we introduced the Mannahatta Project’s Welikia Map – an innovative tool that provides insight into the historical landscape of Manhattan Island in 1609. Dr. Eric W. Sanderson and his team consolidated key data that ranged from the ecological make-up of the environment to the surrounding Lenape settlements to create the map. As a […]

                        #SouthOfUnionSquare: 813 Broadway and the Report of the Citizens’ Association of New York Upon the Sanitary Conditions of the City

                        Recently, full demolition permits were filed for 813 Broadway in the heart of Village Preservation’s proposed South of Union Square Historic District. 813 Broadway is a four-story residential and commercial building constructed around 1850 as an investment property for Peter Goelet, a prominent New York City merchant and real estate entrepreneur. Over its nearly 175 […]

                        VILLAGE VOICES 2022 Highlights the Extraordinary History of 70 Fifth Avenue

                        The striking 12-story Beaux Arts style office building at 70 Fifth Avenue was constructed in 1912 for publisher George Plimpton. It housed an extraordinary array of civil rights and social justice organizations, philanthropic groups, publishers, and non-governmental organizations over the years. This includes the headquarters of the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, the […]

                        Organizing for Irish Independence #SouthOfUnionSquare

                        In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the neighborhood South of Union Square was home to a thriving community of Irish immigrants and Irish Americans. This community played a major role in shaping the development of New York City. Prominent Irish New Yorkers including Andrew Carrigan, James McCreery, William Michael Harnet, and Alfred E. Smith […]

                        #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Lucile Blanch

                        “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Throughout the 20th century, the area south of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations, many of whom were […]

                        Birth Control as Health Care: The Legacy of the International Workers Order #SouthOfUnionSquare

                        Though forms of birth control existed long before the introduction of “the pill” in 1960, most women often did not have easy access to it. In the early 20th century, public views of birth control were often negative, discussion of it was usually stifled, and in general women did not have a great deal of […]

                        Ice Cream Dreaming Through the Village

                        A wise man once said that only one food goes just as well with pie, coffee, or tears: ice cream. But you can’t always take wise men at their word; so we decided to put this piece of ancient wisdom to the test. On a suitably hot, summer day, we embarked — armed with a […]

                          A Woman Can Keep a Home and Build It

                          According to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, only 14% of engineers in the United States are women. In 2022, though the number of women in S.T.E.M (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields is ever increasing, it’s shocking to hear that women still make up such a low percentage of engineers. Perhaps this is a result […]

                          ‘Seven to Save’: Did It Work? 

                          Village Preservation’s proposed South of Union Square Historic District was recently named one of 2022-2023’s “Seven to Save” — the biannual list of the most important endangered historic sites in New York State — by the Preservation League of New York State. This designation shines a spotlight on the incredibly valuable and varied architecture of […]

                          #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: MORE Artist Studios at 30 East 14th Street

                          “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Throughout the 20th century, the area south of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations, many of whom were […]

                          Purdy & Henderson: Engineering NYC from #SouthOfUnionSquare

                          The neighborhood South of Union Square has no shortage of trailblazers in the arts, architecture, commerce, and social justice. Architects, like James Renwick, Jr., Louis Korn, Goldwin Starrett of Starrett & Van Vleck, and Albert Buchman of Buchman & Fox for example, typically get the lion’s share of the accolades for the design and construction […]

                          The Gilded Village: the Renwicks and the Roosevelts

                          This is the latest installment in our Gilded Village blog series. The Gilded Age was a time of contradictions and change: extreme wealth and desperate poverty; political stability and corruption; venal greed and generous philanthropy; social retrenchment and reform; an ever-more powerful establishment and a rising immigrant class. Nowhere were the paradoxes and churn of […]

                          The Gilded Village: Shopping in the Neighborhood #SouthOfUnionSquare

                          The Gilded Age in New York City, from roughly the end of the Civil War to 1900, is a cacophony of contradictions. On the surface, the era was defined by excess, luxury, materialism, abundance, technical advancement, and extreme new wealth, which brought with it unprecedented corruption, inequality, and unrestrained greed. The Gilded Age is easily […]

                          ‘The Birth of a Nation’ Galvanizes a Movement #SouthOfUnionSquare

                          Throughout the 20th century, the area south of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations, many of whom were challenging accepted American social and cultural ideals. The release on February 8, 1915 of The Birth of a Nation — a silent white supremacist propaganda film credited with both resurrecting the Ku Klux […]

                          A Pastry’s Long Journey to the Village

                          Here’s the secret: First, find yourself a dairy cow (or in a pinch, just some fresh milk). Keep it cold. Second, you’ll need sugar, salt, yeast, eggs, spring water, and high-protein flour. Now, all you’re missing is the butter — the best high-fat butter you can get your hands on. Import it from Poitou-Charentes if […]

                            19th Century Irish Immigrant Community Building #SouthOfUnionSquare

                            As we continue to research the historically and architecturally significant area South of Union Square, we uncover more important history that unfolded in the area every day. Recently, we discovered the presence of philanthropist, businessman, and Irish immigrant Andrew Carrigan, who helped transform the lives of Irish immigrants in New York in the 19th century, […]

                            The Eclectic Streetscapes #SouthOfUnionSquare

                            Beautifully detailed 1899 “Mail & Express” Broadway Streetscape Illustrations demonstrate the urgency of Village Preservation’s campaign to landmark the area #SouthOfUnionSquare. The neighborhood #SouthOfUnionSquare can be characterized as a true crossroads — where art, politics, industry, commerce, the New York elite, and the working class collided to create an eclectic built environment and cultural ferment emblematic of […]

                            #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Atelier 17

                            “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Throughout the 20th century, the area south of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations, many of whom were […]

                            #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Yasuo Kuniyoshi

                            “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Throughout the 20th century, the area south of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations, many of whom were challenging […]

                            2021 Village Preservation Public Programs Round-Up

                            As we close the chapter on yet another wild and successful of year of public programs at Village Preservation, we wanted to take the time to reflect and highlight some of 2021’s best moments. Despite the twists and turns of this year’s ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, we’ve hosted 80 different educational lectures, book talks, and walking […]

                            #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Mary Fife Laning

                            “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Throughout the 20th century, the area south of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations, many of whom were challenging accepted […]

                            John Hammond: Villager & 20th Century’s Most Influential Producer

                            While the name of John Hammond Sr. (December 15, 1910 – July 10, 1987) might be unfamiliar to some, as a talent scout, producer, musicologist, broadcaster, journalist, and mentor, he helped the world to discover artists from Billie Holiday to Bob Dylan and scores more in between. Hammond was absolutely one of the most transformative figures […]

                            #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Edward Laning

                            “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Throughout the 20th century, the area south of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations, many of whom were […]

                            Abbie Hoffman: East Village Counterculture Icon

                            Abbie Hoffman, born Abbot Howard Hoffman on November 30, 1936, was an American political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party (“Yippies”) and was a member of the Chicago Seven. A leader of the counterculture movement of the late 1960s and a vocal anti-war proponent, it is no wonder that he found himself in […]

                            #SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: The Artist Studios of 30 East 14th Street

                            “South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the area south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. Throughout the 20th century, the area south of Union Square attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical social organizations, many of whom were […]