Let me start by saying that I was a teenager in the 1970's. I spent a lot of time wandering around The Village. I loved that there was an edge to it. West 8th street had a great mix of head shops, record stores, stores that specialized in really good band tee-shirts and posters. It was a place where 20 drama club nerds could end up after a successful show and dinner in Chinatown, sitting in Washington Square Park with a jug of wine, not worried about being hassled by the police. There were inexpensive restaurants and bars. There was the 8th street Playhouse:
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Yes, it was edgy and seedy! That was the whole point.
There was an honesty to the village. Anyone could come. Everyone could be who they were. This led to birth of political movements.
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| Stonewall riots http://gvshp.org/ |
So what is Greenwich Village like today?
Well, Greenwich Village is still worth the trip to visit. There are many architectural treasures to be seen, just above street level. |
| Row of houses along 6th Ave. |
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| Jefferson Market Public Library |
8th Street Today
As I said earlier, 8th street used to be one of my favorite places to hang out. I would spend hours in the poster and t-shirt shops. I used to go to a place called Mamie's for ice cream sundaes. And i used to go to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show with my friends. It was a place where someone who didn't have a lot of money could come and hang out for an evening and feel like they were welcome and belonged here.Today 8th street has become a gentrified, and expensive. The restaurants are all upscale. Now, it is home to one of my favorite "coffee-snob" places - Stumptown
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| The best coffee roasters and brewers around |
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| www.sspny.com/ |
On the other hand there is also 5oz. Factory. This store sells frozen custard and fried Wisconsin Cheese curds. But taking advantage of being on 8th street their prices start at over $7 for the cheese curds. Way beyond what I am willing to pay.
But all is not forsaken. For Washington Square Park is still the heart of Greenwich Village, and it has been rehabbed and is back to jewel status.
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| Washington Square Arch |
And the feel of the park as a town square is still there. Near the Arch you will find the drummers and guitar players who have been there since the 1950's still congregating. The fountain is a performance space for acrobatic troops. The southwest corner is still home to chess players ready for a game. But be on your a-game before you sit down because they are good and will take your cash.
In other words, if you want some place to come and sit and watch people Washington Square Park is on of the best places in NYC.
One of the more interesting performers is the Washington Square Piano Player.
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| Colin Huggins entertaining the crowd |
One place that is definitely worth the stop is Porto Rico Importing Co. This was the first store I had ever seen selling fresh roasted coffee. Walking into this shop, which has been on Bleecker Streetsince 1907 near 6th Ave is a delight for all of your senses.
Well I miss Steve's Ice Cream shop, Balducci's and Grey's hot dog stand. My village is gone.
ReplyDeleteGood intro to the new Greenwich Village. But I too miss the old coffee houses (there used to be dozens of them where you could sit for hours having coffee and some kind of Italian pastry). I miss the HUGE art shows all over the streets. I miss Azuma's with it's inexpensive Japanese housewares and tiny dishes. (I still have a carved room divider bought there for $99.00 in 1974). I miss the store with 41 types of pies on 6th Avenue and the stores that sold hundred of jeans just up the block. I miss the Mad Monk with its beautiful ceramics and the shoes stores where you could be fitted for custom made sandals that lasted for a decade. But then again, I'm an old foggy. Still, I wish young people today could enjoy all those experiences for not very much money. AMD
ReplyDeleteI believe the jeans store you mentioned was Instant Pants, where they would tailor for free on the spot. Favorite of mine back then. Loved all the places you mentioned.
DeleteThank you for mentioning The Mad Monk! Carl Monk was a really cool
Deleteguy, as was his employee, George. I still have a soup tureen that friends bought me, a plate and a casserole dish that I treasure these many decades later. He also would give away Creation Spirituality magazines that had full page pics of Robert Lentz’s art. Being surrounded by all that beautiful pottery, there was a calm that enveloped me anytime I stopped in from the frenetic energy just outside the door of 500 6 Av to chat with Carl or George and see what was new in the displays.
I miss Azuma's too! Do either of you remember the store that sold Tibetan art? There was a huge painted and carved phoenix in the window. I think it was closer to Seventh Ave.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved Azuma. You have no idea how much I miss that store.
DeleteThe Village is just not the same since NYU invaded it.
I absolutely loved Azuma. You have no idea how much I miss that store.
DeleteThe Village is just not the same since NYU invaded it.
i was always broke but still had enough for my dishware at Azuma. Also the silk flats with the strap. Loved that store
DeleteThat store was on Bleeker street near Christopher. I loved that place. Unfortunately it is no longer there, I assume it succumbed to rising rents.
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