Places to visit in New York

SoHo and Greenwich Village of Dec 29, 2018


Description:

SoHo (South of Houston Street) and Greenwich Village are Manhattan's most vibrant and storied neighbourhoods.

SoHo was originally home to factories and warehouses, but starting in the 1960s, artists and other bohemians began to move in, attracted by the cheap rent and spacious loft spaces. By the 1970s, SoHo had become a thriving arts district, with galleries, performance spaces, and studios filling the old industrial buildings.

Artists such as Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Richard Serra made SoHo their home, and their work helped to establish the area as a centre for contemporary art. Local personalities like Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe contributed to the neighbourhood's bohemian vibe.

Today, SoHo is still a hub of creativity. Still, the neighbourhood has also become a shopping destination, with high-end fashion boutiques and luxury brands setting up shop alongside the art galleries.

Greenwich Village, on the other hand, has a long history as a centre of political and cultural radicalism. During the early 20th century, it was a hub of artistic activity, with writers such as Edna St. Vincent Millay and Eugene O'Neill making their homes there.

In the 1950s and '60s, the Village became a centre of the beat movement, with figures like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg frequenting local bars and cafes. Later, the neighbourhood became a centre of the LGBTQ rights movement, with the Stonewall Inn riots in 1969 sparking a wave of activism that helped to change the course of American history.

Throughout its history, Greenwich Village has been home to a diverse array of local personalities, from the anarchist Emma Goldman to the folk singer Bob Dylan. It remains a thriving cultural centre, with theatres, music venues, and performance spaces filling the historic buildings that line its streets.

Both SoHo and Greenwich Village are neighbourhoods with a rich cultural and historical heritage, shaped by the diverse array of local personalities who have called them home over the years.

Let's start our walking tour at Lafayette Street and the Little Singer Building in SoHo.

The Little Singer Building is a beautiful cast-iron building constructed in the 1800s. It was initially the headquarters of the Singer Sewing Machine Company and now houses a variety of businesses and residences.

From there, we can walk north on Lafayette Street and take a right onto Prince Street. This street is known for its high-end shopping, including the famous Polo Ralph Lauren store. The brand was named after the sport of polo, and its founder, Ralph Lauren, began his career selling ties in 1967.

Continuing down Prince Street, we come to the intersection with Greene Street, where we can see a beautiful street sculpture featuring bronze bulls. This area is known for its historic cast-iron buildings, which were constructed in the 1800s and featured intricate details and ornate facades.

Moving on, we can turn right onto Spring Street and walk towards the intersection with Greene Street. Here, we can find Time Landscape, an outdoor sculpture created by artist Alan Sonfist that recreates the pre-colonial West Village terrain. The little plot features birch and beech trees, oaks and elms, and woodland with red cedar, black cherry, and witch hazel above-ground cover of mugwort, Virginia creeper, aster, pokeweed, and milkweed.

Continuing, we can take a left onto West Houston Street and make our way towards the historic Isaacs-Hendricks House, which is thought to be the oldest home in Greenwich Village. Built-in 1799 by merchant Joshua Isaacs, the house still stands on the corner of Bedford and Commerce Streets and has been well-preserved by history-minded residents.

From there, we can explore the charming residential enclave of Bedford Street, with its red brick and wood frame homes built in the 1840s and beyond. At the corner of Commerce Street, we can see the Isaacs-Hendricks House once again, where it all began.

This short walking tour offers a glimpse into the rich history and culture of SoHo and Greenwich Village, with their cast-iron buildings, high-end shopping, and historic homes.

Languages: EN
Author & Co-authors
Asya Mardanyanz (author)
Distance
3.42 km
Duration
1h 18 m
Likes
56
Places with media
10

The intersection of Lafayette Street and Broadway is located in Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is a busy and essential crossroads in the city's heart, with a rich history and cultural significance.

Broadway is one of the oldest and most famous streets in New York City, stretching from the southern tip of Manhattan to the Bronx. It is known for its theatres, shopping, and vibrant energy. Lafayette Street, named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero of the American Revolution, runs north-south through the heart of downtown Manhattan.

The intersection of Lafayette Street and Broadway has been an important hub of activity and culture for centuries. In the 19th century, it was the centre of the city's theatre district, with many famous theatres and entertainment venues nearby. Today, it is a bustling commercial and cultural centre with a mix of retail shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

The area around the intersection of Lafayette Street and Broadway is also known for its architecture, with many historic buildings and landmarks located nearby. These include the landmarked Woolworth Building, once the tallest building in the world, and the Astor Place Theatre, which dates back to the mid-1800s.

Uploaded by Asya Mardanyanz

The Little Singer Building, also known as the City Investing Building, is a historic commercial building in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It was designed by the architectural firm of Ernest Flagg and built-in 1903-1904.

The building is notable for its Beaux-Arts style architecture, which was popular at the turn of the 20th century. It is named after the Singer Sewing Machine Company, which originally occupied the building and used it as a showroom and office space.

The Little Singer Building is also significant in developing modern skyscraper design. The building was one of the first to use steel-frame construction, which allowed for taller and more efficient buildings. It also featured several innovative design elements, including a grand marble staircase and a large skylight.

Today, the Little Singer Building is a designated New York City Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has been renovated and converted into luxury apartments. However, it still retains many of its original design features and is a testament to the rich architectural history of Lower Manhattan.

Photo By Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike CC BY-SA 4.0

Uploaded by Asya Mardanyanz

Prince Street is a historic street in the heart of SoHo, a neighbourhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It stretches from West Street in the west to Bowery in the east, and it is known for its beautiful architecture, vibrant cultural scene, and rich history.

Prince Street is named after Prince William IV, the reigning monarch of Great Britain, when the street was laid out in the early 19th century. The road has been an important centre of commerce and culture for many years, with a mix of retail shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions located along its length.

One of the most notable features of Prince Street is its beautiful architecture. The street is lined with historic buildings that date back to the mid-19th century, many of which have been designated as New York City Landmarks. These buildings feature a range of architectural styles, including Beaux-Arts, Italianate, and Romanesque Revival.

Prince Street is also known for its vibrant cultural scene. The street is home to various art galleries, fashion boutiques, and trendy restaurants, and it is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike. The road is particularly famous for its high-end fashion boutiques and designer shops, which attract shoppers worldwide.

The intersection of Green Street and Prince Street is located in the heart of SoHo, a neighbourhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. It is a busy and vital crossroads known for its historic architecture, vibrant cultural scene, and rich history.

Green Street is one of the most beautiful and historic streets in SoHo. It is lined with beautiful cast-iron buildings that date back to the mid-19th century, many of which have been designated as New York City landmarks. The street is known for its trendy boutiques, art galleries, and high-end fashion shops, which attract visitors worldwide.

Prince Street is another essential street in SoHo, intersecting with Green Street at a bustling crossroads. Like Green Street, Prince Street is known for its historic architecture and vibrant cultural scene, with a mix of retail shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions located along its length.

The intersection of Green Street and Prince Street is an essential hub of activity and culture in SoHo. It is home to various famous restaurants, bars, cafes, and many important cultural institutions, including the New York City Fire Museum and the Drawing Center.

Polo Ralph Lauren is a global fashion brand known for its classic American style and preppy aesthetic. The brand was founded in 1967 by Ralph Lauren, a designer who envisioned creating a lifestyle brand that embodied the spirit of the American dream.

The name "Polo" was chosen because of Ralph Lauren's love of the sport and the lifestyle that it represented. The brand quickly became known for its high-quality clothing, accessories, and home goods, and it has since grown into a global fashion powerhouse with stores and customers worldwide.

The Polo Ralph Lauren store on Prince Street in SoHo is one of the brand's flagship stores, and it is an essential part of the company's history and heritage. The store is located in a beautiful cast-iron building that dates back to the mid-19th century, and it has been renovated and updated to reflect the brand's signature aesthetic.

The store features a wide range of clothing, accessories, and home goods, all designed to embody the classic American style that Ralph Lauren is known for. The store is an essential destination for fashion lovers and tourists alike, and it is a must-visit destination in the heart of SoHo.

The building at 91 Green Street dates back to the mid-19th century, and it is one of many cast-iron buildings constructed in SoHo during that period. The building has been designated as a New York City landmark, and it is a beautiful example of the classic American architecture that defines the neighbourhood.

The use of cast-iron facades in building construction was pioneered by James Bogardus, an American inventor and architect considered the father of cast-iron architecture. Bogardus saw the potential for cast iron as a building material in the early 19th century, and he began experimenting with it to create more efficient and cost-effective buildings.

The use of cast-iron facades quickly caught on in the mid-19th century, particularly in the SoHo neighbourhood of Manhattan. At the time, SoHo was a bustling commercial and industrial district, and the use of cast iron allowed builders to create buildings that were both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing.

The popularity of cast-iron architecture in SoHo spread quickly, and similar styles of building construction can be found in other cities around the world, including Paris and Brussels. However, SoHo remains one of the most famous and well-preserved examples of cast-iron architecture in the world, with a rich history and a vibrant cultural scene that continues to attract visitors worldwide.

Today, 91 Green Street is home to various businesses and residents. The building houses a mix of retail shops, art galleries, and residential units, and it is a popular destination for visitors who want to experience the unique culture and history of SoHo.

Spring Street and Greene Street, like many streets in SoHo, were named during the early to the mid-19th century. At the time, the area was primarily a residential district, and many roads were named after prominent landowners and politicians of the day.

Spring Street was named for its location near a natural spring once in the area. The street was also home to several prominent residents, including John Jacob Astor, one of the wealthiest men in the country at the time.

Greene Street was named for Nathanael Greene, a Revolutionary War general who played a crucial role in several important battles. The street was initially called Elm Street, but it was renamed in honour of Greene in the mid-19th century.

The naming of Spring Street and Greene Street reflects the historical and cultural context of the time they were named. At the time, the United States was a young country, and there was a strong sense of patriotism and pride in the country's history and heritage. Naming streets after prominent figures of the Revolutionary War and other important historical events was a way to honour the country's past and inspire future generations.

Downtown is one of New York City's oldest neighbourhoods, and its streets are a mix of leftover and cut-off roads that have no place in the modern street grid. Elk Street is a prime example, stretching just two blocks from Chambers Street to Duane Street, with the Surrogate's Court building anchoring its southern end. The street ends east of the African Burial Ground, where free and enslaved black New Yorkers were buried from the 1690s to 1794.

Although there is no record of elk roaming in this area, Elk Street was the last remaining stretch of Elm Street, which ran from Chambers Street to Spring Street. In the early 1900s, the city decided to enlarge Lafayette Street and incorporate the existing roadway of Elm Street and another defunct street, Marion Street.

The current name of Elk Street is a nod to the first Elks Lodge, which was organised in 1866 at a rooming house at 188 Elm Street farther north. The first Elks Lodge was a group of "15 actors, members of an informal drinking association called the 'Jolly Corks'," and their declared purpose was the practice of charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity. The Elks went national, and in 1939, Mayor La Guardia, himself an Elk, decided to rename Elm Street in honour of the lodge to which he belonged.

On the southwest corner of Bleecker Street and LaGuardia Place, a fenced-in patch of green appears to be part of Silver Towers, which are two 1960s apartment houses owned by New York University. However, this little plot is a recreation of a pristine West Village terrain before the 17th century, created by artist Alan Sonfist in 1978. Known as Time Landscape, the installation features a variety of indigenous trees and plants, including birch and beech trees, oaks, and elms, as well as non-native species that have taken root over time. The intention of the installation was never to keep out all non-native species but rather to observe how they interact with space over time. While some critics have noted that the building features many non-indigenous plants, Sonfist has defended his work as an open lab that reflects the natural evolution of the landscape. Time Landscape is located just a few blocks away from the outdoor sculpture at the corner of Houston Street and LaGuardia Place.

The area surrounding the Comedy Cellar and Minetta Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village is rich in history and cultural heritage. Known as a hub for artistic and intellectual movements, the neighbourhood has been home to many of New York City's most notable cultural icons.

In the 19th century, the area was home to a vibrant literary scene, with authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman frequenting local cafes and bookstores. Later, in the early 20th century, the neighbourhood became a gathering place for artists and bohemians, including Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

During the 1950s and 60s, the area became a hotbed of political and social activism, with the beatniks and the civil rights movement making their mark on the neighbourhood. Greenwich Village was also a centre of the folk music revival, with legendary performers like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez playing in local clubs and coffeehouses.

Today, the area remains a thriving centre of cultural activity, with many theatres, art galleries, and museums nearby. The Comedy Cellar and Minetta Lane Theatre are just two of the many performance venues in the area, with the former being a renowned stand-up comedy club that has hosted some of the biggest names in the industry.

Some prominent figures associated with the area include writer and poet Allen Ginsberg, musician and songwriter Bob Dylan, playwright Eugene O'Neill, and comedian Louis C.K., among others.

Houston Street, Bedford Street, and 6th Avenue form a bustling intersection in the heart of Greenwich Village in Manhattan. This area is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, with numerous performance venues, galleries, and restaurants nearby.

Houston Street was named after William Houstoun, a Georgian delegate to the Continental Congress. The street was initially designed to be the northernmost boundary of the city, but it was later extended as the town grew. How Houston Street in Manhattan is pronounced can easily give away a newcomer to the city, as they might mistakenly say it as if it were located in Texas. Despite the unusual pronunciation, the street name's origin can be traced back to 1788 when Nicholas Bayard III sold off parcels of his farm in SoHo and named one of the new east-west streets after William Houstoun, his son-in-law. Houston was a three-time delegate to the Continental Congress from Georgia, and his name comes from his Scottish lineage. The street name was initially spelt correctly, but in the 19th century, the spelling was corrupted into "Houston," which was likely influenced by the emergence of Sam Houston in the public consciousness as senator and governor of Texas in the 1840s and 1850s. Despite the change in spelling, the original late 18th-century pronunciation of "house-ton" continues to be used.

Bedford Street, on the other hand, is a charming tree-lined street that is often considered one of the most picturesque in Greenwich Village. The road dates back to the 18th century and is home to many historic buildings and landmarks, including the Cherry Lane Theatre, one of the city's oldest Off-Broadway theatres. The Isaacs-Hendricks House is the most senior home in Greenwich Village and was built in 1799 by merchant Joshua Isaacs on Bedford street. The reason why Isaacs made his home here is not known, but it is speculated that he may have been fleeing the yellow fever epidemic that hit New York hard at the time. After Isaacs gave up the house to creditors, Harmon Hendricks, his son-in-law, purchased it in 1801. For the next three decades, the Hendricks family had this stretch of the Village all to themselves. Other homes were built in the 1840s and beyond, turning Bedford Street into a residential enclave of red brick and wood frame beauty. The Isaacs-Hendricks house changed with the times, adding a brick front in 1836 and a third floor in 1928. In the 1920s, the house was purchased by a group of Villagers to preserve the block's character and prevent the erection of an apartment house on the site. Thanks to these history-minded residents, this lovely home is still standing and is the oldest house in Greenwich Village.

6th Avenue, also known as Avenue of the Americas, is a major north-south thoroughfare that runs through Manhattan. The avenue was renamed in 1945 to honour the Organization of American States, founded that same year. The highway is known for its tall buildings, high-end shopping, and vibrant nightlife.

Together, these three streets form a bustling intersection of history, culture, and activity. Whether you're looking for a great meal, a night out on the town, or a dose of New York City's vibrant arts scene, you're sure to find it in the area surrounding the Houston Street, Bedford Street, and 6th Avenue intersections.

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