About the West Village

With boarders drawn by 6th Avenue, 14th Street, Houston Street, and the Hudson River, the West Village is one of the oldest and most vibrant places in New York City. Twisted street like Bleecker Street and Christopher Street show the historical character of the West Village. Each turn reveals another sign from a New York that seems far gone in the rest of the city. Historical sites like the Stonewall Inn, a gay rights landmark or the Jefferson Market Branch, line the streets. Houses stand where skyscrapers usually stand. Intersections make for small public parks. There are hidden away gardens full of life, like the Sheridan Square Viewing Garden, or Jackson Square. Sidewalks are adorned with steel rod fences. It is a place where the city planning grid is nonexistent, creating an abundance of hidden getaways.
But this is only one side of the Village. Walk down one street and you find yourself in a quiet oasis from the city. Turn down another and the Village becomes a happening night spot, filled with a constant bar crowd flowing in and out of clubs like Bar 55 and the Hanger. It is this collision of worlds which gives the West Village its character.
And if this gives the Village its character, its soul is found in the colorful people that populate its streets. Artists, actors, writers, all of these have called the West Village home. Both folk and jazz have strong roots here, still evident in clubs like the Blue Note and the Village Vanguard. With a number of off Broadway theaters, such as the historic Cherry Lane Theater, actors trying to make it big have also left an impression on the landscape. In years gone by, people like Dylan Thomas, and Bob Dylan walked these streets. And it is these people who have helped shape the West Village into a place of tolerance and rebellion giving it the name Little Bohemia.
The tolerant nature of the West Village has also produced a strong gay pride movement throughout its history. Starting with the Stonewall riots in 1969, the Gay Liberation Movement started its rebellion against intolerance and discrimination, using the West Village as their base of operations. Because of its open nature, Little Bohemia was the perfect place to cultivate a sense of gay pride. This pride is still seen today with annual gay pride parades, and the multitude of gay bars throughout the city.
But liberal nature of the Village is changing. With rising rent prices pushing out many of the artists and actors that make this part of the city unique, there has been a rise in conventional straight two-parent households, especially in the Far West Village. This does not mean, though, that life in the West Village is any less vibrant. It is just another world colliding into the West Village, only making it more unique.
With the Village constantly evolving, it is no wonder why many tourists and New Yorkers come to visit this part of Manhattan. Just make sure if you visit, to plan to be there a while, because once you’re there, you may never want to leave.