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Free tour

The Village 101 East to West; Immigrants, Bohemians, Activists and their venues.

Duration: 3h
Languages: English
Guru: Scott
Quality Verified Registered on April 26, 2024

Practicing artist, student of tech and computer art. Have lived in New York for going on 8 years. I love how I keep finding cool treasures in the city. I’m from Texas. I have been giving tours of art and architecture for 10 years, working at modern art museums as well as New York City guided tours.

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
  • Accepts electronic payment
    This tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card

Tour description

Join us on this 3 hour off the beaten path tour as an introduction to the Village neighborhood where we will explore both the East and West Village. Both areas unique and historic, the East village is more funky and gritty  while the west village is older and more charming, each with a bohemian past.  

 

We will begin in the East village when it was Dutch farmland and look at remnants of New York's Kleines Deutschland, at one time the 3rd largest urban population of Germans outside of Berlin and Vienna and when 2nd Avenue was the ¨Jewish Rialto¨ a thriving Jewish entertainment district.   We will talk about New Yorks immigration waves and the rise of tenement housing.   We will also look at the early history of political protests in Tomkins Square Park. 

 

From there we will head west and visit the haunts of poets, writers and artists of the 20th century around Washington Square Park and MacDougal Street with art movements such as Abstract Expressionism, Beat Poetry and Folk Music : McSorley´s  Pub, The GasLight Cafe, and learn about famous American artists such as Edward Hopper and Basquiat.  We will end on the west edge of the Village and visit the Stonewall Inn, an old speakeasy as well as the first off Broadway theatre.   

 
If you haven’t spent much time in the Village, this is a perfect introduction of its highlights.   The tour will end near Little Island and The Standard Hotel, and many other spots where you can relax and enjoy New Yorks unique ambiance. 

 

 SPECIAL TOURS !!
DEC 11, Wed  1:30pm- This tour will be East Village ONLY and will include a visit and guided tour to the Brant Foundation to see an 80’s East Village artist Kenny Sharf.  Tickets are $10 general, $5 students and seniors.   You can purchase museum tickets in advance for the 2:30 pm time slot.  Space is limited.  Museum tickets are not included in the tour.

DEC 15 Sun 5:00pm 
This tour will include a fun Christmas event “Unsilent Night”, a musical orchestra with jam boxes.  We will start at Cafe Reggio and end in the east village.  This tour will not include the Stonewall Inn and stops west of there. 

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    342 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
    342 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
    View on map

    We will meet outside of Veniero’s pastry shop. I will have a colorful kids umbrella.

  • 1
    Outside visit
    St. Marks Church-In-The-Bowery

    Get a slice of Dutch colonial vibes from the 2nd oldest church in New York, once old Dutch farmland.

  • 2
    Outside visit
    Ottendorfer Library

    The East Village was once one of the largest German populations in the world.

  • 3
    Outside visit
    McSorley's Ale House

    This Irish pub has been around since 1850s, and has a few stories to tell.

  • 4
    Outside visit
    washington square park

    This beautiful park acts as NYUs backyard.

  • 5
    Outside visit
    MacDougal Street

    Historic West Village Strip, once a center for beatnik poetry and establishment era folk music.

  • 6
    Outside visit
    Apartment Building from the TV Show Friends

    How could Monica afford that huge apartment in the Village

  • 7
    Outside visit
    Cherry Lane Theater

    The first off Broadway theatre

  • 8
    Outside visit
    Stonewall Inn

    The protest here for gay rights in 1960s is celebrated nation wide in Gay Pride.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

4.84
Excellent
(44 ratings)
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4.93
Entertainment
4.81
Expression
4.91
Information
4.76
Route
4.84
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts reservations up to 20 people.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
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