Greenwich Village is, perhaps, one of Manhattan’s best known neighborhoods. For over 100 years, this small area below 14th Street and west of Broadway has been a Mecca to the creative, rebellious and the Bohemian. Locals frequently refer to it simply as “The Village.”
It’s largely residential area in lower Manhattan, featuring townhouses and brownstones and beautiful tree lined blocks. The neighborhood is bounded by Broadway on the east, the Hudson River on the west, Houston Street on the south, and 14th Street on the north.
There are literally thousands of unique and interesting small shops and signature gourmet restaurants.
You can find quite a few Landmarks that have been converted into luxurious apartment buildings where you can rent or buy. Greenwich Village is also full of small parks where you can relax and enjoy the almost European vibe of the neighborhood.
Residents of Greenwich Village possess a strong community identity and are proud of their neighborhood and its unique history and fame. Its cultural uniqueness and apartness from the rest of Manhattan are felt so strongly by some, and so many of its residents' lives are so focused on the Village, that locals sometimes joke and claim that "upstate" New York is anywhere north of 14th Street.
Historic Washington Square Park is considered the center and heart of the neighborhood, but, as noted, the Village has a number of parks: Father Fagan, Minetta Triangle, Petrosino Square, Little Red Square, and Time Landscape. There are also city playgrounds, including Desalvio, Minetta, Thompson Street, Bleecker Street, Downing Street, Mercer Street, and William Passannante Ballfield.
The most famous city playground is the West 4th Street Courts, known locally as “The Cage.” The Cage is one of the most important sites for the citywide “streetball” basketball tournament. |
