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Past Events Archive |
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| Greenwich Village in the 1960s: An Evening with Susan Rotolo Susan Rotolo, author of the recently published book A Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties, will present an informal talk and reading about her experience coming of age during this seminal decade in American life. As a budding feminist and girlfriend of Bob Dylan during his rise to national fame, Susan's narrative gives a tremendous perspective to the folk music, bohemian, and youth culture of Greenwich Village of the 1960s. Copies of A Freewheelin' Time will be available for purchase courtesy of St. Mark’s Bookshop. Getting It Right: From Historic Properties to Urban Landscapes Keynote: From Closed to Open Concept: Changing Ideas about Apartment Layouts: Dr. Elizabeth Cromley William Brown's African Theatre: A Lecture with Quiche Stone Tuesday, September 23 Judson Memorial Assembly Hall Free In 1821, six years before slavery was abolished in New York, William Brown opened the nation’s first blackowned-and-operated theater at the intersection of Mercer and Bleecker Streets in Greenwich Village. Quiche Stone, a professor in the Department of Communication Studies, Performance Studies and Theatre at Long Island University, will present the extraordinary and relatively unknown history of this Greenwich Village theater. Stone’s lecture will include the history of the theater’s inaugural production, Richard III, which was so beyond the comprehension of most New Yorkers that a journalist felt compelled to inform his readers that his review of the theater was not in jest. Brown’s actors faced violent disruptions of their performances and were even jailed, but the African Theatre persevered. Preservation in New York: A Panel Discussion Co-sponsored by the Tenement Museum Andrew Dolkart – architectural historian and author of Biography of a Tenement House in New York City: An Architectural History of 97 Orchard Street – leads a conversation about New York’s current preservation climate. Joining him are Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation; Franny Eberhart, co-chair of the Historic House Trust; and Michael Miscione, Manhattan borough historian. This event is part of the Tenement Talk series. Tenements Talks is the Tenement Museum’s evening series of lectures, readings, panel discussions, films, and other programming that provides historical and contemporary perspectives on New York City’s rich culture. For the most up-to-date program information, call 212-982-8420 or visit the Museum's website. Rediscover the East Village: A Walking Tour with Justin Ferate Sunday, September 7 Join "New York’s Most Engaging Tour Guide" Justin Ferate as he traces the history of today’s East Village from rural farmland to an elite New York suburb, a robust immigrant community, and the Beat Generation’s radical playground. The tour will explore the history of some of the area’s major players including John Jacob Astor, Anna Ottendorfer, and Jimmy Hendrix and explore the remnants of such communities within the community as Kleindeutschland and the Yiddish Rialto. View the townhouses, tenements, cultural institutions, parks, and houses of worship that represent the myriad cultures that have defined the neighborhood’s history. The South Village: Birthplace of an American Immigrant Community First developing as a district of rowhouses for middle-class New Yorkers in the early 19th century, the South Village later became an archetypal New York immigrant neighborhood, embracing a vibrant Italian-American community. Moderated by GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman, a discussion by panelists Mary Elizabeth Brown (Assistant Professor in the Social Science Division, Marymount College of Manhattan), Andrew Dolkart (Professor of Historic Preservation, Columbia University), and Jerry Krase (Professor of Sociology, Brooklyn College), will examine the development of the South Village as an immigrant neighborhood and how the area’s rich history is still visible in its streetscape. 2008 Annual Meeting and 18th Annual Village Awards Tuesday, June 17th, 6:30 P.M. Click here to visit the GVSHP Village Awards page Preserving Local Retail: Screening, Presentation & Discussion Thursday, June 12 Please join us for a screening of Twilight Becomes Night, a short documentary set in New York City which explores the pivotal role of neighborhood stores in our lives and our communities. After the screening, students at Pratt Institute's Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment will present their study of the East Village conducted on behalf of the East Village Community Coalition and recommend strategies for retaining local businesses in the neighborhood. This will be followed by a discussion with film-maker Virginie-Alvine Perrette led by Vicki Weiner, Director of Planning & Preservation at the Pratt Center for Community Development. This event is sponsored by the Neighborhood Preservation Center in partnership with the East Village Community Coalition, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, the Historic Districts Council, Place Matters, Pratt Center for Community Development and the Pratt Graduate Center for Planning & the Environment.
Join the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation for an exciting and informative wine tasting at the innovative Astor Center in historic NoHo. The Center’s home in the landmarked 1886 DeVinne Press building has undergone an extensive interior and exterior renovation in recent years—a transformation that both preserved the building’s significant architectural elements while incorporating the most current green technology into the building’s fabric. The restored spaces were elegantly designed and supremely equipped as a kitchen, study, and gallery. The tasting, offered in the Center’s state of the art study, will be led by Andy Fisher, President of Astor Wines/Astor Center. Taste a flight of fantastic French wines and come away with a solid understanding of the simple, straightforward principles of tasting wine and pairing it successfully with food. All funds raised support the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. GVSHP thanks Andy Fisher and the Astor Center for making this evening possible. Please visit www.astorcenternyc.com for more information about this class and Astor Center. Astor Center is a hub of gastronomic culture whose mission is to facilitate exchange within our community of food enthusiasts: between farmers and eaters, winemakers and wine drinkers, chefs and butchers, writers and educators, novices and professionals. The Center offers seminars, tastings, pairings and hands-on culinary activities as well as private and corporate team-building and recreational events. Eat, drink, think! Re-saving Greenwich Village: A Panel Discussion Tuesday, May 27 This program is co-sponsored by the Museum of the City of New York. Italian-American Culture in the South Village: A walking tour with Emelise Aleandri Saturday, May 17 Join theater scholar and performer Emelise Aleandri for a walking tour of the South Village, a center for Greenwich Village's art scene for generations. While exploring the area's fascinating environment of converted rowhouses and tenements, the tour will highlight how Italian-American cultural heritage, including the rich Italian theatrical tradition, is vividly reflected in the neighborhood's historic streetscape.
The Caffe Cino: Greenwich Village's Countercultural Landmark Monday, April 28 Immigrant Stories on Bleecker Street Saturday, April 19 Excavations and Village Space: A discussion with Timothy Lynch Monday, April 7 Anthony C. Wood, author of Preserving New York: Meticulously researched and expertly written, Anthony C. Wood’s Preserving New York: Winning the Right to Protect a City’s Landmarks explores the origins of New York City’s nationally acclaimed landmarks law. Join GVSHP Trustee and past President Judith Stonehill as she and Mr. Wood discuss the decades of struggle that preceded the landmark law and the forces that shaped it. As we examine the buildings that were lost and saved on the way to the law’s ultimate passage in 1965, we will discover how this legislation has helped ensure the preservation of remarkable New York City buildings. Preserving New York will be available for purchase courtesy of the New York Preservation Archive Project. The Wild Wild West Side Sunday, March 9 Advanced registration is required. Follow the leaders of the Greenwich Village Community Taskforce as they as they discuss the history and future of land-use on the Far West Village of Manhattan, from the Meatpacking District to Christopher Street. Though a number of blocks along the trail fall within designated historic districts, this community is still undergoing major changes including rezonings and major new construction. This tour is co-sponsored by the Historic Districts Council. The Lost Waterfront Book Launch Party Join Friends of Hudson River Park and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation to celebrate the publication of Lost Waterfront: The Decline and Rebirth of Manhattan's Western Shore, a compilation of images of the decaying West Side piers between 1972 and 1982 taken by photographer Shelley Seccombe featuring an introduction by author Phillip Lopate and a foreward by Albert K. Butzel. View a special a one-day exhibition of Ms. Seccombe's work while enjoying wine, cheese and other refreshments. Lost Waterfront will be available for purchase. To pre-order copies of this book, co-published with Fordham University Press with layout design by Scott-Martin Kosofsky of the Philidor Company, contact Kate O'Brien-Nicholson at Bkaobrien@fordham.edu or 718-817-4782. This lecture is being co-sponsored by the Friends of Hudson River Park. Intimate Portraits: African Americans in the Antebellum South Village Celebrate African-American History Month with the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation as we explore the Village’s often forgotten African-American heritage. Professor Gunja SenGupta of Brooklyn College will trace the history of black Greenwich Village from slavery to tentative freedom in 1827 and beyond. Drawing on rich visual and archival resources, Prof. SenGupta will offer us insight into the lives of African Americans who lived in the Village in the decades before the Civil War and will examine who they were, where they came from, how they interacted with their immigrant and migrant neighbors, and how their community adapted to an environment of heightened racism and economic instability. Sharing the Dirt on City Gardening An enlightening discussion series on Wednesday evenings sharing successful strategies for renovation, restoration, and gardening in New York’s historic neighborhoods, featuring prominent keynote speakers, and panels of leading experts, each followed by a wine and cheese reception. This panel discussion will explore the variety of strategies to create and maintain a successful garden in an urban environment with practical advice from some of the best in the field. Visit http://www.gvshp.org/gardening.htm to learn more and to purchase tickets. The Great Urban Paradigm Shift: Robert Moses, Jane Jacobs, and West Village Houses A lecture with Warren Shaw Tuesday, February 12 6:30 P.M. Our Lady of Pompeii Church, Basement Hall 25 Carmine Street The development of the West Village Houses has typified many of the diverse challenges facing preservationists in an ever-expanding city like New York. Warren Shaw, Asst. Corporation Counsel in the Real Estate Litigation Division of the New York City Law Department will examine the creation of the West Village Houses as an outgrowth of the epochal battle between Robert Moses (the Urban Renewal Czar) and Jane Jacobs (the champion of traditional urbanism). Now a partially privatized co-op, the West Village Houses is an exceptional symbol of a community both shaped and challenged by evolving attitudes toward city planning, conservation, and Urban Renewal. This program is being co-sponsored by the Neighborhood Preservation Center. John Sloan’s Greenwich Village One of the most celebrated American realist painters of the early 20th century, John Sloan captured the character and pace of Greenwich Village in a way few artists were able to match. In this illustrated lecture at the Jefferson Market Library (one of Sloan's favorite Village subjects), teacher and biographer John Loughery examines Sloan's diverse representations of the East, West, and South Villages. Placing Sloan’s work in the context of early 20th-century American urban painting, Mr. Loughery will also explore how underlying themes of romance and myth permeated Sloan's work as well as that of other New York City painters. Tour and Class Audit of HB Studio Established in 1945 by the renowned Viennese actor/director Herbert Berghof, the Herbert Berghof (HB) Studio provides professional theater training and practice for aspiring and accomplished actors of all ages. With course offerings in a full range of subjects essential to the stage, including acting, voice, musical theater, dance, movement, improvization, fencing, writing, and stage combat, the HB Studio is a fixture in the Village and New York City cultural realm that continues to thrive and evolve. Join us for a guided tour of the exceptional facilities and conclude the evening by auditing one of the studio's courses. The Tuesday, December 11th session, Performing Improvisational Comedy, will feature special improv tricks for advanced comedians. On Thursday, December 13th, The Practice of Acting will introduce acting techniques and allow new students to sharpen their craft. First Houses: A Monument of the Past, A Model for the Future A Village Christmas: A Walking Tour with Marilyn Stults Saturday, December 1 Usher in the holiday season with this unusual walking tour of Greenwich Village as the birthplace of many of the Christmas traditions we are familiar with today. While we enjoy picturesque historic streetscapes, guide Marilyn Stults will explore the Christmas lore that helped establish the Village as an American cultural treasure. GVSHP would like to thank Marilyn Stults for donating all proceeds from this tour. Our Little Italies: Past, Present, and Future Lecture with Author Irene Tichenor on the DeVinne Press Building
Free. Known as "the Fortress" in its heyday, the massive brick and terra cotta building on the northeast corner of Lafayette and Fourth Streets was built in 1886 as a printing plant to serve the specific requirements of Theodore Low DeVinne, the most illustrious American printer of his generation. In this illustrated lecture, Dr. Irene Tichenor, author of No Art Without Craft: The Life of Theodore Low DeVinne, Printer, will discuss the merit of the building's exterior design, how the interior was used by the DeVinne Press, and why DeVinne -- and what took place inside this building -- was important in the history of American printing. Foods of the South Village and SoHo: A Walking (and Eating) Tour
Come with us as we travel back in time through the central and southern Village and northern SoHo. From longstanding "mom and pop" eateries to old-fashioned specialty shops, we will journey through the rich history of an exceptional district once frequented by bohemians, artists, and immigrants who made this section of the city their first home in the United States. As we enjoy unique historic streetscapes and taste delicious food specialties, we will explore how, despite rising rents and gentrification, the flavor of this changing neighborhood has survived. This event is presented by GVSHP and Foods of New York. 2007 Annual Meeting and Presentation of the 17th Annual Village Awards Tuesday, June 19; 6:30 pm The Cherry Lane Theatre 38 Commerce Street Reception to follow Join the Society as we mark and celebrate the accomplishments and major events of the past year and honor the people, places, and organizations that make a significant contribution to the legendary quality of life in Greenwich Village with our Annual Village Awards. This year’s awardees include: Bowne & Co, Inc. 13th Street Repertory Company Florence Prime Meat Market Liz Christy Community Garden Porto Rico Importing Co. Kevin Shea St. Mark’s Bookshop West Village Dog Owner’s Group 81 Barrow Street restoration This event is free and open to all who are interested in celebrating the awardees and learning more about the Society’s efforts to protect the special historic character of Greenwich Village, Noho, and the East Village. The Architecture of the South Village: A walking tour with Andrew Dolkart Tuesday, June 12 Architectural historian and Columbia University professor Andrew Dolkart will lead a walking tour of the South Village, the 40-block area south of Washington Square Park that GVSHP has recently proposed for landmarking. This area, initially developed in the early 19th century with row houses, later became a neighborhood of immigrant tenements, long home to a vibrant Italian-American community. Based on Dolkart’s recently completed survey of the South Village, the tour will highlight the area's converted row houses, tenements, theaters, and religious, social, and charitable institutions that vividly reflect the area’s history as a nineteenth and early twentieth century residential neighborhood. The East Village: Culture and Counter Culture: A Walking Tour with Joyce Gold Sunday, June 3 1:00 p.m. $12 GVSHP members/seniors; $15 public From Stuyvesant's bouwerie to the Tompkins Square riot—an area rich in ethnic diversity. Please visit www.nyctours.com for more information on Joyce Gold's History Tours of New York. The Imagery of Robert Otter: A Study of Greenwich Village in the 1960s gallery exhibit Friday, April 20-Friday, April 27 Robert Otter was a commercial and freelance photographer whose pictures of Greenwich Village in the 1960s captured the unique spirit of the people and architecture of the neighborhood. The photos on display, selected and framed by his son Ned Otter, are on exhibit for the first time. As part of this gallery show, Mr. Otter will present a slide lecture which chronicles his father's life and narrates the nostalgic images of the Village. This exhibit is co-sponsored by The Caring Community. GVSHP would like to thank Ned Otter for generously donating a portion of the proceeds of sales from the exhibit to our preservation work. See an article about this exhibit in The Villager. Left Bank New York, Artists Off Washington Square 1890s to 1920: A lecture with Virgina Budny Tuesday, March 13 After training in Europe, some of America's most famous painters and sculptors transformed stables and townhouses north of Washington Square into artists' studios. There they created works of art and permanently changed the areas as they socialized. Prominent among them were Thomas Wilmer Dewing, Daniel Chester French, Gaston Lachaise, and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. This lecture is based on Ms. Budny’s traveling exhibit of the same name. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America Restoring/Renovating Ironwork in a Historic District: A discussion with Robin Key and Richie Lodato Wednesday, March 7 Jefferson Market Library Landscape architect Robin Key, winner of GVSHP's 2006 Front Stoop Award, and ironworker Richie Lodato will talk about historic ironwork, why it deteriorates, and how to preserve it. Drawing on five of their projects in the Village and Chelsea, they will show before and after pictures of restorations, including workshop photos of the technical process. In the Footsteps of Jane Jacobs Thursday, March 1 6:30-8:00 p.m. Over 45 years after she successfully combated Robert Moses and his plan to build a massive thoroughfare through Washington Square Park, Jane Jacobs' legacy continues to inspire New Yorkers to preserve the character and quality of the city's many neighborhoods. This panel will feature some of New York City's most ambitious grassroots organizers as they discuss their current efforts in political activism and detail how community-driven campaigns have evolved since Jacobs first began her work. Andrew Berman, executive director of GVSHP, will moderate this informal conversation between Reverend Billy and Savitri D. of the Church of Stop Shopping, Candace Carponter of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, Yolanda Gonzalez of Nos Quedamos/We Stay, and Miquela Craytor of Sustainable South Bronx. This event is organizaed by the Historic Districts Council. First Houses—A Monument Of The Past—A Model For The Future?: A lecture and discussion with Warren Shaw January 30, 2007 6:00-7:30 pm Neighborhood Preservation Center 232 East 11th Street Free The year 2006 marks the 70th anniversary of the very first publicly-sponsored housing for poor people—the landmark First Houses in the East Village which inaugurated the era of Urban Renewal. Since the late 1960s it has been fashionable to deride urban renewal as an aesthetic and sociological failure. But with real estate inflation squeezing more and more Americans, and with such bastions of affordable housing as Stuyvesant Town going “up-market,” it is time to re-appraise the legacy—and the value—of public housing and urban renewal. Warren Shaw, Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Real Estate Litigation Division of the New York City Law Department, will speak about the history of First Houses and its implications for today. La Grange Terrace: A slide lecture with Thomas Gordon Smith January 18 6:00-7:30 pm Wollman Auditorium, Cooper Union 51 Astor Place Free La Grange Terrace, familiarly known as Colonnade Row, was one of the city’s most fashionable addresses, Lafayette Place, when it was built beginning in 1831. It was home to some of New York City’s most influential citizens, including the Astors and Vanderbilts. Originally nine Greek Revival houses with facades of giant order Corinthian columns, today only four houses remain, hinting dimly at their former grandeur. Thomas Gordon Smith, a classical architect who teaches at Notre Dame and practices widely, will speak about the social changes that prompted an expansion into the neighborhood and the new architectural and urbanistic expression which the Colonnade signaled. Cosponsored by the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The Flamboyant and the Bohemian: Greenwich Village and How it Became Famous: A walking tour with Joyce Gold Saturday, December 2 Hundreds of years of history have left their mark on the streets and sights of Greenwich Village, if you know where to look. Joyce Gold certainly does: she is an expert on the area and author of From Trout Stream to Bohemia: A Walking Guide to Greenwich Village History. She will introduce walkers to the defining characteristics of this neighborhood, showing how the distinct neighborhoods of the Village came to be—the trendy East Village, the exclusive Washington Square area, and the more artistic West Village—and why landmarking and preservation controversies go on to this day. Highlights include architectural styles of the 19th century, coffee houses of the Beat Generation, and stories about such luminaries as Stanford White, Margaret Sanger, and Ed Koch. For more information about this and other Joyce Gold history tours, visit: http://www.nyctours.com. The Dutch in New Amsterdam: A lecture by Jaap Jacobs 2:00-4:00 p.m. St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery Parish Hall Free and open to the public Historian Jaap Jacobs' research is at the forefront of new scholarship about early Dutch settlement in New Amsterdam, including areas of the present-day East and West Village. Mr. Jacobs, who holds a Ph.D. from Leiden University and is currently a visiting professor at Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania, will speak about the Dutch colonial experience and offer thoughts about how the archival resources he used in the original Dutch language and viewpoint offer a new perspective on the topic. Cosponsored by St. Mark's Historic Landmark Fund and the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York as part of Five Dutch Days Five Boroughs. Generous support of this lecture has been provided by
CLICK HERE for a full calendar of Five Dutch Days Five Boroughs events. The Photography of Robert Otter: A Slide Lecture by Ned Otter Wednesday, October 18 6:30-8:00 pm The Jefferson Market Library Auditorium 425 Avenue of the Americas at 10th Street Free and open to the public. Robert Otter (1926-1986) was a commercial and freelance photographer who took pictures of Greenwich Village between 1960 and 1967. His photography conveys the richness of Village life in the 1960s and also the moment intime depicted in each street scene. His son Ned recently unearthed his late father’s work and, believing that the greatest desire of all artists is to share their art with the public, made it available for street sales and online. In this lecture, Ned will speak about how his father’s photography affected his family, how it is connected to the history of Greenwich Village, and relate his own journey discovering his father’s work. He will also show several photographs and tell the stories behind them. Unframed photographs will be available for sale at the end of the evening at a discount from the online price. See www.robertotter.com for images available in this collection. Architectural Digest's "Architecture Days:" Greenwich Village, Preservation of an Historic Neighborhood October 14th, 2006 2-4PM $25 per person. $21.50 for GVSHP members. Greenwich Village, one of New York City’s first and largest historic districts, is also one of New York City’s most desirable neighborhoods. However, desirability increases development pressure, and much of this historic neighborhood still lies outside of the designated historic district, which prevents demolition and regulates new development. Little progress was made on this front from the time of the 1969 historic district designation, and much of the unprotected but historic waterfront edge of Greenwich Village seemed destined for wholesale demolition and redevelopment. That is until the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) led several successful drives to extend landmarking protections to some of the most immediately threatened parts of the neighborhood. This walking tour, led by GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman, will visit the sites of early and recent preservation battles in the Village, with particular focus on the neighborhood’s newest historic districts. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and Balthazar Restaurant cordially invite you to a Gala Benefit Dinner Honoring the Life and Work of Jane Jacobs Tuesday, October 3, 2006 Balthazar Restaurant, 80 Spring Street The dinner, which will benefit the preservation work of the Society, will salute the life and work of Jane Jacobs, an early GVSHP advisor and pioneering urban planner and preservationist. Author, humorist, and Village resident Calvin Trillin, and New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger will speak about Jane Jacobs’ legacy and impact on New York today. CLICK HERE for a press release about this event. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation invites you to a Far West Village CELEBRATION! Please join us as we celebrate our incredible victories preserving our neighborhood, and all those who worked so hard to make it possible. All are welcome to this free event. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments to be served. At the Stephan Weiss Studios 711 Greenwich Street, at Charles Street Wednesday, July 26, 6-8pm Please RSVP acceptances only by Friday, July 21 Special thanks to the Stephan Weiss Studios for hosting this event. CLICK HERE for flyer.
Jane Jacobs: A Public Celebration Wednesday, June 28th at 5 pm rain or shine Washington Square Park, in front of Washington Square Arch (site of Jane Jacobs’ first victory over Robert Moses) The program will include speakers from the fields of urbanism, journalism, environmentalism, economics, publishing, civic activism, the arts, and local business on Jane Jacobs’ impact and legacy. . Sponsored by the Center for the Living City at Purchase College, founded in collaboration with Jane Jacobs Roberta Brandes Gratz, Co-founder Co-Sponsored by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation Hosted by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation CLICK HERE for pictures and speakers from the event. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Presentation of the 16th Annual Village Awards Thursday, June 22, 2006 at 6:30 pm Judson Memorial Church 55 Washington Square South Reception to follow Join the Society as we mark and celebrate the accomplishments and major events of the past year and honor the people, places, and organizations that make a significant contribution to the legendary quality of life in Greenwich Village with our Annual Village Awards. This year’s awardees will include: Cherry Lane Theatre Café Loup Miriam Lee Jane Street Garden The White Horse Tavern Greenwich Village Singers Front Stoop Award: 64 Jane Street This event is free and open to all who are interested in celebrating the awardees and learning more about the Society’s efforts to protect the special historic character of Greenwich Village, Noho, and the East Village. The Lost Waterfront and Beyond: Photographs of Shelley Seccombe This exhibit is co-sponsored by GVSHP and Friends of Hudson River Park.
Sunday, April 23 & Saturday, May 20, 2-4 p.m.
Each year, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation offers a rare opportunity to view some of the most extraordinary homes in the Village. This year’s tour focuses exclusively on mid-19th century houses in the Central Village, all with remarkable gardens. Highlights include an impeccably renovated 1834 house with a dramatic rooftop studio recently featured in the New York Times, a restored 1855 Italianate house with a remarkable Venetian glass and mother-of-pearl mosaic vaulted ceiling, and a home with a private garden adapted from the former close of St. John’s church adorned with an altar from a deconsecrated sanctuary. Thursday, April 27, 6-8 p.m. Italian Women of the South Village, 1900-1950: A lecture by historian Miriam Cohen Tuesday, March 14th at 6:00 pm Father Demo Hall (Our Lady of Pompeii Church) 25 Carmine Street (corner of Bleecker Street) Free to all, but space is limited. Reservations Required. Call 212.475.9585 x 34 or email rsvp@gvshp.org. From the late 1800s to the end of World War I, thousands of Italian immigrants settled in the South Village section of Greenwich Village, south of Washington Square Park. These immigrants and their children transformed this neighborhood, bringing the customs and traditions of their homeland and shaping their own culture and community in a new land. The immigrants of the South Village formed one of the most distinctive communities in New York, leaving an indelible mark on the neighborhood still apparent today.Miriam Cohen, Evalyn Clark Professor of History at Vassar College and author of Workshop to Office: Two Generations of Italian Women in New York City, will speak on the immigrant experience of Italian women and their families in this neighborhood, shedding light upon theirhome, school, and work lives, as well as the unique communities they formed. This lecture is part of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation’s ongoing educational series about the history and culture of the South Village. Funding for this program is provided by the J.M. Kaplan Fund; Councilspeaker Christine Quinn, Councilmember Alan Gerson, and Councilmember Margarita Lopez; State Senator Tom Duane; Assemblymember Deborah Glick; the NYU Community Fund; and our members.A Valentine for You from Edna St. Vincent Millay: Readings of Millay Love Poems Tuesday, February 14, 4:00-6:00 pm Jefferson Market Courthouse Library 10th Street and 6th Avenue Admission is free: first come-first served Actors Sloane Shelton and Frances Sternhagen, joined by newcomer Amanda Ronconi, will read from the love poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay, the famous Greenwich Village poet and playwright. Presented by The Friends of the Millay Society at Steepletop and Co-sponsored by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and New York University. The Poetry of E.E. Cummings: Readings by Mort Kroos, actor December 7, 6:00 pm La Lanterna di Vittorio, 129 MacDougal Street One drink minimum, full menu available. Reservations required. One of America's most gifted poets, e.e. cummings was a Greenwich Village resident from the 1920’s until his death in 1962. His poetry is known for his use of unusual typography, slang, dialect and the rhythms of jazz, but he also painted and wrote essays, satire, character sketches and a novel. Mort Kroos, a member of Actors’ Equity, has staged poetry readings—including those of cummings—performed in numerous plays, and is a principal in the company Dada New York. He will be joined by a companion reader. We will meet in the atmospheric cafe and bar of one of Greenwich Village's iconic buildings, an 1829 Federal house designated an individual city landmark in June 2004 together with its neighbors, 127 and 131 MacDougal Street.7th Street: Film screening with an introduction by creator and director, Josh Pais November 16th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm St. George Ukrainian Church 33 East 7th Street Free to all. Reservations Required. Part documentary, part autobiographical sketch, first time filmmaker Josh Pais’s 7th Street (2003) is a bittersweet exploration of the tight-knit community that lived on the street between Avenues C and D in the East Village from the 1960's to the present. The film introduces an eclectic assortment of struggling artists, ethnic families, and hustlers from Pais’s childhood through interviews and explores how subsequent deterioration and then gentrification made dramatic changes to Pais’s neighborhood in recent years. The Ghosts of Greenwich Village: An Enlighteningly Creepy Walking Tour with Marilyn Stults. Sunday, October 30 @ 2:00 pm Tour approximately 2 hours $10 GVSHP members; $15 All others Space is limited. Reservations Required. For reservations and meeting place, please call *Please note that this tour is full. Further reservations are Celebrate Halloween with some of the finest ghosts you'll ever meet. Visit the haunts of departed New Yorkers like Aaron Burr, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Clement Clarke Moore and Dylan Thomas, along with haunted taverns, restaurants, houses, and even a haunted church. Stroll down narrow and mysterious Charles Lane, learn the Village's connection to the Titanic disaster, and walk the block where you just might meet the ghost of Alexander Hamilton.The tour ends at a historic Greenwich Village tavern. REPEATED BY POPULAR DEMANDAND Edward Hopper: New York Artist Lecture, including tours of the artist's studio, and book signing with author Avis Berman Monday, October 10th, 6:00 pm NYU School of Social Work, Room 112 1 Washington Square North at Waverly Place (enter on University Place) $10 GVSHP members, $15 all others Reservations Required. One of America’s most compelling artists, Edward Hopper (1882-1967) lived and worked in Greenwich Village from 1913 until his death and made New York, especially the Village, the subject of seven decades of work. Author and art historian Avis Berman is offering a slide lecture based on her new book, Edward Hopper’s New York. Her presentation will focus on Greenwich Village locales and compare Hopper’s representations with those of other contemporary artists, including Bernice Abbott, John Sloan, and William Glackens. Before and after the lecture, there will be self-guided tours of Hopper’s own studio, where he created nearly every work of art shown. Book signing to follow. The Streetcars of Greenwich Village with George Haikalis Thursday, October 6, 6:30 pm Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11 St. Free to all. Reservations Required. From 1832 to 1946, streetcars carried Greenwich Village residents through their own neighborhood and the City beyond. From the first horse-drawn cars, to cable-drawn rail lines, to the electric–powered trolleys at the turn of the century, streetcars were an integral part of Village life for over one hundred years. George Haikalis, president of the Village Crosstown Trolley Coalition and civil engineer and transportation planner, will survey, with the help of some historic images, the history of streetcars in the Village. Topics will include the development of small businesses in the Village along streetcar routes, the cable car, and the importance of the 8th Street cross-town line. Art exhibit to benefit the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation Brownstone and Iron – Views of the Village An exhibition of paintings by Andrew Jones at Elliot Smith Contemporary Art Opening Reception: September 22, 6-8 pm Show runs from September 14 to October 12 327 West 11th Street, between Greenwich and Washington Streets GVSHP invites you to the opening reception of Brownstone and Iron – Views of the Village, oil paintings by Village resident Andrew Jones. In these works, Jones offers his interpretation of the brownstone stoops, rhythmic ironwork, and classical entryways of his historic West Village neighborhood. These works express the beauty of the built environment as it is bathed by light and altered by perspective. 50% of the proceeds from the sale of works during the opening reception will be donated to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation gratefully acknowledges the work and generosity of Andrew Jones and the Elliot Smith Contemporary Art gallery for making this event possible. John Sloan in Greenwich Village: An Illustrated Lecture by Delaware Art Museum Curator Heather Campbell Coyle Wednesday, September 21, 6:00-7:00 pm Jefferson Market Library at 10th Street and 6th Ave. Free to all. Heather Campbell Coyle, curator at the Delaware Museum of Art, will give an illustrated lecture on Greenwich Village painter and resident John Sloan. Ms. Coyle is curator of the major traveling show John Sloan's New York, which is scheduled for exhibition at the National Academy of Design in New York City. With an introduction by author and art historian Avis Berman. This event is organized by the Friends of Millay Society at Steepletop as part of their Edna St. Vincent Millay's Greenwich Village lecture series. Co-sponsored by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, New York Council for the Humanities, and New York University.
Art Show Benefiting the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation: The Far West Village: What We're Trying to Save CLICK HERE for Exhibition Flyer Westbeth Gallery, 57 Bethune St. at Washington St. Opening Reception: Thursday, August 4, from 6-8 pm Exhibit runs: August 4 through August 21 Hours: Thursday through Sunday from 1-6 pm The show consists of several dozen past and contemporary paintings, watercolors, photographs, and more of the Far West Village. Residents of the Far West Village and preservationists are currently fighting to save this endangered waterfront area. For map of area, CLICK HERE. The works are largely created by local artists and residents of the area. 25% of the proceeds from the sale of works in the show will be donated to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, which is fighting to preserve the area through landmark and zoning protections. CLICK HERE for more information. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation gratefully acknowledges the work and generosity of the Westbeth Gallery and the Westbeth Artists Residents Council for making this event possible. A Private Evening in July at the Jefferson Market Complex Wednesday, July 13, 2005 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Garden, Greenwich Avenue between Christopher & West 10th Streets Library, 10th Street and Sixth Avenue Rain date July 20 GVSHP members and their guests are invited to an evening in the beautiful Jefferson Market Garden followed by tours of the extraordinary Jefferson Market Library. In the garden, the music of classical guitarist Eric Oxendine will accompany your stroll and an art installation by Diana Carulli will enrich your visit. In the lobby of the library, branch librarian Frank Collerius will speak about the history of the building before starting you off on a self-guided tour. Garden party hours are 6:00 to 7:30 Refreshments will be served Library tours meet at 7:00 and 7:302005 Annual Meeting and 15th Annual Village Awards Wednesday, June 22, 6:30 p.m. The Village Community School, 272 West 10th Street GVSHP is pleased to present its 15th Annual Village Awards to honor people, places, and organizations that contribute to the special quality of life in Greenwich Village, Noho, and the East Village. This year Village Awards will go to: Abingdon Square Park Restoration Biography Bookshop Knickerbocker Bar & Grill The Municipal Archives Ottendorfer Branch Library Restoration Visiting Neighbors Keith Crandell, In Memoriam The awards presentation will be emceed by James Stewart Polshek and will be held at the auditorium of the Village Community, one of last year’s awardees. Modest Landmarks: The Federal Period Rowhouses of Manhattan Wednesday June 8, 2005, 6:00 p.m. Bank Street Theater, 155 Bank Street, Manhattan $5 per panel, free to Friends of HDC and GVSHP members This lecture is co-sponsored by the Historic Districts Council. In 1995 preservationist Susan De Vries and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation began what was supposed to be a summer survey project to identify some of the remaining, unprotected Federal period rowhouses of Lower Manhattan. Ten years later the work continues. Join Ms. De Vries as she discusses the surprising finds, interesting challenges and continuing process to document and preserve these simple, yet fascinating buildings. For other lectures in this series, please CLICK HERE.Slide Lecture: The Man Who Invented Fifth Avenue with Author Luther Harris Wednesday, May 18, 2005, 6 p.m. Jefferson Market Library, 6th Avenue & 10th Street Admission is free. Historian Luther Harris, author of the esteemed “Around Washington Square, An Illustrated History of Greenwich Village,” (2003) is offering an enticing slide lecture called, “Thomas Edward Davis: The Man Who Invented Fifth Avenue.” This is a classic New York story of pluck and luck. Its protagonist is a visionary developer who turned a modest initial investment into an amazing coup and the shrewdest real-estate play in the city’s history--and that’s saying a lot. GVSHP’s Benefit and Tour of Village Homes ‘Look Homeward' Each year, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation offers a rare opportunity to view noteworthy homes in the Village. This year's tour will take guests through charming and magnificent homes and residences, along Commerce, Jane, and Downing Streets, among others. This extraordinary array of residences range from meticulously restored early 19th century houses, to bold adaptations of turn-of-the-century commercial structures, to dramatic and elegant contemporary spaces. Sunday, May 1 Tour 1:30-5:00 PM, Reception 5:00-7:00 PM Click here for further information and ticket prices. Edward Hopper in His Own Studio with Author Avis Berman Wednesday, April 20, 2005, 6:00 P.M. Edward Hopper Studio, 4th Floor, NYU School of Social Work, 1 Washington Square North at Waverly Place (enter on University Place) $10 for GVSHP members, $15 for non-members One of America’s most compelling artists, Edward Hopper (1882-1967) lived and worked in Greenwich Village from 1913 until his death and made New York, especially the Village, the subject of seven decades of work. Author and art historian Avis Berman is offering a slide lecture based on her new book, “Edward Hopper’s New York.” Her presentation will focus on Greenwich Village locales and compare Hopper’s representations with those of other contemporary artists, including Bernice Abbott, John Sloan and William Glackens. The lecture will take place in Hopper’s own studio, where he created nearly every work of art shown. Book signing to follow the lecture. Tour of Pratt Institute?s New Manhattan Campus Building with Kevin TasseyTuesday, March 29, 6:00 p.m. 144 West 14th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues Admission is free. Pratt Institute, one of the nation?s leading art schools, moved its Manhattan campus in 2002 to an 1896 neo-classical building on West 14th Street. For years covered in layers of soot and grime, one might have hardly noticed this grand edifice, which now sparkles with vibrant and newly restored ornamentation thanks to Pratt?s award-winning renovation. But the transformation was not limited to the exterior; Pratt fully renovated and restored the interior to provide students with cutting-edge equipment and up-to-the-minute facilities. Come see a successful blending of the old and the new, and one of the Village?s newest and most encouraging adaptive re-uses, on a tour which will be led by building manager Kevin Tassey. Insider?s Tour of Joseph Papp?s Public Theater with Alison Harper, Giorgio Cavaglieri, and Dan DalrympleMonday, February 28, 6:00 p.m.425 Lafayette Street, just south of Astor PlaceAdmission is free.GVSHP is proud to offer a rare chance to explore a great piece of preservation architecture with the people who made it happen. Alison Harper, Director of Special Services for the Public from 1967 – when it first occupied this space – until 2004, will take us behind the scenes, backstage and into the skeleton of a remarkable building. Alison will be joined by Giorgio Cavaglieri, one of New York’s most revered preservation architects who converted the building for use as a theater, as well as by Dan Dalrymple, who wrote a monograph about the Public Theater. Built with a bequest by John Jacob Astor as New York’s first public library, the building was actually constructed in three separate sections by three different architects over a period of more than 30 years, but was done in such a unified way that it looks like one building. It fell into disuse and was unoccupied in 1965 when the late Joseph Papp, a theatrical impresario, persuaded the city to buy it. Lecture & Slide Show: The Greenwich Village
Waterfront
with Andrew
Berman
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