Find the Best Things to Do in West Village

About West Village

This legendary part of town is divided into east and west sections by 5th Avenue and bounded by Houston Street, 14th Street, the Hudson River, and Broadway. Stroll the streets, be inspired, be yourself - it's Greenwich Village. The "Village" carries a mystique all its own, resulting from a rich 100-year history as a haven for the creative and rebellious. Rogue writers like Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs once frequented Macdougal Street cafes like Café Reggio and Café Figaro. Today, the area is too expensive for a typical starving artist, but the Village remains a wonderfully open, tolerant community for anyone hoping to explore individuality, talent, and thought. A strong gay presence adds character, and Bleecker Street is a music lover's paradise. In fact, many clubs host local favorites and national acts nightly. Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain once walked the zig-zagging streets now frequented by NYU students, skaters, and street musicians. Streets also abound with beautiful houses, cafes, and eclectic theaters. Keep a map handy: as you go east, the streets become tangled and difficult to navigate. Washington Park, the largest open space in the Village, is home to the Washington Arch, a triumphant, 77-foot-high monument at the foot of Fifth Avenue that commemorates the inauguration of George Washington as president.