Neither as famous as 5th Avenue nor as anonymous as the alleys of Chinatown
WHO WAS BLEECKER?
If today we can walk quietly through Bleecker Street it is thanks to bleecker family . It was 1809 when Anthony Bleeker agreed to sell part of the land that bordered his farm to the city council. Thus was born the first section of Bleecker Street that went from Bowery to Broadway . Later, the street was lengthened to connect the three current Villages: the East, Greenwich and the West . The charm of this route lies here, in the contrast of the neighborhoods that it connects in its almost 2 kilometers of route.
Full of life and contrasts
FIRST SECTION, FROM EAST VILLAGE TO NOHO
Our walk begins at East Village though we soon technically entered the so-called NoHo neighborhood (north of Houston Street, as opposed to soho , south of this same street). It is hardly necessary to take a step because at the same corner of Bleecker and Bowery we already have an excuse to make a first stop. At six o'clock in the afternoon, Madam Geneva open her doors. Although it is very difficult to find them. This place that transports us to a British colony of Singapore in the 18th century is a well-known _ speakeasy ,_ hidden bars that became popular in the 20s to avoid the Prohibition of Dry Law to serve and consume alcohol. To access the charms of Madam Geneva and her gin cocktails you have to enter through another establishment, the restaurant Saxon + Parole .
We return to Bleecker in one of its calmest sections until we reach Lafayette St. , in honor of the French general who fought on the American side during the War of Independence. Here we have an example of the typical use of space in New York. In an apple that shrinks to a point, like the famous Flatiron Building , survives a **tiny sandwich joint called Bite ** that can get you out of a hungry jam. Further up is **The Public Theater**, one of the most exhilarating theaters away from the hustle and bustle of Times Square in the city.
the perfect sandwich
BROADWAY, THE BORDER OF GREENWICH VILLAGE
A little later we come to Broadway, the longest street in New York . To the south we find the **SoHo stores**, to the north, the theater area, but we are determined to continue straight ahead and enter the neighborhood of Greenwich Village . Here we check a first Bleecker transformation. We entered university grounds. The cramped tall and ugly residential buildings on both sides are home to students and faculty of NYU (New York University) whose faculties dot Washington Square Park , the beautiful park just two streets up. But here a couple of jewels stand out where it is convenient to stop.
The first one, an independent bookstore that is hardly found in the city anymore. It's **Mercer Street Books & Records** and has a good catalog of used books and vinyl of all genres. The second is a literal gem of art . And of Pablo Picasso, no more no less. Hidden in the park of the apartment complex south of Bleecker, lies a giant recreation of more than 10 meters high of the Bust of Sylvette of the Spanish artist. Picasso never set foot here but his talent is remembered in this park in XL size.
Past the beautiful community gardens of LaGuardia Place (which are in danger of being destroyed in a new expansion of NYU) we enter fully into the bar area . At nightfall it is difficult to escape the claims of its doormen who almost push you inside the premises. Among the most insistent are those of The Bitter End . It has been in the heart of Greenwich Village for more than 50 years and the voices of Bob Dylan, Norah Jones and Neil Diamond . Also pay attention to the programming of Red Lion , another music bar with live music every night of the week, in three shifts with different bands . But if there is a clear reference to this area, it is (le) poisson rouge . A combination of bar, concert hall, avant-garde art space and burlesque stage, the versatility of this venue attracts many of the area's young college students.
The Bitter End
We continue forward and, as we have come to walk but also to eat, in Macdougal Street we have two good opportunities to do it. Along this stylish street there are restaurants of all possible cuisines, but on the corner of Bleecker you can find ** by CHLOE **. This cute restaurant has a varied 100% vegan menu that aims to make you forget about meat and dairy. Try asking for classic burger with fries that does not carry anything that has not come from the vegetables. A little further south of Macdougal we find the Dante . This café, as legendary as its loyal customers, opened in 1915 and has almost miraculously survived to this day. The owners recently transferred the business to an Australian family who have relaunched their traditional Italian food with a very New York twist.
Before we get into the sixth avenue (also called Avenue of the Americas) our nose will inevitably lead us to ** Porto Rico Importing Company **, a store run by the same family for three generations where you can buy coffee beans and tea leaves. They serve 130 varieties of coffee from more than 20 countries and among their clientele there are 350 restaurants throughout the city.
Puerto Rico Importing Company
FINAL STRETCH IN THE WEST VILLAGE
The Italian flavor accompanies us to the West Village . On the corner of Bleecker and Carmine there are several restaurants of pasta, pizzerias and ice cream parlors . Like the **GROM**. Here you will find authentic Italian ice cream (albeit at a very New York price). The place is right in front of a small park ( Father Demo Park ) where, on pleasantly warm afternoons, you have to nudge to sit down and devour ice cream. Those with a sweet tooth are in luck because after passing the church founded by an Italian community, Our Lady of Pompei, the showcase of Pasticceria Rocco brings us good news. This Italian immigrant patisserie prepares all kinds of cannolis, giant cookies and cakes by hand. Their cheesecake and the cake for chocolate lover they are the best. They also serve carrot cake but, with Rocco's permission, a few feet above, in ** Amy's Bread **, he has a much better one. Luckily, what one store lacks, the other makes up for.
Carrot Cake, the best carrot cake on Bleecker Street
Nothing better to combat the sweetness of so many pastries than with the flavor of chicken and guacamole . Following Bleecker, in Cornelia Street we find T acombi , the famous Nolita Mexican taqueria that opened this branch in the Village a couple of years ago. If pizza is your thing (nothing to blame in New York, by the way), John's Pizzeria It is among the best in the city. We don't just say it. Woody Allen thinks so too who shot a scene from his classic on his tables Manhattan.
The best pizza in New York?
Almost in front of this delicious pizza, don't miss the opportunity to stick your nose in the window of Ottomanelli & Sons Meat Market . Butcher shops like this one, opened almost half a century ago by the same family that currently runs it, are hardly any longer in New York. They pamper the product from start to finish and their meat is served on the plates of many restaurants in the city.
Ottomanelli & Sons Meat Market
We are at the gates of last leg of bleecker and it is precisely the stretch where our credit card is most in danger. From the seventh avenue restaurants give way to high-end clothing and accessory stores as well as the rentals of the beautiful houses in the West Village. But before launching into it, we find two places with a rather outdated atmosphere where we can focus our attention. The first of them is Boots & Saddles , on the same avenue to the north. You have to go down some stairs to discover this dive of cheap drinks and drag queen shows every night. The other is a street behind, in Grove Street , and is ideal for lovers of musicals. Marie's Crisis It is a piano bar that puts our memory and tuning skills to the test.
We finally arrived at the paradise of shops and without the crowds of Soho or Fifth Avenue. The coats of Burberry and Ralph Lauren, the shoes of FLY London NYC , the bags of Michael Kors Y Mark Jacobs and even the vintage hats of Goorin Bros. Hat Shop . Don't stop approaching perry street where (in addition to watching a small group of tourists take photos of the steps of Carrie Bradshaw's house in sex in new york ), you will be able to admire the original brownstones of the West Village.
Bleecker Street is coming to an end , right on Hudston Street which becomes Eighth Avenue. But this long walk is rewarded. Near the end, on the corner of W 11th Street, Magnolia Bakery they put our stomach to the test again. The bakery is famous for its cupcakes, although we recommend the banana pudding that you can enjoy in the park opposite, to rest your legs and take stock of your photos (and purchases).
Special 'Thanksgiving' Pumpkin Cupcakes