One of Manhattan’s most charming neighborhoods, the West Village is full of delights for art lovers, shopaholics, and foodies alike. Looking for something to do one weekend this winter? We’ve arranged our list of Village classics, newcomers, and hidden gems into a walking tour of must-visit spots for dining, shopping and art viewing.
10:00 am – Start your day off right by stopping in Merriweather Coffee + Kitchen for a bite. One of NYC’s many Aussie-style cafes, Merriweather boasts a stacked all-day breakfast menu—from a heavenly egg sandwich to 4 varieties of sweet or savory toast, you can’t go wrong.
11:00 am – With locations in both New York and L.A., Maccarone is not to be missed. This contemporary gallery’s impressive line-up of artists includes Ann Craven, Rodney McMillian and Eva Koťátková. Currently on view is a show of paintings by Ryan Sullivan.
11:45 am – Hop over to 7th Ave and walk up to Christopher Park to see George Segal’s “Gay Liberation.” The sculpture is situated across the street from the Stonewall Inn, a historic gay bar where one of the first gay and lesbian marches took place after a police raid in which patrons of the bar were arrested.
12:15 pm – Head back down 7th Ave to Geary Contemporary, another must-visit gallery. Now showing is an exhibition of recent works by two New York-based artists: painter Charles Andresen and sculptor Jerry Torre, who is known as the Marble Faun.
1:00 pm – Warm up with a quick lunch at Good Stock, a recently-opened shop that sells creative soups such as fried chicken and andouille gumbo and short-rib chili as well as classics like roasted tomato.
2:00 pm – Take a stroll up Bleecker Street and stop by Chaim Gross’ sculpture “The Family.” This bronze statue was installed at the Bleecker Street Playground in honor of Ed Koch’s tenure as mayor.
2:15 pm – Hang a left on 12th Street and swing by Calliope, owned by designers Caroline and Michael Ventura. This haven is a community space and home furnishings boutique stocked with vintage, contemporary and bespoke goods.
2:45 pm – If you’re looking for designer duds at discounted prices, spend a little time digging for treasures at La Vie on Hudson Street. This carefully-curated boutique isn’t a typical consignment shop—its well-lit space and large dressing rooms give off high-end flagship vibes.
3:15 pm – White Columns is NYC’s oldest alternative art space, and one of the best places to discover up-and-coming artists. Just to give you an idea, superstars like Susan Rothenberg, John Currin and Glenn Ligon were all exhibited here early in their careers. From now until March 4, you can check out “Looking Back / The 11th White Columns Annual,” a group show curated by Anne Doran.
4:00 pm – Dedicated at the beginning of December, 2016, the NYC AIDS Memorial is located across from the former St. Vincent’s Hospital on 7th Ave, which was one of the first hospitals in the country to open an AIDS ward. The memorial was designed by Studio a + i and is made up of an 18-foot metal canopy, below which sits an installation by artist Jenny Holzer.
4:15 pm – On the corner of 7th Ave and Greenwich Ave, you’ll walk by part of Lorrie Veasey’s powerful “Tiles for America” project. Once an empty lot surrounded by a chain-link fence, this site housed thousands of tiles on which people drew, painted and wrote down their feelings following the devastating 9/11 attacks. Several segments of the fence were salvaged and mounted on the walls of the building that now stands there.
4:30 pm – Exhausted by all that exploring? Head over to the Elk to recharge with coffee and a snack in a minimalist space reminiscent of a Scandinavian cabin.
5:30 pm – Spend a while perusing the shelves of Three Lives & Co., a beloved independent bookstore with a cozy ambiance and knowledgeable staff.
6:00 pm – Catch the Paparazzi Dogs before they disappear—this funky foursome of sculptures by Australian duo Gillie and Marc moved from Dumbo to the Ruth Wittenberg Triangle at the intersection of Greenwich Avenue, 6th Ave and 8th St in October, so who knows where they will show up next. While you’re at it, go right across the street to check out the oldest apothecary in the country, C. O. Bigelow, which carries hard-to-find brands of everything from skin care products to candles and hair baubles.
6:30 pm – Get your name on the list at Pinto Garden, a newly opened restaurant on 10th street. Dining on traditional Thai dishes in this gorgeous, tin-ceilinged space is well worth the wait.
9:00 pm – A hidden gem, The Garret is located above Five Guys Burgers on Bleecker Street. To get to the skylighted bar, you have to enter via a stairwell at the very back of the burger joint. This place serves top-notch cocktails with an added bonus: if you stay here long enough to get hungry again, you can order exclusive burgers from downstairs that aren’t available anywhere else. Helloooo, prosciutto-topped “Italian Neighbors” burger with marinara dipping sauce.
map illustration // Katita Miller
