Gaia's Territory

Above, we have Bleecker Street (off of which is Perry street, on which the brownstone that Gaia lived with George and Ella Niven is located) in pink, and Bleecker (the main cross street) in red. New York University (NYU, where Sam Moon goes) is in the area. This neighborhood reputedly contains the most varied assortment of ethnic restaurants in New York City, from the crush of Indian eateries on the south side of East Sixth Street (sometimes called "Little Bombay") to McSorley's Old Ale House, a pub that seems unchanged since it first opened in 1854 (take the link from below to see Gaia's Views and get a list of her favorite stops for snacks).

Above is the miniature arc di triomphe, found in Washington Square Park. For more trend-setting street life, head east toward Alphabet City (named for avenues A, B, C, and D, where Gaia met Ella once). It's still a little rough around the edges but it has been redone quite a bit. Greenwich Village - also known as the West Village or the Village - is more upscale than the East Village and is the original corner of cool, the closest any American neighborhood comes to a corner of Paris (a place where someone like Heather and the FOHs might do their shopping).

Above is a simple guide to Washington Square Park. The park, with its arch (the miniature arc di triomphe) famous from much movie exposure, is the heart of the Village. It's on the foot of Fifth Avenue and an oasis and circus combined, where skate boarders (like Ed), jugglers, stand-up comics, sitters, strollers, sweethearts, chess players (like Zolov, view the picture below also), fortune tellers, and daydreamers converge and commune.

Washington Mews and Mac Dougal Alley are quiet cobblestone lanes right off the square. Legendary streets such as McDougal, Astor Place, and Bleecker are lined with super-hip boutiques, delis displaying esoteric beers from around the globe, and cafes and restaurants of all stripes (including a Krispy Kreme, which is not far off).

During the day, Washington Square Park is beautiful, although we know what it's like at night. Greenwich Village in the evening comes alive with sounds from late-night coffeehouses, cafés, experimental theaters, and music clubs. Bars and restaurants ad infinitum serve everything from cranberry martinis and celestial sushi to pita-wrapped shwarma. Searching for the soul of the Beat generation? At fabled coffeehouses like Caffe Reggio and Café Figaro, you can order a double espresso or cappuccino and pretend for a few minutes that you're Allen Ginsberg, Jack Keruouac, or William Burroughs. If you want to piss them off, order 'coffee, black'.

Above, we have The Bitter End, where Katia performed. It's the oldest Rock club in New York City.
Located at:
147 Bleecker Street
New York City, NY 10012
Number: (212) 673-7030

Above we have The Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Visible from any direction in this park section, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument has dominated the area since 1920. Its classically inspired circular form and ornamental terraces are dedicated to New Yorkers who died in the Civil War. We know it as the place where Oliver took Gaia from kindergarten at age six every day during lunch and trained her.

To get Gaia's views on these places and more, click here!

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*Note: Some of this page was taken from nycvisit.com