IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD Be prepared to expect the unexpected. All photos by Maggie Berkvist. From still lifes To street scenes— be they mysterious… enterprising… incongruous… or reminiscent of a Hopper painting.
-
-
Karen’s Quirky Style
By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor With apple-picking season flying by and Thanksgiving fast approaching, I brought out my cowboy boots for this month’s adventure on Bleecker Street. The weather was still so warm on the day of the shoot that I decided to pair the boots with flared black shorts and fishnet stockings (think
-
Style on the Street: Sunny Sunday
By Dusty Berke There is nothing like a sunny Sunday afternoon in The Village. So nice to see everyone out and enjoying the last days of sunshine. All photos by Dusty Berke.
-
Then&Now: The Weathermen Bombsite—18 West 11th Street
By Brian J Pape, AIA THEN: The Greek Revival townhouse at 18 West 11th Street was originally built in 1845, one of four houses on the block built by Henry Brevoort Jr. for his children. It was later (in the 1920s) the home of Charles Merrill (of Merrill Lynch), whose son, the poet James Merrill,
-
Visitation
By Keith Michael My phone vibrates on my desk. I hit “Send” on a work email before checking the message: Text? Gmail? Facebook messenger? Instagram notification? Millie’s photograph, of course, is the wallpaper on my phone. Her doe-like corgi eyes look up out of the palm of my hand, virtually, ever-hopeful for a treat. Tapping
-
Notes From Away: Maine History Lesson
By Tom Lamia As the State of Maine heads into its annual state of hibernation, I leave you with a few odd facts (culled from the internet, an unreliable source). For example, did you know… That well into our nation’s existence, Maine was an orphan: Neither its borders nor its sovereignty were established; Those contesting
-
A View from the Kitchen
By Isa Covo What do we think about when we think about November? There may be other guesses, but there is one essential one and that is Thanksgiving. There is the meal of course: the turkey, cornbread, many vegetables, different pies (usually pecan and apple). There are also the guests—those who live nearby and others
-
IN AND OUT
We had some good news this month: a beloved chocolate shop did not close, a new jazz club opened, and Bleecker Street continues its metamorphosis with a couple of new shops. We also noted two spots that are either owned by women or feature products made by women. Open Top Openings Café Bohemia—15 Barrow Street
-
-
Maggie B’s Quick Clicks
INSPIRED BY FRANK BRUNI of the New York Times’ recent column “Dogs Will Fix Our Broken Democracy” (boy, do we need that!), this month I’m featuring some of the many lovable best friends on parade daily in our dog crazy Village neighborhood. As Mr. Bruni says: “…when I’m out and about with Regan, there’s mutual
-
Karen’s Quirky Style
By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor Fall is in the air—my favorite time of year. What a great opportunity to wear this delicious jewel-toned dress by Andrea Thurlow of Engineered by Andrea T. You may recall the story about the “Dominion Day” dress in the July issue of WestView. Andrea made this dress using extra
-
Style on the Street: Sunday Best
By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor This month, as we recover from the heady whirl of New York Fashion Week, let’s take a look at people who dress in their Sunday Best to be seen on the streets in The Village (whether it’s Sunday or not!). 1. Classic style: Jean Boudreaux of New Roads, Louisiana,
-
A View from the Kitchen: Orange Walnut Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
By Isa Covo When we moved to the Village over thirty years ago there were several bookstores in the area, some small and intimate, a few large. There was a largish bookstore just around the corner from where I live, where I bought my first book by Kazuo Ishiguro, (which was his first book also),
-
IN AND OUT
This month saw a continued proliferation of vegan and Mediterranean spots, particularly in the Bleecker/Carmine/MacDougal corridor. Some popular bars/restaurants are opening new locations in the West Village, and some places that had been limping along for a while have finally closed. Open Top Openings Llama San 359 6th Avenue near Washington Place Villagers may
-
Notes From Away: Crossed Paths in a Small World
By Tom Lamia A friend in California occasionally sends me books. One that arrived six months ago became fallback reading recently. My eyes were opened by its connections to several hallmarks in my life thus far, including where I now live (Maine), where I was born (Santa Monica, California), and my ten-year residence at 54
-
Bringin’ It Home
By Keith Michael Millie is lying a few feet away while I’m editing photos—still catching up on my summer “takes.” Because I haven’t clicked on an image looking remotely like a bowl of kibble, Millie’s corgi gaze is equivocal. The combination of scrolling past an August shot of an Osprey from the Salt Marsh Nature
-
Then&Now: Washington & Christopher High Line
By Brian J. Pape, AIA, Architecture Editor Then: This 1940 Municipal Tax photo of 634-648 Washington Street views its intersection with Christopher Street, looking southwest. The New York Central Railroad built the St. John freight terminal and this viaduct from 1930-34, succumbing to pressure condemning the numerous pedestrian accidents while the 13-mile surface track, built in
-
Mia Says
Mia Says: Heartfelt praise is a gift that warms the giver and receiver. Photo by Dusty Berke.
-
Karen’s Quirky Style
By Karen Rempel, Fashion Editor “Karen’s Quirky Style” is all about expressing my inner joie de vivre through color and fun combinations of clothing and accessories from different sources and time periods. I love walking down the street and seeing people’s faces light up with delight at the unexpected sight before their eyes. (Namely, moi.
-
Style on the Street: Cool as Watermelon
By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor Last month we looked at how the men handle the heat in the city, so this month it’s the women’s turn. Here are three unique takes on New York summer fashion—with fab black footwear. FLARE (photo left): Daniela Diletto and her son Luca pause on their stoop on the
-
Then&Now: Seventh Avenue South/200 West 11th Street
By Brian J. Pape, AIA, Architecture Editor THEN: This site, addressed 192 Seventh Avenue South in the 1940 tax photo, was on a forlorn thoroughfare because the Seventh Avenue extension below West 12th Street cut a swath through the established neighborhood, leaving odd walls, yards and slivers of lot sizes, like this one just south
-
Last Licks
By Roberta Curley Eating ice cream is like breathing. It jumpstarts day and night. I mourn summer’s end. It often spells doom for free flowing ice cream. Licking each novel flavor keeps me from obsessing over my jewelry stash. Jewelry may be heavy but it’s not fattening. It is said: “a thing
-
Maggie B’s Quick Clicks
NOT ALL OF US LEAVE TOWN IN AUGUST. MANY OF US APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO RELAX AND ENJOY PEACEFUL PLEASURES. VISITORS COME TO EXPLORE AND SOME PEOPLE FIND THERE’S STILL WORK TO BE DONE. All photos by Maggie Berkvist.
-
A View from the Kitchen
By Isa Covo …the days grow short when you reach September… …and the leaves turn to gold… Those words are from a beautiful song, with music by Kurt Weil and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson; it is a little sad too, as it focuses on aging. Time seems to be galloping after a certain age, even
-
Notes From Away: Deja Vu
By Tom Lamia Margaret Chase Smith was a US Senator from Maine whose life and political career offer proof of the power of independent thinking and the courage to act on it, even in the face of demands for loyalty to party doctrine. Just a few words of background should be enough to make the
-
Mia Says
Mia Says: The better you listen to a complaint the better you can answer it. Photo by Dusty Berke.
-
Karen’s Quirky Style
By Karen Rempel Fashion Editor Confession time. I’m a shoe fanatic! I have a friend who decides what she’s going to wear on a given day based on which pieces in her remarkable jewelry collection she feels like displaying. For me, it’s all about the shoes. I will often pull together an outfit based on
-
What’s Happening at Clarkson Square?
By Brian J. Pape, AIA Architecture Editor Chances are you don’t recognize the name, but in the real estate world you can choose any name you want for your projects or even for whole neighborhoods. Witness the One Morton Square moniker from a few years back and, now, the West SOHO label for Hudson Square.
-
Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso You can do anything they can’t stop you from doing. A man who calls a woman ‘baby’ doesn’t know much about women —or babies. Some people are jelly, some are jam. Power complaint: These outages are outrageous. Dallas was a much greater shock than Pearl Harbor or 9/11. Dallas involved someone we
-
For Every Season
By Keith Michael …tern, tern, tern. It’s hot out here. A moment ago, when I offered Millie a treat to join me for this walk to Hudson River Park, with classic corgi insolence she raised her head from her chill spot under the air conditioner, inches from her water bowl that might jingle with the
-
-
A View from the Kitchen
By Isa Covo So, how are you enjoying this summer? Are you traveling? Going to the beach and walking on the scorching sand? Do you have to go to work stranded on the stifling subway platforms before squeezing into the somewhat air-conditioned compartments of the train that takes you to your destination feeling sticky and
-
IN AND OUT
As usual, July was a quiet month. Two spots opened that are not what they seem, and there was also activity in French and Italian establishments. Open Top Openings L’Accolade Natural Wine and Neo Bistrot—302 Bleecker Street at Barrow Street. It seems like every wine list now touts natural wines, but this French spot which
-
Notes From Away: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By Tom Lamia Next week (as I write this) I start a five- or six-week residence in The West Village—a kind of forced exile from my farm in Maine—during the highlight of the year, midsummer. I will, of course, survive this absence and will return for the glories of fall and the changing of the
-
Mia Says
Mia Says: Protested eternal love without a ring is a contract without a signature. Photo by Dusty Berke.
-
Caruso’s Quips
By Charles Caruso Too much is just right. The one who calls is the one in need. From the cosmic to the comic to cognac. Sign outside geriatric clinic: Geezer Diseases. Tea is a slap on the wrist. Coffee is a punch in the nose. Delay is death to the petitioner. The one who calls
-
Style on the Street: Paris Pairs
By Karen Rempel | Fashion Editor Paris is a walking city, much like New York. With very few exceptions, people wear sneakers, flats, and low boots of every variety. The man center right was an exception of sorts in socks and sandals. I love his friend’s look with the patterned shirt tucked into beltless trousers.
-
Karen’s Quirky Style
By Karen Rempel Fashion Editor The drag queens and fashionistas in The West Village will laugh when you hear about my awkwardness with ballgowns. I may have worn a ballgown when I was seven years old and playing dress-up with my neighbor friend’s lovely box of treasures. Certainly I dressed my Barbie in lovely floor-length
