I've lived in the Village most of my life. I'm also a traveller. I'd be happy to give advise to anyone passing through.

Ok, Steve, I'll take you up on your offer. I'll be in NYC in June. If I had a block of 3-5 hours to spend in the Village, what would you recommend? Thanks for the information!!

Hi Andrea. I'm not sure what you're into, ie, architecture, food, music, drink, history, shopping, etc. I'm also not sure if you plan to be there on a weekday or weekend, morning, afternoon or night. Under any circumstance, I hope you enjoy walking. Morning maybe the worst time to space around since most of us are sleeping. In terms of architecture and history, the most interesting areas are the areas bordered by 7th Ave(E), Leroy (S), Hudson(W), and around Jane (N). In that area, my favorite street is Commerce, West of 7th. Within two blocks of that street you can see every style of architecture from 1790 to the 20th Century. Also check out Chumleys, and Grove Court nearby (buy guidebook for details how to find). Another great walking area is the area bordered by University Place(E), Sixth Ave(W), 9th Street (S), and 13th Street (N). If you decide to check out that area you might also want to start or finish in Washington Square Park, especially on a weekend afternoon - usually good music and variety of acts going on. Also, check out the Mews b/w Univ. and 5th one half block north of the Park.

Hope this is helpful. If you want to be more specific I can give you more advise.

Steve,
Would love your recommendations for where to go late at night for a bit of music, perhaps dancing, relaxed drinking, for a couple,
thanks
Michael

Thanks for your offer, Steve. I'll be staying at the Riverview Hotel on Jane Street when I come to job & apt hunt next week. I am unfamiliar with this particular area (I do realize that this is a very low end accomodation), so I was hoping that you could give me some help with the safety aspect of the vicinity.

Steve may have advice for you Dawn but I can assure you that the neighborhood in which the Riverview is located has appeared okay on the many occasions that I've been there. By chance the Jane Street Theatre is the former ballroom of the hotel and is currently the site of the off Broadway show "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" (which I have been to see on repeated occasions). My favorite NYC Chinese restaurant, Baby Buddah , is also a block or so away with great food and moderate prices. Regrettably, the Riverview looks like a real dump to me - how much are you paying per night? You may be able to get close to the same price at one of the older hotels with shared baths such as the Murray Hill Inn or the Pickwick Arms, both of which would be nicer. Another advantage those places will have is better adjacency to the subways - it's about a five or six block walk from the Riverview to the closest subway station. The neighborhood does have some upscale new residential development and I'm sure you'll feel safe there but it's not the most convenient location.

Thank you Owen for your helpful info - I feel better knowing about the area. I am only paying $29/day including all the taxes, occupancy charge, etc. so I'm not expecting much - just some place to sleep. Last visit I stayed at the Murray Hill Inn for 1 night after staying at the Millenium for the week. I liked the Murray Hill Inn, but they're not offering a weekly rate at the moment and their single room charge is $75+. Just trying to watch my resources so that I'm able to afford an apartment deposit. Also, I love to walk which is one of NYC's great attractions for me, so as long as the area is OK I'll be happy. Thanks again.

At $29 per day I'd go for it too. The weather is likely to be very pleasant and there's lots to do in the evening, thus you won't need to be in the room to do much other than sleep. Head east on Jane Street (the only direction you can go from the Riverview without ending up in the river!) to 8th Avenue and you'll find lots of restaurants and clubs in that part of the village. The are also several cozy taverns on Washington just south of Jane that appear to draw younger folks (early 20's to early 30's) from the neighborhood. If by chance you're there on a Friday night, get a ticket for the 11PM Friday show of Hedwig. Tix for that show are only $20-25 and it's an experience you won't forget.

Hi Steve,
I will be coming to NYC for a week, in 2 weeks. I'm doing the walking/eating food tour in the village and plan on doing some major shopping. What stores are not-to-miss?

Hi Dawn. The area is fine. Jane Street is a beautiful historic street. There is a story that the ghost of Alexander Hamilton haunts Jane between greenwich and washington. Hamilton died on that block after being shot in New Jersey by Aaron Burr in a duel. Owen's info is also good re: Hedwig. Try Tortilla Flat on 12th and Washington for good food, resonable prices and very eccentric atmosphere. Also Cucina de la Fontana on Charles and 4th. Inexpensive, great atmosphere downstairs, food ok, not great. If the weather is good go for a walk on the dock just south of there for sunset. But I wouldn't hang out on the dock after dark. If you're into roast beef, the best roast beef in town is at Old Homestead on 14th St. and 9th ave. Very expensive though.

Good luck on your job search. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you both, Steve and Owen. I'm getting excited now that I know the area is fine AND interesting. I'll be taking some of the suggestions food and entertainment and sights. I really appreciate the encouragement.

Taka at 61 Grove St. is a great little sushi place in the village. The chef/owner is a woman that serves sushi on pottery that she has made. Order the special combination and you won't be disappointed. Skip the grasshoppers (no pun intended) if they are available. This place was once written up in the Times and is worth a visit. Very reasonably priced for the quality of the food. If you don't mind smokey places, Arthurs is a piano bar next door that can be a lot of fun.

Good suggestion on 61 Grove Street. There's a great selection of resturants on and around Grove in that immediate area including my favorite soul food restaurant, the Pink Tea Cup. The tables are packed in tight and you'll get plastic tumblers for your canned soda (no alcohol- fine with me) but the food is very authentic Southern, great music plays and the crowd is nicely mixed, friendly and very laid back. I'll also suggest Reggio (maybe it's Il Reggio?) on Macdougal off Bleecker much further east in the village. It's also very cozy and very authentic Italian - we're not talking red sauce and mozzarella here. All their offerings are small portions so you can try lots of them and the coffee's incredible. I frequently dine out alone and have found both of these places to be very amenable to and comfortable for solo diners like myself.

There are some great bars/restaurants in the area around Jane St (NW Village) - try my favorite at W11th & Hudson, Tapastry (pun intended) - serves bite sized portions of all sorts of food, not just Spanish - and has a really good, friendly bar & lounge. Tavern on Jane (8th & Jane)is good too for food & drink, and the Blind Tiger, at W10th & Hudson, has a slightly debauched, neighborhoody feel, and about a million different microbrews. Asean at W10th between 6th & Greenwich Avenue is a little further east, but can't be beat for SE Asian food & a great little garden; Le Bouchon nearby at Greenwich between Perry & Charles is new, busy, and that rarest of things - an inexpensive and good french bistro. The waitstaff is to die for, too...

Michael
Don't have any low key favorite places for dancing these days, but for romantic bar try Temple Bar on Lafayette off of Bleeker. Great for martinis. Jules on St. Marks has jazz on weekends and a good wine list and good food, but it's not exactly laid back and the jazz is hit or miss. For a bar with some history, try White Horse on West 11th, Cedar Tavern on University, or that old bar whose name I can't remember on 7th ST. b/w 3rd and 2nd Ave.
Sorry I can't be of more help.