West Village, 10th Street at West Street

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………….....……….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Although this building is on the north side of West 10th, it has been included in the Weehawken Street Historic District Designation Report, and so we can know just about everything there is to know about it.  You'll be happy to know I'm not going to tell you everything there is to know about it, but it's good to know it's there.

It was built in 1903-04 as a hotel, the Holland Hotel, and over the years it has been home to many businesses, including Peter Rabbit, a gay men's bar,* and, lately Uguale Restaurant, followed by the present tenant, Antica Venezia Ristorante.

I used to go here when it was Uguale, not that the food was more than pretty good, but the space was nice, with the big windows looking out over the sunset and the West Side Highway. 

Now for architecture talk.  The style is neo-Renaissance and the facade materials are buff brick which has been painted, terra cotta, and a pressed metal cornice.  It features a round corner oriel.  What the heck is an oriel, I wondered.  Naturally, I googled.  The definitions all came up "oriel window", and said it was a projecting window which does not extend to the ground.  To me, the oriels in this building do not look like windows; they look like rounded spaces projecting from the building that have windows.  BUT they do not extend to the gound.  Anyway, I think we get the idea, and in the future, we will be able to impress our friends by throwing the term around.  Try to be casual.

For an explanation of why the building was included in the historic district, here's a quote from the report:

Built during the third significant phase of the historic district’s development, when it continued to be improved with residential, industrial, and commercial structures after the turn of the 20th century, this handsome 3-story, neo-Renaissance hotel, one of the last surviving hotels located along the Hudson River waterfront, contributes to the historically-mixed architectural character and varied uses – much of it maritime-related – of the Weehawken Street Historic District.

There will be more about the District itself when I photograph Weehawken Street.


*For a story about Peter Rabbit, go to Bent, "the place where disability and queerness meet head-on."

West Village, 10th Street Between Weehawken and West Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………........….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Oops, here's another street.  Weehawken is one block long and referred to as an alley by Forgotten New York (scroll way down the page to find Weehawken).  It seems there was once a Weehawken Market which opened in 1834, where New Jersey farmers came to sell their produce.  Uh, oh, I just found the Weehawken Street Historic District Designation Report, which will tell everything we need to know.  But it's too late to start on it now.  Yes, I should have started earlier.  It will have to wait.





Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………………….. click to enlarge

This is the one block between Weehawken and West Streets.

West Village, 10th Street Between Washington and West Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………….. click to enlarge

Here is the last block of West 10th Street before we hit the highways and the river.





Mary Sargent © 2010 ………….....……….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

And on the other side of the street, although lacking dramatic slanting sunlight, we have a cute little bike in front of a mini-storage building.  Mini-storage or self-storage refers to a business that rents units to individuals in which to store their excess goods, like old term papers and baby carriages.  There are many such buildings in New York with its notoriously small apartments.  This is a fairly not bad-looking building, but go here to see some really ugly mini-storage buildings.  Remember quonset huts?  I think that's where it all started.

West Village, 10th Street Between Greenwich and Washington Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….……………... ………………….. click to enlarge

I must say this sounds like a wonderful school.  It almost makes me want to get married and have another family so I could send my children there.  There I go again, believing what I read.  You read it and see what you think:  Village Community School.

See map.

West Village, 10th Street Between Greenwich and Washington Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………….. click to enlarge

This is the art shot.






Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

And this is the documentary shot.

I was taken with the faded sign on the brick which says Horses and Trucks To Hire, and discovered that yes, this used to be a stable.  The address is listed on the Corcoran Real Estate website as having been SOLD and the short history provided there tells us this 3 story building was built in 1911 and "originally used as a horse stable."  Then in the 70s, the interior was redesigned to make it a residence.  Since those papers attached to the door are work permits, I imagine that the exterior is due for a redesign and soon we will no longer be able to see the faded sign about Horses to Hire or the old stable door.

West Village, 10th Street at Greenwich Street

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….……………    ………………….. click to enlarge

This is the other side of the street, the south side.  Don't you love the way the street is shadowed but the sun catches the top of that slightly taller building?

West Village, 10th Street Between Greenwich and Washington Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………...… ………………….. click to enlarge

What a week I'm having:  working full time after having not worked for over two years.  Getting up at 7:00 after getting up at noon for over two years.  Being tired after having been rested for over two years.  If it weren't for the money . . .  This is for the Census and this week is training and the only full time week.

So I'm just posting this pretty little villagey shot and saying good night.

West Village, 10th Street Between Hudson and Greenwich Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………..………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

According to New York Songlines, the Village Landmark is a a converted early 20th Century warehouse.  A warehouse with arches and decorative brickwork is a beautiful thing to see.  Now the aesthetics of warehouses are not considered important.  At least I think that's true.  It reminds me of the time my former boss happened to see the orchid exhibit at the World Trade Center.  He said the exhibit was really beautiful.  "What a waste of money!" he concluded.

West Village, Hudson Street at 10th Street

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………...….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

The Cowgirl Hall of Fame - restaurant and bar.  Usually I walk by here on my way to the White Horse, and every now and then I wonder if I should walk on in.  It looks a little too themey for my taste, but one never knows.  I read somewhere about a good late afternoon drink special.  However, reading in the New York Magazine review (not a critics' pick) that they serve their margaritas in mason jars has confirmed my original impression that I should just keep walking.

See map.

West Village, 10th Street Between Bleecker and Hudson Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

West Village, 10th Street Between 4th and Bleecker Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………….. click to enlarge

I was intrigued by the signs on the window of Westville.  They say butterbeans, strawberries, collard greens, corn on the cob and bok choy.  Each a separate one word sign, well not one word, but one item, you know what I mean.  That's a pretty unusual looking produce store, I thought.  Westville is not a produce store; it's a restaurant, and, it turns out, another New York Magazine Critics' Pick.

West Village, 10th Street Between 4th and Bleecker Streets

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Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………...… ………………….. click to enlarge

So pretty, so charming.







Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….………...…… ………………….. click to enlarge

And a close-up.  I want to come back in the summer and see what's here.

West Village, 10th Street Between 4th and Bleecker Streets

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………………….. click to enlarge

The weather on Sunday was breezy and cool, bracing, more like a fall day than spring, but very nice.  Lots of clouds and slashes of sun hitting the tops of buildings and trees.

West Village, 4th Street at 10th Street

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Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… .....………………….. click to enlarge

Here is the well-known intersection where 4th Street turns northish and crosses 10th Street.  And if you pan down that building across the street




Mary Sargent © 2010 ………….......……….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

you will see Chow Bar, a place I dismissed as being of no interest as I assumed it was filled with college kids.  It was the sign that made me think that, the appearance of it and the word Chow.  But I was wrong.  Chow is Chinese; it does not refer to chowing down.  If you follow the Chow Bar link, you will see that it's a New York Magazine Critics' Pick, highly thought of for its honey plum glazed spareribs. 
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See map.

West Village, 10th Street Between Seventh Avenue and 4th Street

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

The door was locked and there was no buzzer and I knew it opened onto stairs leading down, so how was I ever going to get anyone to come let me in?  All it took was a knock on the glass and a man appeared and went and got my phone.  Impressive.

Then I turned my attention to other things.




Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………..........… ………………….. click to enlarge

These three were having a great time, smiling and laughing.  And then they saw me with my camera.




Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………….......….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

And said, oh, a photographer!  Would you mind taking our picture?  Not at all, says I.  And I was able to do it without twisting my body into strange shapes.  Maybe because I'm short.  This man in the front is the woman's former history teacher.  They were so happy to be together, the three of them.

West Village, 10th Street Between Seventh Avenue and 4th Street

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I had had plans last night, but they were cancelled last minute, and rather than use the opportunity to stay home and do laundry, I decided to go downtown and hear some jazz at Smalls.  Good decision.  Except when I got home I had no cell phone.  Today I called my phone and discovered it was at the bar at Smalls.  Whew.  So I decided to go get it and take the opportunity to do a photowalk on 10th Street from Seventh Avenue to the West Side Highway.

Now I'm not finished with the Chelsea walk but I'm tired of it.  Aren't you?  It's been going on for 4 weeks and showing no sign of ending.  So I'm just ending it before its time, and moving on to the Village.



Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

Here's 10th Street at Seventh Avenue and that's Smalls over to the left, but since it's impossible to see it at this distance, below is a closer shot.




Mary Sargent © 2010 ……….......………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Isn't it cute?  It's a small basement room and instead of tables, they set up rows of folding chairs and people sit there like they're at a concert.  For that reason, I prefer to sit at the bar.  The music starts at 7:30 and goes on "all night" and $20 gets you in for the night.

I wasn't paying any attention to Cafe Condesa, but Googled it at the last minute and discovered it's a hidden gem, a place to put on the list.  Take a look.


See map.

West Village, Seventh Avenue South at Bleecker Street

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………..………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Okay, I've had my haircut; it's good though not fabulous; it's about 5:20 and I have nothing planned.  Naturally, I think of that great wine bar around the corner on 7th Avenue.  Centro Vinoteca.




Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….……………... ………………….. click to enlarge

Now I'm inside, looking out.  You can see the grid marks of the window or screen or whatever they're marks of.  And if you enlarge either of these photos, you can see that it was snowing. 

It was very, very pleasant sitting there with a quarto of syrah and chicken liver pate as it slowly got darker outside.  Once in a while the waiter stopped by to chat.  He was from Croatia.  There are times when my whole body is filled with contentment and gratitude that I can live in New York and this was surely one of them.





Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge


This is what was to my left.

West Village, Commerce Street Between Seventh Avenue South and Bedford Street

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……….....………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

I was headed downtown to get a haircut at the Robert G Salon on Commerce Street.  Those of you who pay attention to such things may wonder why every time I get a haircut, it's at a different place.  The answer is discounts.  Ever since I lost my last haircutter, I've been discounting my way around town, seeking a replacement, and although I always get good haircuts, I haven't yet had a fabulous one.  This particular score was through Groupon, a site I love.

This is Commerce Street, looking back at Seventh Avenue South and it is snowing.

Milk and Cookies is there on the left.  Supposedly, Robert G offers cookies from here to its customers, but not to me, not that day.  I'll blame it on the snow.




Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………......…….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Here is the salon, in the middle of the block.  Perhaps that is Robert G himself on the steps.  Notice the discreet sign at the bottom of the window.  No telling what the store is next door because they didn't even have a discreet sign.






Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………....…….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge


Here is the other end of the block near Bedford Street.  I didn't go any farther because it was snowing and my camera was in jeopardy.

See map.

Greenwich Village, 14th Street at Eighth Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………………………….. click to enlarge


I'm back from Michigan where I had a wonderful Christmas and saw a great deal of snow.  I was neither late getting there nor late getting home; what's more, American Airlines did not lose my bag at either end.  It was truly a blessed Christmas. 

Now, back at home with the blog, I'm chagrinned to realize I'm still on a walk from November.  November 6.  I don't think I've ever been so late before.  I know what one of my New Year's resolutions will be. 

We saw this building about six months ago, but if you don't recognize it, it's because it was summer, in the daytime, and you saw only a piece of it.

See map.

Greenwich Village, 14th Street Between Ninth and Eighth Avenues

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Last Post until December 29.  I'm off to Michigan where they know how to do snow.




Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………………………….. click to enlarge

So you could make a case for this being a Christmas photo, right?  Especially if you're religious.  There's even a star up in the left which you can see if you enlarge the photo.

This church used to be St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church, but in 2003, it was merged with Our Lady of Guadalupe from the next block over, and is now called Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard's.  St. Bernard's had lost members and had lots of space and Our Lady had many members and not enough space.

I understand you should come here on Sundays if you're into tacos.  This from a guy who knows his tacos, so he claims.  Just because his name is Tizoc Schwartz doesn't mean he doesn't know his tacos.

See map.