Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York -Theme Thursday

It is Theme Thursday again and this week's cool theme is "funky" Thanks to Padraig for this week's suggestion.

According to Wiktionary the definition of funky is: "Not quite right; offbeat, unconventional or eccentric; Of or pertaining to the smell of funk." To me no place better personifies the definition of FUNK than the Greenwich Village neighborhood in New York City.

I had an appointment in the Village recently on a rainy afternoon. I'd like to take you around to see some of the sights I saw that day of one of my most favorite neighborhoods in Manhattan. I've already shown you a few places and events in Greenwich Village in prior posts, and you can go back at this link and scroll through them all -- the famous Halloween parade, the Art Fair held along the perimeters of Washington Square, the former home of poet e.e.cummings at Patchin Place. To read about McSorley's --the oldest Irish tavern in NYC in the East Village, go to this link.

To me, the Greenwich Village neighborhood is a romantic and unique type of place that, no matter where you are, there is always something unusual or interesting to see. You can spend a whole day, or days, just wandering around enjoying the ambiance. There are many blocks with rows and rows of pretty homes and brownstones such as the ones in the photo above.

It's filled with many wonderful ethnic restaurants, such as Monte's Trattoria on MacDougal Street between West 3rd and Bleecker. This restaurant has been family owned and operated since 1918 and serves authentic Italian cuisine. When my daughter was an undergraduate student in New York University we had many enjoyable dinners together in this restaurant-- it's a warm and cozy spot.

Greenwich Village was known in the late 19th – earlier to the mid 20th centuries as the bohemian capital and the birthplace of the Beat movement. It is now a rather expensive area to live in, but artistic expression and freedom of speech are still personified. The Village has traditionally been a focal point of new movements and ideas, whether political, artistic, or cultural. This tradition as an enclave of avant-garde and alternative culture was established by the beginning of the 20th century when small presses, art galleries, and experimental theater thrived.

It is full of nook and crannies and winding streets such as Minetta Lane located between Sixth and MacDougal, which somehow winds up at Sixth and Bleecker. It originally followed the ancient Minetta Brook.

The House Of Oldies located at 35 Carmine Street, specializes in rare and out of print vinyl records from the '50s, '60s and '70s. In operation since 1968, the store now has over 1,000,000 vinyl records in stock!

The Village has not been immune to the demise of unique boutiques and stores which were replaced by big box chain stores, but much of it's old New York bohemian charm still exists.

This rakishly angled 6-story apartment building at 1 Seventh Avenue South is at the intersection of the avenue with Carmine and Clarkson Streets. Notice the floor to ceiling windows on the lower floors!

I'd love to go back soon to poke around in the The Unoppressive Non Imperialist Bargain Bookstore on 34 Carmine Street. According to the Village Voice Newspaper who previously reviewed the store, books start at $2 and don't go much higher in price!

The Jefferson Market New York Public Library located at 425 6th Avenue, has a long and varied past to read about at the link provided. The building was originally built as the Third Judicial District Courthouse between the years 1874-1877 .

This is the view the poet e.e. cummings would have had of Jefferson Market when he lived at 4 Patchin Place during 1923–1962

The gated alley of Patchin Place, # 4 was on the left side.

Aphrodisia Herb Shoppe located at 264 Bleecker Street, and established in 1969 is "An experience in Herbs, Spices and Essential Oils". They are recognized as one of the oldest and most complete herb and spice shops in the United States.

Olivers & Co. Mediterranean Food Merchant located at 249 Bleeker Street sells premium Mediterranean olive oils and balsamic vinegars, tapenades, herbs and spices.

But where is the Funk you say? How about Cafe Wha? located on 115 Macdougal, between Bleecker and W 3rd. Their web site says it all:

"Since the 1950s the Café Wha? has been a favorite hot spot cornered in the heart
of Greenwich Village. The 60s was an impressionable and revolutionary era.
Artists of the time frequented the Café Wha? as it was known to be a sanctuary
for talent; Allen Ginsberg regularly sipped his cocktails here. The Café Wha?
was the original stomping ground for prodigies Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. Bruce
Springsteen, Peter, Paul & Mary, Kool and the Gang, as well as comedians,
Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby also began their road to stardom on this historic
stage. The Café Wha? encompassed the Beat Generation and continues to hold tight.to its spirit, entertaining all walks of life."

If you click on to enlarge this photo you can see "the home of rhythm and blues and funk" is Groove Bar & Grill. Information from their web site:

"The Groove is the only place in New York City to hear live R&B, Funk,
& Soul music 7 nights a week. What started off as a group of talented
musicians jamming at the legendary 101 bar in the early 90s, has evolved into a
roster of rotating house bands comprised of the best musicians, and performers
in the city. Sure the bands have changed slightly over the years, but as
musicians have come and gone, the thing that remains consistent about the Groove is the unbelievable talent of all the bands."

Did you notice the mural on their exterior wall? Now that's what I call "FUNK"!

To see more Theme Thursday "Funk" entries go the the Mr. Linky links on the Theme Thursday blog.