Happy 4th of July!

The Statue of Liberty

The spectacular Macy's July 4th fireworks display in New York City is moving across town today. To celebrate the 400th Anniversary of explorer Henry Hudson’s voyage of discovery aboard the Dutch vessel, The Half Moon,” Macy’s will stage the nation’s largest 4th of July fireworks display over the Hudson River instead of the East River this year.

Information from the Macy's website:

"American River," the theme of the 33rd annual Macy’s Fireworks will give
more than two million spectators and millions of viewers nationwide America’s
most spectacular showcase of brilliant colors, jawdropping effects and
thunderous sound.The patriotic revelry will feature approximately 40,000 shells
exploding in a kaleidoscope of color at a rate of more than 1,500 per minute.
The 26-minute display, designed in collaboration with SOUSA Fireworks, will be
set off from six barges positioned between 24th and 50th Streets on the Hudson
River giving New York City residents a stunning front row seat to America’s
biggest Independence Day party. "

Since we will not be able to view the fireworks display from Brooklyn or lower Manhattan this year, my husband and I decided to stay home and have our own celebration. I made our favorite blueberry tart yesterday and I added some fresh raspberries from the raspberry bush I have growing in a large pot in my backyard. Served with a little vanilla ice cream on top we will have an edible version of "red white and blue" for dessert.

I hope everyone who celebrates today has an enjoyable and safe celebration of the 233 year of our Nation's Independence!

"America! America! God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea! "

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.