Take a Walk on the Wild Side: An East Village Self Guided Tour

The East Village has reinvented itself so many times that residents have been complaining it’s gone downhill since the 1600s. On this walking tour along St Mark’s Place, you’ll follow radicals, artists, and outcasts who, for three centuries, made this three-block stretch one of the most rebellious streets in America. The tour starts at St Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, built on the former farm of Peter Stuyvesant, the peg-legged Dutch governor whose ghost still haunts the sanctuary. You’ll head into the heart of St Mark’s Place where wave after wave of immigrants, bohemians, and provocateurs left their mark – from the German shooting societies and Yiddish theater of the 1800s, to the jazz clubs, punk boutiques, and anarchist schools of the 1900s.

1. 1

   St. Mark's Church In-the-Bowery

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   You'll start at the storied St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery.

2. 2

   Stop 2

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   And hear the story of Elizabeth Stuyvesant's son named after a founding father.

3. 3

   St. Mark's Place

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   We'll walk the area of Saint Marks Place, and hear how the name came from a fancy branding exercise.

4. 4

   Stop 4

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   We'll pass by the house Alexander Hamilton's son grew up in.

5. 5

   Stop 5

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   We'll pass by the spot that housed the iconic fashion store, SEARCH & DESTROY.

6. 6

   Stop 6

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   We'll pass by the Ottendorfer Library, and hear about Oswald Ottendorpher, and his famous newspaper.

7. 7

   Stop 7

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   We'll pass by the Orpheum Theatre, and hear about some of the famous plays that were staged there.

8. 8

   Stop 8

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   We'll pass by the Little Missionary Day Nursery and hear about the fascinating Sara Curry.

9. 9

   Stop 9

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   We'll pass the building used in the iconic Led Zeppelin album cover.

10. 10

    Stop 10

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    We'll pass by the iconic Please Don't Tell bar and hear the story of how Blondie formed.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.