Bleecker and Thompson Streets New York City about 1980

[peterbengtson]

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Last night I went to the closing party for Kenny's Castaways in the village. The Back Fence next door is also closing soon and both buildings will be razed. So my neighborhood loses two good bars, both family owned , that have fostered generations of musicians and gains another overpriced boutique hotel.

 

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M3 50 Summicron

[sblitz]

I had no idea! Went to NYU in the early 70s, and spent a lot of time going there, listening to music, drinking. Maybe I saw someone(s) who became famous, no idea, it was about having a good time and avoiding the bums living across the street in the SRO now a fancy condo (can you still say bum?). Nice shot, thanks for posting and bringing back memories.

 

Steve

[roguewave]

Bad news all around. The Village is becoming devoid of any traces of it's former self. It's getting becoming just another gentrified, ultra expensive place to live, without any of character which made living there a wonderful experience. Since I migrated uptown, at least 10 friends that have lived there over 20 years have left. What's really tragic is that so many family run shops have or are in the process of closing. Many of the old Italian families that comprised the 2nd largest population in NYC, have exited Greenwich Village. There's rumours that Ottomanelli's may leave Bleecker St. They are the last of that 19th Century family that fled Manhattan for the Bronx and other venues. It certainly isn't progress.

 

The makeover of Washington Square Park into the ugly, flat. grey & dull looking smoking place for NYU students is the hardest blow of all. Soon, you'll need a key card & NYU ID to get into the park. Wheels on Fire....

[pauledell]

While I have never been to NYC, it is certainly disconcerting to see the loss of many of the old cultures of our cities in the name of progress (money) especially with the emphasis of the government and media for the importance of being sensitive to cultures that have just arrived (political correctness).

 

Paul

[Timmyjoe]

When I lived in NYC in the early to mid-90's, the Village was one of my favorite places, though I couldn't afford to live there even then. I'd come up out of the subway and this feeling of being home would just wash over me. I loved it. Would be sad to go back now I think.

[stuny]

Peter -

 

As soon as I saw this I thought, this is one of the reasons why Ben moved out. Good shot, though.

[iedei]

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very nice pic!

 

Brooklyn is carrying the spirit of 70s and 80s Lower manhattan these days....Manhattan is just full of chain stores and tourists!

[stuny]

Sadly, much of Brooklyn has become quite expensive, too.

[roguewave]

very nice pic!

 

Brooklyn is carrying the spirit of 70s and 80s Lower manhattan these days....Manhattan is just full of chain stores and tourists!

 

I would disagree in every way! Every time I go to Brooklyn it feels like a bad movie set of Manhattan. If you think Manhattan is just a run of chain stores, then you just aren't aware of the Isle of Manhattan in any intimate way. Brooklyn is like a retirement community. Best thing in Brooklyn is the view from Brooklyn Heights west to Manhattan. The faint pulse left in Brooklyn of the music & art scene of the 80's, which featured folks like Spike Lee and a whole generation of writers, poets, filmmakers, musicians... is almost dead. Brooklyn is gentrifying even faster than Harlem. Worse, is the fact that 90% of the new homeowners are white. Brooklyn once was a thriving potpourri of immigrants from all over the globe. All that is just Vanishing at an alarming rate. Only thing worth it's salt is Prospect Park and the small, but vital Jazz scene around Ft Green - Clinton Hill.