The Bottom Line
Whether you're into punk rock or the immigrant history of the Lower East Side, the East Village Walking Tour offers a wealth of insight into the history and culture of this diverse New York City neighborhood.
Pros
- Lots of history and lore from the neighborhood
- Many landmark buildings in the area
- Affordable
- The tour guide is a knowledgable neighborhood resident
Cons
- Lots of buildings are slated to be torn down in the East Village
- Many businesses are losing their leases in the East Village
Description
- Some featured sights on the East Village Walking Tour:
- The Alamo
- The Cooper Union
- St. Mark's Place
- Orpheum Theatre
- Tompkins Square
- The East Village Walking Tour is offered Tuesday - Sunday at 11 a.m. There is also a second tour on Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.
- East Village Walking Tour Price: $12 | Lower East Side residents and their guests: $8 | Seniors: $5
- Groups of less than 10 don't need to reserve in advance. Arrive about 15 minutes before the tour and meet at "The Alamo."
- Nearest Subway to the East Village Neighborhood Tour: 6 to Astor Place or the N/R at 8th Street/NYU
- The tour covers just over half a mile at a comfortable pace, with many stops along the way.
- Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Tours may be cancelled in case of inclimate weather.
- Pictures from the East Village Walking Tour
Guide Review - East Village Walking Tour
We met Eric in front of the "The Alamo", better known as the Astor Place Cube, to begin our tour of the East Village. As a long-time neighborhood resident, Eric was able to share personal experiences throughout the tour illustrating how the neighborhood has changed during his lifetime. He also had a notebook with photos and illustrations depicting the neighborhood as it once was -- whether he was talking about farming, riots, punk rock or mob violence. The photos really enhanced our ability to imagine the vast transformations that have occurred in the neighborhood.
The 1 1/2 hour tour traveled east along St. Mark's Place, stopping frequently for stories about various buildings, stores and historical events in the neighborhood. Eric's passion for preserving the history and architecture of the East Village was clear whether he was talking about buildings slated for demolition, businesses unable to renew their leases due to skyrocketing rents, and the dearth of new construction in the neighborhood.
When we arrived in Tompkins Square Park, I had a much greater appreciation for the East Village's history -- for years the neighborhood had been a great place for bar-hopping and dining, but now I have a greater appreciation for the neighborhood's rich history.
