SAMPLE ITINERARY! – We wander rather than follow a scripted route, taking input from guide, group, and city to create a memorable and unique experience. As a result, we may visit some, OR NONE of the spots listed in this itinerary!

From Astor Place -known by the Lenape as the “crossroads of the 3 nations” – we might wander west towards Washington Square Park and the well-heeled West Village, or east towards Tompkins Square and the gritty artistry of the East Village. Any way we go, we’ll eat outstanding food, hang out in cool parks, and absorb a TON of fascinating history.

We begin near Astor Place, known by the Lenape as the “crossroads of the 3 nations”, It’s still a place where lots of things come together.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

If it’s a drinking crowd, we might start with a cheese plate and a beer at McSorley’s – the oldest continuously operating bar in New York – where women weren’t admitted until 1970. Abe Lincoln drank here, and the place is absolutely dripping with curious and artifacts, since nothing’s been removed from the walls since 1910.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Visit the site of one of the most tragic and traumatic events in New York City history, where 146 garment workers were killed in a fire in 1911. This event eventually helped transform labor practices in the United States and it’s a story every American should know.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

One of the liveliest and most influential parks in the world, we’ll spend some time learning the history, and just hanging out.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mamoun’s was the first falafel joint in NYC, opened in 1971 by a Syrian man named Mamoun. The business is now run by his sons, but 50 years later this incredible little hole-in-the-wall is still serving incredible falafel to comedians, musicians, and students all day and late into the night.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Songs, stories, and stand up – they’ve all bubbled up from MacDougal. We’ll stop and tell the story of one of the most culturally significant streets in America. And we might stop and get something to eat at Mamoun’s, Pommes Frites, or…

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Churchill Square isn’t tourist friendly, but it is a neat place to hang out for a bit. Right across the street from the much bigger Father Demo Square, and also from the globally-influential Little Red School House, it’s a great place to catch some shade and rest the feet.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Bleecker is full of bars, boutiques, and beautiful people. Not uncommon to see a world-famous face walk past.

• Admission Ticket Free

This Latin/Indian fusion spot is owned by a woman with a Puerto Rican mom and an Indian father, and staffed by a largely Nepali crew. It’s all the way New York. The food is unique, colorful and delicious, and they play great music.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Whether we drop in for a drink or stop in Christopher Park to soak up the vibe, the Stonewall is a must-visit in the West Village. Now a national monument, the Stonewall was the site of a pivotal 1969 uprising that galvanized the modern gay rights movement. One of many extremely influential cultural spots we’ll visit in the West Village.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Not your normal New York slice, but Two Boots is a vibrant and colorful shop with outstanding food and a friendly atmosphere. It’s in a space that used to house a lesbian bar that refused to serve men, but today Two Boots welcomes everybody. Interesting things happen here.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Pie-crust cookies. Cute place.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

This locals park gets zero visits from tour groups, but it’s got a warm and lovely feeling. Great spot to chill out for a few and soak up the sites and sounds of the West Village.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

After eating at 4-5 food spots and enjoying several parks, we often end up at the river, soaking up the expansive energy of the Hudson, and tying together the history of the Village. From here it’s easy to grab a car or take a short walk to the subway.

END SAMPLE ITINERARY

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free