Top Ten Things We love About Greenwich Village

As a native New Yorker - born and raised on the Upper East Side (Carnegie Hill) - I never imagined I’d take the leap and move downtown, let alone raise my family there. But here we are, 18 years later, and I can’t imagine life unfolding any other way.

It all began when I met my now-husband who lived on Jane Street, and a few months later I found myself moving into an apartment on West 11th Street, right across from Magnolia Bakery.

Moving downtown - 80 blocks from where I grew up - felt like leaving my hometown. And in many ways, it was. In real estate, we talk about Manhattan as a collection of micro-markets, but when you live here, you realize it’s also a collection of micro-communities. I never thought anything could pull me away from the UES, but after a few months of downtown living, I was already wondering if I’d ever go back… maybe when we have kids?

Well, two kids later (now in 1st and 4th grades), we’re still here - and happily so.

Our top ten things we love about West 10th Street, Greenwich Village, and the surrounding neighborhoods:

1. The community – Laid-back, friendly, fun, and full of character. We’ve met incredible people through PS41, the local parks - Bleecker, Horatio, Washington Square - and, of course, our favorite, simply sitting on our stoop.
2. The energy – Walk a few blocks and you’ll feel it instantly. Young professionals, families, retirees—we all mix and hang out.
3. Transit access – The 5th Ave bus, Union Square, West 4th, and the 1/2/3 at West 12th or Christopher. I’m uptown, downtown, all around town, and we all know: midday public transportation is king.
4. Restaurants – Truly, I could eat almost exclusively on (or just off) West 10th: Il Cantinori, Bobo, St. Jardim, Fairfax, Ruby’s, American Bar, Joseph Leonard, B’artusi… the list goes on.
5. The balance – Somehow it’s both anonymous and tightly knit. A perfect equilibrium for me.
6. The stoop – We’ve met so many neighbors - now friends - just by sitting outside. It’s the ultimate conversation starter, and there’s something about the easy, laid-back vibe that draws people in.
7. Hudson River Park – A few blocks away, and yet a complete reset every time. Daily walks along the river have become my meditation. I once thought I couldn’t live without Central Park, but Hudson River Park has filled that void.
8. The High Line – One of my favorite walking spots, especially in the colder months when it’s quieter. (In summer, I happily give it back to the tourists.)
9. Live music – Arthur’s Tavern, The Red Lion, Mezzrow, Smalls… you can wander into any of them and stumble onto extraordinary talent.
10. The spontaneity – This may be true of the whole city, but it’s my favorite part of living here. The walkability, the sense of possibility - you don’t need a plan. Just step outside, turn left or right, and let the city decide the rest.

We love exploring our city and are experts in finding the perfect apartment (or townhouse) and neighborhood to call home.