Landmarks & The City

Even though we were both plum tuckered out after a long first day in New York, Mark and I ventured downtown to Greenwich Village for dinner. Our destination was the famous Bleecker Street Pizza, which has apparently been crowned New York’s best pizza for the last three years running.

It was certainly delicious, but I wouldn’t go quite so far as to call it the best pizza in the world. The slices were displayed in a cabinet and reheated to order, which perhaps took away a little of the magic. Still, at around five dollars a slice, it was good value and a very satisfying New York experience.

Afterwards, we made our way to the iconic Stonewall Inn. Standing inside was genuinely surreal. This unassuming bar became the focal point of the Stonewall Riots in June 1969, when patrons fought back against a police raid and sparked what would become the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. What began as several nights of protests and demonstrations in the surrounding streets helped transform the fight for equality around the world. More than half a century later, the Stonewall Inn remains open, vibrant and full of life — both a working bar and a living piece of history.

From there we wandered over to The Duplex for a cocktail. Another Greenwich Village institution, The Duplex has been entertaining locals and visitors for decades, famous for its piano bar, cabaret performances and wonderfully eccentric Village atmosphere. It felt like the sort of place that could tell a thousand stories if its walls could talk.

To finish the evening, we took a short stroll through the beautiful tree-lined streets of the Village to 66 Perry Street, instantly recognisable to fans of Sex and the City as Carrie Bradshaw’s famous stoop. Seeing it in person was one of those quintessential New York moments — a simple brownstone staircase that has become a television landmark known around the world.

As we headed back towards the hotel, the Village was glowing under the streetlights. It was one of those evenings that perfectly captured New York’s ability to blend history, culture, entertainment and pop culture all within a few short blocks.Read more