Aerial view of St. Marks Place, looking east from Third Avenue, 1984
This photo was taken from the roof of either 21 or 41 Astor Place. The Christadora House, at Avenue B and 9th Street, overlooking Tompkins Square Park, is visible in the upper left. At the time of this photo, the high-rise former Settlement House was still abandoned.
Love Saves the Day, 119 Second Avenue, 1984
Love Saves the Day was a beloved neighborhood vintage clothing and bric-a-brac shop at the corner of East 7th Street and Second Avenue. On March 26th, 2015 an illegal tap in the gas main at 121 Second Avenue resulted in an a explosion and fire that killed two people and destroyed 191, 121 and 123 […]
Joe and Bambi hanging out on stoop of 79 St. Marks Place near First Avenue, 1984
Photographer Howard Bennett met couple Joe and Bambi as they hung out on the stoop of 79 St Marks Place which was just west of 1st Ave and abandoned at the time.
John Spacely on rear roof of 23 Third Avenue (demolished) in front of mural on west wall of 5 St. Marks Place
John Spacely was the star of an indie film titled “Gringo: Story of a Junkie” somewhat based on his own life story. As a promotion, the film’s director, Lech Kowalski, hired artist Art Guerra to create a mural above a storefront just east of 3rd Ave on St Marks Place. For years it’s imposing presence […]
Joe hanging out on stoop of 79 St. Marks Place near First Avenue, 1984
Photographer Howard Bennett met couple Joe and Bambi as they hung out on the stoop of 79 St Marks Place which was just west of 1st Ave and abandoned at the time.
Crazy Dave and pet rat, St. Marks Place, June 1984
Crazy Dave was one of the many punk kids that regularly hung out on St. Marks Place.
Couple dancing at Ukrainian Festival in front of St. George Ukrainian Church, East 7th Street, 1984
The Saint George Ukrainian Festival is held annually in May in front of St. George Ukrainian Church on East 7th Street between 2nd Avenue and Taras Shevchenko Place.
Harry Bohrer, Bohrer’s women’s clothing store, 1st Avenue between St. Marks and East 9th Street, 1981
Harry Bohrer ran Bohrer’s, a women’s clothing store on 1st Ave between St. Marks Place and East 9th St. His brother ran a similar shop in the Bronx.
Gem Spa at 131 Second Avenue at St. Marks Place, 1984
Gem Spa was located on the corner of 2nd Avenue and St. Marks Place for over 100 years. Read more about its history here.
Life Cafe, East 10th Street and Avenue B, 1984
Life Cafe was where Jonathan Larson wrote parts of Rent. It was also featured in several scenes. It closed in 2011 after thirty years. Read more about Larson and Rent here.
Break dancers on Third Avenue and St. Marks Place, 1984
A number of sites around the East Village played a role in the development of Hip-Hop, explore our Hip-Hop map for more information.
Clones Go Home, Keith Haring stencil art in front of Cooper Union, 1982
Some of Keith Haring’s earliest work were his stencils found on the sidewalks of New York. “Clones Go Home” was his effort to bring attention to the gentrification of the East Village in the early 1980s, like this one on Astor Place.
Mick and Keith, the Rolling Stones filming “Waiting on a Friend” video, St. Marks Place east of First Avenue, 1981
The filming of the Rolling Stones’ Waiting on a Friend video was done outside and inside St. Marks Bar & Grill. Bennet was working there at the time, which resulted in him being in the video.
Mick Jagger, the Rolling Stones filming “Waiting on a Friend” video, St. Marks Place east of First Avenue, 1981
The filming of the Rolling Stones’ Waiting on a Friend video was done outside and inside St. Marks Bar & Grill. Bennet was working there at the time, which resulted in him being in the video.
