East Village
Where a poetic and punk past informs forward-thinking galleries keeping the East Village’s rebellious spirit alive.
Last updated Dec 17, 2025
Like any good renegade, the East Village has been through its fair share of drama.
A well-heeled enclave in the 19th century, by the mid-20th century, had fallen into disrepair. The Beats (William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg) moved in and started to call the neighborhood home.
Then came Warhol’s Electric Circus and The Fillmore East (otherwise known as the Church of Rock and Roll), which filled the area around St. Mark’s Place with a dazzling synthesis of psychedelica and glamour.
In the 80s, the East Village art scene emerged. Legendary punk club CBGBs blazed through, carrying icons like Blondie and the Talking Heads with it. Patti Astor opened the Fun Gallery in 1981, championing artists such as Fab Five Freddy, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Kenny Scharf. Within a few years, more than 100 other galleries followed. This high-octane era was raw, electric, and brief.
The spirit of these iconic New Yorkers still lingers. Amid the tree-lined streets, with a mix of old and new tiny coffee shops, little bakeries, and wicken shops, next-generation art spaces are tapping into the East Village’s unruly spirit.
East Village
2 Venues
BakeryEast Village
Veneiro’s
Get yourself a slice of NYC history at this bustling Italian bakery serving cannoli and Italian cookies under a stained glass ceiling. Circa 1894.
342 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003
BoutiqueEast Village
niconeco zakkaya
Find a moment of serenity in this peaceful Japanese Stationary store, where you’ll find traditional ink pads, the cutest notecards, planners and craft tools.
263 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10009
Like any good renegade, the East Village has been through its fair share of drama.
A well-heeled enclave in the 19th century, by the mid-20th century, had fallen into disrepair. The Beats (William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg) moved in and started to call the neighborhood home.
Then came Warhol’s Electric Circus and The Fillmore East (otherwise known as the Church of Rock and Roll), which filled the area around St. Mark’s Place with a dazzling synthesis of psychedelica and glamour.
In the 80s, the East Village art scene emerged. Legendary punk club CBGBs blazed through, carrying icons like Blondie and the Talking Heads with it. Patti Astor opened the Fun Gallery in 1981, championing artists such as Fab Five Freddy, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Kenny Scharf. Within a few years, more than 100 other galleries followed. This high-octane era was raw, electric, and brief.
The spirit of these iconic New Yorkers still lingers. Amid the tree-lined streets, with a mix of old and new tiny coffee shops, little bakeries, and wicken shops, next-generation art spaces are tapping into the East Village’s unruly spirit.
East Village
2 VenuesBakeryEast Village
Veneiro’s
Get yourself a slice of NYC history at this bustling Italian bakery serving cannoli and Italian cookies under a stained glass ceiling. Circa 1894.
342 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003
BoutiqueEast Village
niconeco zakkaya
Find a moment of serenity in this peaceful Japanese Stationary store, where you’ll find traditional ink pads, the cutest notecards, planners and craft tools.
263 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10009