Greenwich Village (also referred to as the West Village and simply, the Village) is my favorite place to get lost on a Saturday afternoon. Escaping from the formal grid structure that dominates north of 14th Street, wandering the streets of Greenwich Village makes me feel as though I've escaped from New York City into some small European city. Many streets are lined with shops, and while the Gap and Virgin Records can still be found, there are many independently owned stores and restaurants to discover. When you've had enough of Manhattan's tall buildings and bustling crowds, Greenwich Village offers a great respite with its calmer, more manageable feel, and Greenwich Village's shorter buildings allow more sunshine to reach the streets. There are many secret courtyards and small gardens nestled between townhouses in the residential blocks of Greenwich Village.

From Dylan Thomas who infamously drank himself to death at the White Horse Tavern to Bob Dylan who refers to Greenwich Village in many songs, Greenwich Village is known for being home to many artists, writers and musicians. Greenwich Village was the theater for many Beat writers such Allen Ginsberg, Jack Keruouac, and William Burroughs.