New York's first major library, the Astor Library, was founded here on Lafayette Street with money donated by financier John Jacob Astor. The Astor was one of three private libraries that merged to form the New York Public Library in 1895.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art opened in 1859. The school was built on a new model of education based on founder Peter Cooper's fundamental belief that an education should be "open and free to all," regardless of race, religion, sex, wealth, or social status.

This iconic tavern's motto was once "good ale, raw onions, and no ladies." In 1970, when the New York State Supreme Court ordered its ban on women lifted their motto was changed to "be good or be gone."

Established in 1954 by Ukrainian refugees, Veselka (🌈 in Ukrainian) began as a small storefront. It became a hangout not only for Ukrainian immigrants but also for the bohemian counterculture that flocked to the East Village in the 1960s.

This triangular space was developed into a seating area in 1938 by the WPA. In 1996, following the untimely death of Second Avenue Deli owner and Ukrainian immigrant Abe Lebewohl, the park was renamed in honor of him.

This church is the city's oldest site of continuous religious practice. The first chapel on site was built in 1660, and the present church was completed in 1795.

P.S. 122 is a non-profit performing arts space that took over this abandoned school in 1980. They are one of the longest standing venues dedicated to contemporary performance art in the city.

Well known for its salacious and extralegal history, Tompkins Square Park is the centerpiece of East Village. Look out (and up) for its American Elm trees and resident urban hawk, Dora.

Ray's Candy Store was opened in 1974 by Ray Alvarez (real name Asghar Ghahraman), an Iranian immigrant who adopted a new identity once he arrived in New York. The shop has been featured in a number of television shows and films and remains open today, with Ray still behind the counter.

A 🍇🍍🍎🍌 stand when photographed in 1970, 113 First Avenue is still a fruit stand today!

St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church was a vibrant German parish. In 1904 it was devastated by the General Slocum steamboat disaster which killed more than 1000 community members. Since 1940 the old church building has served as a synagogue.

A 1966 event in Tompkins Square Park is considered the founding of the Hare Krishna religion in the United States. Groups of Krishna were a common sight in the neighborhood in the decades that followed.

The ultimate punk rock venue sadly closed in 2006.