SELF-GUIDED TOUR: Bleecker Street Art Beat

A walk from New York’s East to West Village is like embarking on a pop culture journey through the heart of Manhattan’s vibrant art scene. On this artistic and cultural adventure, you’ll trace the footsteps of iconic musicians like Taylor Swift and Bob Dylan, as well as cultural revolutionaries like Sarah Jessica Parker from Sex and the City, who helped to shape this part of the city.

This walking tour starts on Astor Place Plaza, in front of the big, black Alamo Astor Place Cube. You’ll stroll down some of New York’s most popular streets while licensed NYC Tour Guide Dave King shows you culturally significant places hidden in plain sight. As you dart in and out of Bleecker Street, you’ll experience the dynamic evolution of pop culture through captivating stories, immersive sound effects, and evocative music. You’ll learn about the artistic movements that flourished in the villages, and the trailblazers who pushed creative boundaries.

Along the way, you’ll see Taylor Swift’s former Cornelia Street Residence, the exact spot where the cover of Freewheelin Bob Dylan was shot, and the former residence of Jean Michel Basquiat, the most famous African American painter to have ever lived. You’ll hear the story of 100-year-old wishbones hanging from the chandelier at the oldest bar in NYC, McSorley’s Old Ale House. You’ll also pass by Chumley’s Speakeasy, the place where the restaurant term “86” was born. The tour ends at a true New York burger bar, Corner Bistro, which also happens to be where Yoko Ono once waitressed!

On this 90-minute tour, you can:

• Take pictures outside the Friends building, and Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment from Sex and the City
• Discover the hidden home of Marvel’s Dr. Strange
• Absorb the nostalgia of modern rock & roll’s birthplace at CBGB’s
• Eat a cupcake in NYC’s most famous bakery, Magnolia Bakery and visit Cafe Reggio to see the first espresso machine in America’s first coffee shop 
• Find the Bust of Sylvette, a giant Picasso sculpture hidden among New York University’s campuses
• Sneak a peek at NYC’s most popular stand-up comedy venue, the Comedy Cellar
• Pop into the Chess Forum, the home-away-from-home of chess Grandmaster Bobby Fischer

So, if discovering the pulse of Bleecker Street sounds like your idea of fun, let me guide you. By the end of this walk, you’ll have a deeper understanding of its rich history and vibrant culture – and you might just find it’s your new favorite corner of Manhattan.