A Walking Tour of the Village

Start your walk on MacDougal Street adjacent to Washington Square Park, where you'll be delighted and amazed to find a place to park that won't be marauded by the Gay Pride parade the very next day. Hang a quick right on West 4th Street where tourists flock to check out live jazz at the Blue Note, but SJBlog walking tourists instead admire the College Laundromat, where SJB used to do her laundry.

Cross 6th Avenue and head down Bleecker Street, stopping at Bleecker Street Records, where, if you venture down to the basement, you'll find a mint condition Scott Baio solo album, packed with hits, and back upstairs you'll have the option of dropping $399 for a rare Charles Manson record (serious inquiries only).

Take a moment to jog over to Bedford Avenue, where you'll wander up and down the street a few times looking for Chumley's, the storied Village speakeasy, before realizing that the it's closed, and may even be in the process of being torn down. A moment of silence for Chumley's.

Back on Bleecker Street, you'll have a burning desire for a Magnolia Bakery cupcake, but, then again, so will everyone on the Sex and the City bus tour and the Cronic-les of Narnia nerdfest, so you'll shake your fist at the hoards in line and move on.

Still running low on blood sugar, why don't you step into an Italian pastry shop and order a cannoli and a cold beverage? When the crazy dude at the table next to you asks "What time is the Italian fire drill?" just ignore him.

You don't actually remember where that Italian pastry shop was, or what the name of it was, but one place you do remember the name of is The Grey Dog Cafe, just a block or two away on Carmine Street. If you're a fan of real maple syrup, this is the place for you. Back when SJB frequented the Grey Dog, dogs were still allowed inside, but nowadays it's the perfect spot to discuss any canine companion you might be fond of.

If you're staying at the Minetta Street Suites, you could stop by and drop off your shopping bags. But if you don't feel like tackling the 4th floor walk up, better to just lug 'em along. Still, those clouds probably look a little ominous by now, so how about a quick beer at one of the many watering holes along MacDougal Street? Try to find one without a view of a tattoo parlor, go on, I dare you. What's this season's must-have tattoo? It could be a forearm full of stars, or it could be a robot under an apple tree. A few more drinks, and you could be a hip New Yorker with a tattoo, too!

Your walking tour is drawing to a close, but not before you meander back up MacDougal, making sure the car is still there, and hang a left on Washington Place. Stop and admire the plaques in honor of John Philip Sousa, Willa Cather and Richard Wright, all of whom lived on this street. The plaque for SJB must still be in the works, though, so you'll have to pause for a moment in front of the heap of garbage at 78B and just imagine a plaque.