Stuyvesant St, East Village

Stuyvesant Street is a tiny street in the East Village that was once the road that led up to the Stuyvesant Family's massive farm / palace. Peter Stuyvesant was the founding governor of New Amsterdam and was pretty important in the initiation of what is now New York City. He was, apparently, a pretty flagrant and sometimes mean man with a peg leg. He is said to haunt many places in the East Village including this street. People know it's him because they can hear the peg thump down on the cobble stone. Spooky!

Stuyvesant Street is said to be the only street in New York that truly runs east to west which is funny because it looks way off. It is the only street on the east side that wasn't changed when the grid system took over.

There's a great bookstore on the corner of Stuy and 3rd called St. Marks Books. This is my second favorite bookstore in the city (next to Strand). It's much smaller and they have great odd sections that are pretty comprehensive -- like occult and anarchy shelves all to themselves. A few doors down, at 8 Stuy, there is a hidden bar called Angel's Share. It has great drinks and it's quite cozy. And, it is a pretty well kept secret so no one really worries about tourists at this haunt. There are a lot of Japanese restaurants on this street and I have no idea why. There are like four on one tiny street. Directly across the street is the George Hecht Garden. It is where the Stuy farm used to be and it's supposed to be some sort of homage to that. It doesn't quite do a farm justice though.

The block between 9th and 10th is beautiful and has quite a history. The famous Stuyvesant- Fish house was a gift from Peter's grandson to his daughter when she married Nicholas Fish. Fish was a Revolutionary War hero and great friends with Alexander Hamilton. Nick and Elizabeth named their son Hamilton Fish in honor of their deceased friend. Hamilton Fish became governor of NY and a US senator. His lineage (all Hamilton Fish's) were all in the US House of Reps or Senate. . . all the way up to WWII. The house is now the place where the Cooper Union Presidents live. It is really beautiful. Directly across the street is another Stuyvesant House. It dates back to 1795 and there are few houses that have remained from that early on.

Stuy Street ends at St Marks church. This church used to be the private place of worship for the Stuy family making it the oldest continual church in New York. The Stuy family is all burined here in crypts. It is one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen.