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Manhattan's "street grid"


Via Garibaldi 8

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They way I see it, all of that died as a result of the evolution of culture in the late 90's and early 00's (if you can call it that) and the "maturing" of the previous generation. Later on, the influx of the "new" generation greatly affected culture by advocating and accepting a not only a homogenous environment and culture, but also a homegenous lifestyle.

 

 

I likely read to much into your posts so sorry if I completely missed your point. And if it seems like I'm talking out of my ass I apologize for that to, as I'm sick in bed and delirious as hell.

 

Good point the subculture is more homogeneous today but I'm not sure that is a good thing however IMHO. There was much more love and creativity, positive energy back then. Now it's more stilted. People are not about being original anymore, it's more about blindly following trends. (i.e. hipster trends and subculture)

 

The fact that the NY sub-culture was actually much more heterogeneous back then in the 90's then it is now is what I'm trying to say I think. That's why I miss it.

 

Fine then. Keep everything confined to your home. :ph34r:

 

 

Lol.

 

Did I tell you? One time I went in with my GF into what we thought was a bar in the village recently looking for a drink and coffee. Then we saw what was panties and bras decorating the walls. Then there was the bartender - she was in a maid uniform. Then after that, two more girls in maid uniforms and heels approached us. All I wanted was a drink. I was stunned, that was when my girl dragged me by the shirt out of the bar.

 

It was only then I realized it was a whore house, not a damn bar! .... ohhh did I get a mouthful from her. lol. Yep that's Manhattan for you.

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I don't understand people's fascination with the sex-filled Times Square of the 80s, and I just don't get this "it's less heterogenuous now than back then". All that was there were sex-shops and crap like that. That's as homogenuous as it gets. That so-called "positive, creative and distinct" vibe of the 1980s was what made New York so crappy. And people should be happy it's not the drug-ridden, sex-shop filled, and seedy Times Square that it was.  Who gives a damn if it's mainly tourists, or if its just some vanilla tourist attraction now. That's a whole lot better than it was. The fact that people look foward to visiting it, and not give it a scared look is a general sign of how good New York has become.

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I don't understand people's fascination with the sex-filled Times Square of the 80s, and I just don't get this "it's less heterogenuous now than back then". All that was there were sex-shops and crap like that. That's as homogenuous as it gets. That so-called "positive, creative and distinct" vibe of the 1980s was what made New York so crappy. And people should be happy it's not the drug-ridden, sex-shop filled, and seedy Times Square that it was. Who gives a damn if it's mainly tourists, or if its just some vanilla tourist attraction now. That's a whole lot better than it was. The fact that people look foward to visiting it, and not give it a scared look is a general sign of how good New York has become.

 

 

Oh man.

 

First: We were tallking about the 90's, not the 80's. Second: You are still missing the point. The problems with the hookers invading the streets and the sex shops lining 8th Ave is besides the point! I am equally disgusted by that scene myself. I actually made my point in detail in another discussion, for my stand against the wickedness of pornography and the sex trade in another thread. the sex trade is a violation of fundamental human rights and young girls are the victims of it. Should I link it? (That's another story).

 

Stop sidetracking my points with that and throwing words in my mouth please! I'm not going to repeat myself.

 

My point is that in my opinion, there was a much more energetic sub-culture during the 1990's led by retro 70's style, the house music club and culture phenomonon, and the fact that the subculture provided for more originality. Yes more heterogeneous! I lived it as a teen in HS all in it. I don't know about some of the others here. Hey dude, it was what happenned then that paved the way for the homogeneous society we have today up to 2013! I guess Turbo nailed it, the way NY subculture evolved, it was progressive.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nf6I35i8yk

 

This is a pretty good breakdown of how the house music club subculture and movement developed starting in Chicago then in New York City right in Manhattan then the outer boros (It took off in 1989 pretty much in NYC and exploded into mainstream culture in the 90's. The subculture is coming back right now in 2013 as a retro vibe). Lots of classics and lots of breakdancing in the video with commentary for those who never lived it. What happenned in the Village, Hell's Kitchen, SoHo, Union Square, etc was instrumental in how it came to be. It affected permanantly how our subculture is today as we are discussing.

 

So that's what I mean by the comments as far as why I missed how Greenwich Village, SoHo, etc. USED to be. Exactly that!

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Good point the subculture is more homogeneous today but I'm not sure that is a good thing however IMHO. There was much more love and creativity, positive energy back then. Now it's more stilted. People are not about being original anymore, it's more about blindly following trends. (i.e. hipster trends and subculture)

 

The fact that the NY sub-culture was actually much more heterogeneous back then in the 90's then it is now is what I'm trying to say I think. That's why I miss it.

Completely agreed on all point. Especially the statement I bolded.

 

 

Lol.

 

Did I tell you? One time I went in with my GF into what we thought was a bar in the village recently looking for a drink and coffee. Then we saw what was panties and bras decorating the walls. Then there was the bartender - she was in a maid uniform. Then after that, two more girls in maid uniforms and heels approached us. All I wanted was a drink. I was stunned, that was when my girl dragged me by the shirt out of the bar.

 

It was only then I realized it was a whore house, not a damn bar! .... ohhh did I get a mouthful from her. lol. Yep that's Manhattan for you.

Damn. Sorry to hear. Must have been very awkward with your girl being with you and all.

 

 

I don't understand people's fascination with the sex-filled Times Square of the 80s, and I just don't get this "it's less heterogenuous now than back then". All that was there were sex-shops and crap like that. That's as homogenuous as it gets. That so-called "positive, creative and distinct" vibe of the 1980s was what made New York so crappy. And people should be happy it's not the drug-ridden, sex-shop filled, and seedy Times Square that it was.  Who gives a damn if it's mainly tourists, or if its just some vanilla tourist attraction now. That's a whole lot better than it was. The fact that people look foward to visiting it, and not give it a scared look is a general sign of how good New York has become.

To be quite honest, I don't really agree with your statement, but I won't be a dick and dislike your post.

 

There was some variety in Times Square and other areas, such as clubs and other venues. And what you define as crappy is just opinion. I see it as a cultural enlightenment like no other, that was the foundation of NYC today as we know it.

 

 

Oh man.

 

First: We were tallking about the 90's, not the 80's. Second: You are still missing the point. The problems with the hookers invading the streets and the sex shops lining 8th Ave is besides the point! I am equally disgusted by that scene myself. I actually made my point in detail in another discussion, for my stand against the wickedness of pornography and the sex trade in another thread. the sex trade is a violation of fundamental human rights and young girls are the victims of it. Should I link it? (That's another story).

 

Stop sidetracking my points with that and throwing words in my mouth please! I'm not going to repeat myself.

We all know that the prostitution and the sex shoppes and all of that was something not to be proud of. Let us move on from that.

 

 

My point is that in my opinion, there was a much more energetic sub-culture during the 1990's led by retro 70's style, the house music club and culture phenomonon, and the fact that the subculture provided for more originality. Yes more heterogeneous! I lived it as a teen in HS all in it. I don't know about some of the others here. Hey dude, it was what happenned then that paved the way for the homogeneous society we have today up to 2013! I guess Turbo nailed it, the way NY subculture evolved, it was progressive.

And that progressive movement isn't nessacarily good either. No originality, no energy, nothing. In comparison to now, the 90's seem much more advanced in regard to how much as a society we accomplished.

 

 

This is a pretty good breakdown of how the house music club subculture and movement developed starting in Chicago then in New York City right in Manhattan then the outer boros (It took off in 1989 pretty much in NYC and exploded into mainstream culture in the 90's. The subculture is coming back right now in 2013 as a retro vibe). Lots of classics and lots of breakdancing in the video with commentary for those who never lived it. What happenned in the Village, Hell's Kitchen, SoHo, Union Square, etc was instrumental in how it came to be. It affected permanantly how our subculture is today as we are discussing.

 

So that's what I mean by the comments as far as why I missed how Greenwich Village, SoHo, etc. USED to be. Exactly that!

Nice summarization.

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The street fairs, the vintage shops, all the times smoking weed in Washington Square Park, I miss all of that.

 

Lol, I'm here every day, I think you're coming at the wrong times or with the wrong people...don't get me wrong, it's changing, but I still get asked by the local dealer every time I walk through the park. Nights in WSP are basically what it used to be during the day in the 90s -- which honestly is fine by me, bring your kids during the day, let night people like me go there when it's chill. As for the sex shops, still plenty of those on 6th! Those street fairs are a total pain the ass though, I wish those would die already...

 

The Village these days is definitely insanely gentrified both in terms of real estate value and the vibe of the neighborhood. Probably a few blocks that still haven't changed though: St. Marks's is just like it always was, 8th St. from 5th to 6th is the same, Christopher street is the same, and 6th basically from 8th to Bleecker is just as wild as it always was (specially late at night). People love to b!tch about how the character is as all gone, and to a degree, they're right, but there're definitely some pockets of the Village that are unchanged, and the LES still has pretty much all of its character (even if rent is going through the roof).

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Lol, I'm here every day, I think you're coming at the wrong times or with the wrong people...don't get me wrong, it's changing, but I still get asked by the local dealer every time I walk through the park. Nights in WSP are basically what it used to be during the day in the 90s -- which honestly is fine by me, bring your kids during the day, let night people like me go there when it's chill. As for the sex shops, still plenty of those on 6th! Those street fairs are a total pain the ass though, I wish those would die already...

 

The Village these days is definitely insanely gentrified both in terms of real estate value and the vibe of the neighborhood. Probably a few blocks that still haven't changed though: St. Marks's is just like it always was, 8th St. from 5th to 6th is the same, Christopher street is the same, and 6th basically from 8th to Bleecker is just as wild as it always was (specially late at night). People love to b!tch about how the character is as all gone, and to a degree, they're right, but there're definitely some pockets of the Village that are unchanged, and the LES still has pretty much all of its character (even if rent is going through the roof).

Nah, St. Mark's isn't what it used to be... Look at the friggin' shops and eateries there... Wayy more trendier and chic these days.  During the 90's it was more grungier if you will.

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Nah, St. Mark's isn't what it used to be... Look at the friggin' shops and eateries there... Wayy more trendier and chic these days.  During the 90's it was more grungier if you will.

 

Eh, walk around after even 9-10ish and it's a lot like it always was... I'll give you during the day though, lotsa tourists going there.

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Eh, walk around after even 9-10ish and it's a lot like it always was... I'll give you during the day though, lotsa tourists going there.

Even tourists down there now??? Ugh... Christ... There's like nowhere for us New Yorkers to friggin' go without them there!!  <_<  There was a cool bar on St. Marks that I used to go to for beers and grub when I would teach my Italian classes with a few  of my students (don't worry they were grown ups and a few years older than me  :lol:)... Such a cool place with great rock music.  That place closed and was replaced by some friggin' sushi joint and if I recall there's like at least two of them on the block now.  Like how many sushi places do they need on one block...    <_<

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  • 5 years later...
On 1/19/2013 at 8:14 AM, Threxx said:

The avenue are not evenly spaced, you can tell this by looking at any map, it's unclear why it was done like that... maybe because of Central Park?

Central Park knocks out Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue between 59th and 110th Streets. The East side might seem longer because of Madison, Lexington, York, East End and Pleasant Avenues.

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