6. Cookin’ Up Something Good in the West Village

Photo by Jeff Rothstein

The West Village of the 1970s included many delicious restaurants and trendy bars, with a low-key vibe not as readily available in the polished neighborhood it is today. In this photo, taken by Rothstein on Bleecker Street in 1979, restaurant owners served more than just food, but also comedy. Among the many comedy clubs, these West Village restaurants were often smaller, family-owned businesses which offered “some great places to eat and drink,” according to Rothstein. This particular photograph is the inspiration for the title of Rothstein’s book, Today’s Special: New York City Images 1969-2006, and showcases disappearing individuality and comedy that categorized New York neighborhoods at this time.

Neighboring the location of this picture several classic New York restaurants: O’Henry’s Steak House, which featured real old-school with sawdust on the floor; La Groceria, a grocery store that sold affordable Italian food; and The English Pub, where Rothstein used to drink Watney’s Ale. Many of the businesses which surrounded this location still are operating today, with many others converted into new restaurants, stores, and apartments.