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[title]RECOMMENDED: See the full East Village NYC guide
Noon
Start your journey through the neighborhood by picking up breakfast from the small counter at Abrao(86 E 7th St between First and Second Aves, abraconyc.com), where an espresso ($2) and a Lil' Eggie ($3.50)—a hard-boiled egg on brioche, topped with seasonal items like pesto or pickles—will fill you up. There's not much room to sit, so enjoy your meal on a bench at the Creative Little Garden(E 6th St between Aves A and B, creativelittlegarden.org).
1pm
Located on the second floor of a nondescript building, the gallery A Gathering of the Tribes(285 E 3rd St between Aves C and D, second floor; www.tribes.org; free) has showcased eclectic visual and performance art for more than 20 years. Peep the pieces in its current exhibit, "Paper View" (through Sat 24; free). The show features work by Korean sculptor Gahae Park, who carves tiny windows into layers of sparsely colored paper. East Village artist Jeffrey Cyphers Wright's collages, which take inspiration from graffiti and children's cartoons, are also on view.
2pm
Keep an eye out for colorful street art (such as the goofy cat-filled Bad Pussies mural on East 3rd Street near Avenue B) as you walk to Tompkins Square Park(Ave A to Ave B between 7th and 10th Sts) to rest your feet. Afterward, go spelunking for oddities at Archangel Antiques(334 E 9th St between First and Second Aves; 212-260-9313, archangelantiques.com), which is stuffed with vintage accessories (such as cufflinks, buttons and eyeglasses), old photographs and other ephemera.
3pm
Tucked behind a wrought-iron gate on Second Avenue (next to a funeral home—go figure), New York Marble Cemetery(41 Second Ave between 2nd and 3rd Sts, marblecemetery.org) offers a pocket of tranquility in the middle of a city block. Built as the first public resting place for New Yorkers, the site is typically closed to the public; however, you can take a peek on Sun 25 (noon--4pm; free), during one of its monthly open sessions. There are no headstones, so you can sit and stretch your legs for a bit.
5pm
Stop for an early dinner at Oaxaca Taqueria(16 Extra Pl between Bowery and Second Ave; 212-677-3340, oaxacatacos.com), the latest branch of the Brooklyn minichain. Hidden at the end of an alley, the BYOB restaurant is well worth a detour. Try the spicy braised carnitas tacos ($3.25) or sample one of the rotating specials (add $1), such as a Korean steak taco topped with apple-mango slaw and barbecue sauce.
6pm
Get a taste of the area's ever-expanding cocktail scene at Amor y Amargo(443 E 6th St between First Ave and Ave A, amoryamargo.com). The bar's menu is focused on amari and other bitters. Try the Franaise Four-Play ($12), a mix of cognac, Lillet blanc, Chartreuse, Bonal Gentiane-Quina (a gentian- and quinine-based digestif) and Hellfire Habanero Shrub—a syrup infused with the spicy pepper. Make it a crawl and pop into The Beagle(162 Ave A between 10th and 11th Sts, thebeaglenyc.com) for cocktails like the Sherry Cobbler (a mix of sherry, berries and lemon juice; $13).
9pm
Head toward Third Avenue along Stuyvesant Street—even in the dark, the tiny block is one of Manhattan's prettiest, lined with 19th-century homes designed by architect James Renwick Jr. End your day by supporting St. Mark's Bookshop(31 Third Ave between St. Marks Pl and 9th St; 212-260-7853, stmarksbookshop.com), a neighborhood staple that's in danger of closing. Scope out racks of indie zines or pick up one of the shop's best-sellers before heading home—Patti Smith's Just Kids (Ecco, $16), which chronicles the legendary performer's early years in New York City, would be an appropriate choice.
Why I love the East Village
Steve Cannon
Director, A Gathering of the Tribes
"Nuyorican Poets Cafe(236 E 3rd St between Aves B and C, nuyorican.org) is an asset to the community. It's a multicultural space, and they have a diverse list of events."
Liz Quijada
Chef and co-owner, Abrao
"Pylos(128 E 7th St between First Ave and Ave A, 212-473-0220) was one of the first restaurants to move onto 7th Street. [It has] incredible meze plates. It's a restaurant that makes you forget you're in New York, but that you could only find here as well."
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