The New York City Greenwich Village LGBTQ+ Food and History Tour is Greg Walks NYC newest tour launching June 2021 Pride Month! This tour explores some of the important LGBTQ+ historical landmarks in New York City’s Greenwich Village, with neighborhood tastings. You’ll sample a classic New York City Black and White cookie, an Italian Panzone from Zazzy’s, Mighty Quinn’s Burnt Meat Ends, a rainbow or classic lemon Italian ice, A Salt and Battery battered beets, Fresh mozzarella and prosciutto panino, a TUE Thai Curry Puff, and a Patisserie Claude fresh-baked pan au chocolate.
We begin at the Church of The Village, site of the first PFLAG meeting, and transgender trail blazer, Marcia P. (Pay it no mind) Johnson’s funeral. We visit the open-air New York City AIDS Memorial, which honors the 100,000+ New Yorkers who have died of AIDS and acknowledges caregivers and activists. We see the former Women’s House of Detention, where Holly Woodlawn, a famous transgender woman, was imprisoned and then memorialized in the 1972 Lou Reed song, “Walk on the Wild Side.” We stop at the former Cafe Society location. Here, famous Gay and Lesbian Black singers: Billie Holiday, Sr. Rosetta Tharpe, and Bayard Rustin, (who planned Dr. King’s 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom), performed here. Lastly, we walk to the Stonewall National Monument, home of the 1969 Stonewall uprising for an in-depth review look at the start of the LGBTQ+ Civil Rights movement.
Before the 1969 Stonewall uprising, almost everything about living as an out LGBTQ+ person was illegal. The American Psychiatric Association deemed homosexuality an untreatable mental illness. New York City’s laws against homosexual activities were very, very harsh. The Stonewall Uprising of June 28, 1969, is a milestone in the quest for LGBTQ civil rights and started this movement.
This neighborhood in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village comes alive with: food, history and fun. Walk in the footsteps of the early LGBTQ+ civil rights movement pioneers. Eat, Tour, and Explore on with The New York City Greenwich Village LGBTQ+ History and Food Tour. It is a journey of hope and food. Your tummy and your heart will thank you.
The Bites:
• A classic Black & White cookie
• Mighty Quinn’s burnt meat ends
• A rainbow Italian ice
• A Sicilian mozzarella prosciutto panino
• A Salt and Battery battered fried beets
• A TUE Thai curry puff
• A Patisserie Claude Pan du Chocolat
The Sites:
• The Church of the Village, site of the first PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbian And Gays).
• The AIDS Memorial
• The Women’s House of Detention at Jefferson Market
• Site of the former Cafe Society where LGBTQ+ Black artists Billie Holiday, Sr. Rosetta Tharpe, and Bayard Rustin, who planned the 1963 March on Washington, performed.
• Julius Bar, site of the pre-Stonewall Riots Sip In
• The Stonewall National Monument Park and Bar
Samples and sites are subject to availability. All tours require three people to operate and if not will, be rescheduled.
A portion of this tour’s proceeds are proudly donated to the Ali Forney Center, a New York City shelter for LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
