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(Formerly
VILLAGE VENTURES NYC WALKING TOURS)
The best walking tours in the Big Apple.
Start
spreading the news! Be a part of it - New York, New York!
Discover the unique, lively, artistic and rich
history of New York City in intimate walking tours with licensed NYC guide Donna Marie Nowak! Donna is an
author, cartoonist, a licensed guide and a resident of New York City for over fifteen years. Delve into this treasure
trove of tales about one of the greatest cities in the world! We focus on the West Side of Manhattan (the Best Side)!
We are also willing to hand-craft a 6-hour tour for groups highlighting the sites you
want to see. See below for rates.
Our tours:
Greenwich Village - Little
Bohemia From Washington Square Arch, travel the narrow twisting streets
of the West Village into the former world of Henry James, Ruth (My Sister Eileen) McKenney, Edward Albee and Edna St. Vincent
Millay, to name but a few.
Hear tales
of colorful Village characters like Sonia the Cigarette Girl, Tiny Tim, and Doris the Dope in the avant garde days of tea
rooms, speakeasies, theatrical boarding houses and artists' garrets!
Visit the sites of: - The Bon Soire, a jumpin' joint where superstars were born;
- Minetta Lane, once known as "Little Africa";
- Stonewall
Inn where drag queens rioted...only doors away from the Lion's Head where Jessica Lange once waitressed;
- The Fat Black Pussycat Theatre, hangout of beat poets and hep cats;
- Sheridan Square, the magnet that attracted loose screws;
- Grove Court, a hidden cul-de-sac where the working-class lived and drank;
- "Haunted" Cherry Lane Theater
... and much, much more!
We'll be happy to point you in the direction of The Magnolia Bakery
afterwards -- the cupcake paradise made as famous as a hot disco by "Sex and the City." (Yes, Sarah Jessica
Parker and Matthew Broderick live in the Village, by the by, as do many other celebrities.)
Time: 11 a.m.
and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays - weekdays negotiable (For group tours outside of those time frames, please inquire.
Where possible, we will try to accommodate your schedule.) Please note there are no tours on Thanksgiving, the day after
Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas.
Tour runs approximately 2 1/2 hours
Grand
Dames of the Upper West Side
Discover the eccentric and fascinating histories of some of the most architecturally splendid
buildings in Manhattan. Begin at Columbus Circle and see why the West Side attracts so many movie stars with its
character, beauty and tremendous culture!
Highlights
include:
· History of Central Park;
· Tales from the Dakota, my personal favorite building
in New York City, this Gothic, elephantine architectural masterpiece the setting for “Rosemary’s Baby” and
the site where John Lennon was shot;
· The Ansonia with its rotund
turrets, once home of Igor Stravinsky and once housing an infamous gay bathhouse;
· The San Remo, former home of
Dustin Hoffman, Demi Moore, Tiger Woods and Steven Spielberg, to name a few;
· Lincoln Center, epicenter of
culture;
· The Majestic, once home to
Luciano crime family;
...and much, much more!)
Tour runs approximately 2 hours
What is the price
of the tour?
Adults - $25 (please always check website for discount coupons!) Combine two tours
for $40 per person.
What about six hour tours?
We will also do a six-hour tour
which would show you classic highlights of NYC (and then some some) including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building,
Grand Central Station, Macy's, Carnegie Hall, the Russian Tea Room, Central Park, etc. You can choose sites you'd
really like to see and we'll take you there. This will be a comprehensive tour without being debilitating.
You can see and enjoy the city without needing a vacation fron the vacation! Rates for those tours will be:
1-5 Guests: $300
6-9 Guests: $350
10-13 Guests:
$400
14-18 Guests: $500
19-25 Guests: $600
What kind of payment is
accepted?
Cash is accepted at the start of the tour. For six-hour tours, half the payment will be required
in advance when booking the tour.
Is tipping required?
Tipping is completely voluntary. Tour guides are in a service
industry, so tips are not required, but, should you wish to do so, your tips are always greatly appreciated.
What
is the cancellation policy?
We would greatly appreciate 24 hours notice. If more notice is possible,
even better! The same consideration will be given from our end.
Tours take place in rain or shine, but not in severe
thunderstorms, monsoons, earthquakes, or blizzards! Always wear comfortable walking shoes and carry water in the heat!
Please try to book in advance because tours fill up quickly. For special group tours outside of the given time
frame, please inquire. Thank you.
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