THE BIRDHOUSES OF GROVE STREET
Richard Eric Weigle, the president of the Grove Street Block Association, continually looks for ways to improve the appearance and quality of life on Grove Street. He works with the NYPD’s Sixth Precinct to lower crime, as well as with local businesses and residents to beautify the street in every way we can. One night, he told me he had a dream that Grove Street became known not only for its historical, quaint houses and tree-lined blocks, but also as the street with the beautiful birdhouses! He and his husband, Michael Anastasio, already had a small collection of birdhouses, but after his dream, friends from Amsterdam and around the country started donating more birdhouses to turn his vision into a reality. More than a dozen birdhouses strategically hung on Grove Street add a homey, almost rural vibe to our block. During bleak New York City winters, their red birdhouses add a pop of joy and color to our world. And all kinds of birds are welcome—as are people of all races, religions, and sexual orientations—symbolizing the tolerant, welcoming vibe that has always been our Greenwich Village.
BEDFORD STREET, A.K.A. LARRY SELMAN WAY
For 50 years, until his passing in 2013, Bedford Street was the home of disabled neighbor and friend, Larry Selman. Mentally challenged, yet living independently, since 1978 Larry spent his days selflessly collecting money for multiple charities and selling raffle tickets for the Bedford Barrow Commerce Block Association. He was an altruistic activist whose limitations were surpassed by his grand spirit. He was a fixture in the neighborhood and a friend of Little Owl. In her Academy Award–nominated short documentary film, The Collector of Bedford Street, director Alice Elliott tells the story of how Larry’s compassionate neighbors came to his aid when he was faced with eviction. In 2013, a street sign with the honorific Larry Selman Way was bestowed on Bedford Street to commemorate his place in our neighborhood. He was one of many folks on our block who inspired the best in us. A neighborhood joint isn’t there to just feed your belly—it should also feed your spirit. And with Little Owl, I wanted to celebrate relationships—yours and ours—and treat people well with this in mind. It’s not just hospitable, it’s human.
