Friday: Old World in the East Village

Visit over 300 years of combined history at these iconic East Village venues.  

STOP 1: JOHN'S OF 12TH STREET

john's of 12th street

burning since 1937

Almost three decades after John's of 12th Street opened in 1908, a candle was lit in the back dining room. Sheltered from the winds of change sweeping over the landscape outside, the same candle continues to flicker, as waiters in white shirts and black bow ties hurry past the mountains of wax that grow larger with each night's service.

The menu at John's is just what you'd expect and want from an old room like this, running the gamut of red sauce staples and classic Italian American fare. However, it also contains a full page dedicated to vegan options, the only indication that you're dining in the 21st century. While urban herbivores will do just fine at John's, this is really a place where meat eaters with Cretaceous sized appetites can feast on heaping portions of parmigiana and pappardelle, the latter served with an incredible Tuscan ragu of beef and pork. Other notable dishes are the veal meatballs and the tender fried calamari with spicy tomato sauce. 

Pair all this with a bottle of wine and watch the dripping candle wax solidify your supper's place in John's illustrious history.  

STOP 2: VILLAGE EAST CINEMA

main theater of village east cinema

One of the last truly great rooms to watch a movie in New York, the main theater of Village East Cinema might make you want to leave the lights on during the show.

chandelier in the main auditorium

A sister cinema to the Angelika Film Center, Village East dates back to 1926, when it opened as the Yiddish Art Theater; the main auditorium still features a Star of David at the base of the grand chandelier high above the balcony seating. Screening both independent films and budget-busting blockbusters, this movie theater is an architectural and historical treasure, a great spot for a Friday night at the movies. 

STOP 3: VENIERO'S

veniero's cafe room

After the movie, make a stop at Veniero's, a cafe and Italian bakery dating back to 1894. With the recent closing of De Robertis Pasticceria, Veniero's has taken up the torch as the singular centenarian spot for Italian pastry in the East Village.

The menu is massive, which means that on any given night, a number of the desserts are hit or miss. Stick with the ricotta cheesecake or a selection of cookies and relax under the stained glass ceiling in the beautiful front dining room.

RECAP:

1. John's of 12th Street: Hundred+ year old Italian red sauce joint. Delicious food, huge portions. 
2. Village East Cinema: Old movie theater with a grand main auditorium featuring Moorish architecture and balcony seating.
3. Veniero's: Old-school Italian pasticceria dating back to 1894. Cheesecake and cannoli under stained glass.  

ESSENTIAL INFO:

-John's of 12th Street is located at 302 East 12th Street. Village East Cinema is located at 181-189 East 12th Street. Veniero's Pastry is located at 342 East 11th Street.

-Total Cost: About $75 per person for dinner and wine at John's, a movie ticket at Village East and dessert at Veniero's.

-John's accepts reservations by phone only and are relatively easy to secure for a Friday evening. 

-The portions at John's are seriously huge, but the kitchen will happily split them. A perfect order for two is a split entree to start and another for a main course. Plenty of bottles of red are available for under $40. 

-Before going, call ahead and ask which movie is screening in the main auditorium at Village East Cinema; it will usually be a new release or whatever is drawing the largest attendance.