Bob Dylan’s Greenwich Village

See where Bob Dylan lived, performed and hung out in New York

In January of 1961, Bob Dylan arrived in Greenwich Village with one goal in mind: to become a successful folk singer. And within one year, he was well on the way to achieving that goal. The people and culture of the Village in the early ‘60s had a profound and lasting impact on Dylan, and through him, on the entire world.

On this tour, we will visit the venues and clubs where Dylan played and launched his career. We will talk about the people who befriended him, gave him a couch to sleep on, and supported him in his early shows.

So come along with us as we walk the legendary streets of New York City’s Greenwich Village, the streets that called to a young man from Hibbing, Minnesota.

Tour highlights will include:

• The former home of Gerde’s Folk City, where Bob played his first gig advertised in The Village Voice, the bible of New York City music.  This is the place where Robert Shelton of The New York Times wrote the glowing review that launched Dylan’s career.
• The Bitter End, as we walk Bleecker and MacDougal Streets
• The Village Gate, where it is said he wrote “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” on the typewriter of the man who would become the master of ceremonies for the Woodstock festival.
• The Fat Black Pussycat Café, where he allegedly wrote “Blowin’ in the Wind” in 20 minutes on a yellow legal pad
• Cafe Wha? where Bob played harmonica for a dollar a day
• The Gaslight Café, with its cozy atmosphere, where the famous bootleg of Dylan’s early work was recorded
• The Hotel Earle (now the Washington Square Hotel), the “crummy hotel on Washington Square”, where Bob and Joan Biaz were known to have stayed in room 305. 
• No story about Bob is complete without a visit to the former home of Terri Thal and Dave Van Ronk, where he slept on their couch.  Across the street from them lived Robert Shelton, the New York Times reporter who helped launch Bob’s career.  
• We’ll end up at the former home of Bob and his first girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, where on a cold February day the photographers from Columbia Records suggested they go outside and take the famous photo of the “Freewheelin” album cover.

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A review on Google for Ann:

“My group very much enjoyed the “Bob Dylan’s Greenwich Village” tour. Our tour guide, Ann, was extremely knowledgeable and had a personal connection to add. The tour was much than Bob Dylan, however. It was information regarding the entire Greenwich Village music experience, including info from Bruce Springsteen to Jimmy Hendrix to Taylor Swift. My group’s ages ranged from 30 to 65 and we all thought the tour was fascinating. Thanks, Ann, and thanks Bowery Boys!”

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The Tour

This tour walks around Greenwich Village. It will meet in front of Hebrew Union College (1 West 4th St) and ends at 161 West 4th Street. We will send you exact meetup instructions after you sign up.

Duration

2 hours and 2 miles

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Please contact us to set up a private tour!

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Ages

This tour is best suited for ages 12+

Guides

Prep for the tour by listening to Bowery Boys episodes on “Bob Dylan’s Greenwich Village.”