Jane St, West Village

Jane Street is great. And, yeah, I'm slightly partial to just about any street in the West Village. But, it's one of my favorite streets. It's quaint, tree-lined, has beautiful buildings and a ton to do. It isn't a very big street but it packs a lot of punch. Jane starts at the West Side Highway. Right at the corner of Jane and West is the Jane Hotel. It was built in 1908 as a place for seamen visiting New York. All of the surviving crew from the Titanic was taken here in 1912 which is pretty cool. It's now an actual hotel that is better known for its trendy night haunt and attached restaurant. It's a shame that the Jane is so trendy because it is so cool. It looks very much like it's still the early 20th century in there. And, the ballroom section is incredible. You walk into that room and immediately feel like you've been transported to a time when you should be wearing driving gloves and nylons. You get snapped out of it pretty quickly when you see that it's punk hipsters ordering bottle service, though. Cafe Gitane, the restaurant is just ok. People swear by that place but I think the food is small and pretentious and the crowd thinks they're way too cool. The restaurant is a Soho kind of place to me.
The next block east is lined with incredibly old and beautiful buildings. They're very expensive and all reminiscent of the old New York we read about. Either 81 or 82 (historians debate this) Jane street is the address that Alexander Hamilton was taken when he was shot by Aaron Burr. The corner of Jane and Greenwich is a factory building from the 1800's that was converted into beautiful loft residences. This is where Phillip Seymour Hoffman lives. A bunch of writers, actors and artists who do quite well for themselves live on this block and the next block east (between Greenwich and Hudson) so artist sighting is pretty prolific in these parts. There's a really good and very old Italian restaurant on the corner. It's quite small and cozy.
The corner of Jane and 8th houses two of my favorite places in New York city. Tavern on Jane is great bar. I go here all the time and I'm never disappointed. It is so cozy and lovely and it's never too crowded. They also have great bar food. Across the street is my favorite restaurant in New York: Dell 'Anima. This place has unreal food. The octopus is a must. It is always packed though so you kind of have to make a reservation.
The corner of Jane and West 4th houses The Corner Bistro. It has been around since 1870 and serving drinks non--stop. It fronted as a flower shop during prohibition and it still serves the cheap and fun McSorley's ale. It has, in my opinion, the best burger in the city. It's like dying a lovely death eating one of those things.
Jane ends at Greenwich Avenue but that's more in New York greatness in a few blocks than some entire Avenues have. Two big thumbs up.