Union Sq East, NoHo

Union Square has always been a big gathering spot, but now the gatherings are a little bit different. 250,000 people gathered here to support the Union in the Civil War, the Shirtwaist Factory Fire Funeral March was here and the vigil for the World Trade Center took place in Union Square. But, most days, it's filled with tourists, busy commuters and punk kids on skateboards. It's ridiculously crowded all the time and not in a good way. The east side is much smoother as far as crowds but it's still not great. But, there is, at least, some relief from the farmer's market patrons that come to dead stops out of nowhere on the west side.
The building on the corner of 17th and Union Square East has a pretty rich history considering that it's not that old. It was the final headquarters of the infamous Tammany Hall -- the corrupt political club that used immigrants (predominantly Irish) to essentially take over New York. It is also the site of where William Lloyd Garrison died. It now houses the New York Film academy. I feel like a more interesting establishment should be in a place like that, but I can't really think of what would be better than a film school offhand. And, considering the building is next door to less than glamorous businesses like Starbucks and a Deli, it's suiting enough. I think there's also a yogurt place on this block, but I never really utilize Union Square East so I'm not sure if it's still there.
There's a really out of place Greek looking building the next block down. There's a mishmosh of random little businesses wedged in next to this really large, Greek temple thingy and, apparently, it's a theatre but neither I nor anyone I know has been to see a show there.
The next block down houses a massive apartment structure with luxury units. I would not want to live in a luxury building in this area not to mention one as unsightly as this one. There's a sort of sad grocery store and an ambulatory care center on the same block. Can you imagine shelling out a buttload of money to live in a massively crowded area next to a bunch of ambulances and sad food shoppers? No thank you.