St.Marks Place is definitely one of the most interesting streets in New York – and quite possibly the world. Without trying, St.Marks is weird, fun, vibrant, creepy, and exhilarating; and I imagine it was always this way.
However, Calhoun’s scene of anarchy, riots, organized crime, hippies, punks, drag queens, etc. during the 1950s-1970s is not so prevalent as it is today. Now, St.Marks is filled with bougie piercing shops, trendy food places like bubble tea and ice cream hot dogs, and the upgraded versions of goth shops (“Search and Destroy,” an edgy shop packed with used vintage punk-rock apparel & accessories, is probably the last element left of St.Marks that Calhoun discusses). Calhoun makes the area feel revolutionary – but is also good at not romanticizing the East Village. It’s also interesting to read about the dispute between who “belonged” in that area. I imagine those arguments don’t happen today ever, and the history of the area is slowly deteriorating as the years go by.
As someone who has hung out in St.Marks past a reasonable hour of the night, I can tell you that it is no longer as “wild” as Calhoun recalls. The area is mostly filled with 25-30 year olds, white, middle-upper class who are looking to go somewhere “different” or just be followers doing something cool.
It’s also quite crazy to read that a movie ticket was 16 cents – as opposed to $16 per ticket today.
