Greenwich Village Gargoyles, Grotesques and Mascarons, walking tour

Look up. Above the awnings and stoops of Greenwich Village, a hidden menagerie is watching. Gargoyles leer from cornices, mascarons peer from lintels, and carved beasts cling to the facades of townhouses, seminaries, and apartment buildings that most passersby never notice.

Join Marc Capatano for a two-hour walk through Greenwich Village's stone bestiary.

We’ll seek out the neighborhood’s most intriguing gargoyles, mascarons, monstrous creatures, and other strange architectural carvings — decorative flourishes that 19th- and early 20th-century builders tucked into their designs, playful as much as practical. Along the way, we’ll use these carvings as a lens into Greenwich Village architectural, cultural, and economic history, and in tracing their origins, learn something about our own imaginations too.

Marc Catapano is a Licensed NYC Sightseeing Guide, active member of the Guides Association of New York City (GANYC), and the proprietor behind Flowers in the Concrete Walking Tours. Born and raised in New York, Marc has spent years roaming the city’s streets, uncovering its secrets and sharing them with friends and visitors.

Marc’s career includes writing and editing for Interview Magazine and Starlog Press, producing for MTV, award-winning scriptwriting for Nickelodeon, and freelance work for Oxygen Media and Discovery Networks. He was Vice-President of video content for Steve Van Zandt’s Renegade Media and even had a spell as a stand-up comedian. Marc’s tours blend his creative talents with his passion for New York’s history and culture, offering a unique and engaging experience for all.