Before America had free speech, it had Thomas Paine: pamphleteer, provocateur, the sharpest pen behind two revolutions. He arrived in Greenwich Village broke and forgotten, boarding on Bleecker Street and dying on Grove Street in 1809 with only six mourners at his funeral. But his fire never went out. A century later, Masses radicals like John Reed, Louise Bryant, and Max Eastman faced prosecution for the same dangerous act Paine had practiced: printing what power didn't want to read. Decades later, the writers of the Village Voice, like Jack Newfield, Lester Bangs and Norman Mailer, picked up that same torch. Paine’s most celebrated quote – "These are the times that try men's souls” – has perhaps never been more apposite. Join Marc Catapano on this insightful and timely tour.

Starting location: Marie’s Crisis, 59 Grove Street, New York 10014

[image: Common Sense pamphlet title page, 1776 | Thomas Paine portrait by George Romney]

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.

Contact the host of Thomas Paine’s Greenwich Village, walking tour