City Spotlight:: Raise a Glass to Literary Greenwich Village
Kettle of Fish, although less acclaimed, was another popular Beat hangout. Established in 1950, the bar welcomed artists and writers, including Kerouac, Ginsberg and Dylan. The bar has been immortalized by a famous photograph of the inebriated Kerouac standing in front of its neon sign. Despite the Kettle of Fish's many incarnations, moving from MacDougal Street eventually to 59 Christopher Street, it still holds on to its literary, divey roots. Not only can one still find the famous Kerouac photograph, but the sign itself has been moved into the bar, allowing patrons to create their own Kerouac moment. Should a visit fall on a Sunday during football season, though, literary enthusiasts should expect a crowd of diehard Packer fans disrupting any attempts to channel their inner Kerouac.
Ellen Harvey is a freelance writer and editor who covers the latest technologies and strategies reshaping the publishing landscape. She previously served as the Senior Editor at Publishing Executive and Book Business.