Christopher Street, New York

These days, younger LGBTQ+ crowds may be busy brunching in Chelsea, bar-hopping in Hell’s Kitchen, or perfecting their irony levels somewhere in Brooklyn, but Christopher Street still beats as the symbolic heart of New York’s queer community. Long before rainbow capitalism, this was the turf of a bohemian scene that mixed creativity, rebellion, and more than a little sexual freedom.

Walk past the cafés and the leather shops, and you’ll arrive at the legendary Stonewall Inn—once Mafia-run, now proudly draped in rainbow flags and serving up karaoke instead of covert back-room dealings. This is where the 1969 Stonewall Riots erupted, those spontaneous, fiery clashes often called the most pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Across the street, you’ll find Christopher Park, a small gated triangle that somehow manages to squeeze in commemorative statues of four white-painted figures—a same-sex male couple and a same-sex female couple—striking poses since 1992, along with a couple of Civil War heroes who ended up sharing the space whether they planned to or not.

Keep heading down the street, and you’ll hit No. 121, home to the Lucille Lortel Theatre. This Off-Broadway gem has launched new voices, revived old masterpieces, and hosted more playwright drama than any rehearsal room ever should. Looking down at the sidewalk, you’ll spot engraved bronze stars carrying names like Eugene Ionesco and Edward Albee—indeed, even the pavement here has better theater credentials than most people’s résumés...

Christopher Street might no longer be the center of queer nightlife, but its history echoes through every storefront and star plaque you pass.