Blind Pig

Hudson Square Description

Blind Pig is located in the Hudson Square neighborhood of Manhattan. Hudson Square, like Nolita, is as much the creation of real estate branding as it is the actual rise of a new community. Bounded by the Hudson River (on the west), Morton Street (on the north), Canal Street (on the south) and Avenue of the Americas (on the east), Hudson Square is also known as West SoHo, the South Village, and occasionally, North Tribeca. However, the area is in fact unique enough to deserve its own moniker, which real estate folks have decided is Hudson Square.

Historically populated by publishers and printers of yesteryear, this area rapidly gave way to an eclectic mix of ad agencies, architects, video and filmmakers, software developers, new media and communication firms and other such creative arts industries. Media giants such as Clear Channel, Viacom and Miramax all have office space here. Hudson Square also features some of downtown's hipper nightclubs no doubt a result of the area's increasingly young, creative workforce.

Hudson Square is unique among neighborhoods in that a great deal of the land and buildings here are owned by one company, Trinity Real Estate, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trinity Church. Indeed, historic Trinity Church, founded in 1697, has always been one of New York City's largest landlords. The relationship between Trinity Church and Hudson Square dates to the early 18th century, when Queen Anne of England ceded a large tract of land in lower Manhattan to the parish. As the owner, leasing agent and manager of approximately six million square feet in 23 buildings in the Hudson Square area, Trinity has played, and will continue to play, a leading role in developing downtown Manhattan. Meanwhile, the neighborhood actively opposes construction of the Sanitation Department's 12-story garbage truck garage and salt shed at the west end of Spring Street.

If you find yourself getting hungry while strolling this real estate mecca, stop for a quick bite at the Art Institute of New York which exists as part of the institute's culinary school. There's also Pao, which features mainland Portuguese fare and a dining room straight out a Lisbon-inspired film noir.

Given that Hudson Square is home to so much commercial real estate development, it shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise that hotel options in the area are limited. The best option is the stylish Hotel Hugo, with the pricey Trump SoHo on the eastern boundary of the neighborhood for those who require expense as well as luxury. For the more budget-conscious, there's the Courtyard by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton. Neighboring SoHo and Tribeca provide plenty of accommodations as well, such as the luxurious Greenwich Hotel (which also features a spa) and the trendy Tribeca Grand Hotel if you're looking to stay nearby.