A Bit of the Ukraine in the East Village

One of the few absolutes about life, is that you never know what small event will change the rest your life forever.  This happened when the Tom Birchard, owner of the Ukrainian restaurant, Veselka, in the East Village met a girl forty years ago at a college fraternity party.  How does a young man from New Jersey, end up owning one of the most famous and authentic Ukrainian restaurants in New York?  By learning the recipes from the Ukrainian girl he met at the Rutgers University party so many years ago.

Veselka began as a combination newsstand, community center and a canteen in 1954, and was run by the girl’s father.  When her father died, Birchard took over the business and through the years it has gradually become a restaurant and a performance art space all in one.  Now Birchard has become, much to his surprise, and Honorary member of the Ukrainian-American society, a leader for his community and a patron of the world of performance art.  There are many incredible restaurants in Manhattan, and for many years Veselka has been serving not only wonderful dishes such as thick porridge called kutya, pierogies or potato dumplings, and various delectable dishes of root vegetables and pork…but has been serving up some of the finest and cutting edge performance art shows and poetry readings in the city.

This has become a counterculture hub, and many of the performers and patrons have been loyal to Birchard and his business for many, many years.  You may find yourself enjoying a production of “King Lear”, or you may find yourself experiencing a performance of “Honey Dance”, or a vaudeville show performed in Yiddish.  This is an eclectic meeting place for the multi-racial, and multi-cultural neighborhood that is the East Village. Food and fine entertainment, some of the best of the best New York has to offer is found in this little corner bistro.