Who is stealing the 'the' from the East Village?

Outside the Mars Bar from 2009 

Is it "the East Village" or just "East Village"? 

That's the question posed in a New York Times piece examining a small but increasingly noticeable shift in how New Yorkers talk about neighborhood names. The article centers on the growing tendency — especially among younger New Yorkers and newcomers — to drop the definite article, saying "East Village" instead of "the East Village" (and "West Village" instead of "the West Village"). 

The trend has sparked spirited debate online, with longtime residents arguing that omitting "the" just sounds wrong. The story cites New York City walking tour guide Nicky Shapiro, whose TikTok video urging people to "hold onto their articles" drew hundreds of comments. 

Some readers blamed social media and abbreviated speech, while others said dropping "the" is simply more efficient. 

The Times also notes that neighborhood signs and maps typically omit articles for space, which may contribute to the confusion, and points to other naming debates, from "the Bronx" versus "Bronx" to the use of "L.E.S." for the Lower East Side. 

As for us? We'll be over here in the East Village.