Lady Gaga and New York: glam, rock and activism

An Uptown Private Education

• Stefani Joanne Germanotta was born on March 28, 1986, in the affluent Upper East Side, north of Manhattan. Stop by this neighborhood during a visit to Central Park. The future Lady Gaga grew up on the other side of the park, in the Upper West Side, in an Italian Catholic family. She attended Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private Catholic school at 1 East 91st Street.
• Food is central to the Italian-American experience in New York, and Lady Gaga’s childhood was no exception. A good Italian meal shared around the family table remains the best way to bring everyone together. Visit Joanne, the Italian restaurant run by her parents and named after the singer’s middle name. Located at 70 West 68th Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, it’s a pilgrimage for any true fan.

Greenwich Village: Lady Gaga’s Classical Beginnings

• Greenwich Village is a hub for New York University students and the cultural birthplace of artistic liberation in the late 1950s. The neighborhood saw the rise of the Beat Generation, led by Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg.
• Before becoming Lady Gaga, Stefani Germanotta spent two years at the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University’s arts program. The school sits just steps from Washington Square Park.
• Greenwich Village is filled with bars where talented artists perform. The Bitter End is one of them—where Lady Gaga took the stage between 2005 and 2007. The bar still operates today, and you can catch rising stars performing there.
• Another Greenwich Village landmark is the former Cornelia Street Café at 29 Cornelia Street. Lady Gaga worked here as a server to earn money while writers and musicians showcased their work. The café closed in 2019 after 41 years in business.

Bad Romance in the Underground Bars of the Lower East Side

• Diving into the electro-pop scene, Lady Gaga left her New York University dorm for an apartment in the Lower East Side. She moved into a rent-stabilized apartment at 176 Stanton Street and lived there for five years. True Lady Gaga fans can see photos of her apartment during our neighborhood walking tour.
• Stop by Welcome to the Johnsons at 123 Rivington Street for a drink. Lady Gaga dated one of the bartenders, Luc Carl, for six years. A musician himself, this bad boy inspired several songs, including “Paparazzi” and “Heavy Metal Lover”. The now-closed St. Jerome’s Bar was another iconic spot from the years when Stefani was finding her musical identity before becoming Lady Gaga.

Warhol’s Pop Art Meets the Pop Star

• In 2008, Lady Gaga moved to Los Angeles, California, but her New York influences remained strong. Andy Warhol’s creative studio, the Factory, inspired the formation of her creative team, which she named “Haus of Gaga”. Just as the Factory had democratized art for the masses, Lady Gaga followed the same artistic approach by assembling a team of 17 people entirely devoted to her artistic performances.
• They manage the massive logistics of her stunning shows and create her iconic looks—from the explosive bra to the meat dress that went viral worldwide. Lady Gaga is a carefully crafted brand, shaped by the technical and artistic achievements of the Haus of Gaga.

An Activist Artist

• Lady Gaga does more than sing “Poker Face”, “Just Dance”, and “Bad Romance”—she also takes a stand on issues including sexual assault, the environment, and LGBTQ+ rights.
• She has openly criticized President Donald Trump for ordering the exclusion of transgender people from the military and for canceling a distribution deal with a retail chain opposed to LGBTQ+ rights.

Learn More

• Wondering where the name Lady Gaga comes from? Here’s a hint: a London musical group connected to the Queen had something to do with it. Think you know the answer? No cheating online! If you think you’ve got it, head over to our Destination New York Facebook group!