As a native New Yorker, I am often asked to characterize my experience growing up in the Greenwich Village of the 1970s. The Village was larger than life, an alternative consciousness, a global ideal. An iconic piece of New York City history wrapped in contradictions. But it ain't that simple. Intolerant voices chose not to embrace the burgeoning social progress, resulting in a troubling dichotomy among many of the neighborhood youth. Alas, we were just kids, caught between cultural upheaval and the day-to-day absurdities of adolescence. My objective is to set the record straight, as only a few of us are left to tell the story. "Urban Townie: Vignettes from a Forgotten Neighborhood" is a satirical, coming-of-age memoir told through a series of humorous, self-contained short stories. This anthology of growing up in Manhattan delivers the triumphs and traumas of boyhood with raw honesty and a distinctly New York sense of humor. Each sketch offers a window into a different moment of urban adolescence, exploring identity, masculinity, sexual confidence, and self-discovery in a rapidly shifting cultural landscape. Join me, my friends, and my family as we navigate parental warfare, street-level chaos, sexual drama, and the unrelenting pursuit of acceptance and friendship in the ever-complex neighborhood of Greenwich Village. It's funny, edgy, and at times uncomfortable. But above all, it's real. We were Urban Townies. A memoir of culture, growth, and paradox. This book is ultimately a catharsis. A plea for forgiveness. A punchline delivered with compassion.