New York Songlines: Carmine Street

with Clarkson Street

West St | Washington St | Greenwich St | Hudson St | Varick St/7th Ave S | Bedford St | Bleecker St | 6th Ave |
Carmine was originally Carman Street, named for Nicholas Carman, an official of Trinity Church, which owned land in the Village. Clarkson was named for Matthew Clarkson, a Revolutionary War soldier who became an abolitionist politician, a regent of the State University of New York, and president of both New York Hospital and the Bank of New York. He was also a major general in the New York State militia; this street was originally named for Jacob Morton, another militia leader, but since Clarkson outranked Morton the latter's name was transferred to what was then a less prominent street.


HUDSON RIVER

S <===             WEST STREET             ===> N

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75: Carousel; disreputable strip club










S <===           WASHINGTON STREET           ===> N

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S <===             GREENWICH STREET             ===> N

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43: Olatz, super-expensive linen design is owned by Olatz Schnabel, wife of artist Julian Schnabel, whose paintings grace the walls of the opulent showroom.



S <===           HUDSON STREET           ===> N

South:

16: City as School, high school that places students in real-world learning situations.









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North:

James J. Walker Park

Originally the Trinity Parish Cemetery, where Edgar Allen Poe liked to wander when he lived in the neighborhood in 1837. Now a park named for NYC's scandal-ridden 1920s mayor. Note mural by Keith Haring.





S <===             VARICK ST / SEVENTH AVE S             ===> N

On Clarkson Street near the corner of Varick, William Jones, a black workman, was lynched during the Draft Riots on July 13, 1863. A white mob lit a bonfire under his body after hanging him; a ringleader was indicted but never tried for Jones' murder.

South:

78: Was Chez Vous, Italian restaurant; now Cafe Espanol

60: Vinylmania stocks house, hip-hop and other dance-oriented discs for DJs.

54: Shopsin's General Store, Village hangout said to be wary of strangers: Calvin Trillin wrote about it in The New Yorker, but declined to give its name or address out of fear of being barred. Moved here from Bedford Street. Has over 1,000 items on its menu.

50: Was Cent'Anni, old-school Italian

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55: Do Hwa, styley Korean










S <===             BEDFORD STREET             ===> N

South:

46: Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollack lived in this building (1932-33) while studying at the Art Students League.

42: Carmine Street Guitars

38-40: Yama, acclaimed sushi mini-chain












34: Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books

32: Downing Street Playgroup; cooperative preschool

26: Numero 26; Italian soccer bar

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43: Was Rockit Scientist Records, which moved to St Marks Place; also Deborah, jazzed-up comfort food

41: Sonic Groove Records is also gone.

37: Evergreen Video, ''the go-to shop for out-of-print and hard-to-find Hollywood classics''--Time Out.

35: House of Oldies stocks an astounding 700,000 vintage rock, soul and R&B records.

33: Grey Dog's Coffee; neighborhood hangout

27: Society of St Charles

Our Lady of Pompeii

25 (corner): Church built in 1926 still has Italian masses. Mother Cabrini, first American saint, used to confess here regularly.


S <===             BLEECKER STREET             ===> N


South:

Father Demo Square

Named for the pastor (1900-1935) of Our Lady of Pompei. Noted for his outreach to immigrants and his rallying to the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire victims.




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7 (corner): Abitino's, a local pizza chain, replaced the beloved Joe’s Pizza; Joe still has a storefront on Carmine. Peter Parker worked for Joe's in the Spider Man movie.

5: Beard Papa, Asia cream-puff chain





S <===           6TH AVENUE             ===> N


Is your favorite Carmine or Clarkson Street spot missing? Write to Jim Naureckas and tell him about it.

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CarmineStreet.com features descriptions of local businesses.