The Treasures of MacDougal Street

There is so much history to be found on MacDougal Street, starting at the north end near Washington Square Park where Emma Goldman, Sinclair Lewis, Jack London and Upton Sinclair were just a few who walked that street to and from The Liberal Club in the 1910’s.

You can’t walk through all this history without stopping at the Monk Thrift Shop, just south of 8th Street across from MacDougal Alley, which was created in 1833 as stables for the houses on Washington Square North.

The Provincetown Playhouse, home to the Provincetown Players and many independently produced plays, relocated to 133 MacDougal.  After recent major renovations by NYU, it reopened in 2010.p

One of the treasurers of MacDougal Street is the Minetta Tavern, named for Minetta Brook, the lost stream that runs underneath.  Having opened their doors in 1937, their walls echo with voices from the past such as Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Dylan Thomas and the like.  Today they are known for one of the best burgers in town.

Moving south on MacDougal is our streetscape including Monte’s Trattoria, an institution on the street since 1918 and Caffe Dante  which opened its doors in 1915.

You will notice a row of 22 Greek revival row houses across the street.  These colorful houses, known as the MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.  They are often referred to as the ‘Secret Gardens’ and occupy about forty by two hundred feet of the full interior. In addition, there are small private gardens for homeowners.

Saving the best for last, Raffetto‘s is right around the corner on West Houston.  Here you will find fresh pasta, sauce and other Italian specialties, still a family run business since 1906 and Ramona Raffetto is still at the helm every day.

Short but sweet, MacDougal Street has too many treasures to mention.

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