This essay is part of a series for the Center of Applied Liberal Arts (CALA) at NYU SPS by students who took Kelly Carroll’s Behind the Scenes in New York: Preserving a City of Historic Neighborhoods last semester. The course project looks at interesting buildings and other types of architecture in New York City, and elsewhere, that currently do not have landmark status. The authors in this series draw upon extensive research to share what is culturally and historically significant about each structure to make a case for why it is important to protect these sites from destruction and preserve them for future generations.
Through many of our courses at CALA we celebrate the history and passions of our city and now through the Know Your City series we will focus attention on significant historic locations. One such landmark is located at 315 Bowery. Today, it’s home to the fashion house of John Varvatos, but in 1973, it was a bar and music venue called CBGB.
Christian Ricci’s essay, with wonderful photographs, and maps, explores 315 Bowery:
“Opened in 1973 on Bowery in Manhattan’s East Village, CBGB was a bar and music venue which features prominently in the history of American punk rock, New Wave and Hardcore music genres. The club’s owner, Hilly Kristal, was always involved with music and musicians, having worked as a manager at the legendary jazz club Village Vanguard booking acts like Miles Davis. When CBGB first opened its doors in the early seventies the venue featured mostly country, blue grass, and blues acts (thus CBGB) before transitioning over to punk rock acts later in the decade. Many well known performers of the punk rock era received their start and earliest exposure at the club, including the Ramones, Patti Smith, Television, Blondie, and Joan Jett. During the New Wave era, performers like Elvis Costello, Talking Heads and even early performances from the Police graced the stage in the now legendary venue.”
Full paper here: Christian Ricci – CBGB
Behind the Scenes in New York: Preserving a City of Historic Neighborhoods, taught by Kelly Carroll, is a continuing education course that any member of the public can register for and is also one of the required courses in the Certificate in Historic Preservation. To find out more about the certificate and other preservation courses, click here: Certificate in Historic Preservation
Links to Summer 2021 courses in historic preservation:
Behind The Scenes in New York: Preserving a City of Historic Neighborhoods