The NEW New York: Italians in the Village, an Illustrated Presentation by James Nevius

After the Civil War, hundreds of thousands of Italian immigrants came to America, most of them making New York City their first stop. While the Lower East Side and Little Italy are well-known for their immigrant history, many may not remember that the area south of Washington Square was one of the most densely populated Italian precincts in the country.

This illustrated presentation will look at how the Village came to be separated into a wealthier area north and west of Washington Square and a more working-class neighborhood to the south and east. We’ll look at who paved the way for Italians in the district and talk about the importance of holding on to the Italian places that still exist in the area — RIP Trattoria Spaghetto — so as to preserve this heritage.

James Nevius is a historian focused on issues related to architecture and urbanism. His work appears regularly in Curbed and The New York Post. With his wife, Michelle, he is the co-author of Footprints in New York: Tracing the Lives of Four Centuries of New Yorkers and Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City, which is now in its 11th printing. He’s currently researching a new book on America’s love affair with utopianism.

Co-sponsored by Village Preservation and the Merchant’s House Museum. With books for sale by Books On Call.

This event is fully accessible