Village folk venues were converted stables and subterranean basements.

Evidence

Shelton namechecked Len Chandler, Karni, Hester, and especially Van Ronk, all of whom appeared at the Gaslight, the Commons or Café Wha?, another former stable around the corner at 115 MacDougal, “graceless grottos so subterranean one expects Jean Valjean to be their waiter.” — J. Hoberman, Everything Is Now, 278