Manhattan – New York
Traditionally a low-income immigrant neighbourhood, the Lower East Side of Manhattan New York has become a very different place than it used to be and is today home to a mixture of upscala boutiques and down to earth bars. Due to the rapid gentrification in recent years, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has actually placed the neighbourhood on their list of America’s Most Endangered Places. If you want to get a glimpse of what the area used to be before it is all boutiques and french cafes you should try to visit as soon as possible.
The Lower East Side is where the New York garment industry began and it has always been considered an excellent spot for making a bargain. It is still possible to find great bargains in places like Orchad street but the area has an influx of trendy shops and cutting edge designer brands. The Lower East Side attracts a lot of tourist from all around the world due to the unique mixture of old and new, cheap and expensive, american and foreign that gives this area its unique soul.
If you want to explore the Lower East Side nightlife, Clinton St and Ludlow St is a good place to start since this part of LES has the highest density of night clubs. If you are looking for live music there are a lot of choices such as C-Squat, a highly regarded live punk club and if you prefer rock you can try visiting the Bowery Ballroom. There are also several bars such as arlene’s Grocery on Stanton ST and the Cake shop on Ludlow St that offers live music.
Culturally, the Lower East Side is famous for being a centre for the development of American Jewish culture in Manhattan NYC; especially during the 19th and 20th century. Today the early Jewish immigrants and their descendants have largely been replaced by more recent newcomers with different cultural backgrounds, but you can still find vestiges of the neighbourhood’s Jewish heritage here, such as the shops lined up along Hester Street and Essex Street, a handful of kosher delis and bakeries, and the yeshiva day schools run by the Orthodox Jewish community. When planning your visit it is important to keep in mind that stores run by Orthodox Jews will be closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
The iconic fake orgam scene in the hit film “When Harry Met Sally” was filmed in a resturant in the Lower East Side? The scene was filmed in Katz’s Deli which is located on 205 E. Houston St; and you can still visit the eatery for a bit to eat or simply to have seen the eatery with your own eyes. If you decide to visit the Deli we recommend the pastrami sandwich or the brisket, both are renound for being really really good. “The World’s Finest Knishes since 1910″ is a sign you can see outside Yonah Schimmel’s Knishes Bakery between Orchard St and Allen St on 137 Houston street. This bakery is actually even older than that and has been selling knishes on Houston Street since 1890. It is now one of few distinctly Jewish bakeries in the neighbourhood.
If you want to learn more about the culture, history and traditions of the great wave of Jewish immigrants to the Lower East Side don’t hesitate to pay a visit to the museum located at the Eldridge Street Synagogue. The museum offers guided tours, cultural events and exhibits and is located in the restored 1887 ational Historic Landmark Eldridge Street Synagogue. They also offer walking tours around the neighbourhood with guides that tell you about the neighbourhood. Every Monday you can visit the museum for free between 10 and 12 a.m.
