Lower
East Side Neighborhood Overview:
The Lower East Side (LES) extends from East Houston Street,
down to Canal Street, from the Bowery to the East River. The
neighborhood began as a magnet for immigrants, and the influence
of these groups is still a major presence here. The LES includes
the largest Chinatown in the country, and a thriving Latino
and orthodox Jewish population. In the last decade, it has attracted
a younger crowd, brought in by the cheap rents. These newbies
have transformed the neighborhood into an interesting blend
of hip shops and bars with 50-year-old pickle shops. This is
a vibrant community of different cultures, with waves of young
people moving in every month. Housing; The apartments in the
area consist of walk-up tenement buildings and co-ops located
close to the East River. With lots of new conversions and turnover
of old rent-controlled spaces, the Lower East Side has some
of the best bargains in Manhattan. Restaurants; Despite the
rush of new competition, old world favorites like Gertel's Bake
Shop on Second Avenue, Guss's Pickles on Essex, and Kossar's
Bialy's on Grand are all thriving. Schiller’s and WD50
represent the vanguard of hip new eateries flooding the area.
And any time you want dim sum, Chinatown is just outside your
door. Arts/Entertainment; The younger crowd spends its nights
at rec room-themed bars like Welcome to the Johnsons. There’s
an abundance of theater space in this sprawling neighborhood,
making it an ideal host for the annual Fringe Festival, a showcase
of u-and-coming stage talent. The Garment District on Orchard
Street is still the place to go for cheap clothes, or you can
browse Ludlow Street’s boutiques if your taste in duds
is more adventurous. As you would expect from its mixed population,
the Lower East Side has a little something for everyone. Subways;
B, D, F, V, J, M, Z, 6 Great Outdoors; The Lower East Side has
an abundance of open air. East River Park, stretch of greenery
along the river, feature bike paths, playgrounds, soccer and
baseball fields, even an amphitheater with a band shell! A jaunt
across the newly-renovated Williamsburg Bridge footpath makes
for a pleasant weekend walk, and there are numerous playgrounds
and tree-lined squares throughout the neighborhood. The Future;
Veteran New Yorkers will tell you that the Lower East Side is
today what the East Village was 20 years ago. The influx of
young blood will continue and accelerate, transforming the neighborhood
further into the hip place to be in Manhattan. |
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