Home > General-party-ideas > Manhatta – NYC

Manhatta – NYC

The Lower East Side has traditionally been a low income area but 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. The area has in recent year gone through a rapid gentrification and the National Trust for Historical Preservation now deems the neighbourhood as one of the most endagered places in the entire U.S. So if you want to catch a glimpse of the Lower East Side before it is all art students and French cafes, this is the time to go.

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. With increasing rents the neighbourhood has had an influx of trendy shops and high-priced cutting-edge designers, but you can still enjoy marvellous bargain shopping along Orchad Street every Sunday afternoon. The blend of old and new, pricy and cheap, immigrant and yet so quintessentially American, makes the Lower East Side a bustling hub that attracts visitors and residents from all over the world.

The Lower East Side offer great nightlife and Ludlow St and Clinton St are good places to start since these street have the highest density of night clubs on the Lower East Side. 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 19^th and 20^th century. What was once a primarely jewish neighbourhood is today becoming more diverse as Jewish immigrants and their decendants are being replaced by people moving her from different backgrounds but they Jewish heritage is still clearely visable and can be seen shops like kosher delis and bakeries as well as in other traditional jewish shops along Essex St and Hester St, there is also Yeshiva day schools in the area. It is important to remember that Orthodox Jews will close their shops on saturdays and jewish holidays and you will have to consider this when you plan your trip.

The iconic fake orgam scene in the hit film “When Harry Met Sally” was filmed in a resturant in the Lower East Side? The restaurant chosen for the scene was Katz’s Deli on 205 E. Houston St; and the resturant is still open for business today.. This classic delicatessen serves a celebrated pastrami sandwich and the brisket is also to die for. “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 has been around for a very long time and actually started selling kniches on Houston street in 1890 regardless of what the sign says. It is one of the last distinctly Jewish bakeries left in this part of town.

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.