The Bowery: Is Manhattan’s Edgiest Street Losing its Soul?
By Spectrum News Staff New York City
PUBLISHED 5:00 AM ET Aug. 27, 2019
This story is the third installment of NY1’s new initiative, “Street Level,” which explores the city through the history and culture of specific streets and the people who live there. You can watch the full episode in the video above and learn more about the project here.
Every true New Yorker knows, it’s not Bowery Street or Bowery Avenue. It’s the Bowery. This mile-long stretch in Lower Manhattan was home to the city’s original performing arts scene. From vaudeville to punk rock, the Bowery has played host to New York’s edgiest acts. Down on the Bowery, far from the bright lights uptown, the art was bawdy. It was eccentric. At times it was offensive. This was entertainment for the masses, the misfits, and the misunderstood. But with all that’s changed since, has the Bowery lost its artistic soul?
We set out to search for spots where that soul still thrives. What we found were the vibrant artists who are keeping it alive. Below are the stories that shaped the Bowery into the street it is today.
READ FULL ARTICLE SEE THE VIDEO HERE:
Walk this history: the streets in this article are on the route of our 1,000 Years of New York City History Walking Tour, a private walking tour led by historians and lifelong locals. Private tours run daily on request — $150 for one hour / $300 for two hours per group. To book, visit leshp.org or call (347) 465-7767.
See the Lower East Side for yourself
The Lower East Side History Project leads private walking tours led by native New Yorker historians — just your group, at your pace.
- Mafia Walking Tour
- Jewish Lower East Side Walking Tour
- Jewish Mob Walking Tour
- 1,000 Years of NYC History Walking Tour
- Five Points, Chinatown & Little Italy Walking Tour
Private tours: 1 hour $150 / 2 hours $300 per group. Call (347) 465-7767 or contact us to book.