The Bowery

Just north of Little Italy is the area known as The Bowery

Visitor are often surprised that there are things to do, hear and see in the area-- residents know better. New Yorkers with a long memory recall that back in the 1800's the Bowery was a large entertainment district. It fell into hard times and became known as skid row and that reputation held for a long time. Nowadays much of the Bowery is still low-rent, but below Houston Street, the Bowery is home to many restaurants, lighting supply houses along with a mixture of old tenements, and million dollar condos sitting side-by-side. The Bowery Savings Bank building was designed by Sandford White (as was the Rotunda on the Bronx Community College Campus).

The Bowery Poetry Club has a full schedule of readings and events- even a free podcast on the website. http://www.bowerypoetry.com/
The New Museum is also located at 235 Bowery.

The there's the Bowery Mission- what a blast to come to NY and volunteer or donate!

Little Italy downtown

New York City residents know that the best of 'Little Italy' is found in the outer boroughs. (Oh and we say boros). We'll talk about those restaurants, bakeries and neighborhood theaters later on, but as long as you are downtown one stop highly recommedned is Ferrara's Bakery. No trip to New York is complete without heading down to Ferrara Bakery and Cafe at 195 Grand Street (between Mott and Elizabeth) for CHEESECAKE.

This resident had the good fortune to be introduced to Ferrara's back in oh maybe 1979 when I was teaching with a family member at a school up in the Bronx. So if you do stop by and meet a Ferarra- please say hi.

Then there's FEASTS, FEASTS and more FEATS (yes residents go to these) here's a link to the San Gennaro http://www.littleitalynyc.com/sg_page1.asp

When there's not a feast and you want a taste of Italy downtown (and since Theresa's is gone) best deal is lunch an in one of the restaurants you can't click on from the website. Problem with Umberto's, 178 Mulberry Street, is it's now frequented by celebrities and tour buses a big nono for the insider resident choice. AND we know the new site of Umberto's is not the same place the Crazy Joe was murdered back in 1972- so if you want a snapshot of that memento you need to walk own about two blocks to 129 Mulberry.

And yes even New Yorkers walk over to 247 Mulberry to get a glimpse of the Ravenite Social Club (of Gotti notoriety) and some of us take a picture or two.