The Lower East Side

The Lower East Side in N.Y.C. was the first settling point for immigrants. Many cultures melded together over the years in the Lower East Side to form a funky blend of young and old, traditional and modern. Explore The Lower East Side with Imogen Hall, a writer for lonelyplanet.com, in her article; Lower East Side.

“Take the Lower East Side. Bordering the East Village and Alphabet City to the north, Chinatown to the south and Little Italy to the west, this jostling downtown neighbourhood epitomises the best things about NYC. Here a bubbling and fragrant melting pot of cultures and nationalities live side by side, working hard at their small thriving businesses, be it a bustling Chinese restaurant or an off-beat Eastern European cafe. The Lower East Side is steeped in New York history, being the first settling point for many immigrants.

Today, however, it’s a neighbourhood in conflict. The old and soulful is being nudged and prodded by the glossy and new. Slick bars are springing up alongside old-time family-run hotels; frosty boutiques are replacing local convenience stores. And a particularly ‘revolutionary’ hotel is changing the skyline for ever.”