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From the early 80's to the early 90's the lower east side, particularly alphabet city, was in community of creativity and lawlessness, famed for art, music, and revolutionary minds.
The L.E.S. was the most unique community in all of manhattan. You could really be anyone you wanted in this extremely cheap section of the city. It was almost like land of the misfit toys. Punk Rockers, Skinheads, Gays, Drag Queens, Anarchists, Homelessness, Hispanics, and Squatters. it was just all different sorts of non-conformists all in one area. G.G. Allin, Michael Alig's notorious "Club Kids", Artists of all forms.
I mean, in this day and age you will never see a community so strong as to rebel against the police like at the Tompkins Square Park Police Riot. Everyone is just like a robot now.
In the past, 15 years all the creativity and uniqueness of the L.E.S has been forced out by gentrification and all the expensive apartments and condo's. Its all about Starbucks's and other corporations. The L.E.S. is now a lost place that has been supplanted by a neighborhood that is rather sterile and uninspiring. It really is such a boring and uncreative place now. Its really sad to see.
Same could be said about a lot of neighborhoods in NYC. I'd rather have the yuppies and Starbucks instead of the used needles and dead bodies.
Edit: Starbucks provides a valuable service (free use of their bathrooms) to the community. Since I don't drink coffee I'll usually buy a water from them to show my appreciation of their rather liberal restroom policy.
Last edited by gvillager; 02-27-2010 at 05:21 PM..
Nowadays, to find an area that cheap you probably have to move at least 50 miles out of Manhattan......but iGlenn's point is well taken to, there's a reason it was so cheap to live by Manhattan standards.
From the early 80's to the early 90's the lower east side, particularly alphabet city, was in community of creativity and lawlessness, famed for art, music, and revolutionary minds.
The L.E.S. was the most unique community in all of manhattan. You could really be anyone you wanted in this extremely cheap section of the city. It was almost like land of the misfit toys. Punk Rockers, Skinheads, Gays, Drag Queens, Anarchists, Homelessness, Hispanics, and Squatters. it was just all different sorts of non-conformists all in one area. G.G. Allin, Michael Alig's notorious "Club Kids", Artists of all forms.
I mean, in this day and age you will never see a community so strong as to rebel against the police like at the Tompkins Square Park Police Riot. Everyone is just like a robot now.
In the past, 15 years all the creativity and uniqueness of the L.E.S has been forced out by gentrification and all the expensive apartments and condo's. Its all about Starbucks's and other corporations. The L.E.S. is now a lost place that has been supplanted by a neighborhood that is rather sterile and uninspiring. It really is such a boring and uncreative place now. Its really sad to see.
The LES was a complete and utter dump 15 years ago.
I'm glad the yuppies and hipsters are cleaning it up.
I'd rather have the yuppies and Starbucks instead of the used needles and dead bodies.
I totally agree. I'd rather see a Manhattan of working people who care about themselves and their surroundings rather than a bunch of drug-addicted scum sucking off the system.
From the early 80's to the early 90's the lower east side, particularly alphabet city, was in community of creativity and lawlessness, famed for art, music, and revolutionary minds.
The L.E.S. was the most unique community in all of manhattan. You could really be anyone you wanted in this extremely cheap section of the city. It was almost like land of the misfit toys. Punk Rockers, Skinheads, Gays, Drag Queens, Anarchists, Homelessness, Hispanics, and Squatters. it was just all different sorts of non-conformists all in one area. G.G. Allin, Michael Alig's notorious "Club Kids", Artists of all forms.
I mean, in this day and age you will never see a community so strong as to rebel against the police like at the Tompkins Square Park Police Riot. Everyone is just like a robot now.
In the past, 15 years all the creativity and uniqueness of the L.E.S has been forced out by gentrification and all the expensive apartments and condo's. Its all about Starbucks's and other corporations. The L.E.S. is now a lost place that has been supplanted by a neighborhood that is rather sterile and uninspiring. It really is such a boring and uncreative place now. Its really sad to see.
Yeah, I really miss the junkies, hookers, drug dealers, murders, stabbings, needles on the street...
Same could be said about a lot of neighborhoods in NYC. I'd rather have the yuppies and Starbucks instead of the used needles and dead bodies.
Edit: Starbucks provides a valuable service (free use of their bathrooms) to the community. Since I don't drink coffee I'll usually buy a water from them to show my appreciation of their rather liberal restroom policy.
really? starbucks lets anyone walk into their shop and freely use their restrooms?
But it is completely conformist and cookie-cutter now. Why would you want everyone as a complete robot these days?
The LES still has a lot of character and a whole 'lotta grit. When I read your post, I could have thought you were talking about the UES!
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