10 Things To See And Do In The Bowery
Right below Cooper Square lies the Bowery, a 1.25 mile stretch that is the city’s oldest thoroughfare. It’s a block richly layered with history and culture; originally a vast farmland in the 1600s when the Dutch first settled on Manhattan Island, it has become a site for artistic and multicultural expression throughout the centuries. Today, the Bowery is as much a reflection of the past as it is an exciting ode to the future. The block is a beautiful combination of both old and new, filled with trendy restaurants and bars, museums, as well as restaurant and lighting supply stores that have been around since the early 1900s. To get a taste of this historic boulevard, stop at any one of these 10 spots.
1. Bowery Poetry
Theatre, Art Gallery, Library
There’s something wholly intimate and inspiring about Bowery Poetry that stays with you long after the show is over. The venue, founded in 2002 by Bob Holman, welcomes an eclectic mix of performers whose poetry spans from the spiritual to political, spoken with true passion and meaning. Event highlights include the Bowery Slam and PoetNY Open Mic night, plus tons of great workshop offerings for those looking to learn and deepen their craft. Pop in and explore what this type of art has to offer.
2. New Museum
Museum, Store, Building, Cinema, Forest
3. Olde Good Things
Shop, Store
4. The Hole
Art Gallery
5. Bowery Electric
Music Venue
The Light District
The Light District on the Bowery is a small strip of family-owned lighting stores, many of whose storefronts have been around for quite a while. If you’re looking for new lights or want to know just how much the Bowery’s changed over the last few decades, visit any one of these shops and talk up the owners for an inside scoop. Some Bowery lighting favorites are Lighting by Gregory and New York Lighting, but it depends on the type of fixture you’re looking for. Either way, it’s worth the time to pop in a few of these stores and get a feel for what the Bowery was like before the trendy restaurants and bars took over.
6. The Wren
Bar, Irish, Pub Grub
7. Wise Men
Bar, Cocktail Bar, Pub Grub
8. One Mile House Bar
Bar, Pub, Pub Grub
Bowery Mural
Until recently, the wall on the corner of Houston and Bowery was just a large blank canvas on the other side of a handball court. With thousands of people passing by it each day, it’s no wonder the real estate development company Goldman Properties decided to use the wall as an art project, legally commissioning artists to create murals. Famous graffiti artists like RETNA, Kenny Scharf, and Os Gemeos have taken over the wall for weeks or months at a time, gracing locals and tourists with their artistic prowess. The space is a definite must-see and perfect for your Instagram feed.
By Arielle Crane
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