Lower East Side History Month

The Lower East Side is a culturally unique neighborhood that is vital to the history of NYC and to many cultural movements that came out of the people who lived, worked and died here. Today, the L.E.S. is a vibrant community that is engaged in issues of cultural preservation, sustainability, climate change, housing affordability and community organizing. This blog aims to celebrate these efforts and look to the future of the L.E.S. Learn more about Fourth Arts Block and follow us on Tumblr.

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All photos by Whitney Browne Photography

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The path of Bobby Nathanson's hr in Tanahey Park

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The approximate spot in Tanahey Park where Bobby Nathanson hit a 3 court home run in punchball back in the early 1960's.

context

http://knickerbockervillage.blogspot.com/2008/11/happy-60th-birthday-bob.html

http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/tanaheyplayground

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Another view of little league photo, 55 years later. Kids in park were very curious as to what I was doing.

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The site of where a "famous" 1959 group photo of my little league team. We played in Coleman Oval. The old Madonna House is behind us on Cherry Street. The original can be found here:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g128/davidbellel/david2/lmrc2.jpg http://knickerbockervillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/lmrc-labeled.html

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Picnic on the Pier! .. PIER 42!

On May 4th 2014, you’re invited to come celebrate both the first annual LES History Month, and the launch of the second season of Paths to Pier 42! • Enjoy live music and dance, with a free salsa l...

On 5/4 at the #LESpicnic , @mocanyc will be joing us & giving the opportunity to make traditional opera masks!

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Picnic on the Pier! .. PIER 42!

On May 4th 2014, you’re invited to come celebrate both the first annual LES History Month, and the launch of the second season of Paths to Pier 42! • Enjoy live music and dance, with a free salsa l...

#LESpicnic is near! join the @tenementmuseum in activities at Pier 42. Make mini tenement houses of your own.

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Eric Ferrara from @LESHP will be introducing the film "The Bowery" at the Anthology Film Archives for the "From Mae West to Punk - The Bowery on Film" Festival: Saturday, May 17 at 4:45 and Monday, May 19 at 8:30.

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A thank you to our Path To The Pier Partners! ; @GOLESNYC ,@Hester_Street ,@LMCC ,@twobridgesnyc ,@lesecologyctr .Remember #LESpicnic 5/4 & #chalkLES on 5/2 with #ghmLES

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Landmarked home to La MaMa ETC

1892: A German musical society called the Schillerbund Gesangverein, which had been meeting at 62 East 4th, moves to 74 East 4th and completely remodels the building. One can still see the busts of composers on the facade.

1901: known as Krywaczy's Hall, mostly polish societies

November 6, 1903 - Dozens of East Side restaurant owners gather at McKinley Hall to protest increase in pie sales by the American Pastry and Manufacturing Company

1914: In May of 1914, the building is called Floral Garden. Emma Goldman’s lover Alexander Berkman and others are involved in a street row when the ILGWU is not allowed by the owner to hold a meeting here.

1961: Ellen Stewart creates LaMama Experimental Theatre in a basement located at 321 E. 9th street as a company dedicated to the playwright and all aspects of the theatre.

1970: La MaMa moves to 74 East 4th Street.

1993: Ellen Stewart was inducted into the "Broadway Theatre Hall of Fame", becoming the first Off-Off-Broadway Producer to ever receive this honor.

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Great old shot of 62 East 4th Street, the Rod Rodgers & DUO Multicultural Arts Center - pre-renovation. Learn more about the building and owners:

http://www.rodrodgersdance.org/building

http://www.duotheater.org/history.php

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The Sugar Hill Gypsy Jazz band will be performing in May for our L.E.S History Month picnic! Here is a great piece of work done by Noah Luft-Weissburg, leader of the Sugar Hill Gypsy Jazz band.

Sugar Hill Gypsy Jazz is a violin, guitar, and bass trio that plays Django Reinhardt style swing music. With hundreds of classic jazz standards to pick from, Sugar Hill chooses a unique variety of tunes to improvise on for each show, delighting audiences with songs to dance to, some to sing to, and songs just to sit back and enjoy. Always well received, this group is fun on and off the stage; you won't want to miss 'em!

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Marlis Momber is a treasure to the LES community. Born in the bombed out rubble of WWII Berlin, she moved to New York in 1975. She came to this neighborhood and connected on a soul level and has been here ever since.

Marlis was able to capture the life among the destruction of this neighborhood. It's amazing to see pictures of skeletons of buildings and trashed lots, where lush beautiful gardens now grow. A testament to the people that refused to leave.

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Join us on 5/4 for a picnic on Pier 42; a fun filled day with activities, live music, arts&crafts, entertainment of all kinds. Pack those picnics and get ready for a day of adventure.

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THE VANISHING CITY - May 18 @ Anthology Films Archives

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THE BOWERY - May 17&19 @ Anthology Film Archives