8: Lower East Side

This week, we explored the Lower East Side. Lets be honest -- our short little walk lasted 4 hours! We were extremely chatty (shock of shocks), and we found ourselves compelled to enter 348 little shops that we found along our way. We had an exceptional time, and while these pictures contain more animal statues than historic buildings, hopefully we have captured the flava of the LES.


Me at Seward Park. Why did this park appeal to us, you might ask? See: next photo.


Within Seward Park, there was an interesting gathering of Chinese people. There were men and women, young and old, and they were practicing some sort of Chi. It seemed like Tae Kwon Do or some form of Asian exercising. Anyway - we watched for several minutes - more entertaining than it now seems.


Whoops - our beloved Doughnut Plant just happens to be in the Lower East Side. We didn't even have to go out of our way to enjoy these FABULOUS doughnuts.

While ducks hanging in the window of Chinese restaurants are commonplace, fried squid is a sight that was new to the both of us. Jill ponders, "What might that taste like?"


No idea what this building is, or why I am raising the roof.

Jill enjoying a relaxing moment atop a frog in a local park.


This graffiti caused the song "Shiny, Happy People" to become stuck in my head for the rest of the walk. Seeing as I only know 4-ish lines from that song, Jill suffered greatly.


The dumplings sold here will bring you good fortune. (Keep this in mind....for later, you will see dumplings of another variety)


We were excited to capture a photo of this Chinese monk as he came outside a New York Buddhist Temple. Though I am twice his size - his presence made me kind of nervous.



The historic highlight of this walk was the Eldridge Street Synagogue. It was the first synagogue to be built by Eastern European Jews in the United States. It opened its doors in 1887. Before the settlement houses were built, poor immigrants could come to be fed, find out about jobs, and make arrangements to care for the sick and the dying. The architecture is intricate, and this building is just quite lovely.

The doors have many Stars of David.

Beautiful window.


I am somewhere in this picture - I think.



Not only is this stair-rail ornament dragon COOL, but Jill is FIERCE.


This "Wishing Garden" mosaic mural was on the wall outside of a school. Mostly - I like my facial expression in this photo. I also enjoy the fact that it looks as though the words are coming out of my mouth.

Crafty Jill LOVED the Wishing Garden wall.

Who knows.


Some of these pictures make it seem as if we are in Chinatown. The LES borders with ever-expanding Chinatown, so we were feeling the same way. At one of the many fish markets, we were impressed that these particular fish/eels/whatever nappy sea-life were SO long. Perhaps they weren't picture-worthy, but do you see how they extend outside the box by like 7 inches!!!!!!! Amazing.


We found ourselves inside of a Chinese drugstore-type place that had many fabulous finds. (including but not limited to: packages of buttons for $1 (we bought 2) and this great swoopy hat (fear not - we did not buy this ugly thing))


The duck trashcan may seem creepy - but my eyes are creepier.


Remember the Prosperity Dumplings that we encountered earlier on? The front runner dumpling in this picture is the antithesis of the prosperity dumpling.

This picture is a shout out to my sista. She refers to any off-brand as the "Bo Bo Brand." I guess this poultry is not Tyson's.

The LES was once among the most densely populated places in the world, as New York welcomed a bunch of immigrants to the US. We tried our hardest to focus on this historic-ness, BUT we were distracted by.......

GELATO!

The gelato shop next store to the Tenement Museum had many, many articles posted in the window raving about the excellence of the shop's cold treats. We needed it in our lives. Smooth mint. MMMMMMMM

While we ignored the historic museum, we could not ignore the museum gift shop.

Star of David soap. Gotta have it.


Another sister shout-out.



Whoops - we found another shop!


Bugged-eyed Jill is overwhelmed by the wall of chocolate!


I can barely hold all of the candy cigarettes that I am purchasing! (thank you LES for such a fabulous candy store!)


We couldn't resist a photo with this gnome art. A passerby mumbled something like, "Quite the photo opp." To which I replied, "Its not every day you see gnomes painted on the side of a building." The following comment: "If you live on this street, it is." Not that hilarious, but memorable.

BAGELS! Don't worry - we did not stop and eat any.


I don't even know.

Jill atop another frog. There is a theme among LES parks, I guess.

Katz Deli is a famous kosher deli down here in the LES. A scene from "When Harry Met Sally" was filmed inside.

I do not know why my typing is now underlined. Anyway - Pastrami sandwiches = delish.