‘LES is More’ Spins Tales of the Lower East Side’s Past
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It certainly feels like the Lower East Side is slipping through the proverbial fingers and into the pockets of the more affluent, despite best efforts. Over the past few years, grassroots organizations have sprung up to combat greedy slumlords, battle nightlife juggernauts, and to save the precious few landmarks that tie the glitzy future to an understated, yet significant LES past.
Connecting in the face of adversity is certainly an effective way to become more tightly knit, but recently there has been a significant uptick in neighborhood community outreach by way of celebration. Of particular note is the Five Boro Story Project’s “LES Is More: Stories of Growing up on the Lower East Side.” The event promises to paint a picture of the LES of yesteryear, with coming-of-age tales shared by Dom Ferraro, Jan Lee, Will Lee, Ray Munoz, Eljon Wardally, and Royal Young.
LES Is More” invites you to come on a journey through Lower East Side history with tales of childhood in a place densely packed with history and humanity, bustling with danger and adventure, and find out why growing up on the LES is more fun – and has been through the decades!
Featured speakers are notable Lower East Siders representing everywhere from Alphabet City to Chinatown to Little Italy to the East Village. They will tell personal stories about their experiences coming of age on the Lower East Side. Following the storytelling will be a musical performance from the Bowery Birds, and an open mic inviting everyone to share their stories and memories of the LES.
The event is tonight, from 7 – 9:30pm at City Lore (on 1st & 1st). More info can be found here.
LES Is More is the fifth installment in the Neighborhood Portrait Series, commissioned by The Laundromat Project‘s Create ChangeProgram. This event is presented in conjunction with City Lore.
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