Where to begin? As Special Places go, the Lower East Side of Manhattan has held so much civilization for so long that it defies a simple summary. The streets almost seem to hum with energy. Stopping into a camera store where the proprietor launched into a detailed discussion of the antique cameras in the case…a young woman passionately recommends her favorite baked good at a local bakery…stumbling into a café / wine bar where the server is a sommelier… staying in a lovingly restored hotel as described by the enthusiastic owner…and everywhere the intriguing storefronts and narrow tall buildings, legacy of the tenements that have attracted immigrants for generations. So much vitality crammed into a few blocks. (Andy & Jen, March 2022)
