The Lower East Side...I dunno

The Lower East Side is completely out of control! What on earth is going on? Remember the blackout of 200...3 was it? Where there were just droves of drunk people milling around in the dark without any aim or purpose. That's what Ludlow was like this weekend. It was a college town. After a national championship win. Sidewalks packed, shoulder to shoulder with loud, well dressed kids stumbling around from bar to bar. I went to see a band at Pianos at 11. It was so packed it took me 5 minutes just to get back to the music room. That's like 30 feet. Forget getting a drink. I wouldn't even know where to begin trying to get close enough to the bar to actually order something. When I left an hour later, there was a line around the corner to get in! To get into Pianos! Why???? Say what you will about that place, but under exactly what circumstances would you wait more than...30 seconds to get in there? Maybe if the girl in front of you couldn't find her ID in her purse too quick? But to stand in line, on a somewhat chilly night, no less, around the block for the right to stand in a loud, crowded space where you have to actually get physical to get a drink. And not a free drink, at that, but one you then have to pay for. Did I just get really old really quick? I can't even begin to fathom the appeal of this.

After the show, we headed to the Back Room, where some friends of ours were DJing, and another was celebrating his birthday. No line outside, no crowd hanging around. It was quiet. We were looking forward to this.

But we go in and it was just as jammed as anywhere else. Just instead of having a line, I guess they just tell people to go away. Needless to say this wasn't much better, although at least it was good to see some friendly faces.

So, two bars and at not one did I even come close to getting a drink. That wasn't fun. Not only was it unfun, but it kind of goes directly against the whole purpose of a bar, no? Whatever. Not that the Meatpackingization of the LES is breaking news or anything, but to deal with it in such extremes as I did this weekend was just a complete shock to the system. I mean, I still know people who live down there. Am I gonna have to speak of them like I do the kids who I went to college with who live in Murray Hill? It's seriously as bad down there on a weekend than anywhere else in the city right now.

Where's the outrage!? Where's the exodus of cool? Why are respectable people still clinging on down there to a culture which is completely gone? Maybe most importantly...where to next?

Don't say Brooklyn.

Comments

[zack]

I am one of the booking agents at pianos, and even I try to avoid the place on weekends. it's a complete shit show; as you said, most of the bars in the LES are like this. the only solution: go to places no one else goes.

on saturday night some friends and I were at joe's bar on 6th between a and b. it was empty. we could talk. the jukebox was playing good music.

on the weekends in the east village/les other good places include: b-side, heathers (on 13th st), otto's shrunken head, lolita on allen st, etc.

fontana's is so big that it doesn't feel crowded.

where else is not completely packed on weekends? let's hear everyone's thoughts.

[tricia]

It was crazy in Brooklyn Saturday night too! Union Hall was at capacity and there was a wait outside. Then, at the ever reliable and chill Great Lakes, a man and woman burst out of Blue Ribbon next door and started screaming and hitting each other on the sidewalk. The girl even ripped the collar off his wife beater. Yes, the fact someone wore a beater to Blue Ribbon only added to the insanity.

[jerry yeti]

that's why I drink Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday are for Domino Rally.

[Joey]

Union Hall carries the Floyd's pedigree and is practically one of the few (good) games in town in those few blocks. Plus, bocce draws a crowd. You can tell it's more of a weekday spot if you want to have any fun.

As for the LES...even the Magician and Iggy's were packed this weekend, which had to be a first. Iggy's! Let's all just hang at Lolita every weekend, and make it like The Max. You don't even have to ask where your friends are going to be, you'll just know. Or, you know, there's always Libation.

[catherine]

jeff, are you seriously JUST cottoning to the fact that the lower east side is a total circus wrapped in a zoo on planet suck? it's been ridiculous for right-thinking people for at least a couple years now. that said, i was at motor city a couple saturday nights ago and it was totally chill. probably just the august clear-out, though.

anyway, i hate to say it (oh wait, no i don't), but this is why i'm moving to brooklyn!

[J]

Weekends are for tourists. The bar stool's always available Mondays at 10AM.

[CN]

I had almost the exact same reaction last weekend as I was walking to a friend's apartment. Walking down Houston between Essex and Allen is disgusting. I've been living in the 'hood for a few years and Saturday night was when it all hit me, shoulder-to-shoulder through asshole city. I still think that east of Essex and west of Allen have their benefits, but given recent history that'll probably change soon. Unbearable, but I can't bring myself to pack up yet.

[karen]

While I do appreciate anything that inspires a full tilt Jeff Rant like this one, the LES is getting really ridiculous. Maybe they could set up a huge velvet rope along Houston Street, stop the riff raff at the source. Our own Great Wall to keep out the wannabe hipster hordes.

Also, I will automatically hang out anywhere that Joey refers to as The Max on a regular basis based on that brilliant association alone.

[MusicSnobbery]

Jersey is where it's at, son.

[e]

unfortunately, this is nothing new. the shitshow's been going on for years already.

[Jeff]

No, I know it's been pretty bad for a while. But this Saturday really kicked it up a notch. I have a feeling NYU move-in day that morning had something to do with it...

[sam]

I agree, weekday drinking is where it's at. I've kind of just gotten used to the whole doing nothing on the weekends and going out every weekday-night thing at this point. It's pretty nice. Otherwise, yeah, my answer is to come join all us cool kids in Brooklyn. But, yeah, even that can suck sometimes.

[Dfactor]

Oooh, I might have to miss Zack's band's show on this coming Saturday night at Pianos....;-)

[dan]

i doubt it had anything to do with nyu move in day. that wasn't until sunday anyway, and that early in the week it's mostly freshman (people who havent discovered LES yet). And as much as I'm sure the sidewalks in LES are filled with lame people, I have a feeling the 'lame' students at nyu are a different kind of lame; probably prefering to spend their evenings at josie woods.

[aldemo]

hey, I know what your saying but generally I just have to leave my neighborhood & usually out to bklyn. I know you don't want to hear it... but really K&M, union pool, south side, daddys, wreck room in bushwick are really better then anything in the LES usually!

of course, on wknds, there are still some good places to go in the LES/e.vill but not on ludlow st. try sine bar, mamas bar, home sweet home,sweet paradise, or subtonic, or b.side, (& motorcity only after 2am) and really to keep the crowds at bay just have the DJ play some really heavy psyche & prog rock for 10mins...it will clear out the khakis...it works!

[#1 Baumer Fan!]

Fuck night partying! The day is where its at kids.

If you must go out at night, at least make it a Sunday, Monday or Wednesday.

[terry diabolik]

brooklyn.

finger on the pulse.

self promotion.