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December 2013/
January 2014
letter !"#$ &'( )*+&#",
This month, were wrapping up the first full year
of The Lo-Downs print magazine with our first
special issue. In 2013, we brought you cover
stories on a wide variety of topics, including a
controversial plan to build market-rate
apartments on public housing property, the
growing prominence of Lower East Side art
galleries, the battle to save a cherished
synagogue on Norfolk Street and the historic
development plan for the Seward Park site. In
this, our 10th issue of the year, were debuting
the Best of the Lower East Side Awards, our first
annual food survey. For this project, readers
voted online, helping us to identify the top
restaurants in the neighborhood across nearly
two dozen categories. It wasnt a scientific
survey, but your opinions gave us really good
guidance about some of the eating establish-
ments locals love. Using your responses as a
guide, we set out to revisit old classics and to
learn more about some new and interesting
arrivals. The results, contained in these pages,
offer a little something for everyone. This is a
December/January issue of the magazine. Were
taking a breather in the next few weeks and
preparing for another fascinating year on the
LES. So until February, happy eating and happy
new year, and thanks for reading.
Ed Litvak
!"#$ $&'"( ")*
Hot
Chocolate
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221 East Broadway (at Clinton)
www.pushcartcoee.com
Ed Litvak
Editor-in-Chief
Traven Rice
General Manager/Arts Editor
Jennifer Strom
Associate Editor
Kim Sillen
Art Director
Alex M. Smith
Contributing Photographer
Evan Forsch
Cartoonist
Advertising inquiries:
ads@thelodownny.com
Story tips: tips@thelodownny.com
Contact us: 646-861-1805
The Lo-Down is a publication of Lo-Down Productions LLC, 2013.
13
Sat.
Te l : 2 1 2 . 2 2 6 . 6 3 6 8
w w w. d r r o n g d d s . c o m
drrongdent al @gmai l . com
Monday - Sunday:
10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Implants, Braces (Metal/Invisible),
Gum Disease, Laser Surgery & Whitening
Cosmetics, Soft Tissue Surgeries, Crowns/Bridges, Root Canal, Dentures,
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Find us on zocdoc.com.
yelp.com and yellowpages.com.
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in this issue
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*$+ ,%%-#./ 0
Mission Cantina, Black Cat Coffee,
Louie and Chan
*$-123"%2""4 *$+0
Bodega owner attacked, real estate deals,
street artist, Space Invader, arrested
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Mandy Patinkin and Taylor Mac, Thurston
Moore and John Zorn, Klezmerfest
,%(0 :.(;2
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circa-1900 urban landscape
!.%(""5
Lower East Sideways
6
20
22
26
24
28
On the cover: The roast pork sandwich at
Black Tree is one of the reasons the Orchard Street
newcomer won our Best New Restaurant award.
Photo by Alex M. Smith *
4 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 5
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Happy Holidays, LES!
Manny Cantor Center
The Amazing, New Community Center Right
Here in the Neighborhood
Opens February 3, 2014
www.mannycantor.org
The countdown begins
Best
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Lower East Side
Best
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Best
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Best
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Photos:
left: Wontons with spicy sauce at Vanessas Dumplings
Photo courtesy of New York Food Journal
right: Prosciutto Crudo with fgs and goat cheese at Via
Tribunali Pizzeria
nair Sillick say the whole idea at Black Tree, which
opened in May, is to showcase farm-fresh ingre-
dients in dishes that are a lot more affordable than
your average seasonal menu. Sandwiches range
from $11 to $13; most starters are $5 to $15. The
concept was born at the Crown Inn in Crown
Heights, Brooklyn. There are some growing pains.
Like many new LES dining ventures, the food here
is more proficient than the service. But Black Trees
creative approach and gentle prices are obviously
winning a lot of local fans.
BEST OLD-SCHOOL
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Katzs Delicatessen
205 E. Houston St.
8 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 9
TLD Suggests:
Millers Near & Far
65 Rivington St.
If you care to consume your greenmarket
vegetables and organic chicken in a slightly
more refined environment, theres another
promising newbie on the scene. Tribeca res-
taurateur Chris Miller quietly opened Millers
Near & Far in an intimate space just off Allen
Street six months ago. Diners gaze up at a
funky infinity mirrored ceiling while watching
the chefs prepare sichuan peppercorn chicken
wings, seared Long Island skate and home-
made cavatelli with broccoli and ricotta from a
bustling open kitchen. Dishes are expertly pre-
pared and service is attentive and warm, with
appetizers ranging from $9 to $14 and entrees
from $12 to $28.
The Dominican diner on Rivington Street,
just a couple of doors down from the swanky
Hotel on Rivington, has endured in the face of
gentrification for almost 30 years. El Castillo, a
bastion for cheap, filling Latin specialties, came
in second place in our reader survey. You can
always find a longtime resident who will tell
you the place isnt what it used to be,
but in our book, you cant go wrong with the
huge cubano stuffed with succulent roasted
pork ($5), a bowl of chicken soup ($5) or a plat-
ter of mangu (mashed plantains) with fried
eggs and pickled onions ($4.50). Earlier this
year, in a feature on classic LES diners, owner
Luis Miguel Collado told us hes confident peo-
ple on the Lower East Side will always have an
appetite for fresh, affordable food, no matter
how fancy the neighborhood becomes.
TLD Suggests:
El Castillo de Jagua
113 Rivington St.
Theres old and then theres old. In the case
of Katzs, which we featured on the cover of our
November issue, theres no arguing the 125-year-
old delis exalted status on the Lower East Side.
For locals, no doubt, there are drawbacks. Sure,
youre craving that legendary $16.95 pastrami
sandwich, but are you really willing to stand in
line with all of those tourists waiting for their ad-
mission tickets? Even so, most of us are comfort-
ed to know that this slice of Jewish Americana is
still going strong at the corner of East Houston
and Ludlow streets.
BEST BEST
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Cafe Katja
79 Orchard St.
From 99-cent pizza to $200 tasting menus,
restaurants on the Lower East Side run the gamut.
In this category, we werent looking for your last
meal splurge but for your favorite everyday spot,
the place you visit time after time for consistently
good food, service and value. It seems appropri-
ate that, by a wide margin, the winner was Cafe
Katja on Orchard Street, a thriving, locally owned
restaurant that has expanded twice in the past
year. Any given evening, youre almost sure to
see co-owners Erwin Schrottner and Andrew
Chase seating customers, taking orders or even
bussing tables. Katjas authentic Austrian special-
ties, including wiener schnitzel, emmenthaler
sausage and beef goulash, are crowd-pleasers.
But the menu caters to diverse tastes, offering
several interesting, large-portion salads, a per-
fectly seared hickory-smoked salmon and beauti-
ful platters of cheese and cured meats. Almost
nothing on the menu costs more than $20; you
can get a brat for eight bucks. In the now-sprawl-
ing storefront, regulars sit at the u-shaped bar, en-
joying specialty cocktails, European draft beers
and hearty snacks from the kitchen, while larger
groups partake in full sit-down meals. In our June
2012 cover story on locally owned and operated
restaurants, Chase, who lives a few blocks away on
Grand Street, pointed out that he and Schrottner
are not running an Austrian restaurant, but a
neighborhood spot with Austrian food.
BEST
NEW RESTAuRANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Black Tree
131 Orchard St.
When we visited Black Tree one November
afternoon, co-owner Sandy Dee Hall was on his
way to pick up a 200-pound pig from the Union
Square Greenmarket, as is his habit every couple
of weeks. Pretty much everything on the menu,
from the freshly butchered meats, to the produce,
to the locally produced gin and whiskey, comes
from regional food purveyors. Black Tree is techni-
cally a sandwich shop, but one look at the narrow-
space on a rapidly gentrifying block of Orchard
Street, just above Delancey, youll know this place
is a full-service restaurant with big ambitions. The
low lighting, reclaimed wood tables and hip-hop
soundtrack set the scene for Halls imaginative
cooking. The seasonal sandwiches change every
few weeks, based on available ingredients. During
our recent visits, a sandwich of delicious pork belly
braised in Sixpoint IPA and accompanied by
quince preserves, chocolate mint and cheddar was
the star of the show. Another sandwich featured
balsamic braised portobello mushrooms, roasted
and pickled beets and ricotta. But there were also
interesting small plates, including a pot of pickled
cucumbers and other vegetables, a black Caesar
salad accompanied by a fried egg, and duck wings
with homemade hot sauce. Hall and partner Mac-
Cafe Katja owners Erwin Schrottner and Andrew Chase.
Photo by Alex M. Smith
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BEST MEXICAN
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Barrio Chino
253 Broome St.
Complaining about the lack of decent
Mexican food in New York is a popular sport. In the
last few years, a lot of new contenders have
popped up, though, quieting some of the
grumblers. On the Lower East Side these days,
ambitious restaurant/clubs such as Casa Mezcal,
Los Feliz and Viktor & Spoils in the Hotel on
Rivington are peddling gussied-up tacos and
infused tequilas to late-night carousers. But the
truth is theyre all following in the footsteps of
Barrio Chino, the little place on Broome Street
thats been packing them in since 2003. There was
really no contest in our survey; Barrio Chino is the
Lower East Sides go-to spot for Mexican. Its not
just about the tasty guacamole, delicious enchil-
adas de mole, comforting chicken soup and
perfectly prepared margaritas (were particularly
fond of the grapefruit variety). Manager Fidel
Vazquez and the rest of the staff (which has stayed
remarkably consistent over the years) are
welcoming and warm, although some would-be
customers become frustrated when the restaurant
becomes overburdened and they are sent away.
If youre a fan of Neapolitan pizza, you
probably already know about Via Tribunali on
Ludlow Street. Or maybe not. Weve been
surprised that this place, a Seattle import, hasnt
been busier in its first year and a half in business.
The chewy, charred crusts come out of a
handmade brick oven that was shipped over in
pieces from Naples. Toppings are very high
quality. One drawback: Via Tribunalis pies do
not hold up very well for delivery, so we
recommend eating them at the restaurant,
accompanied by a nice glass of Italian wine.
TLD Suggests:
Via Tribunali
122 Ludlow St.
BEST PIZZA
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Nonnas LES Pizzeria
105 Clinton St.
Youre not going to find the Lower East Side
on any lists of the best pizza neighborhoods in
New York City. After all, its a tough town. But there
are still plenty of options for a satisfying, on-the-
go slice. Two old favorites, Rosarios and Nonnas,
duked it out for the top spot. Nonnas won out by
just three votes. Devotees of this place love the
grandmas magic square slice, which features a
slow-cooked homemade marinara sauce thats
sweeter than what you find on a typical New York
pie, and is topped with creamy mozzarella. Nonnas
also offers a pretty phenomenal stuffed artichoke
slice, which is made by placing a whole artichoke
on a bed of cheese and creamed spinach. Its a top
choice for fast delivery. In addition to pizza, readers
told us they really like Nonnas pasta dishes and
sandwiches.
10 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 11
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We could easily fill an entire magazine
covering the culinary treasures available in
Chinatown. But for the purposes of this survey,
we focused on the area east of Bowery, so many
places in the historic heart of Chinatown were
discounted. Even in this confined area, there
was a lot of variety in readers answers. Spicy
Village (68 Forsyth St.), for example, has won
over some locals, who crave its lip-tingling wide
noodle dishes and homestyle stews. But there
was really no competition when it came right
down to picking an all-purpose Chinese
restaurant on the LES. Congee Village, the
massive Cantonese eatery with tacky tiki hut
decor, has it allbargain prices, a incredibly
diverse menu (250 items), late-night hours (2
a.m. closing time on weekends) and tables
capable of accommodating large groups any
time of day or night. To top it all off, Congee
Village is one of the only Chinese restaurants in
the neighborhood with dependable delivery.
The 29 varieties of congee, the house special
crispy chicken and razor clams in black bean
sauce are all solid choices.
Yunnan Kitchen is unlike any Chinese restaurant
in the area. One look at the sleek two-year-old
spot on Clinton Street is all thats required to
know that. Its not just the ambiance that sets
this place apart; its also one of the only
restaurants in New York showcasing the cuisine
of the Yunnan Province in Southwest China.
Chef Kevin Chun makes uses of rarely seen
ingredients such as chrysanthemum leaves,
paired with locally sourced components to
create a selection of small plates offering subtle
and unusual flavors.
TLD Suggests:
Yunnan Kitchen
79 Clinton St.
BEST CHEAP EATS
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Assorted Chinese
Dumpling Shops
Cheap is a relative concept, but most
people voting in our survey agreed: Chinese
dumplings are the way to go. Readers were all
over the map, however, when it came to picking
the top spot among the neighborhoods many
dumpling shops. Some are loyal to the old
standbys: Vanessas (118 Eldridge St.) and
Prosperity Dumpling (48 Eldridge St.), both
offering four pork dumplings for $1. Others,
scared away by the swarming tourists, have turned
elsewhere. Lam Zhou (144 E. Broadway) is our
personal favorite, for their delicate skin and
flavorful filling. Lam Zhou also happens to serve
outstanding hand-pulled noodles. There were a
few votes for China North Dumpling (27 Essex St.),
where you get 10 dumplings for $2, and for Shu
Jiao Fu Zhou (118 Eldridge St., in the same building
as Vanessas), which sells eight dumplings for $2.
BEST CHINESE
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Congee Village
100 Allen St.
Photo by Alex M. Smith
Photo by Alex M. Smith
BEST BREAKFAST
BEST SANDWICH
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Tinys Giant Sandwich Shop
129 Rivington St.
The Lower East Side excels at the sandwich.
Where to begin? At the top of the heap, of course,
theres the famous pastrami sandwich at Katzs
and pretty much anything you put between two
halves of a bagel at Russ & Daughters (especially
those delectable slices of Scottish salmon). We all
too frequently find ourselves dreaming of the fried
chicken cutlet on a buttermilk biscuit at Cheeky
Sandwiches (35 Orchard St.) or the cubano at El
Castillo de Jagua. But in our survey, Tinys edged
out all the competition. For more than a decade,
this bright corner spot on Rivington Street has
been a popular lunch hangout. Owner Dave
Currence gave the shop a facelift about three
years ago. There are lots of good options on the
menu, including several solid vegetarian
sandwiches. One enduring favorite is the Spicy
Rizzak ($9), which is made with turkey breast, crispy
bacon, melted cheddar, tomato, raw onion and
spicy mayo.
12 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 13
BEST HAMBURGER
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Mikeys Burger
134 Ludlow St.
Its location is ideally suited to cater to late-
night drunkards stumbling out of the areas many
bars, but Mikeys also is a local favorite. The
flavorful, juicy hamburgers arent ridiculously huge
and are reasonably priced ($5.50 to $9). You can
also get a respectable turkey, lamb or fish burger,
delicious shakes (the black sesame version is our
favorite) and sides, such as a heaping platter of
chili cheese fries.

BEST ITALIAN
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Sauce
78 Rivington St.
In a competitive category, Frank Prisinzanos
Sauce was a solid favorite. The younger sibling of
an East Village mini-empire has been a hit since
opening a couple of years ago. Like Prisinzanos
other restaurants, Sauce is an affordable option for
homestyle Italian specialties. You can get a plate of
pasta or lasagna, just like grandma used to make,
for around $15, although the check balloons rapidly
once wine is added. Theres an emphasis on
organic ingredients and local produce. Sauce is a
scene on many weekend evenings, and the service
can be spotty, but its a solid delivery option any
night of the week.
TLD Suggests:
Sorella
95 Allen St.
& Gaia Italian Cafe
251 E. Houston St.
Many people think of Sorella as a splurge,
and its certainly possible to do a lot of damage
in the small-plates Northern Italian restaurant.
But if youre looking for an adult environment in
which to have an actual conversation, enjoy a
nice glass of wine at the bar and perhaps nibble
on a few appetizers, its an ideal spot. An addic-
tive fried broccoli dish and anchovies with salsa
verde are both $10. Bartenders know how to
mix a proper cocktail and will gladly guide you
through the extensive wine list. Sorella also ex-
cels at desserts, including homemade gelato
and bomboloni (warm doughnuts made with a
variety of fillings). Another place we feel com-
pelled to mention is Gaia, a little sole-propri-
etor subterranean cafe on East Houston Street.
The panini, salads and fresh pasta dishes are all
delicious and incredibly cheap, and many in-
gredients, including the cured meats, are flown
over from Italy weekly.
There are a couple spots featured in other cat-
egories whose burgers wed also recommend.
Millers Near & Far offers a double patty with
cheese, tomato, pickled red onion and fries on
the side for $14 (more details under Best New
Restaurant, above). Cafe Katja just recently
added a hamburger with grilled onions to its
lunch menu (see Best Restaurant, above).
TLD Suggests:
Millers Near & Far
& Cafe Katja
TLD Suggests:
Dimes 143 Division St.
& OlD-School DINERS

This was a tough category, producing
no consensus. There were a few votes for
Clinton Street Baking Company, but that
lengthy wait for pancakes (even if they are
the worlds best pancakes) is not so appealing
to a lot of locals. A number of people
mentioned Shopsins in the Essex Street
Market, also a place with scary lines on
weekend mornings. In the absence of a clear
victor, we offer two suggestions. The first is
Dimes, a tiny new cafe on Division St., near
Ludlow Street. The health-conscious spot
serves up good coffee and a small selection
of traditional breakfast items, including eggs
with greens and roasted tomatoes and
oatmeal with seasonal fruit. They also have
several breakfast bowls featuring akai, a
berry grown in Central and South America.
One version is served with strawberry,
banana and house-made almond milk. If this
all sounds a little too crunchy for you, go the
diner route. A few of our readers mentioned
the recently remodeled Zafs on Grand
Street, near the Abrons Arts Center. If you
dont often find yourself on the eastern end
of the LES, its tough to go wrong at Cup &
Saucer, which has been operating from the
corner of Canal and Eldridge streets for a
quarter-century.
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A breakfast bowl at Dimes
14 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 15 15 www.thelodownny.com
THE TAYLOR SCHOOL
!"#ool$! &'ng$!eme(te&
Classes for all ages
February 3 June 14, 2014
Register by December 31, 2013 and save $50
) *ul$T*+lo&$!umme&$, *m (
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Ages 6-10 | July 7 11, 2014
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Ages 11-15 (intermediate and advanced) | July 14-18, 2014
All activities take place at the Taylor Studios,
551 Grand Street, New York 10002
To register, please visit www. td".o&g/("#ool
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BEST COFFEE
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Roasting Plant
81 Orchard St.
First-time visitors to the Roasting Plant on
Orchard Street are forgiven for thinking theyve
become part of some strange science experiment.
In a way, thats exactly whats happened. When you
BEST SPLURGE
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
wd~50
50 Clinton St.
Its no revelation that more high-priced
restaurants are opening on the Lower East Side
every year. Even diners with deep pockets were
taken aback a few months ago when a tiny new
sushi restaurant on Clinton Street, New York Sushi
Ko, began offering a $200 omakase (chefs choice)
menu. But according to our readers, the best
splurge around is still wd~50, the 10-year-old
temple of molecular gastronomy helmed by Wylie
Dufresne. Partaking in the 12-course tasting menu
from one of New Yorks most influential chefs will
cost you $155 (the wine pairing is an additional
$95). If youre into more affordable indulgences,
there is a less expensive way to experience
Dufresnes mastery: sit at the bar and partake of
any two dishes for $25, with additional dishes
offered at $15 each.
BEST VEGETARIAN
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Tiengarden
170 Allen St.

Even if they feature meat on the menu, more
local restaurants are providing vegetarian options.
Dimes, the new cafe on Division Street, was
mentioned as a vegetarian-friendly restaurant, as
well as a couple of falafel shops and Thai
restaurants. But it was a longtime favorite
Tiengarden that took the top spot. Since 1995,
this place has been serving vegan Chinese food.
The kitchen is skilled with vegetables, tofu,
seaweed and noodles. The cold sesame noodles
are particularly good. The staff is very friendly and
accommodating, and the restaurant recently
underwent a full makeover.
TLD Suggests:
forgtmenot
138 Division St.
www.thelodownny.com 17 16 www.thelodownny.com
Many of you told us customer service is a lost art
on the Lower East Side. A lot of places got one or
two mentions, but no restaurant earned a vote of
condence from our readers in this category.
Were not talking about white-glove treatment
here. Customer service, as far as were con-
cerned, means that you get some kind of ac-
order a cup of coffee, vacuum-tube technology
sucks the beans from canisters mounted on a wall
into a roaster and then shoots them to a grinder
and then eventually to a brewer. The contraption
produces a deliciously fresh cup of coffee,
according to our readers, who gave Roasting Plant
top honors among stiff competition. In the last few
years, the neighborhood has seen an explosion of
gourmet coffee shops. In our survey, Pushcart
Coffee at 221 E. Broadway also garnered quite a
few votes. In the three years since it opened,
Pushcart (originally Dora) has become a valued
community gathering spot, not just a place for a
morning caffeine jolt. Other spots mentioned by
readers include: Caffe Vita (124 Ludlow St.),
12 Corners (155 E. Broadway), Cafe Grumpy (13
Essex St.) and Lost Weekend (45 Orchard St.).
At forgtmenot, on Division Street, Paul and
Abby Sierros and Adam Himebauch created a
totally authentic, laid-back community hangout
for a rapidly growing circle of new and old
friends. The food, including a delicious lamb
pita, sauted shrimp and a great burger served
on an English mufn, is way better than it needs
to be for a neighborhood watering hole. But
the food is not really the point. People keep
coming back to forgtmenot because the own-
ers make them feel welcome. So far, so good:
this winter, the tiny restaurant is expanding into
an adjoining space on Canal Street.
TLD Suggests:
Yopparai
151 Rivington St.
Its billed as a sake bar, but Yopparai, a hidden
gem in a converted railroad apartment on
Rivington Street, is really a full-service
restaurant. The small plates at this izakaya
(Japanese pub) are mostly reasonably priced,
but if you intend to enjoy a full meal here, the
bill will add up quickly. Some of the most
enticing items, including extremely fresh whole
fish of the day, are cooked on an open grill
thats visible to diners at the bar. Yopparai also
excels at sashimi, clay pots, oden and grilled
rice cakes.
knowledgement upon walking through the door,
that youre served in a timely manner and that
someone asks whether everythings OK. A de-
cade ago, Schillers Liquor Bar opened on Riv-
ington Street and, in spite of serious misgivings
on the part of many locals, swiftly won over much
of the neighborhood by putting the customer
especially the ones who live in the neighbor-
hoodrst. If you saddled up to the bar more
than once, the bartender knew your name and
your drink of choice. In the last couple of years,
its been fun to watch the owners of a new spot
embrace this philosophy and make it their own.
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BEST CUSTOMER
SERVICE
BEST KIDS
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Cafe Petisco
189 E. Broadway
Some of our readers expressed strong
opinions as to where kids should be dining. A few
examples: Park Slope, the Upper West Side,
Economy Candy and at home. In all seriousness,
though, parents mentioned a wide variety of
places, including Schillers Liquor Bar, where
children eat free before 7 p.m. But the readers
pick in this category was Cafe Petisco, the friendly
Mediterranean restaurant across from Seward Park
on East Broadway. The eatery has a diverse menu,
offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and the staff is
very accommodating. Petisco isnt just a family
restaurant; its a popular spot serving a part of the
community in which there are few full-service
dining options.
BEST LATE-NIGHT
RESTAURANT
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
The Meatball Shop
84 Stanton St.
Tacos, pizza, crepes, burgers: these are the
mainstays of the Lower East Sides drunk food
repertoire. In 2009, the Meatball Shop opened on
Stanton Street, in a location ideally suited to
capitalize on the booming LES market for alcohol-
absorbing grub. As it turned out, the meatball
sandwiches and entrees (not to mention ice cream
sandwiches) are a significant cut above the usual
late-night fare. So its not too surprising that voters
chose the Meatball Shop to satisfy their late night
cravings, even if youve got to elbow your way to a
table or the bar.
TLD Suggests:
Taquitoria
168 Ludlow St.
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18 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 19
BEST SWEET
TEMPTATION
)*+,*-./ 01234*5
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington St.
There are plenty of ways to satisfy your sweet
tooth on the LES. Its not easy to pass by the
Doughnut Plant on Grand Street, il laboratorio
del gelato for ice cream or Roni-Sues Chocolates
in the Essex Street Market without having a nibble
of something sinful. But readers were very clear in
choosing Sugar Sweet Sunshine. The Rivington
Three veterans of Restaurant Marc
Forgione, a fine-dining spot, have taken a
page from the Meatball Shops book,
specializing in another single dish well-suited
as a companion to late-night imbibing.
Taquitoria opened this fall in a narrow
storefront on Ludlow Street, offering perfectly
fried taquitos (rolled-up tacos) with delicious
fillings (pork, bean, chicken etc.) and farm-fresh
toppings at three for $5 or five for $8.
TLD Suggests:
Family Recipe
231 Eldridge St.
This Japanese homestyle cooking spot on
Eldridge Street offers several vegetarian dish-
es, and chef Akiko Thurnauer is always willing
to tailor meals to meet individual dietary
needs. Good options include: ginger shiitake
mushrooms, a cauliflower and kabocha squash
steak, and daikon and tofu soba.
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Income Tax
Wealth Management
Intelligent DIRECTION
of Your Personal Finances
Best Wishes for
a Happy and Healthy
Holiday Season
Lee Slater, EA, CFP, MBA

Popular Tax
287 East Houston St, NYC 10002 212-677-8783
www.PopularTax.com
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www.thelodownny.com 21
JULIE MENERET CONTEMPORARY ART (133 Orchard
St., juliemeneret.com) is a new showplace for promoting an inter-
national roster of talented emerging artists working with particular
passion and purpose. The inaugural exhibit features works by
Zakaria Ramhani, a Moroccan artist whose
work incorporates Arabic calligraphy; it
runs through Dec. 22. Gallery hours are
Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to
7 p.m. and Sundays noon to 6 p.m.
BLACK CAT COFFEE (172 Riving-
ton St.) brings a welcome shot of caffeine
to the block of Rivington between Clinton
and Attorney streets. Offering authentic
espresso and a variety of coffee drinks
featuring add-ons like peppermint syrup
and Nutella, Black Cat provides a comfy
place to perch on vintage armchairs, sip a
hot drink and have a snack.
MISSION CANTINA
(172 Orchard St.) is the hotly
anticipated, super-hyped
restaurant featuring propri-
etor Danny Bowiens take on
Mexican food. The soft open-
ing in early November served
friends and family meals
to guests such as superstar chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse
and other A-list names. The restaurant opened to the public in
late November, featuring tacos al pastor and rotisserie chicken
stuffed with rice, housemade Oaxacan cheese and handmade
tortillas. Bowiens first LES venture, the wildly popular Mission
Chinese just up the street at 154 Orchard, closed indefinitely in
early November in the wake of major building issues. Meet Marilyn Karpof
A Lower East Side native,
Marilyn is a baby boomer who
understands the inherent chal-
lenges of an aging population.
Moving On NYC is the natural
outgrowth of her successful real
estate company, Karpoff
Affliates. Moving On NYC
ofers seniors individualized
transition planning. We can as-
sess your current living situation
to determine how to live safely
and independently in your own
home. If you choose not to stay
in your home, we can help you
pack, move, and sell your apart-
ment. If youre a baby boomer
who has lost a parent, you may
need help evaluating furnish-
ings and fnding a buyer. No
mater what your circumstance,
we provide expertise that will
give you peace of mind and en-
sure that each project is handled
with integrity.
Real Estate Broker & Senior Citizen Transition
Your one-stop solution!
Well help you make the best decisions to
simplify and enhance your lifestyle with
dignity and autonomy.
THE MOVING ON NYC ADVANTAGE
5-6 '&.'7'.-08'9#. /80&&'&1
'&(8-.#: ,"# ;+88+<'&1 :#67'(#:=
Provide emotional and physical support to reduce
stress if you are selling your apartment or planning a
move
Determine market value of your home
Evaluate furnishings and home contents to help guide
you on what to keep, bequeath, sell (consignment
and eBay specialists), donate, shred, discard
Manage cleaning and minor renovations and contact
painters and contractors for a quick and proftable
sale
Assist with packing and contacting/overseeing
professional movers
Connect with attorneys, estate guardians, social
workers, caregivers, assisted living or retirement
communities, etc.
Delicately handle cherished memorabilia, family
heirlooms, arts, photographs
Arrange for the loving care of animals
646-522-1637
mkarpoff@karpoffaffliates.com
Call for a consultation!
KARPOFF
AFFILIATES
REAL ES TATE
Moving On NYC
new arrivals
20 www.thelodownny.com
LOUIE AND CHAN
(303 Broome St., louieandchan.
com) After delays in build-out took
the better part of four years, this
Italian-Chinese inspired restaurant/
club combination from the owners
of Grotto opened its main level in
mid-November, with seating for
44 and a menu helmed by Stuzzi
alum Pasquale Frola. The down-
stairs club, touting an opium den
atmosphere is set to open at a
later date, and will be called The
303 at Louie and Chan.
BRANNONS (119 Essex
St., brannonsnyc.com) is a
new eatery from Wall Street
exec-turned-restaurateur Ron
Brannon, who left a career as a
chief technology officer to pair
up with Donatella Arpaia in her
eponymous Chelsea pizzeria
and its sister establishment
DBar back in 2011. Now Bran-
non has struck out on his own
with a menu of sophisticated
American comfort food, in-
cluding steak frites and seasonal
butternut squash soup.
edited by Jennifer Strom
FUNG TU (22 Orchard St.) is the new col-
laboration from Nom Wah Tea Parlors Wilson
Tang and Per Se alumnus Jonathan Wu. With
a name that translates from Chinese as wind
and soil, the new 50-seat restaurant features
Wus personal, contemporary take on Chinese
food, with a wine list curated by sommelier
Jason Wagner. Early menus showcased dishes
such as smoked mussels in scallion oil; Parker House steamed
buns; and whole steamed fish with fennel and tangerine peel,
chili and fermented black beans.
www.thelodownny.com 23
real estate
The Lower East Side commercial real estate market continues to boom. Last month, plans
emerged for a residential conversion of The Ridley Department Store buildings at the corner of Grand
and Orchard streets, which changed hands for $27 million this summer. Developers Waterbridge
Capital and Continental Worsteds led plans with the citys buildings department to redevelop the
clustered buildings57 Orchard St., 59-63 Orchard St. and 319-321 Grand St. (the pink building on
the corner)into a high-end retail and residential complex. In 2012, the Landmarks Preservation
Commission protected 319-321 Grand St., an 1886 cast-iron building that was home to New Yorks
largest department store until 1901. A couple of blocks north, another historic building hit the sales
market at $21 million in November. The Eisner Brothers Building, at 75 Essex St., was erected in
1890 as a public medical center known as the Eastern District Dispensary. It is directly adjacent to a
city-owned parking lot that is destined to become part of Essex Crossing, the mixed-use project set to
break ground in the next 18 months. Expected to start construction much sooner than that is the new
project at the former site of the Pathmark on Cherry Street. Its been a year since the supermarket
closed, in the wake of mega-developer Gary Barnett of Extell purchasing the property for $150 million.
The site is zoned for roughly a million square feet of development; a condo tower of as many as 55
stories is planned. Extell has been mum on specic designs and timelines, but indicated in early
November that demolition of the old grocery store would begin any day.
arts
After making the rounds of the neighborhood installing
his trademark mosaics, the French street artist Space
Invader was arrested Oct. 30. Mark Miller, who owns the
building at 90 Orchard St. and operates a gallery there, said
police told him Space Invader and his crew were caught
installing a mosaic piece above the Earnest Sewn clothing
boutique at the corner of Orchard and Broome streets. Police
said the mysterious artist had been taken into custody. Miller
removed the mosaic and workers scrubbed the wall clean. The
piece is mostly intact, and Miller said he intends to keep it in
his possession (its not for sale). It wasnt the rst time Space
Invader has had a run-in with cops; he also was arrested in Los
Angeles in 2011.
90 Orchard St.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder
following a shooting at the Gov. Alfred E. Smith
Houses Nov. 10. Christopher Delrosario was arrested
upstate, in Port Jervis, N.Y., a few days after the shooting. He
was charged with second-degree murder and two related
weapons charges on Nov. 15, according to the Manhattan
District Attorneys oce. George Taliferro, 30, was shot
three times in the torso around 4:15 a.m. and pronounced
dead at the hospital a short time later, according to police
and court records. The shooting occurred in a walkway between two towers at the large city housing
complex, 7 and 15 St. James Place. Delrosario was taken into custody, where he remains, and a sealed
indictment was issued Nov. 20. Delrosario is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 12 for a hearing.
22 www.thelodownny.com
neighborhood news
editedbyJennifer Strom
crime
arts
crime
The owner of a Grand Street bodega
was seriously injured in an attack by
skateboarders Nov. 8. Around 5:30 p.m.,
the proprietor of the Eastern Supermarket
at 335 Grand St. confronted four young men
he suspected of shoplifting after they alleg-
edly removed sodas from a cooler and left
without paying. In response, they apparently
beat him severely, using their skateboards
as weapons. The 50-year-old shop owners
injuries required facial reconstruction and the
insertion of metal plates in his skull, his son
said publicly the following week. The NYPD
released surveillance video of the incident; the
suspects were still at large as of press time.
The asphalt triangle at the intersection
of Division, Ludlow and Canal streets will
receive a makeover by artist Kim Sillen. The
Lower East Side designer (who is also The Lo-
Downs art director) submitted a proposal titled
Modern Tapestry,that was chosen by the Lower
East Side Business Improvement District as part
of an Urban Art grant application. The Open Call
for Asphalt Art required concepts to be pattern-
based, as opposed to character-based; designs
which can be repeated and installed simply
by stencil. Sillens work is a bright, cheerful
combination of patterns to lift the spirits of
passers-by with color and form. Her choice of
print designs also reflects the crossroads of
cultural influences that the location embodies
as our neighborhood brims with change. Sillen
noted, Shortly after moving to the Lower East
Side in 2007, I learned two facts that struck me,
both which involved people teaching on East
Broadway: No. 1, that the Yeshiva where my grandmother taught for decades was, in fact, just down
the road from my new home, and No. 2, that Mark Rothko, whose work my dad introduced me to at age
7 in my rst grasp at appreciating modern art, taught art just steps away at the Educational Alliance. I
never thought Id put Rothko and my grandmother in the same sentence, but they have both ltered
in as influences. The BIDs Natalie Raben said, Our selection committee was impressed by [Sillens]
color palette, the complexity of patterns she used and the brightness of the overall project.
Left to right, the former home of
Ridley department store on Grand
Street, the Eisner Brothers building on
Essex Street and the former Pathmark
on Cherry Street.
24 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 25
Thurston Moore and John Zorn at The Stone:
Guitarist and Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston
Moore kicks off a weeklong residency honoring the
late Lou Reed with John Zorn on New Years Eve.
Moore and Zorn recently released an album togeth-
er. Zorn was a frequent collaborator with Reed; Reed
and his partner Laurie Anderson also often played
and curated at The Stone in years past. Moore and
Zorn take the stage at 8 p.m.; at 10 p.m., Moore
and Mike Watt play a set to ring in 2014. Ave. C at
Second Street, $25, thestonenyc.com.
Punch Brothers at Bowery Ballroom:
Hyper-talented mandolin man (known as
the best in the world to some) Chris Thile
leads his New York-based progressive
bluegrass troupe through songs that re-
flect everything from country influences
to edgy acoustic pop for three raucous
nights to close out 2013. Also Sunday,
Dec. 29 and New Years Eve, Tuesday,
Dec. 31. 6 Delancey St., 9 p.m., $20,
boweryballroom.com.
31
The Classic Stage Company brings to-
gether Tony Award-winning actor Mandy
Patinkin and downtown actor, performance
artist and playwright Taylor Mac for !"#
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tells the history of humanity through music,
ranging from Rodgers and Hammerstein
to R.E.M. Patinkin (E+F#80&.G !"# ?6'&C
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centers on the two survivors of a flood of
biblical proportions who find that their
common language is song and dance. Heavyweight five-time Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman
(!"# ?6+.-(#6:G O+&,0(,G P+-&1 Q60&)#&:,#'&) directs and choreographs, with music direction by
Paul Ford. Showtimes vary, 466 Grand St., tickets start at $65 and culminate in a New Years Eve
benefit performance for Classic Stage Company. More details: abronsartscenter.org.
@HI&* JH;(IK(I HI& ;H*'L$ @HM
a t A b r o n s A r t s C e n t e r
Mon.
30
Tues.
DEC.
14-
30
Editors note: For more New Years Eve events, as well as neighborhood happenings throughout January
2014, stay tuned to thelodownny.com in December.
Klez for Kids & Synagogue Tours
at The Museum at Eldridge Street:
The museum is open all Christmas
Day, offering hourly synagogue tours
and family-friendly scavenger hunts.
At 1 p.m., sing, dance and learn Yiddish
at an annual family concert. Clarinetist Greg Wall and
his band Klezmerfest lead a musical tour of Eastern Eu-
ropean Jewish culture, ending with a festive audience-
enacted shtetl wedding. 12 Eldridge St., $12 adults; $8
students/seniors; children under 3 free, 10 a.m. to
3 p.m., eldridgestreet.org.
calendar
Movement Scores for Families at the New Museum:
Kate Cahill, an architect and dance researcher, leads
a series of experiments and activities that investigate
location, navigation and orientation inspired by animal
migration. Participants engage in different exercises,
including map-making and movement games that draw
on their personal experiences. Part of the First Saturdays
for Families program. The Sky Room at 235 Bowery, 10
a.m., free, newmusuem.org.
Visit our CALENDAR online at
www.thelodownny.com/calendar
for more details and
to add your own events.
what to do in DECEMBER
Jackie Hoffmans "##$ %&' ()# "&*+,-./ at Joes
Pub: Famed Second City veteran comedian Hoffman
makes her long-awaited return to Joes Pub, promising
topics ranging from what happens to a Jewish, straight
woman on a gay cruise during Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur to how an unwanted aging actress survives in a
New York overtaken by billionaire toddlers. 425 Lafay-
ette St., through Dec. 24, 7:30 p.m., $30, joespub.com.
Dixon Place Presents the Niles Ford
Urban Dance Collective, 0#1&+2#: The
New York company returns to perform
two contemporary pieces that pay
tribute to late founder and choreogra-
pher Niles Bailey Ford. Nathan Trice joins
as guest choreographer. 161A Chrystie St.,
Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.,
$16 adv./$20 door, dixonplace.org.
Fatima Shama on Immigrants in NYC at Tenement Talks: Join the commissioner of the NYC Mayors Office of Im-
migrant Affairs for an insightful discussion on the challenges and successes of supporting and integrating millions of
immigrants into the fabric of New York City. 103 Orchard St., 6:30 p.m., free, tenement.org.
Fri.
6
Wed.
11
Wed.
25
Fri.
20
edited by Traven Rice
Sat.
7
26 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 27
Two blocks of
Orchard Street were
transformed into
early 20th-century
New York for the
CInemax series,
!"# %&'(), directed
by Steven
Soderbergh.
arts watch
By Jennifer Strom
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-&'#.*;',3 1,*'(),7# +*!& , )+.),;WbUU (!.##!
scene for nlming.
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%,0.+) (!&.# 2,( ).#,!#' +* ,*&!"#. (!&.#%.&*!E
Orchard Street Travels
Back in Time
,*' !"#* 7&761,!#' 2+!" '&8#*( &% 0&1!( &%
-,!#.+,1 76.)",(#' ,.&6*' !"# )&.*#. ,! e,.+*
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7.&'6)!+&*E !,G+*/ &F#. (#F#.,1 01&)G( ,*' )1&(;
ing streets to trufnc for the better purt of three
duys for set-up, nlming und deconstruction.
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!,1+!3 .,!#( ,*' 8#.& ,*!+0+&!+)(4B X! 2+11 ,+. &* !"#
),01# )",**#1 +* _UWg4
Photo by Tim Schreier_
28 www.thelodownny.com www.thelodownny.com 29
Seward Park Liquors
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