The Bowery N.Y.
Not only is the Bowery New York’s oldest street, but it is also perhaps the one that best embodies these contradictions. It has been poor, rich, violent, cultured, upscale, and downtrodden—all at the same time.It has born witness to every facet of New York’s history. Today, most New Yorkers view the Bowery as the site of constant construction, home to modern hotels, upscale stores, and luxury penthouses. However, the street’s former history has proved remarkably durable. From CBGB to Gangs of New York, the public perception of the Bowery is one of toughness mixed with strangeness, as if the lyrics of “The Bowery” still describe the street today.
