Downtown New York has plenty to offer, from historic architecture to Mexican cuisine and independent cinemas.
1 - Architecture
The section of Lower Manhattan draws its name from its location south of Houston Street, a boho-chic locale which boasts cobblestoned streets and the world’s largest concentration of cast-iron structures. The area bounded by Broadway, West Broadway, Canal Street, Howard Street, Crosby Street, East Houston Street and West Houston Street was designated the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District in 1973 by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Cast iron was used for construction in the mid to late 1800s as a strong and affordable alternative to granite and marble. The spacious interiors, high ceilings and large windows appealed to artists in the 1960s and 1970s, who transformed SoHo’s abandoned warehouses and factories into loft studios. Nowadays, high-end boutiques and galleries fill the walls. One of the best examples of the architecture is the EV Haughwout Building on the corner of Broome Street and Broadway. Built in 1857, it features two cast-iron street fronts and was home to the world’s first steam-powered, hydraulic, passenger elevator by Elisha Graves Otis.
2 - Housing Works
From EV Haughwout, walk north-east on Broadway until you reach Prince Street and then take a quick right and immediate left onto Crosby Street, until you reach Housing Works Bookshop at number 126. This community bookshop raises funds for the namesake charity which helps those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The social enterprise was founded in 1993 and drew its name from its mission: to provide housing to HIV-positive people and end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through advocacy, the provision of life-saving services and funding from entrepreneurial businesses. This beautiful wood-clad bookshop is one such example of this, featuring everything from graphic novels to book proofs and a fifty cent cart. All books have been donated and the staff is almost entirely made up of volunteers, with 100 per cent of profits funding the charity’s services.
Winding staircases take you to further books on the mezzanine level while posters of benefit concerts and the beaming ‘Bar’ sign at the (temporarily closed) café at the back of the shop give an idea of the lively events held in pre-Covid times. The charity also has a number of thrift shops throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, including one next door to the bookshop.
3 - Taco time
Return to Prince Street and take a right onto Lafayette Street, continuing until you spot the red LED ‘Corner’ light and retro façade of La Esquina, a Mexican venue on the corner of Lafayette and Kenmare Street. At first glance, the colourful flagship site on the edge of the Nolita neighbourhood is a bustling street-level taqueria with a takeaway counter, but hidden below is a dimly lit, dungeon-like brasserie accessed via an ‘employees only’ door.
Those looking for a quick bite should stick to tacos and quesadillas upstairs, while the generous rice bowls are prime for takeaway – filled with black beans, avocado, queso fresco, pico de gallo and salsa – topped with a choice of grilled fish, pork carnitas, adobo roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, ribeye steak or a sunny-side-up egg. If it’s an occasion, party subterranean-style with margaritas in the brick-walled restaurant. There are additional taquerias in Midtown and Uptown.
4 - Shopping
SoHo is synonymous with shopping – from high-end luxury boutiques, such as Chanel and Prada, to department stores and independent outlets. On the expensive side, check out the 279 sqm Lanvin boutique at 150 Mercer Street with its original exposed brick walls and clothes arranged against a 22 metre-long mural inspired by classical myths from British interior designer Luke Edward Hall.
Indie bookstore McNally Jackson at 52 Prince Street offers a great range of literary works, including a section dedicated to New York books, while its sister store, Goods for the Study at 234 Mulberry Street, has a beautiful selection of stationery materials.
For a variety of brands, head to the downtown department store Bloomingdale’s, located in the former Canal Jeans building on Broadway, and leave with your purchases in the recognisable little brown bags. Plus, if you didn’t get a chance to visit the MoMA, a shop at 81 Spring Street sells contemporary home furnishings and gifts.
5 - Angelika Film Center
It’s been a difficult 24 months for cinemas, but film buffs have kept this iconic multiscreen theatre going. The Angelika Film Center occupies The Cable Building on the corner of Houston Street and Mercer Street. It is renowned for its arthouse, independent and international films.
The Manhattan cinema opened in 1989 and has since expanded to Dallas and Plano in Texas, Fairfax in Virginia, Washington DC and San Diego. Cinemagoers can enjoy films with a craft beer or glass of wine alongside snacks from New York-based suppliers.
When you return home, you can rent or buy films on the Angelika Anywhere streaming platform. In-house February showings include Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or nominee The Worst Person In The World, a Norwegian film from director Joachim Trier. Tickets from US$18.
