Rivington Pub Crawl

March 25, 2002 Rivington Pub Crawl: Introduction. Today's New York Times tells the tale of angry residents of the Lower East Side -- my neighborhood! -- griping about too much nightlife in the area. The article offers the fun fact that "there are 99 businesses licensed to sell beer, wine or liquor for consumption on their premises within the 10002 ZIP code, an area bordered by the East River, the Bowery and East Houston Street. Sixty-one licenses were granted in 2000 or 2001. In its neighboring ZIP code, 10009, which extends north from East Houston Street up to 20th Street, 153 businesses have liquor licenses, many issued within the past few years"... Indeed, it cannot be denied that the Lower East Side is a bar haven. In the past six months, four establishments have opened within a half-block radius of my Rivington Street apartment, including one downstairs. (Emphasis mine.)... Genuflect on this quote in the Times story from State Senator Martin Connor ("who recently wrote a letter objecting to the issuance of a liquor license on Ludlow Street, where there are already 12 bars within 500 feet of one another"): "When you have a dozen bars close together, you attract big crowds who literally bar-hop, create noise problems and urinate in public." (Emphasis mine.)... In honor of Senator Connor, Below 14th will embark on a series of Lower East Side Literal Pub Crawls, beginning this week with Rivington Street. Please: join us. First post: tomorrow.