The Pastrami and Wry Scavenger Hunt

Explore the heart of the Lower East Side…

…as it changes practically right before your eyes. This hunt explores primarily the area between Houston and Delancey Streets, where new towers are squeezing in between the old tenements. You’ll discover trendy new cafés, bars, and stores located side-by-side with traditional eateries associated with the neighborhood’s Jewish heyday, including Katz’s Deli, Russ & Daughters, and Yonah Schimmel’s Knishery. You’ll see old synagogues that have become artists’ studios and art galleries, a sleek luxury hotel across the street from the legendary Economy Candy store, 19th-century buildings with splashy new murals by rising street artists, and a spin-off of a trendy bakery that has taken over the former home of Schapiro’s Kosher Wines.