I grew up on Forsyth St Chinatown. I was told that in the 80s, the street was not completely part of Chinatown yet it was the borderline of Chinatown and Latino/Jewish community. As a child I heard gunshots sometimes at night and I would get scared. when my parents first immigrated from China during the early 80s, the street was a mess. drugs, shooting and robberies, especially the Chinese were getting robbed a lot.
Wow!! No bathrooms in the apartments. In "New York". That sounds like someplace in rural Mississippi during those times. I had always thought the northern cities were more sophisticated. Even in the sixties. Oh well...guess I was wrong.
There are a lot of very old buildings on the Lower East Side and East Village and it has long been a neglected part of the city. But now, particularlly the East Village, is well on its way toward becoming the next Tribeca--in other words, a very hip and expensive neighborhood.
@aarfeld You kiddin???/ hasn't been like the brother is saying since the mid '70's...those were the days. baby...now its either the poor on ave d., or some lame- ass 25 yr old finance guy and his phony girlfriend!! Those days are gone FOR GOOD.
@ioriorioriorio: Yea, I thought I was pretty clear in describing the past, not the present in the East Village--though, I had friends who were squatting in abandoned buildings around Tompkin Square Park as recently as the '80s. Those days are now gone indeed in this rising chi-chi neighborhood.
I grew up on Forsyth St Chinatown. I was told that in the 80s, the street was not completely part of Chinatown yet it was the borderline of Chinatown and Latino/Jewish community. As a child I heard gunshots sometimes at night and I would get scared. when my parents first immigrated from China during the early 80s, the street was a mess. drugs, shooting and robberies, especially the Chinese were getting robbed a lot.
supertrouper 11 months ago
Dude, true dat!
Thanks so much for this ... I feel nostalgic for the NYC I used to really know, in the mid-70's.
GimmeKitty 2 years ago
Wow! Really great stuff! Thank you for the information and the trip back in time.
I look forward to you sharing more about your life and experiences the city. Be well.
DiazDigital 2 years ago
This is such a sweet homage to your roots man. Your talking about a really incredible time in New York history.
hethandjed 3 years ago
Ah, the Fillmore East--sacred ground, there.
aarfeld 4 years ago
Wow!! No bathrooms in the apartments. In "New York". That sounds like someplace in rural Mississippi during those times. I had always thought the northern cities were more sophisticated. Even in the sixties. Oh well...guess I was wrong.
charj67 4 years ago
There are a lot of very old buildings on the Lower East Side and East Village and it has long been a neglected part of the city. But now, particularlly the East Village, is well on its way toward becoming the next Tribeca--in other words, a very hip and expensive neighborhood.
aarfeld 4 years ago
@aarfeld You kiddin???/ hasn't been like the brother is saying since the mid '70's...those were the days. baby...now its either the poor on ave d., or some lame- ass 25 yr old finance guy and his phony girlfriend!! Those days are gone FOR GOOD.
ioriorioriorio 1 year ago
@ioriorioriorio: Yea, I thought I was pretty clear in describing the past, not the present in the East Village--though, I had friends who were squatting in abandoned buildings around Tompkin Square Park as recently as the '80s. Those days are now gone indeed in this rising chi-chi neighborhood.
aarfeld 1 year ago