Tales of Vice: Exploring the Lower East Side's Former Red-Light District

New York Adventure Club | www.AdventureClub.com

"If a woman hailed you as you walked down Allen Street, you knew she wasn’t calling you to a minyan” — Judge Jonah Goldstein

From the 1890s through the 1990s, Allen Street in New York's Lower East Side was the center of the neighborhood's vices, from its countless ciderstubes (dive bars/brothels) to cholents (Jewish prostitutes). But out of all the streets in the neighborhood, how did Allen Street become the hub for illicit activity? And what eventually became of it? It's time to turn the page in New York City history and uncover the lewd legacy of one of its most infamous red-light districts.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the rise, fall, and resurgence of the Lower East Side's red-light district, one of the most notorious thoroughfares in New York City history.

Led by licensed NYC tour guide Robert Brenner, our on-the-ground experience surrounding the Lower East Side's scandalous past will include:

• The incredible story of the Jewish detective who went undercover to smash the vice rackets
• A visit to sites related to the highest-profile crimes and criminals in the neighborhood's history, from gangs that controlled the streets, to a serial killer who stalked the working girls of Allen Street, to a mobster whose spectacular murder shook the neighborhood
• A discussion along the route of how societal issues of the day shaped the neighborhood's history, including anti-Semitism, mass transit, sexism, capitalism, urban renewal, and xenophobia
• Tales of the two hardest working Jewish prostitutes in New York City — but never on Shabbat
• A stop at remnants of the neighborhood's former red-light district hiding in plain sight

See you there!

*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking!

**Our experience will conclude at the southeast corner of Allen and Houston Streets

About Robert

Robert Brenner is a licensed New York City tour guide, a certified member of the Guides Association of New York City (GANYC), and an almost lifelong New Yorker. He is currently pursuing a MALS in New York Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center. His mother grew up on the Lower East Side in the good/bad old days—she would plotz if she saw this tour.

Testimonials

"One of your best tour guides" -Jerry

"The guide was knowledgeable and really interested in the subject matter." -Thomas

" I learned a lot about NYC and the LES--very interesting! Guide was engaging, educated, and clearly passionate about this topic." -Lindsay

"Robert was very into his history. He made it come alive ." -Merle

"Very interesting topic. The guide was very informative & knowledgeable." -Bernadette

Disclaimer

Event takes place rain or shine.

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Categories: In-Person, Neighborhood Tours