Exploring SoHo: A Vibrant Blend of Art, History, and Modern Culture in Lower Manhattan

Introduction

Only in New York City would a neighborhood be known as SoHo, meaning south of Houston Street. Only in New York City would Houston be pronounced How-stun.

These claims to fame pale in comparison with this Lower Manhattan's district's colorful history, architectural splendor, superb shopping and dining opportunities, along with its past reputation as an enclave of art galleries.

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SoHo shines as one of the Big Apple's most trendy, and diverse, neighborhoods. Upscale stores like Tiffany and Dior overlook street vendors selling knock-off watches and jewelry, clothes, homemade art and all kinds of tchotchkes. Some 500 buildings comprise a 26-block Historic District. Galleries provide hints of a time when the area was world-famous for its booming art scene.

Adding to the appeal are facilities and assistance geared to make SoHo as reachable as possible for people with a disability. While not all subway stations in the area are easily manageable, the Broadway-Lafayette Street and Canal Street stations have elevators and accessible entrances. New York City buses are wheelchair-accessible, making them a convenient option for navigating SoHo and the surrounding area. Taxis and rideshare services often have accessible vehicle options, and the New York City Accessible Dispatch Service can fill requests for transportation.

Looking back in history, what now is SoHo during the Colonial period was farmland given to formerly enslaved people, which became the first free Black settlement on Manhattan Island. At the time of the American Revolution, numerous fortifications were located there.

Fast forward to the mid-19^th century when an explosion of cast iron buildings created the largest collection of such architecture in the world. The pliable metal was molded into intricate patterns that was used to enclose expansive high-ceiling interiors with enlarged windows. When these spacious, well-lit lofts became vacant, they began to attract artists and SoHo became the epicenter of New York City's thriving gallery scene.

While that drew to a close in the 1990s, some outstanding art spaces remain in the community. The Eden Gallery is an international company that represents artists from around the world. The Georges Burges Gallery displays works by both established and upcoming creators.

Art also decorates the outside of some buildings and other surfaces. One outdoor mural, which was applied in 1974, blended that medium with the architectural treasure trove. It depicts a faux cast-iron façade echoing that which adorns its neighbors. The artificial architectural gem serves as an introduction to the SoHo Cast Iron Historical District, to me one of the most intriguing attractions of the neighborhood. Other images embellish mail boxes, lamp posts and many other flat surfaces scattered throughout the enclave.

Adding to the appeal of the setting are streets which are paved with Belgian Block. These are decorative rectangular stones which in the past were widely used in the country for which they're named because they provided a better grip for horses' hooves than a smooth surface. While crossing these streets can be challenging for mobility devices, the sidewalks are generally accessible.

SoHo's architectural riches combined with its former reputation as a haven for artists and, more recently, as a virtual shopping Mecca make it a must-visit place for my future trips to New York City.

When I return, I'll be certain to dine again at Fanelli's Café, a nondescript establishment with a storied history. The site it occupies has been documented back to 1644, and food and drink have been served there since 1847. Over time the building also operated as a grocery store, saloon and, during the Prohibition years, a speakeasy.

It was a gathering place for members of the artist community and for patrons ranging from boxing champion Rocky Graziano to singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. I enjoyed watching vintage silent movies playing on the TV set and chatting with the bartender, who augmented generous pours with colorful tidbits about the establishment's interesting past. I also observed that the café lives up to its reputation for being accommodating to guests with a mobility challenge.

Another accommodating dining establishment is Balthazar, a bustling brasserie that serves traditional French fare from breakfast through supper, and brunch on weekends.

A magnet for those with a sweet tooth is the Dominique Ansel Bakery. In addition to the owner-chef's innovations like the cookie shot and frozen s'mores, people often line up well before the shop opens to make sure they can get the lusted after Cronut. So prized is that cross between a croissant and donut that customers are limited to purchasing two of the taste-tempting treats.

If you visit SoHo with children in tow, a pair of locations is likely to be high points for the youngsters. The Museum of Ice Cream occupies a building that dates back to the 1860s. Today's visitors may jump into a pool filled with colorful sprinkles, plummet down a three-story slide and indulge in unlimited ice cream treats.

The quaintly named Sloomoo Institute is an interactive experiential space devoted to - slime. Those willing to do so my sink their hands into dozens of scented goos, design their own goop and take a slime shower.

Film buffs may check out a number of SoHo locations where movies and TV shows have been shot. One is the cast iron apartment building which served as home to Molly (Demi Moore) in the motion picture Ghost. Not far away is the street where Patrick Swayze, playing Sam Wheat, took a bullet during a mugging gone wrong and died, only to return as an apparition which saves Molly's life.

If film locations or all-you-can-eat ice cream aren't reasons enough to visit New York's SoHo district, perhaps art and architecture will be. Add a colorful history, shoppers' paradise and a discerning diners' desired destination and, if you haven't stopped by during past trips to the city, the question becomes why not.

For more information about SoHo, log onto nyctourism.com

Author Credentials:

Victor Block has been a travel journalist for many years, and has written for major newspapers, magazines and travel websites and served as an editor of Fodor's Travel Guides. He is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Victor is a regular contributor of reviews to the Disabled World travel section. Visit Victors's biography for further insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.

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Cite This Page (APA): Block, V. (2024, November 14). Exploring SoHo: A Vibrant Blend of Art, History, and Modern Culture in Lower Manhattan. Disabled World. Retrieved December 10, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/travel/usa/soho.php

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