first week of october on the LES

This week’s headlines reflected the changing vibe of the Lower East Side. Hundreds of years ago, the predominantly Jewish neighborhood would have been bustling with Rosh Hashanah preparations. Today, synagogues struggle to stay alive among the trendy bars and restaurants. This New Year, Community Synagogue on East Sixth Street has recruited the help of one Rabbi to restore its congregation to its previous numbers. Read more about it here.

Change is also apparent as ever on Orchard Street. The 18-story Thompson Lower East Side hotel is going up at 183 Orchard St. Rooms are set to start at $395 a night, reflecting the neighborhood’s touristy turn. The man responsible for this hotel, Sion Misrahi, has had a large hand in the overall transformation of the neighborhood, from historical to hip, a change that has received flack from locals. Whether they like it or not though, Thompson Lower East Side is expected to open this spring.

Another relatively new establishment has run into trouble this week. Community Board 3, which has jurisdiction over the Lower East Side, has denied The Box’s request for a liquor license due to noise complaints. The Box, a theater and dining establishment famous for its risqué burlesque shows, opened less than two years ago at 189 Chrystie St. The denied liquor license isn’t the only recent bad news for owners Simon Hammerstein, Richard Kimmel and Randy Weiner. The dinner theater is also under scrutiny for alleged inhumane treatment of employees and performers, two of which posted their complaints on their Myspace page after quitting in July.

The Lower East Side has also been seeing an influx of art galleries, giving the area a greater SoHo-esque vibe. The neighborhood was actually named the Best Arts Community by Time Out New York magazine in the September 18-24 issue. This week, there are a few exhibits in their last days.

At the New Museum of Contemporary Art on the Bowery “After Nature” is on view. The exhibit closes on Oct. 5. This Saturday at the New Museum Target First Saturdays for Families presents “Six Degrees,” an exhibit expired by the Bowery itself, free of charge for families with children ages 5 to 15.

“Creswell Crags” is a showcase of 10 different young artists at the Lisa Cooley gallery at 34 Orchard St. and closes Oct. 5. Ending the same day is “Monsters,” a showcase by 13 different artists on display at the Rental Gallery at 120 E. Broadway at Allen Street.

After enjoying some of the visual arts that the neighborhood has to offer, you can satisfy your longing for the auditory arts at any one of the number of musical venues scattered throughout the Lower East Side. It is difficult to narrow down the multitude of artists performing in the coming weeks, and listing all of them here, would be unreasonable so here are a couple that both perform in the neighborhood and embody its indie vibe.

On Friday, at the Cake Shop at 152 Ludlow St., Jad Fair, an underground artist and musician, will be performing to a backdrop of his paper-cut artwork that has been on display all of September.

The following Friday, Oct. 10, the Bowery Ballroom located at 6 Delancey St. will be hosting Langhorne Slim. Though a native of Philadelphia, he perfected his folk-rock sound by frequenting open mic nights on the Lower East Side.

I’d venture downtown this weekend and next, while the Lower East Side’s designation as an arts community still sticks. Before you know it, luxury condominiums and boutique hotels could begin replacing the galleries and music halls too.