forbidden LES

I love being a college student in the city. Most of all, I love that if it weren’t for a lack of funds, I’d always have something entertaining to do. Unfortunately, on the Lower East Side, I also need to be two years older to do some of the things I would want to. No, not frequent the plethora of bars, but attend shows at the 21 plus music venues scattered throughout the neighborhood.

Just to show you how unfortunate this is for myself and other under-aged city dwellers, I’ve compiled a list of some of the places I’ve been yearning to go to, but alas, cannot because of my tender age:

Cake Shop (152 Ludlow St.)- Café by day, music club by night, the Cake Shop has it all. Before 5 p.m. the place is unassuming as a café that sells baked goods and coffee along with records. But when the Cake Shop makes its nightly transformation and the bar downstairs opens for business, the doors close to the under-21set, and open to obscure indie and rock bands.

 Arlene's Grocery (95 Stanton St.)- The iconic, red former butcher shop and bodega houses two bars, hosts live music seven nights a week in the band room and on Saturdays between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., an open mic night. Shows are always less than $10 and at a venue known for booking bands such as The Strokes before they were famous, what do you have to lose?

Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen St.)- I've often walked past the curtained windows of this club praised for its intimate setting. A great place to hear up and coming musicians because of its small size, the legendary music hall also enforces a two-drink minimum, making it a little too pricey for me anyways. 

Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston St.)- Run by The Bowery Presents, Mercury Lounge is a stop off for bands heading up to other Bowery clubs like The Bowery Ballroom, Terminal 5 and Music Hall of Williamsburg. Here, music lovers can enjoy one of the best sound systems around in a setting said to emote Lower East Side cool. I wouldn’t know, but perhaps in two years i'll get to experience the ambiance myself.