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We like to say that Lower Manhattan holds the world in one square mile, but that’s especially true when it comes to Ireland. In just a handful of blocks, the neighborhood boasts over a dozen Irish pubs, hosts the largest annual St. Patrick’s Day party in NYC on Stone Street, and is home to at least two important pieces of Irish cultural history: the Irish Hunger Memorial, and the James Watson House at 7 State Street.

If you’re celebrating St. Paddy’s with a pint, finding a good Irish watering hole downtown is no chore. You have one of the city’s last standing Blarney Stone pubs on Trinity Street, a family-owned, low-frills relic whose affordable fare and drinks make it, as food critic Robert Sistema once wrote, “a museum of the way working class New Yorkers ate in pubs 50 years ago.”

A few blocks away, O’Hara’s Pub slings traditional Irish bar food in an environment honoring first responders, a reminder of its status as a haven for firefighters and other essential personnel after September 11. For a more modern vibe, there’s the Dead Rabbit on Water Street, where you can find delectable Irish coffees, or Stone Street, where the St. Patrick’s festivities last for days.

If Irish history is your focus, take a stroll westward to the Irish Hunger Memorial, a peaceful, grassy hill in Rockefeller Park. The memorial’s reconstructed stone cottage was made with materials brought in from the old country, and stands as a tribute to the one million lost to famine in Ireland.

Nearby, the James Watson House at 7 State Street serves as a kind of companion piece to the Hunger Memorial. In the decades following the famine, an influx of Irish immigrants arrived in New York, many of which were women under the age of 40. The Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary for the Protection of Irish Immigrant Girls at 7 State Street provided a safe haven for over 70,000 girls who came to America alone. The Mission helped these young Irish women find permanent homes and jobs, and provided spiritual support.

From pubs to parties to pieces of rich history, Lower Manhattan truly is an Irish neighborhood. We hope you enjoy your St. Patrick’s Day downtown, however you’re celebrating.

Happy opening day to the newest location of @essabagel, now proudly operating downtown at 115 Broadway!

The famed NYC chain was slinging perfectly soft and doughy bagels this morning, alongside standard coffee and beverage options. Our staff enjoyed the plain, sesame and everything offerings with scallion schmear — but to each their own! Head to the link in our bio for more about this exciting new arrival 🥯

In January of last year, the Downtown Alliance put out a call for filmmakers to apply for a $50,000 grant to make a movie in Lower Manhattan during the summer of 2024.

This initiative, dubbed “Filmmaker in Chief,” was created both to empower artists and to further establish downtown NYC as a prime destination for film production.

We received over 400 applications from filmmakers all over the world. After reviewing each pitch, a panel of judges selected the Neymarc Brothers – a filmmaking pair known for their visual effects work – as the winners.

Production on their winning idea, a short film called DREAMSCAPE, began just a few months later. The Neymarcs, their cast and crew spent weeks downtown, taking advantage of the neighborhood’s inherently cinematic streetscapes, rooftops and interiors: including local theaters and office spaces transformed into film sets.

Last night, just over a year after applications closed, we hosted a private screening of DREAMSCAPE, along with Filmmaker in Chief runner-up Raphael Vangelis’ short film, 0% LEMON. To see this ambitious initiative culminating on the big screen was a privilege to witness, and we applaud the filmmakers and their teams for their hard work and creative visions.

It was a celebration of independent filmmaking, artistic expression, and ultimately, of Lower Manhattan and all its potential. Thank you to everyone who came out to spend the night at the movies with us!

Been a minute since we’ve done a tags roundup 🏷️

We love seeing the neighborhood through your eyes! Keep tagging us in all of your downtown adventures.

Photos by:
@wienofwallstreet
@iamkknyc
@mchlanglo793
@lukeslobster
@718mango
@nyclovesnyc
@manhattanwalkingtour

Lesley Ware has loved DIY fashion for as long as she can remember.

She’s been able to turn that passion into a career in the form of Art to Ware, her fashion boutique located in the South Concourse of the Oculus. True to its name, Art to Ware seamlessly blends fashion and fine art – stocking pieces from designers who specialize in upcycling, customization and sustainability.

Ware’s sharp eye and impeccable taste have helped her curate a collection of truly special clothing items, accessories, shoes and gifts – making Art to Ware a one-of-a-kind shopping destination.

We talked to Ware about her lifelong interest in fashion, the journey that led her to opening her shop, her commitment to sustainability and more. Tap the link in bio to read!

Like all great explorers, you’ll have to venture into the unknown to find one of the best cups of coffee in Lower Manhattan.

Voyager Espresso, Will Ayala and Angery Mejia’s experimental coffee shop, was already a hidden gem before the entrance to the subway corridor in which it resides closed for construction. But anyone looking for an adventurous caffeinated beverage can head to the lobby of 110 William Street in Lower Manhattan, where signs direct cafe-goers to the basement level. There, a futuristic espresso bar curves around the inner sanctum where inventive, impeccably made drinks are crafted all morning long.

We talked to Voyager’s owners about their coffee origin stories, their sourcing practices and their out-of-this-world food and beverage offerings. Tap the link in bio to read!

#nyccoffee #coffeeshop #espressobar #nyccafe