We (two women) want to walk from the Tenement Museum to a restaurant on E. Houston, then on to 11th avenue to check out a bakery. This will be in the afternoon on a weekday. Neither one of us has visited this neighborhood, so just want to make sure it's safe enough during the day to be walking around. We're street smart, and slightly sketchy neighborhoods don't scare us, but just want to know what to expect.

Neighborhoods can change drastically by crossing a street in my city, so just thought I'd ask about the lower east side before we get there.

Thanks!

You have no worries. Its a safe place to walk around especially during the day. I would suggest trying Katz if you've never eaten there although there are a few places as you walk around that are good. Have fun!

Thanks, writealiving. I love to check out neighborhoods, and just needed a thumbs up from someone in the know about this one.

I've done the NY deli thing once before (not Katz's), and I (and husband) just didn't like it. I guess that puts us in the minority.

Anyhow, we were going to try Yonah Schimmel's kinishes. I never knew what a kinish was, but I looked it up and it sounds like something I'd like to try! Best friend is up for it, too. Then we want to go to Veniero's bakery.

Venieros is on 11th Street off of First Avenue. Check your map.

Veneiro's is on 11th STREET not 11th ave. a VERY different place. Go to maps.google.com and walk yourself on the street view and also get directions and a map.

OUCH! That's what I meant. I said avenue instead of street. Sorry for the confusion! Honestly, I did check a map. I know where it is on the map. It's on 11th STREET! Got it!

I was wondering what bakery was on 11th AVe.

Veniero's is about 15 minute walk from the Tenement Museum. The neighborhood is just fine and the area around the Tenement Museum probably has more people on the street at night than during the day.

At Veniero's try the ricotta cheese cake and take pignolli cookies with you.

The tastes at Katz's are much stronger and richer than pastrami I have tasted outside of NY.

I live in the neighborhood and although it looks gritty it is now a very safe area.

Thank you, Aduchamp1. That's what I needed to know. We will walk the streets of the lower east side with street wise confidence!

Note to self: Never confuse street and avenue in NYC.

The ricotta cheese cake is THE reason I want to check out Veniero's on 11th STREET. I can taste it already. Well, and the cannoli, and cookies, and........

Thanks, again!

I agree w/ Aduchamp about the pignolli coookies at Veniero's but suggest you walk across the AVENUE to De Roberti's for their cheesecake and/or cannolis. Just my opinion.

http://www.derobertiscaffe.com/

Buffalo Girl-I hope you have a nice time. Its a little cold, but still nice to walk around. Don't worry about the avenue/street thing. Once you're walking around a bit you will get the hang of it. It sounds harder than it is, but its really an easy city to navigate. Enjoy!

MP

The canollis are better at DeRobertis but try the orange and lemon thing. I do not know the proper name but they scoop out the fruit and make a smooth filling and then put it back into the original rind and freeze it.

My poker guys are addicted to the ricotta cheesecake at Veniero's, one guiy, a cop, says it more addictive than crack.

Also Veniero's closes the cafe on the day before Thankssgving and Thanksgiving and they just sell from behind the counter. It is totally insane there.

Basically, numbered avenues go north - south and numbered streets go east - west. If you're still confused, look to see where the sun is - unless it's a cloudy day or night!!

I have walked around other neighborhoods in NYC and didn't get lost, so hopefully I'll have the same luck this time.

I think we will have to try both DeRobertis AND Veneiro's! My mouth is watering just thinking about it

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

The numbered cross streets basically start above Houston but there are many exceptions on the westside until 14th Street.

USUALLY NY'ers will say the avenue first but always ask for clarification. If any number is above 12 that you can assume that that number is a cross street and the other is an Avneue. On course there is first and first and second and second so that should simplify some things.

Got that.

Got it! (Well, not really....I'm being polite).

If all else fails, my nose will lead me straigh to the ricotta cheesecake!

I have not been to Yonah Schimmel's in a few years, but the last time I was there it looked dirty to me. NYC Board of Health does monitor food places so it just may be me and might be different now, but I would not eat there. And their knishes are very heavy. The Italian places you mentioned are much better.

I do not think the Health Department considers the windows and signs of an establishment. Zabar's makes a far better knish, but there are few places that make the baked varoety at all. Fairways does as well.

I never heard of or had a kinish, so I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one. They look good in the pix on Yonah Schimmel's website, I'd like to try something new, and I'll be in the neighborhood. And it just seemed like a true NYC experience.

Not far away on Grand Street is Kossar's Bialy's. They are extremely good. On the same block is Donut Plant which makes arguably the best donuts in town and across the street is the Pickle Guys who cure their own.

Thank you Aduchamp1. I am considering all of your suggestions! Do I dare ask about pizza?