See Eric Ferrara on SyFy Network, March 31

LESHP director Eric Ferrara was recently interviewed by the Ghost Hunters International crew about the history of a local Irish pub.

The episode will premier on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2010 at 9:00pm. Check back for more information as the air date approaches.

Newsday features Gangster Tour

"What Hollywood has done its part to bring the Italian Mafia to life, but nothing gets you closer to the real thing than this tour. Let Eric Ferrara, executive director of the Lower East Side History Project, separate myth from fact as you trace the roots of organized crime. Walk the same streets and alleyways where mob legends Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel held court."

-Newsday, Sunday, Feb 7, 2010
"These tours take you to quirky corners of NYC"
By Jeanne Fury

East Village Visitor Center Reopens on E.4h Street

The Lower East Side History Project (http://leshp.org) has joined forces with Fourth Arts Block (http://fabnyc.org) and the Cooper Square Committee (http://www.coopersquare.org) to bring the East Village Visitors Center to the heart of the E.4th Street Cultural District.

After almost a year at 308 Bowery, the new East Village Visitor Center opened February 2, 2010 at 61 E.4th Street (Bowery/2nd Ave). The hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00am to 6:00pm. Besides providing local information, maps and brochures, the East Village Visitor Center will offer theater discounts through Fourth Arts Block and sell advance Lower East Side History Project walking tour tickets.

The East Village Visitor Center (http://eastvillagevisitorscenter.com) will serve to highlight and provide clear access to East Village & Lower East Side businesses, attractions and history to tourists and local resident’s alike.

“It seemed natural to combine the East Village Visitors’ Center and Fourth Arts Block Central. Where better to host a visitor center but in the heart of the only Cultural District in Manhattan? Everyone wins. We get an opportunity to stimulate the local economy by directing visitors to East Village businesses, and visitors looking for entertainment have access to Fourth Arts Block's incredible network of theater and arts groups. says Eric Ferrara, executive director of Lower East Side History Project and founder of the East Village Visitor Center.

“When Eric came to us and suggested moving the visitors’ center in with our ticket window, we were really excited, because now we can help even more people experience the best in East Village arts,” comments Tamara Greenfield, executive director of Fourth Arts Block.

“This neighborhood has such a rich history of activism and arts, which we think Lower East Side History Project has done a great job in preserving and educating people about. Having the visitors’ center in our building, here in the East 4th Street Cultural District only emphasizes the tie between the two,” mentions Steve Herrick, executive director of Cooper Square Committee, one of the oldest tenants rights and advocacy organizations in New York City.

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What: East Village Visitors Center
Where: 61 E.4th Street, NY NY 10003
Cross Streets: Bowery and 2nd Avenue
When: Tuesday thru Saturday, 11:00am-6:00pm
Why: Local information and discounts, maps, brochures, advance tour tickets
Directions: F/V to 2nd Ave, 6 to Astor Place
Website: http://eastvillagevisitorscenter.com