NYC Album Art: Paul's Boutique

According to the album, Paul's Boutique is in Brooklyn...but we all know this photo was taken in the Lower East Side. With a Paul's Boutique sign hanging up on the Lee's Sportswear storefront, the shot was taken at 99 Rivington Street, where Rivington and Ludlow intersect. Currently residing in this exact spot is a restaurant called Paul's Boutique, named in honor of the album.

This shot looking down Rivington Street from the intersection of Ludlow is also included in the album art (note the yellow street signs). On the left you can see the First Roumanian-American Congregation (89 Rivington Street) that collapsed earlier this year. Though it was 17 years ago, the area still has many a shop selling men's clothes, leather jackets and sportswear - with their product hanging out on the sidewalk, just like in this shot.

The Beastie Boys first started practicing together at 59 Chrystie Street (between Canal and Hester), just about nine blocks from "Paul's Boutique".

Previously: The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Strange Days and Physical Graffiti

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on April 19, 2006 12:59 PM

Comments [rss]

BaHa

Oh, Paco, you are endlessly amusing. You got one out of three. I was an English major, class of 1978. Trust fund? Working class Brooklyn native.

ethan

Go see Beastie videos at Museum of Moving Image in Astoria, Qns. Friday 4/21 at 6pm-www. ammi.org. Great to watch "Shake your Rump" on big screen.And of course "I Fuckin' Shot That" @ Union square. Every time I hear "Hey Ladies" I think of Mona's on Ave A, back in 1990. PB was on the juke box.

Bickle

Great series.

(It's definitely "on" not "in" the LES, by the way.)

Jack

I bought it as a "promo/cut out" the week it came out from St. Marks SOUNDS. That store is the number one source of "not for sale" promos in NYC... Right behind Disc-O-Rama.

What do these punk kids have today? Filesharing? Feh!

ed_Extinct

I bought that album the day it came out... on tape... the dust brothers rawk!

Squid Ink

"I bet all the bullshit hipsters down there didn't buy that album until 7 after it came out. God I hate this city."

7 what? minutes? yes, that would be very uncool.

paco cruzin

HaBa,

Are you an English major? that would make sense why a turst-fund baby from Long Island would hang on a blog and critisize a hard-working blogger's composition.

get back to work swine,or back to NYU

BaHa

Paco, your erudition and bellicosity complement your originality in a truly delightful fashion.

Rotten Apple

I bet all the bullshit hipsters down there didn't buy that album until 7 after it came out. God I hate this city.

pablo cruz

Luke,

Actually, I say "on", but i didn't like Baha criticizing Jen especially since she was saying "photo was taken IN LES" which is bit of a grey area.

And this series is sweet and that's all he had to say...Pompus Ass

luke

I love this series. Very cool.

Pablo,

Out of curiousity, do you actually say "I live in the Lower East Side." I have grew up on a "side" neighborhood and live on another "side" neighborhood and I always say "on." I use "on" and "in" with no preference when speaking of lines though.

Adam

Ditto on the album-cover series shoutouts. Looking forward to more, Jen.

Sherry

Throwing my voice into the chorus too, I love this series. Best idea y'all have had in a while!

Jon

I think the Beastie Boys first practiced (and played their first gig) at John Berry's house, which is around 100th & Broadway. That's what John's dad told me, and what it says in a couple biographies I came across.

Pablo cruz

Baha, you are a complete jackass.. I'm from the LES (born and raised) and I wait "in" line to bang your mother all the time. Not to mention that this NYC Album cover series Kicks but..Kudos Jen!!

Nathan

I like this series a lot. Keep it up!

BaHa

For future reference, it's "on" the Lower East Side, not "in", just as us NY natives wait "on" line, not "in" line--when we have the patience to wait at all.

BaHa

For future references, it's "on" the Lower East Side, not "in", just as us NY natives wait "on" line, not "in" line--when we have the patience to wait at all.