I've worked and lived in this Bowery loft space since 1970. There had been artists lofts on this forlorn street for years. Right after I moved in I wanted to move out–the street was also still "skid row". My loft was above the Whales Inn, a bar by night, then a donut and chicken frying restaurant by day. Next door was a liquor store mostly selling the wine of choice at the time, "La Boheme". Empty and broken bottles among sobering up drunks littered the sidewalks. It wasn't dangerous (except if you were one of the alcoholics sleeping, lined up like cordwood, heads against the storefronts–then the "vipers" came by at dawn and made sure that your pockets were emptied of money). It's changed; the New Museum opened at the end of 2007 on the Bowery, a block away. "Their idea is that the Bowery is a "Vibrant 24/7, Boulevard". It's a miracle that I'm still here, and I'll never move!