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Downtown: Today

Downtown Manhattan has long been a hotbed for experimental art and culture, from pop art to avant-garde theater to punk and classical minimalism.

(Click the word cloud to see a word cloud of what Downtown means to people.)

But the downtown spirit has spread to Williamsburg, Long Island City and other areas. As WNYC opens a new performance space south of Houston, Soundcheck asks: In one word, how do you define downtown? Joining us to discuss the changing face and sound of downtown are rocker Lou Reed, genre-bending singer Santigold and the string quartet Ethel.

Tell us: In one word, how do you define downtown?

Slide show: View images of downtown Manhattan

Video: Santigold, "L.E.S. Artistes"
Soundcheck Blog: John Schaefer on downtown
More about the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space
Timeline: Downtown New York

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Downtown: Birth of a Look and Sound

We conclude our broadcast from WNYC's new Jerome L. Greene Performance Space with a live performance from the string ensemble Ethel. They perform "Radio," a WNYC-commissioned work by composer Osvaldo Golijov. Plus, guests and listeners talk about the road ahead for downtown Manhattan's creative communities.

Ethel site
Osvaldo Golijov site

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Downtown: What's Next

Our live broadcast from WNYC's Greene Space continues with a look at the history of downtown Manhattan, with guests Santigold and Mary Rowell of Ethel. Plus, a live performance from Lou Reed.

Slideshow: View photography by Lou Reed

Lou Reed site

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