My LES: Fred Tenny

This popular feature spotlights a wide variety of people who live and work on the Lower East Side. If you know someone you would like to suggest be featured in “My LES,” please email us here.

What do you do?

I own Rivington Music Rehearsal Studios at 188 Stanton Street, Lower East Side, NYC. We’ve been open continuously for 24 years, since 1988. My First rehearsal studio location was 106 Rivington Street, moved to the Stanton street location in 1992.

How long have you lived on the LES?

I lived in a store front at 123 Allen street for a long time. My first lease (down here) was in 1983. Living there was great, the building had a huge back yard! I still miss that location…

Favorite block in the hood?

Clinton street has always been my favorite block although I spent lot of time in a bar called Rivertown Lounge, at 187 Orchard St., before it was closed, due to the property being sold and The Thompson LES hotel being built.

Favorite date spot in the hood?

There are too many small restaurants up to big bars/clubs to mention. I always liked the smaller places. I have to
mention Rosario’s pizza, I was there last weekend for an after-concert slice at 1 a.m.

Favorite coffee in the hood?

I’m a bodega coffee guy…I don’t do 3 bucks for coffee.

Favorite cheap eats in the hood?

My newest go to place for cheap eats is One More Thai on Clinton Street. They have a $7 lunch special until 4pm…

Where do you take your visitors when they’re here?

This is a loaded question…it depends on who the person is! The one thing that’s great about the Lower East Side is the amount of really cool stuff compacted into a small area….it’s truly an ethnic melting pot. The variety of shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and clubs is endless.

Favorite dive/locals bar in the hood?

The bars I like from North to South: Local 269, Donnybrook, Iggys, Lucky Jacks. They’re all very different, I like the variety…

How has the neighborhood changed in the last few years?

The neighborhood has changed a lot! I’m an advocate for change and renewal…people move, new stores and bars open, stores and bars close too. It’s a natural cycle. HOWEVER, I also know that it can be very hard, cold and upsetting when folks can’t afford to live or keep businesses open due to this neighborhood change….there are good and bad situations here but I believe it’s all part of the “cycle.”

Favorite LES memory?

My favorite memories are from the music scene…for me everything evolved around the music. I think there is more live music, more art and more fashion in the Lower East Side than ever before, all mixed in with every race known to mankind! The Lower East Side is a great place to live, visit, eat, drink, shop, see a band, theater, it’s got it all! The LES is my past, present and future!