Enjoy a slice of real New York tonight. The Bowery Mission is celebrating 130 years of serving those in need and the 100-year anniversary of its chapel (227 Bowery between Rivington and Stanton Sts; bowery.org) with a month of free arts programming on Thursdays in October from 7 to 8:30pm. There are images of the iconic street from the 1930s to the present day in “Now & Then: Photography of the Bowery,” and half-hour tours of the Bowery Mission.
Tonight only, there’s a presentation on muckracking journalist, photographer and champion of the poor Jacob Riis, as well as a performance from East Village crooner John Rainbow. Rainbow was a balladeer with a golden voice, but never made it after refusing to change his style to sound like Fats Domino. It’s just one of the stories that makes the Bowery what it is. Expect plenty more like it tonight.
