Jaunted

Chinatown Garbage Tour

Dumpster Dive in the Urban Jungle of Manhattan

July 12, 2007 at 10:56 AM | 1 Comment

Taxidermy may be a lost art, particularly in this urban jungle. But one man, Brooklyn artist Nate Hill, is looking to bring America's back woods to the Manhattan masses. On Thursday night--rain or shine--he'll show hipsters and homebodies how to dumpster dive through Chinatown's world famous (and often unidentifiable) trash and turn shark carcass, frog legs, and those cute, tiny turtles into high art. Hill advises first timers to wear close-toed shoes and long sleeved shirts (he'll provide hand sanitizer and rubber gloves). But we suggest full-body protective gear for this down and dirty event.

Where to stay:
Book a room at the Washington Square Hotel. It's just a block away from some of the city's most fascinating wildlife in the Village's famous Washington Square Park. There may not be any stuffed critters frolicking in these cozy rooms, but after an evening like this one we expect you'll have taxidermy dreams all your own.

Where to drink:
Admire the work of the animal-stuffing masters while sipping PBR form a can at Home Sweet Home. The old Lower East Side sign shop turned watering hole proudly displays disembodied horse-head hitching posts and fluffy white rabbits created by the pros.

Where to eat:
Get your drink on and then head to Freemans Alley. Despite the name, you'll find no dumpsters here. Sample the delicious artichoke dip and wild-boar terrine under the watchful doe-eyed deer heads and eagle wings, which are expertly mounted to the old-school American eatery's walls.

Related Stories:
· New York City Travel [Jaunted]
· Hotels in New York City [HotelChatter]