Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Should There Be A "Beastie Boys Square" On The LES?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 18, 2013
Modified Dec 18, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 18, 2013
Modified Dec 18, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
via Facebook
Even though Paul's Boutique was said to be in Brooklyn, the famous shot on the album cover depicting it was captured at 99 Rivington Street, at the corner of Ludlow on the Lower East Side. And now fans of the band want to name that area "Beastie Boys Square," an effort LeRoy McCarthy started back in September.
The Beasties have plenty of downtown history aside from this album cover (check out our walking tour). From McCarthy's petition site, he explains: "In the panoramic photograph it captured the vibrancy of the ever-changing life on the streets of NYC. The album, released July 25th 1989, was groundbreaking, and it encompassed these Boys from NYC, rapping about life and times from their point of view. Because of the album cover photo, and the Beastie Boys were ever-changing NYC artist, the location of Ludlow Street and Rivington Street would be a great place to honor Beastie Boys with a corner co-naming."
According to DNAInfo, McCarthy hopes to present his proposal to Community Board 3, though the board has not confirmed if it's on the agenda for January.
We've also reached out to Beastie Boys' PR company to get their thoughts on this, and will update if we hear back.
Earlier this year, Adam Yauch Park was dedicated to the late great MCA in Brooklyn Heights.
Tagged
beastie boys
beastie boys square
LES
paul's boutique
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 26, 2026
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
NYC’s creative workers are increasingly self-employed, report says
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .