After Getting Virtually Flashed, Virtually Held Up And Virtually Squeegeed, Any Reservations I Might Have Had About Bernard Tschumi’s Tremendous Contribution To The Lower East Side Skyline Just Slipped Away

Is there a happy medium between those who want New York grittier and those who are quite satisfied with Fifth Avenue’s status as a chain store loss-leader? Yes, and it’s in the form of a Virtual Lower East Side:

Lingering in filthy bars, listening to obscure music and talking to beautiful strangers while wearing hip T-shirts is de rigeur for the Lower East Side.

Only now, you don’t have to be there physically to do it.

The Virtual Lower East Side, a new project by online-world specialists Doppleganger Studios, attempts to recreate every nook of the neighborhood.

While VLES is still under wraps — except for those lucky enough to infiltrate the earliest test stages — hipsters and closet-hipsters alike will soon be able to create a miniature version of themselves and wander through the digital streets. The aim, according to Doppleganger, is to create an online meet-and-greet, where music fans can watch concerts and swap tips without having to complain about the price of beer or extortionate rents.

“The idea is to create the atmosphere and vibe of the Lower East Side as it stands today, and give people an opportunity to experience bands they wouldn’t find in their hometown,” said Andrew Littlefield, founder of Doppleganger, in an interview with Metro.

“We tried to create the venues as you see them, and that’s where the VICE guys came in,” Littlefield said, referring to VICE magazine, who are also involved with the project. “They kept saying, ‘Make it darker, make it darker, make it grimier, make it grimier.'”