Who Was Sloppy Louie? A Walk into the Past In Search of a Seaport Legend

Walk the historic streets of South Street Seaport with longtime advocate Stephen Dima and artist Naima Rauam as they bring to life the era of Sloppy Louie’s (1930–1998). Immortalized in Joseph Mitchell’s Up in the Old Hotel, Louie’s was more than a restaurant—it was a cultural hub amid the bustling Fulton Fish Market. Retrace streets once lined with crates of fish, relive the energy of a working waterfront, and see where Louie sourced his fish.

The tour begins at Sloppy Louie’s former annex with stories of Louie, Mitchell, and other colorful Seaport figures, plus a rare short 1955 film of Louis Morino. It ends at beloved local establishment Peck Slip Social, where the conversation continues.