Tenement Podcast: Businesses of the Lower East Side

At the Tenement Museum, we like to share what we know about the immigrant experience and the history of the Lower East Side any way we can. Whether by building tours, neighborhoods tours, Tenement Talks, or right here through the blog, we want people to engage and talk to us in any way that's convenient for them. That's why, starting today, we're launching the Lower East Side Tenement Museum Podcast.

We have a bunch of episodes lined up featuring interviews with our staff, sneak previews of what we're working on, and interesting tidbits about 97 Orchard Street and the LES. Plus, soon you'll be able to subscribe to the podcasts on iTunes so you never miss an episode.

Episode One features Part 1 of my interview with Curatorial Director and Research Manager Dave Favaloro discussing the history of LES businesses and how we're integrating it into our restored tenement building at 97 Orchard.

Check it out below and stay tuned for Part 2, plus a lot of other cool stuff to come.

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-Posted by Joe Klarl

Photo of the Day

Photo by DoreenKlein

And the Artifact is...

On Friday, I asked if you recognized this wooden artifact:

Did you? It's actually a tap for a beer barrel, just like the kind that occupied John Schneider's 1870s saloon at 97 Orchard Street, as featured in our forthcoming exhibit.

Unlike today's aluminum and metal kegs, the wooden barrels that occupied saloons and pubs used these wooden taps to dispense beer. A beer barrel was placed on its side in those days and the thin end of the tap was inserted into a hole on the top of the barrel. As the handle was turned, the spout would open, beer would then enter through a hole in the wooden filter and finally pour out into a bartender's glass.

Beer barrels and wooden taps lost favor in the twentieth century as metals and plastics took hold of the market. Today, some of these wooden taps are connected to barrels that hold wine and other beverages, though most modern taps, even those connected to wooden barrels, are metal. The vintage kind can be found on Ebay, like this 1930s tap found in a Kentucky warehouse.

-Posted by Joe Klarl

Great Gifts: Anna's Picks

As Anna walks around on the Tenement Museum Shop floor, she stops briefly to watch two teenage girls giggling at a noisemaking animal keychain. But she barely breaks focus while she travels to each section of the store and points out her favorite books, calendars and jewelry.

"The shop is cultivated in a way that's easy to go through," Anna says. But if any visitor needs help, she and the rest of the shop staff are ready with suggestions. "We know the shop really well," she says.

97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement by Jane Ziegelman $25.99
Jane Ziegelman's book is a culinary history of the families who lived in the tenement at 97 Orchard Street. "You learn about the families through their food," Anna says. The book just came out this summer, and Anna says it has inspired many people to visit the Museum. It's a must read for anyone interested in food on a cultural level.

Ms. Food Face Plate $13.95

Ms. Food Face seems like a regular plate, except it's decorated with a bald-headed woman. The blank face is a canvas for kids to play with their food, creating luxurious locks of mashed potato hair, carrot stick eye brows, etc. "Maybe kids will actually eat their food," says Anna.

Computer Keyboard Bag $39.95

The Tenement Museum has a "Go Green" section with beautiful things made from recycled items, like jewelry boxes covered in recycled glass pieces, coasters made out of buttons, and picture frames adorned with typewriter keys. Anna says the entire section is a big hit with women, especially the messenger-style bags made out of computer keyboards.

Postcards from Penguin $25.00

These postcards are perfect for any reader or fan of words. Each card in this box of 100 is a different cover of a classic Penguin Paperback, with titles by Virginia Woolfe and F. Scott Fitzgerald, crime stories, and even a handbook about feeding poultry and rabbits. Anna says she saw these last year in England and was really excited when the Shop started carrying them.

All of these and more can be yours... pay us a visit (Mon-Sun, 10 am - 6 pm) or call to order, 212-982-8420. Support local business and your museum shops this holiday season!- Posted by Kiley Edgley

Can You Guess the Artifact?

Check out this artifact we bought while preparing for our new exhibit about the businesses of 97 Orchard Street:

This wooden item consists of two connected parts: its long dagger-shaped body and the revolving  handle built into its side. 

Some of you might be familiar with this one already. Almost any adult who lived on the Lower East Side a century ago would recognize it. A tremendous amount of businesses had one or several of these inside. So what is it?

Tell us and check back here Monday for the answer!

-Posted by Joe Klarl



Great Gifts: Carly's Picks

Looking around the Museum Shop, you wouldn’t be mistaken in thinking that employees cultivate items for the retail store just as intently as they do for the Museum’s exhibits.

"It's curated in a way that makes it a fun experience to browse," says Carly, the Shop’s gift buyer. "We have a fun assortment between the books and gifts – some are a bit kooky." As Carly sifts through the shelves of books, dishes, and bags, she points out interesting gifts with lightening speed. The Shop's stock is large, but Carly made no hesitations while making her top recommendations.

Italian Floral Wine Glasses $33 for a set of six

One of Carly's favorite items is a set of stemless wine glasses painted with simple, colorful flowers. "Rather than stem glassware, they're a bit more casual for dinner parties," she says. They're a beautiful gift for any foodie or wine lover.

Stuffed Animals $12.95 to $24.95

For the little ones on your gift list, the Tenement Museum Shop has an amazing selection of stuffed animals. There are baskets full of fuzzy penguins and elephants, cats with long, silly tails and farm animals that Carly describes as "outrageously soft." Every kid will be excited to hug these critters!

XYZ Blocks $29.95

Carly loves how these are an irreverent take on the classic ABC blocks. Instead of using familiar words like train, umbrella or cat, the XYZ Blocks teach the alphabet with words like trailer, uvula, and corn dog. The best part: they're fun (and funny) for both kids and grown ups.

Santa and Mrs. Claus Mugs $29.95 for set of two

For a touch of Christmas nostalgia, Carly loves these painted ceramic mugs. "I remember having these as a kid," she says. They're perfect for sipping cocoa or for holding candy canes. And they come in their own green gift box, so wrapping them up is a snap.

All of these and more can be yours... pay us a visit (Mon-Sun, 10 am - 6 pm) or call to order, 212-982-8420. Support local business and your museum shops this holiday season!

- Posted by Kiley Edgley

Great Gifts: Karolina's Picks

As Karolina makes her way through the crowded Tenement Museum Shop, she stops to point out some of her favorite items. As she picks up a wall calendar, she changes her mind, puts it down abruptly, picking up a weekly calendar with tear-out postcards that she likes better.

As an employee, it's difficult for her to narrow down the shop's inventory to just a few stand-out items. She thinks it's a great store because it represents the themes of the Tenement Museum, but nothing resembles a silly souvenir.

"Our buyer has a great eye for fresh, hip things," says Karolina. "There's a selection for everyone."

NYC Storefront Calendar
This desk calender has a different photo of an NYC storefront for each week, including iconic locations like Russ and Daughters and CBGB. The photos are all from the lush Storefront: The Disappearing Face of New York coffee table book. The best part: each photo rips off and becomes a postcard, so you can plaster them on your walls or send them to your friends and family. It's the perfect for anyone who lives in New York City, loves New York City, or misses New York City. $22.95

Greek Diner Coffee Cups
Diners are a staple of the New York City restaurant scene, and these ceramic mugs take their inspiration from the classic blue paper coffee cup with Greek-inspired designs. Karolina says they're a great gift for anyone. "Everyone loves beverages," she says. And they're now a piece of history - designer Leslie Buck died this April. $12.95

Stylish Reusable Shopping Bags
The Museum Shop has an entire wall of reusable vinyl shopping bags decorated with everything from cowgirls to the NYC skyline to cakes and pies. Every eco-conscious lady will find a design she loves.$12.95

Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York
One of Karolina's favorite books is Low Life by Luc Sante. It's a crime history of New York City, but it's also about life out of the mainstream. "It shows how women fit in and what their lives were like," she says. "It's a sensational, fun read." She recommends the book for anyone who has a healthy appetite for knowledge. $17.00


 All of these and more can be yours... pay us a visit (Mon-Sun, 10 am - 6 pm) or call to order, 212-982-8420. Support local business and your museum shops this holiday season!

- Posted by Kiley Edgley