Over Memorial Day weekend we bought four same day sweatshop tickets online. Some of the tours, however, were sold out and many times were unavailable.

Thanks, Marija.

We hadn't gone yet when I bookmarked this info., but we had a chance to do the Irish Outsiders tour on our last trip to New York. We bought our tickets ahead of time because we wanted a specific time, and they do sell out. I was glad we arrived early because we had to all walk to the tenement building together, and if we had been late we would have missed out. If you get there early Doughnut Plant is nearby, and they have great doughnuts. Katz's is close by for lunch.

I went last year on a tour, and there was only one tour not sold our, and it had just one opening. Luckily for me, it was also just a 15 minute wait! If you have a specific tour in mind, I'd definitely book online.

Thanks, volcanogirl and lcuy. I guess we'll buy our tickets in advance. Any idea how long we can wait until we buy them? A week, two weeks, a month?

Tonight, we went for a lecture and a large sampling of today's version of immigrant food. We had all sorts of items including german style potato salad, pretzels, pickles, Italian cheese and sopresetta, to a modern Chinese pastry. All are from neighborhood stores including the Pickle Guys, Di Palo, and others. Fun and informative.

Lst year we went for a presentation and samples of Jewish breads.

If you are interested in food besides Volcanogirl's recommnedation are the Essex Market, Yonah Schimmel's for knishes and Russ and Daughters for lox and and other smoked fish. For dessert be sure to go to il laboratorio del gelato. If go to Katz's and you get a meat sandwich be sure to "bribe" the cutter for $1 for a taste. If you go with a kid let him/her do it.

N.B. You must be able to climb stairs for the tour at the Tenement Museum.

We went to Russ and Daughters too. We got some Babka to go. I hope I'm spelling that right. It's just something that we've always wanted to try, and they don't sell it in our area. Lots of neat little authentic old school shops in the area that are fun to explore.

<<<If go to Katz's and you get a meat sandwich be sure to "bribe" the cutter for $1 for a taste>>>

And a much thicker sandwich!

I always cringe at the words authentic and quaint. That is how some live and it is not quaint or authentic to them but their lives. Sometimes I see people say they want to do and see what the real people do, as if they are Margaret Mead and and the others are the Somoans.

The irony of calling Russ and Daughters authentic is that has been taken over by a grandson who first went to law school. None of the rags to riches immigrant success story. And the people behind the counter are Jewish, Hispanic, and Asian including a guy from Nepal who has a most fantastic life story.

BTW, Russ is as good or better than it ever was.

Authentic takes on different and new meaning when all is known.

When we went in September last year we just walked in and bought our tickets on the day. No problem as it was weekday. if you have to wait , which is maybe just an hour, then go to Katz's deli round the corner.

Thank you, lateagain. You gave me the answer I wanted!

We went to the Tenement Museum and tour in their apartments on a very hot and humid day. The apartments are not a/c nor should they be, just a heads up for chosing a cooler day if possible.

By authentic I meant that they've been around since the early 1900s and have been run by multiple generations of families that have lived in the area and have some history there vs. Doughnut Plant that is also good, but new and doesn't have the history behind it. I really can't imagine that they would cringe at being called authentic.

annetti, the tickets didn't go on sale that far in advance. When I tried to buy them they weren't available yet so I just kept checking back on the website. The early morning times were selling out first when I was checking. Good luck!

Volcanogirl: iwould imagine that the recipes that are handed down that would make it authenic. I would agree with you. Thanks.

It is akin to people staring down at us from the hop-on bus. It is the way one was raised and authentic makes it sound like you subject to a sociological study, rather than being natural.


Donut Plant is about 12 years old and the owner/baker worked up his own recipes.

I used to conduct business with Native American tribes and I would never say is that an authentic head dress or dance. It is theirs and to question the authencity one must know about that culture. Is like asking is that real?

I will drop the subject as to not be tedious.

BigAle, I won't point at you on the street or make you pose for pictures if I see you.