Urban Oyster-Urban Adventures Tours of New York City
  • Home
  • Tours
    • Arthur Ave Little Italy Food Tour
    • Brewed in Brooklyn Tour
    • Hamilton Happy Hour Tour
    • High Line and Chelsea Tour
    • LGBTQ+ History, Neighborhood and Pub Tour
    • Made in New York Tour of Industry City
    • Midtown Sites and Bites Tour
    • Neighborhood Eats Tour - Brownstone Brooklyn
    • New York Craft Cocktail Tour
    • New York Times Journeys - Dumbo: The New Brooklyn
    • New York Times Journeys - Greenwich Village, Old, New & Delicious
    • NYC Brewery Tour
    • NYC Holiday Sites and Market Tour
    • Tenements Tales and Tastes Tour
    • Day Trips Out of New York City
    • Pup Crawl - Dog Friendly Pub Crawl
    • Private Brewery Winery Distillery Tours
    • Private and Group Tours
  • Groups
    • Pre-Set Tours
    • Custom Tours
    • Inquire About Private Tour
  • Calendar
  • Gift Certificates
  • Blog
  • Job Opportunities
  • Press
  • Urban Adventures
  • Our NYC Picks
  • Urban Adventures Beta Testers
  • Tenements Tales and Tastes - Fulton Stall Market Tour

Current Obsession: Tenements, Tales, and Tastes Tour

1/30/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Who:
We're doing some shameless promotion on this week's pick, but for good reason. We run this tour under our sister company Urban Adventures but the real people behind the tour are all of our ancestors.

The Tenements Tales and Tastes Tour introduces people to the immigrant stories from the very beginning of New York City. Aside from the Lenape Native American tribe, we all came to this city and country from somewhere else. And on the tour, we meet all the major immigrant groups from the very first Dutch colonists to the Latin American community who have settled in the Lower East Side.

Along the way, you get to hear the historic stories of people like Peter Stuyvesant, John DeSalvio, and Yonah Schimmel and meet more recent immigrants from places like China, the Ukraine, and Germany. You will also no doubt hear stories that parallel the struggles that your family went through escaping political or religious persecution or fleeing a life of unbearable poverty to discover the American dream. 

The What:
We offer the tour every single morning beginning at 10am and we explore these stories of hardships through the food that the people brought from their homeland and have since become the American food we love today. Hot dogs, tacos, pizza, and bagels are only American because of the Germans, Mexican, Italians, and Jews that brought them here. 

After a walk through the Civic Center, we uncover an old forgotten African cemetery and see where the Irish first lived near an area known as Five Points. In Chinatown, we experience the authentic neighborhood that is still alive today and get a taste of the best and most affordable dumplings in the city. We hear stories of the Italians' struggles and sample authentic food in the old neighborhood of Little Italy and the new neighborhood of Nolita. And finally we delve deep into the Lower East Side where Eastern European Jewish immigrants lived in crammed apartments known as tenements, where Germans called the neighborhood Kleindeutschland, and the newer Latin American community built incredible public gardens.  
 
Here's a little video preview of what the tour is all about:

The Why:
New York (and America) has always been a home for immigrants. It makes our cities safer, more prosperous, and full of culture. Every single group struggled with discrimination and suspicion. The Chinese may have had it the hardest since there was a federal law limiting their ability to immigrate to this country starting in 1882. Sound familiar? 

In the current political climate, it is important to remember that our country was founded on the contributions and hard work of immigrants. On this tour, we learn the history of this and we hope it can guide us toward the future. 

The Where:
Tenements, Tales, and Tastes Tour
Every morning at 10am
3 hour tour through the Civic Center, Chinatown, Little Italy., Nolita, and the Lower East Side
0 Comments

#MustDo in NYC: January 30-February 5

1/29/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

The Food of Our Founding Mothers, Rare Brooklyn Brewery Beers, Nourishing Chinese Herbs, + Yoga and Beer

​​Click on the title for more info.
A Culinary Celebration of America's Founding Mothers/ Monday, January 30, 2017 at 6:30pm
Well before the historic and inspiring Women's March on Washington or Hillary Clinton's recent run for the Presidency, women were instrumental in the founding  of our country. The New School hosts a dialogue with culinary historian and chef Joanna Pruess and museum curator Kelsey Bow about the significance and importance of Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolley Madison. Their husbands may be more famous, but we can not overlook the culinary innovations and commitment of these remarkable women. Come learn about and taste their contributions.
Brooklyn Brewery Ghost Bottle Night/ Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 7pm
Brooklyn Brewery fans know that there are certain super rare experimental beers called Ghost Bottles which only come out on special occassions. One such occasion is being hosted by Brewmaster Garrett Oliver himself at Covenhoven. These are generally only available internally to the brewery employees, but here's a rare opportunity to try some experiments in Brooklyn's Barrel Aging Program. 
Easy Chinese Herbal Broths for Winter/ Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 7:00-9:00pm
Since it is now the Chinese New Year, why not try to stick to your resolution of eating healthier in the Year of the Rooster? Take advice from Chinese Herbalist and Acupuncturist Aimée Derbes at wellness shop Help Your Self as she introduces nourishing and healing recipes featuring common Chinese herbs. After cooking, tasting, and learning, you'll also receive recipes and sachets of Chinese herbs to use at home. 
Brew You Yoga/ Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 1pm
Are you someone who loves beers but worries about the extra calories? Do you love to stay in shape but also like to let go once in a while? This is the event for you! After a vigorous one hour Vinyasa flow class hosted by yoga instructor Leanne Maciel who also has experience in the beer industry, you get to do a flight of five Bronx Brewery beers. This is a perfect excuse to visit one of the borough's great breweries with a healthful, energized perspective. 



0 Comments

#CurrentObsessions: Two Hands Café and Restaurant

1/23/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Who:
Australians Henry Roberts and Giles Russell wanted to re-create the bright casual beachy vibe of their hometown of Sydney in New York. They named their breezy café after a 1999 Heath Ledger movie about bank robbers. There is no such unsavoriness at the always crowded storefront - just flat whites, avocado toast (served on Bien Cuit toast), and lots of beautiful people. In fact, this has become the place for the local community to hang out and have some coffee or brunch.

Since the success of the café, the duo has gone on to open a second location called Two Hands Restaurant with a more serious food menu. They even brought in Chef Frankie Cox from Melbourne (Australia, not Florida) to create simple healthy dishes that are satiating and nutritious. But never feel like health food.

The What:
Two Hands is part of the ever changing Nolita neighborhood, an area we discuss and walk through on our Tenements Tales and Tastes tour.  it joins a group of other Australian owned coffee shops and restaurants in the neighborhood. The café is open every day for breakfast and lunch and it's truly the place to people watch and feel like part of the local community. Service is friendly and the quality of the ingredients in the Acai Bowls, Corn Fritters, and hearty breakfast sandwiches is impeccable.

At the restaurant, brunch still rules with bright and flavorful dishes like a beet cured salmon bowl, sweet potato waffles and our personal favorite, an amazing Ricotta Hot Cake. But dinner is pretty serious here with homey dishes like Roast Chicken with Herb Tahini and a Hanger Steak with Chimichurri Sauce. The menu offers something for everyone whether you are gluten free, vegetarian, or just plain picky.
 

The Why:
Serious Australian coffee drinkers have complained that typical American coffee does not live up to the espresso-focused drinks back home. Places like Two Hands have been part of the coffee revolution. You can get a beautiful flat white or cold brewed coffee here. They use beans from local New York coffee roaster Café Integral, which specializes in sourcing and roasting beans from Nicaragua.  For the non-coffee drinkers, there are some wonderful fresh juices, smoothies, and an array of teas and kombuchas.

Australian expats and hungry New Yorkers alike can mingle together at Two Hands and get a taste of the food people really eat down under., You won't find any gimmicky shrimps on the barbie or kangaroo burgers on the menu, but rather simple, delicious dishes with a focus on local and healthy eating.  .

The Where:
Two Hands Café
164 Mott Street,
New York, New York 10013
(917) 475-1815

Two Hands Restaurant
251 Church Street,
New York, New York 10013


0 Comments

#MustDo in NYC: January 23-January 29

1/22/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture

Beer & Veggies, Eight Important Ingredients, The Food of Ancient Rome, + A Festival of All Things Brooklyn

​​Click on the title for more info.
Ellary's Greens & Kelso Beer Dinner/ Monday, January 23, 2017 from 6:30-8:30pm 
We know that beer and pizza pair well together, but what about beer and vegetables? Kelso brewmaster Kelly Taylor leads you through a five course dinner pairing vegetable-forward dishes at Ellary's Greens with five different Brooklyn based beers. The evening of healthy imbibing takes places at the bright, airy West Village restaurant.
Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine/ Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 7pm Historical gastronomist and author Sarah Lohman will be digging through old cookbooks and historic recipes to tell the story of eight influential ingredients - black pepper, vanilla, curry powder, chili powder, soy sauce, garlic, MSG, and Sriracha - and how they found their way onto our plates.
From Eggs to Apples: The Cuisine of the Ancient Romans/ Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 8:30pm-10:00pm 
If you ever wanted to travel back in time to see how different civilizations ate, check out this lecture at Brooklyn Brainery. Prepare to learn about stuffed dormice and the myth of the vomitorium along with a few samples of Roman food and drink. And you can be sure to do one thing the Ancient Romans never could: Instagram your food!
Best of Brooklyn Festival/ Saturday, January 28, 2017 from 12:00pm-8:00pm 
Industry City is the perfect venue for a festival showcasing all things edible Brooklyn. Tickets include entry and unlimited beer samples from local brewers like Braven and Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co. and access to creations from more than 40 Brooklyn chefs. The selections were chosen by a poll of local residents. Live music and an after party are also on the agenda. 
0 Comments
<<Previous


    Blogs We Love
    Beerded Ladies
    BHS Blog
    Brooklynology
    Eat This NY
    The Feedbag
    Historic Districts Council
    Lost City
    Slow Food NYC
    Tenement Museum Blog
    Vanishing New York
    Walking Off the Big Apple

    Categories

    All
    Ask The Locals
    Beer Wine Liquor
    Beer Wine Liquor
    Brewery Series
    Current Obsessions
    Foodie Stuff
    Foodie Stuff
    Guideprofile
    History
    Local Business
    Local Business
    Monthly Pearl
    Must Do In NYC
    Mustdomondays
    NY Trivia And Info
    TuesdayTidbits
    Video

    Archives

    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012


Phone
 +1 (347) 618-TOUR (8687)
E-mail
info@urbanoyster.com
Copyright © 2016 Urban Oyster, Inc. All rights reserved.