Short Time in the Big Apple: Lower East Side

By Jeff Burns

My wife and I made a quick trip to New York City during winter break, and since it was February, we decided to make it as indoors as possible, concentrating on museum visits. We got a good deal on a hotel on 7^th Avenue, near Times Square and conveniently located near several subway stops.  After checking in, we headed to the legendary Katz's Deli, a NYC institution since 1888, made famous in television shows and movies like When Harry Met Sally.  It’s an icon.  You have to go there once.  Honestly, I’ve had better  - and worse - deli food, but it’s an experience.  Like everything else in the city, it’s claustrophobically crowded, and they use a unique, maybe confusing, system that you have to puzzle through.  You’re given a ticket upon entry and you line up at a carving station to order your sandwich. If you want sides and drinks, you line up at other stations.  Your orders get marked on your ticket, and then you try to find a table, elbow to elbow with other patrons. Cash only. I don’t know that we’ll ever go back, but we can say that we’ve done it.

 

Our first museum was the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.  It was kind of a conscious decision to do this first, because we knew that it would make a powerful impact, and it certainly does.  The only place that I can compare it to in terms of the somber tone and mood is the United States Holocaust Museum.  Be prepared.  Every exhibit is incredibly effective at being affective.  The attacks and their aftermath are personalized by the informative and tastefuly done displays.  Lines can be long, but you can purchase advance tickets online.

 

Next, it was off to the Lower East Side, neighborhoods full of history as they were occupied by successive waves of immigrants who made the area their home, Germans then Russian Jews and Eastern Europeans, Italians, Portuguese, Hispanics, Chinese, etc.  The place to start is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum where a former tenement, occupied for over a century until the 1880s, has been restored to represent different stages of its use.  The building itself is only accessible through guided tours, and this is the only downside.  In order to see everything, you have to take every tour. However, we resolved to make it a point to return on every future trip to New York in order to do just that. We took the longest tour, the shopkeepers tour. It started in the lower floor saloon and apartments that belonged to a German family, and we learned about the family, their German neighbors, and their contributions to American culture.  The tour ended with one of the coolest interactive artifacts displays I’ve ever seen in a museum.  The gift shop is a must-see as well. I wanted to read practically every book on sale, and there were hundreds of titles.  Be sure to check out their website before going. They have walking tours of the neighborhood, special events, and extended hours on Thursdays.  You can purchase tickets in advance and get discounts for booking multiple tours.  (Also, teachers get a tour discount – which we only learned about afterwards.)

 

A few blocks away is a quiet little museum that is well worth a visit, the Museum at Eldridge.  It is a beautifully restored Orthodox synagogue built by Russian Jews in the late 1800s. It is still used for services by its small congregation, but it is open for tours conducted by volunteers during the week. The interior is beautiful, and David, our guide, was full of information.  I highly recommend seeing it if you get the chance.

 

And while you’re in the area, take some time to just walk around and think about the changes the area has seen.  It is a huge melting pot of ethnicities, as Chinatown and Little Italy are literally side by side.  Now, it’s the hottest area of Manhattan, and we were told that it’s the hippest place to be, especially at night, and those small 350 square feet tenement apartments that housed families seeking the American dream now might rent for as much $4000 a month.  While you’re exploring, we highly recommend meals at the oldest dim sum restaurant in NYC, the Nom Wah Tea Parlor (cash or Amex only), and have a nosh, a meal, and an egg cream at Russ & Daughters, another iconic deli over a century old, albeit the café in this neighborhood is only a couple of years old.  There’s just too much to do.  We’re already planning future trips!

Enjoy History and More in Gettysburg

By: Traci Kerns

(Traci Kerns is a full time History Teacher, part time world traveler, aficionado of delicious food and good living.)

A view from the summit of Little Round Top

          Since hosting the largest battle in the Western Hemisphere from July 1-3, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania has become a magnet for amateur historians and Civil War enthusiasts.  An easy drive from Washington DC, Baltimore, or Philadelphia, Gettysburg makes for an educational and enjoyable destination for singles, couples or families.  Obviously, the draw for most driving through the rolling hills and farmland that abut the town is the battlefield itself.  Unless you are a Civil War historian, to attempt to take in thevast battlefield on your own is overwhelming and futile (and no, simply reading “The Killer Angels” does not prepare you).  Instead, visit the National Park Service website and arrange to take a tour of Gettysburg National Military Park with a licensed battlefield guide. For a very reasonable price, an expert will accompany you in your car to tour the battlefield, explaining the intricacies and hidden stories of the battle as you go (allow two hours minimum).  I recommend completing a battlefield tour with the guide early on your

Devil's Den

first day and then revisiting particular sites on day two or later the same day.  Make sure that you leave time for the superb museum and cyclorama, and to watch “A New Birth of Freedom” which will especially help younger visitors appreciate the significance of their visit.  For the more adventurous, you can also bike or horseback ride through the park!  For a different type of historical experience, visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site, located adjacent to the battlefield (there is a bus available from the visitor’s center).  At nearly 700 acres, this was the home Eisenhower retired to after his presidency – after seeing his view, you will understand why!

Door to Jenny Wade House

            In addition to your visit to the park, a ghost tour is a delightful distraction to add to your itinerary.  There are plenty to choose from along Steinwehr Avenue, which is also where you will find most of your tourist shopping.  A favorite stop for ghost tours is the Jennie Wade House, home of the only civilian killed during the battle, as she kneaded dough in her kitchen for her family and wounded soldiers.  Another interesting battle artifact can be found at Mr. G’s Ice Cream parlor.  Here, you can sit at a “witness tree” table made from a sycamore that stood along Baltimore Street, which President Lincoln passed on his way to deliver his famous address.  Outside of the shop are two additional living witness trees. 

           

Dobbin House Tavern

            The Gettysburg area also has a rich culinary heritage and its local provisions are well worth your time.  To enjoy some history with your victuals, the Dobbin House Tavern is my preferred choice.  Built in 1776, the romantic, cozy tavern area is a casual place to dine after an exhaustive outing to the battlefield – an Adam’s Delight and a glass of local wine will refuel you for the remainder of your day.  Make sure you take time to visit the springs that run under the house and peek into the six charming colonial era dining rooms.  Leave enough time to visit Reid’s Winery & Cider House Café and Hauser Winery on the main square as you stroll amongst the antique shops (be on the lookout for plaques on homes that tell the stories of inhabitants who witnessed the battle).

            With a variety of places to stay, from dreamy bed and breakfasts, large family hotels with pools and the elegant Gettysburg Hotel on the square, Gettysburg is a popular four- season destination and is definitely on my list to return to in the future.  It is a quaint location, perfect for spending time wandering the battlefield, imbibing local ciders or driving the surrounding countryside, dotted with covered bridges and breathtaking vistas across wooded hills.  Although the small town of Gettysburg is best known for the tragic battle that made it infamous, there is much more to this charming, bygone region that is worth seeking out.

Tasty Tour: Tampa (Ybor City, actually)

By Jeff Burns

One hundred fifty years ago, there wasn’t much to Tampa Florida.  It consisted of a few hundred people looking to scratch out a living the best way they could.  However, in the late 1800s, things started coming together.  Henry Plant, an eastern railroad magnate saw the potential Tampa had:  a natural harbor and nice climate, so he built railroads connecting the region to the north.  Then, a visionary named Vincente Martinez-Ybor saw the potential and built the city on cigars.  That’s the story I learned from taking a history and food walking tour of Ybor City, the core of historic Tampa.  The tour is one of several tours offered by Ybor City Food Tours .


Vincente Martinez-Ybor was a Cuban cigar maker, born in Spain, who purchased swamp land and transformed it into the world’s largest cigar company  and a thriving community that may well have been the greatest example ever of an American melting pot.  Workers and came from around the world and lived, worked, and socialized in Ybor City. Many think of Ybor City as a Cuban enclave, but there were not only Cubans, but also Spaniards, Italians, Sicilians, Germans, Romanians, and Americans, black and white, among others who built the city.


Our tour was the Original Ybor City Food Tour, billed as a two-hour tour that lasted closer to three.  Along with learning the history of Ybor City, we enjoyed special treats in various restaurants along the route.  It’s kind of like a progressive dinner.  We started with chicken wings at the Tampa Bay Brewing Company, then a huge slice of cheese pizza at New York, New York Pizzeria, a Cuban sandwich (voted best Cuban from Miami to Tampa multiple times – and it has my vote), black beans and rice at Gaspar’s Grotto, and key lime pie from Green Iguana and Cuban coffee at Nicahabana Cigars, one of a dozen or so traditional hand-rolled cigar shops still operating in Ybor City.  Like most of the cigar shops, Nicahabana offers Cuban coffee and espressos.  (Unfortunately, their machine was out of order when we were there, so no coffee.) The food was fantastic at every stop, and we were all more than satisfied.

Food Destinations: Agricultural and Industrial History

By Nina Kendall

 

Food tells a story. It is a source of economic revenue, and a reflection of geography, industry, and tradition in an area. You can learn about food history from books, by conducting oral history interviews, and through visits to museums and corporations.  Food tourism can be interesting. It is a chance to view a unique slice of history. Here are a few sites to consider:

The World of Coca-Cola is a museum that documents the development of Coca-Cola and the growth of the corporation.  Here you can learn about the strategy of Asa Candler in marketing his product, and see how the corporation has customized its brand for different cultures. In this museum, you can watch a movie, sample drinks from around the world, and see how Coca-Cola is produced. It is a lot of fun for the whole family and ends in the tasting room.

Vidalia Onion Museum documents the history of this unique product. This onion   has transformed a region and made a lasting impact of the food world. The Vidalia Onion Festival has celebrated the impact of this industry for decades.  When traveling through South Georgia you should check it out.  

The SPAM Museum is in St. Austin, Minnesota. This large museum documents the history of this canned meat. Visit this free museum to learn about the varieties of SPAM and try your hand at SPAM trivia. Perhaps this will be a stop on your next road trip.

Hershey’s Chocolate World  is in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Here at the home of the Hershey Company you can enjoy sweet history.  You can learn about how chocolate is made, sample a few varieties, and create your own candy bar. Hershey’s Chocolate World along with other local attractions makes this town a destination.

The Blue Bell Creamery tour is both interesting and delicious. You can arraign for a tour of the factory or just visit the Country Store and Parlor.  With locations in Alabama, Texas, and Oklahoma, you have a number of chances to learn about how ice cream is made.  What a sweet day!

You can learn about the agricultural industry of Hawaii at Dole Plantation in Wahiawa on the island of Oahu. Enjoy a pineapple cutting exhibition or explore the maze and planation gardens.

No matter your destination enjoy a little food history on the way. Learn about the economic impact of food and agricultural industries. See how unique products have shaped this land. It will certainly be a tasty adventure.

Staycation: Exploring the Changes in the Local Food Landscape

By Jeff Burns

            “The best laid plans….”  Our plan to have one lunch per week in a new restaurant or to try a new ethnic cuisine was a good plan, but life got in the way, and we haven’t quite made it each week.  However, we still managed to add some new favorites to our list. Here are a few find from our hunt for the food of a modern land.

            First up:  Villains Wicked Heroes.  Every menu item carries the name of a pop culture villain, from Lucy Van Pelt (Cajun boiled peanuts appetizer of course) to Bluto (a spinach salad) and Goldfinger (a hot brown sandwich hero).  The menu is a lot of fun, and the food is even better.  I enjoyed my favorite Bond villain, Oddjob, and my wife had a Mumm-Ra.

             Second, we visited Sobban- Korean Southern Diner in Decatur, the brainchild of a couple with another very successful restaurant, Heirloom Barbecue.  He’s southern, she’s south Korean, and they discovered that their cultures share many things in common, like a love for barbecue, pork, and pickles.  At Sobban, they’ve masterfully blended the two into many delicious dishes.  We started with a kimchi deviled egg and okara hushpuppies with kimchi  remoulade as appetizers.  (Not okra, okara is a soy pulp, a byproduct of making tofu) Our entrees were a bulgogi beef burger and a fried bologna sandwich – you guessed it, with kimchi – featuring bologna made in house.  It was all great.          





 Finally, we returned to Buford Highway, the most eclectic area of Atlanta.  Within sight at any time might be a Korean, an Indian, a Peruvian, a Mexican, and a Vietnamese restaurant.  We went to the Oriental Pearl, a Chinese dim sum restaurant.  We’ve eaten dim sum at other restaurants, but this was first time at Oriental Pearl.  If you’re not familiar with dim sum, it’s a Cantonese style of cooking bite sized servings on small plates, and servers wheel carts loaded with the offerings around the room.  You tell them what you want, they mark your bill, and the cashier tallies your cost by adding up the plates.  Foods include lots of dumplings and buns stuffed with shrimp, pork, tofu, vegetables, or some combination thereof, squid, chicken feet, and various vegetables.  Most dishes are steamed or fried.  It was a great experience, and I think we’ve found a new favorite dim sum place.

Great Getaways in Georgia: Nacoochee Valley

Looking for a great getaway? Want something that appeals to your family or friends? The Nacoochee Valley has the answer for your all of your needs. Whether a weekend or a day trip you have plenty of choices.

 

This valley is home to some unique history in the state of Georgia. Here you can find the site of America's first gold rush, the home of the Cabbage Patch Kids, and a hidden alpine village. You can pan for gold in Dahlonega and celebrate Oktoberfest in Helen. This area does a good job at combining history with tourism.

 

Helen is an alpine village in the foothills of Georgia. It adopted this theme in the late 1960's and is now a slice of Bavaria just a car ride away. Here they celebrate Oktoberfest and Fasching and give you the chance to see, hear, and sample German culture. You can have brotchen at Hofer's or wurst at the Bodensee all before walking to the festhalle.

 

Cleveland is home to the Cabbage Patch Kids. This toy is the creation of Xavier Roberts. It was his work that gave this small town a needed economic boost decades ago. Today you can visit the place where every Cabbage Patch Kid is born Babyland General.  Here you can learn about the history of these toys and watch a doll be born. It may even be the doll you take home with you. This is a fun place to ignite the imagination of young kids and learn some economic history.

 

In Dahlonega you can find Georgia's gold rush. The exciting period in state history that lead to an influx of immigrants and increased pressure to relocate the Cherokee people. Today you can tour Consolidated Gold Mines and trying panning for gold yourself.  Activities that engage the mind and the body. Panning for gold is not as easy as it looks. You can also learn about the history of gold in the region with a tour of the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic site. A museum in the center of town that will give you a sense of the impact gold can have on a region.

Still looking for something else to do? Local vineyards and artisans offer tasty options for your enjoyment. You can also enjoy the outdoors with a visit to Unicoi State Park or spend some time tubing in the summer.

 

No matter what you do get out and enjoy history and let them know the Histocrats sent you.