If you want to delve into the history of New York City, the Tenement Museum is a really good place to start. The story of this city is about immigration and it is what makes New York City so diverse and interesting.

“At a time when issues surrounding migrants, refugees, and immigration have taken center stage, the Tenement Museum is a potent reminder that, as a nation shaped by immigration, our brightest hope for the future lies in the lessons of the past.”

Tenement Museum - 103 Orchard Street at Delancy

Fanelli Cafe isn't really a cafe at all. It is a restaurant and bar and it's considered to be "the city's second-oldest food-and-drink establishment in the same locale, having operated under various owners at 94 Prince Street since 1847." It has quite a history including the fact that The Beats were regulars there as was Bob Dylan and also most of the artists who lived in Soho in the 1980s frequented Fanelli's and discussed their work there.

I've had drinks and food at Fanelli's on a few occasions and it is typically filled with locals and a few tourists or shoppers. If you're looking to explore some of NYC's history while having food and drink, this is a great place to do it! During prohibition they operated as a speakeasy!

Fanelli Cafe, 94 Prince Street at the corner of Mercer Street

Alabaster Bookshop is just around the corner from Strand Books. (Strand will be covered in an upcoming post.) Alabaster is a secondhand bookstore just like the old days when 4th Avenue was lined with secondhand bookstores. They sell rare and secondhand books and $2 books in front of the store! They are so old school that they don't have a website! The link below is for their Facebook page.

Alabaster Books 122 4th Avenue at 12th Street

I've been meaning to try this restaurant out for quite awhile and I'm happy I finally did! Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Be forewarned that they get really busy especially on the weekends for brunch! I went on a weekday afternoon and I was able to get a table without waiting too long. They've been voted number 1 breakfast spot in NYC by Lonely Planet!

The food is fabulous! I had the Southern Breakfast with the most amazing sugar-cured bacon, fried green tomatoes, cheese grits and eggs and a fresh orange juice. It was all perfect. I will say that it's a but more expensive than I might normally spend for brunch at $24 with tax and tip. But it was worth every cent and I'll do it again! They also have a bakery next door which I will try in the future.

Clinton Street Bakery & Restaurant, 4 Clinton Street near East Houston

Yum! It’s really difficult to choose what to eat at Veselka as they have so many fabulous dishes. I love their borscht and pierogis. But that’s just a few of the amazing things to choose from.

They opened in 1954! That’s really remarkable for a city with 40,000 restaurants. There is no such thing as luck when it comes to surviving here. They are open 24 hours. Yep, this is the city that never sleeps.

Veselka is Ukrainian for rainbow and I say it translates to comfort food. This is a must go to restaurant in NYC.

Veselka - 144 Second Avenue at 9th Street

Anastasia Photo is a small photo gallery in the Lower East Side. As a photographer, I am always happy to find galleries and museums that are dedicated to photography.

“Anastasia Photo is a New York City gallery that curates exhibitions and public programming around issues of social and environmental importance. Specializing in documentary photography and photojournalism, the gallery also serves as a center for discussion and portfolio review.”

They are closed Sundays and Mondays.

Anastasia Photo - 143 Ludlow Street near Stanton

Remedy Diner describes itself as "Established in 2007, our family owned and operated classic New York style Diner, with all the trimmings, has been serving the Lower East Side community for over 10 years, 24 hours a day." Okay, it's only been around since 2007. But you'll still get that old diner feeling to it and it serves the standard diner food in a cool atmosphere. The food is good and the staff are friendly. And 24 hours a day!

Remedy Diner, 245 East Houston at Norfolk Street

Update - I had a wonderful group of students in March. Wo Hop was able to arrange seating for 15 people in their outdoor space. We had a fabulous waiter (Danny) who made certain that everything was perfect including heat.

To top it all off, not only was the food fabulous as always, he did selfies with the group. They were so so happy and for most of them it was their first trip to NYC. Updated 11 April 2022

Wo Hop is a fabulous no frills Cantonese cuisine restaurant that has been in business since 1938! It feels like you're entering a secret place as it is downstairs. Wo Hop is the favorite go-to restaurant in Chinatown for many New Yorkers including the NYPD. The walls are filled with hundreds of $1 bills that are signed from people around the world and patches from police and fireman uniforms. They are open from 10am-7am. So it is the place to go after a night on the town. Be forewarned that they are cash only and the dishes are large. Definitely worth it the experience and the food is really good..

Wo Hop 17 Mott Street near Mosco Street. (212) 962-8617

Yes, they’re open and they are open on Christmas Day. (Updated 11 December 2021.)

Marseille has been a favorite restaurant for many years and it is where my family often has celebration dinners. The majority of the restaurants that you will find on my site are less expensive. Marseille is a French bistro and there dinner prices for a main course range from $20-36. The atmosphere is very French without the stuffiness of many of the top French restaurants in NYC and also the prices. I have always been very pleased with everything about this restaurant, Fabulous food. If you're looking for a nice French meal this is the place.

Marseille - 630 Ninth Avenue near 44th Street