Summer 2008 - This summer the Tenement Museum will debut its first exhibit which showcases the difficult struggles of the Irish immigrant experience in the mid 1800s in New York City's lower east side. Previous museum exhibits have been devoted to Italian, German and Jewish experiences with tenement living. The lower east side was predominantly German-speaking in the 19th century. The new exhibit will focus on the lives of Bridget and Joseph Moore who lived at 97 Orchard Street in Apartment 14. The couple—who struggled to pay the $8 rent on the modest fourth-floor apartment. Visitors to the museum will be treated to period melodies ethnomusicologist Mick Moloney recorded for the tour include “No Irish Need Apply” from 1865, and “Thousands Are Sailing,” a traditional Gaelic lamentation for friends and relatives who departed for America.

July 2008 - In the past year, many artist galleries have opened up on the lower east side. Among them: Envoy (131 Chrystie Street online at www.envoygallery.com). Checkout the Google Map created by Jen Bekman Gallery, at www.boweryartsdistrict.com. Have a Sunday afternoon free? Come on down. Try this one: Sunday L.E.S. (237 Eldridge Street; www.sundaynyc.com). A friendly gallery is Luxe (53 Stanton Street; www.luxegallery.net). Find the red door and the two shar peis near the Buddhist storefront of the Woodward Gallery (133 Eldridge Street; www.woodwardgallery.net) which deals with the heavyweights: Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Finish your day off on Stanton Street, number 53 at the Smith-Stewart gallery (53 Stanton Street; www.smith-stewart.com). Enjoy!