STYLE 1 MEDIA >>> LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT MUSEUM GALA
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum Celebrates Iconic New York
Center 548, 548 West 22nd Street, NY, NY | 06.06.2011 | by Merry Esparza
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum honored former New York City Mayor
Edward I. Koch and former Tenement Museum Board Chair Raymond O'Keefe
at its annual gala on June 6th. The event celebrated the Museum's 23 years of promoting historical perspective
by highlighting Manhattan's Lower East Side immigrant experience. The evening began with a food fest featuring
tastings from some of the city's best-loved restaurants and caterers representing an ethnic mix of delicacies.
Next, guests enjoyed a special performance from the new play Liberty: A Monumental New Musical.
The evening concluded with the awards program accompanied by delicious gourmet desserts.
(left: Museum Founder Ruth Abrams; Former Mayor Ed Koch with the Urban Pioneer Award)
The gala's amazing food sponsors included:
Almond,
DiPalo Fine Foods,
Frank Restaurant,
Hot Bread Kitchen,
Má Pêche (Momofuku),
Mile End Brooklyn,
Murray's Cheese,
Octavia's Porch,
Orwasher's Bakery,
Palo Santo,
Panade Puffs & Pastries,
The Pickle Guys,
Russ & Daughters,
Steve Isherwood,
Todaro Brothers, and
Tortilleria Nixtamal.
The beer and wine sponsors were:
Brooklyn Brewery and
Village Wine Imports (NYC).
Tenement Museum Educator Sarah Lohman conducted a cooking demonstration of the famous apple
pancake dish once served at
Reuben's restaurant, a 20th Century New York City landmark. The delicious samples generated a sizable following among gala guests.
Following the food fest, Tenement Museum President Morris Vogel welcomed guests to the seated portion of the gala.
Former U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato ascended to the podium and praised former New York City Mayor and Honoree
Edward I. Koch.
Mr. Vogel spoke about the Museum's programs and future, thanking the
founders, trustees, and other supporters.
Producers Erin Craig and Theresa Wozunk introduced the performance of
Liberty: A Monumental New Musical.
The play, with book/lyrics by Dana Leslie Goldstein and music by Jon Goldstein, tells the story
of a "statuesque" immigrant's struggle for a better life in America, the country that the Statue of Liberty has come to symbolize. The cast includes Broadway notables
Beth McVey (Beauty and the Beast) and Adam Monley (Mamma Mia!).
The awards program resumed with remarks by Tenement Museum Board Chair Paul Massey. Museum Staff Member
Frances Peña presented the America's Heritage Award to former Tenement Museum Board Chair
Raymond O'Keefe, and Tenement Museum Founder Ruth Abram presented the Urban Pioneer Award
to former Mayor Ed Koch.
Funds raised from the gala will support the Lower East Side Tenement Museum's educational programs.
The Museum, located at 97 Orchard Street, was founded in 1988 by Ruth Abram and Anita Jacobson.
Its mission is to promote tolerance and historical perspective through the presentation and interpretation of the variety of
immigrant and migrant experiences on Manhattan's Lower East Side. It features six restored apartments in an 1863 tenement building
that housed nearly 7,000 working class immigrants. In 2007, the Museum purchased 103 Orchard Street as a flagship building for a Visitors Center,
exhibitions, and classrooms.
The Tenement Museum's programs include guided tours of the restored tenement apartments, neighborhood walking tours, educational programs about immigrant experiences,
and Tenement Talks--free readings, discussions, performances, and screenings about New York history, people, and culture.
The Tenement Talks program is hosted at the Museum Shop located at 108 Orchard Street.
The Museum is an accredited member of the American Association of Museums and an affiliate of both the
National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
It recently received the Preserve America Presidential Award and the National Medal for Museum Service.
For more information, please visit: The Lower East Side Tenement Museum.
