'New York's "Little Germany": Rediscovering a Lost Neighborhood' Webinar

Tickets: $18.88 ( incl. $3.88 fees ) (includes access to the full replay for one week)

Click the link below to officially register for this experience:

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985067472246

Throughout the mid and late 19 century, New York City's current-day neighborhoods of the East Village — and parts of the Lower East Side — were home to a large German immigrant population aptly named Kleindeutschland, or "Little Germany." From biergardens and gymnastics to sophisticated crafts, this community — and other smaller ones around the city — were largely responsible for introducing German customs and traditions to New York, many of which are still around today. Though why did a single and somber disaster in the city's history lead the once thriving community to abandon the neighborhood entirely shortly thereafter? And what effect did World War I have on the larger New York German population? It's time to uncover the legacy of the early German population and main community of Little Germany, and what traces of it can be found there today.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the history, stories, and remnants of New York City's early German communities, with a focus on its largest one in the former neighborhood of Kleindeutschland — once home to a huge German immigrant population in the mid-to-late 1800s, this area spanning from the East Village to parts of the Lower East Side helped introduced New Yorkers, and the country, to German culture for the first time.

Led by museum educator and art historian Sylvia Laudien-Meo, who's also of German heritage, our virtual experience surrounding Kleindeutschland and the broader German-American experience will include:

• The reasons behind mass immigration from German territories during the mid 19th century and what neighborhoods in New York City they ended up in
• A closer look at the signs and stories of special German trades like cigar and furniture making, brewing, as well as the community's involvement in cultural, social, and political movements
• A virtual stroll from Astor Place to Tompkins Square Park to see buildings still holding their German names, and others that were part of the German experience
• The sad end of the neighborhood with the General Slocum disaster with a discussion surrounding its easy-to-miss memorial in Tompkins Square Park
• The drastic change in German-American life with the outbreak of WWI

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Sylvia — any and all questions about Little Germany and the early New York German community are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week

About Sylvia
Sylvia Laudien-Meo is a freelance Art Historian who works in and around the city in various capacities, specializing on Modern and Contemporary art, with a strong focus on Public Art. She teaches art history at Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been working as a museum educator at MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Jewish Museum for over many years, engaging visitors in conversation based, interactive art experiences of permanent collections and changing exhibitions.
For the Municipal Art Society, UFT, Brandeis Univ., and private clients, she has been touring the city for over 20 years, exploring art and architecture, parks, neighborhoods and history. Working in various different capacities gives her a unique opportunity to make intriguing connections and weave together the complex perspectives that make out the tapestry of our fascinating city.
SLM holds a Masters Degree in Art History (with minors in History and American Studies) from the Joh. Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, as well as a Tourism degree from the EST in Paris France.

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Photo Credit: Main and Top Right - Ephemeral New York
Categories: Virtual, Neighborhoods