Walking Tour with Suzanne Uttaro Samuels: Strikes, Secrets, and Survival: A Lower East Side Walking Tour
Explore the hidden history of the Lower East Side through stories of strikes, secrets, and survival on this walking tour!
Author Suzanne Uttaro Samuels is celebrating the release of her new historical fiction novel Seeds of the Pomegranate by giving readers the chance to immerse themself in the NY history from the story! On September 13th, at 1pm, join Suzanne on a 3 hour walking tour through the Lower East Side!
Tickets are available to purchase here.
Discover the hidden secrets of this historic neighborhood, learn about the strikes that shaped its past, and uncover stories of survival that will inspire you. This in-person event will begin at Union Square Park, where we will kick off our adventure. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the Lower East Side like never before!
DETAILS:
Meet at the George Washington statue, Union Square Park Saturday, September 13, 2025 – 1:00 PM
Join author Suzanne Uttaro Samuels for a guided journey through the heart of New York’s radical and resilient past. Together, we’ll trace the footsteps of immigrant women whose labor, defiance, and ingenuity shaped the city in the early 20th century.
Tour Stops:
- Union Square – Labor Activism Hub
- Triangle Shirtwaist Factory – Fire and Reform
- Little Italy – Ferrara Bakery (espresso, cannoli, and more)
- SoHo – Cast Iron District
- 8 Prince Street – Historic Counterfeiting Site
- P&T Knitwear – independent bookstore, where you can buy Suzanne’s book and browse other books.
Along the way, Suzanne will share historical insights and read from her debut novel, Seeds of the Pomegranate—the story of Mimi Inglese, a young Sicilian immigrant who, against all odds, finds ways to endure and outwit the dangers of her new life in NYC.
Tickets: $10 plus tax. Does not include the price of the book, which you can purchase at P&T Knitwear.
Duration & Distance: Approx. 1.5–2 hours, covering about 2 miles with 35–40 minutes of walking time spread between stops.Note: Food/drinks at Ferrara’s are not included. Wear comfortable shoes.
Know Before You Go
- Meeting Spot: George Washington statue, north end of Union Square Park (near East 15th Street and Union Square West).
- Arrival Time: Please arrive 10–15 minutes early for check-in.
- Transit: Union Square is served by the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, and W subway lines; multiple bus routes also stop nearby.
- Weather: Tour runs rain or shine—bring an umbrella or sun hat as needed.
- Accessibility: The route covers city sidewalks and some uneven surfaces; most stops are street-level.
Food Stop: We’ll pause at Ferrara Bakery; food and drink purchases are optional and not included in ticket price.
About Seeds of the Pomegranate:
A gritty story of a woman learning to survive in 20th century Gangland New York
In early 20th-century Sicily, noblewoman Mimi Inglese, a talented painter, dreams of escaping the rigid expectations of her class by gaining admission to the Palermo Art Academy. But when she contracts tuberculosis, her ambitions are shattered. With the Sicilian nobility in decline, she and her family leave for New York City in search of a fresh start.
Instead of opportunity, Mimi is pulled into the dark underbelly of city life and her father’s money laundering scheme. When he is sent to prison, desperation forces her to put her artistic talent to a new use—counterfeiting $5 bills to keep her family from starvation and, perhaps, to one day reclaim her dream of painting. But as Gangland violence escalates and tragedy strikes, Mimi must summon the courage to flee before she is trapped forever in a life she never wanted.
About Suzanne Uttaro Samuels:
Suzanne Uttaro Samuels’ award-winning stories and essays have appeared in anthologies and print and online literary magazines. Seeds of the Pomegranate is her debut novel. The prequel to Seeds, The Orphans’ Wheel, set during the tumultuous 19th-century Italian Wars of Independence, is forthcoming from Sibylline Press. A lifelong resident of New York City, Suzanne now resides in the Adirondack Mountains.
