Beginning this week, New York City residents will have their pick of fun, family-friendly events and activities.
HARLEM WEEK began in 1974 as Harlem Day, a one-day tribute to the storied area’s history as the home of some of America’s greatest scientists, civic leaders, entertainers, and founding fathers. Most notably, John James Audubon, Nina Simone, F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald, Oscar Hammerstein, Harry Houdini, Alicia Keys, Norman Rockwell, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Alexander Hamilton, Paul Robeson, Jonathan Franzen, etc., etc., etc.
Each year has seen an expansion of activities highlighting the African-American, Latino, Caribbean-American, and European-American cultures of Harlem, leading to HARLEM WEEK. Over the course of 34 years, the week’s festivities have steady increased, currently attracting millions of area residents and visitors. This year’s calendar of events now spans the entire month of August 2008.
Below, are some great ways to explore Harlem and join in on the fun of HARLEM WEEK.
· Golden Hoops
East Coast Basketball Classic
Sunday, August 10, 2008
1:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Featuring the best All-Star basketball Teams in the region.
Riverbank State Park, 145th St. & Riverside Dr.
Free to the general public
For info, call (212) 862-8477
· Harlem Spirituals Gospel/Soul Food & Jazz Tours
Gospel Tour: Sunday, August 10, 2008, 9:30am-1:30pm
Soul Food & Jazz Tour: Monday, August 11, 2008, 7:00pm-Midnight
Great for families! Explore hidden Harlem, soul-stirring and powerful gospel music as well as a down-home, southern brunch menu on the Harlem Spirituals Gospel Tour. Soul Food and Jazz Tour offers tour of 1920’s Renaissance-period Harlem, soul-food dinner, and two hours of swing dancing to twelve-piece band (free dance lessons included)
For info, call (212) 391-0900
· The N.Y. City Children’s Festival
Saturday, August 18, 2008
10:00am-3:00pm
Come see Our Children’s Fashion Show
W. 135th St. (Btwn. Malcolm X & A. C. Powell Jr. Blvds.)
Ticket Location: Harlem Week offices, 200A W. 136th Street
· Studio Museum in Harlem
Hours: Wed-Fri 12:00pm-6:00pm; Sat 10:00am-6:00pm; Sun 12:00pm-6:00pm
144 W. 125th St. (Lenox Ave.-Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd.)
212-864-4500
This contemporary-art museum focuses on the work by artists of African descent, with a collection of over 1,600 paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, watercolors, drawings, pastels and more. The museum gives a voice to the culture of the neighborhood. Current exhibitions: The World of Charles Ethan Porter: Nineteenth-Century African-American Artist (through 6/29); The World Stage: Africa, Lagos ~ Dakar (7/16-10/26); Expanding the Walls: Making Connections Between Photography, History and Community (7/16-10/26).
Closed Mon. & Tues. Entrance fee $7, Target Free Sundays
· The 14th Annual Upper Manhattan Auto Show
Sunday, August 17, 2008
9:00 – 5:00 PM
An East Coast Auto Showcase featuring over a hundred new, unique, antique, vintage, exotic vehicles as well as other historic buses and
motorcycles with awards for best in class categories.
Howard Bennett Park, W. 135th St. (Btwn. 5th Ave. & Malcolm X Blvd.)
· Harlem Day
Saturday, August 17, 2008
12 Noon 7:00 PM
Multiple Stages with live performance and entertainment.
3 Main Stages:
1. St. Nicholas Stage — R & B/Hip Hop/Reggae
W. 135th St. (Btwn. Frederick Douglass Blvd. &
St. Nicholas Ave.)
2. YMCA Various Community Based performances of dance/fashion/poetry/music
W. 135th St. (Btwn Malcolm X & A. C. Powell Jr. Blvds.)
3. 5th Ave. Stage Gospel & Jazz
W. 135th St. (Btwn. 5th Ave. & Malcolm X Blvd.)
Events take place all day. Free to the general public.
