Take in the beauty and rich legacy of your favorite place at your favorite price with Experience Harlem. We’ve done the legwork for you and put together a comprehensive guide for any and everything you would want to get into over the summer; with more than 33 events for the family; O.G.s, new jacks, music buffs, film lovers, sexy people and everyone else. So whether you’re booed up, or getting ready to let that thang loose, it’s #HarlemSummer, baby, and it’s all Gratis. Free99. No cash required. #FreeHarlem. See you out in these streets.
Film
A Luv Tale: The Series and Film Saturday, June 9, 2018 3:00pm -8:00pm 150 Convent Avenue Set in culturally rich and historic Harlem, A LUV TALE is an edgy romantic comedy—digital series that examines friendship between four beautiful and cultural lesbians of color navigating their complex lives through a world of art, music, consciousness and love. This special Pride program is part film screening, part conversation and part uptown hang. RSVP Required. More Info
Fruitvale Station Friday, June 15, 2018 8:00pm Marcus Garvey Park Fruitvale Station is a American biographical drama film written and directed by Ryan Coogler. It is Coogler’s first feature-length film and is based on the events leading to the death of Oscar Grant, a young man who was killed in 2009 by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle at the Fruitvale district station of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in Oakland. The film stars Michael B. Jodan as Oscar Grant with Kevin Durand and Michael Murray playing the two BART police officers involved in Grant’s death, although their names were changed for the film. Melonie Diaz, Ahna O’Reilly and, Octavia Spencer also stars in the film. Fruitvale Station debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film. It was screened at the Cannes Film Festival where it won the award for Best First Film. More Info
Baadasssss: Soul Train Tribute Friday, June 29, 2018 8:00pm Marcus Garvey Park Baadasssss is an American biopic, written/produced/directed by and starring Mario Van Peebles. The film is based on the struggles of Van Peebles’ father Melvin Van Peebles, as he attempts to film and distribute Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, a film that was widely credited with showing Hollywood that a viable African-American audience existed, and thus influencing the creation of the Blaxploitation genre. The film also stars Joy Bryant, Nia Long, Ossie Davis, Paul Rodriguez, Rainn Wilson, and Terry Crews. More Info
Fences Friday, July 20, 2018 8:00pm St. Nicholas Park Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) makes his living as a sanitation worker in 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed too old when the major leagues began admitting black athletes. Bitter over his missed opportunity, Troy creates further tension in his family when he squashes his son’s (Jovan Adepo) chance to meet a college football recruiter. The film also stars Viola Davis and Stephan Henderson. More Info
Whose Streets Monday, July 23, 2018 8:00pm Marcus Garvey Park Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown is killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marks a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold vigil and protest this latest tragedy. Empowered parents, artists, and teachers from around the country come together as freedom fighters. As the national guard descends on Ferguson with military grade weaponry, these young community members become the torchbearers of a new resistance. Filmmakers Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis know this story because they are the story. Whose Streets? is a powerful battle cry from a generation fighting, not for their civil rights, but for the right to live. More Info
Black Panther Saturday, August 11, 2018 8:00pm Marcus Garvey Park After the death of his father, T’Challa (returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king — and as Black Panther — gets tested when he’s drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther, alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. More Info
A Wrinkle in Time: Kids Night Out Saturday, August 25, 2018 8:00pm St. Nicholas Park Meg Murry and her little brother, Charles Wallace, have been without their scientist father, Mr. Murry, for five years, ever since he discovered a new planet and used the concept known as a tesseract to travel there. Joined by Meg’s classmate Calvin O’Keefe and guided by the three mysterious astral travelers known as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, the children brave a dangerous journey to a planet that possesses all of the evil in the universe. Cast Includes: Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Michael Peña. More Info
Love Beats Rhymes: BLACK GIRL MAGIC! Friday, September 7, 2018 8:00pm St. Nicholas Park When struggling rapper Coco (Azealia Banks) enrolls in a poetry class, she thinks her rhymes will impress her teacher, Professor Dixon (Jill Scott). Instead, Dixon challenges Coco to seek real meaning in her lyrics, setting her on a journey of discovery that takes her through rap clubs and poetry slams, leading her to find her true voice – and true love – in this uplifting movie costarring Lucien Laviscount and Common More Info
Live Music
Jazzmobile at Marcus Garvey Park Marcus Garvey Park: July 6, 13, 20, 27 7:00pm Ulysses S. Grant Memorial: August 1, 7, 8 7:00pm The Great Hill in Central Park (Central Park West and 106th Street): August 4, 4:00-7:00pm What better way to kick off the weekend than with live music? Every Friday, starting in July, you got plans. And they involve jazz, the outdoors and pretty people. More Info
SummerStage: Alice Smith, Akata and DJ Stormin Norman Wednesday, August 15, 2018 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Marcus Garvey Park Alice Smith, an emotive soul singer whose single “Dream” was nominated for a Grammy, is known for her gripping live performances. The D.C. and Georgia-bred Smith, who now calls Brooklyn her home, is joined by British rapper, poet and political activist Akala. Opening the show is DJ Stormin Norman, who has been a staple of Harlem’s vibrant music scenes since the ‘90s. More Info
SummerStage: Pape Diouf and La Génération Consciente Saturday, August 18, 2018 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Marcus Garvey Park Pape Diouf, who’s been dubbed “the future of Senegalese music” by the legendary Youssou N’Dour, has been making hit records since the mid-1990s. His dynamic music, which melds traditions of dance and mbalax, will be performed with his band La Génération Consciente in Marcus Garvey Park this August. featuring pre show African Drums Workshop and The Big Good Wolf performance from the CityParks PuppetMobile, 4pm. More Info
SummerStage: Rapsody Sunday, August 19, 2018 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Marcus Garvey Park This year, the talented wordsmith Rapsody was the only woman nominated for a Best Rap Album Grammy. But she’s hardly a newcomer; Rapsody’s been shaking up hip-hop for over a decade, and claimed the only guest verse on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, on “Complexion.” Fans can expect cuts from the Grammy-nominated album Laila’s Wisdom, where she tackles gnarled topics not limited to beauty standards and breakups, with the singular finesse that only a true star can do. More Info
SummerStage: Charlie Parker Jazz Festival Friday, August 24, 2018 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Marcus Garvey Park In 1968, Jazz trumpeter Charles Tolliver recorded his debut album, Paper Man. Praised for its explorative, avant-garde approach, the record includes six of Tolliver’s original compositions, and features renowned jazz musicians Gary Bartz, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Joe Chambers. Tolliver will be performing alongside Bartz at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival in August 2018, celebrating fifty years since the completion of Paper Man. Additional guests include jazz-fusion multi instrumentalist Jack DeJohnette, and Buster Williams, the bassist responsible for backing Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, and Bobby McFerrin. Rising vocalist Brianna Thomas will kick off the evening in association with Jazzmobile. More Info
Summer in the City Friday, August 18, 2018 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm 135th Street There are many parts to “Summer in the City,” an all-day affair on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., on W. 135th St. between Malcolm X and Frederick Douglass Blvds. Highlights will include an International Vendors Village of clothing, arts and crafts and jewelry; the Senegalese Village, representing the African portion of Harlem’s immigrant flavor; and the Children’s Festival, featuring the Kalabante Circus, dance, sports clinics and free health screenings.
Uptown Saturday Concert Saturday, August 18, 2018 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm 135th Street & St. Nicholas Ave. Stage The St. Nicholas Ave. stage is where the “Uptown Saturday Concert” will be showcasing top headlining artists to close stage activity for the day. More Info
Art
inHarlem Gallery Tour | Firelei Báez: Joy Out of Fire May 1–November 24, 2018 The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Join the Studio Museum in Harlem inside the Latimer/Edison Gallery at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture for a tour of Firelei Báez: Joy Out of Fire. In this exhibition, Báez features women whose legacies are preserved and maintained by the archives of the Schomburg Center. During the gallery tour, visitors will explore the artist’s practice of using photographs, letters, and other archival materials to create large-scale, imaginative portraits. This dynamic and immersive inHarlemtour will have something for everyone: adults, families and kids of all ages are welcome! More Info
The Classical Theatre of Harlem presents: “Antigone” Performances July 7-29 (Tuesday through Sundays 8:00pm) (Fridays 8:30pm) Marcus Garvey Park Back for its sixth season of free theater performances in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park the company presents a work that showcases the strength and voices of audacious women responding to rigid societal inequities and showcases ancient ideas that have taken center stage in the current climate: order, law, justice and marginalized voices confronting power and patriarchy. Calling on the cultural landscape of African-American traditions and inspired by the Afropunk movement, while also adhering to the Greek tragic form; this fresh reimagining of the classic story will captivate, stun and inspire audiences from all backgrounds. More Info
SummerStage: Jeremy McQueen’s Black Iris Project Thursday, August 16, 2018 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Marcus Garvey Park Choreographer Jeremy McQueen’s ballet collective, The Black Iris Project, has been using movement to celebrate black artists since 2016. At SummerStage, the performance will include “MADIBA”, a ballet inspired by the life of the late Nelson Mandela, whose 100th birthday is being commemorated this year. More Info
Festivals
9th Annual Harlem Pride Celebration Day Saturday, June 23, 2018 12:00pm-6:00pm 12th Avenue between West 135th and West 138th Street Our Harlem Pride Celebration Day features live entertainment and community tables. This family-oriented festival serves as our greatest opportunity to bring the community together to celebrate our lives and our community! More Info
Shop Harlem Live: Harlem Artisanal Fair Saturday, June 23, 2018 11:00am-4:00pm St. Nicholas Ave between 117th and 118th Shop Harlem Live Harlem is taking the streets in 2018! Explore the products and experiences that 50+ local artisans and small businesses have to offer at the outdoor Artisanal Fair! More Info
Harlem Week July 29-August 25 135th Street What began in 1974 as a one-day tribute to Harlem has evolved over four decades into a monthlong celebration of the community’s rich economic, political and cultural history. Things kick off on July 29 with “A Great Day in Harlem” and reach a fever pitch during the bursting-at-the-seams weekend of events held under the banner of “Summer in the City” and “Harlem Day,” including an auto show, children’s festival, small-business expo, fashion show, educational fair, outdoor film screening and a dancing-in-the-street party. And on the final day of this celebration (August 25), there’s the Percy Sutton 5K Run. More Info
Go Africa Street Festival Thursday, July 14th, 2018 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Marcus Garvey Park The Street festival among other things is a celebration of the city’s African diversity with excellent displays of the unique goods and services provided by African & Caribbean merchants on 116th street and throughout the NYC metro area. There will be two (2) stages showcasing dance, art, music and dress from various regions throughout Africa and the Caribbean with direct participation from the African community & Cultural groups, consulates and embassies from the city’s five boroughs and NY Region. More Info
116th Street Festival Saturday, June 9, 2018 11:00 am – 5:00 pm 116th Street The globally recognized and biggest Latin Festival in the North East will be returning on June 9th, 2018, for its 32nd Celebration. The 116th Street Festival will host various music, fun, art, and food influenced by the Puerto Rican and Hispanic culture, with an added extra spark of excitement as the festival celebrates its 33rd year celebration. More Info
Harlem Book Fair Saturday, July 21, 2018 10:00am – 6:00pm 135th Street between Adam Clayton Powell and Malcolm X Blvds Bibliophiles and those who love them can get their literary life at the annual Harlem Book Festival, the largest African American book fair in the U.S. For one day in Saturday each year, 135th Street is lined with authors, exhibition booths, workshops, panel discussions, food, handmade crafts, and of course, books, and lots of them. Notable participating authors have included Maya Angelou, Cornel West, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Walter Mosley, Terry McMillan, Touré, Farai Chideya, Stanley Crouch, Nelson George, and Mark Anthony Neal. Free. More Info
A Great Day in Harlem Sunday, July 29, 2018 1:00pm – 8:30pm U.S. Grant National Memorial Park; West 122nd & Riverside Drive With an expected attendance of 40,000+ “A Great Day in Harlem” is a day-long family-oriented event. Participants can enjoy an Outdoor Festival, Picnic, Fashion Show and Concerts, saluting Gospel, Dance, Theater, Latin, Rhythm & Blues and Jazz. There will also be arts & crafts, food from around the world, vendors, exhibitions, corporate exhibits, career recruitment and much more! More Info
Sundae Sermon: For the Love of Harlem Sunday, August 12, 2018 1:00pm-6:00pm St. Nicholas Park; 135th Street Harlem’s most beloved dance party returns and promises to be a stone cold groove as legendary DJ Stormin Norman spins classic hip-hop, soul, Afrobeat and house. Revel in the sun with Harlem’s most beautiful, who spill into the park after church, brunch or sleeping in ready to mix, mingle and move. If your hands are not in the air at least once during the day, you may want to get your soul checked. Family-friendly. More Info
Mafrika Music Festival Sunday, June 17, 2018 12:00pm-6:00pm Marcus Garvey Park; 120th Street Back again for its 12th Anniversary, the 2018 Mafrika Music Festival presented by Burkinabé Entertainment will be bringing global music and arts to Harlem on Sunday, June 17th at Marcus Garvey Park. More Info
Party Time
Uptown Fridays! Friday, July 27, 2018 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Studio Museum Courtyard Come celebrate with us as the sounds of Libation’s Manchildblack and Ian Friday transform our courtyard for this special edition of Uptown Fridays! Enjoy signature cocktails and drink specials as we toast the Museum before our groundbreaking. Guests are also invited to browse our Museum Store’s incredible selection of books, jewelry, t-shirts, and gifts. Bring a friend or come solo and make a few during a festive evening of art and culture! More Info
First Fridays at the Schomburg Friday, August 3rd, 2018 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture In honor of legendary DJ Larry Levan, guests at our 5th annual House Music Edition of First Fridays will jam all night long to house music! Levan was a house music pioneer in New York City, best known for his decade-long residency at the popular New York City nightclub Paradise Garage. Levan’s cult followers refer to his hours-long sets as “Saturday Mass,” as he experimented with drum machines and synthesizers, popularizing an electronic, post-disco sound that launched the house music movement. More Info
Sweet Spot Festival: A Party Called Rosie Perez Saturday, August 4, 2018 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm West Harlem Pier Park The Sweet Spot Festival is a FREE family friendly event series, bringing Harlem’s increasingly diverse community together on the Hudson through a rotating collection of North America’s most-renowned sound architects. More Info
Fitness
Percy Sutton 5K Saturday, August 25, 2018 8:30 am 135th Street and St. Nicholas Ave This 5K race honors the late Percy Sutton, who as Manhattan borough president in the 1970s championed the New York City Marathon as a five-borough event and remained a supporter of NYRR and running throughout his life; he passed away in 2009. The run celebrates historic Harlem and is part of HARLEM WEEK, one of the northeast area’s largest cultural celebrations. More Info
Harlem Run: Monday Night Run Every Monday 7:00 pm Marcus Garvey Park Every Monday Harlem Run meets for a 3-6 mile social run beginning at 7pm in Marcus Garvey Park. Bags can be left at Harlem Shake (124th Street & Lenox Avenue) by 6:55pm More Info
Harlem One-Miler June 17th 10:00am-1:00pm Marcus Garvey Park A 1-mile race benefiting Harlem United designed for runners of all ages and abilities. Harlem United’s mission is to provide 100 percent access to quality HIV and AIDS care for all clients regardless of race, socio-economic status or sexual orientation; ensure that clients remain connected to treatment and obtain the best possible health outcomes; provide quality HIV prevention, housing and care services in a safe and nurturing environment; unite Harlem’s diverse communities and address the needs of all people living with and threatened by HIV and AIDS; and empower clients physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. More Info
Family Fun
13th Annual NYC Kid Festival Saturday, June 16, 2018 2-7PM Morningside Park at 110th Street NYC KidsFest is a free, one-day family performing arts festival bringing acts of outstanding artistic quality to New York families. Packed with music, theater, dance, storytelling and much more, this festival promises to delight, inspire and arouse the imaginations of children of all ages. More Info
Back to School Fashion Show Saturday, August 19, 2018 135th Street There’s nothing new about style, flair or fashion in Harlem, so it’s no surprise that fashion has been an integral part of Harlem Week since the event’s infancy. Harlem Week’s final fashion event is the “Back-to-School” children’s show. The show will feature various styles of sweat suits, tutus, barrettes and bows, vests, evening clothing and daywear. More Info
Talks and Readings
Letters to Langston: Snapshots of an LGBT Life Thursday, June 14, 2018 6:30pm-8:30pm Apollo Theater Soundstage Apollo Live Wire celebrates Harlem’s LGBT community, its friends and neighbors with a presentation on Langston Hughes by Harlem historian and Columbia University Community Scholar, John Reddick. Letters to Langston: Snapshots of an LGBT Life will reflect on Hughes’ LGBT friends, colleagues, and romantic associations as viewed through the “camera” lens of his friend, long-time letter correspondent and photographer Carl Van Vechten. The presentation will also include readings of Hughes poetry and musical selections. More Info
Consecrating the Cosmos: Masquerade, Performance and Spirituality in Carnival Traditions Wednesday, June 20, 2018 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture An evening with Nyugen E. Smith and D. Denenge Duyst-Akpem in conversation on masquerade, performance and spirituality in Carnival traditions in the African Diaspora through the lens of Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. They will also discuss how these traditions have informed Nyugen’s work and the work of other artists in the Diaspora. The program will begin with a collaborative performance activation by Smith and Duyst-Akpem of Rivers, Houston Conwill’s site-specific lobby art installation honor that honors Langston Hughes and Arturo A. Schomburg with a cosmogram inspired by Hughes’s poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” More Info
Comments