It's official: Juneteenth is now a federal holiday. Also known as Freedom Day, the holiday commemorates the day the last enslaved Black people were liberated in Texas on June 19, 1865. Naturally, there are loads of ways to celebrate in Harlem, including a city-sponsored kickoff in St. Nicholas Park on Friday evening. MORE

Shop & Sip Harlem will take place in Harlem, NY between June 18-20! Shop from several black-owned businesses and celebrate with some of the best cocktails by Maker's Mark. For a list of all locations participating, visit experienceharlem.com. MORE

This Saturday celebrates American freedom. The ancestors will be proud. Harlem will be moving and shaking with three events that include a family block party, a ribbon cutting and supporting Harlem businesses. The weekend starts on Friday as Experience Harlem, the award-winning marketing solutions company, kicks off their 15th anniversary with a special summer Juneteenth edition of their Shop & Sip series, highlighting Harlem’s Black-owned businesses. “Harlem has long been recognized as the Black capital of the world, there’s no better way to celebrate Juneteenth weekend, kick off summer and the reopening of New York than to discover Harlem’s scores of Black entrepreneurs, small businesses, artists and artisans,” said founder Angie Hancock. Liz Osei, brand manager of sponsor Maker’s Mark added, “We know it’s been such challenging times....by supporting the SHOP HARLEM campaign, we hope we can make this summer a little more remarkable.” MORE

Experience Harlem will kick off their 15th anniversary with a special summer Juneteenth edition of their successful event series, SHOP & SIP HARLEM highlighting Harlem’s Black-owned businesses with a weekend filled with supporting restaurants and restaurants across Harlem. SHOP & SIP – Juneteenth celebrates the roots of the now-observed holiday in New York state; Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. MORE

Experience Harlem’s popular SHOP & SIP gives some well-deserved shine to the neighborhood’s Black-owned businesses with a weekend-long event series supporting restaurants and retailers across Harlem. This year, the award-winning marketing solutions company is celebrating its 15th Anniversary with a special Juneteenth edition of SHOP & SIP. Juneteenth is a holiday that recognizes the liberation of enslaved African-Americans. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. MORE

Experience Harlem will kick off their 15th Anniversary with a special summer Juneteenth edition of their successful event series, SHOP & SIP HARLEM highlighting Harlem’s Black-owned businesses with a weekend filled with supporting restaurants and retailers across Harlem. MORE

Y’all can keep July 4th because we know that while one group was freed from another country’s control, Black people were still enslaved and fighting for our freedom. That is until one fateful day came: June 19th. MORE

Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black Americans since the late 1800s, but last year, the holiday garnered renewed attention as Black Lives Matter demonstrators called (and still call) for meaningful policy changes following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers. For the first time last year, New York City had its first-ever Juneteenth March on City Hall, and Juneteenth became an official NYC and New York State holiday. MORE

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It was about this time last year when I was knee-deep in my culinary producer work for “Hot Ones the Game Show” in Atlanta. I was feeling myself and so excited for what 2020 would bring. I am sure I am not the only one reflecting on the difference one year makes. Continue to stay vigilant all. We are not out of the woods just yet. Thanks always to those who are holding us down in myriad ways. Respect. And about this time last year, I was all up in Little Five Points and Ponce City Market in the ATL holiday shopping and buying Black in the process. Shoutouts to all my Hot Ones and Atlantian fam! I have never felt so welcome in another city. Bless up! This year, I am taking that same ATL energy from last year and pouring it right into Experience Harlem’s Shop Harlem Holiday Fair presented by AT&T and Shop & Sip Harlem presented by Maker’s Mark Bourbon. As it has done for over a decade, Experience Harlem continues to highlight Harlem’s Black-owned businesses events, promotion and business expertise. “Although this year is unlike any other, let’s bring in the holidays the right way by supporting Harlem businesses throughout the season,” says Experience Harlem founder, Angie Hancock. MORE

NEW YORK - Shopping at your local stores is critical to their survival. The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated many small businesses, including many Black-owned shops. An event called Shop Harlem highlights Harlem's Black-owned stores, restaurants, and bars. MORE

In case you’ve been sleeping on the Love the Way You Live podcasts with Charlie Lewis, let’s bring you up to speed. Charlie Lewis is a NYC based real-estate agent with Corcoran who happens to have some of the best listings in Harlem. Each week on the podcast, Charlie dishes you the latest news on Harlem arts, culture, fashion, real-estate, nightlife and more. Here are 4 of our favorites that we know you’ll enjoy: Episode 28: The Skin is the Truth Charlie Lewis has one of the most riveting conversations with esthetician, consultant and speaker Seven Brown of Harlem Skin & Laser Clinic who shares the do’s and don’ts to have healthy skin and simple regimens to get you on the path to living a clean life. Episode 21: It’s Showtime at the Apollo Charlie has an inspirational conversation with the theater’s Executive Director, Kamilah Forbes, who shares her vision to further celebrate the educational and social impact of this iconic institution with the intentional mission to reflect the issues of the black community. Forbes says, “When people come to The Apollo, we say ‘Welcome Home.’” Episode 11: Curated Experiences One of his favorite go-to shops is NiLu in Harlem where the owner Katrina Parris is interviewed on being intentional about selling unique and purposeful brands made by artists and makers in Harlem and around the world. From Peruvian chocolate to vegan body butter, to letterpress greeting cards, there is something for everyone at NiLu. Episode 8: Experience Harlem If you didn’t know, Harlem, NY has always been hot and now everyone is flocking uptown to experience the third most visited area on the island. Charlie has a lively discussion with Angie Hancock, who’s the founder of Experience Harlem – the premiere resource for shopping, dining, arts and culture year round. Learn about the hidden gems for a good cocktail, music and art festivals and what Charlie calls, “Conscious Capitalism”. #Harlem #life #NYC #podcasts