Fun things to do this weekend in Harlem and beyond.

The roller skating rink in Riverbank State Park opens on April 11. Roller skating season is back in Harlem. The roller skating rink in Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park  reopens to the public on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The covered outdoor rink — which doubles as an ice rink in the winter—will welcome visitors every day except Thursday, including two 18-and-older sessions. To get there, enter the park at Riverside Drive and 145th Street and follow the main road to the rink.

A plaque honoring Billie Holiday outside of Bill's Place in Harlem Happy birthday to Billie Holiday—born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915. As a young teen Holiday moved with her mother to Harlem, where she launched her singing career soon after. The legendary vocalist didn't just get her start uptown, but sang at many of its jazz joints throughout her life. Amazingly, three of them still stand today, including the spot where she was discovered. Bookmark this post and make sure

Spring is here, welcoming a fresh wave of visitors ready to explore Harlem. If you're one of them—or happen to be hosting friends and family in the area—here's a top list of things to see and do in the neighborhood. (Don't have room for guests? Try the area's newest hotels: the Harlem Renaissance-themed Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel or the new The George Manhattan, Tapestry Collection by Hilton .) And since you're bound to get hungry, check out TCU's suggestions for wher

See the George Washington Bridge's signature crisscross towers up close. Here's a thrill better than any amusement park ride, and with none of the long lines: a brisk walk or bike ride across the George Washington Bridge in Washington Heights. Approaching its 100-year anniversary, the world's busiest bridge currently has one shared path for pedestrians and bicyclists: the ADA-accessible north sidewalk, reopened in February 2023 . (The reconstruction of the GWB's south sidewa

The Grand Staircase in Fort Tryon Park leads to the Met Cloisters. A set of long park stairs is the perfect place to get a serious workout.   And if you live uptown, you're never too far from a hilly park crisscrossed with an impressive staircase—many have more than 100 steps.   So here's an idea: Find the nearest and get ready for a major sweat session. A good rule of thumb is to run up and down for 30 to 45 minutes. (Of course you can walk instead.)   From south to north, h

Madam C.J. Walker; her niece Anjetta Breedlove; Alice Kelly; and Walker Company bookkeeper Lucy Flint , 1911, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Madam C. J. Walker, the entrepreneur who launched a hair care business that made her one of America's first Black female success stories—the subject of the 2020 Netflix series " Self Made ," starring Octavia Spencer—first came to Harlem in the early 1910s. After growing her business in the Midwest, she bought two townhous

The Graffiti Hall of Fame in East Harlem. From decades-old murals that have undergone renovations to more recent subway art commissioned by the MTA, here's a shortlist of the best murals in Harlem—and where to find them. Use it to go on your own personal tour, from south to north: 1. Graffiti Hall of Fame by Tats Cru East Harlem Park Ave and E 106th St This mural spelling out "Harlem" at the Graffiti Hall of Fame is updated every August by some of the city's best graffiti an

The Top of the Island Route takes runners by the Little Red Lighthouse. By Sam Renikoff With its historical sites and sweeping river views, Upper Manhattan has running routes that have been embraced by a large and passionate community of runners. The area includes dirt trails, paved paths, a recently refurbished outdoor running track , and there is certainly no shortage of hills, making it a playground for any type of runner. To help you discover what Uptown has to offer, her

The Studio Museum in Harlem's new home on 125th Street. A wave of new buildings and businesses continues to transform Harlem's 125th Street. Glossy high-rises like the 28-story Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel, which opened in 2023, have already significantly altered the skyline. Major retailers that arrived soon after, including Trader Joe's, Sephora and Target, are behind the jaw-dropping changes at street level. More recently, the Studio Museum in Harlem returned to the i

Harlem has one of the best collections of Black monuments in the country—and they're all within walking distance of each other. So here's a great idea for Black History Month: Hit the pavement and go on TCU 's DIY tour of these impressive memorials. Not only is it an opportunity to learn more about six inspirational Black figures, it's also a chance to see some pretty amazing art while you're at it. Note: Leave yourself about an hour and a half for the full tour. A. Duke Elli

The hill by 115th Street in Morningside Park There's a good reason why so many neighborhoods in Upper Manhattan have the word "Heights" in them—the area boasts some of the hilliest terrain in all of New York. That means when it snows, good sledding spots abound. Here, then, are uptown's five hilliest parks and their best slopes, from north to south: Morningside Park Best spots: 110th Street, 115th St and Morningside Ave and 121st Street and Morningside Ave How to get there: A

Valentine's Day is fast approaching—this year it falls on Saturday. Don't have plans yet? Head to these uptown spots for Galentine's Day (February 13) fun, gifts, and day-of ideas galore. Stuff Your Stanley Galentine's Day Party at Sugar Hill Creamery (Friday, February 13) • East Harlem   1642 Lexington Ave between 103rd and 104th Sts • Central Harlem 184 Malcolm X Blvd between W 119th and W 120th Sts • Hamilton Heights  3629 Broadway between W 149th and W 150th Sts Heart-sh

A scene from Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story," filmed in Harlem. Photo: Disney Harlem and its streets—the gritty and the beautiful—have served as the backdrop in a long list of memorable films, from classic blaxploitation flicks like "Shaft" to more recent Oscar nominees such as "West Side Story" (Best Picture) and "Summer of Soul" (Best Documentary Feature). These days most can be streamed on subscription services, including Amazon Prime and Netflix. Some on this list—cu

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The annual Three Kings Day Parade returns to El Barrio on Tuesday, January 6. El Museo del Barrio's one-of-a-kind Three Kings Day celebration returns to the streets of East Harlem on Tuesday, January 6. The 48th annual parade, a vibrant stream of giant puppets, live camels, and music and dancing that winds its way through El Barrio, features the theme ¡Pa’lante, Siempre Pa’lante! (“Forward, Always Forward!”)—inspired by cultural legacy of the Young Lords and their mission o

The Gottesman Rink has replaced the old Lasker Rink in Central Park.

The annual reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" at the Church of the Intercession is NYC's oldest holiday tradition.