A herd of weed-munching goats is returning for another summer residency in Riverside Park. But before the three grazers—Romeo, Mallomar, and newcomer Big Buddy—get to work tackling the area's invasive plants, they're kicking things off with a live eating contest. The second annual Great Goat Graze-Off, hosted by the Riverside Park Conservancy, is set for Saturday, July 18 from 11am-1:30pm on the lawn just north of the Ten Mile River Playground at 151st Street. The free event

Manhattanhenge on 145th Street. Manhattanhenge—that time of the year when the sunset lines up with Manhattan's crosstown streets—is back this weekend. You'll have two opportunities to see it, starting on Saturday, July 11 at 8:20pm to catch the full sun on the grid and Sunday, July 12 at 8:21pm to peep the half sun on the grid. While most people flock to skyscraper-lined thoroughfares like 34th and 42nd Streets for spectacular views, Uptowners can find their own version of th

Fun things to do this weekend in Harlem and beyond.

Harlem Summer Nights, formerly known at the Uptown Night Market, is moving to Fridays. A popular Harlem food festival has a new name—and schedule. The former Uptown Night Market is now known as Harlem Summer Nights, hosting more than 50 vendors every Friday night starting on July 10 and running through August 21 from 5pm to 10pm. Like its previous incarnation, the market will stretch out under the arches of the Riverside Drive Viaduct on 12th Avenue and W 135th Street. The li

The George Washington Bridge tower lights now shine nightly. It's official—the George Washington Bridge's towers now shine every night. The Port Authority of NY/NJ announced on Monday that the towers would be lit nightly starting this week, just in time for the country's 250th birthday. The agency finished installing new energy-efficient LED lights last year as part of its $2 billion Restoring the Bridge program, testing them for a brief stretch over the winter holidays. The

The new Gottesman Pool at the Davis Center in Central Park. The city's free outdoor pools reopen for the season on Saturday, June 27—just in time for what's predicted to be another hot and humid summer. General swim hours are from 11am to 7pm, including a break for cleaning between 3pm and 4pm. Above 110th Street there are currently a total of eight free outdoor pools run by the NYC Parks Department. Here's where to find them all, from south to north: 1. Thomas Jefferson Pool

​New York is bursting with Instagrammable places like Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge—but those spots are for beginners. If you're ready to fill your camera roll with less overrun corners of the city, point your lens at Upper Manhattan. From storybook lighthouses to hidden arches, these locations will leave you truly inspired. From south to north, here are the top 12 places to check out: 1. Historic Harlem brownstones Central Harlem W 120th St between Mount Morris Park

The Open Street on W 120th Street between Mount Morris Park West and Lenox Avenue. New York City's latest list of Open Streets, a program now in its seventh year, includes more than 15 car-free blocks in Upper Manhattan. The Open Streets are the result of partnerships between the Department of Transportation and community organizations (such as block associations), educational institutions and merchant groups that apply each year to manage their locations. Each Open Street ha

From parades to live concerts, there are loads of ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Harlem and beyond.

After being dark for almost a year, the Apollo Theater's iconic marquee shone bright again last night. The historic Harlem venue on 125th Street has been undergoing renovations since last spring, and finally debuted its restored marquee and neon sign at a formal ceremony on Wednesday evening. The event, which included a drumline performance by the Marching Cobras and a live countdown by TV personality Bevy Smith, was just the first reveal. The theater itself remains closed, p

The view of the George Washington bridge from J. Hood Wright Park. It's an event that happens just a few times a year, but one definitely worth waiting for: the night when the George Washington Bridge's tower lights are turned on. The bridge's iconic criss-crossed steel towers are illuminated only during major holidays and September 11—coinciding with the days when the bridge flies the world's largest free-flying U.S. flag. Those holidays include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, P

The Inwood Greenmarket is open year-round. The city is finally warming up, which means local farmers' markets are beginning to offer more and more fresh produce. Right now there are three year-round farmers markets—plus one seasonal—open above 110th Street (as well as a few CSAs, co-ops and free farm stands for good measure). Here's where and when to find them, from south to north: Farmers' Markets Down to Earth Farmers Market - Morningside Park Central Harlem W 110th St and

The Apollo Stages at the Victoria. 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 iconic thoroughfare in

Mayor Zohran Mamdani today announced plans to open Manhattan's first city-run grocery store in East Harlem. Offering groceries at subsidized prices, the store will be one of five to open throughout the city, one in each borough. “A public option allows us to intervene where the market has failed," said Mamdani at a press conference held inside La Marqueta, the historic public market on Park Avenue and E 115th Street. "This is about ensuring that every New Yorker, regardless o

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

Yoshino cherry blossoms in Sakura Park on April 6, 2026. Cherry blossom season is finally here. The always-eagerly-anticipated time of year typically kicks off in late March and stretches through April. To help you find the best viewing spots, TCU consulted NYC Parks Department's list of the top parks in the city for cherry blossoms; four are in Upper Manhattan. Keep in mind that different types of cherry trees bloom at various times—Okame in late March, Yoshino in the first

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

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

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

Manhattan's amazing grid system makes navigating the city a breeze for locals and tourists alike—except when you find yourself in an area where the numbers suddenly vanish. Take Harlem. The streets running east to west are all numbered, but things get a bit trickier when it comes to the avenues. Over the years, three in the neighborhood's center—Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Avenues—have been renamed after prominent African Americans. Visitors may find the sudden lack of number