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17 Fun Things to Do This Weekend in Harlem and Washington Heights



The inaugural Latin Night Market, backstage at Only Murders in the Building's Goosebury Theater (a.k.a. the United Palace)—plus more fun things to see and do this weekend:


Sankofa Installation

Friday, September 22 at 2pm

Harlem Marcus Garvey Park, East Lawn (enter at Madison Ave and E 124th St)

Stop by for the third round of art installations at this unique 32-foot-wide circular pavilion designed by architect Jerome Haferd in Marcus Garvey Park.


Latin Night Market

Friday, September 22 4pm-10pm

Inwood Dyckman St between Quisqueya Plaza and Inwood Park

From the producers of the popular Uptown Night Market comes the first-ever Latin Night Market, an outdoor food and culture festival featuring foods like empanadas, pupusas and mofongo with live music to match.


The Harlem Chamber Players Present: Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind

Friday, September 22 at 7:30pm

Morningside Heights Broadway Presbyterian Church, 601 W 114th St and Broadway

This diverse collective kicks off the season with a program that includes Sergei Prokofiev's "Overture on Hebrew Themes" and Osvaldo Golijov's "The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind."


Only Murders in the Building: Backstage at the Goosebury Experience

Saturday, September 23 & Sunday, September 24 11am-7pm; standby line only

Washington Heights United Palace, 4140 Broadway at 175th St

Join the whodunnit at the United Palace—the real-life location of the Goosebury Theater in Season 3 of Hulu's Only Murders in the Building—to try and guess who killed Ben Glenroy. Tickets are sold out, but there's a first-come, first-served standby line.


2nd Annual John Coltrane/Miles Ahead Jazz Festival

Saturday, September 23 3pm-8pm FREE

Central Harlem Marcus Garvey Park, Richard Rodgers Amphitheater, enter at Fifth Ave and W 124th St

The second annual John Coltrane/Miles Ahead Jazz Festival features an afternoon of live music courtesy of an all-star lineup.


Sundae Sermon 15th Anniversary Block Party

Sunday, September 24 2pm-8pm FREE

Central Harlem 116th St and Frederick Douglass Blvd

This huge block party produced by DJ Stormin’ Norman features his DJ friends, including Ted Smooth, Nadeeah Eshe, DJ Cosi and more.


 

In case you missed it:


A Collection Without Borders

September 15-March 2024 Thu-Sun noon-5pm FREE

Washington Heights The Hispanic Society Museum & Library, Broadway between W 155th and W 156th Sts

Head to the renovated Main Court to see this new exhibition featuring some of the most famous paintings in the museum's collection, including works by El Greco, Velazquez and Goya (yes, the Duchess of Alba is back).


Thomas Heath: A Visionary Journey

September 7-30; Wed-Fri 2pm-8pm, Sat & Sun noon-8pm

Central Harlem Kente Royal Gallery, 2373 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd between W 138th and W 139th Sts

A solo show that features the paintings of Thomas Edwin Heath, a self-taught artist documenting the African American experience.


BK Adams: Five Miles

September 8-November 4; Tue-Sat 11am-6pm

Central Harlem Claire Oliver Gallery, 2288 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd between W 134th and W 135th Sts

Artist BK Adams' first solo exhibition features multimedia paintings with animal characters, including a male lion, that represent "joy, empowerment, faith, fatherhood, and wisdom."


"Penetrable" by Jesús Rafael Soto

Ongoing; 10am-6pm daily

Washington Heights The Hispanic Society Museum & Library terrace, Broadway between W 155th and 156th Sts

Come see—and even walk through—Venezuelan kinetic artist Jesús Rafael Soto’s interactive sculpture installed on the museum's upper terrace.


"Penetrable" by Jesus Rafael Soto at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library
"Penetrable" by Jesús Rafael Soto at the Hispanic Society Museum

Open Streets on Frederick Douglass Boulevard

Saturday noon-10pm, Sunday noon-9pm

Central Harlem Frederick Douglass Blvd between W 112th and W 120th Sts

Stop by the eight traffic-free blocks along Frederick Douglass Boulevard for free games, movies, live music, and more.


Open Streets at Restaurant Row & La Marqueta

Saturdays noon-8pm East Harlem 100th & 101st Sts at Lexington Ave

Sundays 10am-5pm East Harlem La Marqueta, 115th St under the Park Avenue Viaduct

Open Streets in East Harlem are here for the whole summer, featuring outdoor dining along 100th and 101st streets, plus live music and loads of fun activities for the whole family.


This Is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture

Through July 21, 2024; Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Mon 10am-5pm

East Harlem The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave at E 103rd St

This new exhibit explores all the ways the city has inspired storytelling in film, TV, music and more. Think Carrie Bradshaw's pink tutu, Sesame Street's green street sign, and more.


Something Beautiful: Reframing La Colección

Through March 10, 2024; Thu-Sun 11am-5pm

East Harlem El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave at 104th St

This rotating exhibition presents more than 500 works by 90 artists from the museum's permanent collection over the course of a year. First up: eight sections focusing on themes such as Cosmic Visions, El Barrio and The Street Transforms, plus seven artist spotlights.


Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration

Through December 4; Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm; FREE

Central Harlem Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd and W 135th St

This new exhibition, which first debuted at MoMA PS 1 in 2020, explores the effect of the US prison system on art. Featuring the work of 40 artists, it includes both those who have been incarcerated and those whose art highlights some aspect of the system.


Hamilton Grange National Memorial Tours

Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm FREE

Hamilton Heights 414 W 141st St between St. Nicholas and Convent Aves

Go on a free tour of founding father Alexander Hamilton's historic uptown home, including a stroll through the parlor, dining room and study.


Live Music at Shrine

Weekends until 3:45am

Central Harlem Shrine, 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd between W 133rd and W 134th Sts

This gem of a live music venue kicks into high gear on the weekends with a mix of jazz, funk, blues, and even comedy—ending with DJ sets that run into the early morning.


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