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15 fun things to do this weekend in Harlem and beyond


Weed-munching goats return to Riverside Park.

The return of Riverside Park's weed-munching goats, a whole weekend of free rock climbing at The Cliffs, a circus on a flatbed truck pulling up to East Harlem—and much more fun stuff to see and do this weekend.


Through the summer

Morningside Heights Riverside Park between W 119th and W 125th Sts

Five goats return to a two-acre section of Riverside Park to help with the weeds.


Friday, July 16-Sunday, July 18; FREE

Central Harlem 256 W 125th St between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvds

Harlem's new rock climbing gym—located in a 15,000-square-foot space right across from The Apollo—is celebrating its grand opening with three days of free climbing, events and classes.



Friday, July 16 7pm-9pm; FREE

Sugar Hill The Porch, 750A St Nicholas Ave near W 147th St

A free concert from the jazz-meets-Haitian-roots band Alegba and Friends in front of The Porch, a new music venue and cafe opening this fall.


Saturday, July 17 at 2:30pm and 4:30pm; FREE

East Harlem Open Streets: 101st St and Lexington Ave

This lighthearted circus-on-a-flatbed-truck is pulling up to East Harlem's Open Streets for an afternoon of acrobatics, juggling and more.


Sunday, July 18 2pm-7:15pm; FREE

East Harlem The Africa Center, 1280 Fifth Ave and E 110th St

An afternoon of live music and poetry in the plaza in front of the Africa Center.


 

In case you missed it:


Through July 29; Tuesday-Sunday at 8:30pm; FREE, no reservations needed

Central Harlem Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park, 18 Mt. Morris Park West and W 122nd St

The Classical Theatre of Harlem returns to Marcus Garvey Park with this modern reboot of Shakespeare's Richard III.



Through Sept 30; Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat noon-10pm, Sun noon-9pm

Central Harlem Frederick Douglass Blvd between W 111th to W 120th Sts

Nine blocks of Frederick Douglass Boulevard are closed to traffic on the weekends through September. The stretch includes a long list of restaurants with expanded outdoor seating, including Melba's, BLVD Bistro, Lido, Vinateria, and more.


Through December 31; Tuesday-Thursday by appointment, walk-ins Friday & Saturday

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

You can now visit the Schomburg on Fridays and Saturdays without an appointment and see its two current exhibitions, including a show exploring a century of "traveling while Black."


In theaters and streaming now

Questlove's documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival in Marcus Garvey Park—bringing to light performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and more—is finally out. Watch it in theaters (including the AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9) or stream it on Hulu


Saturdays 2:30pm-5pm

Central Harlem The Cecil, 210 W 118th St and St. Nicholas Ave

Harlem's acclaimed Sing Harlem choir is taking you to church—on Saturdays.



Through April 2022

Central Harlem Morningside Park, Morningside Ave and 120th St

Take a selfie with artist Zaq Landsberg's 25-foot-long sculpture, "Reclining Liberty," right above the entrance to the park at 120th Street.


Saturdays through October

Central Harlem 134th Street Farm, 118 W 134th St between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvds

Free workshops for children on farming (sample themes: pollinators, leafy greens, edible flowers) on Harlem Grown's urban farm. Registration is mandatory.


Through August 1

Upper East Side The Met, 100 Fifth Ave at E 82nd St

This career retrospective of Alice Neel includes a treasure trove of portraits and streetscapes from the 24-year period the painter lived in East Harlem.


Alice Neel, Dominican Boys on 108th Street, © The Estate of Alice Neel

Sundays 6pm-9pm

Hamilton Heights The Grange Bar & Eatery, 1635 Amsterdam Ave at W 141st St

After a brief hiatus, the Grange has reopened and is back to hosting the Sam Taylor jazz trio on Sunday nights.


Through September 26; Sat & Sun 11am-5pm

East Harlem El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave between E 104th and E 105th Sts

The culmination of two years of research and studio visits, this national survey takes a closer look at the work of 42 Latinx artists and collectives from the United States and Puerto Rico, exploring themes such as identity, structural racism, migration and more.


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