harlem for the holidays

events

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    Harlem for the Holidays
  • LenoxLounge_V1_460x285
    Lenox Lounge. Photo: Dana Perrotti
  • dinosaur_V4_460x285
    Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Photo: Daniel Krieger
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    Harlem Underground. Photo: Dana Perrotti
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    Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Photo: Alex Lopez
  • BikramYoga_V2_460x285
    Courtesy, Bikram Yoga - East Harlem
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    Big Apple Jazz. Photo: Dana Perrotti
 

Celebrate what's true about the holiday season with Harlem for the Holidays, November 27–January 3. With its rich cultural history, diverse restaurants, entertainment, shopping and more, Harlem is the perfect place to be.

Sundays are always special in Harlem, when the many beautiful churches send the rousing sounds of gospel choirs through the historic brownstone-lined streets. Plus, it's easier than ever to explore all that Harlem has to offer, with free trolleys making stops throughout the neighborhood every Sunday. With so much holiday cheer happening uptown, you'll want to celebrate Harlem for the Holidays all season long.

A handy guide to all of the Harlem for the Holidays participants and a map of the Sunday trolley route can be found here. And for complete information on what's going on in Harlem, check out the holiday event calendar below for weekly updates and visit Experience: Harlem, Harlem One Stop and Uptown magazine.

CALENDAR OF KEY EVENTS
For more event information, visit Experience: Harlem and Harlem One Stop.

January 3
First Sundays Gospel Open Mic

Gospel Uptown, 2110 Seventh Ave., 212-280-2110, 6–9pm, gospeluptown.com
1190AM WLIB Sunday Morning Praise's Liz Black joins Corey Red and Pryzna to host an evening of gospel that sounds anything but amateur. If you'd like to show off your set of pipes, come prepared to do one song, accompanied by Martin Christie and PS150.

Mo' Betta Brunch
The Den, 2150 Fifth Ave., 212-234-3045, thedenharlem.com
Celebrate Sunday Southern style with The Den's Mo' Betta Brunch each week from noon to 5pm, including unlimited mimosas and Champagne and bottle service for parties of four or more.

Parlor Jazz
555 Edgecombe Ave., ''The Triple Nickel,'' Studio 3F, 212-781-6595
Every Sunday from 4 to 6pm, Marjorie Eliot opens up her home to friends and newcomers alike to enjoy upbeat jazz performances in an intimate blue-lit parlor setting.

Great Day in Harlem Living History Jazz Tour
Big Apple Jazz Tours, 718-606-8442, bigapplejazz.com
Take a trip around Harlem in a luxury bus and visit all of the important sites in jazz history, from the most significant clubs to the homes and haunts of the great jazz legends. Plus, listen to live music and enjoy some of Harlem's first-class cuisine.

Live Jazz
St. Nick's Pub, 773 St. Nicholas Ave., stnicksjazzpub.net
Enjoy live jazz seven nights a week at St. Nick's Pub, including Sunday-evening shows featuring Atiba Wilson's "B4" Quartet and a singing workshop with TC III.

Ongoing
Through January 1
Harlem Park to Park’s 1st Annual Holiday Window Display Competition and Toy Drive
South Central Harlem, harlemparktopark.org
This year begins a new Harlem holiday tradition. Harlem Park to Park's participating businesses deck their windows to compete for the most creative holiday display, as chosen by visitors who can vote for their favorite. New unopened toys will also be collected and distributed at Harlem Hospital's Pediatric Ward. Plus, everyone who votes or donates a toy gets a chance to win a bicycle courtesy of Mod Squad Cycles. Voting ends December 19, but the windows will be on view until January 1. And on December 20, the Holiday Toy Drive Reception will be held at Make My Cake, where the winning window will be announced.

Through January 18
Only in New York: Photographs From LOOK Magazine

Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., mcny.org
LOOK called New York "the world's most exciting city," and the photographs displayed in this exhibition encompass that same energy. You'll even see the early work of Stanley Kubrick, former LOOK photographer.

Through February 28
Nexus New York: Latin/American Artists in the Modern Metropolis

El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave., 212-831-7272, elmuseo.org
This quintessentially NYC exhibition brings together work from Latin American and Caribbean artists whose creative efforts shaped the American avant-garde in the decades before World War II.

Every Night
Live Jazz

St. Nick's Pub, 773 St. Nicholas Ave., stnicksjazzpub.net
Enjoy live jazz seven nights a week at St. Nick's Pub, including Sunday-evening shows featuring Atiba Wilson's "B4" Quartet and a singing workshop with TC III.

Every Friday
Friday-Night Salsa

Windows Over Harlem, 163 W. 125th St., 3rd fl., 212-665-4337, 6–11pm, windowsoverharlem.com
Every Friday night, head to Windows Over Harlem and show off your moves as DJ Jeff and DJ Rene play the best saucy salsa tunes.

Every Sunday
Shrine Sundays

Shrine Bar & Restaurant, 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., 212-690-7807, 9am–4am, shrinenyc.com
Shrine Bar & Restaurant is the place to be uptown, and on Sundays the action is nonstop. The special Shrine brunch goes from 9am to 4pm, with a live jazz band starting at 1pm. But the fun isn't over at 4, when the jazz open-mic series starts. At 8pm, another performer goes on (the type of music showcased varies each week). And for the real night owls, a reggae DJ spins, accompanied by live performers, from 10pm to 4am.

Remember to check this page again for additional listings. In the meantime, please visit Experience: Harlem and Harlem One Stop for additional information about events.

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