Discovering West Harlem

Are you ready to discover (or rediscover) West Harlem? In this edition of Know Your City, we invite you to visit New York with fresh eyes, comfortable shoes on and your smartphone off. Enjoy the surprises ahead!

At Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd and 124th Street, you will find the Hotel Theresa.  It was one of the first hotels in Manhattan to welcome people of color during the mid-20th century, making it a vibrant space for arts and culture. It is the closest you will ever get to the spirit of Muhammad Ali, Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, and Jimi Hendrix all at the same time. Even though it was converted into an office space in 1966, the original exterior was kept, a sign with Hotel Theresa is still painted on the side of the building, and the old name is still commonly used. Celebrating the Jazz Age, consider listening to your favorite bebop tunes as you walk this way.

Keep the rhythm because now we are heading to the Apollo Theater, at 253 W 125th St. We all know the Apollo for its live concerts, but did you know about its educational program? It’s focused on workshops and tours for schools, study guides derived from the Theater’s history, career development for teens and adults, and public discussions highlighting the Theater’s history and impact on American culture.

Just a couple blocks away, find Futuro Media Group, a nonprofit committed to producing ethical journalism, representing the new American mainstream. Founded in 2010 by award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa, they give a critical voice to the diversity of the American experience. Some of their productions are Latino USA, America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa, In The Thick, and Humanizing America.

Walking just a few minutes to the west, find Morningside Park. Stretch your legs, relax, and think of the next steps you are going to follow to make your dreams come true. Because, why are we in New York if it is not for that?

For more Know Your City, visit Greenwich Village & Chelsea, and Upper East Side & East Harlem. Stay tuned!