Harlem

 

Harlem is essential to American jazz, literature, and civil rights history. And for good reason: major streets like Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., Malcolm X Blvd., and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. pay homage to civil rights leaders who walked those passageways. Meanwhile, venues such as The Apollo Theater, Hotel Theresa, and Sylvia’s Restaurant stand as iconic landmarks frequented by history buffs and culture seekers.

 

What To Expect

 

Unlike many other tourist- and commuter-friendly Manhattan neighborhoods, life in Harlem can feel as quiet as it is connected to the rest of the city.

 

On the one hand, the neighborhood has a peaceful, residential spirit, evidenced by street pick-up basketball games and block parties.

 

But Harlem also has a thriving cultural scene, bringing constant vibrancy and excitement to the neighborhood.

The Lifestyle

Life in Harlem is as rooted in cultural tradition as it is energized and diverse. In the last decade, restaurants like Red Rooster, Harlem Tavern, and Harlem Shake have reinvented a dining scene traditionally defined by soul food icons like Sylvia’s and Amy Ruth’s.

 

Music is another of Harlem’s greatest uniting traditions, and its legacy is preserved proudly throughout the neighborhood.

 

Harlem’s flair for the performing arts is best represented by the Apollo Theater, which originally opened as a dance hall and ballroom in 1913. Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and The Jackson 5 played their “Amateur Nights”, while Showtime at the Apollo and musicians such as James Brown, B.B. King, and Paul McCartney solidified the venue as a timeless entertainment landmark.

 

Outside of entertainment, church-lined streets and a pervasive sense of spirituality and activism continue to speak to Harlem’s reputation for community awareness.

 

The Market

 

Charming, historic brownstones and walk-ups are relatively abundant, especially from 125th to 145th streets.

 

Those in search of more modern digs will find them closer to major avenues such as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Malcolm X Blvd.

 

You'll Fall In Love With

 

Legendary music and food venues are only a few reasons to love life here. Residents of all ages and stages revel in the equal sense of historical significance and current cultural cachet.

 

Harlem continues to serve as a mecca for artistic and creative expression, and that tradition continues to pass from one generation to the next.