I love Uptown. For far too long people only saw this forgotten part of Manhattan through the prism of the past. That misguided myopia forces many to miss so much of what makes Uptown so damn special. Uptown is vibrant, dynamic and diverse. We don’t need to become another soulless neighborhood devoid of culture, color and verve. Dominique Browning penned a magnificent piece in the NY Times about falling in love with Washington Heights. Please read and share with abandon. Remember, Spread Love It’s The Uptown Way!

Check out: Finding Washington Heights | NY Times

Christopher Brennan of the NY Daily News gave us the great news that the former home of Harlem giant, Langston Hughes, will be transformed into a cultural center after a successful fundraising campaign.
 
Check out: Writers to turn Langston Hughes’ Harlem home into cultural center after successful fundraising campaign | NY Daily News

 
More good news: Carl Campanile of the NY Post reported on the opening of the city’s first orchestra music charter school Uptown. Shout out to the WHIN Music Project for the vital work they perform in this community.
 
Check out: City’s first orchestra music charter school to open in 2017 | NY Post

 
Joel Lang of the CT Post wrote an excellent article on Harlem Culinary supernova, Chef Marcus Samuelsson. 
 
Check out: Chef Marcus Samuelsson brings his African and Swedish roots to Harlem | CT Post

 
Harlem resident, Alice Tan Ridley, has been singing on the subway for 30 years. Well, she now has a debut album that highlights her beautiful voice. Susan Hartman of the NY Times penned a moving article on the trajectory of the soul singer. 
 
Check out: After Years Underground, a Subway Singer Gets the Spotlight | NY Times

 
This past Sunday, September 18th, 20 teams and over 100 players took to the field for Vitilla supremacy at the 2016 Red Bull Clasico de Vitilla. Vitilla is a street version of baseball that originated in the Dominican Republic. Similar to stick ball, Vitilla is played with a broomstick and a bottle cap on a triangular field with two bases.
 
Check out: From The Barrios To The Big Leagues – The 2016 Red Bull Clasico de Vitilla

 
Woo-hoo, the Little Red Lighthouse Festival goes down tomorrow.
 
Check out: 09/24/16: The Little Red Lighthouse Festival

 
This Sunday you have one more reason to visit Fort Tryon Park. NYC Parks and NOMAA have organized an Evolving Terrain Exhibition Walk and Talk. Click below for more info.
 
Check out: 09/25/16: Meet the Artists: ‘Evolving Terrain’ Exhibition Walk and Talk

 
Our Mood Music selection comes to us from the vivacious Jarina De Marco, Tigre.
 
Check out: Mood Music: Jarina De Marco – Tigre

 
We leave you with this poignant photo from the talented @iampetercooper.
 
Check out: #InstagramUptown: The World We Knew

We invite you to like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter, or e-mail us at
UptownCollective@gmail.com.

As always, check us out at www.uptowncollective.com. 

WHIN & Spread Love

Led Black
Editor-in-Chief
The Uptown Collective
 
The UC’s mission is to become “the” definitive,
transformative and community-based force
impacting the arts, culture, business and New York
City’s overall perception of Upper Manhattan.
Its objective is to reset, reboot and positively redefine
Uptown’s artistic, political, cultural and business spheres
via the online space as well the collective’s initiatives
and functions.