East Harlem's 'Restaurant Row' Has Jam-Packed Summer Slate

EAST HARLEM, NY — A two-block stretch in East Harlem known as "Restaurant Row" has a full slate of activities throughout the summer.

The Open Streets section on 100th and 101st and Lexington Avenue has outdoor dining, live music, activities for kids, and once a month movie nights.

The Open Streets is organized and run by Uptown Grand Central, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming sections of East Harlem into a thriving area that puts advocacy into actions through collaborations with community shareholders.

Here's what to know about all the upcoming activities going on at "Restaurant Row."

Storytime: Every Saturday at 2 p.m.

• Saturday, July 15: Daniel’s Music Foundation & Aguilar New York Public Library.
• Saturday, July 22: Michele Carlo & Joy Smith
• Saturday, July 29: Literacy, Inc
• Saturday, August 5: Bilingual Birdies
• Saturday, August 12: Reyna Bonaparte
• Saturday, August 19: Aguilar New York Public Library
• Saturday, August 26: Joy F. Brown.
• Saturday, September 3: Joy F. Brown.

"Bring the kids for a Storytelling session with experienced storytellers that we’re co-hosting with Harlem4Kids," reads Uptown Grand Central's website. "Come early or stay late to enjoy the books, arts and crafts in our Street Lab outdoor reading room."

Wine Tasting For Parents: Every Saturday at 2 p.m.

Corresponding with the storytelling period, there is also a weekly wine tasting at the same time at the Rosenthal Wine Merchant.

Each week is focused on a different theme and the tasting goes until the bottles are done.

Craft Time: Every Saturday at 3 p.m.

• Saturday, July 15: Drum circle and/or parachutes with Daniel’s Music Foundation.
• Saturday, July 22: Tissue flowers with Andreia Andrikopoulos Batres.
• Saturday, July 29: Watercolors with Patricia Blount of Angel Rays Designs.
• Saturday, August 5: Drum circle and/or parachutes with Daniel’s Music Foundation.
• Saturday, August 12: Canvas painting with Mercedes Molina of the Artisans Bodega Exchange.
• Saturday, August 19: Pottery with Jess Rolls.
• Saturday, August 26: Bead jewelry with Patricia Blount of Angel Rays Designs.
• Saturday, September 3: Yarn art & community crochet with Carmen Paulino, a.k.a. Carmen Community Artist.

Meet local East Harlem artists during weekly crafting sessions ranging from crochet to beadwork to doll making and more.

Activities are geared for all skill levels, from kids through adults.

Live Music: Every Saturday From 5 to 7 p.m.

• Saturday, July 8: Soul & funk with Noël Simoné Wippler & Band of Friends.
• Saturday, July 15: Latin fusion with the Kolja Gjoni Quintet, plus Nossa MIX at Samba Saturday at Bar Goyana.
• Saturday, July 22: Funk, soul, jazz & more from Bruce Edwards & the Uptown Groove, hosted by CIVITAS.
• Saturday, July 29: World fusion with Inti & The Moon.
• Saturday, August 5: Funk, soul, jazz & more from Bruce Edwards & the Uptown Groove, hosted by CIVITAS.
• Saturday, August 12: Soul & funk with Noël Simoné Wippler & Band of Friends.
• Saturday, August 19: TBA.
• Saturday, August 26: Latin fusion with the Kolja Gjoni Quintet.
• Saturday, September 3: Jazz with Butterfly Blue.

The music will range every Saturday night from local jazz to funk musicians and more.

Special Events: Varying Times

Saturday, July 15: Samba Saturday at Bar Goyana

Saturday, August 5: Old Timer’s Day & NYC DOT Citywide Dance Party

Saturdays, August 5, 12 & 19: Summer Streets along the Park Avenue Viaduct

Saturday, August 26: Back-To-School Festival with Life Changers Church.

Movie Night: Time TBD

Friday, August 4: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Previewed by the film short “Chupahuahua.”

Friday, September 1: Film TBA.

Local Restaurants In The Area

• Au Jus
• Bar Goyana
• Burritos Y Mas
• Chu Ros Thai
• El Tepeyac Taqueria
• Effy's Kitchen
• Frenchy Coffee
• Harlem Baking Co.
• Lexington Pizza Parlour
• Llyod's Carrot Cake
• Mojo Mousse Bar
• MY NY Bakery
• Naughty Crab
• Rosenthal Wine Selections
• Sugar Hill Creamery