THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS September฀27฀–฀October฀3,฀2012฀•฀฀9 Harlem in the City Festival Nightlife By David Goodson

The City College of New York, in col- lem’s most successful entrepreneurs, laboration with the Harlem Arts Alli- Pig Foot Mary, says goodbye to the ance, presents “Harlem in the City,” a customers of her highly profitable Roc Boyz take over weeklong festival of activities celebrat- meat store at 135th and Lenox Avenue ing Harlem as a cultural and intellectual in the early 1920s. Theatre B, Aaron Since the rhetorical question of and show up early. Tickets for the re- force for New York City, America and the Davis Hall. “who’s the best MC, Biggie, Jay-Z or spective shows can be purchased at world. The festival runs Oct. 1-7. 10 a.m. - noon. Bulb planting and Nas?” was posed on the slept-on- www.littlefieldnyc.com/event and “Strengthening ties between City Col- box lunch on the City College campus classic “Where I’m From”—found www.theboxnyc.com. lege and the Harlem community is one with the John Finley Day School. on “In My Lifetime, Vol. 1” by Shawn For Nas, the venue isn’t as grand of (CCNY) President Lisa S. Coico’s Noon - 2 p.m. Student docent-led “Jay-Z” Carter—the names and ca- as an arena, but it will be monu- primary goals,” said Dr. Myrah Brown tours of the “Harlem & the City: Over reers of Jay-Z and Nas have been in- mental nonetheless. Following the Green, executive director of arts and 100 Years of Special Moments in Time” extricably linked. So why break the release of his sixth No. 1 , the culture at City College, who is coordi- photo exhibit. Amsterdam Avenue trend? new opus, “Life Is Good,” a stand- nating the festival. “Through this festi- plaza. After record-breaking perfor- out performance on this year’s Rock val we are bringing Harlem to campus 6 p.m. - midnight. “Harlem in the mances by both over the Labor the Bells tour and a just-announced and, at the same time, encouraging our City on the Wall.” North Academic Day weekend—Jay-Z at the Made dual headlining tour with Lauren students to become part of this diverse, Center art wall. in America Music Festival and Nas Hill, hip-hop’s most influential MC culturally rich community that is our at Rock the Bells—the pair is again has announced an exclusive show home.” WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3 in the limelight with major moves to take place on Monday, Dec. 31, The festival will offer an assortment of 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. “Harlem in the City: coming down the pike. For Jay-Z, at 9 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall. events, to include art exhibits, lectures, Past and Present.” A two-part panel aside from he and his wife, Beyoncé, As if the Times Square area won’t be panel discussions, film screenings, tours discussion takes participants on a hosting a fundraiser for President crazy enough! and poetry readings. journey through Harlem from the late Barack Obama at his 40/40 club, Said Nas, “There is no better place 19th century to the present, describ- he’s now just a few days away from for me to spend New Year’s Eve HIGHLIGHTS ing how the sciences, arts and culture christening the stage at the Barclays than New York City, and there aren’t New Orleans-style parade through the have played an important role in Har- Center in his native Brooklyn, with a many better places to perform in City College campus to open the festivi- lem’s history. Dr. Venus Green, City five-show run Sept. 28-30 and Oct. this world than Radio City.” Fans ties on Monday, Oct. 1. College professor of history, moder- 3 and 4. The shows have been void began to purchase tickets this past “Harlem in the City: Past and Present,” ates. First panel, 10 a.m. - noon; lunch, of tickets for months, selling out in Friday, Sept. 14, the same day Nas a two-part panel discussion on Wednes- noon - 1 p.m., second panel, 1 - 4 p.m. minutes after they went on sale to celebrated his 39th born day. day, Oct. 3 Theatre B, Aaron Davis Hall. the public. For more information, visit www. The “Colors of Change” art exhib- 4 - 6:30 p.m. Opening of “Class However, new possibilities to radiocity.com, www.livenation.com it opening and the second annual City Action I,” a juried art exhibit and col- enjoy a semblance of the festivi- and www.nasirjones.com. Tickets College Arts & Culture Award ceremony laboration between City College stu- ties have been made available. Fol- are available through Ticketmaster, on Thursday, Oct. 4. dents and Harlem community artists. lowing the historic opening night by calling 866-858-0008, all Ticket- Each evening during the festival, Hamilton Landmark Gallery, 467 W. performances at Barclays, Young master outlets and at the Radio City works by community artists will be pro- 144th St. Guru (Jay-Z’s DJ and resident engi- box office. I hear there aren’t many jected onto the North Academic Center 6:30 - 9 p.m. Screening and discus- neer) will leave the stage and keep left, however. art wall from 6 p.m. to midnight. sion of “The Barber of Birmingham,” alive the spirit of the concerts with A complete schedule of events fol- a documentary featuring interviews a series of after-parties. On Sept. 28, Chilling this weekend? If so, the lows. with barber James Armstrong and Young Guru, along with DJ Square Blue Note (131 W. 3rd St.) is an other Alabama African-Americans Biz, will be joined for a special DJ set ideal spot, with the great vibra- MONDAY, OCT. 1 who participated in the struggle for by fellow Brooklyn hip-hop stalwart phonist and vocalist con- 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Danny Glover is civil rights in cities like Birmingham . tinuing his slated Sept. 26-28 run. to be honored during the Harlem Arts and Selma during the 1960s. Theatre The opening night party will be Dubbed the “Godfather of Neo- Alliance meeting, hosted by CCNY. B, Aaron Davis Hall. at Free Candy, 905 Atlantic Ave., at Soul,” Ayers continues to bridge the Marian Anderson Theatre, Aaron 6 p.m. - midnight. “Harlem in the the corner of St. James. Doors open gap between generations of music Davis Hall. City on the Wall.” North Academic at 10. On Saturday and Sunday, lovers—literally! 1 p.m. A New Orleans-style second- Center art wall. Sept. 29 and 30, Guru and the Roc Known for everything from hit line parade opens the festivities, with Boyz (Jay-Z’s band) move to Little- songs with his band Ubiquity (like a band accompanying members of the THURSDAY, OCT. 4 field with an intimate Brooklyn jam dance-floor sensation “Everybody City College and Harlem communities. Noon - 2 p.m. “Poetry @ the Gates.” session featuring special guests af- Loves the Sunshine” and “Running The parade begins at Aaron Davis Hall City College students, faculty, staff filiated with Roc-A-Fella and the Away”), to touring with Afrobeat and proceeds along Convent Avenue and Harlem community members will new-look . Although superstar Fela Kuti, Ayers still main- to West 140th Street. have the opportunity to read and recite guest performers have yet to be an- tains appeal with new musicians 5 - 7:30 p.m. City College and Harlem poetry at the gates along Amsterdam nounced, you can safely bet that and fans. The demand for his music Arts Alliance kick off Arts Advocacy Avenue between the North Academic with the guests Jay-Z is ready to that resurfaced with samples of his Week with a reception and panel dis- Center and Townsend Harris Hall. bring out at Barclays Center, Young tunes appearing in hip-hop, acid cussion on “Harlem Through its Arts Noon - 2 p.m. “Harlem in the City Guru and the Roc Boyz will have jazz and R&B keeps him culturally Institutions.” Theatre B, Aaron Davis Moves!” Line dance in the Plaza at Con- ample firepower to enliven the relevant, not only as a pop culture Hall. vent Avenue. Music by student radio sta- room at the 300-capacity venue. Lit- hero but as a music industry figure, 6 p.m. - midnight. “Harlem in the tion WCCR. tlefield, located at 622 Degraw St. in with heavyweights like Mary J. Blige, City on the Wall.” North Academic 5:30 - 9 p.m. Opening of “Colors of Brooklyn, is less than one mile from Erykah Badu, 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Center art wall. Change” art exhibit and the second the Barclays Center. Quest, , Will Downing and annual Arts and Culture Awards ceremo- On Saturday, Oct. 6, Young Guru Talib Kweli seeking him out. TUESDAY, OCT. 2 ny. Exhibit features the works of Danny and the Roc Boyz take the party Set times are 8 and 10:30 p.m. 10 - 11 a.m. Art enrichment work- Simmons, Leopold Fuentes and Ghario- across the bridge to Manhattan’s Doors open at 6 p.m. nightly. Res- shop with Harlem-themed activities wkhu Lemi. Invited honorees include Ste- exclusive trendy nightlife spot, the ervations are highly recommended for City College Day Care students. phen and Ruth Hendel, Danny Simmons Box (189 Chrystie St.). Complimen- and are available online at blue- Schiff House, Convent Avenue and W. and Dr. Marta Vega. Aaron Davis Hall tary drinks will flow courtesy of Bel- notejazz.com or by calling the club 133rd Street. Lobby and Marian Anderson Theatre. vedere, so this after-party is poised at 212-475-8592. 10 - 11:30 a.m. Daniel Carlton pres- 6 p.m. – midnight. “Harlem in the to be the capacity-filled. To secure ents “Pig Foot Mary says Goodbye to City on the Wall,” North Academic your entry to this exclusive indus- Over and out. Holla next week. ’Til the Harlem Renaissance.” One of Har- Center art wall. try event, get your advance tickets then, enjoy the nightlife.