What’s Up in Harlem — Monday, August 11, 2025

Support Harlem Arts: Explore and purchase tickets for the Dunamis Gospel Awards — celebrating gospel excellence in Harlem.Get Tickets Discover…
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  1. Harlem Gospel Hour at Abyssinian Baptist Church
    Location: 132 Odell Clark Place (Lenox Avenue & 138th Street)
    Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
    Description: Join an uplifting evening of gospel music featuring local Harlem choirs and special guest vocalists. Experience soulful worship in one of Harlem’s historic churches.
    More info: Abyssinian Baptist Church
  2. Afrobeat Dance Workshop at Harlem Dance Theater
    Location: 466 West 152nd Street
    Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
    Description: Learn authentic Afrobeat dance moves led by expert instructors. Open to all skill levels. Perfect for those wanting to connect with African dance culture and get active!
    More info: Harlem Dance Theater
  3. Black Art & Culture Film Screening: “Soul Power”
    Location: Maysles Documentary Center, 343 Lenox Avenue
    Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Description: Watch the acclaimed documentary “Soul Power,” capturing the historic 1974 Zaire music festival. Post-screening Q&A with local filmmakers and historians.
    More info: Maysles Documentary Center
  4. Community Poetry Open Mic at Harlem Café
    Location: 2259 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
    Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    Description: Share your voice or enjoy spoken word from Harlem’s vibrant poetry community. All poets welcome, and audience members encouraged to come support.
    More info: Harlem Café on Instagram
  5. Harlem Yoga for Wellness
    Location: Marcus Garvey Park, Outdoor Pavilion
    Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Description: End your Monday with a restorative yoga session in the park, focused on mindfulness and community wellness. Suitable for all levels. Bring your mat!
    More info: Marcus Garvey Park
  6. Afrocentric Book Club Meetup
    Location: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd
    Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Description: Join fellow readers for a discussion of the latest Afrocentric literature and poetry. This week’s focus is on works by emerging Harlem authors.
    More info: Schomburg Center
  7. Harlem Essentials Walking Tour
    Location: Various starting points, book online
    Time: Multiple daily tours; last tour starts at 4:00 PM
    Description: Explore Harlem’s historic sites and cultural landmarks with expert guides. Perfect for locals and visitors alike.
    Book your tour: Harlem Essentials Walking Tour

Support Harlem Arts:

Explore and purchase tickets for the Dunamis Gospel Awards — celebrating gospel excellence in Harlem.
Get Tickets

Discover Harlem’s Rich Culture:

Join the immersive Harlem Essentials Walking Tour and experience the heart of Harlem firsthand.
Book Your Tour

Attend the Annual Gala:

Celebrate with us at the Harlem Collective Annual Gala — honoring community leaders and artists.
Buy Gala Tickets

Jarvus Ricardo Hester

JARVUSHESTER

Jarvus Ricardo Hester Founder, Artistic Director, Editor-in-Chief, and Cultural Storyteller Jarvus Ricardo Hester is an opera singer, arts administrator, media executive, and entrepreneur dedicated to making the arts more accessible while preserving and amplifying the stories that shape communities. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Harlem Collective Opera, Harlem Boys Choir, and the Harlem Chamber Orchestra, organizations committed to expanding access to classical music through innovative performances, educational initiatives, and community engagement. As Editor-in-Chief of Mood Magazine NYC and the founder of the Mood Media Network, Hester oversees a growing multimedia ecosystem that includes WHRL Mood Radio Harlem, The Morning Show NYC, After Hours NYC, and Mood TV. Through these platforms, he curates stories that explore culture, travel, wellness, food, literature, business, and the arts from Harlem to communities around the world. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Hester has performed with professional opera companies and has dedicated his career to reimagining how audiences experience classical music. His work consistently bridges the worlds of performance, journalism, tourism, education, and community development. His signature initiative, The Black Composer Project, celebrates the contributions of Black classical composers through immersive concert experiences that combine music, storytelling, and historical exploration. Whether through a live performance, a magazine feature, a radio broadcast, or a community partnership, Hester's work is guided by a simple philosophy: Stories create connections. Art builds communities. Culture preserves legacy. Harlem to the world. Be a part of the story.
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