See Harlem Thru The Eyes Of A Tourist
At one point while backpacking across Europe, my friend hurled the 23 Birra Peroni he had just downed all over the side of a 600 year old Italian building. As he stood there propped against the wall by his arms, breathing heavy, sweating and swearing he would never drink again, I took pause and thought "I wonder what it would be like to live in a place that was a constant tourist attraction?"
As a resident of Harlem, I now know.
Thankfully, the tourists in Harlem are more likely to be middled aged or a family, as opposed to unsupervised college kids. And they are much more likely to be part of an organized tour, rather than roaming around in loosely formed groups drinking enough to stay blasted until their 21st birthday.
Still, I'm curious as to what the guides are saying when a group passes my place and all of their heads turn up in unison like a bunch of cats watching a piece of string.
For those who are inclined to find out, here are some weekend tours beyond the ubiquitous red buses that go up and down the avenues:
KEYSTONE OF AFRICAN AMERICA, meeting Sunday at 1 p.m. at City College, 138th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, Hamilton Heights. Sponsored by Joyce Gold History Tours of New York. $15, $12 for 65+. (212) 242-5762.
SPANISH HARLEM SALSA TOUR Daily at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., includes a lecture on the culture and history of the area, meeting at Fifth Avenue and 110th Street. Sponsored by the Lubona Corporation. Reservations: (212) 253-8702. $25.
HARLEM, YOUR WAY! Sunday at 10:15 a.m., "Experience the Beauty of Harlem Gospel" includes a talk about the history of Harlem, with a stop at an art gallery and a gospel church service, meeting at 129 West 130th Street. An optional meal follows. (212) 690-1687. $25.
MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY Sunday at 11 a.m., "Jewish Harlem" meeting in front of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street. (212) 439-1049. $15, $12 for members.
Photo of tour bus by Joe Schumacher.
Comments
Maybe there can be a"NYC Public Housing Tour" where tourists can come to see an example of New York's failed system. How exciting for them to see that there were dumb asses in office long before our current president Bush!
GET RID OF THE PROJECTS!!!
Posted by: getridoftheprojects | July 13, 2007 11:15 PM
The tour guides are saying" Here lies what was the pulse, culture and spirit of Harlem-now infested with "new white settlers" destroying the very fabric of Black and Spanish Harlem". Where will the tourist industry be with all whites in Harlem? Would any tourists want to see all whites in Harlem? "I could have stayed in Prague for this shit-Fucking Amaericans-always fucking up shit and inposing their will on other people." You are right Hans! Its like vacationing in Barbados and seeing a bunch of whites burning themselves on the beach-did i come all the way to see this shit on vacation? The bad thing is that Black people are for the most part kind and forgiving-too much so. So while I'm pissed off at the many whites imposing their way of life on the long time residents of Harlem-i'm not mad at the backpacker who just needs a cheap spot to live in the city. If I was white I'd move to the cheapest spot in the city too. But I would not demand that they played Creed in the local barbershop or bitch about kids playing basketball in the park or drumming. What nerve! Is it a generational difference in philosophy amongst you whites? The young white hipsters?, middle aged white couples, out of town whites- NYC investor whites? You guys look all the same to me but maybe there is a difference. Who are the ones bitching about the projects-is it the middle aged ones or the out of towners who can't deal with city noise anyway? Save the fucking projects. Its our last hope. You guys want them gone so Harlem will look like a continuation of 96th street. You guys want that castle feeling of living high above the common folk. Thats why you guys build on top of nice pre war building downtown. thank god for air rights. Well the project look down on your million dollar condo-so don't sun on the roof-you might be target practice.
Posted by: HARLEM OBSERVER | July 14, 2007 03:10 PM
Hey "Harlem Observer", you were born too late. just 60 years ago or so, people in the US were segregated by color of skin - just the way to like it. You'd have a ball in Apartheid South Africa too. (BTW, I especially like the part you made up about how whites "demand that they played Creed in the local barbershop". I bet they demanded pictures of Larry Bird on the local Pizza's walls too).
Posted by: crackerjack | July 15, 2007 08:38 PM
Hey "Harlem Observer", you were born too late. just 60 years ago or so, people in the US were segregated by color of skin - just the way you like it. You'd have a ball in Apartheid South Africa too. (BTW, I especially like the part you made up about how whites "demand that they played Creed in the local barbershop". I bet they demanded pictures of Larry Bird on the local Pizza's walls too).
Posted by: crackerjack | July 15, 2007 08:38 PM
don't pay Harlem Observer any mind..... he is just writing some kind of project foolishness ----- target practice???? take that mess to the Bronx!!!
GET RID OF THE PROJECTS!!!
Posted by: getridoftheprojects | July 16, 2007 02:27 PM