New York City Harlem

Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St. (www.apollotheater.org), The Apollo has been synonymous with black entertainment for decades; a list of the ultra-famous performers who graced its stage would far exceed our space limitations. Suffice it to say that Ella Fitzgerald got her start and James Brown recorded his most famous album here. Today, the Apollo still features A-list performers—check its website for details—but the most famous and attractive draw is Amateur Night every W, when the young and talented try to hit it big in front of an infamously tough and vocal crowd. Come to boo, hiss, or cheer when appropriate. Tickets also available through Ticketmaster. Amateur night tickets $14-25; other prices vary, so check website for details. Amateur night W 7:30pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
City College, Offices at 138th St. and Convent Ave. (www.ccny.cuny.edu), City College was founded in 1847 to cater to the children of immigrants and the working poor. Its hilltop Harlem campus—where it moved from a downtown location in 1909—has been the undergraduate home to such varied luminaries as Woody Allen and Colin Powell. In the 1920s and 30s it spawned most of the so-called “New York Intellectuals,” children of Jewish immigrants who went on to have a significant impact on American literary and political life. Sleek, modern buildings mingle with Gothic structures built using rusty schist in an effort to establish the college as a “workingman's school.” Call admissions for campus tour info. Wheelchair access.
Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 W. 138th St./Odell Clark Pl. (www.abyssinian.org), In a neighborhood where seemingly every block has its own small church, the Abyssinian Baptist Church stands out with striking Gothic architecture and a rich history. Founded in 1808 by free Ethiopians forced to sit in a segregated section of New York's First Baptist Church, the Abyssinian, named after Ethiopia's archaic name, moved to its present location in 1923. Adam Clayton Powells Sr. and Jr. were pastors here; the latter represented Harlem as the first African-American in the House of Representatives. Nat King Cole was married in the church, and the prominent black composer W.C. Handy had his funeral here. The church remains at the center of the neighborhood's spiritual life under Reverend Calvin Butts, and a renowned gospel choir delivers the standards weekly. Sunday morning crowds are bounteous, so get here early and don't forget to wear your Sunday best. Proper attire required. Services W 6pm, Su 9 and 11am. Wheelchair access.
Marcus Garvey Park, 120th-124th St. between 5th and Madison Ave. (nycgovparks.org/parks/marcusgarveypark), Exploring Harlem can get exhausting quick, and Marcus Garvey Park is an ideal resting spot near the neighborhood's southern edge. Named after the prominent leader of the early 20th century “Back to Africa” movement, the park is full of locals playing, picnicking, and lounging beneath its shady trees. Best of all are the groups of old men who congregate along 124th St. listening to soul from boom boxes or open cars. After the catch-all, city-wide feel of Central Park, Marcus Garvey provides a reassuring dose of neighborhood intimacy. Wheelchair access.
Islamic Cultural Center of New York, 1711 3rd Ave. This mammoth structure in East Harlem was New York's first building designed as a mosque. Completed in 1991 after decades of wrangling and delays, it now welcomes about 4000 worshipers weekly. Visiting hours vary greatly, and it may be difficult to get in during certain hours; check the entrance on E. 97th St. Prayers F 1pm in summer, 12:30pm in winter. Wheelchair access.
Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Avenue (nypl.org/locations/schomburg), The popular and hugely valuable Schomburg Center is a true goldmine of documents and exhibits on African and African-American culture. A steady rotating cycle of exhibits from art shows to one-man plays keeps things fresh, but it's the enormous archival collection—its earliest sections were donated by black scholar Arturo Schomburg to the New York Public Library's Harlem branch in 1926—that truly impresses. Over five million documents are stored here, including those of Malcom X, Nat King Cole, and Marcus Garvey (original recordings of his celebrated speeches are on hand), as well as centuries-old oral histories and artworks. See website for events schedule. Free admission to exhibits, but donations welcome. Open M-W noon-8pm, Th-F 11am-6pm, Sa 10am-5pm. Wheelchair access.