SoHarlem Happenings
September Pop-Ups Innovative Triangle-West Harlem
This September, in collaboration with the West Harlem Arts Alliance (WHAA), This corridor of culture, features West Harlem's artists and arts organizations. SoHarlem's Creative Entrepreneurs will activate a pop-up space on the street level of the new Taystee Building. This will be a dynamic opportunity for them to sell their products, and exhibit their work on walls and mannequins.
West Harlem Tour
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Tour Starts at 2PM
Doris "Koya" Prester, Founder of New York My Way Tours and a former Creative Entrepreneur who launched SoHarlem's Cultural Tourism Academy in 2017, will lead a tour of Manhattanville. Koya, a lifelong resident of West Harlem, will be joined by Scott Metzner, Founder of Janus Property the developer who has transformed forgotten buildings into community gems in the Manhattanville Factory District. Scott Metzner, Founder & Principal of Janus Property will lead a tour of the West Harlem Innovate Triangle in the Manhattanville Factory District. West Side Harlem Tour will culminate with examples of today’s Dandyism fashion presented by SoHarlem Design Apprentice’s mentees at the SoHarlem Studio at 1361 Amsterdam Avenue, Corner West 126th Street, Suite 340 New York, New York 10027.
East and West Harlem Walking Tours are in conjunction with the exhibition Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
East Harlem Tour
Mural by the artists El Mac and CERO celebrating author Nicholasa Mohr.
ReCouture Workshops in Partnership with Met
Ready For A Garment Transformation?
Saturday, September 20, 2025
10AM-1PM & 2PM-5PM
Old Hands to New Designs: A Craft Journey In partnership with The Metropolitan Museum. We welcome you to SoHarlem’s ReCouture Program.
Inspired by the exhibition? For more information and to register click the button below.
Keep it Local! Holiday Pop-Up 2024
Thank you for shopping with us this holiday season at the Forum!
We will see you in the new year!
2024 I Am So Harlem Annual Event
I Am So Harlem
Thank You To All Our Supporters, Designers, Cultural Workers and Community
For Joining Us at Our Annual Event.
The I Am So Harlem Annual Benefit first Fashion Show was pretty special.
Thank you to the designers and models featured above with our honoree Bethann Hardison.
About the Event
The Benefit included a fashion show featuring inspirational designs from our Creative Collective, accompanied by live music by Thapelo Masita, South African cellist. Additionally, guests viewed Don’t Hate the Players, Change the Game, a captivating interview with the legendary Dapper Dan and videography by one of our Creative Entrepreneurs, Kenny Allen. Harlem Derby installation and pieces by Robert Owens and a major art piece by Milagros Batista were on display. The event was set in one of Harlem’s most impressive outdoor space and a factory-turned-gallery in the West Harlem Innovation Triangle.
Behind the Scenes
SoHarlem celebrated its 11th year!
SoHarlem celebrated its 11th year in the Manhattanville Factory District as a “Cultural Industries Incubator”, with the introduction of a series of public events presented at the historic and newly renovated Malt House, 471 West 126th Street.
2023 Harlem Culture Crawl
Designers left to right: Triangle Designs, Art in Heaven, Blue Olive & JPR Accessories
2023 Harlem Culture Crawl
Saturday April 29th, 2023
11AM to 5PM
SoHarlem will be participating in the 2023 Harlem Culture Crawl. Join us on Saturday for a tour inside our Cultural Arts Incubator and see what the designer’s of SoHarlem have been creating!
About this event
West Harlem, treasured for its cultural legacy, vibrant multicultural community, and renowned religious and academic institutions, invites visitors to the Harlem Culture Crawl to explore some of the neighborhood’s established and lesser-known cultural organizations. Over this weekend-long festival from April 28 to 30, explore Harlem’s neighborhoods and experience how the area’s unique structures and organizations keep Harlem at the helm of culture today.
SITES, PERFORMANCES, AND EXHIBITS
OPENING NIGHT: FRIDAY, APRIL 28 AT 7PM: Latin Jazz and Dance Concert at Interchurch Center. FREE.
Program
Sat. April 29 11AM-5PM. (3rd floor, take elevator) Shopping: one-of-a-kind items from local artisans.
Retha Powers: Bartlett's Familiar Black Quotations
Retha Powers: Bartlett's Familiar Black Quotations Five thousand quotes are culled from the time of Ancient Egypt through American slavery, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Era, Apartheid, to the present day. Nov 20, 2022
November 17, 2022 @ 5:30 - 7:30PM Deborah Willis, artist, educator, scholar and prolific writer shares recent publication
November 17, 2022 @ 5:30PM
A salon with the artist, educator, scholar and prolific writer Deb Willis launching a new publication she co-authored with Cheryl Finley, Nobody Knows My Name. The book presents artists working in photography, video, silkscreen, projection and mixed-media installation, all of them exploring the possibilities of freedom. Deb will be joined by Adama Delphine Fawundu, artist and Dr. Cheryl Finley art historian. The artists and authors will share their stories and autograph their new book.
November 12, 2022 @ 3-6PM Olivia Smashum, SoHarlem Designer-In-Residence
November 12, 2022 @ 2PM
Olivia Smashum, SoHarlem Designer-In-Residence, will host Shop & Sip with her fellow designers.
Prior to starting her journey as a designer, she spent 20 years in entertainment and digital media. She served as executive vice president of marketing and product development at HBO and during her tenure led the customer relationship efforts for its 25 million members and the affiliate marketing for such iconic brands as Sex in the City, Sopranos, Cinemax, among others.
At SoHarlem she has developed a life-style brand featuring resort wear, home decor, urban chic wears and designs that “make you feel and look good.”
November Public Programs @ Malt House: A Vision for the Manhattanville Factory; November 10, 2022 @ 5:30PM
November Public Programs @ Malt House:
November 10, 2022 @ 5:30PM
The Potential of the Manhattanville Factory
Scott Metzner, Principal of Janus Properties; and Stella Betts, partner at Levenbetts; and Rosalie Genevro, Executive Director, Architectural League will be discussing the architectural wonders, challenges and vision for the Manhattanville Factory District.
Public & Private Partnerships
The Public Space Partnership Initiative works to make the District’s public commons more welcoming and inspirational and contributes to Manhattanville’s environmental health through greening and eco-restoration.
The Manhattanville Factory District Public Art Program
● Integrates artworks and the ideas of artists into Manhattanville’s public spaces to embody the District’s cultural heritage and aesthetics.
The Manhattanville Factory District Green Installation Program
● A community partnership with the Working Group to Establish Functional Blue Green Spaces in the Manhattanville Factory District initiated to address stormwater run-off and to create inviting green spaces for recreation and pedestrian traffic.
