December 31 – January 5
Nerds of color rejoice! The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture invites comic book fans of all ages to participate in its 7th Annual Black Comic Book Festival. The festival will be held on Friday, January 18 from 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, January 19 from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration for both days is free and is open to the public. Each year, the Schomburg’s Black Comic Book Festival brings creators, illustrators, writers, and independent publishers together with thousands of collectors, blerds and nerds for two days of programming and activities. The highly anticipated community event includes interactive panel discussions, a vendor marketplace featuring exclusive titles by Black creators, a cosplay show, and more. Black Comic Book Festival participants are encouraged to wear their favorite cosplay costumes and to register on-site for the annual cosplay show. Participants are also invited to contribute to the Schomburg Center’s growing collection of Black independent comic books by bringing single copies of old or new titles from their home collection. All donations will become a part of the Schomburg’s unique and growing archive documenting Black comix and the Black speculative arts movement. The Schomburg Center’s 7th Annual Black Comic Book Festival art was created by Edgardo Miranda-Rodríguez, writer and creator of La Borinqueña. For festival updates, follow the Schomburg Center on Twitter and Instagram @SchomburgCenter. Use the hashtag #BlackComicBookFest to track the festivities.
Not too far from the Schomburg Center is my all-time favorite Jamaican patty shop, One Stop Patty Shop (708 Amsterdam Avenue). The little patty shop that could is serving the best patties in the city, in my opinion. You can’t go wrong with any of their options, but make sure you try the jerk chicken patty, which you don’t see everywhere.
Speaking of good eats, Kismat Restaurant (603 Fort Washington Ave) has been serving some seriously delicious Indian cuisine in Washington Heights for over 3 decades. This is one of my go-to places for years. Well, guess what? They also have an outpost in Harlem. Clove Harlem is located at 1592 Amsterdam Avenue (between 138th and 139th Streets), directly in front of the City College campus. Just like its predecessor, Clove Harlem is belting out delectable Indian food with simply outstanding service and attention. Hit up the site for our review of this awesome establishment.
Keep checking us out at www.uptowncollective.com.
Led Black
Editor-in-Chief
The Uptown Collective
The UC’s mission is to become “the” definitive, transformative and community-based force impacting the arts, culture, business and New York City’s overall perception of Upper Manhattan. Its objective is to reset, reboot and positively redefine Uptown’s artistic, political, cultural and business spheres via the online space as well the collective’s initiatives and functions.
