Explore Harlem from the Inside Out on the 24th Annual House Tour.
Image source: Mount Morris Park House Tour logo
What are you doing on Sunday, June 9?
If you don’t have plans you just can’t break, why not shake things up a bit and spend your day touring historic homes and buildings in Harlem.
You’ve probably walked by pristine brownstones a dozen times and wondered how they looked inside. Well now you’re luck!
This is your big chance to take a peek inside the historic Mount Morris Park Community in Harlem by participating in:
Details: Architectural. Artistic. Authentic.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
11 AM-4 PM
For more than 23 years the community of Mount Morris Park has been opening their doors and inviting New Yorkers from across the island and visitors from around the world into their homes.
In 1971, the residents of the Mount Morris Park neighborhood celebrated the designation of the neighborhood by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission as an Historic District—one of the earliest landmark neighborhoods in New York City.
This year’s tour around the Mount Morris Park section of Harlem will feature homes, churches and even an iconic funeral parlor with a nationwide reputation and a remarkable example of Tiffany glasswork. Refreshments will be available at some locations and music will be featured on Lenox Avenue.
“True to our theme, you’ll see the details in each location that make it special–
from grand scope skylights to marquetry and parquetry flooring;
from friezes and elegant wainscoting to plexiglass and repurposed floor joists;
from clawfoot tubs to cutting-edge kitchens;
from original staircases in vintage brownstones to elegant add-ons
that update contemporary environments.”
Sunshine or Showers: The Fun Starts Here
The tour starts at:
The Pelham Fritz Community Center
18 Mount Morris Park West (aka Fifth Avenue) and West 122 Street.
Here you can buy tickets, pick up tickets reserved in advance, check out the souvenirs and meet the Walking Tour Guides.
Put on Your Walking Shoes…
Take your time and enjoy the Self-Guided Tour of Harlem Homes at your leisure.
…And Let the Fun Begin
11 AM to 4 PM:
Follow the Self-Guided Tour of Homes at your leisure.
Visit 10 venues including brownstone homes, live/work apartments, a landmark church and an iconic funeral parlor with a nationwide reputation and remarkable example of Tiffany glasswork.
1 PM and 3 PM:
Join the Architectural Walking Tour with Neal Shoemaker of Harlem Heritage Tours and explore this historic neighborhood’s rich architectural detail and history.
2 PM:
Join the Marcus Garvey Park Fire WatchtowerWalking Tour and follow preservation architect Angel Ayónto the top of the acropolis to view the 158-year old cast iron tower, the only surviving structure of its kind in New York City, that was designated a NYC landmark in 1967 and a national landmark in 1976. (A neighborhood grassroots campaign led by MMPCIA is underway for a complete overhaul of the watchtower and acropolis.)
12 Noon and 2 PM:
Go Inside & Intimate in Historic Harlem with Yale-trained architect and historian, John Reddick. You’ll explore inside three extraordinary houses in the Mount Morris Park Historic District that are not on the regular tour. Group size is limited. Note: This popular 1.5 hour guided tour requires a separate ticket which may be purchased in advance or, if space is available, at the Tour Start.
Make a Day of It!
Enjoy Harlem’s mural art and cultural institutions.
Take my word for it!
I have taken the Mount Morris Park House Tour in the past and it’s guaranteed to trump your usual ‘Sunday-with-the-Times’ ritual.
The memorable stories, inspiring designs, historic details, friendly people and plain old good vibes will leave you lifted!
So take advantage of this once-a-year chance to actually get up close and personal with historic Harlem!
Stop by Corner Social or any of the other cafes, restaurants and bars in Harlem.
Why not grab a friend and take the A train–or whatever route you choose–and make this Sunday a fun day!
And while you are in the neighborhood make sure to catch some culture, grab a meal, or sip a cocktail at some of Harlem’s arts institutions, cafes, restaurants and bars.
Keep an eye out for public artwork like these Harlem sweethearts.
Travel Directions:
Subways: A, B, C, D, 2, 3, and 4, 5, & 6 to 125th Street.
Buses: M1, M7 and M102
Tickets:
*Reserve tickets in advance and save 30%.
*Buy tickets in person at The Pelham Fritz Community Center,
18 Mount Morris Park West (aka Fifth Avenue) and West 122 Street
About the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association
The Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association is a neighborhood non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to revitalizing and preserving their Historic District and beyond, to fostering an environment of open and active opportunities, and to reflect a spectrum of voices, ideas and opinions of those who share the neighborhood.
Website: http://mmpcia.org/site/
Mailing address:
MMPCIA
PO Box 3270
New York, NY 10027
Tel. 212.369.4241
Leave A Comment