Harlem Week at Gracie Mansion

Event

HARLEM WEEK 2010, the largest cultural festival in the Northeast kicked off with a gala celebration hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion. The evening was a microcosm of the grand spectacle of HARLEM WEEK that expects to attract more than 3 million attendees during what is the world’s longest “week”, from July 25th – August 25th. The kickoff reception saluted the late Percy E. Sutton, who was one of the co-founders of HARLEM WEEK during his days as Manhattan Borough President.

Awards were presented to Positive Community Magazine celebrating their 10th Anniversary and the hit Broadway Musical Fela! And there was a performance from the show as well as entertainment from the National Jazz Museum in Harlem All Star Quintet.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Harlem Remembers, Salutes & Celebrates The Children of Haiti”. Throughout this year’s HARLEM WEEK festival there will be special salutes and recognitions to remind everyone about the plight of what’s still going on in Haiti as a result of the devastating earthquake that took place in January even though it is no longer the top story on the nightly news. Most importantly HARLEM WEEK will be encouraging all attendees who attend this year’s festival to look to see what they can do to help support the children of Haiti.

HARLEM WEEK began as a one day event in 1974 and mushroomed into four weeks of events and activities celebrating the vitality of Harlem. This year’s HARLEM WEEK festival includes over 109 events!

The first public event is “A Great Day In Harlem”, taking place on Sunday, July 25th from 12noon – 8pm at Ulysses S. Grant National Memorial featuring live performances from local and regional cultural groups and dance companies, the NY Gospel Caravan featuring Bishop Hezekiah Walker, …

…The Urban Fashion Fusion Fashion Show, Concert Under The Stars – “Salute To The Sounds of Philadelphia” featuring performances from Keith Sweat, Elisabeth Withers, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes and The Ray Chew Orchestra and much more.

Photos: left to right: Assemblyman Keith Wright, Keisha Sutton-James, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Keisha Sutton-James, a granddaughter of the late Hon. Percy E. Sutton accepts a HARLEM WEEK award on her family’s behalf, a drawing of Harlem’s legendary “Gang of Four,” The Hon. Charles B. Rangel; Mr. Sutton; Hon. Basil Paterson; and Hon. David Dinkins, created by the renowned Daily News illustrator Bill Gallo. Mr. Sutton was a co-founder of HARLEM WEEK; Cyrus Vance, Adrian Council, Positive Community Magazine Editor-in-Chief Jean Nash Wells, Kim Jasmin, and Assemblyman Keith Wright; Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, Leatrice Sutton, widow of Hon. Percy Sutton; Tony Rogers , co-founder HARLEM WEEK; HARLEM WEEK Co-founder Tony Rogers, Mrs. Joyce Dinkins, Marci McCall, Mayor David Dinkins; Fox5 Meteorologist Mike Woods and Positive Community Magazine Founder and Publisher Adrian Council; Tony Rogers; Dr. Deborah Williams, President and CEO, Her Game 2; Larry Dais.