Harlem life, like New York City life is a microcosm of activity every single moment of the day. There is always something to do, to behold, to transfix our gaze, and transform our imaginations. Every time I walk out the door I never know who or what I am going to see. My blogging comrade Sekou documents a lot of the crazy, Only-In-Harlem sightings on his blog and, well let’s put it this way, he’s seen everything from live chickens sauntering on 125th to the illest pink Range Rover.

I remember one day recently walking to Make My Cake on 116th when I noticed a crowd on the corner. There was music, video cameras and mad children. As I neared the ruckus, what looked like a scene from the WWF from afar was a battle of the best Chicken Noodle Soup Dancers under age 12. But of course! This lil girl was just giving it to the crowd. Unfortunately I didn’t whip my camera out til the very end and she was kinda tired by then. Needless to say it was really cool to see the neighborhood kids flex their dance skills and have so much fun.

Just a couple of weeks ago on my way to the Uptown Juice Bar for a veggie burger (yep I’m always on the prowl for food), I stumbled across Harlem Rocks– an annual cycling race held every Father’s Day. It was one of the most exciting sporting events I ever experienced. When those bikers came across the turn and rode past you the wind would actually blow you back increasing the thrill of it all. As the bikers crossed the finish line, the winner and about five other bikers crashed into each other and took a tumble– two of them right in front of me. Talk about feeling the energy!

So to set-off the summer season right, I thought I’d compile a list of the SEVEN THINGS YOU MUST/SHOULD DO THIS SUMMER IN HARLEM:

1.) Experience Harlem Outdoors: Go to the Harlem Mear (one of my most fave places in all of NYC– the lake, the ducks, the swans—so beautiful; SummerStage is great, but you can catch some great artists at one of the City Parks concerts at Jackie Robinson or Marcus Garvey Parks, get great organic fare at the Morningside Farmers’ Market.

2.) Support the arts and go to a Harlem based museum like The Studio Museum & El Museo Del Barrio

3.) Patronize a Mom & Pop Business (A Taste of Seafood, Pieces, Uptown Juice Bar, Watkins Health Food Store, Native & Harlemade)

4.) Check out Harlem’s New Restaurant Row on 12th Avenue (Talay, Covo, Hudson River Café, Body Bar & Grill)

5.) Try a slice of pizza at the original Patsy’s in east Harlem– the best slice you will have in NYC at this famed pizzeria (one of the few coal oven pizzerias still operating in NYC).

6.) Watch a movie under the stars at one of Imagenation’s Outdoor Film Screenings in St. Nicholas Park on Monday evenings

7.) Cool off & order the gelati at Settepani – ice cream is great in the summer, but you have to experience the smooth real fruit sweetness of gelati and now that you don’t have to go to Little Italy or Cipriani’s for a taste, why not?