NEW YORK CITY, NY - Harlem Tourism Board, Taste Harlem Food and Cultural Tours, Harlem Park-to-Park and the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance present Harlem Holiday Windows. This creative and unprecedented project revolves around an original holiday story – written and performed by storyteller and actor, Daniel Carlton – about an 11 year old boy named Chaz who travels through various eras of Harlem's history on a magical horse.
The story is illustrated through holiday imagery in the windows of eight participating businesses, and can be accessed via QR code at each site, courtesy of Harlem's Alive. Each business represents a different era in Chaz's adventure, with the story brought to life through painting, illustration, 3D sculpture and installation, set design and holiday decorations created and assembled by some of Harlem and New York City's most prolific talent.
Jacqueline Orange/Taste Harlem Food & Cultural Tours spearheaded this holiday initiative along with curator, Omo Misha. The project is a partnership between (HTB) Harlem Tourism Board, Taste Harlem Food and Cultural Tours, Harlem Park-to-Park, Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and has been sponsored by (HTB) Harlem Tourism Board, (HCDC) Harlem Community Development Corporation, Life Plan Wealth Management Group, New York Ki Energy Wellness Center and Foxworth Realty.
Participating business include Barawine, The Cecil, Harlem Shake, Land Yoga, Lido Harlem, Seasoned Vegan, Vinateria and Cohen's Optical. Participating artist and curators include Laura Gadson, Christopher Trujillo, Tijana Bjelejac, Esé Alexis, Taina Traverso and Paula Coleman with Carrie Mae Weems, JaSon Auguste, Dianne Smith, Marivel Mejia, Donna Dove, Jordan Baker Caldwell and Kenneth Browne.
- KICK-OFF: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 | 6:00pm
The project launches with a Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Frederick Douglass Circle, located at 110th Street and Frederick Douglas Boulevard, presented by Friends of Frederick Douglass Circle. A free guided tour will follow the lighting ceremony to participating HP2P, FDBA & HTB sites with a live performance by Daniel Carlton.
- Self –Guided Tours: December 2, 2014 - January 5, 2015
Use the self-guided Tour Map to visit the sites anytime this holiday season. Window app provided by Harlem's Alive, www.harlemsalive.com/harlemholiday - official app of H2P2!
- Guided Tours: December 4-20, 2014
Enjoy guided performance tours, Thursday, Friday & Saturdays 4:30-6:30PM
$20 per adult | $5 per child, Book in advance at www.tasteharlem.com or call 1.800.979.3370.
MEDIA NOTE: Press tickets are available. Spokespersons are available to talk about the tour. Contact Jacqueline Orange, tour@tasteharlem.com 202.262.8840
Harlem Holiday Windows : by Mitchell Davis