This outline is designed to help you experience "The Best of" this uptown area while keeping you on the beaten path and away from potential risks. The area covered is on a grid plan with all streets heading in true N/E/S/W directions. Wandering off this suggested course won't get you lost. It's an easy, but somewhat long walk for most. Plan to do this during daylight hours when basically everything will be open, keeping in mind the local museums and galleries are closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and that weekends bring out the biggest crowds on local streets.
Begin by taking the #6 uptown train and exit at 103rd St on the right/uptown side of Lexington Ave. Once aboveground, head north as street numbers increase. Don't head up the large hill on Lexington Ave., which leads south.
The new gallery for local artist James de la Vega is said to be somewhere along the right side of Lexington Ave. within this first block. He recently relocated -- if you don't see his shop and are interested, simply ask anyone. Otherwise, your first stop should be on 104th St. between Lexington and 3rd Ave. to see a block of restored Old Spanish Harlem. From here, continue up Lexington Ave to the corner of 106th St. where you'll find the newly remodeled Julio De Burgos Cultural Center. The Taller Boricua Gallery is located inside on the 1st floor.
From this corner, head left/west half-way down the block for St. Cecilia's, a Catholic church that was built in the 1870s. It's usually open for viewing and worth stopping by to the domed, frescoed ceiling and stained-glass windows. The generic building directly across the street houses a number of activities, including studios for all BET and cable channel cooking shows. You can enter the main lobby and check with the conceirge if you're interested in getting tickets for the audience of a show.
Go back right/east on 106th crossing Lexington Ave. until you come to 3rd Ave. and take a left heading north. This takes you through the heart of the East Harlem shopping district, where stores are open seven days a week and during any hours you should plan to be here.
Once at 116th St., take a right if you're interested in seeing many shops and eateries from the new Mexican immigrants, or Sandy's Diner referenced in this journal, which is located on the corner of 116th/2nd Ave. The Hand Made in Puerto Rico shop and information center is just north of the 116th/3rd Ave. intersection next to the Subway sandwich shop on the northeast corner. Otherwise, make a left on 116th off 3rd Ave. where you'll find more shops.
If you've seen enough, there's another #6 subway station at 116th/Lexington Ave. where you should take a downtown train with the correct exit on the side of the street where the cars are also heading downtown. You'll also find a Lexington Ave. bus stop if you prefer to use this instead.
Otherwise, continue west, passing more shops until you come to the elevated subway tracks that split Park Ave. In the block just west of the tracks on 116th, you'll find the highest concentration of Botanicas -- shops which sell religious artifacts for practicing the island-based worship of Santeria. Back on Park Ave., head south down the slight hill where you'll easily find La Marqueta situated under the tracks.
From here, exit to the left/east side and continue south. Perhaps you'll recognize the fenced-in schoolyard on Park Ave. and 112th from the movie Music of the Heart starring Meryl Streep -- a 1999 release that was filmed mostly in this school about a real-life East Harlem music teacher. On the corner of 112th St., cross under the tracks and keep heading west towards Madison Ave. where you'll pass the East Harlem Little League baseball field bookended by some of the most well-tended Community Gardens you'll find in the area.
On Madison Ave., take a left heading down two blocks to pass more gardens. Then take another left on 110th St., which has been renamed Tito Puente Way. The famous Latin performer grew up on this block in a building that once stood where the large enclosed parking yard is now. When you come to the near/right side of Park Ave., take a right.
Keep heading south on the right side of the tracks for three more blocks and once you cross 107th St., you'll begin to see the fenced in sunken schoolyard that contains the Graffiti Hall of Fame. Halfway down the block is a back entryway, but keep going to the corner of 106th St. and take a right -- this leads to another entry at the side of the school where you can enter and browse the graffiti artwork.
When finished here, continue right/west crossing Madison Ave. You'll now clearly see the trees of Central Park just ahead beyond 5th Ave. Take a left on 5th Ave. if you're interested in touring the Museo del Barrio or the Museum of the City of New York located between 103rd/105th Sts. Otherwise, you'll easily detect bus stops along the park border where you can take any bus back downtown along 5th Ave.
Extending This Walking Tour
Just across from the Museums, you'll see an entryway with tall cast-iron gates leading to the Conservatory Gardens, which is a place too beautiful to miss if you've come this far. Aside from the natural beauty, note the sharp contrast in atmosphere compared to the neighborhood you just left one block away. In the northern wing of the garden is a side gate leading to the Harlem Meer/lake and the Northern Upper Realms of Central Park. The earlier referenced bus stops are still just beyond the park wall. Otherwise, follow the path which circles the lake. Either direction eventually winds its way around to the park exit at 110th St. and 6th/Lenox Ave.
Just across the boulevard is a subway stop where you can take the 2 or 3 subway line downtown. This area is Harlem and notice the great efforts to restore this area in every facet of life. If you'd like to continue, head north up Lenox Ave. on the right side. At 116th St., take a right and halfway down the block is the Shabazz Muslim Marketplace, which has a large selection of African imports, knock-off designer wear, and other goods. You'll find the same 2/3 subway stop on the corner of Lenox Ave./116th St. and again at 125th St. should you continue walking uptown.