Travel Blissful

Gospel and Amateur Nights in Harlem

by Erica Johansson on 20/11/07 at 1:53 pm

A popular photo motive in Harlem - apart from the classical brownstone houses - is The Apollo Theater at 253rd West 125th Street between Adam Clayton Blvd and Frederick Douglas Blvd. Lauryn Hill is one of many artists who made the debut in front of a bigger audience here. The Apollo amateur nights start every Wednesday at 7.30pm. Previous contest winners include Mary J. Blige, Angie Stone, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Fugees, Otis Redding, Prince, Stevie Wonder, India Arie, Aretha Franklin, Jay-Z, and Alicia Keyes.

If you happen to be in New York City on a Sunday morning, take the subway to 116th Street in Harlem where there are more Baptist Churches than in any other part of New York City. The gospel service begins at ten and can sometimes be heard from the street. We discovered a beautiful Baptist Church at St. Nicholas Avenue between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd and Lenox Ave/Malcolm X Blvd not far from Central Park. I had never heard gospel before and everything was such a contrast to the reserved atmosphere in Swedish churches - in a good way.