Picture taken by NYC tourism.com 

Many people can tell you about Harlem and its history; They will tell you how City College was founded or talk about topics like architecture, social differences, racial disputes, etc. However, the best way to describe Harlem as a Freshman student who commutes to a school there is by showcasing some of the places I have found during my free time.  

During my first semester at CCNY, my schedule was very complicated and made me spend more than 8 hours around campus. Now, what exactly did I do during my long gaps? To find an area where I could spend some time, I spent mostly fifteen minutes walking and eventually, I would find a single chair in the middle of a hallway. Despite this, what you mainly have to consider is that you will only have a little luck all the time.

So what do we do when someone else is occupying the only spot you know? Let me share some of the places around City College which I have found and spent most of my time. All the places you choose to spend your time depend on your major and the building where you mostly have your classes. If you are a freshman like me, you may find yourself the majority of the time at the North Academic Center. At CCNY, finding a quiet and nice spot where you can charge your devices, complete your assignments, take a quick nap, or just rest in general can be challenging.                

 I’ve always been someone who likes quiet places like libraries, so visiting the library at my school was a must for me. The Cohen Library is composed of five floors in which many students go to do research and complete their work. Rather than only being a place to find your sources for an essay, it regards some stations where you can charge your devices. You can find cubicles, study rooms upon reservation, and printing stations. The perfect place where you can always find an available spot for you. 

Along with this Library, The Shepard Hall has to be mention. Even though I only enter this building for one class, I would say this is a quiet building I’ve been at. I recommend this place to you if you have an early gap. Since there are barely any people in the building, there is a high chance that this one would be mainly empty at the time you need it. Unlike the NAC, I believe this building is more related to the arts and music majors. 

The distance between the Shepard Hall building and the NAC is not excessive, so aside from convenience, it won’t take you too long to get there and go back for your next class. Inside there are several benches you can utilize. Not only to rest but also to get some work done. It is an agreeable space where there won’t be a lot of noise for at least the whole time you’re there. 

For the most part, finding a place to hang around might seem difficult at first even so there’s still a chance for you to find a good spot if you explore new places. It took me a while to get used to the school and even today I still try to find new spots because being in the same place for your whole time at college might be tiring. So, always try to adventure your school or workplace because you never know what you can find.   

                                 

You know when you’re out and you find the best thing ever, only to find out that they cost an arm and a leg? Well, a great solution to this is thrifting! Although thrifting usually has a variety of different styles, there are some areas that have thrift stores that align with the style of their area. Harlem Collective Creative is one of these stores, so if you’re in Harlem and you’re interested in Harlem’s style, I’ll let you know if Harlem Collective Creative is the place to go.

Harlem’s style originates from African American culture which was popularized during the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was all about racial pride, embracing culture and it started in the 1920’s, which was around the time of The Great Migration bringing in hundreds of thousands of African Americans. It was a time where African Americans wanted to be as expressive as they could be because they no longer wanted to be oppressed by the shackles of society, they wouldn’t allow it and so they made a mark and now Harlem’s style is bold and bright, filled with statement pieces and potential. I figured for anyone who’s visiting Harlem or trying out new styles, this is a wonderful style to try out. A beautiful embodiment of Harlem’s style can be found in Harlem Collective Creative, just from the outside looking in you can tell that this store loves Harlem, it’s like a reflection of it. The photo below is an example of Harlem’s style and how expressive it is. Even if the whole style doesn’t fit your style, the individual pieces can be more versatile than you’d think!

Photo by https://www.cnn.com/style/article/harlems-fashion-row/index.html

Photos from Harlem Creative Collective (@harlemcreativecollective)Instagram · harlemcreativecollective2.2K+ followers

Harlem Collective Creative is a small store on 736 Saint Nicholas Avenue. It is black owned and female founded. Since this is a smaller store, the items go for more, they are however more guaranteed to be of higher quality then a goodwill. If you are on a budget I wouldn’t recommend going here but if you want to find unique items, a statement piece to go with one of your outfits, this could be the store for you. Now, my personal preference when it comes to thrifting, is a big, quiet space where I can keep to myself and get in the zone of looking for items. This thrift store is the opposite as it’s small and more personable, which isn’t a bad thing but if it’s not your thing, you might not enjoy this thrift store as much as a Goodwill or No relation vintage. If you do like more personable thrift stores, you don’t mind the price, and you like designer brands or quality pieces; this could be your hidden gem whenever you visit harlem. Here are some examples of the style and pieces that you’d find in the store!

Photos from Harlem Creative Collective (@harlemcreativecollective)Instagram · harlemcreativecollective2.2K+ followers

My personal experience with this boutique and first impression was that it was easy to access because there are buses and trains that are very near it and since it was near my school, city college, it is a good place to go during the gaps in between my classes. The first thing I noticed was how welcoming the staff were, I was welcomed and also told that the thrift store is different from others because it doesn’t have any fast fashion, so no SHEIN, Temu, H&M, or other fast fashion brands.

This piece was such an eye catching piece, I had to include it. It reminded me of the beautiful bold colors that are common in Harlem’s style. Photo taken by me.

Everything was nicely organized and clean, It was pleasant to see because you can tell that the pieces they offer are kept in shape and handled with care. Not only do they have statement pieces but they also have pieces that you can match with anything and although I initially thought this wouldn’t be my cup of tea, I actually really enjoyed this store.

Photo taken by me.

All in all, I would definitely come back and know that I can trust in the quality of these pieces that will last me a lifetime, I would recommend this hidden gem, if you have some free time stop by Harlem Collective Creative.

Citations

“Great Migration: Definition, Causes & Impact.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/black-history/great-migration#. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024. Edwards, Mion. “Harlem’s Fashion Row Is Opening Doors for Black Designers.” CNN, Cable News Network, 11 Apr. 2019, www.cnn.com/style/article/harlems-fashion-row/index.html. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.

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