The best Black History Month events in NYC

New York City's Black community contributes to making New York one of the best food cities in the world, and there are plenty of amazing Black-owned restaurants and bars to choose from. Whether it's Melba's, Sylvia's, Hav & Mar, BKLYN Blend, Peaches or Charles Pan Fried Chicken, there's no shortage of Black-owned restaurants to eat at, so make sure to check out a list of our favorites.

If you’re like many other New Yorkers, “outdoors” is the distance you walk between your apartment and the corner bodega or, if you’re lucky, a stroll through your nearest urban park. Outlandish, the Brooklyn-based store that makes hiking feel cool again, is celebrating their 2nd year anniversary with an "easy" 5-mile hike along Silvermine and Nawahunta Lakes just outside of New York City. Get your $20 tickets here. 

Legendary Black nightlife producer Venus Cuffs is taking over the iconic Joe's Pub for an unconventional Valentine's Day performance in “My BDSM Valentine” on February 8. Probably one of the most—if not the most—risqué shows that has ever graced the stage of Joe's Pub, Cuffs is bringing a taste of the taboo and underground nightlife she's a part of into a sit down theater setting. Expect fetish performances, burlesque, strip teases, poetry and more. 

For a very unconventional—some would say gag-worthy—Black History Month lesson, head over to C'Mon Everybody in Brooklyn to learn the story of Harriet Tubman as told through the lens of drag. 

As if the real story wasn't dramatic enough, this show seeks to both educate and entertain, so be prepared to learn a thing or two. The show on February 6 will feature Bertha Vanayshun as Maljo Blu, Harriet Tugsmen, Aimee Amour, Dev Doee and a special guest, beloved drag queen Julie J. 

UCBLK, an all-Black variety show held at the Upright Citizens Brigade in the East Village, is having a special Black History Month show on February 28 hosted by Justin Catchens, Shem Pennant, and Dominique Kaplowitz.

Expect a mix of improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up by the best of the best. Previous lineups have featured comedians whose credits include HBO, Late Night, Comedy Central, and more, so you know you're going to get some pretty funny people in the room. 

In honor of Black History Month, Pier 57 is partnering with Blacklist NYC, an app that seeks to connect people through in-person experiences and events. Its "Buy Black Marketplace" on Saturday, February 15, will happen from 1pm until 6pm and feature a variety of products from Black-owned businesses selling art, crafts, jewelry, and much more. 

At this hilarious and educational show, comedian Brandon Collins and special guest co-host Electra Telesford lead a booze-fueled lesson in Black history with the help of their friends. Their upcoming show in honor of Black History month will include appearances from Bomani Jones (ESPN), Sarah Cooper (Netflix), Onika McLean (Bravo), and other surprise guests.

It’s not your ordinary history retelling—you’ll hear from "comedians, experts, writers, and other professionals who are skunked out of their mind trying to recap the biography of a historical black figure or event that hasn't gotten the mainstream love they deserved." See this always unpredictable show at Littlefield in Brooklyn on Friday, February 28.

For a free, family-centered event, head over to 6 River Terrace in Battery Park City to watch STEM Queen Jacqueline Means conduct some mind blowing experiments on February 1. Means' mission is to make science, technology, engineering, and math—or STEM—more accessible, especially for women. In this showcase, you'll get a chance to see Means in action and learn how STEM disciplines come together to make everyday things work. All experiments are designed to be accessible for kids 4 years old and up. 

Depending on what you learned in high school history class, you might be surprised to discover that Brooklyn—an area firmly in the northern Union states—actually has significant ties to slavery. A new exhibit coming to the borough digs into that painful history.

Titled "Trace/s: Family History Research and the Legacy of Slavery in Brooklyn," the exhibit will open at the Center for Brooklyn History on January 30. While there are few firsthand testimonies from enslaved people in Brooklyn, the exhibit offers clues to what they endured. It also sheds light on the often-overlooked narratives of enslaved individuals in Kings County and the generational legacies of inequality. The exhibit is free to visit through August 30 in the center's Fransioli Gallery.

Head to Playhouse Theater in Manhattan for 14 performances showcasing a fusion of African music genres and dance forms during the 2nd annual Rhythms & Movements of African American Culture Festival.

This year's theme will be "Revolution Requires Resistence," which will chronical Black identity, activism and cultural resilience. Throughout the festival's duration, you can expect to consume art from a staggering 11 featured artists and more than 100 contributing artists from all corners of the diaspora. The main acts will include Sunjata Kamalenya by the Experimental Theater Company, Black Dance Pioneers: Legacy Dance Performance, and others.

The festival concerts and performances are for all ages, making it the perfect family event.

The Free Black Women’s Library is a free library in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood, which also serves as a social art project, a reading room, a co-working space and a community gathering center. The library "celebrates the brilliance, diversity and imagination of Black women and Black non-binary authors." All 5,000 books in the library's collection are written by Black women and non-binary authors.