The dog days of summer have hit our city. Although hours pass, sultry and sweltering, New Yorkers will have no shortage of events to fill their days, as Harlem Week 2026 kicked off last Saturday with a Summer Streets celebration hosted by NYC’s Transportation Department.
Harlem Week began as a one-day event over 50 years ago and has since evolved into a multi-week celebration coinciding with NYC Summer Streets, an annual celebration of the city’s most valuable public space that takes place in all five boroughs, across five Saturdays from July until August’s end.
“If we can make one person smile, we feel like we accomplish our goals. And that’s what it’s all about,” said Kenny “Da Blenda” Rodriguez, a professional basketball entertainer with the Harlem Magic Masters.
Da Blenda and his partner/hype-man, Clifton Malone, spent their morning bringing smiles to many faces, as they did what the Harlem Magic Masters do best: teach people cool basketball tricks.
“The most popular trick today has been spinning a basketball on their fingers,” Malone said. “Most kids have never done that before.”
For the next few weeks, Harlem will be teeming with activity. Folks will flock to rest stops featuring tents promoting initiatives like DOT’s Vision Zero, offering free helmet fittings and giveaways, and NYC Parks GreenThumb, the largest urban gardening program in the nation, distributing native New York seeds for planting in personal gardens.
Helping to shape Summer Streets, fitness professionals lead classes, while nonprofits, artists and community-based organizations each offer a variety of interactive art experiences, performances and more.
“Three rotations is equal to one sit-up,” said the founder of Hula Hoop 366, Natasha Burrell, while leading a fun and fit activation, teaching new students to Hula Hoop and Double Dutch.
Burrell set up her space with an African hopscotch grid, water-weighted hula-hoops — that she made herself — and double-dutch rope, which, she claims, she can teach anyone to do in under a minute.
“The visual you need is either a bunny or a frog,” Burrell said. “If you’re a bunny, I need you to hop through the valley and bring me eggs and chocolate. And if you’re a frog, I need you to hop into the pond onto the lilypad.”
This year, citing more than 20 miles of car-free streets, NYC DOT has partnered with several organizations and sponsors to ensure safe, accessible events, city-wide, come rain or shine. For those who remain on the job, postings concerning street access for motor vehicles can be found at NYC.gov.
DOT’s Vision Zero initiative frequently hosts free helmet fittings and giveaways to promote the use of transportation alternatives.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Still riding high off of the New York Knicks’ win last June, DOT put together a congratulatory message for fans to take photos in front of.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
The NYC chapter of Black Girls Do Bike was represented at Summer Streets by “shero” Vanika Mok.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Team members James, Kim, and Nina show off their Hip Hop Film Fest MerchPhoto by Jonathan Portee 
Natasha “Tashii Moto” Burrell teaches kids to double-dutch jump rope using a visualization technique all her own.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Founder of Hula Hoop 366 leads a family in a hula exercise to demonstrate the different hula hoop styles.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
From line-dancing to Zumba, the Orisha Wholness nonprofit group offers a wide range of community-oriented, healthy lifestyle-focused programming across the 5 boroughs.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Founder of Hula Hoop 366 leads a family in a hula exercise to demonstrate the different hula hoop styles.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Vice-President and Board Chair for Orisha Wholeness, Shelly Wilson, joins the line dance to show off some moves.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
There isn’t a person on the planet who couldn’t learn how to spin a basketball on their finger from Kenny “Da Blenda” Rodriguez.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Kenny “Da Blenda” Rodriguez and Clifton Malone bring the energy to Harlem Week and Summer Streets 2026.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Jameel and Friends Gospel Ensemble perform a few moving and spiritual tunes.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
NYC Parks’ GreenThumb program distributed samples of seeds that are native to the greater NYC area. Seeds that grow Black-eyed Susans, Smooth Blue Asters, White Avens, Partridge Peas, and more.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Photo by Jonathan Portee