After a false start in July, when a late-afternoon downpour flooded the space, the new Uptown Night Market finally made its debut in August under the soaring Harlem Arches on 12th Avenue near 133rd Street, and will return on September 9th.
More than 40 local food vendors, designers, and artisans set up shop in the dramatic space, there was live music and corporate freebies, and thousands of Harlem residents partied by the river.
"We were delayed because of the storm in July, but everything happens for a reason," Marco Shalma, the founder of MASC Hospitality, which also operates the Bronx Night Market and the Fordham Flea, told Gothamist on opening night. "We're here today, during Harlem week, and this is amazing."
Eating is the primary activity here, and there are tons of good options available. The best thing I ate on opening night came from Fried Lasagna Mama, a hefty slab of the namesake pasta, oozing mozzarella, parmesan, and ricotta, that Chef Janae then deep fried to order and smothered in a well-seasoned sauce of ground turkey and tomato—totally delicious.
Also deep fried, and also quite good, were the French Toast Bites, which came in a handy container, drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with powdered sugar, whipped cream, and a sweet strawberry sauce. The Egg Roll Queen served some terrific takes on that classic snack, including a Caribbean Island Roll and a Mexican Roll, both of which also happened to be vegetarian. And a lively outfit called Uptownn boasted a menu of "Jamaican Chinese Food" that included Fried Fish Chow Mein and a Jerk Pork Bao Bun.
The longest, most consistent line of the night was at the Harlem Seafood Soul truck, from which emerged countless platters of Fried Fish, Shrimp and Grits, and Fried Mac & Cheese Bites. Other popular choices included the Ecuadorian delights at La Braza, lobster rolls at Downeast Lobstah, the always-great chicken at Treat Yourself Jerk, ceviche from Lolo's Seafood Shack, and Nelia's Veg Kitchen, featuring "vegan bites with Caribbean spice."
There were plenty of sweets on hand as well, from the first-rate pastries at Cupcake Me! to the alcohol-soaked ice cream at Booze Scoops, doughnuts at Cuzin's Duzin, and the excellent icees from Philadelphia's own Dre's Water Ice. The Uptown Night Market also provides an excellent venue for Harlem's small businesses, with loads of vendors selling goods like jewelry, soaps and scrubs, clothing, accessories, and candles.
But the sleeper star of the show may be the setting itself, the soaring Harlem Arches, which prop up Riverside Drive and provide shade in the late afternoon, cover in case of a shower (as happened on opening night), and add both visual drama and a certain majesty to the proceedings.
Uptown Night Market is located under the Harlem Arches on 12th Avenue between 134th and 135th streets, and will happen three more times this year, on September 9th, October 14th, and November 11th, from 4 p.m until about 10 p.m. (uptownnightmarket.com)
