The Upper East Side’s annual block party + open house kicks off summer in the city

 

Watch my TikTok about the Museum Mile festival!

 

Harlem and Brooklyn have been in a back and forth on who throws the best block parties for decades and it’s an unfair fight. In one corner you have Harlem, a single neighborhood in Manhattan; in the other, Brooklyn, a collection of 70 neighborhoods that comprises the 3rd largest city in the nation. It’s a perfect comparison to David and Goliath in the Good Book, because once again the little guy comes out victorious. If we talking block for block, Harlem wins (less blocks, more parties per block, etc.), but hit dogs continue to holler from across the bridge… 

 

But the Upper East Side, the neighborhood known for tony 5th Avenue shopping and old-money penthouses, would like to enter the ring. On the second Tuesday each June, the marble and limestone mansions that house some of the city’s most prestigious museums institute an open door policy for 3 hours. It’s possible, though not encouraged, to see all of more than one museum in that time. A better approach would be to make a plan for select exhibits and hopscotch your way up or down Fifth Avenue to maximize the waived entry fee. 

 

But, if the idea of museums conjures stuffy artifacts or anhedonia, just stay outside and enjoy the beauty of no traffic on 5th Avenue. Today only, cars, buses, and bike couriers are replaced by a street fair. A professional double dutch troupe near the Marymount School swung their ropes as an invite to the brave. A marching band twirled colorful flags in front of the Church of the Heavenly Rest and Museo del Barrio brought the uptown vibes with turntables and a set by DJ Chiquita Brujita.

 

As far as lessons learned from my first Museum Mile: have a plan but let the vibes nudge you. We got to see Arts of Africa in the Met’s new wing and Songs of New York at Museum of the City of New York but it required a speed walking race against the clock. I hadn’t accounted for the obligatory chats with the familiar faces you run into along the way, lines for high demand shows, or how much time I wanted to spend on my favorite part: sipping out of ice cups on the steps of the Met.

 

The Upper East Side’s Museum Mile Festival is an honorable mention in the Block Party category, bless their heart. To really impress, it’s gotta start by scrapping the 3 hour limit. It can take a note from the Soapbox Presents: Stoop Sessions, which have become such a big deal that my cousins got word all the way in Mississippi. Notably, Marija Abney and the Soapbox team set up shop in both Brooklyn and Harlem, nutcrackers are easy to find, and the party keeps going well after the sun goes to sleep.

 

blacklove 🖤 and starlight 🌟 

 

The Museum Mile Festival took place on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 on Fifth Avenue from 82nd Street to 110th Street. The event is free, takes place rain or shine, and requires no registration. Mark your calendar for 2026. 

 

Watch my TikTok about the Museum Mile festival!