Harlem Week is a month long celebration of the diversity and culture of one of the world’s most famous neighborhoods - Harlem in New York City. In 1974, the idea of Harlem Day was created to pay tribute to the fascinating past and present of the neighborhood. A group of activists were intent on putting Harlem back on the map when it came to the cultural, religious and social development in the city. The one-day festivity soon gave way to Harlem Week - an event that slowly came to spread over the entire month of August each year. Today, this festival attracts over a million visitors who come to celebrate with locals.

This year’s Harlem Week will concentrate on the theme, ??Discover: Our Harlem??. Throughout the month of August, visitors can join in the festivities and pay tribute to Harlem-inspired cultural events. The first few days of Harlem Week will be taken up by the annual film festival that honors people of color who have contributed to the movie world. Every Thursday through Sunday, visitors can view ??The Tempest?? at the 3^rd Annual Harlem Summer Shakespeare event.

Other exciting events include the New York City Children’s Festival that offers music, games, pony rides and petting zoos for the benefit of the neighborhood’s children. Senior citizens are also given their place of honor at the festival at the N.Y.C Senior Citizen’s Day in the middle of August. The ??Uptown Saturday Night?? event is something that should definitely not be missed - an outdoor cultural and arts festival to honor the village of Harlem - and that is free to the general public.

For a true experience of this wonderful, diverse New York location, the Harlem Week festival is definitely worth a visit in August! Check out NewYorkJourney.com for more on Harlem and the city’s history.

Click for the official site of Harlem Week.

While many local New Yorkers try to avoid staying in the city during the month of August because of the heat, the Big Apple can actually be quite an exciting place to be during the summer. True, August is usually hot and humid - with temperatures reaching average highs of 83 degrees Fahrenheit and average lows of 69 degrees Fahrenheit. However, August is usually cooler and drier than July and therefore slightly more pleasant.

A visit to New York in August calls for extra packing considerations. Tourists would be wise to take with closed (preferably water resistant) walking shoes, a light sweater (to keep warm in air-conditioned museums and other public places), as well as an umbrella and waterproof picnic blanket (for those wonderful free concerts in the park).

For visitors who want to see as much as they can of this exciting city during August but feel that walking tours in the heat are too much to handle, air-conditioned bus tours are a great way to see New York. As evening falls on the city, August is also a wonderful time to take in some free festivals, concerts and films in New York’s beautiful parks and other outdoor locations.

Exciting August events in the city include the Met Opera in the Parks event, the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Park, the HBO Bryant Park Film Festival and - of course - baseball season!

As long as visitors remember to drink plenty of water in order to keep hydrated, the Big Apple in August can be a wonderful, exciting place and will definitely give a feeling of being true New Yorkers!

There are many opportunities to see Yankee Stadium; each different tour caters to every visitor’s different needs.

The Classic Tour is a 1 hour tour of the field, dugout and press boxes, clubhouse and Monument Park and can accommodate between 1 and 11 people.

The Champion Tour is the same as the Classic Tour, but also includes a short film on the history of the Yankees. This tour is available to 12-20 people.

The Champion Plus Tour includes all of the above, as well as a tour of the Club Level and Great Moments Room. This tour also includes a Yankees souvenir and is open to 12-50 people.

The Birthday Tour is a must for bigger parties, and avid Yankees fans. Besides for a complete tour, touring party members can also enjoy a party in the Hall of Fame suite, complete with bottled water, pizza and birthday cake. This tour requires a minimum of 12 people.

Bookings can take place over the Internet, via TicketFast and at the Advance Ticket Windows situated at Yankee Stadium. Ticket prices are discounted for minors and senior citizens and are all quite affordable. All tour operators are well versed in Yankees history and all questions are encouraged. The Yankee Stadium Tours are a must for anyone interested in one of sport’s most iconic structures.

Click for the official site of Yankee Stadium.

For those with a sweet tooth, the Big Apple will definitely not disappoint. Boasting some of the world’s biggest and grandest candy stores that should keep even the most discerning sugar fanatics dumbfounded, New York is the place to be.

Dylan’s Candy Bar is one of the most famous candy stores in the United States - and there are many - most notably Dylan’s Candy Bar situated on Third Avenue in New York City. Started by Dylan Lauren, a young entrepreneur with a sweet tooth and a big dream, Dylan’s Candy Bar offers over 5000 different types of candy ranging from local goodies to imported delicacies. The flagship store in New York offers a party room, ??nostalgic?? candy store, candy spa and café.

For those chocolate connoisseurs, there is one attraction that should definitely not be overlooked. For chocolate lovers, the consumption of chocolate is an intimate and personal affair. Situated in Times Square, the Hershey’s store is 16 storeys of chocolate heaven - and keeping in line with the personal chocolate experience, visitors to Hershey’s are able to mix their own concoction of candy using the originally named Original Automatic and Gravitational Chocolate Machine.

Visitors can also personalize their very own Hershey’s Chocolate Bars, an American institution in their own right. To make the visit even more personal, customers can also personalize their own message that appears on the scrolling marquee sign in bright lights for the whole of Times Square to read. There is no better destination for chocolate lovers around the world.

The New York candy experience does not stop there, and nor should it. M&M’s World is now open at 1600 Broadway, New York. These world-beating candy sweets are what helped put the USA on the global candy map. The store is a 25,000 square foot, three storey monster which is open every day between 9am and midnight.

The store boasts an interactive kids’ area as well as a full size #38 Ford Fusion Nascar vehicle as well as a 17 foot green M&M Statue of Liberty. The store experience is topped off by over 4000 original souvenirs that make the perfect memorabilia and gifts.

No candy lovers could possibly go hungry in New York, with candy stores in virtually every street.

Hell’s Kitchen is one of Manhattan’s anomalies. Nobody is completely sure where the name originated. Although there are several interesting versions of the story, there is one thing they all have in common: Hell’s Kitchen was not so named for its timid nature. Also known as Clinton and Midtown West, Hell’s Kitchen is steeped in infamy and intrigue. Covering the area between 34^th Street and 57^th Street from 8^th Avenue to the Hudson River, this neighborhood of Manhattan has featured throughout New York City’s underworld history and was even the inspiration for the Broadway hit, West Side Story which features the feud between two Irish and Puerto Rican gangs.

Due to its somewhat shady reputation, the real estate prices were much lower than the rest of Manhattan. Previously inhabited mainly by the poor and working-class Irish-Americans, the area has undergone massive reconstruction and is today home to many famous actors and entertainers due to its interesting history and proximity to all the major theaters.

Hell’s Kitchen is in close proximity to some of New York’s major attractions which include Central Park, Madison Square Garden, Broadway and Times Square. The borders have always been a contentious issue, much like the area’s history, but one thing is for certain: Hell’s Kitchen is a must-see during any visit to New York City.

New York is one of the most child-friendly cities in the world. With so much for kids to enjoy in the city, the only danger is not having enough time as an adult to enjoy the hundreds of other attractions.

The Central Park Zoo is a whole day affair by itself. Boasting one of the world’s most extensive collections of animals from around the world, the Central Park Zoo is a must-see for all families.

The Zoo’s latest attraction is Seven - a seal pup rescued in the harbor. Seven’s charming disposition has captivated the hearts of thousands of visitors to the Zoo and has resulted in more awareness of the danger which marine life suffers as a result of man’s carelessness.

Another newcomer to the Zoo’s family is a new-born colobus monkey. This birth tops off a very successful breeding program undertaken by the Zoo to boost the numbers of endangered species in captivity.

Staying with wildlife, the New York Aquarium - complete with Aquatheater, tours and 3D ??Deep Sea Submarine?? - offers visitors a look at the world’s most exotic sea creatures. The Aquatheater is the aquarium’s main attraction with shows thrice daily. Besides for an in-depth and non-intrusive education for the kids, the Central Park Zoo and New York Aquarium are an excellent way for the whole family to enjoy a day in New York.

Another way to open one’s children’s minds without making it too obvious is a visit to the American Museum of Natural History. The museum boasts one of the largest collections of vertebrate fossils in the world, totalling more than one million. This includes two complete dinosaur skeletons. Besides for the sheer wonderment of the American Museum of Natural History’s architecture, the museum offers a comprehensive layout with regards to evolutionary history, clearly explaining the journey of all animals to where they stand today.

The physical displays are coupled with scientific explanations of the planet’s vast history and are sure to leave even the most sceptical history and science ??students?? in complete awe.

A holiday to New York with the kids should not be a burden, but rather a worthwhile experience for the whole family. New York really is a city with so much to offer.

Since 2001, the Village Voice Siren Music Festival (also known as the Sirenfest) has brought free music to the citizens and visitors of New York every summer. Sponsored by the free arts and political newspaper, ??The Village Voice??, the festival promotes alternative music and showcases up and coming, as well as established bands, at Coney Island on two outdoor stages. This all-day-event is well known for its superb sound and performances and is open to everybody, from families with children to older music fans. The festival takes place every year without fail, come rain or shine and is easily accessible by public transport, including the subway and train. Check New York Journey for hotel reviews. and interesting tourist attractions while visiting the Big Apple.

The Village Voice Siren Music Festival aims at revitalizing the Coney Island community and celebrate its colorful history and diversity through the free expression found in music. Its self-titled name, ??the premier outdoor indie rock festival??, sums up what this festival is all about. The event traditionally draws tens of thousands of fans, with the 2005 concert drawing up to 100,000 music lovers. Events are usually staggered throughout the day - usually beginning in the late morning or early afternoon - so that spectators can enjoy everything that the festival has to offer, from new names in the industry to the more seasoned performers.

This year, visitors can enjoy performances by local and national bands such as ??We are Scientists??, ??Dr. Dog??, ??New York Dolls??, ??The Twilight Sad?? and ??The Black Lips??. The Siren Music Festival in Coney Island is definitely an event not to be missed this summer!

Click for the official site of Siren Music Festival.

Within the boundaries of the Hudson River Park that extends for five miles along the Manhattan shoreline, New York locals and visitors can enjoy one of the city’s coolest summer entertainment slots - the Hudson RiverFlicks. From the middle of July until the final week of August, viewers can make their way down to the riverside and watch some of the greatest films in the history of the industry. Against the backdrop of starry skies and the sound of the water, the Hudson Riverflicks remain a firm favorite among New Yorkers throughout the hot summer months.

The films - traditionally cult favorites - begin when it starts to get dark, usually around 8.30 or 9 pm. Not only are the movies free, but the event’s managers also hand out free popcorn to viewers! Now that’s what we call a bargain??

Films are shown at Pier 54 on Wednesday nights and at Pier 46 on Friday nights. The 2007 film lineup promises to be highly entertaining, with current blockbusters elbowing for viewing time with classic favorites. Visitors can watch ??Rocky Balboa??, ??Nacho Libre?? and the ??Matrix?? in July, while August is reserved for films such as ??Stripes??, ??Gladiator??, ??Beerfest?? and ??Superman Returns??.

Children are also promised fantastic entertainment, including firm favorites such as ??Charlotte’s Web??, ??Babe??, ??Back to the Future?? and ??Happy Feet??. For four years running, the Hudson Riverflicks have screened the 1971 classic, ??Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory??.

Visitors can also enjoy other features of the Hudson River Park such as boating and fishing, music and other forms of entertainment that are offered throughout the summer months.