125th Street Business Improvement District

04/01/2025

Barbara Askins, our President and CEO, was honored during Women’s History Month. Thank you Harlem Health Initiative for honoring Barbara and shining a light on all the great work she does for 125th Street and beyond.

This , we honor Barbara Askins, a visionary leader and trailblazer in urban development. As President and CEO of the 125th Street BID, she has transformed Harlem’s economic landscape, championing community-led growth and revitalization.

With over 20 years of experience shaping cities through infrastructure, transit, and public space innovations, Askins has played a pivotal role in making 125th Street a national model for urban development—earning it recognition as one of the 10 best streets in the U.S. by the American Planning Association.

Her leadership extends beyond Harlem, serving as Chair of the International Downtown Association, Vice Chair & Treasurer of NYC’s BID Manager’s Association, and an New York University adjunct professor shaping the future of urban tourism. She also serves on the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy Dean’s Advisory Council, contributing her expertise to advance health and wellness initiatives in urban communities.

We celebrate Barbara Askins' unwavering dedication to community empowerment, economic innovation, and making cities more vibrant for all. 💙✨

02/26/2025

From Billie Holiday’s soulful voice to Jacob Lawrence’s powerful storytelling, from Hazel Scott’s fearless artistry to Kurtis Blow’s hip-hop revolution—these icons shaped Harlem’s cultural heartbeat. Their influence lives on in the businesses, music, and art that define Harlem today. This Black History Month, not only are we remembering our educational banner campaign which can be found at https://harlembid.com/banner/, we are celebrating the artistic and cultural impact of these Harlem legends. ✨🎶🖼️

02/25/2025

We’re continuing to celebrate by highlighting a few businesses proudly supporting the Harlem community.

12/22/2023

https://conta.cc/3GSQXM7

Wishing you peace and joy throughout the season. HARLEM HOLIDAY LIGHTS 2023   IN CASE YOU MISSED THE KICK-OFF OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON UPTOWN THIS YEAR These videos prepare you for next year!!     Spec

12/05/2023

11/14/2023

With the theme of , of course we had to join TikTok in time for !

Be sure to give us a follow:

.b.i.d 6 Followers, 9 Following, 18 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by Harlem B.I.D.

11/14/2023

The day is finally here!
We can't wait to see all of you this evening at 6 pm on 125th street. There are so many wonderful activations, activities, performances, vendors, and community members and youth organizations waiting to welcome you to !
And let's not forget the lights -- our iconic Caravan of Lights parade begins at 6 pm and will traverse the route shared below.

Check out https://www.harlemlightitup.com/ for more info, follow us at harlemholidaylights on instagram for real-time updates, and don't forget to tag us on all social media platforms!

11/13/2023

This Tuesday, for , Thrive Collective and SAFE In Harlem will be creating a community mural on the northeast corner of 125th St. and Frederick Douglass Blvd, on the theme of !

The mural is entitled "By Any Means Necessary" and depicts LeBron James with children around him with a basketball; Muhammed Ali putting a boxing glove on a child; Simone Biles on a balance beam with a young person; Serena Williams handing a young person a tennis racket; and Malcolm X reading to a child.

The public is invited to join in and help paint with guidance from both of these wonderful organizations at 4 pm EST. So come by, scratch your creative itch, sip some hot chocolate, and beautify our community while you wait for the parade to begin!

Click through for a closer look at the beautiful mural plans. 😍

11/10/2023

WHCR 90.3 FM The Voice of Harlem will broadcast on Thursday, November 14th at 6m from the 30th Anniversary of the parade ✨

WHCR’s DJ Justice will spinn your favorite R&B dance tunes 🎶 and WHCR’s Production Manager Tina Dixon will host live 🎤from the 125th St. BID float.

Be sure to tune your radio to WHCR-90.3FM on Tuesday, or listen at www.whcr.org! 😎

11/09/2023

Check out our parade route! In addition to experiencing the illuminated cityscape and cheering on the festive floats, you'll be able to enjoy activations, performances, music, and refreshments throughout the entire evening 🤩

Save this post for later for your reference 😊
And check out https://www.harlemlightitup.com/ for more info

11/09/2023

Harlem Holiday Lights will return to the neighborhood for its 30th anniversary on Tuesday, November 14th, 2023.

11/08/2023

When people say “it takes a village,” they’re usually exaggerating…not us!
We want to sincerely thank everyone who helps make Harlem Holiday Lights happen! Harlem shines brighter because of you all 🌟

Check out our 2023 Partners, Sponsors & Contributors, and Supporters below: