5 Things You Won’t Want to Miss at Manhattanville Community Day on June 7
Experience the joy of connection at Columbia’s annual celebration of community.
Manhattanville Community Day makes its grand return to Columbia’s Manhattanville campus this Saturday, June 7, and the highly-anticipated block party is coming back with a mix of new ways to celebrate the neighborhood’s culture and familiar fun-filled activities.
Whether you want to learn about small businesses shaping Uptown’s culinary scene, catch a Saturday afternoon film screening with the family, let the kids enjoy STEAM activities, or explore Columbia-led programs for community members, it’s the place to be this weekend!
Ahead of the event, we’ve rounded up a few things to check out during Manhattanville Community Day.
#1: A Film Screening With a 1920s Twist
Pull out the fedoras and feathered headbands and time travel to the gilded era of silent films at Lenfest Center for the Arts! As part of its ongoing Lenfest Kids series, during this year’s Community Day festivities, the space is hosting a family-friendly screening of trailblazing actor and filmmaker Charlie Chaplin’s first full-length feature The Kid.
The 1921 comedic drama chronicles the high jinks and happenstances of his iconic character, The Tramp—played by Chaplin himself—who cares for an orphaned child. Pulling inspiration from the theatrical entertainment that defined the Roaring '20s, the film screening will be accompanied by live music from musician and historian Ben Model. This cinematic experience not only celebrates the innovative work of Chaplin, but it offers a lens into a transformative era of movie history.
#2: Try Locally-Loved Eats
Taste the bold flavors of Manhattanville’s burgeoning culinary scene! The deliciously curated food sampling experience—featuring Harlem Local Vendor Program alumni—is returning this year with familiar favorites and a few new additions. Among some of the new vendors are refreshing drinks from Kinkeliba Ginger Passion Tea, Dominican-inspired homemade baked goods from D'Maritza's Cake Shop, and vegan treats from Mercedes Waffles & More. Returning vendors who will also dish up delicious bite-sized noshes include Fauzia's Heavenly Delights, Pabade Bakery, Sugar Hill Creamery, Tres Leches Café, Chatman J. Cakes, and Chef Marshall.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Dear Mama Coffee will serve up samples along the Community Day restaurant crawl. So whether you’re in the mood for sliders or sweets, there will be something on the menu for everyone’s palate. Aside from filling up on neighborhood eats, it’s the perfect way to learn more about local businesses and the entrepreneurs behind them.
#3: Sidewalk STEM Sessions for Youth
Step into the lab and enter the world of STEM discovery at Community Day. Designed to ignite curiosity in neuroscience, this Saturday Science session—led by Columbia's Zuckerman Institute—will feature immersive, hands-on activities and engaging scientific demonstrations, all centered on exploring the fundamentals of how the brain functions. In addition to the fun that will be happening at the Education Lab in the Jerome L. Greene Science Center, the beloved BioBus, a community-driven biology lab on wheels, will be back on the block delivering a slice of sidewalk science by sharing lessons with youth about everything from cell biology to ecosystem exploration.
#4: Dive Into the Art of Animation
Join the Wallach Art Gallery for a thaumatrope-inspired animation session! During this workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to put a new spin on an old 19th-century art toy, historically known as a “wonder turner.” They’ll use paper discs to merge images with movement, which optically will create a simple animation. It’s a craft they’ll be able to take with them beyond Community Day and enjoy at home.
#5: Connect With Community Champions
From the New York Public Library to the Columbia Center for Community Health, Community Day offers the perfect opportunity to connect with nonprofit organizations and groups leading locally-rooted social impact initiatives in Morningside Heights and across the greater Uptown community. Whether you’re in need of support or looking to learn more about how you can partake in volunteer projects, you can meet community changemakers and collect an array of great resources at the event.
While we’ve only covered a few activities on the lineup for this year’s event, there will be so much more to explore at Manhattanville Community Day. Join us on June 7!