We’re just a few weeks away from summer in the city but the weather has already been beautiful for us at Union Settlement Business Development Center! Our events have been doing great and we’re connecting people left and right with new businesses around East Harlem. It’s a lovely sight to see someone find a business they’ve never known existed, but now must be a staple in their lives! With our next few events we want to continue that, and make sure your enjoyment is at the center of it all.

Our next big event coming up is the 2nd Annual Taste of East Harlem! The Taste of East Harlem is an exciting food and beverage event designed to showcase all types of culinary talent and styles in our community. Craft beer and cocktail artisans will be taking care of our beverages while there will be over 20 different food merchants in attendance with cuisine from all around the Caribbean, Mexico, Italy and many more!

It’s all happening on June 21st at Union Settlement’s garden (237 E 104th St) from 6pm to 9pm. We’re once again providing fun for the family, and it will be backed by tunes from Ochun Afro-Latin Band. Tickets, which are currently on sale on EventBrite, include food with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options ($45 and $30, respectively) and unlimited tastings. The price of each option does go up by $5 when purchased at the door, so don’t wait around!

Among our vendors for the evening we have Ricardo’s Steak House, El Paso Taqueria, East Harlem Bottling Co., Yave Tequila, Sister’s Cuisine, Janie Bakes, The Egg Roll Queen, (featured in our last Trolley Tour), Aromas’s Boutique Bakery and more!

Our monthly Cash Mob (rsvp link) is another way to get out and get involved with us. The next one is June 9th from 2pm to 4pm, and we’re gathering at Paladar (358 E 112th St), a comfy Brazilian BBQ restaurant. Just like our last Cash Mob, our goal is to come together as a community to patronize and support a local business

Our Meet and Greet (Click here to RSVP), which is a chance for you to meet more local merchants, is happening June 27th at Piatto D’Oro at 5:30pm. You’ll be able to learn about local businesses and how they’re serving our community, and receive an information directory for businesses not in attendance as well.

We truly hope to catch you at any one of these events! Above all we want all attendees to enjoy, explore and be educated about what’s available to them in East Harlem, and encourage them to buy local where possible. Whether we see you at Taste of East Harlem or any of our other events, we’ll be glad to see you and have you!