City Museum and El Museo Host Summer Block Parties with UPTOWN BOUNCE, Now thru 8/13

This summer, El Museo del Barrio and the Museum of the City of New York will present Uptown Bounce: Summer Nights @ 104th & Fifth, the first-ever joint series featuring musical performances, gallery talks, art-making workshops, breakdancing demos, renowned DJs, festive summer drinks, local food vendors, and more. Uptown Bounce will take place on the Museum's front terraces on three consecutive Wednesdays (July 30, August 6, and August 13) from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Both museums, located next door to one another at 104th Street and Fifth Avenue, will offer free admission and extended hours. The series is open to visitors of all ages; advance registration is required. For more info, and to RSVP, visit www.mcny.org or www.elmuseo.org.

"It wouldn't be summertime in New York without a block party. New Yorkers have a long tradition of bringing the party to the streets, and we're thrilled to partner with our neighbors at El Museo del Barrio to build on this history. This is a great opportunity for New Yorkers and visitors alike to check out the culture at the northern tip of Museum Mile," said Susan Henshaw Jones, the Ronay Menschel Director of the City Museum.

"We're adding a little bounce to our step uptown, and we're inviting all New Yorkers to feel the rhythm. Like a good dance couple, the City Museum and El Museo are partnering to have more fun and more offerings-together. We are proud to have such good friends and neighbors next door," said Jorge Daniel Veneciano, Executive Director of El Museo del Barrio.

Uptown Bounce will complement current exhibitions: the City Museum's City As Canvas(on view through Sunday, September 21), the first exhibition of New York graffiti art from the Martin Wong Collection, and El Museo del Barrio's Museum Starter Kit: Open With Care(on view through Saturday, September 6), celebrating the Museum's 45th anniversary through an exploration of El Museo's unusual founding and solicits community participation to invent new museums.

Wednesday, July 30 | roots

Uptown Bounce kicks off with a cultural rewind to where it all began! At the City Museum, groove to hip hop beats with DJ Tony Touch and Latin rhythms by congas player Chico Cruz on the terrace, then learn about graffiti's influence on hip-hop music through the City As Canvas exhibition. At El Museo del Barrio, stop by for a studio visit in the galleries and a conversation with folkorist Elena Martínez from City Lore, who will illustrate the connections between art and music. Famed Puerto Rican DJ duo D'Marquesina will be on deck spinning old school new school in El Café. Video projections by Erika Harrsh, Leo Castañeda and Geraldo Mercado as well as nightly sidewalk art by Murcielagos Fumando Collective will be featured.

Wednesday, August 6 | throwback

Go back in time to the 1980s in New York City! At the City Museum, celebrate the golden era of hip hop by dancing to classic tracks spun by DJ Grand Master Caz and watching the NBS (Nothing But Skills) Crew show off their breakdancing styles. At El Museo del Barrio, hear artist Perla de Leon describe her experience photographing the Bronx in the 1980s. DJ duo D'Marquesina is back spinning throwback hits, and families can enjoy art-making inspired by El Barrio. Video projections by Erika Harrsh, Leo Castañeda and Geraldo Mercado as well as nightly sidewalk art by Murcielagos Fumando Collective will be featured.

Wednesday, August 13 | The Remix

Old school meets new school in the Uptown Bounce finale! At the City Museum, join DJ Grand Master Caz on the terrace to sample classic hip hop beats and today's freshest tracks, while dancer the choreography king Kelly Peters presents his Generation X Hip Hop Dance Crew. At El Museo del Barrio, join a special birthday celebration of the Museum's founder Raphael Montañez Ortiz, who turned 80 years old this past spring, as he speaks about his work and the beginnings of El Museo. The talk will be in conversation with Chon Noriega, Director of Chicano Studies Director at the University of California, Los Angeles. In the spirit of Ortiz' 'destruction movement,' stick around and take your turn smashing a piñata commissioned from artist Melissa Calderon. Video projections by Erika Harrsh, Leo Castañeda and Geraldo Mercado as well as nightly sidewalk art by Murcielagos Fumando Collective will be featured.

About the Museum of the City of New York - Founded in 1923 as a private, nonprofit corporation, the Museum of the City of New York celebrates and interprets the city, educating the public about its distinctive character, especially its heritage of diversity, opportunity, and perpetual transformation. The Museum connects the past, present, and future of New York City, and serves the people of the city as well as visitors from around the world through exhibitions, school and public programs, publications, and collections. Visit www.mcny.org to learn more.

About El Museo del Barrio - El Museo del Barrio, New York's leading Latino cultural institution, welcomes visitors of all backgrounds to discover the artistic landscape of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures. Their richness is represented in El Museo's wide-ranging collections and critically acclaimed exhibitions, complemented by film, literary, visual and performing arts series, cultural celebrations, and educational programs. For more info on El Museo del Barrio, visit www.elmuseo.org.