• The glittering U.S. premiere of "If Beale Street Could Talk"–director Barry Jenkins' film adaptation of the James Baldwin novel–was held at the Apollo Theater on Tuesday night. "James Baldwin was born and raised in Harlem, this book is set in Harlem, it was filmed in Harlem,” said Jenkins, whose movie "Moonlight" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017. “The first time it shows in the U.S. had to be in damn Harlem!” The Tomatometer is giving the film, which hits theaters on November 30, a 93%. [The Atlantic]
• New York City Parks commissioner Mitchell Silver has been training for his first New York City Marathon, and chose five favorite routes around town. For the best views, he recommends the six-mile path that winds up Riverside Park, starting at 72nd Street and ending at the George Washington Bridge. [NY Post]
• Gothamist got a good look at all the animals–including an alpaca, an owl and a fox–that came to the annual Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. [Gothamist]
• For a series on "institutions that have defined cool for decades," a writer visits Minton's Playhouse and likes what he sees (and hears). [NYTimes]
• Get to know Harlem-based artist Elizabeth Colomba, whose work will be featured in the upcoming show "Posing Modernity: The Black Model from Manet and Matisse to Today" at the Wallach Art Gallery in Manhattanville. [Vogue]
• There's a good story behind the "Posing Modernity" show (see above), which grew out of a PhD thesis by Denise Murrell. It took many years to get funding (the Ford Foundation eventually saved the day) and now the show will feature work from the Musée d’Orsay, the Getty and the Smithsonian. [artnet]
• El Museo del Barrio, which recently reopened after almost a year of renovations, has a history that's worth knowing before you go. [NYTimes]
