by Shayla Martin, New York Times, May 4, 2023
Friday
2:30 p.m. Walk ‘the Block’
Seventy years ago, Eagle and Market Streets, known as the Block, made up a prosperous African American business district. The Young Men’s Institute (now the YMI Cultural Center) was a cornerstone of the local Black community, with a library, athletic facilities, retail space and classrooms. Though much of the neighborhood was destroyed by urban renewal policies, the Tudor-inspired, red-brick center, built in 1893, is undergoing renovations and expected to open in its entirety later this year. Already, the ground-level retail spaces include Noir Collective AVL, a Black-owned boutique filled with artwork, jewelry, teas, soaps and more, and PennyCup Coffee, where a colorful mural by the artist Big Al Carter greets visitors. Nearby, a cultural center called LEAF Global Arts allows visitors to virtually explore music from around the world, play instruments and occasionally enjoy live performances (free).