Some classic Philadelphia tours barely graze Philadelphia’s rich Black history. 

Chrissy Watts wants people to immerse themselves in it — the majority Black neighborhoods with their businesses, murals, and especially, tastes: fresh sorrel juice, jerk chicken, and mac and cheese.

That’s why she created the Uptown Soul Food Tour, a four-hour walking experience with stops at restaurants, bakeries, art galleries, and music stores, all in a six-block stretch of Germantown.

The final public tour of the season takes place Saturday, July 26; Watts will resume them in the fall, though people can book private tours year round.

Soul on a roll

It’s all part of Philly Experiences, the company Watts launched seven years ago to offer walking tours, events, party buses, and digital guides focusing on recent Black history and intimate contact with neighborhoods.

The Uptown Soul Food Tour starts at The Nile Cafe, where guests can sample vegan “chicken” and collard greens. Watts said, “We’ll have a quick conversation while the food is being prepared. I talk about my connection to Philly, to Germantown, and about what cultural preservation looks like.”

The adults-only tour also includes stops at K&J Caribbean American Diner; Cluck and Gills for shrimp, fish, and crab fries; Grill ’N' Dutchy for rice and peas; and Lily of the Valley Cupcakery & Cafe for a sweet finale. In addition, guests will visit Ubuntu Fine Art gallery, Yadain Cultural Solutions, and Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, all Black-owned businesses.

For Watts, the tour is both a celebration and a counternarrative. “Negative stereotypes [of Black people] only show us being violent; they sensationalize anger and despair in our community. 

“In this tour, there’s time to casually stroll through the streets,” she continued. “They can admire the homes and architecture, the mix of old and new. We talk about gentrification, about progress and people. I introduce guests to the business owners who can give insight on what it’s like growing up in Philly.”

Watts wants tour participants to “get excited for Philly, to reimagine a city that includes them … I also look forward to doing what tourism sets out to do: take care of the locals in these crazy, challenging economic times.”

Island Vibes Jam at Maplewood Mall

As Watts’ tour winds its way through Germantown, guests will likely hear the percussive beats of reggae, soca, and calypso rippling from the Island Vibes Jam, also on July 26, from 11-3 p.m. 

The event, a collaboration between Jabali Farmers Market and the Maplewood Collective, will celebrate Philadelphia’s Caribbean community through music, food, a marketplace of nearly 20 vendors, and demonstrations (including one on how to create outdoor planters) at Maplewood Mall in Germantown.

Erika (DivaErykah) Johnson, chief wellness officer of Black + Planted, started the monthly Jabali Market three years ago as part of her effort to forge connections between health, gardening, and sustainability. “I’m teaching the community to grow, sow, plant, and eat from the garden,” she says. 

Each month’s market has a different theme; for July, it’s a celebration of the Caribbean diaspora — a reminder, Johnson said, of the ways Caribbean history is entwined with that of the Americas through commerce in rum, sugar … and enslaved people.

“Caribbean history is part of the blood, sweat and tears of these United States,” Johnson said. “It’s also the rich history of the food, of the language, of the art, and fashion, and culture.”

The Island Vibes Jam will feature DJ SupaTang (aka Kristina Hill), who hosts “Reggae Surge” on Germantown Radio; there will also be drumming, dancing, food, and art.

The event showcases the microvillage of Maplewood Mall, a stretch of Black-owned businesses including a barber shop, hair salon, grooming spa for men, daycare center,  bakery, bespoke hat shop and the d’griot gallery and event space.

“Maplewood Mall is kind of a secret gem of Germantown,” said Shirley Wardlaw, owner of Way to Grow Nursery School and president of the Maplewood Collective, formed in 2023 to support local entrepreneurs and host events such as Night Markets and school-supply giveaways.

Johnson hopes visitors to the Island Vibes Jam will savor the neighborhood oasis. “From the time you start walking up the block, you’re going to hear the music,” she said. “You’ll probably hear somebody laughing. You’ll hear the sounds of networking. We’ll have demonstrations. You can come and get a hug, even if you don’t have a dime in your pocket. You can come with nothing and still leave with something: the vibe of village, community, and togetherness, a celebration of the diaspora of Caribbean heritage.”

Uptown Soul Food Tour, July 26, 12:30-4:30 p.m., early bird tickets $88. For  tickets, visit eventbrite.com.

Island Vibes Jam, July 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Maplewood Mall, Greene and Armat Streets, free admission. For info, visit eventbrite.com.