Coming Back Together: A Taste of Black ‘Cuse

August 9th-11th, 2019

Black-Owned Syracuse Hosted Syracuse’s First ever 3-day Black food & drink festival August 9th-August 11th.

Official hashtag: #TasteBlackCuse

The festival was the end of the first ever #BlackJoySYR Week:
August 4th-11th, 2019

2019 Vendors

Food & Drink Vendors

A Taste of Africa Owner: Saida Balume

Jus Juice It LLC Owner: Anthony Huddleston

Mechita’s Kitchen Owner: Melissa Vargas

Our Secret Delights Owner: Sabrina Calhoun

Stoic Tea’s and Sea Moss Owner: Devonn Dunbar

Top Notch Catering Experience by Chef Day Howard

The Soul Food Extension Owner: Mercedes Jones

Winnie’s Soul Delicious Owner: Dawn Evette Reed

Non-Food Vendors

Aroze Through Consulting Owner: Certified Life Coach Tyrone Dixon

Artsy Amiah Artist: Amiah Crisler

Beauty by Ahmari Owner: Ahmari Armstrong

Britton Art Artist: Andre Britton

Honey Lush Naturals Owner: Aya Green

In My Image Children’s Clothing Boutique Owner: Tafara Simmons

Juice and Berries Haircare Products Owner: Venette Griffin

Leanna’s Art Room Owner: Leanna Chapman

Lyfe Ball Lemonade Owner: Lyfe Ball

Tru Soundz Entertainment Owner: Travis Robinson

The Festival

Stay tuned for more pictures!

Thank you to our food vendors! #TasteBlackCuse
Thank you to the local entrepreneurs who sold their products and services! #BuyBlackSYR
Thank you to our young entrepreneurs! #BuyBlackSYR
Thank you to our guests, vendor helpers, volunteers and staff! #BlackJoySYR
Thank you to the festival sponsors! #BuyBlackSYR
Thank you to our door prize sponsors! #BuyBlackSYR

Note from Black-Owned Syracuse Founder

Shavon S. Greene

The idea of “Coming Back Together: A Taste of Black ‘Cuse” was born last winter when I was filling up my yellow composition notebook with ideas for Black-Owned Syracuse.

Black people have always been innovators in the food and drink industry (“and everything”), but that is not accurately reflected in representation, leadership or business ownership. This is simply our response to that. We are excited with the response since we announced the festival in April. This is one of our first annual food events.

We are happy to have hosted about 500 guests for our first annual Black food & drink festival! Some food vendors sold out! We enjoyed karaoke, face painting for kids and adults, buy Black and local from local entrepreneurs (#BuyBlackSYR), games and music! See you next year: August 7th-9th, 2020! #TasteBlackCuse

Xo,

Shavon 💋