Category Archives: 125th Street

Harlem yoga happenings for September

Posted on September 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

20110906-123901.jpg

There are several exciting yoga events happening in the month of September in Harlem. Some events are as simple and important as the release of a new Fall schedule or an introduction to a traditional Indian medical system known as Ayurveda.

20110906-123851.jpg Harlem Yoga Studio, located at 44 West 125th Street, has implemented their Fall yoga schedule, which includes more yoga classes for adults and children. In addition, Harlem Yoga Studio will continue to offer free outdoor yoga through September on Saturday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Target East Community Garden, located at 117th Street between 1st Ave and Pleasant Avenue.

At Land Yoga on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 114th Street, they will be offering an introduction to Ayurveda on Friday, September 9 from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. The workshop will examine simple remedies that will help promote calmness and ease from stress especially during the fall season. To attend this workshop, register here.

On September 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Land Yoga is also hosting An Evening of Bharata Natyam performed by Jaan R. Freeman. Bharata Natyam is the most popular of the classical dance of India. To attend this event, the cost of admittance is $20 for adults, and $16 for seniors and students with valid ID. Email landyoga@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Leave a comment

Posted in 125th Street, Community, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, health and wellness, personal care

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Current lottery apartments in Harlem

Posted on September 6, 2011 | 9 comments

20110905-113658.jpg
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development recently announced housing lotteries on their website. The Borough of Manhattan has five listed with HPD and they are all in Harlem. If you are looking for a lottery apartment in Harlem, you may want to check out the links below. To see the entire list for the City, click here.

2081 Madison Avenue, East Harlem

2524 Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Blvd., Harlem

200 East 125th Street, East Harlem

654 St. Nicholas Avenue, Harlem

34 West 139th Street, West Harlem

9 Comments

Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., apartments, Community, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Jaime Foxx’s Thunder Soul opens September 23, see film in Harlem September 8

Posted on September 3, 2011 | Leave a comment


HarlemGal Inc. has been given the heads up about another FREE film screening at Harlem’s Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem, September 8. It’s called Thunder Soul presented by Jamie Foxx.

Thunder Soul follows the extraordinary alumni from Houston’s storied Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for the 92-year-old Conrad “Prof” Johnson, their beloved band leader who broke the color barrier and transformed the school’s struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s.

If you would like to see Thunder Soul for FREE Thursday, September 8th at 7 p.m. at Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem, click here for tickets. And remember, tickets are on a first come, first serve basis!

Leave a comment

Posted in 125th Street, Events, film, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

Tagged , , , , , , ,

The redevelopment of Victoria Theater in Harlem is back on track says The New York Times

Posted on August 31, 2011 | 1 comment


Harlem’s 125th Street is back in the news again. Back in July the City announced the redevelopment of two major, vacant sites on Harlem’s 125th Street. Today, we are hearing from The New York Times that the redevelopment of Victoria Theater “is back on track and will break ground in the second half of next year.” The delay was due to the financial crisis back in 2008.

The entire project, which is being designed by the same architect firm that built the Livmor Condos on Frederick Douglass Blvd., will include two towers above the theater: a rental building in one tower and hotel in the other tower. The first floor will become the new home of the Classical Theater of Harlem, Jazzmobile, the Harlem Arts Alliance and the Apollo Theater Foundation.

If you’re wondering if all this good news that’s been announced about 125th Street is a coincidence, it’s not. According to the Times article, all these changes being announced is due to the city rezoning the street replacing buildings along 125th with “office towers, residential high-rises and cultural institutions. The rezoning was approved just as the real estate market collapsed, and many of the developments did not get off the ground. Several are starting up again.”

This is great news. Who cares about the timing. We will take it! To read the entire article by the Times, click here.

1 Comment

Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, business, commercial real estate, Community, education, entertainment, Events, film, Harlem, history, jazz, music, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Remember Michael Jackson on his birthday, visit West 122nd Street or The Apollo Theater in Harlem

Posted on August 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

West 122nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue


Today is the King of Pop’s birthday-Michael Jackson. He would have been 53 years old. He passed away two years ago. If you want to remember Michael Jackson and his connection to Harlem, there are two ways to pay tribute to him.

First suggestion is to stop by the Apollo Theater. They have their own Walk of Fame, which features Michael Jackson.

Another suggestion is to take a stroll down West 122nd street between 8th Avenue and 7th Ave, also known as Frederick Douglass Blvd and Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Blvd. There you can see the actual place where the ‘Bad- The Full Version’ video was filmed. There is a sign hanging on a fence on that street, which states, “Michael Jackson spent a few days on our block.”

If you haven’t seen the full version of Bad, which was filmed in Harlem, take a look here. It shows an entire different chapter of Harlem’s history.

And let’s take a moment to remember the person who brought us magical music for several decades, Michael Jackson!

Leave a comment

Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, film, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, history, music, New York, New York City, NYC, The Apollo Theater

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Changing Face of Harlem Director looking for photos of Harlem artist from the 1930s or 1940s

Posted on August 29, 2011 | Leave a comment


The Changing Face of Harlem documentary, which is capturing Harlem’s rebirth of the last decade needs our help. The director of Changing Face of Harlem is looking to use photos-and maybe film footage-of an artist/performer who performed in Harlem during the 1930s or 1940s. If you know of someone who has photos of a Harlem artist from that time period, please go to the Changing Face of Harlem Facebook page or contact the director at shawn@changingfaceofharlem.com. Another option is to email harlemgalinc@gmail.com with your suggestions and HarlemGal Inc. will make sure it get’s passed on to the director.

The second option is to find the family of a Harlem artist/musician/dancer/singer etc. Maybe this amazing person who performed in Harlem back in the day continued their personal legacy through family? If you know of someone who had a mother or father that performed in Harlem the 30s or 40s, the director is looking to use those photos and film footage for her documentary. Again, if you know of someone, use the contact information above.

And last, if you’re wondering why the Changing Face of Harlem director is looking for these photos and film footage, she is working on strengthening the history section of Harlem in her film.

Hope we can help! Have a wonderful day Harlem!

Leave a comment

Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, Bars, business, Community, education, entertainment, Events, film, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Frederick Douglass Circle, Harlem, history, jazz, Lenox Avenue, politics, restaurants

Tagged , , , , ,

What’s open in Harlem, post Hurricane Irene?

Posted on August 28, 2011 | Leave a comment


If you are wondering what is open today in terms of dining, post Hurricane Irene, we have received word that Slyvia’s Restaurant is open for lunch, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar is open for dinner and Les Ambassades on Frederick Douglass Bvld is open as well. Also, Harlem Tavern is opening at 3 p.m. today. Chez Lucienne is open now.

Slyvia’s is located at 328 Lenox Avenue aka Malcolm X Blvd., New York, NY 10027.

Lido Harlem is located at 2168 8th Avenue aka Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026.

Les Ambassades is located at 2200 FDB.

Harlem Tavern is located on the northwest corner of 116th Street and FDB.

Chez Lucienne is located at 308 Lenox Ave.

Regarding yoga, Bikram Yoga East Harlem, located at 4 East 116th Street is open for 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. classed today. Also, Book Culture bookstore sent email saying they’re open today. It’s located at 536 West 112th Street and 2915 Broadway.

As more information becomes available, HarlemGal Inc. will pass the information along. And of course, if you know of places that are open today, August 28, please share the information here for other locals to learn about.

Have a great day in Harlem.

UPDATE: The owners of Kidberry and Land Yoga say they will be open tomorrow, August 29!

Leave a comment

Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

It’s the Harlem re-shuffle says UK-based The Independent

Posted on August 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

Our beloved Harlem is featured bright and big again in the media, but this time in the UK’s travel section of The Independent. According to the article the reporter/ photographer visited Harlem recently and took direction from Thelma Golden, the Director of Studio Museum Harlem, on what to see in Harlem.

Per Golden’s instructions, Chris Coplans stayed at The Aloft Harlem and he raves about it in the article. He also went to the Apollo Theater, El Museo del Barrio, Studio Museum Harlem, and more. Golden encouraged the reporter to visit the Duke Ellington sculpture and to try Senegalese food at Les Ambassades.

What’s interesting about this article is the reporter covered a lot of Harlem ground-from East to West. He also gives Lenox Avenue big props by saying, “If 125th St is the traditional Harlem, then Lenox Avenue between 125th and 126th is very much the emerging “New Harlem”, with an arty vibe and “Village” sidewalk culture.”

To read the full article, click here. To see additional photos on Harlem from the reporter, go here.

Leave a comment

Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, Bars, business, commercial real estate, Community, drinks, education, entertainment, fashion, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, history, jazz, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurants, shopping, spending, The Apollo Theater

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gospel for Teens Harlem feature on 60 Minutes to re-air August 28

Posted on August 25, 2011 | 3 comments

I received notice that the video feature of Gospel for Teens that aired on 60 Minutes awhile back will be airing again this coming Sunday, August 28 starting at 7 p.m.

If you missed seeing the two-part segment where Leslie Stahl interviews Vy Higginsen and some of her students in Gospel for Teens, there is another opportunity. Don’t miss it. It was very good, emotional and inspiring to see.

Gospel for Teens on 60 Minutes
August 28 at 7 p.m. ET/PT

To read prior blog coverage on Gospel for Teens, click here.

3 Comments

Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, history, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ron Perelman raises a cool million for Harlem’s Apollo Theater

Posted on August 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

It is showtime at The Apollo Theater, but in the Hamptons…to raise money! Ron Perelman, who joined the Apollo Theater board last year, has been throwing quite the fundraising shin-dig at his Hampton’s estate and packed with celebrity power.

Last year, Jon Bon Jovi came out for the first fundraiser and he attended again this year, along with Jaime Fox and Alicia Keys. Apparently, the event that happened this past weekend in the Hamptons raised more than $1 million for Harlem’s famous music venue versus last year where the event did not even reach a million dollars. And guess who donated food to the event? Yup, you guessed it! Marcus Samuelsson.

If this fundraiser happens again and keeps charging guests $2500 a ticket, Ron Perelman will probably reach $2 million dollars next year. Must be nice. And good for the Apollo Theater that their board works for them. The more dinero for our beautiful venue, the better! Ron go for two next year!

Leave a comment

Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, business, entertainment, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, spending, The Apollo Theater

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,