Category Archives: 125th Street

Listen up Harlem, go vote November 6


The big day is near. Tomorrow, November 6 is election day. It is time of us to go to the voting booths to cast our vote! If you’re a registered voter and not sure where to go to cast your ballot, use New York City’s Board of Elections (BOE) Polling Locator. It will tell you where to go by typing in your building number and street name. The BOE also has an app that will allow you to find your voting poll. Go here to download the app.

Most of us online have been expressing our political views for weeks. I know I have. The day is here where it’s now time for us to do the walk, not just talk. Get out and vote tomorrow! See you at the voting booth!

Lenox Avenue, Harlem featured web series, premieres tonight October 29

Need a break from watching the news on Hurricane Sandy? Here’s an option. Lenox Avenue, a new Harlem-based television series, is premiering exclusively online now at http://www.LenoxAveSeries.com.

The series, created by ValDean Entertainment and award-winning producer, writer and actor Al Thompson (Comedy Central, SYFY) follows the fast-paced lives of three men as they navigate dating, sex and love in Harlem, NY.

Check it out tonight and tell us what you think!

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What’s open today in Harlem during Sandy?

Most of us are home today in Harlem bracing for the arrival of Sandy. Some Harlem business have posted notices on Facebook or Twitter saying they are open today.

So far the businesses who have said they’re open are: Astor Row Cafe on Lenox Avenue and 130th, Lenox Coffee at 60 West 129th Street, The Chipped Cup at 3610 Broadway, Dunkin Donuts on FDB between 113th and 114th Street, Il Cafe Latte on Lenox Ave and 119th Street, Frederick’s Cafe & Bistro on FDB and 114th, East Harlem Cafe at 1651 Lexington Avenue, Patsy’s Pizza at 2287 First Avenue will be open today from 11 am to 11 pm, Chez Lucienne on Lenox Avenue, Harlem Tavern on 116th Street and FDB, and Red Rooster Harlem on 125th and Lenox Avenue is open for lunch. They will make a decision about dinner later depending on storm conditions.

If you know of any other Harlem businesses that are open today, October 29, please tell us! Stay safe and dry Harlem! 20121029-091047.jpg 20121029-091102.jpg 20121029-091142.jpg

Esperanza Spalding in photos performing at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater

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Esperanza Spalding at the ApolloThe owner of SugarHill Beer & Friends at East Harlem Harvest Festival!Whose ready to smoke a hookah pipe at East Harlem Harvest Festival? Compliments of The Kiosk!I'm hanging out here today, aka beer tent, at East Harlem Harvest Festival. Gonna drink some SugarHill Beer!Plenty of pumpkins at the East Harlem Harvest Festival...and a ghost!Bright red awning at Melba's Restaurant in Harlem!

I went to see jazz singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding Friday night (Oct 26) at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. It was fantastic. This was my first time seeing her perform. There is no question in my mind Esperanza Spalding, the Grammy award winner, is the full package: extremely talented, unique and so gorgeous. Hopefully these pictures give you a sense of that! Enjoy.

Lenox Avenue web series premieres October 29

Mark your calendar! Lenox Avenue, the web series mentioned about a month ago here and that stars Harlem, will be premiering a week from today, October 29. Lenox Avenue is centered on three friends as they navigate through the challenging dating scene in Harlem.

To view the online series, book mark Lenox Avenue’s website and then click on episodes. The first show for Fall will be viewed there.

Confirmed: Whole Foods Market is coming to Harlem

A reader tipped off HarlemGal Inc this afternoon with info that confirms Whole Foods Market will be opening a store on Lenox Avenue and
125th Street. They announced this news less than an hour ago on their Facebook page!

This is good news that Whole Foods has decided to open in Central Harlem, which is accessible from the East and West side, and right there by the 2/3 subway line, which is express. What do you think? Do you like the location? What do you think about Whole Foods opening in Harlem?
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Need another excuse to go to Red Rooster Harlem, try The Nook

Marcus Samuelsson’s PR folks were busy today alerting all the traditional and mainstream press about how The Nook at Red Rooster Harlem is now open. We received notice early in the day (October 15), but no time to distribute until now. Apparently, The Nook, located inside Red Rooster at 310 Lenox Avenue, is open seven days a week, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and from 10:00 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays.

According to the release, “The Nook sells specialty savory items and sweets created by Red Rooster Harlem’s pastry chef, Deborah Racicot.”

Interested to learn more, check out the menu below.

In the News: Victoria Theater Development Project in Harlem moves closer to reality

The Victoria Theater Project is moving closer to becoming a reality. On September 26, Real Estate Weekly reported that Danforth Developers, the developers behind the project, picked Aufgang & Subotovski as the designers of the commercial and residential project. The article also states that construction is “slated to begin early next year.”

Fast forward to this week and we have the Globe St. And The New York Observer reporting that there are more changes to the design plans. The Empire State Development Corporation approved plans for two 26-story towers: a 230-unit apartment tower and a 210-room hotel versus the previously planned 140-unit rental tower and 175-room hotel.

So in 2014 or 2015, West 125th Street will have two new towers that will be the tallest buildings in Harlem. Stay tuned.

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Introducing Belle, a new restaurant coming to Harlem by Chef Darryl Burnett

The restaurant scene in Central Harlem continues to grow with new places planned for this year and 2013. Recently mentioned was Vinatería, which is opening up (hopefully this year) on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 119th. Maison Harlem on 127th Street and St. Nick is getting close to opening up. That place looks practically ready. Chef Stephen Putnam, the former chef at Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, recently announced he is planning to open up his own restaurant in Harlem in the near future.

Next up is Darryl Burnett, a former chef at Bergdorf Goodman, 5 and Diamond Harlem and a resident of Harlem. Burnett recently announced on Kickstarter that he is starting his own restaurant in Harlem, which will be called Belle. As for location, Chef Burnett says Belle will be located “in the center of Harlem’s restaurant row and within walking distance of other new and hot Harlem restaurants, bars, and lounges.”

According to Burnett, Belle Harlem will be a “casual dining restaurant focusing on Southern classics with a modern vision with touches of French, Italian, Moroccan and Asian.” Belle Harlem already has a Facebook page where friends can see some of Burnett’s delicious creations. I have experienced Chef Burnett’s delectables and it is fantastic!

Interested in helping Chef Darryl Burnett and his Belle restaurant, go here to learn more.

NY Mag’s Grub Street lists Twelve Harlem bars to check out



Yesterday afternoon, Grub Street, New York Magazine’s blog, posted about the bars to bottoms up at in East,Central and West Harlem. Some of the establishments mentioned are no surprise that they made the cut, such as Ginny’s Supper Club, 67 Orange, bier international, Harlem Tavern, Corner Social, etc. What is a surprise is that Grub Street mentions some great places to check out in East Harlem, new places, and along Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd that rarely get mentioned but deserve the recognition, such as Shrine (very fun place in my view), Harlem Public, its brand new, and The Duck, who wouldn’t want to head to East Harlem and drink at a place that’s named ‘the duck.”

Where Grub Street misses the mark is naming Harlem Lanes. Isn’t that place closed? Clearly whoever wrote the blog post has not been to Harlem or did not do their research or Harlem Lanes is not closed.

It’s a comprehensive bar list by Grub, but Harlemites know best. Tell us if Grub overlooked a particular drinking establishment or if they got it right!

To read the entire article, click here.