Category Archives: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.

Watch: Skateboarding in Harlem


While I am not a big fan of skateboarding, watching this video of young kids skateboarding through Harlem gave me a new-found appreciation. These skateboarders in this video are very good. Some of the moves they perform on their board are incredible. Just watch.

The only downside to this video, these youngsters are not wearing any protective gear and they are skateboarding on the seating stones at the Frederick Douglass Circle. Ouch, that monument is new and I thought that was prohibited? I guess kids will be kids.

Overall, watch this video It’s fun and the music is wonderful! Happy Fourth of July. Enjoy!

ONLY Times – Skate Days from ONLY NY on Vimeo.

See Exposure at Art in FLUX Harlem

After opening a little more than a month ago, Art in FLUX is ready to present its next pop-up gallery in EXPOSURE, art work by teenagers from Artistic Noise. The exhibition EXPOSURE will open on Thursday, June 14th at 2031 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd between 121st and 122nd Street from 5:00-8:00p.m.

Artistic Noise is a program designed for youth, ages 13-18, involved in the juvenile justice system. It provides them with the opportunity to develop and document their lives through visual arts, to be heard, to collaborate, and to be part of a group.

Art in FLUX Harlem is a series of pop-up galleries located in Harlem.

Velocissimo Cycle coming soon to Harlem

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A reader tells us that a new bicycle shop is opening in South Harlem. According to the photos sent in by the reader, the bicycle shop will be called Velocissimo Cycle and will open up near the old Katrina Flower Shop space, which was on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. between 112th and 113th Street. This will be the third bike shop to open in South Harlem after ModSquad on Frederick Douglass Blvd and Larry’s Bicycle Shop on 110th Street.

I looked up the name “Velocissimo” and it appears to be a street/racing bike brand. There is a lot biking gear available with the same name online.

Stay tuned here for more information. And a big thanks to our reader who sent in the photos! Much appreciated! Keep those tips coming in!
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M.Shanghai String Band to perform at Kidberry in Harlem

Mekia Denby, the founder of Kidberry in Harlem, has given us the heads up that M.Shanghai String Band, one of the best string bands in New York City, will be performing live this Friday, May 4 at Kidberry from 5:30 to 8 pm. The cost of entrance is $20 per family.  Kidberry is located at 2046 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.

If you would like to attend, RSVP in advance to mekia@kidberrynyc.com.

Harlem has another neighborhood association in The North Star


Some Harlem residents have come together to create a new neighborhood association and it’s called the North Star Neighborhood Association. North Star is named after Frederick Douglass’s abolitionist newspaper, “The North Star,” and its mission will focus on the area of Harlem that also bares his name, Frederick Douglass Blvd. The exact area North Star plans to serve are along Frederick Douglass Boulevard from West 110th Street to West 124th Street, between Morningside Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard.

If you are interested in learning more about North Star click here or interested in participating, they are having their inaugural meeting Tuesday, March 27th at 7:30 PM at the Harlem PAL, located at 441 Manhattan Avenue near West 119th Street.

Top 50 things to do with kids in Harlem

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According to Mommy Poppins, there is a boat load of fun and interesting activity to do in Harlem with kids! So much so that they have done the heavily lifting for us and compiled a list of the Top 50 Things to do with kids in Harlem!

The site mentions a ton of activity to do in Harlem from shaking your bon, bon at the Sundae Sermon in Morningside Park, which right now is happening at El Museo in Spanish Harlem until the weather warms up. They also mention participating in family concerts at Kidberry, taking family yoga classes at Land Yoga, watching concerts at Richard Rogers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park, ice skating at Lasker Rink in Central Park North, bowling at Harlem Lanes, explore Hamilton Grange and more. The list is 50 lines long. Take a look.

The only other items I would have added is renting bikes at MODSquad Cycles and biking in the northern part of Central Park and attending the annual Pumpkin Sail at Harlem Meer. Aside from that, Mommy Poppins covered plenty of things to do in Harlem. What do you think? Are there other activities that should be on that list? If so, tell us!

Two Harlem Tree Lightings happening December 12

West Harlem and Central Harlem are having their holiday tree lighting ceremonies tonight.

Starting at 5:30 pm, West Harlem Piers Park will hold their tree lighting along with caroling. All the details are in the photo below!

Then at 6 pm it’s the 35th Annual Harlem Tree Lighting Ceremony on 125th and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd. At this event, Grammy and Oscar nominated music group Impact Repertory Theatre will perform as well as live performances by R&B crooner Jeff Redd, soul singer Alyson Williams, cast of Sistas and many more!

It’s a busy night in Harlem December 12, but it’s the holidays. Let’s all enjoy!

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Harlem attracts cool crowds of NYC downtown says Guest of a Guest



Guest of a Guest, the website co-founded by one of the Winklevoss twins whose been battling Mark Zuckerberg for what seems like ages now, has a feature on Harlem this week. It is quite complimentary, however, it doesn’t say anything new that we Harlemites know already. The article names a list of places to check out and most of them mentioned I agree are great places to visit. However, a true Harlem native writing about Harlem would have dug a bit deeper.

For example, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar gives Red Rooster a run for its money, not only in food, but in ambiance as well. The same goes for Cedric French Bistro and Bar in Harlem! What about mentioning a place in East Harlem? Milk Burger has been endorsed by Anthony Bourdain and his lovely Mrs! Also, when you visit Shrine one can’t miss Yatenga, which is a fun place to hang.

Again, as most of us Harlemites know, there are a ton of cool places to hang in Harlem. Guest of a Guest apparently is just coming around (a bit late) and finding out, but hey, let’s welcome it!

To read the full article, click here.

Attend Harlem Holiday Lights 2011 tonight

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You are invited to the Harlem Holiday Lights Ceremony taking place this evening, November 21. The 125th Street Business Improvement District, Community Boards 9, 10, 11 and the New York City Housing Authority have partnered together for the Holiday Season to “light up” one of New York City’s, and Harlem’s, most legendary thoroughfares from river to river-125th Street! At 5:30pm, the celebration will begin with sounds and lights on the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building. Attendees will enjoy live performances provided by legendary pioneer, producer, and publisher, Vy Higginsen, and her Mama I Want to Sing Foundation as well as the Harlem Arts Alliance and other special guests. Click here to see the entire program and watch the video below.

Kidberry in Harlem moves into new space

Over the summer, I told you about Kidberry,a learning and developmental play center for newborns to ten-year-olds based in Harlem, was working hard to move into their new space. Well, its done! They have moved. Kidberry has a new home and its at 2046 7th Avenue. While the physical space has changed, their dedication to teaching children remains the same. What this new space allows is for Kidberry to offer more classes and services, from language to dance, with plans to expand into cooking classes and a kid friendly salon. And by the way, Kidberry was created and is managed by two Harlem moms, Mekia Denby and Pamela Flood Morrison. How cool is that?

For the full class schedule, log onto Kidberrynyc.com.