Category Archives: art and culture

Harlem’s Amateur Night at The Apollo heading across the pond to London

Posted on March 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

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America’s first, original, true singing competition, which started in Harlem and pre-American Idol, is heading East to London. According to the Associated Press, the Apollo Theater in Harlem “is exporting its Amateur Night to London for a limited engagement. The London show on July will pit aspiring artists from the United States and Great Britain.”

“Manhattan auditions will be held March 31 and April 1. Four winners of the May 23 New York semifinals will get expense-paid trips to London. Semifinals to pick four amateurs in London will be held in June.”

If you know of anyone who would want to compete against a Brit in singing, pass this information along. And congrats to Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater on exporting their Amateur Night to London! Way to go!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, entertainment, Harlem, history, music, New York, New York City, NYC, The Apollo Theater

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Several Harlem named/themed songs make Time Out New York’s 100 Best Songs about New York City

Posted on March 9, 2012 | 2 comments


Time Out New York recently released a ranked list of 100 songs dealing with the subject of New York City and several Harlem themed or named songs top the list, such as Take the A Train by Duke Ellington, Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack, Harlem Blues by Nat King Cole, Harlem Shuffle by Bob&Earl, Angel of Harlem by U2 and more. The list of 100 covers 50 years of tributes to the city that is known all over the world for inspiring artists across every musical genre.

In addition to the tracks, videos and commentary, Time Out New York is offering a Spotify playlist, so that readers can follow and stream the ranked songs on their own devices. Users will also be able to rerank the top 25 selections on the list by voting their choices up or down in the Readers’ Poll.

The Top NYC Song List can be seen at Time Out New York or go directly to Spotify, if you have an account.

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Posted in art and culture, education, entertainment, Harlem, history, jazz, music, New York, New York City

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Top 50 things to do with kids in Harlem

Posted on March 5, 2012 | 1 comment

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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!

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Posted in 116th Street, 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Frederick Douglass Circle, Free!, Harlem, history, kids, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC

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See ‘Arye’ at the Harlem School of the Arts

Posted on February 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

Gertrude Jeannette and The H.A.D.L.E.Y Players have joined forces to present Louise Mike’s play ‘ARYE, which is a historical drama that traces the roots of a young Black woman’s ancestry, focusing on three generations: the coasts of Africa, plantation days in the U.S., and up to the present day. ‘ARYE’ will play from February 28 to March 11 at the Harlem School of the Arts Theatre, located at 647 St. Nicholas Avenue at 142nd Street. Start times are at 7:30 pm during the week and 2:30 pm on Sundays.

To attend ‘ARYE,’ ticket prices are $20 each or two for $30 for general admission; $15 for Seniors, Students or Groups of five or more; and $8 for Children under 12.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Harlem

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Attend Sundae Sermon at El Museo in Spanish Harlem

Posted on February 26, 2012 | Leave a comment


Sundae Sermon, the afternoon Harlem dance party generally held in the summer in Morningside Park, and El Museo Del Barrio in Spanish Harlem have teamed up to keep us grooving all winter long with the launch of its first annual Sundae Sermon Indoor Series today, February 26, from 3 pm – 7 pm.  El Museo Del Barrio, located on Fifth Avenue and East 105th Street, is hosting Sundae Sermon in Spanish Harlem to connect family, community and commerce through dance, leisure, laughter and artist exhibits.

DJ Stormin’ Norman, Sundae Sermon’s founder, will curate each event’s music, art and dance-centric themes, with special guest DJs, hosts and artists. Four events are planned for the series, starting with the first one today, Feb. 26th, from 3 pm to 7 pm.

DETAILS: Sundae Sermon Dance Party
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 3 pm – 7 pm
LOCATION: Museo Del Barrio, 1230 5th Avenue

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Posted in art and culture, Community, Events, Free!, Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Mark your calendar: Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival to take place May 7-13

Posted on February 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

If your were wondering when the second annual Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival will take place this year, we know the dates. According to a news release, the same organizations who put on the first Festival have joined forces once again. The Apollo Theater, Harlem Stage and Jazzmobile will present a series of concerts and events, May 7-13, 2012, to celebrate the rich legacy of jazz in the uptown community.

The Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival plans to bring both established and emerging artists to Harlem venues and will pay tribute to Club Harlem, Clark Monroe’s Uptown House, Havana San Juan Club, Small’s Paradise, Minton’s Playhouse, Showman’s Café, Park Palace, Lenox Lounge and the Apollo Theater.

In addition to concerts at jazz shrines, other Festival events will take place at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Columbia University and a variety of locations throughout the Harlem area. So mark your calendars to May 7-13!

Tickets for many of the Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival events are available now. For tickets and more information on the Festival and its partners, visit the Harlem Jazz Shrines’ website at www.Harlemjazzshrines.org.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, Events, Harlem, jazz, music

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See High Notes, Blue Notes and Honky Tonk Art Exhibition at Aloft Harlem

Posted on February 21, 2012 | 2 comments


The Aloft Harlem Hotel features an exhibition of a solo artist each month and that practice continues this month with Charly Palmer’s High Notes, Blue Notes and Honky Tonk Exhibition on view at the Aloft Harlem from February 16-March 14, 2012.

The exhibition features 15 medium-sized paintings of seminal figures who have shaped music history and have inspired the artist, Charly Palmer.

Palmer is known for his interpretation of some of the most respected music icons of our time celebrating the marriage between music and visual art, and the influence both have on each other. Palmer has been the subject of more than twenty solo exhibitions and has been included in numerous group exhibitions in galleries across the United States.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, history

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Attend the Harlem Fine Arts Show

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Don’t forget the Harlem Fine Arts Show is taking place this coming weekend, February 10-12th, 2012, at Riverside Church at 120th Street. There is still plenty of time to purchase tickets. Go to www.hfas.org to order online or call 914-450-4269!

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem’s LeRone Wilson art opening happening at the Rush Gallery

Posted on February 6, 2012 | Leave a comment


Remember a while back we told you about sculptor and Harlem resident LeRone Wilson winning top honors at Miami’s Art Basel? He won the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. Now there is an opportunity to see our fellow Harlemites’ art work this coming Thursday, February 9th. That’s when the art opening for LeRone Wilson is happening at the Rush Arts Gallery. You know? That’s the gallery that the Simmon’s brothers own and operate, i.e. Danny and Russell Simmons. Nice!

The LeRone Wilson show opens on Feb. 9th and will be on exhibit through March 16. It is free to attend! If you want to check out Wilson’s art opening, below are the details! See you there!

Who: Harlem’s LeRone Wilson at the Rush Arts Gallery.
When: Thursday, Feb. 9 from 6-9 pm
Where: Rush Arts Gallery, located at 526 W. 26th St., Suite 311.
How: For the opening date rsvp to newyork@sapphireart.com as soon as possible.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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‘Crossing Lines’ exhibition opens at the Heath Gallery in Harlem

Posted on February 4, 2012 | Leave a comment


Head on down to the Heath Gallery in Harlem this month! Tonight is the opening reception of “Crossing Lines”, an exhibition featuring the work of Michael Daily, Jr. and Gilbert Gandia. Daily Jr. and Gandia are both painters and multi-instrument musicians. They collaborate on both music and visual art projects.

“Crossing Lines” opens today, February 4th and runs through Saturday, March 3rd. The February 4th opening reception is from 7-11 pm. The Heath Gallery is located at 24 West 120th Street directly facing Marcus Garvey Park.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, Events, Harlem

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