Category Archives: art and culture

My Image Studios Harlem officially opens November 28, view upcoming events

Posted on November 26, 2012 | Leave a comment


The New York Times reports today (Nov 26) that MIST Harlem, aka My Image Studios, located at 40 West 116th Street will open Wednesday, November 28. MIST Harlem is the “20,000 sq. ft. cultural entertainment center that features a 130-seat restaurant (Harvist) and three performance spaces presenting the best in film, live music, spoken word, comedy and more-performed by top established and emerging black & Latino artists from around the world.” Here’s an immediate list of upcoming events , which starts tomorrow, November 27. Take a look .

11/27 Middle of Nowhere Film Event
Special private screening and Q & A for the NY Women in Film and Television of Sundance Award winning director Ava DuVernay film, Middle of Nowhere.

11/28 Otelo Film Premiere
Otelo Burning directed by Sara Blecher, an award-winning documentary director and producer. Somewhere between City of God and Blue Crush, the film tells the story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. Filmed in Zulu with English subtitles, the film also includes music from South African Hip Hop artist Reason.
http://www.charged.fm/userevent/item/637/otelo-burning-premiere-event-at-mist-harlem

11/29 Elza Film Premiere
Elza, by Mariette Monpierre, is the first narrative feature film by a female filmmaker from Guadeloupe, the West Indies. It tells the universal story of a family in turmoil. Filmed in French with English subtitles, the film also includes music from French neo-folk-soul artistStévy Mahy.
http://www.charged.fm/userevent/item/642/elza-film-premiere–november-29-at-mist-harlem

12/3 Vaughn Harper Toy Drive and Benefit Concert
Celebrity toy drive and jazz concert fundraiser for Harlem Downing, a foster care agency. It is set for Monday, December 3. It is being organized by WBLS 107.5 radio personality Vaughn Harper.

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Posted in 116th Street, art and culture, business, education, Events, film, food, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Spend the holiday season at Harlem Wine Gallery

Posted on November 14, 2012 | 2 comments

Harlem Wine Gallery, the Hamilton Heights boutique wine shop and art gallery, released their holiday schedule yesterday (Nov 13) through a news release. They have a series of activities planned for everyone to enjoy during the holiday season. Activities include:

Monday, Nov 19 – Wednesday, Nov 23 – New York Cares Clothing/Accessories Drive – Harlem Wine Gallery will accept donations of gently used clothing and accessories to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy via New York Cares. Donations may be dropped off during business hours.

Saturday, Nov 24 – Small Business Saturday powered by American Express – shop at Harlem Wine Gallery to support and celebrate small businesses across the country. Harlem Wine Gallery will offer all American Express cardholders: 1 free bottle with a purchase of 3 or more for the day. The free bottle will have a minimum value of $10.99.

Top Five Best Selling Wines – Celebrate the holiday season with one or more of these selections by owner and president of Harlem Wine Gallery, Ken Forte.

Harlem Wine Gallery
752A St. Nicholas Avenue at 148th Street
New York, NY 10031
212-281-9463

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Posted in art and culture, business, Community, Events, Harlem, shopping, spending

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Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater to travel back in time

Posted on November 13, 2012 | 1 comment

According to The New York Times, our beloved Apollo Theater plans to take a trip back in time or better yet, is going back to its core.  The Apollo Theater plans to transform our famous venue on 125th Street “into an old-fashioned nightclub for a new revue evoking the Harlem music clubs of the 1930s and 1940s”

In its heyday, the Apollo Theater was a venue that featured a “variety programs, such as big bands, singers, dancers, female impersonators, acrobats and comedians.” The Apollo aims to recapture that era and offer it up to consumers who are interested in experiencing this particular part of the Apollo’s history.  The article states “seats will be removed from the orchestra level and the audience will sit at cafe tables, tended by waiters and waitresses.”

Go back in time in Harlem at the Apollo Theater in February 2013 with three nights of shows: Feb. 18, Feb. 22 and Feb 23. Tickets go on sale on Nov. 19.

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

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A look back in photos at this year’s East Harlem Harvest Festival

Posted on November 1, 2012 | Leave a comment
East Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest Festival
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East Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest Festival
East Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest Festival

On October 27, the business community of East Harlem organized their first Harlem Harvest Festival. I attended and had a fabulous time from drinking SugarHill Beer for FREE (Yum), to watching to 212Green perform and walking up and down La Marqueta trying out the different food treats. It was a wonderful time at the East Harlem Harvest Festival and glad to hear the organizers plan on doing this a couple of times a year! Given that, I definitely plan to head back!

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Posted in 116th Street, art and culture, business, Community, entertainment, Events, food, Free!, Harlem, kids, music, restaurants, shopping, spending

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Attend the Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail October 28 at Harlem Meer

Posted on October 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Don’t forget that this coming Sunday (October 28th) is the annual Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail at Harlem Meer, the entrance is located at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue or Fifth Avenue and 110th Street. Bring your little pumpkin, aka kid/child, in their favorite Halloween costume and a carved pumpkin for the sail. The event starts at 4 pm with the Pumpkin Sail starting as the sun sets. It’s a fun time. I enjoy seeing all the kiddos in their adorable costumes.

To learn more about the Pumpkin Sail in terms of weight and size, go here. And go here to view past posts on the annual Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail.

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Posted in 110th Street, art and culture, Community, Events, Free!, Harlem, kids, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC

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Reminder: East Harlem Harvest Festival October 27 from noon to 6 pm

Posted on October 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

It’s Thursday and I am already thinking about the weekend. I am planning on heading on over to the eastside of Harlem, 116th Street and Park Avenue, for its first Harlem Harvest Festival. The event celebrates East Harlem’s restaurants, bakeries and vendors of La Marqueta public market.

Several restaurants will be participating where one can purchase small bites from Agua Fresca, Kiosk, Hot Bread Kitchen, Soul Fixins’, Creole Restaurant and Music Supper Club, Evelyn’s Kitchen, Luca Bosco, Corbin Hill Farm, Spaha Cafe, Tanto Sabor, El Kallejon Botanas Bar, East Harlem Cafe, Lloyd’s Carrot Cake, Coco Le Vu and Nafi’s Hot Pepper Condiments.

There will be Beer Flights available in the Beer Garden at Urban Garden Center and there will be a Make Your Own Brew Workshop hosted by Celeste Beatty, the founder of Sugar Hill Beer of the Harlem Brewing Company. The Children’s Zone at Urban Garden Center will have a cooking demo by Culinaria Festival, face painting, pumpkin carving and the Cutie Patooties workshop. Dimitri Gatanas of Urban Garden Center will be hosting garden related workshops like How to Build Your Own Terrarium and “Plants in Suspension” Dimitri’s version of the Japanese art of Kokedama.

Hope you can join in on the fun. The event starts at noon October 27 and will end at 6 pm. So plenty of time to head on over to La Marqueta at East 116th Street and Park Avenue. See you there!

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Posted in 116th Street, art and culture, Community, entertainment, Events, food, Free!, Harlem, kids

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The Lavender Light Gospel Choir to perform at 5 and Diamond Harlem

Posted on October 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Lavender Light Gospel Choir is performing tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23rd, at 7:30 pm at 5 and Diamond Harlem. The Lavender Light Gospel Choir is a mixed choir of women and men who believe that music can heal the world! It is the world’s first and only LGBT, non-denominational gospel choir that encompasses many ethnic and spiritual backgrounds. 

The 5 and Diamond Harlem is located at 2072 Frederick Douglass Boulevard (between 112th and 113th Streets). If you’re interested in attending, it’s $75 per person, which includes 4-course dinner with champagne toast. The guest chef is Patricio D’Andrea from Florence, Italy.

Seats are limited. Please call 917-860-4444 to RSVP.

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, art and culture, entertainment, food, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Attend Manhattan Country School Farm Festival in East Harlem October 20

Posted on October 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

Every year Manhattan Country School (MCS) in East Harlem aims to bring a little bit of the Catskills to the streets and children of NYC during their annual Farm Festival. This Fall season is no different. MCS will host its annual Farm Festival for children ages 3 and up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 20. This is when parent volunteers turn East 96th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues into an urban carnival, offering family friendly entertainment including rides, games, crafts, a silent auction, raffles and live music-all for FREE! The MCS Farm Festival also offers a selection of homemade baked goods, a wide variety of delicious ethnic cuisine and fresh produce from their farm in Roxbury, NY.

Admission is free and tickets for food, games and rides will be available for purchase. In the event of rain, festivities will take place indoors.

MCS Farm Festival – FREE
Saturday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
7 East 96 Street, NY 10128 (which is where Harlem begins on the East side)
Between Fifth and Madison Avenues, Near Central Park

Subway/Bus directions
Take the #6 to 96 Street or MTA bus M1, M2, M3, M4, M96

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

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Save the Date: East Harlem Harvest Festival happening October 26-27

Posted on October 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

Central Harlem just completed its Harvest Festival. Now its time to plan for East Harlem’s Harvest Festival taking place at 116th Street and Park Avenue. I believe its the first one and organizers are making sure it lasts all weekend.

On October 26, a celebration of culture and cuisine is planned. How to make you’re own brewski is on the agenda at the Urban Garden Center and Sugar Hill Beer is involved. That will be good and those 21 years and older can participate. A Hookah Lounge will be set up thanks to Kiosk Restaurant, a delightful Moroccan restaurant in East Harlem. And for children, the East Harlem Harvest Festival will be planning a Recycling Game, pumpkin carving and a class on how to make healthy food provided by Culinaria Festival!

So no need to worry about making plans for the weekend of October 26-27. Head on over to the eastside of Harlem for their Harvest Festival. See you there.

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Posted in 116th Street, art and culture, Community, drinks, entertainment, food, Harlem, kids, music, restaurants, shopping

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One week away, Harlem Harvest Festival October 6

Posted on September 29, 2012 | 4 comments

Some of us will be checking out the Common Ground Festival today in Morningside Park, but then a week later its time to head over to the Harlem Harvest Festival on October 6, which I believe its in its third or fourth year. The Festival starts at 116th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. See details below and read last year’s blog post on the Harlem Harvest Festival.

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Posted in 116th Street, art and culture, Community, entertainment, Events, food, Harlem, kids

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