It’s the weekend in Harlem! A lot is happening starting tonight with Uptown Fridays at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Read here for more information.
Then on Saturday (Aug 25), Corner Social on Lenox Ave and 126th is hosting a special pre-fix brunch from noon to 6 pm with live music and free cocktails from noon to 1 pm.
And on Sunday (Aug 26), its time to let loose by dancing the afternoon away at Sundae Sermon in Morningside Park.
Have a great weekend Harlem!
Posted in art and culture, Bars, business, Corner Social, drinks, entertainment, Events, food, Free!, Harlem, kids, Lenox Avenue, Morningside Park, music, Studio Museum Harlem
Tagged Corner Social, free cocktails, Harlem, lenox ave, morningside park, Studio Museum in Harlem, Sundae Sermon, The Studio Museum Harlem, travel
According to The New York Post this morning (Aug 20), the owners of the Harlem gas station on 110th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd have been busy fighting off the City of New York from taking over their property.
The article states that Carmie Elmore and a partner took over the gas station in 1981 when Harlem was seedy. Now that Harlem is hot and has been on an upward trajectory for a while, the city apparently owned it at one time and wants its gas station back. Each entity is heading to Manhattan Supreme Court to make its point.
When I first moved to Harlem and was looking at apartments to buy, I remember either my broker or another local telling me this farfetched, ridiculous statement about this corner…get ready for this, which was that it was being eyed by the Donald Trump himself. Did anyone else get fed this line when buying an apartment in South Harlem? I recall someone mentioning that Donald Trump was interested in the Harlem gas station because he wants to own property bookends on the westside of Central Park–one property already exists at Columbus Circle.
Crazy stuff huh? But now that I am reading this article, it makes me wonder what the City is really up to? If Mr. Elmore and his business partner own the gas station and they don’t want to sell it, shouldn’t that be the end of the discussion? Punto! What do you think?
Posted in 110th Street, business, commercial real estate, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 10026, 2040 Frederick Douglass Blvd.', Carmie Elmore, Cars, City of New York, commercial real estate, Donald Trump, gas station, Harlem, NY Post, south harlem, travel, Trump Properties
Another Harlem dining establishment is celebrating its first anniversary! Cedric French Bistro and Bar is hitting their one year mark and they are inviting everyone over to celebrate with a champagne brunch tomorrow, August 18 from noon to 6 pm. Head on over, they are offering free mimosa’s for those that dine there. And congrats to Cedric French Bistro on reaching this milestone!
A little pajarito tells HarlemGal Inc that the Johnny Rockets we blogged about back in October is aiming to open in the next week or so. That’s if they pass inspection and can get their gas turned on. Whether its next week or not, they’re prepared to open in the immediate future in the East River Plaza, which is located at the end of East 116th Street. Stay tuned!
Posted in 116th Street, business, food, Harlem, kids, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants
Tagged 10029, 505 East 116th Street, East River Plaza, Harlem, Johnny Rockets, travel
After being gone from Harlem a few days and returning to all the depressing reports about several businesses closing, I had to seek out new and inspiring information to blog about. I didn’t have to go far thanks to Harlem readers filling my inbox. I came across information sent in-and oh so cute-about Cabbages & Kings. You’re probably asking, what is that? Hint: Harlem mom’s may want to listen up!
Cabbages & Kings is an online kids clothing store that was recently started by Alexandra Gizela, a Harlem resident, mom, and a native New Yorker. Cabbages & Kings offers “multi-functional, design-conscious accessory line for kids, with their current collection comprised of scarves and leg warmers.” When I checked out their website, I immediately fell in love with the turquoise leg warmers for infants and then I had to learn more about this Harlem mommy/entrepreneur. So I presented a few questions to fellow Harlem Gal Alex Gizela and here is what she had to say.
HG: How long have you lived in Harlem?
AG: I am from New York City originally. I grew up on the Upper Eastside, lived in Chelsea and am now I have made Harlem my home. I have been in Harlem for close to 5 years.
HG: What’s your favorite thing to do in Harlem with your child?
AG: I love going with Luella to Morningside Park! Luella’s favorite part of this Harlem park is the pond where the turtles sun bath.
HG: Do you have plans to sell your product locally at a store in Harlem?
AG: Yes, right now I am online only. However, I am definitely looking to sell in specialty boutiques come September. There are not many boutiques in Harlem, however I am thinking of targeting places such as Swing, Aysa Boutique, You Me N’ Dupri, maybe Grandma’s Place-even though they mostly offer toys. Who knows? Maybe they [Grandma’s Place] will introduce some accessories!
HG: Aside from the leggings and scarves, do you plan to expand beyond those products?
AG: For now, I am focusing on accessories, but there are some additional items that are brewing for Fall/Winter 2013.
HG: And why should Harlemites buy your product?
AG: Because Harlemites are cool and are ahead of the game…mirroring Cabbages & Kings.
To learn more about Alexandra and her Cabbages & Kings, check out her website!
Posted in business, Community, fashion, Harlem, kids, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping
Tagged Alexandra Gizela, Cabbages & Kings, children's clothing, clothing, Harlem, shopping, travel
Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar in Harlem is experiencing some changes, but don’t worry. These changes are positive for everyone involved, especially the consumer. Lido Harlem, located at 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., exclusively tells HarlemGal Inc. that British-born, celeb following caterer, Serena Bass has been hired by the Harlem eatery to redevelop their menu. This decision to hire Bass to redevelop Lido’s menu is right out of the oven practically. Bass will start working with the Lido team effective immediately! In her bio, it reads: Bass’ most recent venture is at Lido Harlem where she is taking the popular neighborhood restaurant to a new level. So let’s all pay attention to the menu at Lido. I am confident it will have that similar ingredient: quality food.
These changes are happening at Lido due to initial Chef Stephen Putnam giving notice last week to the management team that he was departing the Harlem dining place to start his own restaurant in Harlem, along with his wife Dera. Putnam will not comment on the exact location of his Harlem restaurant or the starting date because he is in the midst of negotiations. However, Putnam does say that he plans on serving cuisine at his new place that garnered him a 26 out of 30 rating from Zagat while at Lido.
And for those of us who like dining at Lido Harlem, like I do, the service, ambiance and quality of food will remain the same, according to its management team. Lido will continue to provide the same level of service it has been consistently offering since it opened about a year and a half ago. And be on the look out for Serena Bass in Harlem. Just so you know, her clients include Sarah Jessica Parker and Oscar de la Renta.
Posted in 116th Street, Bars, business, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants
Tagged 10026, 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., Chef Stephen Putnam, dining out, Harlem, Lido Harlem, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, neighborhood restaurant, New York City dining, restaurant row, sarah jessica parker, Serena Bass, travel
Time Out New York has narrowed the list to ten on the best places to purchase meat in New York City and Harlem Shambles made the list. TONY said they named Harlem Shambles as one of the best NYC butcher shops for barbecuing because “all the meat at this shop is humanely raised and sourced from three farms in the Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley. [Also] the butchers are resourceful, transforming whole carcasses into just about any cut you might want…”
Congrats to Harlem Shambles! Check it out for your barbecuing or everyday meal needs. They are located 2141 Frederick Douglass Blvd. between 115th and 116th Street. Their phone number is 1 (646) 476-4650.
Posted in 116th Street, business, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Shambles, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping
Tagged 116th Street, 2141 Frederick Douglass Blvd., butcher shops, carcasses, finger lakes, Food, grocery shopping, Harlem, Harlem Shambles, Photo by HarlemGal, shambles, shopping, Time Out New York, TONY, travel, vacation
The ladies from ABC’s The View will be in the kitchen soon with Harlem’s Melba Wilson, the owner of Melba’s Restaurant on 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd! On July 24, Melba returns to the morning talk show where she “will cook it up” with the ladies on The View. Way to go Melba! Details are below!
Posted in baking, business, drinks, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants
Tagged 10026, ABC, Entertainment, Food, Harlem, hollywood, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, restaurants, The View, travel
Harlem’s first hotel in a half century has been recognized for its service. Aloft Harlem, located at 2296 Frederick Douglass Blvd. between 123rd and 124th Street, recently announced that it was awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. This accolade is given to establishments that consistently and credibly achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, which recognizes businesses worldwide and is one of the largest travel sites on the internet.
Aloft Harlem has been open since December 2009 with the  majority of the hotel’s employees from Harlem and already its performance is reaching the top percentile in the industry. The prestigious award only rewards about 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor.
Let’s wish our Aloft Harlem a big congratulations and may many more accolades come their way in years to come! Cheers!
Posted in Aloft Harlem Hotel, business, Community, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 10027, 2295 Frederick Douglass Blvd., Aloft Harlem, Aloft Hotel, Aloft Hotel Harlem, certificate of excellence, Harlem, hospitality, hotel awards, tourism, transportation, travel, traveler reviews, TripAdvisor, vacation
It’s a national holiday this coming Saturday, July 14 or its Independence Day all over again! Well, not exactly here in the U.S., but in France it is. It’s Bastille Day this coming Saturday and Cedric French Bistro and Bar, located at 185 St. Nicholas Avenue (at the corner of 119th Street) is celebrating the French holiday with a Brunch Party right here in Harlem. The festivities start at 11 am and Cedric’s is taking reservations for this soiree. See all the details below!
Posted in Bars, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, drinks, Events, food, Harlem, restaurants
Tagged 10026, 185 St. Nicholas Ave, Bastille Day, brunch party, Cedric, Cedric Bistro, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, dining out, eating out, french bistro, french holiday, Harlem, Le Bilboquet, Le Bilboquet's, new restaurants, Phillip Delgrange, restaurants, travel, vacation
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