Category Archives: business

Casting Call: Food Network Star and Chef Bobby Flay is looking for Food Entrepreneurs

Posted on October 18, 2011 | 1 comment

Listen up Harlem! This is a casting call blog post! And it is about an exciting opportunity. Bobby Flay’s Rock Shrimp Productions is  currently developing a new show for the Food Network.  The title of the show is still unnamed. However, it is going to center around Food Entrepreneurs.

Rock Shrimp Productions defines Food Entrepreneurs as individuals who left their day job and are currently in the process of opening a food store or restaurant before mid December with…no culinary experience and are taking a risk to pursue their passion of launching their own food business.  These individuals must be planning to open a brick-and-mortar space (restaurant or singular food ideas welcome) before the end of 2011.

In addition,  the Food Entrepreneurs should preferably in, but not limited to, the greater New York City area (NY, NJ, CT). Those chosen will receive culinary business coaching from a major celebrity chef and restaurateur, as well as nationwide publicity.

So if you are a Food Entrepreneur and want to rub elbows with Bobby Flay, the celebrity chef who did a Throw Down with Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem, contact Heather Briggs at hrb@embassyrow.com or learn more about the project on Facebook.

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Posted in 125th Street, 5 and Diamond Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, baking, bier international, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, Community, drinks, entertainment, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, Lenox Avenue, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo seen dining at Lido Harlem?

Posted on October 12, 2011 | 2 comments



If you walked by the corner of Frederick Douglass Blvd. and 117th Street tonight (October 12), you may have noticed Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo were dining at Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar in Harlem? Well, sort of. They were actually in character for their upcoming movie called Thanks for Sharing. The entire scene was a dining out scene at Lido Harlem. Hope they mention their location in the script!

This is such a big compliment for Lido Harlem. They haven’t even been open for a year and now they have big name movie stars filming in their restaurant. The film scouts clearly liked the design and layout of the restaurant or they would not have chosen it. When you take pictures of Lido, it is very photogenic. The place comes out vibrant in pictures.

I had a quick exchange with Mark Ruffalo as I stopped him to take a photo. I told him the food at Lido Harlem is excellent. He said, “yeah, I’ll have to tell my wife about it.” You do that Mark! There is some great dining out places in Harlem and Lido Harlem is one of them!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, drinks, entertainment, fashion, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Spend your Sunday evenings at The Supper Club in Harlem

Posted on October 11, 2011 | Leave a comment


There is a lot happening in Harlem for the month of October. So much activity is happening that it is hard to keep it straight. One event you should consider for your busy schedule is 5 and Diamond’s Supper Club. The next one is planned for October 16 and the theme will be Caribbean.

We went to the September Supper Club and…let us say…it was extremely nice and the food was outstanding! The entire menu was prepared by Chef Daryl Burnette, who happens to reside in Harlem with his wife, and there was singing performances by Gail Blache-Gill, who brought along some of her colleagues in the industry to perform as well.

That night, every item on the menu was perfectly prepared and the singing talent was out of this world wonderful. What made the evening more special was that it felt close and personal. 5 and Diamond is sized in space where everyone can see each other and the performances were up close. Sometimes when going out at dining establishments, it’s so crowded where you can’t catch a glimpse of anything. Not at the Supper Club in Harlem. The luxury is witnessing faces (some of them you might know).

Watching Chef Burnett create magic on the plate and Ms. Gill and her colleagues singing beautifully that night, which sent chills down our spine, makes me think-and say again-“there is so much talent in Harlem” its endless and this blog wants to observe it all.

So if you’re at a loss on what to do on a select Sunday night in Harlem, look no further. There’s the Supper Club at 5 and Diamond in Harlem!

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, business, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Coco Nail Salon on Frederick Douglass Blvd is open for business

Posted on October 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

I walked by Coco Nail Salon, located near the corner of 114th Street and FDB, to check if they are open and they are! They opened last night, October 10.

As for rates, I know they are a few dollars cheaper than Z Nails on 116th. Their mani/pedi is $25 during the week and $29 on the weekends. Z Nails charges $35 for mani/pedi any day of the week. However, I am not sure on service and quality with Coco. They maybe less expensive, but let’s see how they perform on quality and service. If you check out Coco Nail Salon in the days ahead, please let us know what you think of the place?

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Posted in business, Community, Frederick Douglass Blvd., personal care, restaurant row, spending

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Coco Nail Salon in Harlem displays rates

Posted on October 7, 2011 | 2 comments

The new nail salon called Coco Young wants all of us Harlemites to know what a mani/pedi will cost if you go there-based on the photo below! It appears the salon, located on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 113th and 114th Street, wants $4 more from customers if they go on a weekend! Hmm. I wonder how that is going to play out given Z Nails on 116th Street has one flat rate no matter what day you walk in. I believe Polished Fingertips up the street on FDB is the same. Harlem gals, what do you think? Will you pay more on the weekend to get your hands and feet done at this new nail salon scheduled to open soon?

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Posted in business, Community, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, health and wellness

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Meet the woman behind 125th Street Business Improvement District in Harlem

Posted on October 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

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There are plenty of exciting things happening throughout the Village of Harlem and numerous people are behind it. However, what I personally find fascinating-and what I am learning from blogging about Harlem-is that some of those individuals who are making things happen in Harlem are…women. Yup, that’s right…women! There is a boat load of women power in Harlem that are doing great things for our community. I will blog more about that later.

My immediate point is we have an opportunity to meet one of those women I am talking about tomorrow, October 6. In Mount Morris Talks, a speaker series hosted by the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association, Barbara Askins will be the guest speaker! Barbara Askins is the President and CEO of the 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID) in our neighborhood. Askins created BID in 1993 and is first and only one of its kind in the Harlem Community.

If you would like to meet this woman executive, who is making things happen in Harlem now, not later, check out Mount Morris Talks! Details are below!

Who: Mount Morris Talks to Barbara Askins!
When: Thursday, October 6, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Where: At the Harlem Branch Library Community Room, 3rd floor
9 West 124 Street, between Fifth Ave & Mount Morris Park West

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Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, education, Events, Free!, history, Lenox Avenue, real estate

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West Harlem ranks third as best place to live for retirees

Posted on October 4, 2011 | 1 comment


Did anyone see the article in The New York Daily News this past weekend on the best places to live in the Big Apple for retirees? I thought it was really interesting. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Morningside Heights, an area located in West Harlem, was ranked third out of 10 places in the City. Murray Hill was ranked first and the Lower East Side was ranked last.

The article states there are several reasons why it is a great area for retirees. Morningside Heights is “one of the easiest places to live… There is something to do every night (lectures, classical concerts, film series, etc.), and it will keep anyone young.” Amen to that. I don’t live too far from Morningside Heights. I now know where to go to stay…forever young!

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Posted in apartments, art and culture, business, commercial real estate, Community, education, Harlem, health and wellness, New York, New York City, NYC, personal care, real estate

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Mark your calendar: Harlem Harvest Festival set for October 8

Posted on September 30, 2011 | 2 comments

Save the date of October 8th! That is when the annual Harlem Harvest Festival takes place on the corner of 116th Street and St. Nicholas Ave! I went last year and had a wonderful time visiting all the street vendors, eating and watching the performances from the Dance Theater of Harlem.  It is a great way to kick off the Fall season.

Take a look at photos from last year’s Harlem Harvest Festival!

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Posted in Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, baking, business, Community, education, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, health and wellness, personal care, restaurants

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Harlem Tavern making plans to weatherize its outdoor space

Posted on September 26, 2011 | 2 comments

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We went to Harlem Tavern this past weekend. We ordered appetizers, drinks and enjoyed sitting outside. While there we wondered, what’s gonna happen to all this outdoor space once the weather changes? We asked. Harlem Tavern plans on building a marquee, a roof like shelter, projecting above the outdoor space. The marquee would have indoor heaters and the shelter would be clear where possible. Maybe on the side walls, but unlikely the roof? The plan is to build the marquee in the next few weeks. And of course, this is all dependent on approvals and costs.

So if you were wondering like we were about whether all that door space was gonna close down for the late fall and winter or stay open, the plan is to have it available! That’s going to be awesome to have winter outdoor seating at Harlem Tavern, don’t you agree?

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Posted in Bars, business, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row

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See the play SEED and in turn receive special discounts at select Harlem establishments

Posted on September 16, 2011 | Leave a comment


Harlem Park to Park  has partnered with The Classical Theater of Harlem and Hip Hop Theater Festival to give locals a wonderful night out uptown. Purchase a ticket to SEED, a play by Radha Blank and bring your receipt or ticket stub from SEED to participating Harlem Park to Park restaurants listed in the picture for brunch or dinner (or select retailers for services) and receive special discounts and free offers starting today, September 16 through October 9.To purchase tickets for SEED, visit www.seedtheplay.com.

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Posted in 125th Street, 5 and Diamond Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, Bars, business, Community, drinks, entertainment, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, Lenox Avenue, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants, spending

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