Category Archives: celebrities

Red Rooster Harlem offering three takes on the hot dog in celebration of Fourth of July

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Happy Fourth of July Harlem! In celebration of America’s birthday, Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster Harlem, is offering three takes on the all-American hot dog. They are:

  • HotDogThe Midsummer ($7) with shrimp salad, chili sauce and crispy onions
  • The Banh Dog ($5) with sriracha mayo, cucumber, carrots and cilantro.
  • The Mac ($5) with “Rooster cheese sauce,” jerk bacon beans, cornbread crumble and pickles.

If you’re craving a hot dog, head on over to Red Rooster Harlem at 310 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027. The dogs will be available at the restaurant and for take-out from 11:30 am – 10:30 pm from 7/4-7/5, and from 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm on 7/6-7/8!

Actor James Gandolfini’s funeral service to be held in Harlem at St. John the Divine

Several online news organizations are reporting that James Gandolfini’s funeral service will be held at St. John the Divine, one of the world’s largest cathedrals located in West Harlem. HBO announced it as well. Below is the official statement:

“We can confirm, on behalf of the Gandolfini Family, that the funeral service for James Gandolfini will be held Thursday, June 27th. The service will be held at 10:00 AM at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan.” Actor James Gandolfini at the Regency Hotel in New York.

Sylvia’s Restaurant from Harlem to be on ABC’s The View today

Harlemites, listen up! Don’t forget to watch ABC’s “The View” today, Wednesday May 22nd at 11:00 am. The entire staff of Harlem’s famous Sylvia’s Restaurant will be on, along with the Woods Family. Hopefully, our former Harlem Gal and co-host of The View Sherri Shepherd will be leading this interview.

And congrats to our Sylvia’s on their big TV interview on The View!
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Yankee baseball player makes Harlem his home, Ichiro Suzuki catches 111 Central Park North

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Several news outlets are reporting that Ichiro Suzuki, an outfielder for the Yankees, hit a home run in the rental market by renting an apartment at 111 Central Park North in Harlem. According to SportsGrid.com, Suzuki “is on the cutting edge [by moving to Harlem]. Everyone in New York knows that Harlem is the new Williamsburg.”

8571977Curbed.com, The Real Deal and Business Insider all say that Suzuki is paying $23,500 a month for his new swanky pad that overlooks Central Park, not to mention he cut time off his commuting. Harlem is much closer to Yankee Stadium. The Yankee baseball player was living on the Upper Eastside prior to moving to Harlem.

The best part of this story is that the Japanese-born professional baseball player reportedly beat out Derek Jeter and A-Rod, who were considering buying the same place for a cool $9 million. Ahh, ya gotta love competition on and off the field!

Mark your calendar: Harlem Earth Day activities begin April 3

Harlem Park to Park (HP2P) released information yesterday (March 19) about their second annual Harlem Earth Day initiative, which begins April 3rd until April 21st. HP2P has lined up free, fun filled activities for the whole family in Morningside Park (April 7th) and Marcus Garvey Park (April 21st); and panel discussions including celebrity chefs, authors and activists every Wednesday evening at MIST Harlem on April 3rd, 10th and 17th! The initiative is sponsored by Con Edison, Land Yoga, MIST Harlem, Friends of Morningside Park, and Marcus Garvey Park Alliance.

Below is an outline of the program and participants. See you at Harlem Earth Day activities!
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Harlem loses one of its celebrities for now, The View’s Sherri Shepherd moves across the Hudson

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A HarlemGal reader recently left a comment saying Sherri Shepherd, comedienne, actress, and television personality of ABC’s The View, is not residing in Harlem anymore. My reaction was WHAT! I just saw her online mentioning she’s hanging at the Corner Social in Harlem. So I followed up with the lovely and funny Mrs. Shepherd-Sally to see what’s up.

Shepherd confirmed via direct message on Twitter that she and her family (Lamar and Jeffrey) moved to New Jersey three months ago. But before I explain why Shepherd had to move plan-d-book-mockup400from Harlem, let me quickly point out that Shepherd unequivocally stated that she and her husband Lamar love Harlem and find it to be “a great community and plan to return in a couple of years.” They had an unexpected situation arise and had to react.

I believe Sherri Shepherd and her family will return in the near future to live full-time in Harlem. Why? As an influential celebrity, she could have easily avoided my request.  Shepherd responded in a timely manner and took the time to explain what happened. She was crystal clear in her communication. In my view, this is an example of a Harlemite who deeply cares about the community she lived in and still loves by personally taking the time to communicate what happened. Why even bother explaining to a Harlem blogger? But Sherri did.

As to what happened that caused Sherri, her son and her husband to depart Harlem, it’s a typical New York situation. Shepherd had been renting a beautiful Sherri_Shepherd_Lamar_Sally_s_Wedding_Pics_Harlem brownstone for almost three years. Her landlord gave notice that they planned to move back into the property and gave Shepherd 30 days notice. Shepherd and her husband looked at other places in Harlem because they wanted to stay, but given the time constraints they did not find a place they wanted within their budget so they moved to New Jersey for the time being. That’s it folks! That’s what happened and it happens to most New Yorker’s at one time or another.

Shepherd maybe living in NJ for now, but she has been taking the time to return to Harlem weekly. She visits the Corner Social on Lenox Avenue and 126th Street once a week and she visits Elsie’s Caribbean Cafe twice a month. Her heart is still in Harlem.

Let’s wish Sherri Shepherd and her family all the best with this change and pray for a speedy return back to Harlem. Amen!

Attend Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem, an event to help stop hunger

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According to a news release by Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center (BHCCC), there is an estimated 1.4 million New York City residents who are food insecure and rely on the city’s network of emergency food organizations. BHCCC hopes to VanKline223raise $20,000 through their second annual Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem Celebrity Food Tasting and Silent Auction. Funds raised will help the organization keep pace with an increasing demand for emergency food services driven by food insecurity. Guiltless Gourmet for A Healthy Harlem takes place Friday, March 22 at Harlem’s Gran Piatto d’Oro on Fifth Avenue and brings together the celebrity chef triumvirate of Melba’s Melba Wilson (Food Networks’ former Fat Chef), Kimberly Van Kline of Passion for Palate Catering and Ronaldo Calle of Gran Piatto d’Oro.

Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem will open with a VIP Reception/Chef Rolando2_smallerMeet and Greet followed by Food Tasting and Silent Auction. Guests will sample a range of celebrity chef gourmet delights from appetizers to main dishes and bid on auction items from jewelry to vacations with starting bids as low as $50. Two-tiered priced Guiltless Gourmet tickets are $65.00 for Food Tasting and Auction. The $75.00 tickets include admission to the Guiltless Gourmet VIP event. Tickets can be purchased at God’s Answer Bookstore and BHCCC offices co-located at Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. BHCCC is the social services arm of Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. For more information visit www.bethharkccc.org.

Neil Patrick Harris tells online world he wants to purchase a Harlem brownstone

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Neil Patrick Harris, actor, singer and currently a Harlem condo owner, is looking to buy a brownstone in Harlem. How do I know this? Neil Patrick Harris said it on Twitter yesterday tweeting “he’s looking to buy a brownstone in Harlem. Figure someone on Twitter might want to sell. Any takers?”

I’m sure there might be a few takers. He could also ask Marcus Samuelsson for some pointers. He just scored a Harlem brownstone.

But why doesn’t Mr. Harris just go to StreetEasy.com? I see several Harlem brownstones there listed for $1.5 million to $3 million, which should be no problem for Neil Patrick Harris. He’s been making the big bucks since he was a child TV actor.

Hope this little blog write-up helps with your search. And by the way Neil, we are from the same state, i.e. New Mexico! Good luck with your search! I hope you find the Harlem brownstone of your dreams!

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Harlem’s Marcus Samuelsson upgrades, buys Harlem townhouse on West 120th Street

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According to Curbed.com, Celebrity Chef and Harlemite Marcus Samuelsson and Maya, his gorgeous wife, have some new digs in Harlem. They’re moving on up as 3494879-6the saying goes from West 118th Street to West 120th Street. The socialite couple have purchased a townhouse at 30 West 120th Street for the asking price of $2.895 million. Curbed reports that the deed hit public record yesterday, Feb. 8 and the sale closed in late January. The 4,650-square-foot Harlem townhouse includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a garden, and a second entrance that allows the garden level to be a separate apartment.

Curbed takes a jab at the kitchen shown in the listing pics saying “it looks little smaller than we’d expect for a professional chef.” Have any of these folks been in his prior home? Some of us have when the Samuelsson’s hosted the Horn of Africa fundraiser. The kitchen in the new Harlem townhouse is twice is big as what they had in the old Harlem apartment on 118th Street. Not sure what Curbed is basing their comments on, but the new kitchen in the townhouse is perfect for a celebrity chef.

Anyhow congrats to Marcus and Maya on their new Harlem home. It’s crystal clear from the recent home purchase that they plan to stay in Harlem for the long-term! Good for them!

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Alicia Keys recently played at Ginny’s Supper Club in Harlem. Read a full review of how the night unfolded by HelloBeautiful, who were there for the entire evening.