Category Archives: Community

East Harlem’s Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe hosting dessert tasting event March 26

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The good folks over at Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe located in East Harlem have given us the heads up that they are having their monthly dessert tasting on Tuesday, March 26th from 5 to 7 pm. All are welcome!

At this event there will be sampling of Fresh Lemon Loaf, Carrot Cake, the Best Pumpkin Cake in the World and a New Hazelnut Cake. Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe recently added Gluten free Pumpkin Cake and a Brownie to their menu.

Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe
2248 First Avenue (Between 115th and 116th)
New York, NY 10029
Phone: 212.360.0010
Fax: 212.360.0012

Attend MillionTreesNYC Tree Care Workshop at Harlem’s Casa Frela Gallery

imageMillionTreesNYC will be giving a tree care workshop for the Harlem community on April 6th at Casa Frela Gallery, 47 West 119th Street, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

The workshop will run 2 hours and consist of two parts. The first part will be 30-40 minutes and will take place in the gallery, covering the importance of trees, tree care, and the reasons behind Million Trees NYC’s mission to plant a million more trees throughout the five boroughs. Part 2 of the workshop will be hands-on, where attendees will go outside and actively steward the two new trees on 119th Street — and beyond, time-permitting. At the end of the workshop if attendees pledge to care for a new tree in their neighborhood, Million Trees NYC will give them a free toolkit (collapsible watering bucket, trowel, weeder tool, and cultivator) and a tree care manual with step by step guide to caring for their tree.

To learn more about MillionTreesNYC, visit their website.

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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Spring Sale at Harlem’s Katrina Parris Flowers

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Harlem’s Katrina Parris Flowers has some great plans for the upcoming Spring season. Katrina Parris Flowers, located at 191 Lenox Avenue, tells HarlemGal Inc that they are not just about flower delivery, events, and weddings. They are about being a part of the Harlem community and coming up with ideas, products and services, that benefit its customers and the community. Here are a few examples-and one of those examples is a Spring Sale. Enjoy!

  • Katrina Parris Flowers is a collection point for Harlem Park-to-Park’s “Harlem Earth Day Bottle Cap Collection – Kids art project”.
  • SPRING SALE is underway. 40 percent off selected gift items and 50-70 percent off gently used event inventory and vases. Plus KPF is having an online sale with 30 percent off select designs for delivery.
  • KPF will be launching soon its LOCAL LOYALTY program, allowing customers to earn points towards free flowers with every purchase.
  • And there is a Contest Giveaway on Facebook going on right now, to win a Harlem Love, Peace & Soul T Shirt.

Stop by and visit Katrina Parris Flowers in Harlem. See details below!

Katrina Parris Flowers
191 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY, 10026 USA
212-222-7030
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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.

Tribeca Pediatrics signs lease in Harlem, former 99 cent store to become children’s medical facility

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The Commercial Observer reported last week that Tribeca Pediatrics is opening up a branch in Harlem. Tribeca Pediatrics signed a 10-year, 2,500-square-foot lease at 2111 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, which most of us know as the 99 cent store.

The reason for the upscale facility coming to Harlem? According to Douglas Elliman’s retail group team Faith Hope Consolo, who represented both the landlord, Tahl-Propp Equities, and the tenant in the transaction told National Real Estate Investor that “just as Starbucks is a marker for an emerging neighborhood, a sophisticated pediatric clinic is a sign it has arrived. This now coveted corner is transitioning from a 99 cents store to a cutting-edge medical facility for children.”

To learn more about Tribeca Pediatrics, visit their website.

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Harlem locals invest in where they live, The Grange Bar & Eatery coming to Harlem’s Hamilton Heights

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I love it when readers write in to tell us another set of Harlem locals are opening up a business right where they live, such as Harlem Tavern, Yatenga and more. Rita Royer-Henley and Roy Henley have been living in Harlem’s Hamilton Heights area for more than eight years and they’re the couple behind The Grange Bar & Eatery, which will be a farmer’s kitchen bistro and bar located right in the heart of West Harlem, Hamilton Heights– at 1635 Amsterdam Ave (Corner of 141st st) to be exact. Opening date is set for mid-April-May 2013

Guests of The Grange Bar & Eatery will be able to enjoy comfort food made in a 2350 sq ft, 75 seat setting with local produce and organic seasonal ingredients when possible, according to the Henley’s. The bar plans to provide “a mixology-driven selection of balanced cocktails.” “We want to go beyond the traditional cocktail and move away from those overly sweet and overpowering drinks. To do so, we will be incorporating in-house naturally pressed juices, herbs and bitters,” says the Henley’s. “We want to feature and support spirits from local small and artisan distilleries from all across the country.”

As for beer and wine, The Grange Bar & Eatery plans on using a 16-Draft Beer system, which is 80 percent craft beers and 20 percent traditional beers; seasonal beers included. The wine will be a balanced selection of international as well as local wines. Overall, guests should plan on “picturing themselves in a farmer’s country kitchen,” says the Henley’s. Oh, and The Grange Bar & Eatery plans on having outdoor seating, subject to City approval.

Out of all the many places in Harlem to open a business, I asked the Henley’s why Hamilton Heights? “We have been living in Hamilton Heights for a combined 8 years and have witnessed how much this beautiful section of Harlem has changed and grown especially in the last 5 years. We soon discovered out of our own need to have more places to go to that were within walking distance. We believe so much in this [part of Harlem]. “We are thrilled to make this happen and setting the standard for this portion of Amsterdam Ave that has so much potential in becoming the next restaurant row in Harlem.”

Congrats to the Henley’s on the opening of The Grange Bar & Eatery in Harlem’s Hamilton Heights. To learn more about the upcoming establishment, go to their Facebook page.

Wanna work at Harlem Shake? Yes, the real Harlem Shake

Interested in working at the real Harlem Shake in Harlem on 124th and Lenox? Here’s the lowdown. Harlem Shake will be doing their hiring through a NY Job Bank. It’s part of a NY state program. Prospective employees may contact Ms. Jai Popat at jpopat@grantassociatesinc.com for more information on job listings and details on sending job applications, starting on or around March 21st, which is coming up soon!

So there you have it. If you wanna work at Harlem Shake, you have the scoop! Good luck to those applying!

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Attend Harlem Shake Off in…Harlem March 9

A reader sent in the following information today about a Harlem Shake Off happening this Saturday, March 9 in Harlem! Details are below:

To kick off a new comedy webisode based in Harlem and to respond to all the hokey renditions of the current fad, Harlem Shake on YouTube, a “real” Harlem Shake Off is happening at Marcus Garvey Park (122nd and Madison) this Saturday, March 9th at 12 pm. Socl Expt is hosting!

If you wanna have fun and are good dancer from Harlem and the Bronx come out to this Harlem get together. FYI, the event will be videotaped!

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Read Borough President Scott Stringer’s letter on recent East Harlem tragedy

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As most of us know, an angel from God, a precious little soul, a boy, who resided in East Harlem was struck and killed recently by a truck while walking to school. It’s a complete tragedy. Now we are learning that the truck should not have even been on that block and troublesome pedestrian statistics exist for this part of Harlem, according to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer via a letter sent out today to constituents.

According to Stringer, “of the 145 pedestrian interval signals in Manhattan, which give pedestrians lead time in crossing a street before vehicles can proceed, only two are in East Harlem. Furthermore, while many schools have special reduced speed limit signs with flashing lights, no such treatment exists near P.S. 155, despite the history of deaths in the neighborhood.”

Read the full Stringer letter below. I echo what Stringer says, the way this area is managed is unacceptable! I hope the Department of Transportation listens to Stringer’s request and acts swiftly. Our children should be able to walk to school and back safely. Punto! I hope the DOT acts soon. If you agree, share this information with as many people as possible!

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