Category Archives: Community

Introducing Art In FLUX Harlem, opening night May 2

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new about our beloved Harlem community. Going through my inbox last night, I came across information that read: Art In FLUX Harlem! Never heard of it…until now . Here’s the low down.

Art In FLUX Harlem is a series of Pop-Up Art Galleries opening in Harlem this Spring.  The first FLUX Pop-Up is set to open Wednesday evening, May 2, at the corner of 118th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.  The opening is sponsored by 5 and Diamond Harlem and a tasting will be offered by the Harlem restaurant.

On the May 2 opening night, “Urban Environment Project” will be the first in a series of pop-up art galleries in Harlem produced by Art In FLUX Harlem. The project will present the art works of seven international artists: Montserrat Daubon, Ellen Hackl Fagan, Hiroshi Jashiki, Leslie Powell, Anya Roz, Tafa, and Pedro Villalta.

“Art In FLUX was started by a group of Harlem residents with a strong interest in supporting artists in Harlem and increasing awareness of the rich arts culture that runs deep in Harlem and yet is still somewhat of an underground culture.”

If you would like to attend the opening night of Art In FLUX Harlem, below are all the details!

Opening reception:  May 2 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Gallery Hours:  May 3 to 24, Tuesday-Saturday, Noon to 7pm & upon appt.
Location:  1961 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd @ 118th Street
For more information: call 917-273-4405 or email info@artinfluxharlem.com

Mother’s Day greeting card workshop with Harlem native Alton Weekes

Alton Weekes, the talented designer and Harlem native, will be holding a special  workshop…for FREE…May 6 at the Studio Museum Harlem, located at 144 West 125th Street, “offering participants the opportunity to create unique, hand-crafted greeting cards for Mother’s Day.” Weekes will offer tips and methods for designing stationery and hands-on assistance to participants of all skill levels.

If you are interested in attending this event, click here to RSVP!

You’re invited to Food & Drink Boulevard in Harlem May 10

The Frederick Douglass Blvd Alliance based in Harlem came together this past January and already they are hard at work creating events for us Harlemites to enjoy and to help others. First on their to do is the Food & Drink Boulevard event taking place on May 10. On that evening patrons can enjoy $5 drinks and appetizers at several Harlem dining establishments by purchasing tickets for $10 in advance on Eventbrite.com. And proceeds made that evening, a portion of it will be donated to The Boys and Girls Club of Harlem. See you on May 10 along Frederick Douglass Blvd!

Street Games is happening April 28 in Spanish Harlem

The 5th annual Street Games will be taking place April 28 at Thomas Jefferson Park in Spanish Harlem, which is located at 114th Street off of 1st Avenue. Street Games celebrates games from the ’60s and ’70s by introducing them to a new generation of kids. This event is FREE and open to all ages, and will feature classic activities for abilities, including:

  • Stickball
  • Pogo Sticks
  • Hula Hoops
  • Double-Dutch
  • Hippity Hop
  • Yo-Yo’s
  • Skateboarding Clinics
  • Learn to Ride Your Bike
  • Disney Zone
  • Knicks Groove Truck
  • Street Hockey
  • Sky Bounce Youth Handball Tournament – NEW!
  • Soap Box Derby – NEW!
  • Red Bulls Skills Challenge – NEW!

The event will also feature performances by the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Industrial Rhythm! And Street Games will happen rain or shine! See details below!

Street Games
Saturday, April 28, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson Park, Spanish Harlem in Manhattan
114th Street off of 1st Avenue

Pedi cabs available to Harlem residents on Earth Day

Safe, Healthy, Affordable and Reliable Energy (SHARE), in collaboration with local Harlem restaurants, churches, pastors and prominent elected officials will celebrate Harlem Earth Day, April 22, by offering free Pedi Cab rides to local residents. Pedi Cabs  will be available from 11 am to 3 pm on Frederick Douglass Blvd from 110th to 125th Street-rain or shine.

And don’t forget about Harlem Earth Day. Harlem Park to Park has organized for us our very own Harlem Earth Day on April 22nd to coincide with Global Earth Day! Harlem Earth Day will include a day of family friendly activities to promote the Earth Day mission of promoting awareness on environmental issues, including Green Energy Use, Recycling, and Clean Air. See you at Harlem Earth Day!

Support East Harlem Cafe in their 10k in 30 days campaign

Remember how I told you about 67 Orange in Harlem creating a campaign to raise money for various items in the bar? East Harlem Cafe is taking the same approach by asking the community to join in helping them raise $10,000 in 30 days. The café needs kitchen storage, supplies and food prep equipment.  In order to purchase these items, East Harlem Cafe is turning to members of the local and global community for assistance, instead of going to big banks for a loan with high interest rates to expand.

If you would like to invest in East Harlem Cafe, go here from more details.

Dream Deferred Opens April 20 at 133rd Street Arts Center in Harlem

Written and directed by the award-winning playwright Marcus Dargan, Dream Deferred puts a spotlight on racial tensions and social action, as African-American residents of an apartment building in Harlem struggle against the looming commercial dominance of a newly built condominium, just across the street. Dream Deferred is drawn from Dargan’s conversations and observations of Harlem residents. “It’s a historical document, artistically expressed to reflect the experiences of a people who may someday vanish from Harlem’s landscape without having had their final stories told. This play represents the beginning of their untimely end.”

Dream Deferred will run 13 performances from April 20-29 at the 133rd Street Arts Center located at 308 West 133rd Street in Harlem. General tickets are $20 at the door and are available at the box office one hour before curtain or by calling the box office at 347-855-7281. Advance online tickets are $18 for adults, and $15 for seniors, students, and artists at www.brownpapertickets.com.

For complete ticket and schedule information, visit www.nuafrikantheatre.org/dream-deferred.

Attend Session in Spanish Harlem on Smoke-free Housing


On April 18-just a few days before Earth Day 2012 in Harlem-the New York City Health Department and Manhattan Smoke-Free Partnership are sponsoring a session in Harlem on Smoke-Free Housing.  This is part of an education campaign on the benefits of adopting 100 percent no-smoking rules in apartment buildings. All the details are listed above!

On April 18th, we are targeting owners and managers of multifamily buildings in Upper Manhattan.

New York City Coalition Against Hunger to honor Harlem’s Marcus Samuelsson

In full disclosure, I am so happy to report that one of the organizations I have supported for many years will be honoring one of Harlem’s own and an anti hunger advocate at its Spring Into Action Annual Benefit, May 17th at the Solo Event Space. The New York City Coalition Against Hunger, led by Executive Director Joel Berg, will be honoring celebrity chef and Red Rooster Harlem owner, Marcus Samuelsson, for his commitment to help end hunger. Samuelsson, along with State Senator Liz Krueger, Kathy Goldman and Agnes Molnar of Community Food Advocates, and Rachel V. Stevens Esq. with the law firm DLA Piper, will also be recognized during NYC Coalition Against Hunger’s Spring Benefit.

I plan on attending NYCCAH’s Annual Benefit where Samuelsson will receive his award. I hope that you will join me in supporting this dedicated organization that “represents and is the voice for the more than 1,100 nonprofit soup kitchens and food pantries in New York City and the 1.5 million low-income New Yorker’s who live in households that can’t afford enough food.”  If you would like to attend the Spring Into Action Annual Benefit on May 17 from 5-8 PM, you can purchase tickets here. To learn more about NYCCAH and their mission, click here.

And congrats to our Harlem neighbor, Marcus Samuelsson on receiving this special accolade! Let’s raise our glass!

Save the Date: Harlem Earth Day is April 22

The woman power behind Harlem Park To Park and Land Yoga have created and planned a full day agenda for all of us to celebrate Earth Day right here in Harlem on April 22 at multiple locations. Activities dedicated to learning and preserving Mother Earth will be held at Central Park North, Morningside Park and Marcus Garvey Park. Check out the full agenda below and save the date of April 22.