Category Archives: Community

Harlem’s LeRone Wilson art opening happening at the Rush Gallery


Remember a while back we told you about sculptor and Harlem resident LeRone Wilson winning top honors at Miami’s Art Basel? He won the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. Now there is an opportunity to see our fellow Harlemites’ art work this coming Thursday, February 9th. That’s when the art opening for LeRone Wilson is happening at the Rush Arts Gallery. You know? That’s the gallery that the Simmon’s brothers own and operate, i.e. Danny and Russell Simmons. Nice!

The LeRone Wilson show opens on Feb. 9th and will be on exhibit through March 16. It is free to attend! If you want to check out Wilson’s art opening, below are the details! See you there!

Who: Harlem’s LeRone Wilson at the Rush Arts Gallery.
When: Thursday, Feb. 9 from 6-9 pm
Where: Rush Arts Gallery, located at 526 W. 26th St., Suite 311.
How: For the opening date rsvp to newyork@sapphireart.com as soon as possible.

‘Crossing Lines’ exhibition opens at the Heath Gallery in Harlem


Head on down to the Heath Gallery in Harlem this month! Tonight is the opening reception of “Crossing Lines”, an exhibition featuring the work of Michael Daily, Jr. and Gilbert Gandia. Daily Jr. and Gandia are both painters and multi-instrument musicians. They collaborate on both music and visual art projects.

“Crossing Lines” opens today, February 4th and runs through Saturday, March 3rd. The February 4th opening reception is from 7-11 pm. The Heath Gallery is located at 24 West 120th Street directly facing Marcus Garvey Park.

See ‘125 Franco’s Blvd’ Exhibition in Harlem


Head on over to the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building in Harlem this coming weekend to see “125 Franco’s Blvd.” “125 Franco’s Blvd.” is an exhibition of Franco The Great’s timeless artwork. The exhibition is from 4-6:00 PM February 10-11th and there will be artwork for sale. The details are below, along with a brief description on Franco The Great.

Where: Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building
163 west 1125th Street, 2nd Floor
Harlem, NY 10027

Date: Friday and Saturday, February 10-11, 2012

Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Who is Franco The Great:
Over a period of 25 plus years, Franco has changed the image of Harlem by painting the security gates of storefronts on 125th Street. His work in Harlem has brought him world renown; below are some excerpts from the many news articles from around the world, written to explain the work and origin of this great artist.

The name Franco the Great came about as a result of his talent in the field of magic. Franco became so proficient in his magic skills that his teachers and peers encouraged Franco to show and teach his magic. He gained his confidence in school day by day as he connected with other people and gained new friends.

Amtrak publication makes major faux pas with Harlem, but calls it cool and hip

While Gothamist was quick to point out how Amtrak’s external publication titled Arrive called Harlem a borough, which is a poor journalistic and potentially costly PR mistake, I’d like to point out and focus on how Arrive called Harlem “cool” and “hip.” The article says “New Yorkers are taking notice” of Harlem and “if you blink your eye, something changes.” Yes, this transportation company clearly only sees New York City and it’s sub-sections as a bunch of boroughs. Given the ignorance, it could have been worse. But lets focus on what they really got right, which is featuring our beautiful community and local businesses, talking to good spokespeople about Harlem, and ultimately using the best verbs to describe us, which…hey, we have always known, is being a place that is “hip and cool!” Thank you Amtrak!

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Find Harlem blogs mentioned in Time Out New York and Studio Museum in Harlem


A few weeks ago, The Morningsider blogged about some of its favorite Harlem blogs it follows. Now Time Out New York and The Studio Museum in Harlem have followed suit.

In their New York Neighborhood section on Harlem, the online magazine recommends five Harlem blogs to read as a source of information about Harlem. And The Studio Museum in Harlem mentions in their blog the “Harlem-centric blogs” they are following.

Check out the complete Time Out New York-Harlem blog list here and The Studio Museum blog list right here.

Harlem’s restaurant row, Frederick Douglass Blvd., has its own map and alliance group

It’s official…again! Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem from 110th to 125th Street, also known as restaurant row, has its very own map, according to The New York Daily News. And the folks behind the map is an alliance group called Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA). Check out the map below. It mentions all existing businesses from 110th to 124th Street. The map does not include up and coming places on FDB, such as the Harlem Food Bar or Marcos Leatherlab, the cobbler store.

Lia San Filippo, co-owner of 5 and Diamond Harlem restaurant and co-president of the recently formed FDBA, tells the Daily News “the map was created to help people know that Harlem is here and helps customers find us more easily.” Amen Lia!

Back in 2008, I wrote a blog posting asking if FDB is turning into Harlem’s restaurant row? Looks like we have our answer not only in a map but in the form of an alliance group!

Fat Chef premieres January 26 featuring Harlem’s own, Melba of Melba’s Restaurant

Thursday, January 26 is a big day for Harlem’s own, Melba of Melba’s Restaurant located on the corner of 114th Street and FDB in Harlem. First, Melba will be on The View, which starts at 10 a.m. on Channel 7. Then later in the evening, Melba will be appearing on the Food Networks’ Fat Chef starting at 10 p.m. on Channel 50 for Time Warner subscribers. Fat Chef will be showing every Thursday for the next couple of weeks.

Let’s all turn out and support Melba by watching her at 10 a.m on ABC’s The View. Then 12 hours later at 10 p.m. on Fat Chef.

Catch you on the tube Melba!

You’re invited to a Harlem brunch with the Divas of Making our People Healthier

The ladies of Divas, MPH, a non profit whose goal is to help improve the health and wellness of women, their families, and their communities, would like to invite all of you HarlemGals for brunch this Saturday, January 28th at Londel’s Supper Club. Divas, MPH is holding its second annual New Year, New You women’s empowerment brunch in Harlem. This year’s brunch, which starts at noon, is centered around the non profits’ 2012 theme, “Be more. Do more. Live more.”

The Divas, MPH Harlem brunch will feature a scrumptious buffet with a menu of traditional, savory breakfast items including homestyle eggs, beef sausage, and homefries; as well as lunch favorites including a southern-style fried whiting and fresh garden salad. Guests will also enjoy complimentary mimosas, special guests favors, guided goal setting activities, and a dynamic keynote address from psychiatrist, and wellness coach, Dr. Janet Taylor.

To hang with the Divas, MPH in Harlem, click here to purchase tickets for this event happening this coming Saturday, Jan 28th!

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Harlem Holistic Center hosting Skechers’ event January 28

There is a Skechers event happening in Harlem! If you have ever wanted to demo Skechers shoes while working out, head on over to Harlem Holistic Center, located at 115 West 128th Street, this coming Saturday, January 28th. They will be hosting an opportunity to demo Skechers’ new GoRun shoes while taking a Boot Camp class with one of Harlem Holistic Center’s trainer!  After the demo, there will be goody bags, snacks, and a raffle for a free pair of Skechers’ shoes.  To attend the event, the cost is $15.

Harlem Holistic Center is also offering specials now through the end of January, such as $40 for 1 month unlimited yoga, $40 for 1 month unlimited kickboxing, $30 for 1 month Yin/Yang Boot Camp.

To learn more about this event or the specials at Harlem Holistic Center, call 646-477-1421.

Melba’s Restaurant located in Harlem to be on ABC’s The View this week


I just read on Facebook that the fabulous woman behind Melba’s Restaurant, i.e. Melba, will be on The View this coming Thursday, January 26 at 11 AM. That is so awesome! I think the show should be called, that day, the HarlemGal’s show! Why? Two awesome ladies, who reside in Harlem, will be sitting side by side, Sherri Shepard and Melba! Can’t wait to watch The View this Thursday!