Category Archives: education

Workout under the big blue sky’s of Harlem, boot camp classes offered in Central Park North

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After the Food & Drink Boulevard event, which is happening tonight, May 10 in Harlem, we may all need to head to the gym for a workout. Or even better, we have the option to head to Central Park North for a workout in the wide open skies of New York City! Physical Equilibrium is offering two boot camp classes starting now. I believe the classes started in late April.

Boot camp class, taught by Erika Moore and who resides in Harlem, meet Tuesday’s at 6:30 am and Saturday’s at 10:30 am at the northwest corner of 110th and Central Park North.

The class prices include:
$30 for drop in
$75 for 3 classes (expire in 2 months)
$200 for 10 classes (expire in 3 months)
$300 for unlimited attendance for 1 month

Interested participants can register at Physical Equilibrium website through mind-body online.

See Changing Face of Harlem May 19 at Maysles in Harlem

We all know Harlem has been rapidly changing in the last ten years and there is one filmmaker that I am aware of that’s been documenting our change for quite sometime. It’s Shawn Batey. Batey is the documentary filmmaker behind Changing Face of HarlemChanging Face of Harlem takes a critical look at how Harlem has undergone its transformation.

There is an opportunity to see the film, in its current stage, which is a work in progress, Saturday early evening, May 19 at Maysles Cinema, located at 343 Lenox Avenue. Changing Face of Harlem is showing during The People’s Film Festival, a festival that “celebrates the power of the media when placed in the hands of the people.”

To purchase ticket to see Changing Face of Harlem, go to the Maysles website.

100 free trees available May 6 through Urban Garden Center in Spanish Harlem


Spanish Harlem’s Urban Garden Center is turning one and they are celebrating in style by giving away that item which has furnished humanity with two of life’s essentials: food and oxygen. On Sunday, May 6, Urban Garden Center, in partnership with Million Trees NYC and New York Restoration Project, will be giving away 100 trees for free starting at 10 am.

To receive a free tree, register online here. Signing up with the form will ensure a tree of the species you chose and will be available between 10 am to noon on Sunday, May 6. Please note: trees will weigh between 25-50 pounds and are between 4’-10’ in height depending on species. Make the appropriate arrangements for the transportation of your tree before heading to Spanish Harlem.

And later on in the afternoon on May 6, Urban Garden Center will continue celebrating their one year anniversary with free food, refreshments, music, workshops and more. So stop on by!

Happy Birthday Urban Garden Center!

Urban Garden Center is located at 1640 Park Avenue @116 street. Free Parking available at 117th & Park Avenue and its only 1 block from 6 train or 3 blocks from 2/3 train.

Phone: 646-872-3991
Office: 646-672-0100 (Mon. to Friday 9-5)
E-Mail: Info@urbangardennyc.com

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!

Cooper-Hewitt Design Center coming to Harlem, opening date planned for May 12

According to The Wall Street Journal, The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum will open a storefront space May 12 in Harlem. The Cooper-Hewitt Design Center will be at 111 Central Park North and “will allow the museum’s educators to conduct other free workshops for children, teenagers and adults.”

Cooper-Hewitt signed a four-year lease for the Central Park North space located at the base of Harlem and which has an express subway stop, the 2/3 to 110th Street. To learn more, click here.20120423-090922.jpg

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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!

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.

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!

The Harlem Business Alliance is taking applications for business plan competition

The Harlem Business Alliance is holding their Annual Business Plan Competition once again. This year is their fourth year for the competition. The HBA competition is designed to support small business ventures in the Harlem area. The competition’s participants need to meet the following requirements; be at least 18 years old and a legal resident or U.S. citizen; live in Upper Manhattan and have an interest in establishing a for-profit start-up business in Harlem; or be an owner of an operating for-profit business located in Upper Manhattan with maximum annual gross revenues of $500,000. This competition provides the grand prize winner with $5,000.

Important dates to remember if you’re interested in competing:

  • Business Plan Information Session, Wednesday, April 18th l 6:30 PM-7:30 PM
  • Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 6th l 6:00 PM
  • Business Plan Deadline: Wednesday, June 20th l 6:00 PM;
  • Finalists Selected: Thursday, July 12th
  • And Finalists Presentations: Thursday, July 19th 6:00 PM-8:00 PM.