Save the date of October 8th! That is when the annual Harlem Harvest Festival takes place on the corner of 116th Street and St. Nicholas Ave! I went last year and had a wonderful time visiting all the street vendors, eating and watching the performances from the Dance Theater of Harlem. It is a great way to kick off the Fall season.
Take a look at photos from last year’s Harlem Harvest Festival!
Posted in Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, baking, business, Community, education, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, health and wellness, personal care, restaurants
Tagged 116th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Harvest Festival, Harlem4 Center for Change, Photos by HarlemGal, st. nicholas avenue
Harlem Grown and its co-founder Tony Hillary received a huge write-up in The Huffington Post yesterday, Sept. 28. The article beautifully explains how Harlem Grown was born and what inspired Tony to start this non profit in Harlem. I highly recommend taking the time to read: A Tree Grows in Harlem by Alex Budman. It is so worth it! And after you are finished reading the article, watch this video below. It stars Roderick, an 11-year-old student from the Bronx, who takes part in Harlem Grown.
There isn’t a moment that goes by where there isn’t something fun and interesting to do with the art community in Harlem. They are always creating events that are aimed at bringing the community together in Harlem. Here is one example. H&M Art Gallery and Framing is holding a reception this Friday, Sept. 23 in celebration of their exhibition called Cultural Unity through Arts. For a little more than a week in Harlem, there are several activities planned for this exhibition at the 17 East 125th location that will feature several visual and performing artists.
All are invited to attend and from what I can tell…it is free! If you would like to attend, check out the calendar of events below!
Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, Events, Free!, Harlem
Tagged 17 East 125th Street, art and culture, H&M Art Gallery and Framing, Harlem
Federal, State and local NYC leaders, along with descendents of Frederick Douglass, came together today, September 20, to dedicate the circle and statue of the African-American abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman Frederick Douglass. The Frederick Douglass Memorial/Circle,located at Central Park West, Frederick Douglass Boulevard and West 110th Street, consists of an eight-foot bronze portrait sculpture by Gabriel Koren, and a large circle and fountain with ornamental and symbolic features designed by Algernon Miller. The fountain was actually operational today to go along with the dedication ceremony.
While there were endless speakers, a few comments resonated with me. Someone said most of what Frederick Douglass said or wrote back then is still applicable today and that not much has changed, it is just disguised. I also like how one speaker said “Central Park is now complete with all four corners as vibrant public space for everyone to use.”
To see a collection of photos from today’s event, click here.
Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Frederick Douglass Circle, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 110th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Bill Perkins, central park, Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass Memorial, Harlem, Inez Dickens, Kenneth Morris, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Upper West Side
Here is the official news release from NYC Parks and Recreation on the Frederick Douglass Circle Dedication tomorrow, Sept. 20 T 11 a.m. The agenda items posted last week about this event here on this site were correct! Take note, no Mayor Bloomberg, but Rep. Charlie Rangel will be present!
FREDERICK DOUGLASS MEMORIAL TO BE DEDICATED
DATE: Tuesday, September 20, 2011
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Frederick Douglass Circle
Central Park West, Frederick Douglass Boulevard and West 110th Street
Manhattan
EVENT &
PHOTO-OP: First Deputy Mayor Patti Harris and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe will join Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate Levin; Department of Design & Construction Commissioner David Burney; Central Park Conservancy President Doug Blonsky; Congress Member Charles Rangel; Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, State Senator Bill Perkins; State Assembly Member Dan O’Donnell; and President of the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation and a direct descendant of Douglass, Kenneth Morris; to dedicate the Frederick Douglass Memorial.
Performing at the dedication ceremony will be members of the IMPACT Repertory Theatre, the Harlem School of the Arts, and Tony Award nominee Andre DeShields who will recite excerpts from “Oration In Memory Of Abraham Lincoln,” originally delivered by Frederick Douglass on April 14, 1876 at the unveiling of the Freedmen’s Monument in memory of Abraham Lincoln.
DETAILS: This memorial located at the northwest corner of Central Park honors the African-American abolitionist, orator, writer and statesman Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), and consists of an eight-foot bronze portrait sculpture by Gabriel Koren, and a large circle and fountain with ornamental and symbolic features designed by Algernon Miller.
In the mid to late 1990s, a series of community-based design workshops organized by the Central Park Conservancy led to the NYC Department of Cultural Affair’s Percent for Art design competition for the circle. In 2003, the competition was won by a collaborative proposal submitted by Harlem-based artist Algernon Miller and Hungarian-born sculptor Gabriel Koren. Miller is also known locally for his Tree of Hope sculpture dedicated in 1972 on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. Koren has sculpted the Malcolm X Memorial statue located at the site of the former Audubon Ballroom, where the civil rights leader was slain.
For the Frederick Douglass Memorial, Miller’s overall design includes granite seating and paving patterns based on traditional African-American quilt motifs, as well as a bronze perimeter fence with a wagon wheel motif. He also responded to the design competition guidelines with a bronze water wall depicting the Big Dipper constellation that guided those on the “underground railroad.” Koren crafted a standing bronze portrait of a pensive Douglass, cast at Polich-Tallix bronze foundry, and inspired by nineteenth-century photographs.
HarlemGal Inc’s photostream on Flickr.
Marcus Samuelsson and is wife Maya opened their home in Harlem this past weekend to guests familiar and unknown-all to help the Horn of Africa. The turn out for the event was packed! And the hosts were as gracious and hospitable as…Harlemites would be. See for yourself in HarlemGal’s latest photo stream!
The dedication of the Frederick Douglass Circle, located at the intersection West 110th Street and FDB, is definitely on for next week, September 20, starting at 11 a.m. and HarlemGal Inc. has the scoop on some of the agenda.
Actor and Tony Award-nominee Andre De Shields will perform and channel Frederick Douglass in front of all the guests and dignitaries. De Shields is well-known for this and performed as Frederick Douglass in 2009. See video below.
Impact Repertory Theatre and Harlem School of the Arts will give performances. And a direct descendent of Frederick Douglass will be present and either acknowledged or part of the speaking agenda.
So far, there’s no word on whether Mayor Bloomberg will be on hand for the dedication. However, there will be several local representatives in attendance.
Not too bad of an agenda to start! Now that we have a sneak peek of the Frederick Douglass Circle Dedication, the next question is are you attending? Chime in if you plan on attending this event!
To read complete blog coverage on Frederick Douglass Circle, click here!
Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Frederick Douglass Circle, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 10026, 110th Street, actor, Adrian Benepe, Andre De Shields, art and culture, Central Park North, community, Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass Circle, Harlem, Harlem School of the Arts, history and tagged cathedral parkway, Impact Repertory Theatre, Manhattan Parks Commission, Mayor Bloomberg, Patricia E Harris
There are three Harlem business owners that are actively trying to make a difference by helping to feed others here and in Africa. And they are inviting us to come along and help with their efforts.
Land Yoga and Soham Wellness have partnered together to raise $5,000 for the Food Bank of New York City by the end of September. The Food Bank had a 50 percent cut in their budget and they need our help. To donate to the Food Bank, click here.
Marcus Samuelsson, along with his wife Maya and several other notable organizations, have organized “Brunch for the Horn of Africa” on September 18th at Marcus and Maya’s apartment in Harlem. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for $50 bucks, the Samuelsson’s will be serving traditional American brunch items as well as a few Ethiopian dishes for “Brunch for the Horn of Africa.” Go to this link to make your reservation. Once you RSVP, you will be sent a confirmation email with all the specific details.
In addition to the suggested $50 per person donation, a raffle of various items will take place throughout the event, offering guests a chance to contribute further and win some fun prizes from Marcus’ celebrity pals. “Brunch for the Horn of Africa” will help feed the famine victims in East Africa.
Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, education, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, health and wellness, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem
Tagged africa, brunch, famine, Food Republic, Harlem, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, horn of africa, Land Yoga, marcus samuelsson, Maya Haile, Paul Goerg Champagne, Radeberger Beer, Soham Wellness, Tadias, Urbanspoon
Starting September 3, the Museum of the City of New York pays tribute to 9/11 with a three-month exhibition of the World Trade Center. The Twin Towers and The City Exhibition includes photographer Camilo Jose Vergara’s four decades-long study of the World Trade Center. Vergara is known for “capturing the Twin Towers’ place in the history of the city, their colossal presence on New York’s skyline, and their surprising gracefulness.”
In addition, Artist Romain de Plas paintings will be a part of this featured exhibition. He spent “the year after 9/11 making series of vivid paintings of the Twin Towers.”
The Twin Towers and the City opens Sept. 3 and runs through Dec. 4 at the Museum of the City of New York located at 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd.
Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 10029, 103rd Street, 104th Street, art and culture, Camilo Jose Vergara, Fifth Avenue, Harlem, Live@1220 Fifth, Museum of the City of New York, music, photography, Romain de Plas, Spanish Harlem, The Twin Towers and the City
GetHealthyHarlem.org, a health information website where Harlem residents, families, businesses and organizations can find local information about getting and staying healthy, is have a special gathering tonight at Harlem Tavern. They are celebrating the launch of their website redesign.
According to the organization, viewing and posting information will be much easier on their website, such as a community calendar where readers can post their own events. Go to their website to learn more or better yet, join in on the celebration, it starts tonight at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. at Harlem Tavern. RSVP to gethealthyharlem@gmail.com
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