Category Archives: education

See and learn about Kidberry in Harlem

Posted on August 9, 2011 | 1 comment


Listen up parents in Harlem! Are you looking for an educational center right here in the heart of Central Harlem for your kids? You may want to consider Kidberry, which is currently located at 106 West 117th Street in the Lenox Garden Condominium. If you are not sure who they are, check out this visual presentation. They beautifully mapped who they are and what they can offer your little pumpkins. Just watch the video. You’ll be impressed. I certainly was!

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Posted in Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., business, Community, education, Harlem, health and wellness, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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The Money Series examines how East Harlem spends their money

Posted on August 8, 2011 | 1 comment

In our Money Series,  it has covered spending habits for the Harlem areas of 10027 and 10030. The Money Series continues with the focus on East Harlem. The zip code used to come with the data for this segment of Harlem is 10029.

The top three household spending areas for the 10029 area of Harlem resulted in shopping ranking first, health & family is second, followed by house & home. If you compare spending for 10029 with 10027 and 10030, 10029 ranks identical to 10027 in the areas of health & family and house & home. Each of these spending categories ranked second and third out of the top three spending categories versus 10030, these categories ranked first and second. The interesting fact out of all three zip codes was that 10027 was the only part of Harlem that had food and drinks in the top three spending categories. Food & drink did not even rank in the top three for 10029 and 10030.

On a 12 month average, household spending for 10029 includes: $461 for shopping. Next is health & family totaling $452. Most of the spending in this area is dedicated to school & child care and insurance. House & home follows with a total of $432 with the majority of this portion going toward utilities.

If 10029, 10027 and 10030 are compared in their shared ranking areas, which are health & family and house & home, 10030 spends the most on health and family at $798 versus 10027 spends $552 and 10029 spends $452. In house & home, 10027 spends the most at $472 followed by 10030 spends $434 and 10029 spends $432.

All figures are created from an online money management tool and based on ages from 18 to 65 years of age and above, all households (married with kids or without, male or female single with kids or without), and income starting at $20,000 to $125k and above.

Stay tuned as the Money Series will look into spending habits of Harlem residents versus other parts of Manhattan.

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Posted in Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., apartments, business, Community, education, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, health and wellness, history, Lenox Avenue, Money Series, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, shopping, spending

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ArtCrawl Harlem to focus on Romare Bearden’s work

Posted on August 4, 2011 | 1 comment

Don’t forget the annual ArtCrawl Harlem is happening this weekend, August 6. This year’s tour will focus on Romare Bearden’s life and work in Harlem. To learn more about the artist, visit his website. To see the Bearden’s art in human form, purchase tickets from ArtCrawl Harlem. The tour is from noon to 4 PM with dinner starting soon after until 6 PM.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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See ‘Henry V’ in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park

Posted on August 4, 2011 | 5 comments

Throughout theater and art history there have been Kings who have been brought to life on the pages and stage that stand the test of time. One of them is “Henry V.” See and experience the life of “Henry V” right here in Harlem. The Classical Theater of Harlem presents “Henry V” starting August 5 and running through September 4 in the Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Memorial Center.

According to The New York Times, which has a lengthy article in today’s paper about the play and the Classical Theater of Harlem, says there are “free performances of “Henry V” this Friday (August 5) and Saturday (August 6) in the (Mount Morris) park are an appetizer for its formal premiere on Wednesday (with a Monday preview) at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center, where it will be performed through Sept. 4.”

Support the Classical Theater of Harlem by seeing “Henry V ” in Harlem. For tickets: click here or call Ovationtix: 866-811-4111.

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Posted in art and culture, education, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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2011 Harlem Week kick off was a big success

Posted on July 31, 2011 | 2 comments
Macy's Food Truck Staff, Harlem Week 2011Harlem Week 2011Harlem Week 2011Uptown Dance Academy, Harlem Week 2011Face painting, Harlem Week 2011Harlem Arts Alliance, Harlem Week
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Harlem Week 2011 kicked off today, July 31, with much success. There were plenty of New Yorker’s in attendance who wanted to partake in this years theme, “A New York State of Mind.” I certainly did and enjoyed the kick off celebration very much. I checked out all the street vendors and camped out at the Macy’s Food Truck, which was featuring free food by Marcus Samuelsson.

If you were not able to check out Harlem Week 2011 kick off today, do not worry. There is  a month full of activities planned for August.  For additional details, go to Harlem Week’s website.

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Posted in art and culture, baking, business, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurants, shopping, spending

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Weekend Harlem Must Dos, Lido sidewalk cafe, Urban Garden Center sale and Marcus & Macy’s

Posted on July 29, 2011 | 1 comment

There are three Harlem must dos I am recommending for this weekend. Try them out and let me know what you think!

On Friday, July 29, swing by Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar. Their sidewalk seating is in full swing. They have plenty of tables outside for Harlemites to sit and dine on. While you’re there, check out some of their summer cocktails. Here are three to consider!

20110729-124324.jpgTry Serena’s Sangria. It is made with a white wine base, passion fruit, sliced plums, and Spanish brandy. It’s hard to drink just one. Try the pitcher for $25.

Next, Lido Lemonade with lemon juice, vodka, and Licor 43 infused with thyme. The glass is garnished with a sprig of thyme.And if you need a carbonated fix, try Fiore Spumante (Italian for Sparkling Flower). It’s gin and St Germaine with champagne and a raspberry to garnish.  Also, Lido is now open Mondays and offering
$14 prix fix lunch with free wifi and complimentary iced coffee or tea!

On Saturday, July 31, head on over to Urban Garden Center in Spanish Harlem. They have a sale! They are offering 30 percent off on all in stock inventory. It ends on July 31 so drop by 116th and Park Avenue, take advantage of the sale and say hi to Dimitri, chief designer at Urban Garden Center!

And on July 31, spend Sunday afternoon with Marcus Samuelsson and the Macy’s Food Truck. Macy’s Food Truck is parking itself on 126th Street and Riverside Drive with our fellow Harlemite during Harlem Week. From noon to 4:00 p.m., Red Rooster Harlem owner and Chef Marcus Samuelsson will be on board cooking and serving catfish sandwiches with fried caper slaw and sweet potato fries!

There ya have it! Weekend Harlem must dos!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping, spending

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‘Mama I Want to Sing’ will be singing longer in Harlem, musical gets extended

Posted on July 26, 2011 | Leave a comment


The lovely and amazing Vy Higginsen announced recently that Mama I Want to Sing:The Next Generation gets to sing a bit longer right here in Harlem. “The longest running off-Broadway black musical in theater history” is playing at the Dempsey Theater, located at 127 West 126th Street. Dates have been extended to the end of the year. Mama I Want to Sing is about a talented young gospel singer who embraces secular music despite the strong objections of her mother.

To order tickets, go to Smarttix.com

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Money Series: Harlem spending for 10030 zip code dedicated to health and family

Posted on July 26, 2011 | 1 comment



Yesterday, the Money Series gave a snap shot of how Harlemites spend, who reside in the 10027 zip code. Today, the Money Series continues by turning our focus on the residents of 10030.

The top three household spending areas for the 10030 Harlem resulted in health & family ranking first, with house & home next followed by shopping. The first two areas mentioned are identical to 10027 Harlem residents in terms of ranking. However, shopping ranks third for 10030 verses 10027 where it ranks fourth.

On a 12 month average, household spending for 10030 includes: $798 for health & family. Insurance cost make-up $277 with school & child care not far behind at $234. The next large cost is charity at $173. Healthcare, pets and personal care round the remaining total.

House & home follows with a total of $434. The majority of costs go toward utilities. Two-hundred and six dollars is dedicated to utilities. Next with $77 for home maintenance, $76 for home improvement and $75 for phone.

The shopping category came in third in terms of the top three spending areas. Harlemites from 10030 spend a total of $332. That figure is divided among general shopping at $150, clothing, shoes and outer wear at $113 and $69 goes towards electronics, office supplies and hobbies.

If 10027 and 10030 are compared in their two top ranking areas: 10027 spends $246 more than 10030 in health & family and 10030 spends $323 more than 10027 in shopping.

All figures are created from an online money management tool and based on ages from 18 to 65 years of age and above, all households (married with kids or without, male or female single with kids or without), and income starting at $20,000 to $125k and above.

The Money Series heads to East Harlem next. 10029 will be the focus!

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Posted in business, Community, education, Harlem, health and wellness, Money Series, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants, shopping, spending

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Money Series: How Harlem spends their money

Posted on July 25, 2011 | 6 comments

Household Spending 10027 12 month avg

I have been living in Harlem since 2006 and have witnessed enormous change since then with new restaurants opening on every major avenue, buildings popping up throughout upper Manhattan, and more new faces lining Harlem streets. With all this change, I have always wondered about spending. How do we, i.e. Harlem locals, spend our money? Where does all of our money go?

I researched the topic and unearthed some interesting numbers via an online money management tool on how we spend. In the Money Series, I will share data discovered by zip code from shopping to health & family to food & drink and more! First up is 10027 of Harlem.

On a 12 month average, household spending for 10027 includes: $568 for food &

Food and Drink 10027 12 month avg

drink, $269 is for dining out and $299 is for groceries. Next on the list is health & family. Harlem locals from 10027 spend a total of $552. The majority of the figure goes to insurance and school & child care with $166 and then $156. The remaining total is divided among four other categories shown in the graph.

After food & drink and health & family, house & income rounds out the top three

Health and Family 10027 12 month avg

spending categories. This part of Harlem spends a total of $472. Two-hundred and six dollars goes to utilities. One-hundred and twenty-four dollars goes to home improvement and $122 goes to phone. The remaining $20 is for home maintenance. The graph below displays the remaining areas of spending for 10027.

House and Home 10027 12 month avg

All figures are based on ages from 18 to 65 years of age and above, all households (married with kids or without, male or female single with kids or without), and income starting at $20,000 to $125k and above.

Next up in the Money Series is how Harlem locals from 10030 spend!

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Posted in business, Community, education, Harlem, health and wellness, Money Series, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurants, spending

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A little bit of Poland comes to 67 Orange Street in Harlem

Posted on July 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

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This past week I attended 67 Orange Street’s Cocktail Educational Series in Harlem and let me say, I have a new-found appreciation for that cocktail I order and for the person behind the bar making it. I had no idea what (or the hard work) that goes into a drink until I went to 67 Orange, located at 2082 Frederick Douglass Blvd. I had my cocktail breakthrough this past Tuesday where Zu Vodka, bison grass vodka from Poland, was the guest of honor.

Karl, the owner of 67 Orange and his guest from ZU, gave a quick presentation on ZU and then presented handcrafted cocktails with ZU Vodka. I had the Smokin Thyme, which included fresh raspberries with thyme, agave, lime juice,shaken with Mezcal, St.Germain and Zu. It was very good.That drink was right up there with my usual order at 67 Orange, the Baxter Street.  I gotta have that jalapeno flavor-even in my drink! If you like some caliente flavor to your cocktail, try the Baxter Street!

To learn more about what goes into a cocktail and find new appreciation like I did, check out the CockTail Educational Series at 67 Orange in Harlem. Their next series takes place August 2!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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