Category Archives: Events

Central Park Conservancy and Jazzmobile present: Harlem Meer Social Hour

On August 11, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., locals have the opportunity to meet the musicians during Harlem Meer Social Hour, a Central Park Conservancy & Jazzmobile Collaboration. East Harlem native, percussionist Steven Kroon and West Harlem resident, trombonist Craig Harris will discuss their creative process, presence and influence of other cultures in their music.
So come out and meet the musicians who create beautiful music at the Dana Discovery Center, located inside Central Park at 110th Street between Lenox and 5th Avenue.

Imagine a food coop in Harlem?

Click on photo to launch video

Brooklyn has a food coop that is very popular and provides fresh organic fruits and vegetables for the surrounding area. Imagine if Harlem had something similar? It is not that far out of reach and there are a lot of Harlemites on Facebook realizing that by sharing the Pop-Up Co-Op video. Why are Harlemites passing along this information? Because it is a great food/grocery idea set out in different phases that will benefit Harlem now and for the long-term. Also, it is a well needed service for our community and locals want to see this idea succeed.

What is Pop-Up Co-Op? It is the first phase of several where the end goal is to have a complete food coop in West Harlem. The Pop-Up Co-Op will sell organic coffee by the cup from a takeout window with one full-time worker recruited from a local youth program. The next phase will be to integrate organic vegetables along with increased staffing and so on and so forth. This initiative is on Kickstarter and has ten days left to meet its goal of raising more than $22,000. If you want to help out and learn more about Pop-Up Co-Op, click here.

ArtCrawl Harlem to focus on Romare Bearden’s work

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.

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

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.

Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem, the Queen of Soul Food turns 49


Sylvia’s Restaurant, located at 328 Lenox Avenue, is letting all her friends know, Facebook friends that is, that the Queen of Soul Food, is celebrating her 49th Anniversary. She is inviting everyone over August 1 for a free community breakfast from 8-10 a.m! There will be live music and Southern-style breakfast for all those that stop by! Long, live the Queen of Soul Food!

Happy Anniversary Sylvia’s Restaurant!

2011 Harlem Week kick off was a big success

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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.

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

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!

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


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

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

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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!

Cuban born and Harlem based Yosvany Terry performs in Marcus Garvey Park

Feel like listening to jazz in Harlem, but not sure where to go? The Jazzmobile has the answer.  As part of their summerfest,  Yosvany Terry will be playing tonight, July 22nd from 7:00 – 8:30 pm in Marcus Garvey Park  at the new Richard Rodger Amphitheater. Enter at 5th Ave & W 122nd St.