Category Archives: food

The Lavender Light Gospel Choir to perform at 5 and Diamond Harlem

The Lavender Light Gospel Choir is performing tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23rd, at 7:30 pm at 5 and Diamond Harlem. The Lavender Light Gospel Choir is a mixed choir of women and men who believe that music can heal the world! It is the world’s first and only LGBT, non-denominational gospel choir that encompasses many ethnic and spiritual backgrounds. 

The 5 and Diamond Harlem is located at 2072 Frederick Douglass Boulevard (between 112th and 113th Streets). If you’re interested in attending, it’s $75 per person, which includes 4-course dinner with champagne toast. The guest chef is Patricio D’Andrea from Florence, Italy.

Seats are limited. Please call 917-860-4444 to RSVP.

Harlem Shambles to offer free range turkeys for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a few weeks away! So no time like the present to start your holiday planning. Harlem Shambles is here to assist! They are selling free range turkeys for $6 a pound. The turkeys will come from a local farm and will range from 15 to 20 pounds! Supplies are limited so call or stop by Harlem Shambles to reserve your turkey.

Harlem Shambles
2141 Frederick Douglass Blvd (between 115th & 116th Street)
(646) 476-4650

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Confirmed: Whole Foods Market is coming to Harlem

A reader tipped off HarlemGal Inc this afternoon with info that confirms Whole Foods Market will be opening a store on Lenox Avenue and
125th Street. They announced this news less than an hour ago on their Facebook page!

This is good news that Whole Foods has decided to open in Central Harlem, which is accessible from the East and West side, and right there by the 2/3 subway line, which is express. What do you think? Do you like the location? What do you think about Whole Foods opening in Harlem?
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Attend Manhattan Country School Farm Festival in East Harlem October 20

Every year Manhattan Country School (MCS) in East Harlem aims to bring a little bit of the Catskills to the streets and children of NYC during their annual Farm Festival. This Fall season is no different. MCS will host its annual Farm Festival for children ages 3 and up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 20. This is when parent volunteers turn East 96th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues into an urban carnival, offering family friendly entertainment including rides, games, crafts, a silent auction, raffles and live music-all for FREE! The MCS Farm Festival also offers a selection of homemade baked goods, a wide variety of delicious ethnic cuisine and fresh produce from their farm in Roxbury, NY.

Admission is free and tickets for food, games and rides will be available for purchase. In the event of rain, festivities will take place indoors.

MCS Farm Festival – FREE
Saturday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
7 East 96 Street, NY 10128 (which is where Harlem begins on the East side)
Between Fifth and Madison Avenues, Near Central Park

Subway/Bus directions
Take the #6 to 96 Street or MTA bus M1, M2, M3, M4, M96

Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe opening soon in East Harlem


The folks behind Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe have reached out saying they are scheduled to open in East Harlem on October 22nd. Their new home is at 2248 First Avenue between 115th and 116th Streets. This new business is owned by “natives of East Harlem and they are excited to be opening in the area where they grew up.” Some of their featured desserts will a Red Velvet Doughnut, Bourbon Hazelnut Sticky Bun and out of this world Pumpkin Cake. Yum!

Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe already has a website up and ready to go. Check it out!

Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe
2248 First Avenue (between 115th & 116th Street)
New York, NY 10029
Phone: 212.360.0010
Fax: 212.360.0012

EmblemHealth to offer Harlem residents free flu shots October 16th and 20th

Flu season is upon us and its time to think about how to manage that. EmblemHealth will be offering Harlem residents complimentary flu shots, blood pressure screenings and “brown bag” prescription medication reviews on October 16 at the West Harlem Farmers Market and on October 20 at Mount Morris Park.

Also, while there take advantage of receiving free health and wellness screenings. EmblemHealth and Harvest Home Farmer’s Markets are offering these services at each location through the end of November.

Save the Date: East Harlem Harvest Festival happening October 26-27

Central Harlem just completed its Harvest Festival. Now its time to plan for East Harlem’s Harvest Festival taking place at 116th Street and Park Avenue. I believe its the first one and organizers are making sure it lasts all weekend.

On October 26, a celebration of culture and cuisine is planned. How to make you’re own brewski is on the agenda at the Urban Garden Center and Sugar Hill Beer is involved. That will be good and those 21 years and older can participate. A Hookah Lounge will be set up thanks to Kiosk Restaurant, a delightful Moroccan restaurant in East Harlem. And for children, the East Harlem Harvest Festival will be planning a Recycling Game, pumpkin carving and a class on how to make healthy food provided by Culinaria Festival!

So no need to worry about making plans for the weekend of October 26-27. Head on over to the eastside of Harlem for their Harvest Festival. See you there.

Visit Harlem’s Astor Row Cafe on Lenox Avenue

Looking for a new place to hang in Harlem? Try Harlem’s Astor Row Cafe on 130th and Lenox Avenue. It’s a charming, Latino-owned, corner cafe that offers fair trade coffee, soft drinks, lemonade, fresh-baked pastries, omelets, salads and sandwiches. And on Yelp, they get 4 out of 5 stars on 20 reviews submitted.

Astro Row Cafe also has special events, such as Flamenco and Paella Sunday’s that offer all you can eat paella and sangria for $25. And for those of us who are computer nerds and take their gadgets with them, Astor Row Cafe in Harlem offers free WiFi.

To learn more about Astor Row Cafe in Harlem and its owners, read the article by DNAinfo or to visit the place head to 404 Lenox Avenue at 130th.

Attend Harlem Pop-up Green Market October 11 in Harlem

More information has come in regarding the pop-up farmers market planned for October 11 at The Harlem Treasure Chest. According to a flier, this event is being organized by the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance, Grow NYC Green Market and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. It starts at 4 pm and ends at 9 pm on the corner of 117th Street and FDB. Prepared food will be provided by 5 and Diamond Harlem, Lido Harlem and Harlem Tavern. For additional details, see flier below.

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The Harlem Treasure Chest to host several pop-up farmers markets, first one Oct. 11

HarlemGal Inc received notice this morning from the organizers of The Harlem Treasure Chest, the local flea market that set up shop in the Spring on 117th Street and Frederick Douglass, announcing they will host its first (of hopefully many to come) pop-up farmers market on Thursday, October 11 from 4 pm to 9 pm. In their announcement, there was no mention of which vendors will participate. They only mentioned free food, wine tasting, live music and organic produce would be on hand for the evening event.

The Harlem Treasure Chest is located at 2171 Frederick Douglass Blvd and they’re generally open all day Saturday and Sunday.

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