Category Archives: Frederick Douglass Blvd.

Celebrity-filled weekend at Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem, Ashton Kutcher spotted

Posted on September 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

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It was hopping at Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem this past weekend (well, it always is from what I witness)! But according to Melba’s Facebook page, she had some celebrities over for brunch at 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., which is where Melba’s is located. The celebs that stopped by were Ashton Kutcher, and Tamar and Vince.

This past Saturday, the TV and film actor Ashton Kutcher was in Harlem dining at Melba’s. It must have been for brunch because another website reports he was in the West Village at night for dinner. There is no word from Melba’s Facebook page on whether his new girlfriend, Mila Kunis, was with him? Hmmm…

Then on Sunday, Tamar Braxton and Vincent Herbert from the new TV show Tamar & Vince paid a visit to Melba’s Restaurant. This married couple is currently out and about all over New York City promoting their new television show, according to online reports. However, Tamar and Vince must know good food cause no matter how busy their schedule was this past weekend, they made time to dine at Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem.

If I was a celeb (or not), I would be hanging at Melba’s too! Us Harlemites know, the food there is delicious!

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Posted in Bars, entertainment, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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NY Mag’s Grub Street lists Twelve Harlem bars to check out

Posted on September 20, 2012 | 1 comment



Yesterday afternoon, Grub Street, New York Magazine’s blog, posted about the bars to bottoms up at in East,Central and West Harlem. Some of the establishments mentioned are no surprise that they made the cut, such as Ginny’s Supper Club, 67 Orange, bier international, Harlem Tavern, Corner Social, etc. What is a surprise is that Grub Street mentions some great places to check out in East Harlem, new places, and along Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd that rarely get mentioned but deserve the recognition, such as Shrine (very fun place in my view), Harlem Public, its brand new, and The Duck, who wouldn’t want to head to East Harlem and drink at a place that’s named ‘the duck.”

Where Grub Street misses the mark is naming Harlem Lanes. Isn’t that place closed? Clearly whoever wrote the blog post has not been to Harlem or did not do their research or Harlem Lanes is not closed.

It’s a comprehensive bar list by Grub, but Harlemites know best. Tell us if Grub overlooked a particular drinking establishment or if they got it right!

To read the entire article, click here.

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Posted in 110th Street, 116th Street, 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., Bars, bier international, Corner Social, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Signage says Vinatería coming soon to Harlem

Posted on September 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

It’s official! Vinatería is coming soon to Harlem at 2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd. The owners have finally hung up signage on site recently for passerby’s to see and it says coming soon on their website as well! According to its Facebook page, Vinatería will be “a casual restaurant that will offer a market-driven menu with global influences and will offer the highest quality wine and food at a reasonable price, while providing friendly, attentive and knowledgeable service.” Hmmm…interesting. Wonder what the menu will look like!

If you recall, this commercial space was to be the home of the Cupcakery, but clearly that did not work out. Now this particular block from 119th Street and 120th Street on FDB will have two restaurants on the westside of the block, Chocolat at the northwest corner and Vinatería at the southwest corner. Moca and Bad Horse Pizza are on the opposite side of the block. Stay tuned for more info on Vinatería…

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Posted in Bars, business, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants, Vinatería

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Attend Savor The Season-Uptown in Harlem September 18

Posted on September 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Chef Marcus Samuelsson of Harlem’s Red Rooster and Maritza Wellington Owens, Chief Executive Officer, of Harvest Home Farmer’s Market have come together to create Savor The Season-Uptown. Savor The Season will showcase the ‘best of the best’ chefs who work north of 110th Street. Guests will enjoy tastings from eight different restaurateurs, bakeries, wines curated by The Winery and beers and spirits curated by the up and coming Harlem Public. The event will take place the evening of September 18 at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que banquet hall, located on 125th Street and 12th Avenue.

Participating restaurants will be Red Rooster Harlem, Creole, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Jin Ramen, Le Monde, Moby Catering, Melba’s, 5 and Diamond, Levain Bakery, and Tonnie’s Minis.

To learn more about the event and order tickets, click here.

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Posted in 125th Street, 5 and Diamond Harlem, business, entertainment, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lenox Avenue, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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See Esperanza Spalding, a new show added at Harlem’s Apollo Theater

Posted on September 11, 2012 | 1 comment


If you were not able to purchase tickets to attend the October 26 performance of Esperanza Spalding, you’re in luck! There is another option! Due to overwhelming demand, a second show for Esperanza Spalding’s Radio Music Society tour has been added on Saturday, October 27 at 8 pm at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater on 125th Street. The presale is happening now and ends Wednesday, September 12 at 10 pm. Use the code ALIST. Tickets, which are going for $40 and $60, will be available to the public Thursday, September 13 at 10 am. Click here to purchase tickets.

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Posted in 125th Street, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, The Apollo Theater

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Where to purchase a Harlem tee?

Posted on September 4, 2012 | 4 comments

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A reader from Plano, Texas recently wrote HarlemGal Inc asking where can one purchase a t-shirt that says Harlem on it if one doesn’t live in Harlem? The answer: there are plenty of options to purchase a Harlem tee if you don’t live in Harlem!

The largest Harlem online community on Facebook known as Harlem NYC recently started to sell unisex t-shirts that say…what else, but Harlem NYC on it. Go here to purchase a t-shirt for $12.50. To get that price, more than 50 t-shirts have to be printed.

On twitter, several followers have told HarlemGal that a site called Harlem Lives sells men and women t-shirts that say Harlem on it. And apparently, there is a sale going on at this site according to a follower. Harlem Lives tees run from about $19 to $25.

Harlem Underground offers consumers the opportunity to buy Harlem t-shirts online and in stores as well. Harlem Underground has two locations. Their first is on 20 East 125th Street. And recently, they opened their second store in Harlem on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 119th Street and 120th. Harlem Underground tees cost from $16 all the way up to $30.

Harlem t-shirts are also offered in stores only at Swing Concept and Bebenoir in Harlem. And let’s not forget along 125th Street. Street vendors sell Harlem t-shirts for as low as $10!

If there are other places to purchase Harlem t-shirts, drop us line here in the comments section!

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Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, fashion, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, NYC, shopping, spending

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See ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ in Harlem this weekend

Posted on August 30, 2012 | 1 comment


“Beasts of the Southern Wild ,” the fantasy drama film that Oprah Winfrey has praised and learned about from President Barack Obama, will be showing for the first time in Harlem this weekend. The film has been out for sometime showing in limited locations in New York City. However, no need to go downtown ’cause it starts playing uptown starting tomorrow, Friday, August 31.

Magic Johnson Theater, located at 124th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., will be showing the award-winning film over the Labor Day weekend holiday. The film received the top prize at Cannes Films Festival and Sundance Film Festival. And online reviews give the film four out of five stars.

If you’re having a stay-cation in Harlem this weekend, like I am, put seeing this PG-13 film on your to-do-list! I know I am! Click here to buy tickets.

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Posted in 125th Street, entertainment, film, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, kids

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Harlem gas station in demand

Posted on August 20, 2012 | 6 comments

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According to The New York Post this morning (Aug 20), the owners of the Harlem gas station on 110th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd have been busy fighting off the City of New York from taking over their property.

The article states that Carmie Elmore and a partner took over the gas station in 1981 when Harlem was seedy. Now that Harlem is hot and has been on an upward trajectory for a while, the city apparently owned it at one time and wants its gas station back. Each entity is heading to Manhattan Supreme Court to make its point.

When I first moved to Harlem and was looking at apartments to buy, I remember either my broker or another local telling me this farfetched, ridiculous statement about this corner…get ready for this, which was that it was being eyed by the Donald Trump himself. Did anyone else get fed this line when buying an apartment in South Harlem? I recall someone mentioning that Donald Trump was interested in the Harlem gas station because he wants to own property bookends on the westside of Central Park–one property already exists at Columbus Circle.

Crazy stuff huh? But now that I am reading this article, it makes me wonder what the City is really up to? If Mr. Elmore and his business partner own the gas station and they don’t want to sell it, shouldn’t that be the end of the discussion? Punto! What do you think?

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Posted in 110th Street, business, commercial real estate, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Sunday happenings at Harlem Tavern and Corner Social

Posted on August 12, 2012 | Leave a comment


Need plans today in Harlem, Sunday August 12? Turn to Harlem Tavern on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 116th Street, and Corner Social on 126th Street and Lenox Avenue. Harlem Tavern will be showing on their big TV screens the Men’s Olympic Gold Medal Basketball game. Doors open at 10 AM! Later in the evening they will be showing the London Olympic’s closing ceremony.

Two boulevards over on Lenox Avenue, Corner Social is celebrating Labor Day Carnival-Trinidad style. The festivities at Corner Social start at 6 PM and ends at 9 PM. All the carnival details are in the photo!

Have a great Sunday in Harlem!

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Posted in 116th Street, 125th Street, Bars, Corner Social, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, restaurant row, restaurants

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250 Park View joins condo market in Harlem

Posted on August 11, 2012 | Leave a comment



If you want to live right across the street from the Morningside Park Farmer’s Market in Harlem, now is your chance. Renovated condos called 250 Park View hit the Harlem condo market on Manhattan Avenue this past week. They are located exactly across the street from the park and a stone throw away from Central Park North.

According to its website, 250 Park View has an exposed-brick entryway which leads into 20 elevator-accessible units, a live-in super, security camera and color video intercom. The 20 units range from studios to 3 bedrooms with either park or courtyard views. Studios start at $450k, and the largest 3 bedroom duplex penthouse are going for $999. Wow!

Better hurry if you’re interested in living in Harlem at this location, which I think is a good one since it’s by two big parks, close to Harlem’s restaurant row and its very close to a subway stop, 110th Street B/C. Out of the 16 apartments listed on its site, only 8 are left. Harlem apartments clearly sell like hot cakes!

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Posted in apartments, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, real estate, restaurant row

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