Category Archives: Harlem

Select Harlem teachers comment on ‘Waiting for Superman’

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 29, 2010 @ 12:23
By HarlemGal
Last week, I blogged about the documentary, “Waiting for Superman,” which features a Harlem student and Geoffrey Canada, and talks about the education system in America. Since I have seen the film, which I liked, I have come across information that provides another view on the subject. I wanted to share it with you. Below is a Youtube video on two Harlem teacher’s point of view on public schools versus charter schools.

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Posted in Community, film, Harlem

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See ‘The Other Side of Immigration’ in East Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 28, 2010 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
Art for Change is hosting a closing exhibition reception and screening of “The Other Side of Immigration” in East Harlem this Thursday, September 30 at 2082 Lexington Avenue at 126th Street. The reception starts at 6:30 p.m. followed by a screening at 7:30 p.m. Roy Germano, the director of this award-winning documentary, will be making remarks at this event and available for a Q&A immediately following the conclusion of the film. If you are interested in attending both events in East Harlem, kindly RSVP to: eliana@artforchange.org

“The Other Side of Immigration” is a documentary based on interviews with men and women in the Mexican countryside. The film explores why so many people leave small Mexican towns to work in the United States and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind.  This film has screened at dozens of universities, conferences, and film festivals in the U.S. and Europe since 2009.

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Posted in Community, film, Harlem

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Harlem rezoning plus Frederick Douglass Boulevard equals restaurant row

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Sep 24, 2010 @ 6:00

Frederick Douglass Blvd. street sign

By HarlemGal
Frederick Douglass Blvd is in the news again! Some entities are clearly getting it that FDB from 110th Street to 125th Street is the place to be! DNAinfo.com and The New York Times have recently filed stories about FDB and how it’s experiencing a boom in drinking and eating establishments. These articles even mention the buzz words “restaurant row.” Hmm…sounds familiar?

Frederick Douglass Blvd. (Circa 2008)

On September 23, DNAinfo wrote about the booming restaurant and bar business along FDB.  It was a good story. They introduced us to new information about what the Livmor is up to with their commercial space. However, I was wondering why they left out other notable places, such as Mojo, Billie’s Black Bar, Questan’s and Cafe Amrita? Amrita is at the base of 110th and FDB. Mojo and Billie’s are technically on 119th Street, they are less than a block away from FDB and Mojo and Questan’s opened for business in the last five years. I think all these venues deserved a mention in DNAinfo and The Times. Also, why not mention the proposed Cupcake Suite opening on FDB, Aloft Hotel or the rumored Busboys and Poets coming to Harlem? I guess there is so much action happening on or near FDB, it is a challenge for these news outlets to keep track!

Frederick Douglass Blvd. today

In addition, I noticed that both publications did not mention much about vacant commercial space. What are The Douglass and Gateway Condominiums planning for their commercial space? I would bet that they are aggressively trying to sell their space. I hear Society Cafe is interested in expanding their space right next door once Gateway finishes their construction. If that ends up being true, that would be great for them. They appear to have outgrown their current space.

Overall, it is awesome media coverage for Harlem once again. I love it! Out of the two articles, I will end with my favorite quote from Chris Pollok, co-owner of bier international. “My sense is that this [Frederick Douglass Blvd.] is going to be the Restaurant Row of Harlem.” I will drink to that, Chris! Strawberry beer, please!

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Posted in business, Community, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Harlem student and well-known educator featured in ‘Waiting for Superman’

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 21, 2010 @ 6:55

By HarlemGal
There are plenty of films that open every weekend in New York City. There are so many that it is hard to decide what to see in the movie theaters at times. However, this weekend is different. There is only one film to see and that’s “Waiting for Superman,” which opens in the Big Apple on September 24. “Waiting for Superman” is a new documentary by Davis Guggenheim, Academy Award-winning director of “An Inconvenient Truth,” that covers our public education system and it features individuals  from or connected to Harlem.

In the film, Guggenheim’s cameras follow Bianca, who is now a second grader, lives in Harlem with her mother Nakia and is trying to get into a charter school. Geoffrey Canada, CEO of the Harlem’s Children Zone, is also featured in the film as well as the charter school he founded right here in Central Harlem. And last, the film’s title came from Canada. “The title refers to a Harlem educator’s childhood belief that a superhero would fix the problems of the ghetto.”

According to some reviews, the film is expected to rattle some boots, i.e. charter vs. no charter schools, and potentially start a revolution about public education. For me, anything that provokes some rattle and a little bit of revolution about a topic and situation that affects us all, I am so there. I can’t wait to see “Waiting for Superman” in theaters this weekend. Join me?

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Posted in entertainment, film, Harlem

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Celebrate Oktoberfest in Harlem at bier international

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 17, 2010 @ 11:03
By HarlemGal
Harlem’s new premium beer joint, bier international, has hit the ground running since it opened several weeks ago. Bier first started serving quality beer (their strawberry beer is my favorite) and then came the starter and full menu. Soon after, they launched a brunch menu, which is offered on the weekends. Up next is Oktoberfest at bier. They are starting the celebration this Saturday! So if you want to join in on the celebration, stop by bier international, located at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd., in Harlem this weekend!

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Posted in Bars, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Rev. Al Sharpton joins Sunday morning programming with own show

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 16, 2010 @ 13:20
By HarlemGal
The choices for Sunday morning TV programming is expanding by one show starting September 26 and you might recognize the person involved in this expansion! The Rev. Al Sharpton, who founded the National Action Network that is based on 145th Street in Harlem, has created his own media company and now in turn will compete in the Sunday morning programming with his own syndicated TV show called “Education Superhighway!” This was all announced to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week and today Sharpton is introducing “Education Superhighway,” the 30 minute show, to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. I wonder what Christiane Amanpour from ABC and David Gregory NBC think?

Apparently the Sharpton show has been picked up in 150 markets according to THR. I’ve seen no signs of it airing in New York City yet. Guess I will have to flip through the channels on the tube the morning of September 26 to see if Sharpton is on!

Sharpton with executive producer Ruth Robinson

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Listen to ‘Harlem River Blues,’ Picked as Fall favorite in Time Magazine

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 15, 2010 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
Back in April, I blogged about the top reasons to live in Harlem. One of the reasons I mentioned was Harlem has several famous songs about or that mention it. Well…there is another song out there to add to the list that has Harlem in the title.  It’s called “Harlem River Blues” by Justin Townes Earle and it has been recently picked a Fall favorite for 2010 by Time Magazine. Listen to “Harlem River Blues” below and tell us what you think by taking our poll?

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Posted in art and culture, entertainment, Harlem, music

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220 Saint Nicholas in Harlem looking to sell apartments in Spring 2011

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 14, 2010 @ 7:35

By HarlemGal
Construction around 220 Saint Nicholas Condominiums remains the same. The building has most of its scaffolding down leaving the structure partially visible to the public, which led me to wonder if they are getting ready to market these apartments. They are not! 220 St. Nicholas is hoping to start selling in the Spring of 2011. That’s not too far off if you’re looking for a full floor, 1500 square foot apartment in Manhattan!

220 St. Nicholas is offering full floor apartments with the exception of floors seven and eight, which are two bedrooms, two baths. Whomever buys on those floors has to share a floor and pay around 650 to 700k! Not bad of a price given these floors will have either a balcony or terrace. According to the 220 St. Nicholas website, all apartments will have either a balcony or terrace. I think that is an interesting aspect to this building given there are unblocked views of Harlem in that area…for now. Plus most of the new developments around Harlem do not offer outdoor space with every apartment. It’s one or the other.

So if you’re in the market for a full floor apartment with a terrace or balcony in Manhattan near Harlem’s up and coming corridor, Frederick Douglass Blvd., then this new development might be the place for you!

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Posted in Harlem, real estate

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Meet and support local artists at Harlem Art Walk 2010

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 14, 2010 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
Don’t miss the Harlem Art Walk 2010 on October 9th (Saturday) and 10th (Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Harlem Art Walk will feature the work of more than 60 artists living and working in Harlem. Casa Frela Gallery, located at 47 West 119th Street, is the starting point where maps will be distributed (or see map below) to all tour participants highlighting the various stops on the walking tour, including open artist studios, museums, and cultural and historic venues. All forms of art will be featured, including sculptures, ceramics, painting, photographs, etchings and prints, and textiles. And if you like what you see during the walk, participants will have the opportunity to buy original artwork from emerging to established artists.

For further information about the tour, visit the Casa Frela Gallery website at www.casafrela.com or call the information hotline at 212-722-8577.

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Another Subway sandwich shop and dry cleaner coming to Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Sep 9, 2010 @ 22:27

By HarlemGal
Walking home this evening (Thursday night), I noticed two new shops getting ready to open on Frederick Douglass Blvd. At 301 Cathedral Parkway, right next to the State Farm Insurance office and near Frederick Douglass Circle, there is a Subway shop opening. The sign is up! Then at 2098 FDB, I noticed neon lights and signage were up saying Express Dry Cleaners.

I am happy to see the retail space is filling up along FDB. However, I was really hoping something else new and different for these type of commercial spaces, such as a 24-hour diner or an Asian restaurant (Thai, Japanese or Korean) or another vegetarian restaurant. Definitely not another Subway shop. What do you think? What would you like to see in some of these commercial spaces in Harlem?

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Posted in business, Harlem

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