Category Archives: Harlem

Beauty shop alert in Central Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 20, 2010 @ 13:57
By HarlemGal
Taking my usual stroll up Frederick Douglass Boulevard, I noticed another store front papered with question marks. Is it just me that notices this approach? Practically most new businesses use this method in Harlem.
The store I am talking about is at 2220 Frederick Douglass Blvd right across the street from the upcoming Chocolat.
Several sources say this piece of real estate is being prepped as a beauty salon. Hmm? Not a bad addition to the area if it is in fact true! Do you know anything about this space? If so, diganos!

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Posted in business, Harlem

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Swing by in Harlem to get your ‘I love Harlem’ t-shirt

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 20, 2010 @ 11:16

By HarlemGal
A few weeks ago I was enjoying a nice evening at Mojo in Harlem during their reverse happy hour. I noticed the wait staff had on these attractive t-shirts that said ‘I love Harlem.’ I quickly asked: where can I get that t-shirt? The person told me to go by Swing, the concept store located at 1960 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. right on the corner of 118th Street. So I did just that! I quickly bought two!
I really wanted this t-shirt because it’s light weight, comes in cool colors and the words ‘I love Harlem’ are spelled out in cursive. Generally, you see those touristy tees with the big red heart on them and the say New York. That’s ok, but I wanted a t-shirt that was more specific and could be used as a conversation starter. This t-shirt from Swing will do. That’s why I bought two of them at $20 each. Not bad of a price. I have purchased items at Bebenoir and N Boutique for the same amount.
If you like these ‘I love Harlem’ t-shirts like I do, hurry up to Swing in Harlem. They just got a new shipment in where they are fully stocked with both adult and children’s t-shirts. The children’s tees are $15. And Swing has a French spelling tee for children that says ‘J’adore Harlem.’ I believe that translates to ‘I adore Harlem.’ How cute is that for a child?
If there are any questions about how much ‘I love Harlem,’ I will now point to my new tee!

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Posted in Harlem, shopping

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Is The Wall Street Journal in love with Harlem?

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 19, 2010 @ 12:18

By HarlemGal
I can’t help but notice how the Rupert Murdoch business publication called The Wall Street Journal keeps writing and profiling Harlem in their real estate section in a very positive light! It just happened again over the weekend with a highly complimentary article titled Costco, Condos Accent Today’s East Harlem, which is also known as Spanish Harlem.
To my knowledge, this is about the third or fourth positive article in this conservative publication about Harlem this summer. Based on those brief statistics, I have to ask: is The Wall Street Journal in love with Harlem, a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, long known as the black capital of the world? Let’s recap to answer that question.
About a month ago, Austin2Harlem told us about the raving WSJ article on Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Then we see ongoing coverage about the Emmitt Smith hotel project. Up next was a somewhat sympathetic article about a condo titled Getting Deals Done. This talked about the unique structure called Gateway Condominiums. And now in July, we see a glowing article about East Harlem by the Journal saying it “has come alive.” These are the printed words you will now see in what I believe to be one of the most conservative business papers on the planet. I am not knocking their coverage of Harlem. I am just saying I am shocked that this is now happening and that I somewhat agree with some of the things mentioned by the Journal about Harlem, which leads me to answer my own question with an enthusiastic YES!, I do think The Wall Street Journal is madly in love with Harlem. Can you blame them?

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Posted in Harlem, real estate

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Make Harlem Week your every summer to do

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 18, 2010 @ 11:27
By HarlemGal

The good thing about living on the Big Island of Manhattan is there is a plenty to do and choose from. There is so much to choose from it can make you dizzy. Let us help you narrow down your choices. If you’re visiting or live in the New York tri-state area, check out Harlem Week. It is a non-profit organization that organizes fun summer activities every season around July and August-all about Harlem. So if you’re not sure what to do while visiting the Big Apple, no worries. Check out this site and you’ll find fun and interesting things to do in upper Manhattan.

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Need a place to brunch in Harlem? Try Il Caffe Latte

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 18, 2010 @ 10:16

By HarlemGal
On Twitter, we are sometimes asked “where should I go for brunch in Harlem?” We provide several options in our tweets. However, at the top of HarlemGal’s list I respond with “go to Il Caffe Latte at 189 Lenox Avenue.” It’s located between 119th and 120th Street on Lenox Ave, also known as Malcolm X Blvd.
The reason why I like this place so much is because it feels like I am going to family home for breakfast. It’s not big and it’s not small. It’s comfortable. When you approach Il Caffe Latte it has a wide store front with a giant squared window. That setting alone is inviting. It allows you to immediately peak in at a distance from the sidewalk. From there, you can see in and what you’ll discover are plenty of people inside enjoying themselves.
I went on a Saturday afternoon before three and ordered the Make Your Own Omelette with salad, along with multi-grain toast and iced coffee. It was absolutely the best cause the omelette was nice, big and fluffy stuffed with spinach, mushrooms and cheese. Yum! And the toast was authentic multi-grain bread with real butter, not margarine. Sometimes you can go to a restaurant and the bread is lacking. Not here, I liked my grained bread at Il Caffe Latte. And to top it all off, the iced coffee was served in a well-sized shake glass. I believe it was a pint size. So I had plenty to quench my thirst and stock up on the caffeine. Oh…and another wonderful attribute of Il Caffe Latte, I only spent about $13 dollars. Not bad for an enjoyable brunch in Harlem.

So if your asking that familiar question “where should I go for brunch in Harlem?” Try Il Caffe Latte in Harlem. But go early cause when I went to this place it was busy right up until the end of brunch, which is around three o’clock. People kept coming in and out. That was the only downside, which is manageable!

See you at brunch in Harlem.

Il Caffe Latte
189 Lenox Ave.
(between 119th St & 120th St)
New York, NY 10026
(212) 222-2241

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Posted in Harlem, restaurants

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Keep Harlem trees hydrated

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 13, 2010 @ 15:36

By HarlemGal
Lately it’s been hot and steamy outside where I can barely walk a few hundred feet without needing to quench my thirst. I get real thirsty with this kind of weather. Do you feel like this? If so, let’s imagine what the things around us must feel like, such as trees. You know what I am talking about? Those green things that create shade, reduce air pollution, add beauty and that some of us witnessed being planted throughout Harlem last Fall as part of the MillionTreesNYC. Like us, trees need water too in order to grow and exist in NYC. So what can Harlemites do to keep our trees alive and well?

The NYC Parks Commissioner and members of the Harlem community are urging New Yorkers to keep our street trees hydrated throughout the summer by taking self-action to water our street lined trees-especially the baby trees! Here is what the NYC Parks suggests:

•water each young tree with several gallons of water once a week from May through October!
•use a hand cultivator to loosen the top soil so that the water can reach the roots!
•careful not to dig too deep by using large tools!
•water slowly!
•and if it rains one inch or more in a weeks time period don’t bother watering!

Sounds pretty basic…right? So let’s water our trees in Harlem and urge our fellow New Yorkers to do the same and say “Let’s keep Harlem green!”

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Posted in Community, Harlem

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Harlem’s 115th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd getting a glass makeover

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 9, 2010 @ 16:24

By HarlemGal

There is so much construction change taking place in the southwestern part of Harlem one would thing it would be impossible to keep up with. That could be the case if it weren’t for readers informing HarlemCondoLife on where to go take that next stroll around Harlem. I am learning to listen to those tips and that’s what I did today (Friday). A reader tipped HCL about a ton of retail construction happening on the southwest corner of 115th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd., also known as 7th Avenue. I checked it out. Thank you Lynn!

There are two scenarios floating around about what is happening with this retail space in Harlem that I am estimating to be more than 3000 square feet. One worker said that the space is being cleaned out and turned into a laundry mat. Interesting. Not my favorite scenario since most of the buildings in the area have laundry facilities inside the building and there are two other mats close by: one on Frederick Douglass Blvd., and 114th Street and the other on St. Nicholas and 113th Street.

Another person hanging out in front of the construction, said that the owner, who happens to own the entire complex located at 1890 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd., is remodeling the space to get an entire new tenant. It is rumored that the owner of this retail space wants $15,000 in rent. I believe that is 5 thousand less than what is requested on Frederick Douglass Blvd. I hear some commercial space goes for around $20k with a ten-year commitment. Not cheap!

Overall, I hope something unique and interesting moves into this space, such as a diner or another mom and pop drug store. What do you want? Diganos! Who knows…maybe the owner is listening!

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Her Garden balloon and gift store opens joining small businesses in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 6, 2010 @ 10:44

HarlemCondoLife

By HarlemGal

West 116th Street in Harlem became a bit brighter two weeks ago. That’s when Her Garden, a gift and balloon shop, opened up as a small business right here in Harlem. Central Harlem is the second location for the gift and balloon shop. They have one other store in Ridgefield, NJ.

When I went by the store over the holiday weekend, I saw their portfolio of balloon artistry. It was impressive! If you want a bridge full of balloons for major events, such as a wedding or political convention, they can build it for you. If a bouquet of balloons is more your style for a birthday or thinking of you moment, Her Garden in Harlem can create that special gift as well. What if you want a single balloon in the color of your choice, they have that too! At Her Gardens in Harlem, you can spend $2 dollars on a balloon or go as high as $500 dollars for an amazing balloon creation.

There is one unique aspect to this store that really caught my attention and I am interested in purchasing something like this for my Harlem home and that is doll sculptures made from recycled balloons (see photo of doll in slideshow). As balloon artists, they go through a ton of balloons whether it be the color is wrong for a bouquet or the balloon pops when blowing it up. So this store takes those used balloon pieces and creates wonderful dolls. I think this is a unique, green gift. I like it and plan to purse getting one.

If your on 116th Street, between Frederick Douglass Blvd. and Adam Clayton Powell, head on over to Her Garden by foot to order some balloons. Their website is under construction right now so the best way to see their work is to drop by!

Her Garden (Gifts & Balloons)
227 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10026
212-280-2403/917-273-8111

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Posted in business, Harlem

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Air advertisements over Central Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 5, 2010 @ 11:00

By HarlemGal

Over the holiday weekend, I saw some white spurts of air dotting the sky. I couldn’t tell at first what it was. Then I kept watching and saw letters come alive that spelled out Geico, insurance and hot summer. That’s all I caught. I had never seen this happen before in Harlem, especially over the Fourth. I have seen it done at the beach, but not much in the City. Does anyone know if this is common in Harlem? Why would Geico do something like this? And did anyone else see this over the weekend? It looked pretty cool! Hmm, hopefully a Geico rep or someone in general will step forward and tell us what this is about?

Hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!

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Harlem’s Chocolat in hiring mode, plans to open soo

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 5, 2010 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal

For those of you who inquired about whether Chocolat was continuing with their hiring process, we were told they still are. We stopped by over the holiday weekend to ask and a person on site said they are taking applications today, Monday, July 5 at the home of where Chocolat will be, which is at 2217 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

If your interested in working there, head on over. They are hiring cause they expect to open in about three to four weeks according to a worker on location. From the photos below, looks like they’re on track! Excellent. Another place for us to hang!

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Posted in Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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