Category Archives: Harlem

A look back in photos at this year’s East Harlem Harvest Festival

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East Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest Festival
East Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest FestivalEast Harlem Harvest Festival

On October 27, the business community of East Harlem organized their first Harlem Harvest Festival. I attended and had a fabulous time from drinking SugarHill Beer for FREE (Yum), to watching to 212Green perform and walking up and down La Marqueta trying out the different food treats. It was a wonderful time at the East Harlem Harvest Festival and glad to hear the organizers plan on doing this a couple of times a year! Given that, I definitely plan to head back!

Seasoned Vegan signs lease at 55 St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem, aims to open January 2013


The owners of Seasoned Vegan recently notified their KickStarter backers via email that “after much hard work, preparation and long anticipation” they have signed a lease for restaurant space at 55 St. Nicholas Avenue, right at the corner of 113th Street. The note states they “used the money from KickStarter for the down payment… and that they plan to open at their new location in Harlem in January 2013.”

Congrats to Brenda and Aaron. As always, looking forward to another dining option in Harlem.

Lenox Avenue, Harlem featured web series, premieres tonight October 29

Need a break from watching the news on Hurricane Sandy? Here’s an option. Lenox Avenue, a new Harlem-based television series, is premiering exclusively online now at http://www.LenoxAveSeries.com.

The series, created by ValDean Entertainment and award-winning producer, writer and actor Al Thompson (Comedy Central, SYFY) follows the fast-paced lives of three men as they navigate dating, sex and love in Harlem, NY.

Check it out tonight and tell us what you think!

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What’s open today in Harlem during Sandy?

Most of us are home today in Harlem bracing for the arrival of Sandy. Some Harlem business have posted notices on Facebook or Twitter saying they are open today.

So far the businesses who have said they’re open are: Astor Row Cafe on Lenox Avenue and 130th, Lenox Coffee at 60 West 129th Street, The Chipped Cup at 3610 Broadway, Dunkin Donuts on FDB between 113th and 114th Street, Il Cafe Latte on Lenox Ave and 119th Street, Frederick’s Cafe & Bistro on FDB and 114th, East Harlem Cafe at 1651 Lexington Avenue, Patsy’s Pizza at 2287 First Avenue will be open today from 11 am to 11 pm, Chez Lucienne on Lenox Avenue, Harlem Tavern on 116th Street and FDB, and Red Rooster Harlem on 125th and Lenox Avenue is open for lunch. They will make a decision about dinner later depending on storm conditions.

If you know of any other Harlem businesses that are open today, October 29, please tell us! Stay safe and dry Harlem! 20121029-091047.jpg 20121029-091102.jpg 20121029-091142.jpg

Esperanza Spalding in photos performing at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater

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Esperanza Spalding at the ApolloThe owner of SugarHill Beer & Friends at East Harlem Harvest Festival!Whose ready to smoke a hookah pipe at East Harlem Harvest Festival? Compliments of The Kiosk!I'm hanging out here today, aka beer tent, at East Harlem Harvest Festival. Gonna drink some SugarHill Beer!Plenty of pumpkins at the East Harlem Harvest Festival...and a ghost!Bright red awning at Melba's Restaurant in Harlem!

I went to see jazz singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding Friday night (Oct 26) at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. It was fantastic. This was my first time seeing her perform. There is no question in my mind Esperanza Spalding, the Grammy award winner, is the full package: extremely talented, unique and so gorgeous. Hopefully these pictures give you a sense of that! Enjoy.

Attend the Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail October 28 at Harlem Meer

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Don’t forget that this coming Sunday (October 28th) is the annual Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail at Harlem Meer, the entrance is located at 110th Street and Lenox Avenue or Fifth Avenue and 110th Street. Bring your little pumpkin, aka kid/child, in their favorite Halloween costume and a carved pumpkin for the sail. The event starts at 4 pm with the Pumpkin Sail starting as the sun sets. It’s a fun time. I enjoy seeing all the kiddos in their adorable costumes.

To learn more about the Pumpkin Sail in terms of weight and size, go here. And go here to view past posts on the annual Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail.

Reminder: East Harlem Harvest Festival October 27 from noon to 6 pm

It’s Thursday and I am already thinking about the weekend. I am planning on heading on over to the eastside of Harlem, 116th Street and Park Avenue, for its first Harlem Harvest Festival. The event celebrates East Harlem’s restaurants, bakeries and vendors of La Marqueta public market.

Several restaurants will be participating where one can purchase small bites from Agua Fresca, Kiosk, Hot Bread Kitchen, Soul Fixins’, Creole Restaurant and Music Supper Club, Evelyn’s Kitchen, Luca Bosco, Corbin Hill Farm, Spaha Cafe, Tanto Sabor, El Kallejon Botanas Bar, East Harlem Cafe, Lloyd’s Carrot Cake, Coco Le Vu and Nafi’s Hot Pepper Condiments.

There will be Beer Flights available in the Beer Garden at Urban Garden Center and there will be a Make Your Own Brew Workshop hosted by Celeste Beatty, the founder of Sugar Hill Beer of the Harlem Brewing Company. The Children’s Zone at Urban Garden Center will have a cooking demo by Culinaria Festival, face painting, pumpkin carving and the Cutie Patooties workshop. Dimitri Gatanas of Urban Garden Center will be hosting garden related workshops like How to Build Your Own Terrarium and “Plants in Suspension” Dimitri’s version of the Japanese art of Kokedama.

Hope you can join in on the fun. The event starts at noon October 27 and will end at 6 pm. So plenty of time to head on over to La Marqueta at East 116th Street and Park Avenue. See you there!

Adopt a Harlem grandparent this holiday season


A reader from the Upper Westside shared information about how there is a Mary Kay unit that is adopting residents at a local Harlem senior housing facility, Wyatt Tee Walker Senior Housing on 2177 Frederick Douglass Blvd. They are adopting Harlem senior residents to help make the holidays special for a group that are the most forgotten, seniors.

The Mary Kay unit is asking Harlem businesses and locals to help with this project by adopting a grandparent this holiday. A $15 donation or more will sponsor a special gift for one Harlem senior resident and enable them to have a Happy Holiday Season. Your business card or name will be attached to the gift so they will know that it is a gift from a Harlemite and your business.

Go here to make a donation. If you are interested to learn more about this program offline, contact Lauren Wells at wellslc20@marykay.com.

Let’s help Harlem Grown win $25,000 from Martha Stewart


Last night when I was online tweeting about the Presidential Debate. I came across Edward Norton’s (the actor) twitter page. His tweet said: “Trying to help Harlem Grown win $25K from Martha Stewart.” I inquired further and realized this was important information Mr. Norton tweeted out. I wanted to share too to help Harlem Grown.

This holiday season Martha Stewart is helping to give back by creating the Thanks for Giving Challenge. This is where charities that raise the most funds by November 25th as a part of the Challenge will receive additional cash contributions (as much as $25,000!) from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. So go here to donate at least $26 from October 19 at 7:00 pm EST to November 27th at 11:59 pm EST and you will be automatically entered into the sweepstakes to Win a Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook and you’re helping Harlem Grown to win $25k.

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.