Category Archives: Harlem

Franz James Floral Boutique in Harlem to open today, Lido Restaurant as well

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Feb 12, 2011 @ 9:44

By HarlemGal
February 12 is one busy day for some new local businesses opening up in Harlem. As I told you, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar was scheduled to open before Valentine’s Day and they are now open. Go check them out and tell us what you think of the new digs.

Last night on my way home, I saw folks working inside Franz James Floral Boutique, located at 2114 Frederick Douglass Blvd. I walked in to see what was up. While there, I met the owners, Franz and James (hence the name of the business), and they told me they were opening today, February 12. They will be offering full flower art services, such as arrangements/center pieces for any occasion, and they will be selling loose flowers as well.

By the way, James of Franz James  told me he is from Harlem and continues to live here. So this new business is partially owned and operated by a Harlemite. The same is partially true for Lido. Susannah, co-proprietor, lives in Harlem as well. It’s great to know this. However, we all know a solid product has to be offered.

So if you want to check out these new businesses on Frederick Douglass Blvd. They’re open…starting today!

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Posted in art and culture, business, Harlem, real estate, restaurants, shopping

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Alton Weekes trunk show at Studio Museum Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 11, 2011 @ 13:46


By HarlemGal
The good people who work with
Alton Weekes New York have asked us to share information about their trunk show taking place this weekend in Harlem. The well-known and talented Alton Weekes will be available at Studio Museum Harlem, located at 144 West 125th Street, from February 12-13. The trunk show will offer guests and members of the Museum access to Alton Weekes where he will offer tips on stationary for every occasion.

The trunk show starts at noon both days and will end at 6 p.m. Click here for additional details.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, Events, Free!, Harlem, shopping

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To all single and fabulous women of Harlem, you’re invited to a film screening

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 9, 2011 @ 14:49


By HarlemGal
Listen up, all you amazing and single HarlemGals. Yes, you! You’re invited to a “girls night out!” HarlemCondoLife.com would like to invite you to a free film screening of Jumping the Broom starring Julie Bowen, Paula Patton, Meagan Good, Angela Bassett, Mike Epps, and more, this coming Monday (February 14th) at the Magic Johnson Theater. Jumping the Broom is about “a collision of worlds when two African-American families from divergent socioeconomic backgrounds get together one weekend in Martha’s Vineyard for a wedding.”

In addition to the free film screening, there is an after party for all the awesome women who get to attend the free film screening in Harlem. The after party will include complementary hair styling and make-up application from Empire Beauty School and giveaways from SendHerFlowers.com, Complete Body and Spa, and 8 Minute Dating.

Here’s the details on getting your ticket. Please note, tickets are available on a first come first serve basis!

What: Girls’ Night Out screening of JUMPING THE BROOM
Where: Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem (124th and Frederick Douglass)
When: Monday, Febraury 14th
How: Click on this link to download and print out screening passes! Special instructions are located on the link.

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Posted in Community, entertainment, Events, fashion, film, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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New York Magazine acknowledges, Harlem is hot

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 8, 2011 @ 10:30
By HarlemGal
What a difference a year makes?  Let’s reflect! April 11, 2010 Harlem is poorly ranked by Nate Silver for New York Magazine’s Neighborhood Issue. Does anyone remember this article? I certainly do. That article inspired me to write Top ten reason why Harlem is one of the best neighborhoods to live in. Let’s fast forward to today. Harlem and several local establishments are currently featured bright and big this week in a series of articles under the banner The Everything Guide to Harlem in NY Mag. It’s a creme-de-la-creme of articles featuring restaurants, markets, shops and bars in Harlem. My favorite article is The New New Harlem, which is sort of a “Whose In and Whose Out.” In my view, featuring several establishments in this type of format demonstrates the caliber and variety of places located in Harlem. Plus in order to pit two businesses against each other, there has to be plenty of selection. Clearly, Harlem has reached that point.

In closing, I will use soccer terms to describe this Harlem milestone. This article is another G-O-A-L for Harlem. Remember, we won Curbed Cup 2010 too. More importantly, it recognizes (again) what most of us have known all along, and now NY Mag too, Harlem is hot! Adelante!

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Posted in art and culture, baking, Bars, business, Community, entertainment, fashion, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping

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Harlem businesses come together to ‘Kiss and Tell’

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 8, 2011 @ 7:30
By HarlemGal
Tonight, several Harlem businesses, such as Harlem Flo, The Winery, Make My Cake, Tonnie’s Minis, Aloft Hotel and Yatenga, are gathering together to “Kiss & Tell.” Well, not exactly that, but sort of! These Harlem businesses will be on hand Tuesday evening, starting at 6 p.m., to offer gift advice for Valentine’s Day. According to Harlem Flo’s Facebook site, the February 8th event will “feature unique and creative gifts items that you can purchase for your loved ones for V-day and there after.”

So if you need something for your cupid or yourself, head on over to Harlem Flo, second location at 2276 Frederick Douglass Blvd., at West 122nd Street.

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Posted in business, Community, Events, fashion, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Apollo Theater Exhibit starts February 8th at MCNY

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 7, 2011 @ 7:30
By HarlemGal
This week the Museum of the City of New York kicks off their three-month exhibition about our beloved Apollo Theater. Starting February 8 through May 1, 2011 , see  Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment at MCNY, located  in Spanish Harlem at 1220 Fifth Avenue at East 103rd. The traveling Smithsonian exhibit traces the evolution of the Apollo-from its origins as a segregated burlesque hall to its starring role at the epicenter of African-American entertainment and American popular culture.

To learn more about the exhibit, click here.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, Events, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC

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UPDATE: Levain Bakery says February 22 is opening day for Harlem store

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 6, 2011 @ 11:53
By HarlemGal
Not too long after my blog post talking about when Levain Bakery was opening up for business in Harlem,  Levain went on record on their Facebook page and Harlem store door officially, there is a sign up, stating when they are opening up their Harlem store. The day is Tuesday, February 22.

So there we have it! We now have confirmation straight from the source on when Levain Bakery is opening up their Harlem store! Get your taste buds ready, Harlemites! Most people I chatted with about Levain, say their treats are very good!

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Posted in baking, business, Community, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping

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UPDATE: Lido in Harlem misses signage date, next goal to open before Valentine’s Day

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 4, 2011 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal
As I approach my third year of blogging about Harlem, I am starting to learn new restaurants opening in Harlem approach deadlines similar to how I do: I will aim for a certain date and it will get done a few days after. It happens, right? As with the case with Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, located at 2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd., who hung up a big sign recently saying “Opening February 1.” Obviously that date passed, however the objective is the same for Lido in Harlem and that is to open for business soon.

I spoke with Susannah, a Harlem resident and proprietor of Lido, and she said they are now aiming to open before Valentine’s Day where Harlemites will be able to order from a delectable, Italian menu! I was also had the opportunity to walk inside Lido (sorry no pics) and the place is coming together. It’s going to look great! The color scheme is based on light greens with white molding in select areas. The bar appeared to be concrete-like, not wooded, larger than before, and its on the left side when you walk in. Brushed silver light fixtures will illuminate the restaurant. Their website is up with limited information.

And of course, I had to ask Susannah why they named the restaurant Lido. She told me it’s named after Venice Lido in Italy, “a skinny island between the lagoon and the Adriatic, with hotels and beaches.”

So stay tuned for more info, such as who will be the chef and what will be the price point of the menu!

Have a great weekend!

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Posted in business, Community, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Bad Horse Pizza riding into Harlem to some extent unknown

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 1, 2011 @ 7:30
By HarlemGal
I noticed over the weekend that we had a new twitter follower called Bad Horse Pizza. When I saw this I honestly thought, “who the heck is that?” I later googled them, which turned up their website and a blog post about them riding into Harlem soon. And guess where? Yup! You guessed it! Frederick Douglass Blvd! The exact address is 2224 Frederick Douglass Blvd!

I was very surprised to hear this news and double surprised that a pizza joint would be opening up on FDB. Why? We have Giovanni’s on 110th and Columbus Avenue, Pizzaria 123 right next to 2280 Frederick Douglass Condos and we have Settepani supposedly opening up a pizza place on 119th and Lenox Avenue.  It seems like we are good when it comes to pizza.

Don’t get me wrong. I think its wonderful that a new business is opening up in the old space that Corcoran bolted from. However, a pizza place with the words “bad” and “horse” in it to go along with existing or upcoming places such as, 67 Orange, Chocolat, Levain Bakery, 5 and Diamond, bier international, Melba’s and more?

These questions come to mind. Is Bad Horse Pizza a strategic fit with FDB? And does it compliment the other businesses that have or are planning to open in the area? Ayudanos por favor!

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Levain Bakery to open for business in Harlem this week?

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jan 31, 2011 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal
Will this week be the week Levain Bakery officially opens up their Harlem store? We are hearing that’s a possibility. According to a reader, who dropped us a line over the weekend, they went by Levain’s Upper Westside location recently and were told Levain’s Harlem location at 2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd will be opening up on February 1! Sweet, if that is the case.

I walked by the Harlem store over the weekend and the place appears ready, then again one never knows unless you’re in the baking business. Let’s wait and see if this is the week!

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