Save the date of October 8th! That is when the annual Harlem Harvest Festival takes place on the corner of 116th Street and St. Nicholas Ave! I went last year and had a wonderful time visiting all the street vendors, eating and watching the performances from the Dance Theater of Harlem. It is a great way to kick off the Fall season.
Take a look at photos from last year’s Harlem Harvest Festival!
Posted in Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, baking, business, Community, education, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, health and wellness, personal care, restaurants
Tagged 116th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Harvest Festival, Harlem4 Center for Change, Photos by HarlemGal, st. nicholas avenue
Harlem Grown and its co-founder Tony Hillary received a huge write-up in The Huffington Post yesterday, Sept. 28. The article beautifully explains how Harlem Grown was born and what inspired Tony to start this non profit in Harlem. I highly recommend taking the time to read: A Tree Grows in Harlem by Alex Budman. It is so worth it! And after you are finished reading the article, watch this video below. It stars Roderick, an 11-year-old student from the Bronx, who takes part in Harlem Grown.
The good folks over at Harlem One Stop are letting us know: “it don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that swing.” To get that swing consider the Fall Swing Dance Schedule for Harlem that starts October 3 and runs all the way to December. There are several options for those of us who want to step into Fall Swing dancing.
First up is FREE Swing classes at Wadleigh Performing Arts High School starting at 6:30pm on Monday, October 3. This class appears to be open to all levels. Wadleigh HS is located on 114th Street between Frederick Douglass Blvd and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
If a beginners Swing class is of more interest, that is taking place Tuesdays starting October 4 from 7-8 p.m. at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Community Center located on 134th between Lenox Avenue and Fifth Ave. This class is asking for a $5 donation.
For advanced Swing dancers, that is taking place on Thursdays starting October 6 from 6-7 p.m. Advance Swing dance classes are happening at the same venue as the beginners class, which is at Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Community Center. The class is also asking for a $5 donation.
And on Fridays, starting October 7 and running through December, are the dance classes for Matures. This class is FREE and is offered at the New Canaan Senior Center.
There you have it! There are dance classes offered in Harlem for every generation, i.e. Gen X to Boomers to Matures!
UPDATE: The Friends of Morningside Park have decided to reschedule the festival for a date in October. Â As soon as the rain date is available, we will pass along.
The Friends of Morningside Park are holding its Common Ground Family Festival this Saturday, September 24th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Festival will include kite making and decorating, Belly Dancing Ensemble, Peter Westbrook Foundation Fencing Demonstration, Johns Magic-Magician, The Legendary Paragons singing Doo Wop, Harlem Farm Fresh CSA, face painting, scavenger hunt, pony rides and much, much more!
And the best part, music will be provided by DJ Stormin Norman of the popular Harlem gathering called Sundae Sermon. Stop by Morningside Park at the 114th Street Stage and 117th Street Playground this Saturday to check out all the activities for Common Ground Family Festival.
HarlemGal Inc’s photostream on Flickr.
Marcus Samuelsson and is wife Maya opened their home in Harlem this past weekend to guests familiar and unknown-all to help the Horn of Africa. The turn out for the event was packed! And the hosts were as gracious and hospitable as…Harlemites would be. See for yourself in HarlemGal’s latest photo stream!
There are three Harlem business owners that are actively trying to make a difference by helping to feed others here and in Africa. And they are inviting us to come along and help with their efforts.
Land Yoga and Soham Wellness have partnered together to raise $5,000 for the Food Bank of New York City by the end of September. The Food Bank had a 50 percent cut in their budget and they need our help. To donate to the Food Bank, click here.
Marcus Samuelsson, along with his wife Maya and several other notable organizations, have organized “Brunch for the Horn of Africa” on September 18th at Marcus and Maya’s apartment in Harlem. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for $50 bucks, the Samuelsson’s will be serving traditional American brunch items as well as a few Ethiopian dishes for “Brunch for the Horn of Africa.” Go to this link to make your reservation. Once you RSVP, you will be sent a confirmation email with all the specific details.
In addition to the suggested $50 per person donation, a raffle of various items will take place throughout the event, offering guests a chance to contribute further and win some fun prizes from Marcus’ celebrity pals. “Brunch for the Horn of Africa” will help feed the famine victims in East Africa.
Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, education, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, health and wellness, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem
Tagged africa, brunch, famine, Food Republic, Harlem, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, horn of africa, Land Yoga, marcus samuelsson, Maya Haile, Paul Goerg Champagne, Radeberger Beer, Soham Wellness, Tadias, Urbanspoon
There are several exciting yoga events happening in the month of September in Harlem. Some events are as simple and important as the release of a new Fall schedule or an introduction to a traditional Indian medical system known as Ayurveda.
Harlem Yoga Studio, located at 44 West 125th Street, has implemented their Fall yoga schedule, which includes more yoga classes for adults and children. In addition, Harlem Yoga Studio will continue to offer free outdoor yoga through September on Saturday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Target East Community Garden, located at 117th Street between 1st Ave and Pleasant Avenue.
At Land Yoga on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 114th Street, they will be offering an introduction to Ayurveda on Friday, September 9 from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. The workshop will examine simple remedies that will help promote calmness and ease from stress especially during the fall season. To attend this workshop, register here.
On September 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Land Yoga is also hosting An Evening of Bharata Natyam performed by Jaan R. Freeman. Bharata Natyam is the most popular of the classical dance of India. To attend this event, the cost of admittance is $20 for adults, and $16 for seniors and students with valid ID. Email landyoga@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
GetHealthyHarlem.org, a health information website where Harlem residents, families, businesses and organizations can find local information about getting and staying healthy, is have a special gathering tonight at Harlem Tavern. They are celebrating the launch of their website redesign.
According to the organization, viewing and posting information will be much easier on their website, such as a community calendar where readers can post their own events. Go to their website to learn more or better yet, join in on the celebration, it starts tonight at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. at Harlem Tavern. RSVP to gethealthyharlem@gmail.com
I want you to meet my new best friend in the area of massage, but shhh…he doesn’t know it! Meet Edwin, founder of EG Bodywork located inside Land Yoga at 2110 Frederick Douglass Blvd!
Edwin, who specializes in stress reduction  and message therapy services, is now offering his services right here in Harlem on Tuesday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  I recently experienced his Swedish and Deep Tissue massage…and let me tell you, it was out of this world wonderful!
I went to Edwin because like most of us, I was feeling stressed all over. I felt tight in my shoulders, my right ankle was bothering me, my stomach was acting up and just felt restlessness-need I say more. When I went to see Edwin, all of those bothersome items went away. I felt relief in my stomach and ankle; and just plain good all over from a Swedish and Deep Tissue massage.
I felt even better after Edwin explained the benefits of Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. According to Edwin, he says through the use of kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration, this type of massage provides relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems. The goal in Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Other benefits include stimulation of circulation, deeper breathing, relaxation, and increase in muscle tone.
As for Deep Tissue, it is aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue. According to Edwin, Deep Tissue massage uses many of the same movements and techniques as Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It is also a more focused type of massage working to release chronic muscle tension or knots, also known as “adhesions.”
I hope this blog post explains why I call Edwin my new best friend. He listens about what’s on your mind in terms of aches and pain. He works to help find some relief and then explains the benefits. Isn’t that what best friends are for?
If you want to have a similar experience (and a new bf for massages), learn more by visiting egbodywork.com.
Listen up parents in Harlem! Are you looking for an educational center right here in the heart of Central Harlem for your kids? You may want to consider Kidberry, which is currently located at 106 West 117th Street in the Lenox Garden Condominium. If you are not sure who they are, check out this visual presentation. They beautifully mapped who they are and what they can offer your little pumpkins. Just watch the video. You’ll be impressed. I certainly was!
Posted in Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., business, Community, education, Harlem, health and wellness, music, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 2046 7th Avenue, children, education, Harlem, Kidberry, Kids, learning
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