Category Archives: history

Hey Harlem, we are getting free wifi

Posted on December 11, 2013 | 8 comments

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Manhattan’s and America’s black capital, aka Harlem, is getting a major freebie via a grant and reaching a major milestone. Harlem is getting free wi-fi service and will soon be home to the nation’s largest wi-fi network.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday, Tuesday, that a specific section of Harlem will soon get a new outdoor public wi-fi network. The free wi-fi coverage will cover 95 city blocks, spanning from 110th Street to 138th Street.

“The public network will be funded for the first five years through a grant from the non-profit Fuhrman Family Foundation, led by former Goldman Sachs executive Glenn Fuhrman. The first phase is already underway, and the mayor’s office said the entire network will be completed by May of next year.”

Read more here.

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Posted in 110th Street, 111 Central Park North, 116th Street, 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., Community, education, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, Harlem bloggers, Harlem blogs, HarlemGal, history, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC

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Want a Harlem t-shirt? Keep Harlem, Harlem tees now available

Posted on December 2, 2013 | 1 comment

On this Harlem blog, I use tees to feature the subject matter, ie Harlem. Sometimes readers ask, where can I buy a unique tee with the name Harlem on it? Here’s an option. One of my favorite Harlem sites, Harlem NYC, is now offering Harlem tees to purchase. The t-shirt says “Keep Harlem, Harlem.” Pretty cool…huh? If you’re interested in purchasing this Harlem tee, go here! And to check out Harlem NYC like I do, click here.

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Posted in 110th Street, 111 Central Park North, 116th Street, 125th Street, 1Forno Pizzeria Harlem, 5 and Diamond Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., Aloft Harlem Hotel, apartments, art and culture, baking, Bars, bier international, business, Cafe, Cantina Harlem, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, celebrities, Central Park North, Chocolat, commercial real estate, Community, Corner Social, drinks, education, entertainment, Events, fashion, film, food, Frederick Cafe Bistro Harlem, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Frederick Douglass Circle, Free!, Harlem, Harlem Bakeries, Harlem bloggers, Harlem blogs, Harlem brownstone, Harlem businesses, Harlem commercial real estate,, Harlem Flo, Harlem Food Bar, Harlem real estate,, Harlem Restaurant Row, Harlem restaurants, Harlem School of the Arts, Harlem Shake, Harlem Shambles, Harlem Tavern, HarlemGal, Harvist Restaurant Harlem, health and wellness, history, Il Forno Pizza and Salad Harlem, jazz, Katrina Parris Flowers Harlem, kids, Lenox Avenue, Lenox Lounge, Lenox Social, Les Ambassades Harlem, Lido Harlem, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Maharaja Palace Harlem, Maison Harlem, Make My Cake, Marcus Garvey Park, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, Minton's Harlem, Money Series, Morningside Park, Mt. Morris Park, music, New York, New York City, NYC, Pa-paya Seed Frozen Yogurt Cafe Harlem, personal care, politics, real estate, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants, review, Savann Turkish Restaurant Harlem, Seasoned Vegan Harlem, shopping, Silvana, spending, Sports, St. Nicholas Avenue, Studio Museum Harlem, Sylvia's Restaurant, The Apollo Theater, The Cecil Harlem, The Chipped Cup Harlem, The Park 112 Harlem, The Park Wine Bar, Things to do in Harlem, Things to do with kids in Harlem, Urban Garden Center, Vinatería, Where to dine in Harlem, Yoga in Harlem, Youth, Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant

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Traffic jam expected in Harlem today, Michelle Obama hosting spouses of Heads of State at Studio Museum, Dance Theatre of Harlem expected to perform

Posted on September 24, 2013 | Leave a comment

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Look out for a traffic jam today in Harlem around The Studio Museum in Harlem, i.e. 125th between Lenox Ave and ACP! Why? Our First Lady Michelle Obama will be hosting an afternoon event at The Studio Museum in Harlem for the spouses of Chiefs of State and Heads of Government participating in the UN General Assembly, which is happening all week.

Mrs. Obama is expected to will deliver brief remarks at the event and the Dance Theatre of Harlem is planning to perform for the First Lady and her guests.

As for traffic, expect major delays and back up leading up to 125th Street from East to West. To get the latest on traffic, HarlemGal Inc recommends following @gridlocksam for the latest!
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Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., Harlem, Harlem bloggers, Harlem blogs, HarlemGal, history, Lenox Avenue, Studio Museum Harlem

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Citi Bike Share good enough for ‘Annie’ movie set filming in Harlem, not good enough for real life Harlem residents to use

Posted on September 20, 2013 | 13 comments

Did anyone notice all the publicity, irony and major hypocrisy around adorable actress Quvenzhané Wallis riding a Citi Bike through Harlem on the set of ‘Annie’ this past week? When I saw several news clips stating how the character of ‘Annie’ was spotted in Harlem riding a Citi Bike, all I could think about was…wow, how interesting that the Citi Bike Share is being used on the set of the remake of ‘Annie’ now filming in Harlem, but none of us who live in the Village of Harlem actually get to use the bike share program because Citibank has not made it available to those of us who live uptown. What a double standard by Citibank?

It’s obvious that Citibank paid the big time producers of the remake of ‘Annie’ for product placement. I guess Citi Bike Share wants to give the appearance in this upcoming movie that all poor little black children get to use their bikes. Bull! Do the producers of this movie know Harlem residents do not get to use this bike share?

At this time, no child who lives in Harlem or friends or family get to use Citi Bike Share. In my view, this is hypocrisy at its best. There is not one Citi Bike location in Harlem to date. And there’s been no explanation (that I can find) for why the Citi Bike Share has not been made available to Manhattanites who live Uptown! Talk about a hard-knock-life. Harlem residents are the real life orphan-Annie’s when it comes to the Citi Bike Share program. I guess we are not good enough to work on our carbon foot print. But hey in a movie, lets fool everyone else that this might be happening in Harlem.

All I can say is, if the Citi Bike Share program is good enough to use on the movie set of ‘Annie’ currently filming in Harlem, then Citi Bike Share is darn well good enough to implement and use for the people living in Harlem. Hope Citi Bike Share comes to their senses and changes their locations. Hypocrisy will get you no where.
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Posted in 110th Street, 111 Central Park North, 116th Street, 125th Street, art and culture, celebrities, Community, education, entertainment, film, Harlem, Harlem bloggers, Harlem blogs, Harlem businesses, HarlemGal, history, New York, New York City, NYC

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The African-American Day Parade is happening in Harlem tomorrow, September 15

Posted on September 14, 2013 | 3 comments

Don’t forget, tomorrow in Harlem is the largest parade in America dedicated to the black community. It’s the African-American Day Parade, which starts at 1 pm and runs along Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd from 111th Street to 136th Street in Harlem. It is a fun event for family, friends and all. See you there.

Take a look at last years photos of the African-America Day Parade!

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Posted in 110th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., Community, Events, Free!, Harlem, Harlem blogs, history, kids, New York, New York City, NYC, Things to do in Harlem, Things to do with kids in Harlem

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Russell Simmons’ major f*** up, Simmons should visit the Harriet Tubman Sculpture in Harlem

Posted on August 16, 2013 | 4 comments

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Pardon my French in the headline, but Russell Simmons needs some serious training in black history and he clearly should come to Harlem ASAP to pay respect to the amazing Harriet Tubman, the African-American abolitionist and humanitarian during the American Civil War, after the stunt his music label pulled. What in God’s green earth were they thinking? Read the clip here on what happened cause I’m not going to repeat Russell Simmons’ major screw up. But I do think he should do more after that error.

If you haven’t heard the latest, Russell Simmons is sorry now for the recent actions of his music label and he offered his apologies. Whatever! In my view, this screw up by Russell Simmons needs further action by him.

Lets start with…how about paying respect to this great woman by visiting the sculpture in Harlem dedicated to her, ie the Harriet Tubman Sculpture at 122nd and Frederick Douglass Blvd? Show some real respect Russell Simmons! Honor this American by visiting an area in Harlem dedicated to her! Feel free to use the visit as a photo-op too. You could use it right now.

Pay up too for this mistake. Russell Simmons should support his apology writing out a big fat check to an African-American organization of his choice that supports women. After all, if you’re truly sorry for this insult to Harriet Tubman (and all women), putting your money where your mouth/apology is will make it more authentic/PR effective. What do you say, Russell?

And last, from one yogi to another, cause those of us who practice yoga know you like this ancient Indian practice, why not distribute material on YouTube that enlightens the world, not trashes it?

Not sure where the Harriet Tubman Sculpture is located? To visit the Harriet Tubman Sculpture, take the B or C subway line to 116th Street or A or D train to 125th Street or take your limo! The sculpture stands at the crossroads of St. Nicholas Avenue, West 122nd Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem blogs, history, New York, New York City, NYC, St. Nicholas Avenue

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Congrats to Harlem RBI, Prince Harry is visiting East Harlem today

Posted on May 14, 2013 | Leave a comment

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It’s been all over the news. A Prince will be in Harlem today! According to several online reports, Prince Harry will be in East Harlem to visit Harlem RBI for some baseball and to promote the program. That’s so wonderful for them! Way to go Harlem RBI! That’s a home run!

“For more than 20 years Harlem RBI has been serving the neighborhood.  The organization started by reclaiming an abandoned garbage filled lot and turning it into 2 baseball diamonds that would become true fields of dreams for disadvantaged kids in East Harlem.”

If you’re not familiar with Harlem RBI, visit prior posts here to learn more.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Harlem, Harlem blogs, Harlem businesses, history, kids, New York, New York City, NYC

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Friends of Frederick Douglass Circle in Harlem invites community to meeting April 23

Posted on April 13, 2013 | Leave a comment

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A group of Harlemites, who live near the Frederick Douglass Circle in Harlem, have formed a community organization called Friends of Frederick Douglass Circle. The Friends of Frederick Douglass Circle aim “to beautify this particular area of Harlem and bring events to the circle.”

This organization is having a pubic meeting April 23 at 301 Cathedral Parkway and we are all invited to attend. See details below if interested in participating.

Read prior blog coverage of Frederick Douglass Circle here.

Friends of Frederick Douglass

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Posted in Community, education, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Frederick Douglass Circle, Free!, Harlem, Harlem blogs, history, New York, New York City, NYC

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Support Changing Face of Harlem, film in final stretch of completion

Posted on March 3, 2013 | 2 comments

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Changing Face of Harlem, a documentary about Harlem’s ongoing transformation told from the voices of longtime residents, business owners, politicians, developers, and clergy, is in the home stretch to complete the film. This month they have launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $30,000 to meet final post-production costs. Post-production costs cover final sound mixing, edit, color correction, and costs of archival footage, graphics and music.

To help Changing Face of Harlem meet their goal, go here to donate. The campaign runs for the month of March.

Read prior posts here on Changing Face of Harlem.

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Posted in 110th Street, 116th Street, 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, business, Community, education, film, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem blogs, Harlem Restaurant Row, history, Lenox Avenue, Marcus Garvey Park, Mt. Morris Park, New York, New York City, NYC, politics, real estate, restaurants, Studio Museum Harlem

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What to do in Harlem this Friday? Casa Frela Gallery, Harlem School of the Arts, Harlem Salsa, Harlem Bar Crawl

Posted on January 23, 2013 | Leave a comment

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There are several Harlem happenings taking place this Friday evening, Jan 25. They’re lined up below for your consideration.

Casa Frela Gallery will present the works of furniture artist Yoav S. Liberman from 8-10 pm. In addition to showing Yoav’s fantastic furniture pieces, he will also speak about the art pieces currently in the gallery, as well as an informal Q&A to follow. To attend this FREE event, RSVP to events@casafrela.com.

Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer and Musical Director Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra will take the stage at the Harlem School of the Arts’ Winter Music Festival, located at 645 Saint Nicholas Avenue. This will be the first of several concerts presented by O’Farrill and the members of his jazz orchestra this year. This event starts at 6:30 pm and it is FREE.

Over on the Westside, it’s Harlem Salsa at Dinosaur BBQ, located 700 125th Street. One hour salsa classes are offered from 6-7 pm. Admittance for the evening is $10. See more details in picture below.

And the Harlem Bimonthly Bar Crawl continues on Lenox Avenue starting at 9 pm. Participating establishments for the 25th include: Les Ambassades Bar & Restaurant, Harlem Corner Social, Red Rooster Harlem, Cove Lounge, and Chez Lucienne.

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Bars, Corner Social, drinks, entertainment, Events, food, Harlem, Harlem School of the Arts, history, jazz, Lenox Avenue, music, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurants, spending

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