A reader points us to an article in the Diner’s Journal-NYTimes.com today, which reports that this coming Thursday, September 8, Marcus Samuelsson will have a pop up in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Global Street Food pop up will be located in the cafe from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Sept. 15 and “will serve dishes like peri peri shrimp salad, fish falafel with yogurt sauce, and doro wat with injera bread, priced from $5 to $12.”
I received an interesting email today from the Paul McCartney Fan Club (yes, I am a huge fan) informing me that there is a documentary called The Love We Make, which is a chronicle of Paul McCartney life after 9/11. The email went on to say that the documentary is directed by Albert Maysles, a brilliant filmmaker and a long time resident of Harlem.
According to the Maysles website, Albert Maysles follows legendary rocker Paul McCartney as he prepares for the Concert for New York in the month after the 9/11 attacks, partnering with Elton John, The Who, David Bowie, Billy Joel and many more to Madison Square Garden for a night of musical healing. The film captures the legendary rock star and his desire to help NYC, the place were McCartney’s first wife Linda Eastman is from.
To see this film in New York City, there is an opportunity on September 8, but it is only for American Express credit card holders. If you have an AMEX card, click here for tickets. And then starting on September 10 at 9 p.m. ET, subscribers to Showtime to can view the documentary then and on several other occasions.
I just wish this film was showing in Harlem. Some of us might not get to see it. Not everyone has an AMEX card or Showtime.
Mr. Maysles, why not show The Love We Make at the Magic Johnson Theater or Maysles Cinema on Lenox Ave? This way Harlem has an opportunity to such a timely documentary.
Posted in Community, film, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 9/11, Albert Maysles, American Express, documentary, Harlem, Maysles Cinema, paul mccartney, Showtime, The Love We Make
There is another place in Harlem that is selling inexpensive flowers-aside from the place in Spanish Harlem I told you about last October. Fine Fare 
Supermarket, located at 136 Lenox Avenue between 111th and 112th, sells a variety of flowers and plants for an inexpensive price. At this Fine Fare, roses are selling for $6 a dozen or two dozen for $10. Not bad. I purchased $20 dollars worth. My little casita is filled with flowers.
Check it out the Fine Fare near Central Park North if you interested in inexpensive roses. If you live in East Harlem, I buy flowers at the NW corner of 116th and Lexington Avenue. They are reasonable there as well.
Posted in business, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, shopping
Tagged 136 Lenox Avenue, East 116th street, Fine Fare Supermarket, Flowers, Lexington Avenue, roses, Spanish Harlem
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has two interesting and distinct exhibitions taking place until January 2012. The first is Malcolm X: A Search for Truth. This exhibition showcases Malcolm X’s various speeches, sermons, radio broadcasts, diaries, correspondence, and other documents handwritten by him. Visit this exhibition every day, except Sundays, until January 7, 2012. Click here to read more about Malcolm X: A Search for Truth.
In addition to the Malcolm X exhibit, the Schomburg is also paying tribute to world acclaimed artist and native son Romare Bearden. In Romare Bearden: The Soul of Blackness/A Centennial Tribute, the public will see the massive Bearden collection the Schomburg Center has been collecting for the past three decades. Visit this exhibition every day, except Sundays, until January 7, 2012. To learn more about the Romare Bearden collection, click here.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is located at 515 Lenox Avenue at 135th Street. Take the 2/3 NYC Subway to 135th Street!
Posted in art and culture, Community, Events, Harlem, history, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged Harlem, Malcolm X: A Search for Truth, New York Public Library, Romare Bearden, Romare Bearden: The Soul of Blackness/A Centennial Tribute, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The Changing Face of Harlem documentary, which is capturing Harlem’s rebirth of the last decade needs our help. The director of Changing Face of Harlem is looking to use photos-and maybe film footage-of an artist/performer who performed in Harlem during the 1930s or 1940s. If you know of someone who has photos of a Harlem artist from that time period, please go to the Changing Face of Harlem Facebook page or contact the director at shawn@changingfaceofharlem.com. Another option is to email harlemgalinc@gmail.com with your suggestions and HarlemGal Inc. will make sure it get’s passed on to the director.
The second option is to find the family of a Harlem artist/musician/dancer/singer etc. Maybe this amazing person who performed in Harlem back in the day continued their personal legacy through family? If you know of someone who had a mother or father that performed in Harlem the 30s or 40s, the director is looking to use those photos and film footage for her documentary. Again, if you know of someone, use the contact information above.
And last, if you’re wondering why the Changing Face of Harlem director is looking for these photos and film footage, she is working on strengthening the history section of Harlem in her film.
Hope we can help! Have a wonderful day Harlem!
Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, Bars, business, Community, education, entertainment, Events, film, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Frederick Douglass Circle, Harlem, history, jazz, Lenox Avenue, politics, restaurants
Tagged art and culture, Changing Face of Harlem, Films, Harlem, history, Shawn Batey
Our beloved Harlem is featured bright and big again in the media, but this time in the UK’s travel section of The Independent. According to the article the reporter/ photographer visited Harlem recently and took direction from Thelma Golden, the Director of Studio Museum Harlem, on what to see in Harlem.
Per Golden’s instructions, Chris Coplans stayed at The Aloft Harlem and he raves about it in the article. He also went to the Apollo Theater, El Museo del Barrio, Studio Museum Harlem, and more. Golden encouraged the reporter to visit the Duke Ellington sculpture and to try Senegalese food at Les Ambassades.
What’s interesting about this article is the reporter covered a lot of Harlem ground-from East to West. He also gives Lenox Avenue big props by saying, “If 125th St is the traditional Harlem, then Lenox Avenue between 125th and 126th is very much the emerging “New Harlem”, with an arty vibe and “Village” sidewalk culture.”
To read the full article, click here. To see additional photos on Harlem from the reporter, go here.
Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, Bars, business, commercial real estate, Community, drinks, education, entertainment, fashion, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, history, jazz, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurants, shopping, spending, The Apollo Theater
Tagged 10026, 10029, 10030, Aloft Hotel Harlem, Apollo Theater, Chris Coplans, Duke Ellington Memorial Circle, El Museo del Barrio, Lenox Avenue, Les Ambassades, The Independent, The Studio Museum Harlem, Thelma Golden
I received notice that the video feature of Gospel for Teens that aired on 60 Minutes awhile back will be airing again this coming Sunday, August 28 starting at 7 p.m.
If you missed seeing the two-part segment where Leslie Stahl interviews Vy Higginsen and some of her students in Gospel for Teens, there is another opportunity. Don’t miss it. It was very good, emotional and inspiring to see.
Gospel for Teens on 60 Minutes
August 28 at 7 p.m. ET/PT
To read prior blog coverage on Gospel for Teens, click here.
Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, history, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 149 West 126th Street, 60 Minutes, Christiane Amanpour, Gospel for Teens in Harlem, Harlem, How Sweet the Sound:The Search for the Best Church Choir in America, Mama Foundation, Stephen Belber, Universal Pictures, Verizon, Vy Higginsen, Walker Memorial Baptist Church
Tonnie’s Minis, Harlem’s delicious cup cake shop at 264 Lenox Avenue, is dedicating a day to say “Thanks” to their customers. They are holding their First 
Annual Customer Appreciation Day and it’s happening this coming Saturday, August 27. The event starts at noon and goes to 9:00 p.m. Check out details on their facebook page.
Should be a fun event. I saw where someone said they can’t wait to try the cupcake shots. Yummy! If that’s the kind of shots they will be having at this event, I am so there. See you at Tonnie’s Minis in Harlem this Saturday!
Posted in baking, business, Community, Events, food, Free!, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 123rd Street, Bloomingdales, cupcakes, desserts, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, sweets, Tonnies Minis, Watercolor photo by Lynn Lieberman, Zip 10027
Cedric French Bistro and Bar in Harlem turns one week old today and so far the feedback has been positive – at least online from what I have seen. Have you been to Cedric Bistro located at 119th Street and St. Nicholas Ave? If so, tell us what you had for dinner or lunch!
I went with four women this past Thursday and we had a nice time. We ordered a bottle of red wine and started with the Thai mussels with ginger and lemon grass. For our main course, we had grilled salmon, organic roasted chicken, pan seared duck breast, another order of mussels and had plenty of bread and fries to nimble on. We did not have dessert because we were actually full from the main dishes. All these dishes were very good and recommended, service met and, at times exceeded, our expectation and the ambiance was classy.
After we were finished with dinner, we talked about the state of Cedric Bistro among other fabulous dining places in Harlem, such as Red Rooster, Lido Harlem, Settepani, 5 and Diamond, etc., and we all mutually agreed Cedric Bistro deserves a thumbs up. It will do well in Harlem and from our experience on dining there on day four of opening-Cedric French Bistro and Bar is here to stay! Go and experience the place for yourself and tell us what you think!
Posted in Bars, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants
Tagged Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, Harlem, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, new restaurants, Red Rooster Harlem
Yesterday, I told you about how Gospel for Teens based in Harlem is headed to the big screen. Today, its about winning the best choir in America competition. The Vy Higginsen program is competing in How Sweet the Sound:The Search for the Best Church Choir in America.
Gospel for Teens is representing Walker Memorial Baptist Church in the competition. It started August 17 and one can vote as many times as they want each day all the way up to August 31.
How can you vote for Gospel for Teens Harlem? Follow these steps:
1. Click on this link which will take you to How Sweet the Sound choir competition
2. Sign up
3. Then click on the Washington, DC Market (The competition is divided up into regions. This is where Gospel for Teens is located)
4. Then click the 4th square for Walker Memorial Baptist Church and watch Vy Higginsen explain who is Gospel for Teens
5. And finally click the button to “VOTE” under the video. That’s it!
I voted today. Join me and vote for Gospel for Teens Harlem as the best choir in America!
Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, history, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC
Tagged 149 West 126th Street, 60 Minutes, Christiane Amanpour, Gospel for Teens in Harlem, Harlem, How Sweet the Sound:The Search for the Best Church Choir in America, Mama Foundation, Stephen Belber, Universal Pictures, Verizon, Vy Higginsen, Walker Memorial Baptist Church
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