Category Archives: New York City

Harlem attracts cool crowds of NYC downtown says Guest of a Guest

Posted on December 1, 2011 | 4 comments



Guest of a Guest, the website co-founded by one of the Winklevoss twins whose been battling Mark Zuckerberg for what seems like ages now, has a feature on Harlem this week. It is quite complimentary, however, it doesn’t say anything new that we Harlemites know already. The article names a list of places to check out and most of them mentioned I agree are great places to visit. However, a true Harlem native writing about Harlem would have dug a bit deeper.

For example, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar gives Red Rooster a run for its money, not only in food, but in ambiance as well. The same goes for Cedric French Bistro and Bar in Harlem! What about mentioning a place in East Harlem? Milk Burger has been endorsed by Anthony Bourdain and his lovely Mrs! Also, when you visit Shrine one can’t miss Yatenga, which is a fun place to hang.

Again, as most of us Harlemites know, there are a ton of cool places to hang in Harlem. Guest of a Guest apparently is just coming around (a bit late) and finding out, but hey, let’s welcome it!

To read the full article, click here.

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Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, Bars, bier international, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, history, jazz, Lenox Avenue, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, music, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants, spending

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Attend Harlem Holiday Lights 2011 tonight

Posted on November 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

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You are invited to the Harlem Holiday Lights Ceremony taking place this evening, November 21. The 125th Street Business Improvement District, Community Boards 9, 10, 11 and the New York City Housing Authority have partnered together for the Holiday Season to “light up” one of New York City’s, and Harlem’s, most legendary thoroughfares from river to river-125th Street! At 5:30pm, the celebration will begin with sounds and lights on the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building. Attendees will enjoy live performances provided by legendary pioneer, producer, and publisher, Vy Higginsen, and her Mama I Want to Sing Foundation as well as the Harlem Arts Alliance and other special guests. Click here to see the entire program and watch the video below.

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Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, business, Community, drinks, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Lee, Lee’s Bakery in Harlem to be featured in holiday special on WABC

Posted on November 17, 2011 | 2 comments

Lee, Lee’s Bakery in Harlem was hopping yesterday. Not only was Alvin Lee Smalls busy filling up his shelves with baked goods, such as his famous rugala, he was busy being interviewed by WABC’s Channel 7! The New York City TV station stopped by in Harlem yesterday to interview Mr. Lee about his boutique style bake shop, along with a few loyal customers of his. What for you may ask? WABC is including Lee, Lees Bakery in their holiday special, which is tentatively schedule for December 17 at 7 pm! Apparently, the word continues to climb that Alvin Lee Smalls of Lee, Lee’s Bakery in Harlem make some exceptional rugala. It’s so good it’s gotta be on TV!

Stop by Lee, Lee’s Bakery at 283 West 118th Street now to purchase baked treats and tune into WABC on Dec. 17 at 7 pm to see Alvin and a few other locals from Harlem talk about why they love Lee, Lee’s Bakery!

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Posted in baking, Community, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping

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Harlem Tavern starts to build roof for outdoor space

Posted on November 16, 2011 | 1 comment

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Back in September, HarlemGal Inc. blogged about how Harlem Tavern, located on the northwest corner of 116th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., had plans to weatherize its outdoor space. According to these pictures taken last night (November 15), the work has begun!

Having a roof cover their outdoor space is a great idea. I am so happy that Harlem Tavern is taking this approach! Now we just need to see evidence of heating lamps to go along with that new roof!

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Posted in business, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants, spending

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Celebrate Albert Maysles 85th birthday with ‘What’s Happening: The Beatles in the USA’

Posted on November 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

In honor of legendary documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles’ 85th birthday and the release of his new film ‘The Love We Make’, a collaboration with Paul McCartney, Maysles Cinema will present a very special screening this coming Friday, November 18, for one night only, of the director’s cut of the Maysles’ Brothers’ documentary ‘What’s Happening: The Beatles in the USA”. Along with this special screening will be a Q&A with Albert Maysles.

“What’s Happening! The Beatles in the USA” was made in 1964 by the Maysles. It is a humorous, freewheeling and candid account of The Beatles arrival in America in February in the mid-1960s. The Maysles follow the Fab Four for five days, from the crazed JFK airport reception to unguarded moments inside the Plaza Hotel in preparation for their landmark Ed Sullivan Show appearance to their equally frenzied homecoming.

To attend and purchase tickets to this event, click here.

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Posted in art and culture, education, entertainment, film, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC

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Chocolat in Harlem reopens after health violation by the City

Posted on November 14, 2011 | 3 comments

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A reader informed HarlemGal Inc over the weekend that Chocolat Restaurant and Lounge, located on the corner of 120th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd, was closed and had a big old health violation sticker slapped on the double doors. I went by to check out it over the weekend and someone on site told me they would reopen Saturday night. I went by yesterday (Sunday) and Chocolat was definitely open with people inside dining.

My guess is the Health Department came by announced and found several health code violations. Then slapped them with a fine and closed their doors until they corrected the violations. That’s my guess. What do you think?

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Posted in Bars, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Save the Date: Harlem Holiday Lights Fundraiser

Posted on November 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

The 125th Business Improvement District (BID) would like to invite all of us to their Harlem Holiday Lights Fundraiser scheduled for November 15  from 6 to 8pm. The money raised at this Fundraiser will benefit the implementation and maintenance of our holiday lights along 125th Street in Harlem this holiday season. See exact details below!

The 125th Street BID, Community Boards 9, 10, and 11, and the NYC Housing Authority have partnered to light up 125th Street from river to river this holiday season. This year’s decorations include 36 Skyline Streamers draped across 125th Street from First to Twelfth Avenues.

So mark your calendar for Nov 15 and let’s all head on over to 125th BID located at 360 West 125th Street, Suite 11!

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Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Help Harlem School of the Arts win $25k in Pepsi Refresh competition

Posted on November 5, 2011 | 2 comments

Get out your mouse pads folks! Harlem School of the Arts needs your clicks/votes pronto to win $25k in the Pepsi Refresh.  The soft drink and snacks company is giving out mucho dinero to those with the best ideas in several categories. Harlem School of the Arts is competing in the Communities category.

How can you help? Go online here to learn why Harlem School of the Arts is competing.  Using the same link, you can either register to vote through Pepsi or use your own Facebook account. Voters can also use their smart phone to vote by texting: 109529 to Pepsi!

According to the website there is about 13 hours left to vote! That is dog years on the online community so we have plenty of time to help out Harlem School of the Arts! Let’s go help them win!

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Select Harlem business owners to run in 2011 ING/New York City Marathon

Posted on November 2, 2011 | 2 comments

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A reader and wonderful Harlemite has informed HarlemGal Inc. that two or potentially three local Harlem business owners will run in this years ING/New York City Marathon. They are Mekia Denby, co-owner of Kidberry and Ousmane, co-owner of bier international.

If you plan on watching the marathon in Harlem, specifically along Fifth Avenue, look out for these two Harlem business owners so that you can cheer them on along with the rest of the runners. They will definitely need our support as they reach this point of the marathon in Harlem. If you want to track these Harlem runners on marathon day or any other runners for that fact, go to the ING Marathon website and look for TrackMyRunners via web!

The third person we heard might be running in the marathon is Derek, co-owner of Red Rooster Harlem. However, we heard he might not run due to an injury!

If you know of any other Harlem business owners that are running in this years marathon, please let us know so that we can give them a shout out and wish them the best!

For now, let’s wish Mekia and Ousmane, Harlem business owners, all the best as they go for that medal and finish line in the ING/New York City Marathon!

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Posted in bier international, business, Community, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, Red Rooster Harlem

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See Peter Woytuk on Broadway Exhibition in West Harlem

Posted on October 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

If you’re up on 137th Street and Broadway this weekend you may see a giant pair of Sheep? Or if you head 20 blocks south on Broadway you may witness A Conversation…in large form? Don’t panic if you see animals in mass along Broadway! It’s actually Peter Woytuk on Broadway, a major exhibition of bronze sculptures, being displayed on the Upper Westside, West Harlem and Washington Heights.

The sculptures from this exhibition located in West Harlem include: Bridging the Gap at Broadway and 114th Street; A Conversation at Broadway at 117th Street; Sheep Pair at 137th Street Montefiore Park; and A Rail of Ravens on Broadway between 139th to 140th Streets.

Who is Peter Woytuk? Apparently, he is globally known for his sculptures of animals. He “cleverly reduces their shapes to essential forms, allowing the power and elegance of his subjects to  become both graceful and whimsical expressions of mass.”

So who needs to head South in Manhattan to see interesting sculptures when all us Harlemites have to do is head West from October 21, 2011, through April 2012 to see Peter Woytuk on Broadway! Check out the map below of all the animal sculptures along Broadway!

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

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