Category Archives: New York City

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

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East Harlem’s La Marqueta to hold Open House February 2

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Jan 29, 2011 @ 11:14
By HarlemGal
In the photo above, that’s what East Harlem’s La Marqueta looked like a few decades back. The marketplace, located at East 115th Street and Park Avenue, started back in the 1950’s, grew to more than 400 vendors and suffered its own down period. That was then. Now the East Harlem market is having its own rebirth and they’re giving the public an opportunity to see it in an Open House on February 2! All the details are listed below.

Also, watch what vendors are in place at La Marqueta in this news feature on NY1. See you at La Marqueta!

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Posted in business, Community, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem and Cuba share another common interest, Floridita

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 2 comments

Jan 26, 2011 @ 7:15

Photo by HarlemGal

By HarlemGal
While on an approved trip to Cuba last week, I wanted to photograph something there I could link back to Harlem for my blog. I found it while walking around Revolutionary Square! In Havana, Cuba, they have a Floridita just like we do in West Harlem. Similar to our Floridita located at 3219 Broadway in Harlem, they serve Cuban food and its Cuban owned. The major differences between the two restaurants, aside from location, are the history, notable guests and operations.

Photo by HarlemGal

At the moment, the Floridita in Harlem is closed temporarily. However, it opened some 30 years ago in Harlem and the food has received much praise. The Floridita in Cuba has been open since the early 1800s and it has received guests, such as Ernest Hemingway and Graham Greene.

To learn more about the Floridita in Cuba, click here. And as for our Floridita, I hope it reopens soon. I am going to be craving some roasted chicken with black beans and rice soon! If anyone has any information on when Floridita might reopen, please pass along!

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Posted in Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC

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Franz James Floral Boutique to blossom in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jan 15, 2011 @ 12:18

By HarlemGal
2114 Frederick Douglass Blvd. will be smelling like roses, orchids and tulips soon. This is one of the retail spaces in The Douglass Condominium that has apparently rented out its commercial space to Franz James Floral Boutique. Big signs are up on the windows saying “Coming Soon.” I went to the website listed and all its says is “website builder and flower as art.”

I have never heard of Franz James Floral Boutique. I generally by my flowers over in East Harlem on the corner of Lexington and 116th Street. Is anyone familiar with this shop? Is it a first store for Franz James? And does anyone know if this is a local business person? Chime in here or tell us on Twitter.

Either way,it’s another business opening up on the award-winning Frederick Douglass Blvd!

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

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