Category Archives: NYC

See ‘Act of Valor’ in Harlem…for Free!

Posted on February 5, 2012 | Leave a comment


We have heard a lot about the U.S. Navy Seals in the news recently. They are the ones that President Obama sent on a mission to catch and kill Bin Laden. Now there is a feature film about our Navy Seals called ‘Act of Valor’ presented by Relativity Media. The film actually stars real Navy Seals and opens February 24th. There is an opportunity to see the film in Harlem before its opening date.

HarlemGal Inc. invites you to a FREE screening of ‘Act of Valor’ on February 16th at 7:30 pm at Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem. To receive your ticket for the Feb. 16 free screening of ‘Act of Valor, click here and enter the code HLMGAL9RBE. And remember, available tickets are on a first come first serve basis! See you at the movies!

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Posted in entertainment, film, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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See ‘125 Franco’s Blvd’ Exhibition in Harlem

Posted on February 4, 2012 | Leave a comment


Head on over to the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building in Harlem this coming weekend to see “125 Franco’s Blvd.” “125 Franco’s Blvd.” is an exhibition of Franco The Great’s timeless artwork. The exhibition is from 4-6:00 PM February 10-11th and there will be artwork for sale. The details are below, along with a brief description on Franco The Great.

Where: Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building
163 west 1125th Street, 2nd Floor
Harlem, NY 10027

Date: Friday and Saturday, February 10-11, 2012

Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Who is Franco The Great:
Over a period of 25 plus years, Franco has changed the image of Harlem by painting the security gates of storefronts on 125th Street. His work in Harlem has brought him world renown; below are some excerpts from the many news articles from around the world, written to explain the work and origin of this great artist.

The name Franco the Great came about as a result of his talent in the field of magic. Franco became so proficient in his magic skills that his teachers and peers encouraged Franco to show and teach his magic. He gained his confidence in school day by day as he connected with other people and gained new friends.

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, Events, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Amtrak publication makes major faux pas with Harlem, but calls it cool and hip

Posted on February 2, 2012 | 2 comments

While Gothamist was quick to point out how Amtrak’s external publication titled Arrive called Harlem a borough, which is a poor journalistic and potentially costly PR mistake, I’d like to point out and focus on how Arrive called Harlem “cool” and “hip.” The article says “New Yorkers are taking notice” of Harlem and “if you blink your eye, something changes.” Yes, this transportation company clearly only sees New York City and it’s sub-sections as a bunch of boroughs. Given the ignorance, it could have been worse. But lets focus on what they really got right, which is featuring our beautiful community and local businesses, talking to good spokespeople about Harlem, and ultimately using the best verbs to describe us, which…hey, we have always known, is being a place that is “hip and cool!” Thank you Amtrak!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Bars, bier international, business, Community, drinks, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, history, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurants

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Harlem’s restaurant row, Frederick Douglass Blvd., has its own map and alliance group

Posted on January 29, 2012 | 1 comment

It’s official…again! Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem from 110th to 125th Street, also known as restaurant row, has its very own map, according to The New York Daily News. And the folks behind the map is an alliance group called Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA). Check out the map below. It mentions all existing businesses from 110th to 124th Street. The map does not include up and coming places on FDB, such as the Harlem Food Bar or Marcos Leatherlab, the cobbler store.

Lia San Filippo, co-owner of 5 and Diamond Harlem restaurant and co-president of the recently formed FDBA, tells the Daily News “the map was created to help people know that Harlem is here and helps customers find us more easily.” Amen Lia!

Back in 2008, I wrote a blog posting asking if FDB is turning into Harlem’s restaurant row? Looks like we have our answer not only in a map but in the form of an alliance group!

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, apartments, art and culture, baking, Bars, bier international, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, commercial real estate, Community, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem blogs, Harlem businesses, Harlem Restaurant Row, Harlem restaurants, Harlem Tavern, health and wellness, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping, spending

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Drew Barrymore dines at Rao’s in East Harlem? Get outta here!

Posted on January 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

According to Popsugar.com, actress Drew Barrymore headed uptown to Harlem last night (Jan 26), along with her fiancé Will Kopelman, to dine at Rao’s with friends! Oh la la! As most of us know, to get into Rao’s one needs a reservation, which is hard to get, or one needs to get in with a member to eat there. Clearly, Hollywood has an open-ended reservation at Rao’s or Drew hangs with folks who have a membership. Must be nice!

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Posted in entertainment, food, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Fat Chef premieres January 26 featuring Harlem’s own, Melba of Melba’s Restaurant

Posted on January 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Thursday, January 26 is a big day for Harlem’s own, Melba of Melba’s Restaurant located on the corner of 114th Street and FDB in Harlem. First, Melba will be on The View, which starts at 10 a.m. on Channel 7. Then later in the evening, Melba will be appearing on the Food Networks’ Fat Chef starting at 10 p.m. on Channel 50 for Time Warner subscribers. Fat Chef will be showing every Thursday for the next couple of weeks.

Let’s all turn out and support Melba by watching her at 10 a.m on ABC’s The View. Then 12 hours later at 10 p.m. on Fat Chef.

Catch you on the tube Melba!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, drinks, entertainment, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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You’re invited to a Harlem brunch with the Divas of Making our People Healthier

Posted on January 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

The ladies of Divas, MPH, a non profit whose goal is to help improve the health and wellness of women, their families, and their communities, would like to invite all of you HarlemGals for brunch this Saturday, January 28th at Londel’s Supper Club. Divas, MPH is holding its second annual New Year, New You women’s empowerment brunch in Harlem. This year’s brunch, which starts at noon, is centered around the non profits’ 2012 theme, “Be more. Do more. Live more.”

The Divas, MPH Harlem brunch will feature a scrumptious buffet with a menu of traditional, savory breakfast items including homestyle eggs, beef sausage, and homefries; as well as lunch favorites including a southern-style fried whiting and fresh garden salad. Guests will also enjoy complimentary mimosas, special guests favors, guided goal setting activities, and a dynamic keynote address from psychiatrist, and wellness coach, Dr. Janet Taylor.

To hang with the Divas, MPH in Harlem, click here to purchase tickets for this event happening this coming Saturday, Jan 28th!

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Posted in Community, entertainment, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Melba’s Restaurant located in Harlem to be on ABC’s The View this week

Posted on January 23, 2012 | 6 comments


I just read on Facebook that the fabulous woman behind Melba’s Restaurant, i.e. Melba, will be on The View this coming Thursday, January 26 at 11 AM. That is so awesome! I think the show should be called, that day, the HarlemGal’s show! Why? Two awesome ladies, who reside in Harlem, will be sitting side by side, Sherri Shepard and Melba! Can’t wait to watch The View this Thursday!

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

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My photos of President Obama appearing at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem

Posted on January 20, 2012 | Leave a comment



I had the privilege and delight of attending a fundraiser to re-elect President Obama at Harlem’s Apollo Theater (read actual tweets here). The event was filled with great entertainment from Lin-Manuel Miranda MCing, to India Arie performing, to the Rev. Al Green blessing us with his singing sermon. And yes, POTUS Obama sang too, i.e. Let’s Stay Together. Here are a few photos from the Jan. 19 event at the Apollo. Hope you like them! Enjoy!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, politics, The Apollo Theater

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More tickets available to see President Obama at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater, January 19

Posted on January 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

I just checked out the Facebook page of Harlem4Obama and its says there are more $100 tickets available to the January 19 event, which is The Obama Victory Fund Concert. Go to this link here and get your $100, $300 or $5000 tickets. They just added more this evening.

I am going with another fellow Harlemite. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don’t want to miss it! Hope you will join me in seeing President Obama at the Apollo!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, Events, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, The Apollo Theater

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