Category Archives: NYC

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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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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Casting Call: Food Network Star and Chef Bobby Flay is looking for Food Entrepreneurs

Posted on October 18, 2011 | 1 comment

Listen up Harlem! This is a casting call blog post! And it is about an exciting opportunity. Bobby Flay’s Rock Shrimp Productions is  currently developing a new show for the Food Network.  The title of the show is still unnamed. However, it is going to center around Food Entrepreneurs.

Rock Shrimp Productions defines Food Entrepreneurs as individuals who left their day job and are currently in the process of opening a food store or restaurant before mid December with…no culinary experience and are taking a risk to pursue their passion of launching their own food business.  These individuals must be planning to open a brick-and-mortar space (restaurant or singular food ideas welcome) before the end of 2011.

In addition,  the Food Entrepreneurs should preferably in, but not limited to, the greater New York City area (NY, NJ, CT). Those chosen will receive culinary business coaching from a major celebrity chef and restaurateur, as well as nationwide publicity.

So if you are a Food Entrepreneur and want to rub elbows with Bobby Flay, the celebrity chef who did a Throw Down with Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem, contact Heather Briggs at hrb@embassyrow.com or learn more about the project on Facebook.

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Posted in 125th Street, 5 and Diamond Harlem, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, baking, bier international, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, Community, drinks, entertainment, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, Lenox Avenue, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Super, super cool photos of Lady Gaga in Harlem

Posted on October 16, 2011 | Leave a comment

There has been a boat load of news coverage about Lady Gaga filming her latest music video called Marry the Night in Harlem. However, UK-based The Daily Mail has published the best pictures by far of Lady Gaga in Harlem-once on Friday, October 14 and today, October 16. Check them out! Aren’t they super cool?

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, entertainment, fashion, Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo seen dining at Lido Harlem?

Posted on October 12, 2011 | 2 comments



If you walked by the corner of Frederick Douglass Blvd. and 117th Street tonight (October 12), you may have noticed Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo were dining at Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar in Harlem? Well, sort of. They were actually in character for their upcoming movie called Thanks for Sharing. The entire scene was a dining out scene at Lido Harlem. Hope they mention their location in the script!

This is such a big compliment for Lido Harlem. They haven’t even been open for a year and now they have big name movie stars filming in their restaurant. The film scouts clearly liked the design and layout of the restaurant or they would not have chosen it. When you take pictures of Lido, it is very photogenic. The place comes out vibrant in pictures.

I had a quick exchange with Mark Ruffalo as I stopped him to take a photo. I told him the food at Lido Harlem is excellent. He said, “yeah, I’ll have to tell my wife about it.” You do that Mark! There is some great dining out places in Harlem and Lido Harlem is one of them!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, drinks, entertainment, fashion, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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