Category Archives: NYC

Come to Land Yoga Harlem Grand Opening Celebration, discounts to be offered

Posted on July 21, 2011 | 2 comments

Land Yoga in Harlem at 2110 Frederick Douglass Blvd has been open for about a month and like most new businesses in Harlem, it hasn’t had a slow day since. Their schedule is in full swing, students are showing up in large numbers in LED classes and specialty teachers are in place, such as a health and wellness counselor. With these building blocks in place, it is now time to celebrate with a grand opening celebration. Land Yoga Harlem invites you to their grand opening this Saturday, July 23 from 4-7:00 pm. Lots of cool stuff are planned. Here is the lowdown:

  • There will be yoga demonstrators doing yoga in front of the building!
  • Packets of material will be available that includes schedule, regular and one day only party rates, and information on wellness practitioners: Ed Genece, Serena Dawn, and Candice Taylor!
  • All retail will be 10% during the party!
  • Free reiki or wellness treatments and henna will be offered!
  • The yoga room will be decorated in a moody world theme with flowers and candles by Franz James Floral and accented with music design by DJ David Chang.
  • There will be a sampling of all natural, no cal sokenbicha tea by Anita Bryant.
  • Food and Drink will be provided by 5 and Diamond, 67 Orange, bier international, Harlem Tavern, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Nectar, Red Rooster Harlem, Society, and Zoma.
  • Land Yoga will announce one day discounts, which can be added to any existing package.
  • A PERKS program will be launched, which will offer gift cards from bier international, Lido, and Society for 3, 6, and 12 month Land memberships. 3, 6, and 12 month members also get in-house perks such as 5%, 10%, and 20% off wellness services and retail discounts too!
  • Also, Land Yoga will introduce a Friday night interactive workshop series, a workshop on Mindful Eating hosted by wellness guru Candice Taylor and based off the book Savor, which is sold at Land Yoga.
  • Special guests include the local Daily Troop. They will be in attendance in uniform. Land Yoga is a site sponsor for the local Daisy troop.
  • And most importantly, Land Yoga will be raising money for a local food bank.

So a lot is happening for Land Yoga’s celebration. Come out Saturday afternoon and have some fun with us. I will be there as well as some of my fellow yoga classmates! Hope to see you there!

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Posted in Community, education, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, health and wellness, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Burger drama in East Harlem could prove profitable for Milk Burger

Posted on July 20, 2011 | 6 comments

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There is a burger-gate happening right now in our own backyard. The owners of East Harlem’s Milk Burger, located at 2056 Second Avenue, are currently fighting off accusations that they cloned their menu and website from the popular and expensive Shake Shack. This all came about when SeriousEats.com blog posted about Milk Burger’s marketing material looking very similar to Shake Shack. The burger drama happened in the last 24 hours.

So where does the burger drama currently stand? Milk Burger has taken all previous material down from their website and has a static page up. The owner has given interviews explaining it was a mistake executed by an intern, and a ton of free press has been given to an East Harlem establishment that most businesses could only dream of!

In summary, this whole burger drama talking place between David (Milk Burger) and Goliath (Shake Shack) could prove profitable for one business here. Milk Burger just opened. They are not the Rupert Murdoch of hamburgers. I believe the owner. It was an honest mistake. He probably just looked at the material that was presented to him for sign off and quickly approved it. Now there is only one place to potentially go from here when you’re starting a business at the bottom…and that’s up!

My advice to the owner of Milk Burger, start drafting the apology letter to Shake Shack and a big fat thank you note to SeriousEats. You are about to get some serious burger business! Who is going with me to eat at Milk Burger in East Harlem?

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Posted in business, commercial real estate, entertainment, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Lido Harlem joining sidewalk seating club soon?

Posted on July 20, 2011 | 8 comments

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Back in May, I told you about how Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar was petitioning Community Board 10 to receive approval for sidewalk seating. It appears they have received the green light based on these photos! Walking by the Harlem establishment, located on the southeast corner of Frederick Douglass Blvd and 117th, last night there was white metal fences on display perfectly lined up outside the Italian eatery. The way the fences were placed it’s an obvious signal that Lido Harlem are joining the sidewalk seating club very soon, which includes bier international, 5 and Diamond, Harlem Tavern, Les Ambassades Red Rooster Harlem, Settepani, Nectar, Chez Lucienne and more! Maybe they will open the sidewalk seating to patrons this weekend?

This is good news. Harlemites have another place to hang while dining that offers outdoor seating! Congrats to Susannah, her business partner, chef and their entire team! Way to go!

Next time I stop by Lido Harlem for dinner, this chica wants the seat right outside on the sidewalk. Can’t wait!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Manhattan Valley and Morningside Heights Town Hall

Posted on July 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

For those interested in voicing their concerns or have questions about Manhattan Valley and Morningside Heights, there is a town hall meeting this Thursday, July 21, with elected officials and government agencies at The Church of the Ascension, located at 221 West 107th Street. Start time is 6:00 p.m. See details below to RSVP!

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Posted in Community, education, Events, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, politics

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A Midsummers Night Picnic in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park

Posted on July 19, 2011 | 3 comments

The Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association (MMPCIA) is holding their annual A Midsummer Night’s Picnic in the Park in Harlem today, July 19, in Marcus Garvey Park. This is the time when MMPCIA says thank you to its current member and welcomes new members.

The Summer Picnic is free to existing members and to those who want to join or renew their membership. There is an additional cost of $10 for family of members and friends who are not quite ready to join. Children 12 and under are free.

If you decide to attend this event today,please RSVP and register your dish ASAP by e-mailing: membership@mmpcia.org.

The potluck picnic is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Enter Marcus Garvey Park in the SW corner, near the  West 120th Street entrance. For more information, click here.

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Posted in art and culture, business, Community, education, Events, Harlem, history, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem Gal invites you to see ‘Attack the Block’

Posted on July 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

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Don’t forget you can see a free movie Tuesday, July 19 at Magic Johnson Theater! You and a guest are invited to a screening of Attack the Block.

From the producers of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Attack the Block follows a gang of tough inner-city kids who try to defend their turf against an invasion of savage alien creatures, turning a South London apartment complex into an extraterrestrial warzone.

Here is the lowdown on how to see Attack the Block:

To download a free screening pass, go to Gofobo.com/RSVP and enter the RSVP code HLMGAL55U0.
Date: Tuesday! July 19th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Magic Johnson Harlem

And please remember, screenings by HarlemGal Inc. are on a first come first serve basis.

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

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Harlem real estate progress report: Gateway Towers seventy percent sold

Posted on July 18, 2011 | 2 comments

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Recently, I blogged about how some condos in Harlem were meeting their mark in terms of sales. There is another condo development that has achieved similar success. The Gateway Towers, located at 2098 Frederick Douglass Blvd. and also known as Gateway Condominiums, is 70 percent sold. I have confirmed this with two sources. There are only a limited number of properties left in this two-phase condo development.

I am surprised by this figure. It took a while for the Gateway to be completed. One would think buyers would just forget about places that take forever to be finished. However, this is not the case when it comes to New York real estate. There seems to be about 12 apartments left on the market according to Streeteasy.com. My guess is the apartments on the upper level of the tower were snapped up first and then the lower level next. The apartments on the higher floors have unobstructed views. The rooms are also big and spacious and like most new developments, the Tower has washer and dryers in the apartments.

The 70 percent sales were also probably achieved due to location and the rooftop views I have been on several rooftops in Harlem, such as The Douglass, 2280 FDB, Parc Standard, Fifth on the Park and Livmor. However, Gateway Condo has one of the best rooftops in Harlem. It has a clear shot of Central Park and Morningside Park from the roof. Also, the view of St. John the Divine is just that…divine. The view of East Harlem is nice as well. That view offers seeing brownstones from overhead.

I had the opportunity to take some photos from the rooftop at Gateway. I could not resist. When the real estate agents show the apartments, they take visitors up to the roof. Hopefully, these photos give you a sense of why the roof at Gateway Towers is one of my favorites!

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Posted in business, commercial real estate, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate

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‘Prince of New Orleans’ to open Davell Underground in Spanish Harlem

Posted on July 16, 2011 | Leave a comment


This has got to be the best news I have read any Saturday morning. Nola.com, a Louisiana publication, is reporting that Davell Crawford, a musical sensation from New Orleans and dubbed ‘Prince of New Orleans,’ is opening up Davell Underground, August 11, in Spanish Harlem. Davell Underground will be “a new performance space in a former storage room within The Kiosk, a Moroccan restaurant and hookah joint located at East 116th and Park Avenue. This location is right by Urban Garden Center and La Marqueta!

The article says Davell Crawford, who moved to New York City after Hurricane Katrina, and his business partner plan to present live music several nights a week in Spanish Harlem. The roster will include such New Orleanians as Charmaine Neville, Donald Harrison Jr., Delfeayo Marsalis, Benny Turner and Herlin Riley. Crawford also plans to feature New Yorker musicians, including the flutist Bobbi Humphrey.

Crawford tells Nola.com that “I don’t want to call it a ‘club.’ It’s a ‘room. We will have great music there for as long as the people of New York want to accept it, and as long as I can keep it rolling.”

This Harlemite will accept Davell Underground. Count me in. I will be there in Spanish Harlem, August, to listen to music from New Orleans! Yeah!

Listen now to Davell Crawford!

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Posted in art and culture, Bars, business, commercial real estate, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Harlem, history, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Macy’s Chefs A-Go-Go Food Truck with Harlem’s own, Marcus Samuelsson

Posted on July 15, 2011 | 2 comments

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I came across an advertisement in The New York Times-dining section this week talking about Macy’s first-ever food truck featuring Chef Marcus Samuelsson. With anything that says “first-ever,” I inquired further to see what’s up with our fellow Harlemite. This is the deal. “Macy’s Chefs A-Go-Go,” a national food truck tour showcasing the Macy’s Culinary Council, is rolling into New York City this month with two stops. One of those two stops is happening in Harlem!

On Sunday, July 31 Marcus Samuelsson, who owns Red Rooster Harlem and resides in the area, will be at 126th Street and Riverside Drive from noon to 4 p.m. on Macy’s Chefs A-Go-Go Food Truck cooking his signature recipes and dishes for those that pass by the food truck for FREE! That’s right! The food Marcus will be cooking on the food truck will be given out for free! I don’t know exactly what Marcus will be cooking yet. However once I find out, I will pass along!

So if you haven’t tasted Marcus Samuelsson’s fabulous food creations before, now is your chance…and for free! All you have to do is go by Macy’s first-ever food truck on July 31, which will be parked with Marcus inside at 126th and Riverside Drive.

For those interested in the first stop of the Macy’s Food Truck, it is happening this weekend, July 16, downtown at Union Square’s Farmers Market with Chef Todd English.

See you at the Macy’s Food Truck in Harlem!

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Posted in business, Community, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurants

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$100 million development for 125th will bring Harlem Brewing Company home

Posted on July 14, 2011 | 1 comment

When the City announced yesterday the redevelopment of two major, vacant sites on Harlem’s 125th Street, it garnered enormous press coverage. Why? Because it’s a big deal. The bookends of 125th will get a new look, jobs will be created and new business will move in! The part I find interesting in this announcement is that the Sugar Hill Beer I like to have at St. Nicks Pub or now at Harlem Tavern could eventually be brewed right up the street from where I live! How cool is that?

According to the news release from the Mayor’s Office, “Harlem Brewing Company, which currently brews in Saratoga Springs, will be moving its production facility to CREATE @ Harlem Green and will grow hops on an open roof, give tours and operate a brewing museum, a tap room and gift shop.” The City selected Janus Partners LLC and Monadnock Construction, Inc. to redevelop the former Taystee Bakery complex into CREATE @ Harlem Green.

And when the Harlem Brewing Company moves, it will mark the first brewery in Harlem since before Prohibition! So cool! I will drink to that! Raise your mug! Cheers!

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Posted in business, commercial real estate, Community, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, history, New York, New York City, NYC

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