Category Archives: shopping

Milk Burger in East Harlem one degree separation from Anthony Bourdain

I tell ya! At the moment, there is no such thing as bad PR for East Harlem’s Milk Burger, the new hamburger hot spot at 2056 Second Avenue. After the little viral spat that happened a few weeks ago regarding Milk Burger allegedly burger-izing Shake Shack, who knew where Milk Burger was heading. Actually, I sort of knew its potential from that incident and now DNAInfo is reporting that Anthony Bourdain’s wife has given Milk Burger a thumbs up on twitter…to more than 18,000 followers! I guess this makes Milk Burger one degree separation from the Travel Channel star and Chef. Not bad! I am wondering now who will be next to step forward and so candidly and openly endorse Milk Burger? Any guess?

There could potentially be another ringing endorsement in Milk Burger’s future, but no one will beat this 140 character endorsement by Mrs. Bourdain: “I actually enjoyed my Milk Burger and I love that they deliver. Shake Shack is still my husband but Milk Burger can be my booty call.” Get that women her own TV show…and another burger!

The Money Series examines how East Harlem spends their money

In our Money Series,  it has covered spending habits for the Harlem areas of 10027 and 10030. The Money Series continues with the focus on East Harlem. The zip code used to come with the data for this segment of Harlem is 10029.

The top three household spending areas for the 10029 area of Harlem resulted in shopping ranking first, health & family is second, followed by house & home. If you compare spending for 10029 with 10027 and 10030, 10029 ranks identical to 10027 in the areas of health & family and house & home. Each of these spending categories ranked second and third out of the top three spending categories versus 10030, these categories ranked first and second. The interesting fact out of all three zip codes was that 10027 was the only part of Harlem that had food and drinks in the top three spending categories. Food & drink did not even rank in the top three for 10029 and 10030.

On a 12 month average, household spending for 10029 includes: $461 for shopping. Next is health & family totaling $452. Most of the spending in this area is dedicated to school & child care and insurance. House & home follows with a total of $432 with the majority of this portion going toward utilities.

If 10029, 10027 and 10030 are compared in their shared ranking areas, which are health & family and house & home, 10030 spends the most on health and family at $798 versus 10027 spends $552 and 10029 spends $452. In house & home, 10027 spends the most at $472 followed by 10030 spends $434 and 10029 spends $432.

All figures are created from an online money management tool and based on ages from 18 to 65 years of age and above, all households (married with kids or without, male or female single with kids or without), and income starting at $20,000 to $125k and above.

Stay tuned as the Money Series will look into spending habits of Harlem residents versus other parts of Manhattan.

Progress being made on upcoming nail salon in Harlem

If you’re drop by Society Cafe at 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. soon, you may notice there is some construction happening next door. That’s where a new nail salon is moving into the retail space near 2098 Frederick Douglass Blvd., which you first learned about here not too long ago. According to workers on site, they are hammering, painting and nailing away because they’ve been given a deadline to be done in about one month. So stay tuned. We may have a new business opening up soon in this block!

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Marcus Samuelsson makes Vanity Fair‘s 2011 International Best-Dressed List

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Vanity Fair announced their 2011 International Best-Dressed List today and our very own Harlemite made the list of best dressed men, Marcus Samuelsson. Marcus is in good company on the coveted list. Justin Timberlake is named, along with actor Colin Firth, Armie Hammer who starred in The Social Network, Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos and more. See complete list below!

Marcus is having a very good year! Along with the Vanity Fair Best Dressed List, his Harlem restaurant on Lenox Avenue is not even a year old and it’s a happening place. The New York Times has blessed him with several raving reviews on him, such as chef profiles, restaurant reviews and where to hang uptown, i.e. Red Rooster. New York Magazine lists his place on their website in the Most Buzzed About Restaurant in Manhattan. There are several awards he has won this past year. The list goes on and on. Oh, and of course it does not hurt that he has a stunning wife by his side, Maya!

I last caught up with Marcus at the Macy’s Food Truck event this past Sunday to kick off Harlem Week! And come to think of it, he was looking pretty stylish at that event while out there serving catfish sandwiches with sweet potato fries! Can you blame him for looking good! He knows people are watching. He might as well give us all something else to look at other than his delicious food!

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2011 Harlem Week kick off was a big success

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Harlem Week 2011 kicked off today, July 31, with much success. There were plenty of New Yorker’s in attendance who wanted to partake in this years theme, “A New York State of Mind.” I certainly did and enjoyed the kick off celebration very much. I checked out all the street vendors and camped out at the Macy’s Food Truck, which was featuring free food by Marcus Samuelsson.

If you were not able to check out Harlem Week 2011 kick off today, do not worry. There is  a month full of activities planned for August.  For additional details, go to Harlem Week’s website.

Weekend Harlem Must Dos, Lido sidewalk cafe, Urban Garden Center sale and Marcus & Macy’s

There are three Harlem must dos I am recommending for this weekend. Try them out and let me know what you think!

On Friday, July 29, swing by Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar. Their sidewalk seating is in full swing. They have plenty of tables outside for Harlemites to sit and dine on. While you’re there, check out some of their summer cocktails. Here are three to consider!

20110729-124324.jpgTry Serena’s Sangria. It is made with a white wine base, passion fruit, sliced plums, and Spanish brandy. It’s hard to drink just one. Try the pitcher for $25.

Next, Lido Lemonade with lemon juice, vodka, and Licor 43 infused with thyme. The glass is garnished with a sprig of thyme.And if you need a carbonated fix, try Fiore Spumante (Italian for Sparkling Flower). It’s gin and St Germaine with champagne and a raspberry to garnish.  Also, Lido is now open Mondays and offering
$14 prix fix lunch with free wifi and complimentary iced coffee or tea!

On Saturday, July 31, head on over to Urban Garden Center in Spanish Harlem. They have a sale! They are offering 30 percent off on all in stock inventory. It ends on July 31 so drop by 116th and Park Avenue, take advantage of the sale and say hi to Dimitri, chief designer at Urban Garden Center!

And on July 31, spend Sunday afternoon with Marcus Samuelsson and the Macy’s Food Truck. Macy’s Food Truck is parking itself on 126th Street and Riverside Drive with our fellow Harlemite during Harlem Week. From noon to 4:00 p.m., Red Rooster Harlem owner and Chef Marcus Samuelsson will be on board cooking and serving catfish sandwiches with fried caper slaw and sweet potato fries!

There ya have it! Weekend Harlem must dos!

Money Series: Harlem spending for 10030 zip code dedicated to health and family



Yesterday, the Money Series gave a snap shot of how Harlemites spend, who reside in the 10027 zip code. Today, the Money Series continues by turning our focus on the residents of 10030.

The top three household spending areas for the 10030 Harlem resulted in health & family ranking first, with house & home next followed by shopping. The first two areas mentioned are identical to 10027 Harlem residents in terms of ranking. However, shopping ranks third for 10030 verses 10027 where it ranks fourth.

On a 12 month average, household spending for 10030 includes: $798 for health & family. Insurance cost make-up $277 with school & child care not far behind at $234. The next large cost is charity at $173. Healthcare, pets and personal care round the remaining total.

House & home follows with a total of $434. The majority of costs go toward utilities. Two-hundred and six dollars is dedicated to utilities. Next with $77 for home maintenance, $76 for home improvement and $75 for phone.

The shopping category came in third in terms of the top three spending areas. Harlemites from 10030 spend a total of $332. That figure is divided among general shopping at $150, clothing, shoes and outer wear at $113 and $69 goes towards electronics, office supplies and hobbies.

If 10027 and 10030 are compared in their two top ranking areas: 10027 spends $246 more than 10030 in health & family and 10030 spends $323 more than 10027 in shopping.

All figures are created from an online money management tool and based on ages from 18 to 65 years of age and above, all households (married with kids or without, male or female single with kids or without), and income starting at $20,000 to $125k and above.

The Money Series heads to East Harlem next. 10029 will be the focus!

Stop by Nike’s Boulevard Ice Pop Up Store in Harlem


A follower on twitter reminded HarlemGal that Nike’s Boulevard Ice Pop Store is open for business in Harlem. It has been open for about a week in a half now at the corner of 133rd Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. The Nike store offers customers the opportunity to go in and experience a refrigerator feel, pick from a selection of ice treats and maybe design yourself some new basketball shoes. Interesting concept and very much in line with Nike’s impressive creativity! This chica can go for the ice treats, but I don’t plan on getting me any basketball shoes any time soon.

Who has checked out Nike’s Boulevard Ice located at 2490 Frederick Douglass Blvd? If so, tell us what you think?

Shop farmers market and practice yoga in Harlem

Friends of Morningside Park, Community Markets and Land Yoga are putting the tag terms, health and wellness, community and grocery shopping in action. This weekend (July 9th) they are starting outdoor yoga in Morningside Park. From 4 to 5 pm, you can practice yoga under the big blue Harlem sky with Lara from Land Yoga at the 110th St and Manhattan Ave entrance. This free class will be held at the same time every week, weather permitting. So bring your own mat and dristi (focus) to the park.

And also bring your grocery list! The Morningside Farmers Market opens at 9 am sharp!

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‘Like, follow’ Urban Garden Center in Spanish Harlem to receive discount

Jun 27, 2011 @ 13:42
By HarlemGal
If you’re surfing through Facebook daily like I am, you can find some deals. I just came across this deal/coupon shown below by Urban Garden Center located at 116th and Park Avenue. If you like/follow them on twitter, Facebook, or tumblr, you can receive a 15 percent discount. They are giving out this coupon through their social networks as a way of saying “thanks” to those who interact with them. Not a bad way to say “thank you.” Check out Urban Garden Center on Facebook!

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