Category Archives: shopping

Warmer weather to come in Harlem?

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mar 12, 2011 @ 10:45
By Austin2Harlem
On Friday, I witnessed a hopeful sign of warmer weather to come…the return of the fruit vendor and ice cream truck together!

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Posted in Community, Events, Harlem, shopping

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Attend Casa Frela Gallery Trunk Show in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mar 6, 2011 @ 20:44
By HarlemGal
For three consecutive weekends, Casa Frela Gallery will be hosting a trunk show that will feature several artists from Harlem. Starting this Saturday, March 12, view and purchase items from artists, such as watercolorist Lynn Lieberman, Angelic Artistry, Michele Bidault, Jan Blackett, Daria Dorosh, jeweler Arleen Geller and more, until April 2. The admission is FREE and doors will open at noon closing at 4 PM each day.

Casa Frela Gallery is located at 47 West 119th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenue.

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Posted in art and culture, Events, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping

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Opening of Levain Bakery Harlem store delayed

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 22, 2011 @ 15:49
By HarlemGal
A follower on Twitter informed me today that Levain Bakery is delaying their opening of their Harlem store by one week. I think this photo says it all. I guess the cookie dough is not ready yet!

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Posted in baking, business, Community, Harlem, restaurants, shopping

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Free coffee in honor of Best Yet Market in Harlem turning one

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 17, 2011 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
The good folks over at Best Yet Market in Harlem notified us yesterday that they are giving away a free small cup of cappuccino or a latte on Thursday (February 17) and Friday (February 18) to shoppers  in honor of the store turning one-year old. The grocery store opened up February 4, 2010 at West 118th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. in Harlem.

So how does one get the free cup of coffee? Show this ad pictured above on your smart phone to the cashier in the bakery section and this person will give you your free cup of java. Also , you can find the ad on their Twitter or Facebook page as well.

Best Yet Market said they were offering this special “to extend their gratitude to Harlem, New York for welcoming them to this exceptional neighborhood.” Well said!

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Posted in business, Community, Events, Free!, Harlem, shopping

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Franz James Floral Boutique in Harlem to open today, Lido Restaurant as well

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Feb 12, 2011 @ 9:44

By HarlemGal
February 12 is one busy day for some new local businesses opening up in Harlem. As I told you, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar was scheduled to open before Valentine’s Day and they are now open. Go check them out and tell us what you think of the new digs.

Last night on my way home, I saw folks working inside Franz James Floral Boutique, located at 2114 Frederick Douglass Blvd. I walked in to see what was up. While there, I met the owners, Franz and James (hence the name of the business), and they told me they were opening today, February 12. They will be offering full flower art services, such as arrangements/center pieces for any occasion, and they will be selling loose flowers as well.

By the way, James of Franz James  told me he is from Harlem and continues to live here. So this new business is partially owned and operated by a Harlemite. The same is partially true for Lido. Susannah, co-proprietor, lives in Harlem as well. It’s great to know this. However, we all know a solid product has to be offered.

So if you want to check out these new businesses on Frederick Douglass Blvd. They’re open…starting today!

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Alton Weekes trunk show at Studio Museum Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 11, 2011 @ 13:46


By HarlemGal
The good people who work with
Alton Weekes New York have asked us to share information about their trunk show taking place this weekend in Harlem. The well-known and talented Alton Weekes will be available at Studio Museum Harlem, located at 144 West 125th Street, from February 12-13. The trunk show will offer guests and members of the Museum access to Alton Weekes where he will offer tips on stationary for every occasion.

The trunk show starts at noon both days and will end at 6 p.m. Click here for additional details.

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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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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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Meet Sugarleaf Vineyards and its tie to Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jan 14, 2011 @ 7:40
By HarlemGal
Two weeks ago, I blogged about the top-selling wines at The Winery. When I wrote that post I was asked “where else can one purchase wine in Harlem?”  The response I quickly gave was Harlem Vintage or stop by for a drink at Nectar on Frederick Douglas Blvd and 120th Street. Soon after, I went through some of my old notes and emails, and I came across another option for Harlemites to purchase wine. Wha…la! And this option is linked to Harlem like the others.

May I introduce Sugarleaf Vineyards and Winery. Sugarleaf Vineyards is 100 percent wholly owned by The Bias’, who reside right here in Harlem with their two kids. They often commute back and forth to Virginia to manage their vineyard. However, their home base is a lovely brownstone in Central Harlem.

While the ingredients, barreling and bottling for Sugarleaf wines may take place in Virginia, they hold similar accolades as fellow Harlemite Marcus Samuelsson when it comes to White House honors and the Bravo TV Channel. Their 2008 Petit Manseng was served at The White House for the 2010 Governor’s Ball and their winery was featured in a recent episode of The Real Housewives of DC.

So if your interested in purchasing wines made by Sugarleaf, click here to order. They ship to New York City in increments of 3, 6, and 12 bottles. Or stick to the walk in plan, Sugarleaf is also sold at Harlem Vintage, Nectar and Red Rooster! Cheers!

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

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Harlem’s Frederick Douglass Blvd wins 2010 Curbed Cup Neighborhood of the Year

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jan 3, 2011 @ 12:10

By HarlemGal
We won it! Harlem’s Frederick Douglass Boulevard has been named 2010 Neighborhood of the Year by Curbed.com. Yes! Congrats to FDB!

And might we respectfully add, winning the Curbed Cup brings sweet vindication and acknowledges what we have been saying all along, this area is hot! Go back to November 19, 2008 on this site. We predicted that FDB was headed to restaurant row status. Then a year later HarlemCondoLife.com, was the first to use the term “gold coast” to describe the FDB area!

Since our inception in 2008, we have taken some serious blows via blog post comments about focusing on this area. At times it was hurtful and hard not to take personal. However, we looked to our core beliefs and said “blog about your Harlem experience” and this area kept coming forward in our words! Despite these feelings, we emphatically have to state “We love every inch of Harlem.”

And to those who knocked us for believing in FDB, we say “truth is generally the best vindication…” Next up for FDB, New York Magazine!

 

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Posted in art and culture, Bars, business, Community, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping

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