Category Archives: shopping

Thursday Harlem holiday planner

Dec 9, 2010 @ 8:03
By HarlemGal
There are two wonderful events taking place this evening for you to consider for your Thursday Harlem holiday schedule.

First, we want to tell you about the Winter Celebration and Tree Lighting in Morningside Park, organized by the Friends of Morningside Park. Festivities will begin at 4:00 PM inside the St. Recreation Center at 123rd Street and Morningside Avenue. The holiday celebration will then move outside at 4:30PM. The holiday tree will be lit at 5:00 PM.

And second, we want to tell you about Harlem Flo’s Holiday Trunk Show, which will include items to purchase from local artists and designers. This event will take place at their second location, which is 2276 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, and starts at 6 PM.

So if you’re looking to attend a tree lighting and get some holiday shopping done, tonight is the night in Harlem.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Bright holiday lights accessorize Harlem’s 125th Street

Dec 8, 2010 @ 11:56
By HarlemGal
We walked along 125th Street last night to see the holidays lights in Harlem, which are now on and hanging from East to West!
The hanging holiday lights on 125th Street look wonderful and are different depending on which part of the street you’re walking. We noticed snowflakes hang from Adam Clayton Powell Blvd and 125th on heading West. Then from ACP Blvd and 125th on heading East stars lining the street! Did anyone else notice this?
We also encountered a special treat when walking along 125th Street in Harlem last night, FREE hot chocolate from Starbucks! They were giving free cups of hot chocolate out to those that were passing by looking at lights! Nice!
So have you seen the “Holiday Lights on 125?” If so, tell us what you think!

Harlem Holiday Lights on 125 kick-off

Dec 7, 2010 @ 13:00


By HarlemGal
“Harlem Holiday Lights on 125th” is officially being launched tonight, December 7th! Let’s all go and support our community and the organization that is leading this effort, The 125th Street Business Improvement District! Here are the details:

Who: Harlem Holiday Lights on 125th begins with neighborhood tree lighting ceremony at West Harlem Piers. The event will also include new holiday decorations on 125th Street from east to west!

When: Tuesday, December 7, 5-7 PM

Frederick Douglass Boulevard featured in The New York Daily News

Dec 6, 2010 @ 7:31
By HarlemGal
My favorite boulevard has been featured – once again – bright and big!  This time in The New York Daily News.  The article talks about all the “chic boutiques, restaurants and cocktail lounges the have cropped up on Frederick Douglass Boulevard above 110th St” in the last few years. It mentions Frederick Douglass Circle, MODSquad, bier international, 67 Orange, Patisserie des Ambassades and more.  The article even takes a page right out of HarlemGuy’s word playbook by stating “realtors call this bustling stretch of Eighth Avenue Harlem’s Gold Coast.” As with the other positive articles about Harlem, such as in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal, I love this clip right up there with others!

Live. Love. Shop Harlem!

Nov 22, 2010 @ 4:30
By HarlemGal
The Power of One has unveiled its holiday-themed campaign: Live. Love. Shop Harlem. “As the holiday season approaches, we are hoping that customers will come to Harlem as they go about their holiday shopping,” says Marva Allen, founder of The Power of One and co-owner of Hue-Man Bookstore. “We have a wealth of restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment establishments in Harlem.” This campaign officially kicks-off on Black Friday, November 26, with more than 50 Harlem-based businesses participating.
To participate in Love. Love. Shop Harlem, purchase The Power of One discount card online or at any of the participating stores for $1. Shoppers should then head to Harlem and visit the 50+ businesses that make up The Power of One. Each of these businesses, with The Power of One card, will afford customers a 10 percent discount anytime, not only during the holidays but throughout the year.

Designer Vintage collection launch at N Boutique in Harlem

Nov 14, 2010 @ 11:43
By HarlemGal
Interested in shopping today, Sunday, November 14 along with a mimosa in hand? Then head on over to N Boutique at 119th Street and Lenox. Today, they are unveiling their  DESIGNER VINTAGE collection for women and men. N Boutique in Harlem is open on Sunday’s from 12 to 6pm!

Levain Bakery plans to bake cookies and bread in Harlem

Nov 3, 2010 @ 23:29
By HarlemGal
If you have walked by the old Tribal Spears Gallery space recently, which was at 2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd., and saw a lot of construction happening, it’s the working crew for Levain Bakery, the Upper Westside and Hampton’s bakery. They are opening up their first Harlem location after the new year – hopefully in the first quarter of 2011.

I spoke with a staffer from their 167 West 74th Street location about the expansion. I asked why are they coming to Harlem? Levain Bakery said “they see Harlem as an emerging community and it’s a community they believe in.”

Very sweet words and it seems consistent with their product. Check out their website to learn more about Levain Bakery. Based on their site, their cookies look yummy. And the bread looks quite good as well. Harlemites will soon have another place to get a sugar fix in Harlem! Sign me up for that gym membership…quick!

Where to get Halloween costumes in Harlem?

Oct 27, 2010 @ 13:30


By HarlemGal
I was asked recently, where is the best place in Harlem to purchase Halloween costumes for adults and children? Off the top of my head, the place that comes to mind is King Party Center at 66 West 125th Street, between Malcolm X Blvd and Fifth Avenue. They seem to have a large selection of costumes for a reasonable price. Can our readers recommend any other places in Harlem?

There is a rose in Spanish Harlem, an abundance on East 116th Street

Oct 19, 2010 @ 16:55

By HarlemGal
Do you remember the song by Ben King called “There is a rose in Spanish Harlem?” It is an oldie, but goodie hit! We thought of this song recently when we passed by the flower stand on the northwest corner of East 116th Street and Lexington Avenue this past weekend.
This particular flower stand has an abundance of fresh roses, sunflowers, daisies and mixed flowers for sale-more so than other Bodega stands in Harlem. The flowers at this stand are all beautifully stacked and grouped accordingly where it makes the street-walker stop, look and buy. That’s what happened to us. We ended up buying two dozen colored roses for $10 and a bouquet of daisies for $5! What a deal! This stand has to be one of the least expensive places with gorgeous product in the area. We wanted to buy more flowers, such as the mustard colored sunflowers for $5 or mixed flowers for $8! However, we only had two sets of hands. We’re going back though. After our two dozen roses finish blooming!
As the song goes, there is a rose in Spanish Harlem beautiful and inexpensive, and it’s on 116th Street and Lexington Avenue.

The Douglass in Harlem participates in open house wine tasting, Bebenoir turns three

Oct 15, 2010 @ 13:10
By HarlemGal
Harlem happenings for this weekend-October 16th and 17th! Check them out-if it interests you! Have a great weekend!