Category Archives: Silvana

Pods arrive in Central Harlem along with a gigantic mural

Dining pods have arrived to part of the restaurant scene in Harlem. And a giant mural on the northwest corner of Frederick Douglass Blvd and 116th Street is going up to commemorate this form of outdoor dining! If you live in the area, you can’t miss the mural (or the pods). The mural looks awesome!

Dining pods are now lining FDB from 116th to 120th Street at the following restaurants: Bixi Harlem, Blvd Bistro, Chocolate, Harlem Burger, Harlem Tavern, Mess Hall/Double Dutch, Silvana and Vinateria. These greenhouse styled dining pods were provided to minority and women-owned restaurants on FBD as part of an initiative sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and Stella Artois, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch.

The 7-story, 2800 square foot mural was designed and painted by Harlem-based Giannina Gutierrez. Gutierrez created the mural to welcome diners to the area and to showcase the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

Having these dining pods donated to small businesses, who truly need the help during this time, is a great example of private sector, non profits and the community coming together to collaborate for the greater good. This is a wonderful example of corporate social responsibility at its best.

Stop by to see the mural and let’s us know what you think of it here in the comments section! Go out and dine in these donated pods. And drop a line here about your dining experience in a pod too!

Photo by Harlemgal
Photo by Harlemgal

Karaoke Night in Harlem begins September 4th

Need additional plans in Harlem this holiday weekend? How about a little karaoke? Shrine World Music Venue, located at 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., has reopened its new Green Room downstairs and to kick off the opening they’re starting a KARAOKE NIGHT this coming Monday, Sept.. 4th, which will then occur on every Monday thereafter. Check it out if you can!

Harlem organizations partner with FIT to present Harlem Holiday Windows, free tours provided

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Move over Fifth Avenue, Harlem is getting into the holiday windows game. Spanning the corridor of Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 114th and the 122nd streets, eight Harlem businesses will display windows designed and executed by fifteen students from the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design (VPED) BFA program. The window displays will depict holiday-themed scenes from the Harlem Renaissance. The windows will be on view from November 30 to January 2. Visitors are invited to stroll through the historic neighborhood throughout the holidays and enjoy the window displays, while learning a bit of Harlem’s rich history.

To kick off the season, two free window tours on November 30 and December 3 will be provided by ArtCrawl Harlem, Inc. The tours will feature live storytellers and vignettes with actors and performers bringing the windows to life. The family friendly outing will also include free children’s activity and coloring books, highlighting historical themes of the period, and refreshments from some of the participating restaurants.

Windows will be decorated at the following businesses:

Vintage Harlem NYC Wine & Spirits, 2235 FDB
Chocolat, 2223 FDB
Vinateria, 2211 FDB
Lido, 2168 FDB
Harlem Tavern, 2153 FDB
Silvana, 300 W 116
Harlem Skin & Laser Clinic, 2119 FDB
Land Yoga, 2116 FDB

Harlem Holiday Windows free kick off event will start at the Harriet Tubman statue on 122nd Street at 5:30pm on November 30, and will feature an interactive and intergenerational music performance by special guest Shine and the Moonbeams. The second kick off, also starting on 122nd Street, will be at 3pm on December 3, ending at the Shop Harlem Live Harlem Holiday Expo at MIST. Produced by Harlem Park to Park, the program will include an art filled afternoon for kids and adults.

In addition to the free kick off tours on November 30 and December 3, a full schedule of paid tours and programming around the Holiday Windows, will be offered by ArtCrawl Harlem, Inc., throughout the holiday season, from November 30-December 21. Programming will include weekly tours on Saturdays from 3–5pm (dates include December 3,10, 17).Registration is available on the website. Rates are $10 per person or $150 for groups 15-25.

Tours are available for groups by special request. For more information on Harlem Holiday Windows, and the participating businesses visit http://www.harlemholidaywindow.com or call 212.866.7427.

Harlem getting another Starbucks, new condo on 110th will house Seattle giant

   
 Strolling along 110th St. approaching Manhattan Avenue in Harlem, what will you see? A big sign that says Starbucks coming! It will open up two or three doors down west of Cafe Amrita, a long time favorite Harlem business.

Clearly, the Seattle based company sees that the cafe/coffee business is booming in this part of Harlem, along with mid to high end restaurants. In the last few years, several cafes have open up just along Harlem’s restaurant row, aka Frederick Douglass Blvd., such as Double Dutch, Silvana, Amaretto Espresso Bar, and Cafe Frederick Harlem Parlor.

Not sure I care for another Starbucks in this area. There are plenty of good coffee options now that exist! Agree or disagree?

Marcus Samuelsson’s next restaurant opening? Harlem’s restaurant row says NYT

While we were all enjoying our Thanksgiving holiday, Harlem’s celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson decided to break news to The New York Times that week about his next restaurant opening in Harlem, which will be where else….but on Harlem’s restaurant row, aka Frederick Douglass Blvd. from 110th Street to 125th. The actual location will be on the southwest corner of 116th Street and FDB–right by Harlem Tavern and Silvana. The name will be Streetbird Rotisserie. His first Harlem establishment is Red Rooster. All the info above was confirmed by his PR rep.

When I learned of this news, the things that came to mind was why not open a place on FDB to begin with? And why open a restaurant there now?

Opening is set for Spring 2015, which in the restaurant business means Summer or Fall 2015!

So much for that diner my readers keep asking for! It ain’t happening.

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Silvana in Harlem to offer side walk seating starting August 7

imageThere’s nothing better than sipping a nice cup of coffee from Silvana in Harlem together with a pita egg sandwich and some tasty fried cauliflower. Yummy! Actually, what would make that treat better is being able to sit outside and people watch. And that’s we are all going to be able to do soon at Silvana in Harlem. Starting tomorrow, August 7, Silvana will offer outdoor/side-walk seating. There will be red chairs and silver tables waiting for us to enjoy!

So if you’re in the area, stop on by and check out Silvana’s side-walk seating in Harlem. They are located on 116th Street between Frederick Douglass Blvd and Manhattan Avenue! See you there!

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Harlem’s restaurant row, aka Frederick Douglass Blvd., getting another coffee shop

New restaurants have been the trend on Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem for the last five to six years. Now it appears coffee shops are the next big thing. Another coffee/cafe shop is opening up on FDB between 114th and 115th Street on the east side of the block, according to a worker on site. Several workers are hammering away prepping the place for a cafe.

This will be the fourth coffee shop to open on Harlem’s restaurant row. Already in place are Silvana, Double Dutch, and Cafe Frederick. Oh…and there’s that big company on the same boulevard too. Stay tuned!

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Things to do with kids in Harlem: Jazz Cats for Kids at Silvana Harlem

Save the date of February 22! That’s when Jazz Cats for Kids will take place at Silvana in Harlem at 116th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. A jazz quartet will be on hand to entertain kids of all ages. The event starts at noon and is hosted by Harlem4Kids and the Musician’s Aid Society.

Silvana will have their full menu available, as well as a few additional kid-friendly items for the crowd. Doors open at 11:30 am.

Purchase tickets here. All tickets ($5/person, children under 2 are free) must be purchased in advance.

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Want a Harlem t-shirt? Keep Harlem, Harlem tees now available

On this Harlem blog, I use tees to feature the subject matter, ie Harlem. Sometimes readers ask, where can I buy a unique tee with the name Harlem on it? Here’s an option. One of my favorite Harlem sites, Harlem NYC, is now offering Harlem tees to purchase. The t-shirt says “Keep Harlem, Harlem.” Pretty cool…huh? If you’re interested in purchasing this Harlem tee, go here! And to check out Harlem NYC like I do, click here.

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Spend Halloween in Harlem, Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance to host event October 31

Need plans for Halloween? How about spending Halloween on Harlem’s restaurant row? The Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA) is organizing a Halloween in Harlem party along Frederick Douglass Blvd. Several businesses shown below with their logo will be handing out candy to trick or treaters and decorating their windows for all passerby’s to view.

For those without little ones, select restaurants will have $5 drink specials from 5 pm – 10 pm and be handing out 10 percent off coupons good retail partners with their logos listed below as well, such as BebeNoir, Bibi Salon, Harlem Flo, Franz James, Harlem Shambles and more!

See you along the boulevard for Halloween!

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