Congrats to Harlem RBI, Prince Harry is visiting East Harlem today

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It’s been all over the news. A Prince will be in Harlem today! According to several online reports, Prince Harry will be in East Harlem to visit Harlem RBI for some baseball and to promote the program. That’s so wonderful for them! Way to go Harlem RBI! That’s a home run!

“For more than 20 years Harlem RBI has been serving the neighborhood.  The organization started by reclaiming an abandoned garbage filled lot and turning it into 2 baseball diamonds that would become true fields of dreams for disadvantaged kids in East Harlem.”

If you’re not familiar with Harlem RBI, visit prior posts here to learn more.

Blink Fitness signage up in Harlem, target opening day June 2013

A friend, reader of HarlemGal Inc., and filmmaker/producer of Changing Face of Harlem, Shawn Batey, sent in a photo over the weekend of signage on the upcoming Blink Fitness, which will be located on 125th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. According to Blink Fitness’ website, the Equinox-owned business is aiming to open this coming June. Interested consumers can join the gym at their Harlem location for $1. For more information, go to www.blinkfitness.com/locations.

And a big thanks to Ms. Batey for sending in the photo! Muchas Gracias!

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Attend World Premier Of ‘American Beatboxer’ at Harlem’s Schomburg Center May 15

Harlem, we are all cordially invited to attend the V.I.P. reception of the world premier screening of the film, “American Beatboxer” The documentary hits the stage at the Schomburg Research Center on May 15th in Harlem, NYC.

“American Beatboxer” tells the story of the first ever, American Beatboxing Championship, shot during the summer of 2010, at Littlefield Performance and Art Space in Brooklyn. Contestants of all races from the United States competed, down to eight finalists. This documentary honors the evolution of Beatboxing juxtaposed against the final day of competition to crown the first American beat boxing champion.

The event is free by RSVPing in advance to AmericanBeatboxerRSVP@gmail.com. Below are all the details to attend:

DATE: Wednesday, May 15th
TIME: Reception–5:30-6:30 pm; Screening–7-8:30 pm; Q&A–8:30-9:30pm
LOCATION: The Schomburg Center, 515 Lenox Avenue & 135th St.

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Harlem Yo! coming to Frederick Douglass Blvd, frozen yogurt, smoothies, shakes to be offered

I was walking along Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem this evening (May 10) and noticed new signage was up where the old Posh Paws was located, 2121 FDB. The purplish awning says HarlemYo!, Frozen Yogurt, Burritos, Smoothies, Shakes and Salads. Looks like Harlem’s restaurant row is getting another food/eating out option?

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American Ballet Theatre and Harlem School of the Arts join forces to form training partnership

American Ballet Theatre and Harlem School of the Arts‘ Dance Department have formed a unique training partnership, which will incorporate ABT’s National Training Curriculum in HSA’s dance curriculum.

Beginning Fall 2013, ABT will train HSA’s dance faculty in the principles of its National Training Curriculum. The establishment of an ABT Certification for HSA will provide a comprehensive training program in ballet for all HSA dance faculty, including student exams to evaluate teachers and students, refresher courses and mentorship. The partnership will be introduced to the Harlem School of the Arts community of dance families and students on Tuesday, May 21 at HSA’s Theater, 649 Saint Nicholas Avenue with a lecture- demonstration presented by the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre.

As a part of the training partnership between American Ballet Theatre and the Harlem School of the Arts, JKO Principal Franco De Vita will conduct master classes at HSA throughout the year and serve as advisors to HSA faculty in order to effectively integrate the new ballet curriculum into HSA’s diverse offering of dance technique including jazz, tap, modern, African and hip hop.

Interested in learning more about this partnership, contact Ruth Gilwit at rgilwit@hsanyc.org.

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Harlem Shake Restaurant to open to the public May 16, not May 14 as previously reported

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If you were planning on stopping by Harlem Shake, the restaurant that is opening up soon on Lenox Avenue on May 14, not so fast. Sources tell HarlemGal Inc that the opening day of Harlem Shake, no not the dance or recent video craze, but the actual restaurant in Harlem, is set to open to the public on May 16.

Similar to most new dining establishments in Harlem, Harlem Shake will do a lot of private practice runs before they actually let the public in. So stand by and be ready on May 16.

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Yankee baseball player makes Harlem his home, Ichiro Suzuki catches 111 Central Park North

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Several news outlets are reporting that Ichiro Suzuki, an outfielder for the Yankees, hit a home run in the rental market by renting an apartment at 111 Central Park North in Harlem. According to SportsGrid.com, Suzuki “is on the cutting edge [by moving to Harlem]. Everyone in New York knows that Harlem is the new Williamsburg.”

8571977Curbed.com, The Real Deal and Business Insider all say that Suzuki is paying $23,500 a month for his new swanky pad that overlooks Central Park, not to mention he cut time off his commuting. Harlem is much closer to Yankee Stadium. The Yankee baseball player was living on the Upper Eastside prior to moving to Harlem.

The best part of this story is that the Japanese-born professional baseball player reportedly beat out Derek Jeter and A-Rod, who were considering buying the same place for a cool $9 million. Ahh, ya gotta love competition on and off the field!

Harlem’s Les Ambassades renovation halfway complete, Frederick Douglass Blvd location opens redesigned cafe

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I’m sure most of us have noticed by now that Harlem’s Les Ambassades on Frederick Douglass Blvd, aka Patisserie Des Ambassades, is in the midst of redesigning the place. You see it when you walk by.

In order to redesign and still stay open, Les Ambassades had to create new space for their breads and pastries first, which they did right next door at 2200 Frederick Douglass Blvd between 118th and 119th Street. They have recently opened this part of their new construction and the place looks great!

The new shop now has giant sign boards up displaying all of their products. Their pastries sit in new glass counters and the bread is very visible along the back walls for customers to just point at and buy.

Take a look for yourself! Stop on by and see how Les Ambassades is changing things up at their FDB location.

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Breadbox Studio in Harlem to host design event May 11

After I posted about the Harlem Focus event by Cooper-Hewitt, another design event happening in Harlem was sent in to share. On May 11, Harlem’s Breadbox Studio will be providing “a demonstration of Maker Bots and 3D Printing machines, and a talk by young TOY designers.” The event is free to the public and it starts at 6 pm.  BreadBox Studio is located at 1844 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.

To learn more about the event, click here.

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Harlem to celebrate Second Annual Food and Drink Boulevard May 2

The Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and Experience Harlem invite us all in Harlem to their annual Food and Drink Blvd event, which is an evening of food, cocktails, music, and culture featuring most of the dining establishments on Harlem’s restaurant row, aka Frederick Douglass Blvd. The event takes place Thursday, May 2nd, from 6-10 pm. The cost to attend is $10 in advance. To purchase tickets for this fun event, go here.
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