Harlem YMCA tennis classes begin September 4

Posted on August 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

The US Open Tennis starts today in Queens and runs until September 9. The opportunity for your Harlem child to be the next Venus Williams, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, or Rafael Nadal starts now. Harlem YMCA is offering tennis instructions for children ages 4-5 years old and 6-8 years old. Classes run in 8-week sessions and costs start at $60 for members and $105 for non members. To sign up your Harlem child for classes, go to the YMCA website or contact Latoya Jackson at 212-912-2162.

The Harlem YMCA is located at 180 West 135th Street between Lenox Avenue and ACP Blvd.

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Posted in Community, education, Events, Harlem, health and wellness, kids

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Harlem Happenings: Studio Museum Harlem, Corner Social and Sundae Sermon

Posted on August 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

It’s the weekend in Harlem! A lot is happening starting tonight with Uptown Fridays at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Read here for more information.

Then on Saturday (Aug 25), Corner Social on Lenox Ave and 126th is hosting a special pre-fix brunch from noon to 6 pm with live music and free cocktails from noon to 1 pm.

And on Sunday (Aug 26), its time to let loose by dancing the afternoon away at Sundae Sermon in Morningside Park.

Have a great weekend Harlem!

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Posted in art and culture, Bars, business, Corner Social, drinks, entertainment, Events, food, Free!, Harlem, kids, Lenox Avenue, Morningside Park, music, Studio Museum Harlem

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Harlem School of the Arts offers Free Class Week

Posted on August 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Listen up parents! The Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) will be offering Free Class Week beginning Tuesday, September 4th thru Saturday, September 8th. Free classes will be offered in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and musical theatre for all ages.

The HSA Free Class Week is open to the public and free classes are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.  HSA Free Class Week culminates with HSA Parent Orientation for all parents of registering students on September 8th at 10am (for ages 2-8) and 2pm (for ages 9-17). All interested participants should go to the HSA website for more information.

Additionally HSA will be holding open auditions September 11 and 12, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:30 pm–7:00 pm for students Grades 3-8 who wish to participate in Disney’s The Lion King KIDS and The Lion King JR (its children’s version of its landmark Broadway musical) being held at HSA October 1 – March 18 culminating in student performances. Call backs will be held September 13.

The Harlem School of the Arts is located at 645 Saint Nicholas Avenue @ W. 141st Street. Close to A, B, C and D subway trains to 145th Street or M3 bus to 141st Street.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, Events, Harlem, Harlem School of the Arts, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem gas station in demand

Posted on August 20, 2012 | 6 comments

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According to The New York Post this morning (Aug 20), the owners of the Harlem gas station on 110th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd have been busy fighting off the City of New York from taking over their property.

The article states that Carmie Elmore and a partner took over the gas station in 1981 when Harlem was seedy. Now that Harlem is hot and has been on an upward trajectory for a while, the city apparently owned it at one time and wants its gas station back. Each entity is heading to Manhattan Supreme Court to make its point.

When I first moved to Harlem and was looking at apartments to buy, I remember either my broker or another local telling me this farfetched, ridiculous statement about this corner…get ready for this, which was that it was being eyed by the Donald Trump himself. Did anyone else get fed this line when buying an apartment in South Harlem? I recall someone mentioning that Donald Trump was interested in the Harlem gas station because he wants to own property bookends on the westside of Central Park–one property already exists at Columbus Circle.

Crazy stuff huh? But now that I am reading this article, it makes me wonder what the City is really up to? If Mr. Elmore and his business partner own the gas station and they don’t want to sell it, shouldn’t that be the end of the discussion? Punto! What do you think?

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Posted in 110th Street, business, commercial real estate, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem’s Cedric French Bistro and Bar turns one

Posted on August 17, 2012 | 1 comment


Another Harlem dining establishment is celebrating its first anniversary! Cedric French Bistro and Bar is hitting their one year mark and they are inviting everyone over to celebrate with a champagne brunch tomorrow, August 18 from noon to 6 pm. Head on over, they are offering free mimosa’s for those that dine there. And congrats to Cedric French Bistro on reaching this milestone!

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Posted in Bars, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, drinks, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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The real social networking happens at Uptown Fridays in Harlem

Posted on August 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

Save the evening date of August 24! That’s when one of the best social gatherings in Harlem is happening: Uptown Fridays at The Studio Museum Harlem featuring DJ Reborn!

It’s more than the usual soirée. It’s a chance to have mental stimulation in a cool setting. It’s an opportunity to connect with artists, curators, collectors and critics at the center of black art and culture. And it’s all happening at our Studio Museum in Harlem, which is located at 144 West 125th Street between Lenox Avenue and ACP Blvd. Start time is 7 pm.

Tickets to Uptown Fridays are $15 for Studio Museum members and $20 for non-members. Admission includes a guided gallery tour of one of our current exhibitions, dancing in the courtyard and cocktails! Take the 2, 3, A, B, C, D @ 125th subway train!

For more information and to RSVP, contact UptownFridays@studiomuseum.org.

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, drinks, Events, Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, Studio Museum Harlem

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Johnny Rockets in East Harlem expected to open soon

Posted on August 14, 2012 | 4 comments

A little pajarito tells HarlemGal Inc that the Johnny Rockets we blogged about back in October is aiming to open in the next week or so. That’s if they pass inspection and can get their gas turned on. Whether its next week or not, they’re prepared to open in the immediate future in the East River Plaza, which is located at the end of East 116th Street. Stay tuned!

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Posted in 116th Street, business, food, Harlem, kids, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Dear Harlem: Is it better to buy or rent?

Posted on August 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

There are those so-called “million dollar question(s)” out there in the universe around housing that we have all asked ourselves at one time or another. I know I have. And that is…is it better to buy or rent? It’s a loaded question…huh? Well, there is actually an online, interactive tool available now that is trying to help consumers answer that question: buy vs rent? It’s in The New York Times’ Making the Most of your Money section.

To use the online tool, fill in the information on your left, i.e. monthly rent, home price, etc. After you fill out the information, then place your cursor over the grid and it will reveal whether its better to buy or rent? Below are two samples.

Try it by going here. And good luck with finding the answer to that familiar question.

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Posted in apartments, education, Free!, Harlem, Money Series, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, spending

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New York Comedy Festival 2012 coming to Harlem’s Apollo Theater

Posted on August 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

The New York Comedy Festival 2012 is coming to Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater in November! There are two shows lined up in Harlem so far, according to a recent email sent out today (August 13) to subscribers.

The first show is scheduled for the evening of November 9 with comedian Aziz Ansari from the TV show ‘Parks and Recreation.’ The second show is scheduled the following evening (Nov 10) with Jim Gaffigan, who has appeared on Letterman and Conan shows many times.

To purchase tickets to either event, go to the New York Comedy Festival 2012 website.

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, entertainment, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, The Apollo Theater

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