Harlem customers receive upgrade guide by Time Warner Cable

Has anyone living in the Harlem area noticed a slight difference with their Time Warner Cable? I noticed it on my flat screen. The user guide is different. Apparently, Time Warner Cable has introduced an upgraded guide to its TV customers in the Harlem area. Customers automatically received the upgrade about a week ago.

Here are a few tips on the new guide:

The “A” button on the remote control brings up “Find Channels,” allowing customers to find their favorite programming by category on hundreds of channels more easily.

The “B” button brings customers to a more intuitive “Search” screen, where they can look for movies or shows on both the TV schedule and among the thousands of Time Warner Cable On Demand choices available.

Intuitive on-screen prompts for using TV features like Start Over and Look Back.

To learn more about the new guide, visit http://www.timewarnercable.com/guide or call Time Warner Cable directly if you do not see this service.

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Attend panel discussion in Harlem on private school kindergarten admission process

Only in New York City do parents have to start thinking about the admission process for school while their child is still in utero. And it’s not even college admissions that they have to think about first. It is kindergarten and whether that primary step toward education should be public or private. This is the reality for NYC parents and if you’re approaching this part of parenting, to do private or public kindergarten for your kid, and live in Harlem, you may want to consider attending this event.

On August 13th at 6:30 pm, Let’s Talk Schools will be hosting a panel discussion in Harlem at Ephesus Church, located at 110 W 123rd Street (Corner of Lenox Avenue), on the NYC private school kindergarten admission process. The workshop will inform parents about applying to kindergarten at Hunter Elementary School on East 94th Street and private independent schools in September 2012 for the 2013-2014 school year. The workshop will discuss the different options available and provide an overview, directly from admission directors, about the process; including summary of the complete application process, screening tests (ERB & Stanford Binet), what to look for on tours and what to expect, financial aid and affording an independent school education and how admission decisions are made.

If you are interested in attending, the cost is $20 before August 9 and $25 from August 10-13. Registration is required to attend and space is limited. Click here to register.

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Harlem Shambles named one of New York’s best butcher shops

Time Out New York has narrowed the list to ten on the best places to purchase meat in New York City and Harlem Shambles made the list. TONY said they named Harlem Shambles as one of the best NYC butcher shops for barbecuing because “all the meat at this shop is humanely raised and sourced from three farms in the Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley. [Also] the butchers are resourceful, transforming whole carcasses into just about any cut you might want…”

Congrats to Harlem Shambles! Check it out for your barbecuing or everyday meal needs. They are located 2141 Frederick Douglass Blvd. between 115th and 116th Street. Their phone number is 1 (646) 476-4650.

Sylvia Woods, who founded famous Harlem restaurant, passes

This evening, Harlem lost a legend. Sylvia Woods, who earned the grand title: the Queen of Soul Food, has gone on to a better place.  The Wood’s Family announced on Facebook tonight that the women who founded and created one of the most famous soul food restaurants in Harlem and in New York City, Sylvia’s Restaurant, succumbed to Alzheimer’s. In their statement, the Wood’s Family said before she left, Sylvia was surrounded by the same environment she created at her Lenox Avenue restaurant: “a host of family and loved ones.”

As one person said on Twitter this evening, “they’re eating collards, fried chicken, and cornbread in heaven tonight…” Amen. 😦

Melba’s Restaurant returns to The View July 24

The ladies from ABC’s The View will be in the kitchen soon with Harlem’s Melba Wilson, the owner of Melba’s Restaurant on 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd! On July 24, Melba returns to the morning talk show where she “will cook it up” with the ladies on The View. Way to go Melba! Details are below!

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Aloft Hotel in Harlem wins TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Harlem’s first hotel in a half century has been recognized for its service. Aloft Harlem, located at 2296 Frederick Douglass Blvd. between 123rd and 124th Street, recently announced that it was awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. This accolade is given to establishments that consistently and credibly achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, which recognizes businesses worldwide and is one of the largest travel sites on the internet.

Aloft Harlem has been open since December 2009 with the  majority of the hotel’s employees from Harlem and already its performance is reaching the top percentile in the industry. The prestigious award only rewards about 10 percent of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor.

Let’s wish our Aloft Harlem a big congratulations and may many more accolades come their way in years to come! Cheers!

Harlem neighborhoods experience price jump in rental market

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According to RentJuice®, a Zillow® business and provider of lease marketing technology to thousands of real estate property managers and brokers, the uptown part of Manhattan, specifically Harlem neighborhoods, experienced a price jump in the rental sector of real estate. In a news release distributed today, it stated that “over the last quarter, the city’s average cost for space remained stable at $4.98 per square foot-exactly the same as at the close of the first quarter. The largest hike in price per square foot occurred uptown in Harlem. Neighborhoods such as Central Harlem, Harlem and Morningside all experienced 11 percent jumps in average price per square foot in the second quarter. Renters in Hamilton Heights, however, saw a five percent decrease in average price per square foot.”

To read the full news release, click here.

Let’s go canoeing at Harlem Meer

Not sure what to do today, Sunday (July 15) with your Harlem kid? How about taking them canoeing at Harlem Meer? It’s FREE and it is happening today in Central Park North! NYC Parks and Recreation is offering free canoeing from noon to 3 pm at Harlem Meer, which is located near the entrance of Central Park North, aka 110th Street, and Lenox Ave. If you’re coming from downtown, take the 2/3 subway line to the 110th Street subway stop.

I witnessed this a few years ago and blogged about it. It looked so much fun! Whatever you do today, have a wonderful Sunday, Harlem!

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‘Soul Train’ celebration is tonight in Harlem, event seeks to create world’s largest soul train line


Go back in time tonight to an era that brought us “soul” at Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park. Harlem-based non-profit ImageNation is celebrating all things “Soul Train” this evening (July 12) in Marcus Garvey Park. ImageNation’s 10th Annual Outdoors Festival will pay tribute to the late Don Cornelius with a screening of the VH1 documentary “Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America,” as well as live performances of music from that famous era. Also, ImageNation is aiming to create the largest soul train line tonight here in Harlem. How else to pay better tribute to the man himself, Don Cornelius, than by creating one of the most famous and well-known dance lines: the soul train line? The event is FREE and starts at 7:30 pm. Check out the details below.

What: Soul Train! A Tribute to Don Cornelius w/ music by InJoy Enterprises
When: July 12, 2012 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Where: Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem
Directions: Take the 2/3 train towards New Lots Ave and exit 125th st near intersection of Dr. Martin L King Blvd and Lenox Ave. Walk down to 122nd St and turn left
Cost: Free

Julisa’s coming to Harlem, new bar plans to open at the end of July

Reader and fellow blogger FromTheFifthFloor.com has tipped off HarlemGal Inc. about a new bar and lounge opening in Harlem, specifically on Lenox Avenue between 132nd and 133rd Street. Julisa’s is the name of the upcoming Harlem joint and apparently it’s owned by a couple team! I guess they’re following in the footsteps of Harlem Tavern, 5 and Diamond Harlem, and Ristorante Settepani, which I understand are all owned and managed by couples.

According to our reader, Julisa’s is shaping up to be sharp-looking new bar and lounge, which will focus on live music and poetry night-type events. The place has a built-in DJ booth/loft in the back, an indicator that live music will be available. So stay tuned. As soon as we know more, we will pass along.

And a special shout out to FromTheFifthFloor.com for providing the story tip and photos! Muchas Gracias!

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