Marcus Samuelsson to host Harlem Community Day June 25

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I am convinced that someone has cloned Marcus Samuelsson, celebrity chef/owner of Red Rooster Harlem and Ginny’s Supper Club. He is everywhere! I recently saw him at the New York City Coalition Against Hunger Spring Gala, where he was honored for his work on hunger issues, and then we all saw him and his wife Maya in the June issue of Vogue,the glamorous fashion magazine. Next up for Marcus is community day in Harlem. The Harlem resident will host a Harlem Community Day on Monday, June 25, in support of his forthcoming memoir, Yes, Chef.

The neighborhood-focused day will be held from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Marcus Garvey Park at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater (123rdStreet and Mount Morris Park West) and is free to the public.

Yes, Chef, is due out on June 26. It describes Marcus’ love for Harlem and his gratitude towards the Harlem community. In continuing to put the spot light on Harlem, Marcus has chosen to launch Yes, Chef at Marcus Garvey Park a day before the book’s national release. He will introduce the book with a fun-filled roster of activities and offerings that celebrate the residents, organizations and businesses of the neighborhood. Events will include cooking demonstrations, dance and musical performances, a greenmarket showcase, a yoga class, food and beverages, and a special Q and A with Marcus about Yes, Chef.

Vegetarian food now available at Harlem Meer in Central Park

Vegan and vegetarian food is in the news lately. Last week, it was about Seasoned Vegan and now its about Maoz Vegetarian. Through a press release, New York Parks and Recreation announced yesterday (June 13) that Maoz Vegetarian is now located at Harlem Meer in Central Park. Maoz Vegetarian’s newest location in Central Park is its seventh location in the City, and the latest opening is the first in East Harlem.

Maoz Vegetarian at the Harlem Meer will operate seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., subject to seasonal changes and weather related circumstances. Four tables for dining are located in front of the brick concession site, which are perfect for casual dining. Maoz Vegetarian is contracted for an eight year term, closing no earlier than mid-November for each operating term.

Aloft Harlem Hotel to feature Karl Karni-Bain in solo exhibition

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West Coast mixed media artist Karl Karni-Bain (BAI) will be featured in a solo exhibition for the monthly art exhibition series at the Aloft Harlem Hotel, June 21-July 18. An opening reception for the exhibition will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2012 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public with a cash bar in the hotel lounge.

The exhibition will feature recent painting by the neo-primitive inspired artist that includes work from his mask series and semi-abstract nudes. The exhibition series at Aloft Harlem features an exhibition by a solo artist each month and is located at 2296 Frederick Douglass Blvd, between 123rd and 124th Street in Harlem.

See Exposure at Art in FLUX Harlem

After opening a little more than a month ago, Art in FLUX is ready to present its next pop-up gallery in EXPOSURE, art work by teenagers from Artistic Noise. The exhibition EXPOSURE will open on Thursday, June 14th at 2031 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd between 121st and 122nd Street from 5:00-8:00p.m.

Artistic Noise is a program designed for youth, ages 13-18, involved in the juvenile justice system. It provides them with the opportunity to develop and document their lives through visual arts, to be heard, to collaborate, and to be part of a group.

Art in FLUX Harlem is a series of pop-up galleries located in Harlem.

Doggedly Devoted coming to Harlem with plans to open in July

A doggie daycare and training center is coming to Harlem and it is aiming to open the first week in July. Doggedly Devoted will be located at 1400 Fifth Avenue, between 115th and 116th Street, in Harlem. They will accommodate small and large dogs in cage-free, social daycare. Potential clients can call or email to have their dog’s interview done this month before it opens in July.

Contact details are:
Phone: 646-450-2053
Email: info@doggedlydevoted.com or
Web

Let’s help kickstart Seasoned Vegan in Harlem

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Who was inspired by the recent  New York Daily News article about The Beeners and their effort to open Harlem’s first full-service, vegan soul food restaurant? I certainly was! According to the article, Chef Brenda Beener and her son Aaron (mother and son), plan to open their vegan restaurant in August on Frederick Douglass Blvd. near 116th St., which is also known as Harlem’s restaurant row. But before they can open their establishment there is some major financing they must have in place, around $250k. The Beeners have turned to Kickstarter.com (and to us) to help them reach that sum.

There are various donation levels on their Kickstarter page from $5 to $500. If you are interested in helping Seasoned Vegan in Harlem become a reality, make your donation here.

East Harlem scores G-O-A-L with rooftop soccer field

Let the soccer games begin! And get even more excited by reading this wonderful article about how  P.S. 72 Lexington Academy in East Harlem received a roof top soccer field! MSNBC.com reported this past week that Manchester City Football Club and diplomats from the UAE partnered together to help create a new soccer field on the roof of P.S. 72 Lexington Academy in East Harlem. The dedication for the new field happened this past week.

Way to go P.S. 72 in East Harlem! Congrats to them on their new soccer field!

Grammy Award Winner Esperanza Spalding to perform in Harlem October 26

Bassist, vocalist, composer and award winner Esperanza Spalding is coming to Harlem and she will be performing…where else, but the famous Apollo Theater, located on 125th Street between FDB and ACP Blvd. She is performing in Harlem October 26 and tickets go on sale to the public tomorrow, Friday, June 8. The presale is happening now for Amex cardholders and members of the Apollo Theater Foundation.

“Esperanza Spalding is an American multi-instrumentalist best known as a jazz bassist and singer.” Her latest release is Radio Music Society. Listen below to Black Gold from her new CD.

http://soundcloud.com/concordmusicgroup/black-gold

Is Jado Sushi in Harlem starting off in the community on the wrong foot?

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It has been really fun and exciting lately to blog about some of the recent openings happening in Harlem, such as The Corner Social, Harlem Food Bar and Frederick Cafe Bistro. All these places have opened with such positive fanfare and the management behind these establishments are a delight to work with. However, there is one dining establishment on Frederick Douglass Blvd that is getting ready to open and I am finding it difficult to rave about. I am contemplating not evening dining there. Why? You may or may not know that there’s been an ongoing conflict between the owner of Jado Sushi, which is located in The Douglass Condo retail space (2118 FDB), and the owner of Land Yoga, which has been established in The Douglass for almost a year now and is Jado’s neighbor to the right.

According to online reports, Land Yoga in Harlem has been respectfully asking Jado Sushi, which is owned by the same person who owns The Winery on 116th Street, to kindly sound proof the restaurant so that it does not affect the environment of the yoga studio. Those multiple requests to Jado Sushi have been ignored to date, according to Land Yoga. HarlemGal Inc contacted The Winery asking for comment about Land Yoga’s request to sound proof and they did not respond.

Another reason I am blogging about this now is ’cause multiple readers have asked, why have you not mentioned anything about Jado Sushi in Harlem on your blog? Well, this is why. I am aware of the conflict going on between Jado and Land Yoga in Harlem.

For conversation sake, I have even asked Harlem business owner(s) about this and most have informally commented it is the responsibility of Jado Sushi  to sound proof the place since they are coming into a retail area that has already been established, apartments above the Jado space will more than likely complain about the noise below so it’s best to sound proof now rather than later and its the politically correct thing to do. Most of the businesses on FDB support each other. Yesterday, I read that the owner of Melba’s stopped by Harlem Food Bar recently to show her support. That’s classy!

Personally, I am not clear on why Jado Sushi would not want to sound proof the place now versus wait until later like when more complaints potentially come in or this get’s escalated into a potential legal matter. Then again, maybe it’s not Jado’s responsibility to sound proof their place or is it? Does anyone have any thoughts on this subject? Should Jado Sushi in Harlem sound proof its place to accommodate Land Yoga?

And as for dining at Jado Sushi, at the moment I don’t want to even think about going there when it opens knowing this conflict is nowhere near a resolution and that I might be interrupting someone’s yoga practice-if Jado is not sound proofed. It doesn’t feel right as a long time practicing yogi. That’s another reason why I can’t get excited about this place and starting to believe that Jado Sushi just might be starting off in Harlem on the wrong foot leading to an uneventful opening.

Attend ‘Emerging Women Speak Forum’ at the Apollo in Harlem

On June 19th, Harlem4Obama will host the State of Women in Politics: Emerging Women Speak Forum at the Apollo Soundstage from 6:30-9:00pm. The purpose of this event is to engage women in the private and public sectors, who have not previously considered public office and to address the overall political landscape as it applies to women nationally, in New York City and in Harlem.

Emerging Women Speak is part of an ongoing movement to ensure that young women step forward to shape and advance progressive policies and politics in our changing community and nation.

Tickets are $25. Register at Eventbrite.com to attend.

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