Ron Perelman raises a cool million for Harlem’s Apollo Theater

Posted on August 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

It is showtime at The Apollo Theater, but in the Hamptons…to raise money! Ron Perelman, who joined the Apollo Theater board last year, has been throwing quite the fundraising shin-dig at his Hampton’s estate and packed with celebrity power.

Last year, Jon Bon Jovi came out for the first fundraiser and he attended again this year, along with Jaime Fox and Alicia Keys. Apparently, the event that happened this past weekend in the Hamptons raised more than $1 million for Harlem’s famous music venue versus last year where the event did not even reach a million dollars. And guess who donated food to the event? Yup, you guessed it! Marcus Samuelsson.

If this fundraiser happens again and keeps charging guests $2500 a ticket, Ron Perelman will probably reach $2 million dollars next year. Must be nice. And good for the Apollo Theater that their board works for them. The more dinero for our beautiful venue, the better! Ron go for two next year!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, business, entertainment, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, spending, The Apollo Theater

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What have you eaten at Cedric French Bistro and Bar in Harlem?

Posted on August 22, 2011 | 11 comments

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Cedric French Bistro and Bar in Harlem turns one week old today and so far the feedback has been positive – at least online from what I have seen. Have you been to Cedric Bistro located at 119th Street and St. Nicholas Ave? If so, tell us what you had for dinner or lunch!

I went with four women this past Thursday and we had a nice time. We ordered a bottle of red wine and started with the Thai mussels with ginger and lemon grass. For our main course, we had grilled salmon, organic roasted chicken, pan seared duck breast, another order of mussels and had plenty of bread and fries to nimble on. We did not have dessert because we were actually full from the main dishes. All these dishes were very good and recommended, service met and, at times exceeded, our expectation and the ambiance was classy.

After we were finished with dinner, we talked about the state of Cedric Bistro among other fabulous dining places in Harlem, such as Red Rooster, Lido Harlem, Settepani, 5 and Diamond, etc., and we all mutually agreed Cedric Bistro deserves a thumbs up. It will do well in Harlem and from our experience on dining there on day four of opening-Cedric French Bistro and Bar is here to stay! Go and experience the place for yourself and tell us what you think!

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Posted in Bars, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Happy Hour begins at Harlem Tavern

Posted on August 21, 2011 | 3 comments


For those of you who have wondered whether Harlem Tavern will participate in a happy hour because all you really want to do is drink there and not necessarily dine, the answer is now a yes! Harlem Tavern announced Sunday evening that they will now have a happy hour. It starts tomorrow, Monday, August 22 from 4-7 p.m. Their happy hour specials include $5 well drinks, Bud Light, Shock Top, Yuengling, Red Sangria, delicious Moscato and red wine. Harlem Tavern happy hour is from Monday-Friday.

This is a nice addition to the other establishments that provide happy hour specials as well.

Drink up Harlem! To read prior blog coverage on Harlem Tavern, click here or go to the category tags on the right hand side of the screen!

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Posted in Bars, business, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Vote for Gospel for Teens Harlem as the Best Choir in America

Posted on August 20, 2011 | 1 comment


Yesterday, I told you about how Gospel for Teens based in Harlem is headed to the big screen. Today, its about winning the best choir in America competition. The Vy Higginsen program is competing in How Sweet the Sound:The Search for the Best Church Choir in America.

Gospel for Teens is representing Walker Memorial Baptist Church in the competition. It started August 17 and one can vote as many times as they want each day all the way up to August 31.

How can you vote for Gospel for Teens Harlem? Follow these steps:

1. Click on this link which will take you to How Sweet the Sound choir competition
2. Sign up
3. Then click on the Washington, DC Market (The competition is divided up into regions. This is where Gospel for Teens is located)
4. Then click the 4th square for Walker Memorial Baptist Church and watch Vy Higginsen explain who is Gospel for Teens
5. And finally click the button to “VOTE” under the video. That’s it!

I voted today. Join me and vote for Gospel for Teens Harlem as the best choir in America!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, history, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Gospel for Teens based in Harlem to be adapted for the big screen

Posted on August 19, 2011 | 5 comments


Remember the movie The Pursuit of Happiness with Will Smith? Apparently the idea to turn that subject into a movie came from a TV segment on ABC’s 20/20. Universal Studio is taking that same approach with Vy Higginsen’s Gospel for Teens, which is based and founded in Harlem.

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment are teaming up to develop a feature film based on the 60 Minutes segment on Gospel for Teens, which aired a few months ago. Stephen Belber will write the script. He has several writing credits and last directed Jennifer Aniston in Management. There is no word yet on who will star in this film. However, whoever it will  be will definitely have to have some singing chops. The subject is about singing with passion in a gospel choir. I think Ruben Studdard, the winner of American Idol should audition? How about one of the cast members from Glee? Or maybe one of the real life teenagers who actually sings in Gospel for Teens?

Overall, this is huge news for Higginsen, the young people who are in Gospel for Teens, and for Harlem as well. I’ll pay to see this movie! Can’t wait till it opens!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, film, Harlem, history, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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The Winery in Harlem turns 4

Posted on August 17, 2011 | Leave a comment


The Winery in Harlem, located at 116th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd., is celebrating its 4th Anniversary this week by offering four consecutive nights of free wine tasting events and a special sales for this limited time.

Kicking off the celebration today, August 17th, The Winery will drastically reduce prices of selected wines. So if you’re not sure what to buy to take advantage of the sale, head on over to one of the wine tastings! See you there!


Artisanal Italian Wines
Wednesday August 17th, 6-8 pm.
Wines that reveal the true art of Italy, made with love and passion.

Best Value Wines
Thursday August 18th, 6-8 pm.
Sample our discoveries that prove delicious wines need not to be pricy at all.

Sakes and Honey Wine
Friday August 19th, 6-8 pm.
Inspiring Sakes from Japan, and semi-sweet honey wine made with the traditional Ethiopian recipe.

Fresh and Fruity Dry Wines
Saturday August 20th, 5-8 pm.
Easy, fun, refreshing wines that amplify the joy of the summer season.

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Posted in Bars, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, shopping

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Harlem’s Sherri Shepherd ties the knot

Posted on August 16, 2011 | 2 comments


Harlem resident and The View co-host is no longer a single Harlem gal. Sherri Shepherd, who lives in a beautiful brownstone in Harlem, wed boyfriend Lamar Sally this past weekend. She shared details of the days leading up to her wedding day, August 13, on twitter. Sherri even teased her followers, which this blog site is one of them, about what her wedding dress might look like before the big day!

According to a celeb blog site, Sherri Shepherd eventually donned a custom Rivini gown to marry boyfriend Lamar and only one gossip magazine has the pics.

Sherri looks great in the photo! Congrats to Sherri and Lamar! And hope to see the newlyweds in Harlem soon!

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Posted in entertainment, fashion, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Preview of Harlem’s Cedric French Bistro and Bar menu

Posted on August 15, 2011 | 2 comments

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Wondering what Cedric French Bistro and Bar in Harlem will be offering on their menu and at what price? HarlemGal has photos of the menu. Take a look!

The menu will feature five kinds of mussels, including curry, Thai, and provencales. Appetizers include risotto of the day, foie gras ravioli, beef carpaccio, and more ranging from $8 to $18. Main dishes include sautéed duck breast with cherry sauce and gratin dauphinois, steak tartare, roasted leg of lamb and some local dishes, such as fish and chips, jerk chicken, and burgers. As for desert, that is one area of the menu, I completely forgot to look at. My guess is it will be mainly french inspired deserts.

I plan on checking out this place this week since it is opening today, August 15. What about you? Are you going to dine at Cedric Bistro?

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Posted in Bars, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants, spending

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Inside Cedric French Bistro and Bar, opening day August 15 for lunch and dinner in Harlem

Posted on August 14, 2011 | 6 comments

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When you walk into the new Cedric French Bistro and Bar, located in Harlem at 185 St. Nicholas Ave, there is art work straight ahead that says “Remain Calm.” I think Harlemites are going to do the opposite, be ecstatic and extremely pleased when they walk in and get a load of Harlem’s newest restaurant. Cedric Bistro is red-hot with hot red all over. They chose a red color scheme similar to other Harlem establishments. And as for their menu, it looks very good! More on the menu later. Let’s take a look inside Cedric French Bistro and Bar.

20110814-061328.jpgThey have kept the L-shape bar where it previously was prior to the change. There is plenty of seating, around 40 seats. The brick wall is exposed with banquette seating and wood tables are strategically placed with chairs that have hot red seat cushions. The place looks nice or shall I say “very Upper Eastside.”

I will be checking out this new restaurant soon. How about you?

Cedric Bistro in Harlem opens tomorrow, August 15, for lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunch.

Cedric French Bistro and Bar
185 St. Nicholas Ave
212-866-7766

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Posted in Bars, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, commercial real estate, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Experience a massage at EG Bodywork in Harlem

Posted on August 12, 2011 | 3 comments


I want you to meet my new best friend in the area of massage, but shhh…he doesn’t know it! Meet Edwin, founder of EG Bodywork located inside Land Yoga at 2110 Frederick Douglass Blvd!

Edwin, who specializes in stress reduction  and message therapy services, is now offering his services right here in Harlem on Tuesday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  I recently experienced his Swedish and Deep Tissue massage…and let me tell you, it was out of this world wonderful!

I went to Edwin because like most of us, I was feeling stressed all over. I felt tight in my shoulders, my right ankle was bothering me, my stomach was acting up and just felt restlessness-need I say more. When I went to see Edwin, all of those bothersome items went away. I felt relief in my stomach and ankle; and just plain good all over from a Swedish and Deep Tissue massage.

I felt even better after Edwin explained the benefits of Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. According to Edwin, he says through the use of kneading, stroking, friction, tapping, and vibration, this type of massage provides relief from stiffness, numbness, pain, constipation, and other health problems. The goal in Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Other benefits include stimulation of circulation, deeper breathing, relaxation, and increase in muscle tone.

As for Deep Tissue, it is aimed at the deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue. According to Edwin, Deep Tissue massage uses many of the same movements and techniques as Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It is also a more focused type of massage working to release chronic muscle tension or knots, also known as “adhesions.”

I hope this blog post explains why I call Edwin my new best friend. He listens about what’s on your mind in terms of aches and pain. He works to help find some relief and then explains the benefits. Isn’t that what best friends are for?

If you want to have a similar experience (and a new bf for massages), learn more by visiting egbodywork.com.

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Posted in business, education, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, health and wellness

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