Progress being made on upcoming nail salon in Harlem

If you’re drop by Society Cafe at 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd. soon, you may notice there is some construction happening next door. That’s where a new nail salon is moving into the retail space near 2098 Frederick Douglass Blvd., which you first learned about here not too long ago. According to workers on site, they are hammering, painting and nailing away because they’ve been given a deadline to be done in about one month. So stay tuned. We may have a new business opening up soon in this block!

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ArtCrawl Harlem to focus on Romare Bearden’s work

Don’t forget the annual ArtCrawl Harlem is happening this weekend, August 6. This year’s tour will focus on Romare Bearden’s life and work in Harlem. To learn more about the artist, visit his website. To see the Bearden’s art in human form, purchase tickets from ArtCrawl Harlem. The tour is from noon to 4 PM with dinner starting soon after until 6 PM.

See ‘Henry V’ in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park

Throughout theater and art history there have been Kings who have been brought to life on the pages and stage that stand the test of time. One of them is “Henry V.” See and experience the life of “Henry V” right here in Harlem. The Classical Theater of Harlem presents “Henry V” starting August 5 and running through September 4 in the Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Memorial Center.

According to The New York Times, which has a lengthy article in today’s paper about the play and the Classical Theater of Harlem, says there are “free performances of “Henry V” this Friday (August 5) and Saturday (August 6) in the (Mount Morris) park are an appetizer for its formal premiere on Wednesday (with a Monday preview) at the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center, where it will be performed through Sept. 4.”

Support the Classical Theater of Harlem by seeing “Henry V ” in Harlem. For tickets: click here or call Ovationtix: 866-811-4111.

Marcus Samuelsson makes Vanity Fair‘s 2011 International Best-Dressed List

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Vanity Fair announced their 2011 International Best-Dressed List today and our very own Harlemite made the list of best dressed men, Marcus Samuelsson. Marcus is in good company on the coveted list. Justin Timberlake is named, along with actor Colin Firth, Armie Hammer who starred in The Social Network, Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos and more. See complete list below!

Marcus is having a very good year! Along with the Vanity Fair Best Dressed List, his Harlem restaurant on Lenox Avenue is not even a year old and it’s a happening place. The New York Times has blessed him with several raving reviews on him, such as chef profiles, restaurant reviews and where to hang uptown, i.e. Red Rooster. New York Magazine lists his place on their website in the Most Buzzed About Restaurant in Manhattan. There are several awards he has won this past year. The list goes on and on. Oh, and of course it does not hurt that he has a stunning wife by his side, Maya!

I last caught up with Marcus at the Macy’s Food Truck event this past Sunday to kick off Harlem Week! And come to think of it, he was looking pretty stylish at that event while out there serving catfish sandwiches with sweet potato fries! Can you blame him for looking good! He knows people are watching. He might as well give us all something else to look at other than his delicious food!

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Island Salad aiming to open their second location in Harlem August 6


A reader has tipped off HarlemGal about how Island Salad, the Caribbean-themed salad bar and beverage place at 125th & Madison Ave, is set to open its second Harlem location at 131st and Lenox Avenue this coming Saturday, August 6. According to our reader, Island Salad “is very, very, very good and that this is great news for Harlem.” This chica could not agree more.

I also spoke with the manager over at Island Salad yesterday, Tuesday, and he said if by chance they needed to move their opening day of August 6, it would be Monday, August 8th and no later.

So there ya go! An HG reader tipping us off to good news to share with all! Harlemites are the best!

Apollo Theater celebrates Harlem Week with ‘Mama, I Want to Sing-The Next Generation’


A few days ago, I mentioned how Mama, I Want to Sing-The Next Generation performance schedule was extended to the end of the year. The musical is currently playing at the  at the Dempsey Theater, located at 127 West 126th Street, in Harlem. Now I learn that the cast of Mama, I Want to Sing will be performing at the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night the evening of August 10. This is all in celebration of Harlem Week 2011!

According to the Apollo Theater literature, “the original production of Mama, I Want To Sing was a 1983 Broadway musical created by Vy Higgensen and based on the life of her sister Doris Troy, a young gospel singer, who steps away from the church for the chance to perform at the legendary Amateur Night.”

If you want to see the cast of Mama, I Want to Sing at the Apollo Amateur Night, click here to order tickets. If you live in Harlem, the Apollo offers half price ticketing for select events. To take advantage of the special offer, Harlemites must purchase tickets at the box office on 125th Street.

The 5 and Diamond Harlem launches ‘Monday Mac and Cheese Mania’

After a busy weekend in Harlem and Monday work day approaches, who wants to cook Monday evenings? I certainly don’t feel like it the majority of the time. The folks over at 5 and Diamond Harlem, located at 2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd., know how rough us Harlemites have it on a Monday after a long weekend. To help alleviate with the busy schedule on Mondays, 5 and Diamond has launched an easy Monday menu along with laid back prices.

The new Monday night dinner menu includes five different mac and cheeses. Its’s called “Monday Mac & Cheese Mania” ranging from $8 to $12 dollars a plate. The 5 and Diamond is also offering five different types of sandwiches. Two out of the five are burgers priced around $10.

In addition to the new Monday menu, 5 and Diamond is adding a little fun to the evening.  DJ Whutevva from Power 105.1 will be spinning pop, rock, hip hop and R & B from 5:30-9:00 p.m. With the music ending at 9 p.m., patrons can still make it home early with plenty of time to get ready for work the next work day.
So if you don’t feel like cooking a meal on a Monday and don’t want to spend a lot, check out Monday Mac Mania at 5 and Diamond in Harlem!

Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem, the Queen of Soul Food turns 49


Sylvia’s Restaurant, located at 328 Lenox Avenue, is letting all her friends know, Facebook friends that is, that the Queen of Soul Food, is celebrating her 49th Anniversary. She is inviting everyone over August 1 for a free community breakfast from 8-10 a.m! There will be live music and Southern-style breakfast for all those that stop by! Long, live the Queen of Soul Food!

Happy Anniversary Sylvia’s Restaurant!

2011 Harlem Week kick off was a big success

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Harlem Week 2011 kicked off today, July 31, with much success. There were plenty of New Yorker’s in attendance who wanted to partake in this years theme, “A New York State of Mind.” I certainly did and enjoyed the kick off celebration very much. I checked out all the street vendors and camped out at the Macy’s Food Truck, which was featuring free food by Marcus Samuelsson.

If you were not able to check out Harlem Week 2011 kick off today, do not worry. There is  a month full of activities planned for August.  For additional details, go to Harlem Week’s website.

Visit Marcus Samuelsson today at 126th and Riverside in Harlem



Macy’s Culinary Council Hits the Road in Harlem today! Chef Marcus Samuelsson will be on board the Macy’s Food Truck cooking and serving catfish sandwiches with fried caper slaw and sweet potato fries! Below are the details:

Sunday, July 31, 2011
Noon-4:00PM
W. 126th St. & Riverside Dr.