‘Prince of New Orleans’ to open Davell Underground in Spanish Harlem

Posted on July 16, 2011 | Leave a comment


This has got to be the best news I have read any Saturday morning. Nola.com, a Louisiana publication, is reporting that Davell Crawford, a musical sensation from New Orleans and dubbed ‘Prince of New Orleans,’ is opening up Davell Underground, August 11, in Spanish Harlem. Davell Underground will be “a new performance space in a former storage room within The Kiosk, a Moroccan restaurant and hookah joint located at East 116th and Park Avenue. This location is right by Urban Garden Center and La Marqueta!

The article says Davell Crawford, who moved to New York City after Hurricane Katrina, and his business partner plan to present live music several nights a week in Spanish Harlem. The roster will include such New Orleanians as Charmaine Neville, Donald Harrison Jr., Delfeayo Marsalis, Benny Turner and Herlin Riley. Crawford also plans to feature New Yorker musicians, including the flutist Bobbi Humphrey.

Crawford tells Nola.com that “I don’t want to call it a ‘club.’ It’s a ‘room. We will have great music there for as long as the people of New York want to accept it, and as long as I can keep it rolling.”

This Harlemite will accept Davell Underground. Count me in. I will be there in Spanish Harlem, August, to listen to music from New Orleans! Yeah!

Listen now to Davell Crawford!

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Posted in art and culture, Bars, business, commercial real estate, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Harlem, history, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Macy’s Chefs A-Go-Go Food Truck with Harlem’s own, Marcus Samuelsson

Posted on July 15, 2011 | 2 comments

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I came across an advertisement in The New York Times-dining section this week talking about Macy’s first-ever food truck featuring Chef Marcus Samuelsson. With anything that says “first-ever,” I inquired further to see what’s up with our fellow Harlemite. This is the deal. “Macy’s Chefs A-Go-Go,” a national food truck tour showcasing the Macy’s Culinary Council, is rolling into New York City this month with two stops. One of those two stops is happening in Harlem!

On Sunday, July 31 Marcus Samuelsson, who owns Red Rooster Harlem and resides in the area, will be at 126th Street and Riverside Drive from noon to 4 p.m. on Macy’s Chefs A-Go-Go Food Truck cooking his signature recipes and dishes for those that pass by the food truck for FREE! That’s right! The food Marcus will be cooking on the food truck will be given out for free! I don’t know exactly what Marcus will be cooking yet. However once I find out, I will pass along!

So if you haven’t tasted Marcus Samuelsson’s fabulous food creations before, now is your chance…and for free! All you have to do is go by Macy’s first-ever food truck on July 31, which will be parked with Marcus inside at 126th and Riverside Drive.

For those interested in the first stop of the Macy’s Food Truck, it is happening this weekend, July 16, downtown at Union Square’s Farmers Market with Chef Todd English.

See you at the Macy’s Food Truck in Harlem!

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Posted in business, Community, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurants

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$100 million development for 125th will bring Harlem Brewing Company home

Posted on July 14, 2011 | 1 comment

When the City announced yesterday the redevelopment of two major, vacant sites on Harlem’s 125th Street, it garnered enormous press coverage. Why? Because it’s a big deal. The bookends of 125th will get a new look, jobs will be created and new business will move in! The part I find interesting in this announcement is that the Sugar Hill Beer I like to have at St. Nicks Pub or now at Harlem Tavern could eventually be brewed right up the street from where I live! How cool is that?

According to the news release from the Mayor’s Office, “Harlem Brewing Company, which currently brews in Saratoga Springs, will be moving its production facility to CREATE @ Harlem Green and will grow hops on an open roof, give tours and operate a brewing museum, a tap room and gift shop.” The City selected Janus Partners LLC and Monadnock Construction, Inc. to redevelop the former Taystee Bakery complex into CREATE @ Harlem Green.

And when the Harlem Brewing Company moves, it will mark the first brewery in Harlem since before Prohibition! So cool! I will drink to that! Raise your mug! Cheers!

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Posted in business, commercial real estate, Community, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, history, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem Yoga Studio presents Shaking Spirit Waves 5Rhythms

Posted on July 13, 2011 | 2 comments

Harlem Yoga Studio, located at 44 West 125th Street has added on an interesting and unique class to their schedule. Starting today, July 14, and every Thursday, Harlem Yoga Studio is offering Shaking Spirit Waves 5Rhythms (R) at 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm, The 5Rhythms is a movement based meditation. There are no dance steps or choreography. The class is designed to allow you to simply move to be moved.

Tonight’s class is the first ever class in Harlem according to Kierra, the instructor. So check it out come and shake yourself free in the Shaking Spirit Waves class Thursdays 5:30 to 6:45 at Harlem Yoga Studio. To get there, take trains: 2, 3 to 125th & Lenox or A, B, C, or D train to 125th & St. Nick.

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Posted in Community, education, Events, Harlem, health and wellness, New York, New York City, NYC

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Catch Reel Harlem in Jackie Robinson Park

Posted on July 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

Reel Harlem, an annual summer event covering music and film continues. Tonight, July 13th, festivities are in the Jackie Robinson Park Bandshell, 148th St. & Bradhurst Avenue

At 7:00 pm hear the National Jazz Museum All Stars-a Latin Jazz Tribute.

Starting at 8:30 pm, see From Mambo to Hip Hop , a film that covers in one hour the incredible history of a community that, despite the odds, fuelled a musical revolution. From Mambo to Hip Hop delivers a terrific insight into the post war jazz and mambo era and traces the evolution of music from salsa to disco to hip hop. This is a story rooted in the South Bronx and it’s a tale told with both pride and passion.

Then Thursday, July 14 at 8:30 p.m., also at Jackie Robinson Park, the National Black Programming Consortium presents When the Drum is Beating. The movie explores Haiti’s complex past and present through the music of 62-year-old Septentrional, the country’s oldest and best-known band and the memories of its founder and leader Ulric Pierre-Louis. As Haiti disintegrates around them, three generations of musicians who make up the band struggle to go on and prevent this national treasure from being lost.

All of these events are FREE and brought to you by the Maysles Cinema and other various Harlem organizations!

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Posted in art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, film, Free!, Harlem, history, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Cedric French Bistro and Bar chooses red color scheme similar to other Harlem establishments

Posted on July 12, 2011 | 2 comments

I was walking along St. Nicholas Avenue this past weekend and could not help but notice the brand new awning hanging outside the old Mojo Harlem, which will now be-and hopefully opening soon-Cedric Bistro. In April, The New York Post was the first to report that “a hot new bistro was coming to Harlem,” at St. Nicholas and 119th Street. The Post also noted that Cedric would open in June. That did not happen. However, if you walk by Cedric you can see the work they are doing. They have their bright red color awning on display outside. Also, if you peak in on one of the windows, it’s clear red will be used in various parts of the restaurant, such as on seat covers and on their newly built booths. Red appears to be a popular color in Harlem lately when it comes to opening new establishments. For Cedric, Red is a nice transition from the previous color scheme, which I believe was more plum and purple tones.

Can’t wait to see the final touches on Cedric in Harlem. They should be opening in the summer as well! Stay tune…

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Posted in Bars, business, commercial real estate, Community, Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Celebrate Bastille Day this week at Harlem’s bier international

Posted on July 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

We just celebrated our Independence Day. Now its time to celebrate the French! This week bier international in Harlem, our popular and most successful beer garden to date, is honoring our ally by organizing three days worth of events celebrating Bastille Day.

Starting tonight (July 12) there will be live music with Floanne,  a native French talent (actress, singer and director) based in New York City. Hear ‘Its ok to be alone’ by Floanne.

Wednesday (July 13) they will have a DJ spinning Afro-French beats. Thursday (July 14), bier international will have live French accordion music playing. And of course, their menu will feature French specials in honor of Bastille Day along with your favorite beer.

So if you want to celebrate Bastille Day right here in Harlem, bier international, located at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd, is giving Harlemites plenty of opportunities! Merci bier international!

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Posted in Bars, Community, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row

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See ‘Attack the Block’ for free in Harlem

Posted on July 11, 2011 | 1 comment

You and a guest are invited to a FREE screening of Attack the Block. From the producers of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Attack the Block follows a gang of tough inner-city kids who try to defend their turf against an invasion of savage alien creatures, turning a South London apartment complex into an extraterrestrial warzone.

Here are the details:

To download a free screening pass, go to Gofobo.com/RSVP and enter the RSVP code HLMGAL55U0.
Date: Tuesday, July 19th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Magic Johnson Harlem

And please remember, screenings by HarlemGal Inc. are on a first come first serve basis.

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Posted in art and culture, entertainment, Events, film, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem’s Honeycomb Burgers aiming to open by end of summer

Posted on July 11, 2011 | 4 comments

I was at Chocolat recently enjoying their happy hour (more on that later) and while there I inquired about the status of Honeycomb Burgers, located on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 119th and 120th Street. The word is they are hoping to open the place by the end of summer. Harlemites can hopefully expect a new burger joint around August or mid September. We all know the drill when it comes to opening these establishments. Deadlines are very fluid. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the hamburger prices will be reasonably priced at Honeycomb Burgers in Harlem!

Leon Ellis, the owner of Moca and Chocolat, owns Honeycomb Burgers. He is clearly expanding his restaurant business in Harlem and will soon dominate this particular block in Harlem once his third business opens. Good for Leon and best wishes for continued success! Can’t wait to have a burger there!

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Posted in Bars, business, commercial real estate, Community, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants

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New yogurt store and nail salon coming to Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem

Posted on July 10, 2011 | 9 comments


Have you walked by the Gateway Condominiums lately, the condo building located at 2098 Frederick Douglass Blvd., and noticed how the majority of its retail space on the first floor has been vacant for a while? Well…that block on the eastside of FDB is about to change. Word has it that a yogurt store and a nail salon have signed a long-term lease with the developer who owns the large portion of commercial space, located right next to Society Cafe.

Apparently the leases were signed recently for a yogurt store and nail salon to move in, and work has already begun by dividing up the space for these two new businesses in Harlem. Notice in the photo, there are two separate doors on the commercial space. For the longest time, that commercial space only had one door to enter.

No exact confirmation on the names of each business yet. As soon as I know, I will pass along!

This portion of Frederick Douglass Blvd from left to right will eventually appear and operate as Society Cafe, which most of us know is owned by Karl, then next to Society Cafe will either be the nail salon or the yogurt place. After the nail salon and yogurt place is the lobby of the Gateway Condos. Next to that lobby is vacant space. A Metro PCS use to be there. However, we hear a shoe repair is hoping to move in there. And finishing out the complex is Express Dry Cleaners.

The new yogurt store will join the recently opened Chill Berry at 414 Lenox Avenue. And the nail salon joins stiff competition. There is Polished FingerTips on FDB and 118th, and Z Nail Salon on 116th between FDB and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.

Overall, I personally like that these two new businesses will be moving into Harlem. I like eating yogurt and I definitely like getting my nails and feet done. I just wish someone would open a 24 hour diner around this portion of Harlem! Don’t you think so as well?

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Posted in business, commercial real estate, Community, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate

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