New York Magazine acknowledges, Harlem is hot

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 8, 2011 @ 10:30
By HarlemGal
What a difference a year makes?  Let’s reflect! April 11, 2010 Harlem is poorly ranked by Nate Silver for New York Magazine’s Neighborhood Issue. Does anyone remember this article? I certainly do. That article inspired me to write Top ten reason why Harlem is one of the best neighborhoods to live in. Let’s fast forward to today. Harlem and several local establishments are currently featured bright and big this week in a series of articles under the banner The Everything Guide to Harlem in NY Mag. It’s a creme-de-la-creme of articles featuring restaurants, markets, shops and bars in Harlem. My favorite article is The New New Harlem, which is sort of a “Whose In and Whose Out.” In my view, featuring several establishments in this type of format demonstrates the caliber and variety of places located in Harlem. Plus in order to pit two businesses against each other, there has to be plenty of selection. Clearly, Harlem has reached that point.

In closing, I will use soccer terms to describe this Harlem milestone. This article is another G-O-A-L for Harlem. Remember, we won Curbed Cup 2010 too. More importantly, it recognizes (again) what most of us have known all along, and now NY Mag too, Harlem is hot! Adelante!

Leave a comment

Posted in art and culture, baking, Bars, business, Community, entertainment, fashion, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Harlem businesses come together to ‘Kiss and Tell’

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 8, 2011 @ 7:30
By HarlemGal
Tonight, several Harlem businesses, such as Harlem Flo, The Winery, Make My Cake, Tonnie’s Minis, Aloft Hotel and Yatenga, are gathering together to “Kiss & Tell.” Well, not exactly that, but sort of! These Harlem businesses will be on hand Tuesday evening, starting at 6 p.m., to offer gift advice for Valentine’s Day. According to Harlem Flo’s Facebook site, the February 8th event will “feature unique and creative gifts items that you can purchase for your loved ones for V-day and there after.”

So if you need something for your cupid or yourself, head on over to Harlem Flo, second location at 2276 Frederick Douglass Blvd., at West 122nd Street.

Leave a comment

Posted in business, Community, Events, fashion, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Apollo Theater Exhibit starts February 8th at MCNY

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 7, 2011 @ 7:30
By HarlemGal
This week the Museum of the City of New York kicks off their three-month exhibition about our beloved Apollo Theater. Starting February 8 through May 1, 2011 , see  Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment at MCNY, located  in Spanish Harlem at 1220 Fifth Avenue at East 103rd. The traveling Smithsonian exhibit traces the evolution of the Apollo-from its origins as a segregated burlesque hall to its starring role at the epicenter of African-American entertainment and American popular culture.

To learn more about the exhibit, click here.

Leave a comment

Posted in art and culture, Community, Events, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC

Tagged , , , , , ,

UPDATE: Levain Bakery says February 22 is opening day for Harlem store

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 6, 2011 @ 11:53
By HarlemGal
Not too long after my blog post talking about when Levain Bakery was opening up for business in Harlem,  Levain went on record on their Facebook page and Harlem store door officially, there is a sign up, stating when they are opening up their Harlem store. The day is Tuesday, February 22.

So there we have it! We now have confirmation straight from the source on when Levain Bakery is opening up their Harlem store! Get your taste buds ready, Harlemites! Most people I chatted with about Levain, say their treats are very good!

Leave a comment

Posted in baking, business, Community, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping

Tagged , , , , ,

UPDATE: Lido in Harlem misses signage date, next goal to open before Valentine’s Day

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 4, 2011 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal
As I approach my third year of blogging about Harlem, I am starting to learn new restaurants opening in Harlem approach deadlines similar to how I do: I will aim for a certain date and it will get done a few days after. It happens, right? As with the case with Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, located at 2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd., who hung up a big sign recently saying “Opening February 1.” Obviously that date passed, however the objective is the same for Lido in Harlem and that is to open for business soon.

I spoke with Susannah, a Harlem resident and proprietor of Lido, and she said they are now aiming to open before Valentine’s Day where Harlemites will be able to order from a delectable, Italian menu! I was also had the opportunity to walk inside Lido (sorry no pics) and the place is coming together. It’s going to look great! The color scheme is based on light greens with white molding in select areas. The bar appeared to be concrete-like, not wooded, larger than before, and its on the left side when you walk in. Brushed silver light fixtures will illuminate the restaurant. Their website is up with limited information.

And of course, I had to ask Susannah why they named the restaurant Lido. She told me it’s named after Venice Lido in Italy, “a skinny island between the lagoon and the Adriatic, with hotels and beaches.”

So stay tuned for more info, such as who will be the chef and what will be the price point of the menu!

Have a great weekend!

Leave a comment

Posted in business, Community, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Bad Horse Pizza riding into Harlem to some extent unknown

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 1, 2011 @ 7:30
By HarlemGal
I noticed over the weekend that we had a new twitter follower called Bad Horse Pizza. When I saw this I honestly thought, “who the heck is that?” I later googled them, which turned up their website and a blog post about them riding into Harlem soon. And guess where? Yup! You guessed it! Frederick Douglass Blvd! The exact address is 2224 Frederick Douglass Blvd!

I was very surprised to hear this news and double surprised that a pizza joint would be opening up on FDB. Why? We have Giovanni’s on 110th and Columbus Avenue, Pizzaria 123 right next to 2280 Frederick Douglass Condos and we have Settepani supposedly opening up a pizza place on 119th and Lenox Avenue.  It seems like we are good when it comes to pizza.

Don’t get me wrong. I think its wonderful that a new business is opening up in the old space that Corcoran bolted from. However, a pizza place with the words “bad” and “horse” in it to go along with existing or upcoming places such as, 67 Orange, Chocolat, Levain Bakery, 5 and Diamond, bier international, Melba’s and more?

These questions come to mind. Is Bad Horse Pizza a strategic fit with FDB? And does it compliment the other businesses that have or are planning to open in the area? Ayudanos por favor!

Leave a comment

Posted in business, Community, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Levain Bakery to open for business in Harlem this week?

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jan 31, 2011 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal
Will this week be the week Levain Bakery officially opens up their Harlem store? We are hearing that’s a possibility. According to a reader, who dropped us a line over the weekend, they went by Levain’s Upper Westside location recently and were told Levain’s Harlem location at 2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd will be opening up on February 1! Sweet, if that is the case.

I walked by the Harlem store over the weekend and the place appears ready, then again one never knows unless you’re in the baking business. Let’s wait and see if this is the week!

Leave a comment

Posted in baking, business, Community, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

Tagged , , , , ,

East Harlem’s La Marqueta to hold Open House February 2

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Jan 29, 2011 @ 11:14
By HarlemGal
In the photo above, that’s what East Harlem’s La Marqueta looked like a few decades back. The marketplace, located at East 115th Street and Park Avenue, started back in the 1950’s, grew to more than 400 vendors and suffered its own down period. That was then. Now the East Harlem market is having its own rebirth and they’re giving the public an opportunity to see it in an Open House on February 2! All the details are listed below.

Also, watch what vendors are in place at La Marqueta in this news feature on NY1. See you at La Marqueta!

1 Comment

Posted in business, Community, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC

Tagged , , , ,

Free flu shots offered in Harlem January 31

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jan 28, 2011 @ 7:00
By HarlemGal
If you need a flu shot and would like one for FREE, read on! Free flu shots will be given by faculty pharmacists from the Touro College of Pharmacy, located in Harlem at 2090 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. From noon to 2 PM, student volunteers will assist with the screening process to adults 18 and older on Monday, January 31.

The flu shots will be administered in partnership with Project VIVA, a research study conducted by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies (CUES) of The New York Academy of Medicine. Touro College of Pharmacy opened its doors in Harlem in September of 2008.

DATE: Monday, January 31, 2011
TIME: Noon – 2:00 p.m.
PLACE: Touro College of Pharmacy
2090 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., 6th floor
(Between 124th and 125th Streets)
Harlem, N.Y.

Leave a comment

Posted in Community, Events, Free!, Harlem, health and wellness

Tagged , , ,

Breakthru Radio struts through Harlem inquiring about decision making tips

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jan 27, 2011 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
Breakthru Radio, the hipster site that airs independent music on demand, strolled the streets of Harlem recently asking locals about the tools they use in making decisions on where to dine or go see movies. Most man-on-the-street responses were they rely on word of mouth or local experts. Our very own Karl, the owner of Society Cafe and 67 Orange, was featured in the piece.

In the video, it appears they filmed in several Harlem locations, such as along 110th Street/Cathedral Parkway and right in front of The Gateway Condominium, which is at 2098 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bars, film, Harlem, music, restaurants

Tagged , , ,