Tag Archives: 116th Street

Pods arrive in Central Harlem along with a gigantic mural

Dining pods have arrived to part of the restaurant scene in Harlem. And a giant mural on the northwest corner of Frederick Douglass Blvd and 116th Street is going up to commemorate this form of outdoor dining! If you live in the area, you can’t miss the mural (or the pods). The mural looks awesome!

Dining pods are now lining FDB from 116th to 120th Street at the following restaurants: Bixi Harlem, Blvd Bistro, Chocolate, Harlem Burger, Harlem Tavern, Mess Hall/Double Dutch, Silvana and Vinateria. These greenhouse styled dining pods were provided to minority and women-owned restaurants on FBD as part of an initiative sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and Stella Artois, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch.

The 7-story, 2800 square foot mural was designed and painted by Harlem-based Giannina Gutierrez. Gutierrez created the mural to welcome diners to the area and to showcase the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

Having these dining pods donated to small businesses, who truly need the help during this time, is a great example of private sector, non profits and the community coming together to collaborate for the greater good. This is a wonderful example of corporate social responsibility at its best.

Stop by to see the mural and let’s us know what you think of it here in the comments section! Go out and dine in these donated pods. And drop a line here about your dining experience in a pod too!

Photo by Harlemgal
Photo by Harlemgal

Bikram Yoga in East Harlem to close…for good

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Sad Harlem business news to report. Late last night, Bikram Yoga East Harlem informed their members via email that they are “unable to continue operating and maintaining” the yoga studio located at 4 East 116th Street. The owners of Bikram Yoga say they are closing because they have been unable to make a profit from running the yoga studio. The East Harlem yoga studio will close on September 14.

Read the full email notice below.

Dear Bikram Yoga East Harlem Family and Friends:

We are writing to let you know that we are unfortunately unable to continue operating and maintaining Bikram Yoga East Harlem.
After nearly 5 years of serving our community, we continue to be faced with issues that prevent the studio from being profitable.
We have been pouring personal funds into the studio to keep it going for some time now. We can no longer do this.
We have contacted teachers and fellow studio owners who we thought might be interested in buying the studio and taking over the lease, however we got no firm offers.
We are still open to selling it, however, we must announce that the studio will be closed as of September 14th, 2013.
If you know of anyone who might be interested in purchasing the studio and taking over the lease, please have them contact us ASAP.

We are in the process of making arrangements for students to be able to transfer their packages to a nearby studio.
We will confirm those details ASAP.

It is with a heavy heart that we must close, but I look forward to being able to still teach and share the yoga without the burden of ownership in the near future.

Jennifer and I can not thank you enough for the support you have given to Bikram Yoga East Harlem over the past 5 years.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to call or email the studio.
Love & Light,
Stephanie

Flea Marqueta starts today June 23 in East Harlem

Today’s the day, June 23, when East Harlem will start their outdoor farmer and flea market called Flea Marqueta. Head on over to the plaza, also known as, “La Placita” on East 116th and Park Avenue, across from Urban Garden Center and check out the flea market. Flea Marqueta will take place every Sunday, June through October, from noon to 6 pm.
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Spanish Harlem featured in NY Times, El Barrio starts above E. 96th St., divide becoming less visible

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For those who have wondered where East Harlem/Spanish Harlem/El Barrio begins, today The New York Times confirms for us once again that it begins right above East 96th Street. And according to The Times, the  old divide between the Upper Eastside and Spanish Harlem is becoming “less visible.” To read the latest Times article on East Harlem, go here.

375147_10151637960956830_782649222_nWonderful things are always happening with our Harlem neighbor to the East. Today, La Casa Azul Bookstore turns one. They are celebrating their one year anniversary from noon to 6 pm. La Casa Azul Bookstore is located at 143 E. 103rd Street.

Last year, East Harlem held their first Harvest Festival, ie East Harlem Harvest Festival, which was a big success. Read coverage here. And we hear they are planning another event for this year!

And Urban Garden Center, which has been a leader in getting events organized in their community, recently announced that Spanish Harlem will now be having their very own flea market called Flea Marqueta starting this June.

So whenever you get a chance, head East in Harlem and check out their events. I promise you will experience a wider view on why the greater Harlem area is an awesome place to live.

East Harlem to start their own flea market, to be called Flea Marqueta

According to East Harlem’s Urban Garden Center, a flea market is popping up right across the street from them at East 116th Street and Park Avenue. Their multiple Facebook posts state “we are starting a flea market called Flea Marqueta…!” Flea Marqueta will start June 23 and run to October.

They are currently looking for vendors, artists, performers, food operators and more. For more information about Flea Marqueta, contact Sara@UrbanGardenNYC.com or call 917-769-4884.
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Is Indian cuisine coming to Harlem’s restaurant row?

Frederick Douglass Blvd., aka Harlem’s restaurant row, will soon have a Turkish restaurant through Savann. 2280 FDB will be the address. Then FDB will soon have a dining place that will offer Israeli food at Silvana on 116th Street. Now comes word that Harlem’s restaurant row will be getting a restaurant that serves Indian cuisine at the corner of 114th Street and FDB. Remember where Questan’s was located? That’s were a new restaurant is opening that will serve Indian cuisine. Two reliable sources have come forward to HarlemGal Inc. Plus workers were seen on site tonight and all the permits on the doors outline work is being done for a restaurant. Yippee! I love Indian food! Stay tune…

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Harlem Shambles named one of New York’s best butcher shops

Time Out New York has narrowed the list to ten on the best places to purchase meat in New York City and Harlem Shambles made the list. TONY said they named Harlem Shambles as one of the best NYC butcher shops for barbecuing because “all the meat at this shop is humanely raised and sourced from three farms in the Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley. [Also] the butchers are resourceful, transforming whole carcasses into just about any cut you might want…”

Congrats to Harlem Shambles! Check it out for your barbecuing or everyday meal needs. They are located 2141 Frederick Douglass Blvd. between 115th and 116th Street. Their phone number is 1 (646) 476-4650.

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

116th Street in Harlem featured in The Wall Street Journal


Generally when reading about Harlem’s famous or busy streets in the press, it usually about 125th Street, Lenox Avenue or Frederick Douglass Blvd. This time in today’s (Feb. 17) Wall Street Journal, the focus is on West and Central 116th Street in Harlem. The article states there is a gathering of new businesses and future projects, many of them created due to the large condominium buildings, and many of them are drawing more street traffic to a gentrifying stretch of 116th Street, specifically from FDB to Fifth Avenue.

The existing businesses mentioned in the article are very well-known already in the neighborhood, such as The Winery and its plans to open up a Japanese restaurant, Harlem Shambles and BBraxton, a sleek male salon on 116th and Fifth Ave. What was surprising-at least to me-is that the developers of the Kalahari Condo “hope to begin construction within a few months on two new buildings: a proposed 85-unit building on West 116th, across the street from the Kalahari, and a mixed-income building with about 110 “affordable” rentals on West 117th.”

To read the full article, click here.

Mark your calendar: Harlem Harvest Festival set for October 8

Save the date of October 8th! That is when the annual Harlem Harvest Festival takes place on the corner of 116th Street and St. Nicholas Ave! I went last year and had a wonderful time visiting all the street vendors, eating and watching the performances from the Dance Theater of Harlem.  It is a great way to kick off the Fall season.

Take a look at photos from last year’s Harlem Harvest Festival!