Tag Archives: 125th street

Grammy Award Winner Esperanza Spalding to perform in Harlem October 26

Posted on June 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Bassist, vocalist, composer and award winner Esperanza Spalding is coming to Harlem and she will be performing…where else, but the famous Apollo Theater, located on 125th Street between FDB and ACP Blvd. She is performing in Harlem October 26 and tickets go on sale to the public tomorrow, Friday, June 8. The presale is happening now for Amex cardholders and members of the Apollo Theater Foundation.

“Esperanza Spalding is an American multi-instrumentalist best known as a jazz bassist and singer.” Her latest release is Radio Music Society. Listen below to Black Gold from her new CD.

http://soundcloud.com/concordmusicgroup/black-gold

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, Events, Harlem, jazz, music, New York, New York City, NYC, The Apollo Theater

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116th Street in Harlem featured in The Wall Street Journal

Posted on February 17, 2012 | Leave a comment


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.

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Posted in 116th Street, apartments, business, commercial real estate, Harlem, real estate, restaurants, shopping

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See ‘125 Franco’s Blvd’ Exhibition in Harlem

Posted on February 4, 2012 | Leave a comment


Head on over to the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building in Harlem this coming weekend to see “125 Franco’s Blvd.” “125 Franco’s Blvd.” is an exhibition of Franco The Great’s timeless artwork. The exhibition is from 4-6:00 PM February 10-11th and there will be artwork for sale. The details are below, along with a brief description on Franco The Great.

Where: Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building
163 west 1125th Street, 2nd Floor
Harlem, NY 10027

Date: Friday and Saturday, February 10-11, 2012

Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Who is Franco The Great:
Over a period of 25 plus years, Franco has changed the image of Harlem by painting the security gates of storefronts on 125th Street. His work in Harlem has brought him world renown; below are some excerpts from the many news articles from around the world, written to explain the work and origin of this great artist.

The name Franco the Great came about as a result of his talent in the field of magic. Franco became so proficient in his magic skills that his teachers and peers encouraged Franco to show and teach his magic. He gained his confidence in school day by day as he connected with other people and gained new friends.

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, Events, Free!, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Harlem’s restaurant row, Frederick Douglass Blvd., has its own map and alliance group

Posted on January 29, 2012 | 1 comment

It’s official…again! Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem from 110th to 125th Street, also known as restaurant row, has its very own map, according to The New York Daily News. And the folks behind the map is an alliance group called Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA). Check out the map below. It mentions all existing businesses from 110th to 124th Street. The map does not include up and coming places on FDB, such as the Harlem Food Bar or Marcos Leatherlab, the cobbler store.

Lia San Filippo, co-owner of 5 and Diamond Harlem restaurant and co-president of the recently formed FDBA, tells the Daily News “the map was created to help people know that Harlem is here and helps customers find us more easily.” Amen Lia!

Back in 2008, I wrote a blog posting asking if FDB is turning into Harlem’s restaurant row? Looks like we have our answer not only in a map but in the form of an alliance group!

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, apartments, art and culture, baking, Bars, bier international, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, commercial real estate, Community, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem blogs, Harlem businesses, Harlem Restaurant Row, Harlem restaurants, Harlem Tavern, health and wellness, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping, spending

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My photos of President Obama appearing at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem

Posted on January 20, 2012 | Leave a comment



I had the privilege and delight of attending a fundraiser to re-elect President Obama at Harlem’s Apollo Theater (read actual tweets here). The event was filled with great entertainment from Lin-Manuel Miranda MCing, to India Arie performing, to the Rev. Al Green blessing us with his singing sermon. And yes, POTUS Obama sang too, i.e. Let’s Stay Together. Here are a few photos from the Jan. 19 event at the Apollo. Hope you like them! Enjoy!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, entertainment, Events, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, politics, The Apollo Theater

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More tickets available to see President Obama at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater, January 19

Posted on January 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

I just checked out the Facebook page of Harlem4Obama and its says there are more $100 tickets available to the January 19 event, which is The Obama Victory Fund Concert. Go to this link here and get your $100, $300 or $5000 tickets. They just added more this evening.

I am going with another fellow Harlemite. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don’t want to miss it! Hope you will join me in seeing President Obama at the Apollo!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Community, education, Events, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, The Apollo Theater

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Attend Harlem Holiday Lights 2011 tonight

Posted on November 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

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You are invited to the Harlem Holiday Lights Ceremony taking place this evening, November 21. The 125th Street Business Improvement District, Community Boards 9, 10, 11 and the New York City Housing Authority have partnered together for the Holiday Season to “light up” one of New York City’s, and Harlem’s, most legendary thoroughfares from river to river-125th Street! At 5:30pm, the celebration will begin with sounds and lights on the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building. Attendees will enjoy live performances provided by legendary pioneer, producer, and publisher, Vy Higginsen, and her Mama I Want to Sing Foundation as well as the Harlem Arts Alliance and other special guests. Click here to see the entire program and watch the video below.

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Posted in 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., art and culture, business, Community, drinks, entertainment, Events, Free!, Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC

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Save the Date: Harlem Holiday Lights Fundraiser

Posted on November 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

The 125th Business Improvement District (BID) would like to invite all of us to their Harlem Holiday Lights Fundraiser scheduled for November 15  from 6 to 8pm. The money raised at this Fundraiser will benefit the implementation and maintenance of our holiday lights along 125th Street in Harlem this holiday season. See exact details below!

The 125th Street BID, Community Boards 9, 10, and 11, and the NYC Housing Authority have partnered to light up 125th Street from river to river this holiday season. This year’s decorations include 36 Skyline Streamers draped across 125th Street from First to Twelfth Avenues.

So mark your calendar for Nov 15 and let’s all head on over to 125th BID located at 360 West 125th Street, Suite 11!

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Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC

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Vogue Paris chooses Harlem for fashion photo shoot

Posted on October 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

True Fashionista Now reports that Vogue Paris was in Harlem recently shooting a fashion spread along 125th Street. Apparently the photo shoot was done by famed photographer Terry Richardson. Click here to see more photos of the fashion shoot that took place on 125th Street in Harlem.

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Posted in 125th Street, fashion, Harlem

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Meet the woman behind 125th Street Business Improvement District in Harlem

Posted on October 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

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There are plenty of exciting things happening throughout the Village of Harlem and numerous people are behind it. However, what I personally find fascinating-and what I am learning from blogging about Harlem-is that some of those individuals who are making things happen in Harlem are…women. Yup, that’s right…women! There is a boat load of women power in Harlem that are doing great things for our community. I will blog more about that later.

My immediate point is we have an opportunity to meet one of those women I am talking about tomorrow, October 6. In Mount Morris Talks, a speaker series hosted by the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association, Barbara Askins will be the guest speaker! Barbara Askins is the President and CEO of the 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID) in our neighborhood. Askins created BID in 1993 and is first and only one of its kind in the Harlem Community.

If you would like to meet this woman executive, who is making things happen in Harlem now, not later, check out Mount Morris Talks! Details are below!

Who: Mount Morris Talks to Barbara Askins!
When: Thursday, October 6, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Where: At the Harlem Branch Library Community Room, 3rd floor
9 West 124 Street, between Fifth Ave & Mount Morris Park West

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Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, education, Events, Free!, history, Lenox Avenue, real estate

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