Tag Archives: Central Harlem

Harlem featured in The Boston Globe

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 2 comments

Jun 6, 2011 @ 8:00
By HarlemGal
Not too long ago, Harlem was profiled in  The Financial Times, the UK-based publication. Now The Boston Globe takes its turn and profiles our community in its travel section this past weekend (June 5). Jessica Allen, the reporter, spends two days in Harlem along with her husband and discovers “Harlem makes a visitor feel and taste its forward movement.”

The article highlights various experiences from listening to jazz, to eating at Amy Ruth’s and to drinking at some of our unique establishments, such as 67 Orange and bier international. However, the most notable items in this article are not necessarily about places, but crafted words about Harlem. Allen states “perhaps no other area in New York so eagerly honors its history as Harlem.” She points to our famously named streets, such as Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Furthermore, Allen goes on to say “despite the interest in what came before, these days Harlem seems utterly future-oriented.”

We couldn’t agree more with The Boston Globe! And to Jessica Allen and her husband, come back and see us (Harlem) again now!

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

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Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park and Hamilton Heights make New York Mag’s Next Big Neighborhood List

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Apr 5, 2011 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
It is that time of year where New York Magazine profiles some of the upcoming neighborhoods for 2011. In this week’s edition (April 3), they list 20 of The Next Big Neighborhoods in New York City and two Harlem sections made the list!

A big congrats to Marcus Garvey Park.  This area located in Central Harlem was ranked fourth out of 20. NYMag says Marcus Garvey Park “is undergoing a several million dollar renovation, including smoothed-out sidewalks and the transformation of its existing bandshell into a state-of-the-art amphitheater.” In addition to park renovations, several buildings have sprung up, such as 5th on the Park, located at Fifth Avenue and 120th Street; and “the recently constructed Windows on 123, a pair of buildings graced with limestone-balconied apartments and full-floor lofts.”

Hamilton Heights located in West Harlem, finishes out the list placing 20th on the list.

Another notable mention, is Manhattan Valley, which is right below Harlem on the Westside. They were ranked second out of 20.

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Posted in art and culture, Community, Harlem, history, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, review

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Harlem Art Walk 2010 provided medley of artistry

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Oct 11, 2010 @ 7:30


By HarlemGal
Saturday and Sunday (October 9th and 10th) were absolutely gorgeous days to be out and about in Harlem. I took advantage of the wonderful weather with an art walk around Harlem…for free! The Harlem Art Walk was a delightful experience filled with a gold mine of art, artists and interesting galleries. (See slide show)

Some of you may or may not know this, most of the galleries for the Harlem Art Walk are in Harlem brownstones where it is turned into make shift galleries-or some are permanent-in the basement of the brownstone or the artist’s workspace on the first floor. Some artists had big spaces to work with and others had small space to work with. The gallery at 64 West 119th showcased wonderful black and white photos from the Drinking Ink Exhibit. At 181 Lenox Avenue right on the corner of 119th Street there was this awesome drawing of faces made with dollar signs, along with other creative art work.  I also adored the Alex Adam Gallery at 78 West 120th Street. At this gallery, I was blown away by how the art was presented not to mention the actual brownstone itself. Inside it was gorgeous! I stopped by Casa Frela Gallery, the sponsor of Harlem Art Walk, where it showcased a variety of artists. I could have stayed in Casa Frela for days seeing all the various art.

I started at Billie’s Black where I met and viewed the art work of Harlem Girl, the artist (and no relation to HarlemGal) and I ended my art walk at the H&M Gallery, where they had this interesting painting of President Obama. Overall, I had the best time. I hope you were able to experience the Harlem Art Walk as well.  If you were not able to, I recommend you put it on your calendar next year so that you can see and learn what I  did, which is there is an abundance of talented and seasoned artists right here in Harlem. No need to go far for art and culture. Harlemites can appreciate art right here in their own community!

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Posted in art and culture, Events, Harlem

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Meet and support local artists at Harlem Art Walk 2010

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 14, 2010 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
Don’t miss the Harlem Art Walk 2010 on October 9th (Saturday) and 10th (Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Harlem Art Walk will feature the work of more than 60 artists living and working in Harlem. Casa Frela Gallery, located at 47 West 119th Street, is the starting point where maps will be distributed (or see map below) to all tour participants highlighting the various stops on the walking tour, including open artist studios, museums, and cultural and historic venues. All forms of art will be featured, including sculptures, ceramics, painting, photographs, etchings and prints, and textiles. And if you like what you see during the walk, participants will have the opportunity to buy original artwork from emerging to established artists.

For further information about the tour, visit the Casa Frela Gallery website at www.casafrela.com or call the information hotline at 212-722-8577.

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Air advertisements over Central Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 5, 2010 @ 11:00

By HarlemGal

Over the holiday weekend, I saw some white spurts of air dotting the sky. I couldn’t tell at first what it was. Then I kept watching and saw letters come alive that spelled out Geico, insurance and hot summer. That’s all I caught. I had never seen this happen before in Harlem, especially over the Fourth. I have seen it done at the beach, but not much in the City. Does anyone know if this is common in Harlem? Why would Geico do something like this? And did anyone else see this over the weekend? It looked pretty cool! Hmm, hopefully a Geico rep or someone in general will step forward and tell us what this is about?

Hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!

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NYC election driving opening of Frederick Douglass Circle in Harlem?

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Oct 26, 2009 @ 21:52

HarlemCondoLife

By HarlemGal
The upcoming New York City election is potentially now driving the opening of the long awaited Frederick Douglass Circle at the base of Central Harlem! That is what I was told today by some of the workers at the site. Apparently people will be able to access the Circle by then, but no grand opening will happen for awhile. That’s the latest lowdown from the site.

HarlemCondoLife

Do you believe that time schedule given how long it has taken to finish the project or do you think they were yanking my chain? Let’s be honest, it’s shaping up to look very nice. However, the City has been working on the FDB Circle for a looooong time! Could this timing just be purely a coincidence?

And get this, the City has an office right on 110th Street between Manhattan Avenue and FDB. I tried walking in, but the doors were locked!

Overall, the workers were very clear that they had a deadline to meet and that all the barriers would be down soon. Hmmm. Stay tuned.

HarlemCondoLife

And a quick shout out to Zinc Plate Press. They have a very good shot of the sculpture!

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Posted in Community, Harlem

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New construction underway in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 28, 2009 @ 7:35
By HarlemGal

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

In June, we posted about how we saw early signs of new construction starting, i.e. the big drill. Well, it looks like it’s official. At 2080 Frederick Douglass Blvd, between 112th and 113th Streets, the permit signs are up and stapled to the plywood! If it’s condos they are building here, it’s a great location in my view.  This lot is two two blocks away from Central Park North and one block from Morningside Heights Park.  Can’t get more green than that – unless they green the roof in the final construction.

Harlem lots are becoming a thing of the past!

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

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Posted in business, Harlem, real estate

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NBC’s Law & Order Filming in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Aug 27, 2009 @ 15:17
By Austin2Harlem
When I lived in Austin I enjoyed watching all of the various versions of Law & Order. Today, walking around in my new adopted city and neighborhood, Harlem, I came across the film crew of Law & Order. They are filming the Emmy Award winning television series in Central Harlem today August 27th and tomorrow August 28th! The crew is on 116th Street between Frederick Douglass Blvd. and Manhattan Avenue!

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Italian cuisine soon coming to Central Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

May 29, 2009 @ 10:36
By HarlemGal

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

At the corner of 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, a new restaurant is slowly coming to life and our prediction of Frederick Douglass Blvd (between 110th Street and 125th) becoming “the restaurant row” of Harlem is inching its way toward reality.  Workers are on site every day hammering and painting away to ensure the new restaurant opens up in June – just in time for the summer season. Its been reported on several blogs that this corner will be the home of a new Italian restaurant, however, what I have not heard definitively is whose behind this new place?  Our tipsters say its the owner of Society Cafe and 67 Orange, along with a few quite investors. If you know scoop, tell us!

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

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Mellow Yellow Harlem Building

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment
HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

By HarlemGal
I was strolling the foggy streets of Harlem on Sunday (it actually felt more like San Francisco weather) and I couldn’t help but notice the yellow plaster or walls that are being used for the new condo building quickly going up on Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 113th and 114th Street. Why the yellow? Is that some sort of special wall or plaster?

It also looks like some of these apartments will have balconies based on the photos? Not bad.  

I know we are still in a financial crisis/recession. However, I am still amazed by all the construction going on up and down FDB starting from 112th Street all the way to 123rd Street.  See for yourself.  Take a stroll down this street!  It’s non-stop construction!

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

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