Tag Archives: Entertainment

Harlem loses one of its celebrities for now, The View’s Sherri Shepherd moves across the Hudson

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A HarlemGal reader recently left a comment saying Sherri Shepherd, comedienne, actress, and television personality of ABC’s The View, is not residing in Harlem anymore. My reaction was WHAT! I just saw her online mentioning she’s hanging at the Corner Social in Harlem. So I followed up with the lovely and funny Mrs. Shepherd-Sally to see what’s up.

Shepherd confirmed via direct message on Twitter that she and her family (Lamar and Jeffrey) moved to New Jersey three months ago. But before I explain why Shepherd had to move plan-d-book-mockup400from Harlem, let me quickly point out that Shepherd unequivocally stated that she and her husband Lamar love Harlem and find it to be “a great community and plan to return in a couple of years.” They had an unexpected situation arise and had to react.

I believe Sherri Shepherd and her family will return in the near future to live full-time in Harlem. Why? As an influential celebrity, she could have easily avoided my request.  Shepherd responded in a timely manner and took the time to explain what happened. She was crystal clear in her communication. In my view, this is an example of a Harlemite who deeply cares about the community she lived in and still loves by personally taking the time to communicate what happened. Why even bother explaining to a Harlem blogger? But Sherri did.

As to what happened that caused Sherri, her son and her husband to depart Harlem, it’s a typical New York situation. Shepherd had been renting a beautiful Sherri_Shepherd_Lamar_Sally_s_Wedding_Pics_Harlem brownstone for almost three years. Her landlord gave notice that they planned to move back into the property and gave Shepherd 30 days notice. Shepherd and her husband looked at other places in Harlem because they wanted to stay, but given the time constraints they did not find a place they wanted within their budget so they moved to New Jersey for the time being. That’s it folks! That’s what happened and it happens to most New Yorker’s at one time or another.

Shepherd maybe living in NJ for now, but she has been taking the time to return to Harlem weekly. She visits the Corner Social on Lenox Avenue and 126th Street once a week and she visits Elsie’s Caribbean Cafe twice a month. Her heart is still in Harlem.

Let’s wish Sherri Shepherd and her family all the best with this change and pray for a speedy return back to Harlem. Amen!

Attend Harlem Shake Off in…Harlem March 9

A reader sent in the following information today about a Harlem Shake Off happening this Saturday, March 9 in Harlem! Details are below:

To kick off a new comedy webisode based in Harlem and to respond to all the hokey renditions of the current fad, Harlem Shake on YouTube, a “real” Harlem Shake Off is happening at Marcus Garvey Park (122nd and Madison) this Saturday, March 9th at 12 pm. Socl Expt is hosting!

If you wanna have fun and are good dancer from Harlem and the Bronx come out to this Harlem get together. FYI, the event will be videotaped!

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Support Changing Face of Harlem, film in final stretch of completion

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Changing Face of Harlem, a documentary about Harlem’s ongoing transformation told from the voices of longtime residents, business owners, politicians, developers, and clergy, is in the home stretch to complete the film. This month they have launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $30,000 to meet final post-production costs. Post-production costs cover final sound mixing, edit, color correction, and costs of archival footage, graphics and music.

To help Changing Face of Harlem meet their goal, go here to donate. The campaign runs for the month of March.

Read prior posts here on Changing Face of Harlem.

Pulitzer Prize-nominated Eisa Davis performs today at the Harlem School of the Arts

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Pulitzer Prize-nominated Eisa Davis will take to the stage in Harlem today for an intimate workshop setting, performing excerpts from her latest musical theater piece,Flowers Are Sleeping. The musical piece is a rare insight into the actor-writer-singer’s artistic process; a culmination of years of script development as well as more recent rehearsals in the Harlem School of the Arts’ studios and its ongoing Family Enrichment series.

Eisa Davis will also be performing at the Apollo Music Cafe in May as well. But today’s event is free

WHERE: Harlem School of the Arts: Gathering Space, 645 St. Nicholas Avenue

When: Saturday February 23, 2013 at noon (FREE)

Who: Harlem School of the Arts, Eisa Davis, Symphony Space,

WHY: Exclusive performance part of HSA’s Family Enrichment series, in promotion of performing arts center, Symphony Space’s world premiere of the full piece during Harlem Resonance Festival in April, 2013.

Motown: The Broadway Musical has obvious ties to Harlem

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One can’t swing a bat without hitting the word Harlem. I say that all the time and it’s how I feel again when reading about the upcoming Broadway musical called Motown. I just came across a write-up in Vanity Fair and all I thought about is how this musical has a connection to Harlem.

Based on what I have read so far, Motown: The Broadway Musical will be very good. I will probably go see it. However, I can’t help but repeat myself on how the show obviously has a strong historical connection to Harlem. Most of the music and the artists that will be featured in the new musical, which opens in April, made their debut at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater, such as The Jackson 5, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and more.

I am guessing there will be one scene or at least a mention of Harlem in the show. We’ll find out soon since previews of Motown: The Broadway Musical begins March 11 and opening night is April 14.

See below the two stars of Motown: The Broadway Musical perform inside the Time Warner building at Columbus Circle or check out the musical on Instagram. They have very cool photos posted.
http://youtu.be/2g162kV1QZY

Free screening in Harlem of The Central Park Five

The LeRoy Neiman Art Center in Harlem will present a free screening of The Central Park Five on Saturday, February 16th at 4:00 pm. The celebrated documentary, created by Ken Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns, bears revealing facts about the 1989 case in which five Harlem youth were falsely accused and convicted of a crime that Mayor Koch coined “The Crime of the Century.”

This screening allows the community an opportunity, not only to examine facts and fiction, but to engage in creative exploration, and dialogue with the men at the center of the storm-who are still fighting for justice some twenty years later.

The two-hour screening will be followed by a Q&A and Open Mic Poetry Jam led by Yusef Salaam, who has been writing poetry since age 11. RSVP is recommended by calling 212.862.2787

The Central Park Five Screening
Saturday, February 16, 2013
4:00-8:30pm
LeRoy Neiman Art Center
2785 Frederick Douglass Blvd near 148th Street
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It’s Afro Funk Night at Harlem’s bier international

Bier international is doing things a little differently for Valentine’s Day. Tomorrow, Feb 14th, bier international is inviting everyone over, with date or without, to Afro Funk Night. If you feel like taking a journey to the music of the African Diaspora by DJ Jeremiah, head on over tomorrow to bier international at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd., between 113th and 114th Street. Music starts at 8pm to 2am.
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Attend the Athena Film Festival in West Harlem, four academy award nominated films to be featured

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Now in its third year, the Athena Film Festival, a celebration of women in feature films, documentaries and shorts that highlight women’s leadership in real life and the fictional world will be held in West Harlem at Barnard College from Feb. 7-10. The four-day festival, which includes conversations with directors and Hollywood stars and workshops for filmmakers, has built a reputation as one of the most prestigious festivals of its kind that focuses on women and leadership. The following are big highlights of the Festival.

FOUR ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED FILMS:
BRAVE: Saturday, February 9 at 12PM
Directed by: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman
Location: Diana Event Oval – LL 100 Diana Center
Director Brenda Chapman will join the audience for a Q&A session following the screening

BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD: Saturday, February 9 at 6PM
Directed by: Benh Zeitlin
Location: Diana Event Oval – LL 100 Diana Center

INOCENTE: Sunday, February 10 at 3PM
Directed by: Sean Fine, Andrea Nix Fine
Location: Held Auditorium – 304 Barnard Hall
Producer Yael Melamede will join the audience for a Q & A session following the screening.

THE INVISIBLE WAR: Sunday, February 10 at 12PM
Directed by: Kirby Dick
Location: Diana Event Oval – LL100 Diana Center
Executive Producers Maria Cuomo Cole and Regina Kulik Scully will join the audience for a Q & A session following the screening.

4 PREMIERES:
GRANNY’S GOT GAME: Friday, February 8 at 6PM (World Premiere)
Directed by: Angela Alford
Location: Held Auditorium – 304 Barnard Hall
Director Angela Alford and Team Captain, Judy Barton will join the audience for a Q&A session following the screening.

WOMEN AREN’T FUNNY: Saturday, February 9 at 9PM (World Premiere)
Directed by: Bonnie McFarlane
Location: Diana Event Oval – LL 100 Diana Center
Director Bonnie McFarlane will join the audience for a Q&A session following the screening.

I STAND CORRECTED: Saturday, February 9 at 9PM (NY Premiere)
Directed by: Andrea Meyerson
Location: Held Auditorium – 304 Barnard Hall
Director/Executive Producer Andrea Meyerson and film subject Jennifer Leitham will join the audience for a Q & A session following the screening

FAST GIRLS: Sunday, February 10 at 3PM (US Premiere)
Directed by: Regan Hall
Location: Diana Event Oval – LL 100 Diana Center

SNEAK PREVIEW & CLOSING NIGHT FILM:
BRAVE MISS WORLD: Sunday, February 10 at 6PM
Directed By: Cecilia Peck
Location: Diana Event Oval – LL 100 Diana Center
Q&A Cecilia Peck (Director) & Inbal Lessner (Producer/Editor) will join the audience for a Q&A session following the screening.

For additional information, please visit: http://athenafilmfestival.com/.

Introducing The Harlem Sound Project, caberet music at The Chipped Cup

There is a new concert series uptown for us to check out! It’s called The Harlem Sound Project and it’s happening in the Hamilton Heights area of Harlem. The focus of The Harlem Sound Project is “to bring quality classical music and jazz to the Harlem community.” Their next concert will be on Valentines Day at The Chipped Cup located at 3610 Broadway and West 149th Street. Interested in attending, all the details are here!
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Michael Che headlines Comody Covo tonight in West Harlem

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New York City comedian William Mullen invites us all to Comedy Covo tonight at 701 West 135th Street, i.e. Covo Trattoria. Michael Che, who The New York Times has called “a rising and busy stand up comedian,” will be headlining tonights show starting at 7:30 pm and its FREE. If you’re interested in checking it out, below are the details:

COMEDY COVO
SUNDAY, Jan 27th AT 7:30PM FREE
Covo Trattoria, 701 West 135th St at 12th Avenue

HEADLINER MICHAEL CHE, Late Night with David Letterman, Eastville Comedy Club, Comedy Central.
COMIC KARA KLENK, Comedy Central, Nickelodean, Time Out NY
COMIC STEPHANIE HOLMES, Caroline’s, New York comedy Festival
COMIC ALORI SUMMER, Greenwich Village Comedy Club, The Duplex,
and DJ THE LEGENDARY CHRIS WASHINGTON spinning some awesome tunes!