Tag Archives: Harlem

Attend MillionTreesNYC Tree Care Workshop at Harlem’s Casa Frela Gallery

imageMillionTreesNYC will be giving a tree care workshop for the Harlem community on April 6th at Casa Frela Gallery, 47 West 119th Street, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

The workshop will run 2 hours and consist of two parts. The first part will be 30-40 minutes and will take place in the gallery, covering the importance of trees, tree care, and the reasons behind Million Trees NYC’s mission to plant a million more trees throughout the five boroughs. Part 2 of the workshop will be hands-on, where attendees will go outside and actively steward the two new trees on 119th Street — and beyond, time-permitting. At the end of the workshop if attendees pledge to care for a new tree in their neighborhood, Million Trees NYC will give them a free toolkit (collapsible watering bucket, trowel, weeder tool, and cultivator) and a tree care manual with step by step guide to caring for their tree.

To learn more about MillionTreesNYC, visit their website.

Mark your calendar: Harlem Earth Day activities begin April 3

Harlem Park to Park (HP2P) released information yesterday (March 19) about their second annual Harlem Earth Day initiative, which begins April 3rd until April 21st. HP2P has lined up free, fun filled activities for the whole family in Morningside Park (April 7th) and Marcus Garvey Park (April 21st); and panel discussions including celebrity chefs, authors and activists every Wednesday evening at MIST Harlem on April 3rd, 10th and 17th! The initiative is sponsored by Con Edison, Land Yoga, MIST Harlem, Friends of Morningside Park, and Marcus Garvey Park Alliance.

Below is an outline of the program and participants. See you at Harlem Earth Day activities!
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Spring Sale at Harlem’s Katrina Parris Flowers

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Harlem’s Katrina Parris Flowers has some great plans for the upcoming Spring season. Katrina Parris Flowers, located at 191 Lenox Avenue, tells HarlemGal Inc that they are not just about flower delivery, events, and weddings. They are about being a part of the Harlem community and coming up with ideas, products and services, that benefit its customers and the community. Here are a few examples-and one of those examples is a Spring Sale. Enjoy!

  • Katrina Parris Flowers is a collection point for Harlem Park-to-Park’s “Harlem Earth Day Bottle Cap Collection – Kids art project”.
  • SPRING SALE is underway. 40 percent off selected gift items and 50-70 percent off gently used event inventory and vases. Plus KPF is having an online sale with 30 percent off select designs for delivery.
  • KPF will be launching soon its LOCAL LOYALTY program, allowing customers to earn points towards free flowers with every purchase.
  • And there is a Contest Giveaway on Facebook going on right now, to win a Harlem Love, Peace & Soul T Shirt.

Stop by and visit Katrina Parris Flowers in Harlem. See details below!

Katrina Parris Flowers
191 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY, 10026 USA
212-222-7030
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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 Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem, an event to help stop hunger

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According to a news release by Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center (BHCCC), there is an estimated 1.4 million New York City residents who are food insecure and rely on the city’s network of emergency food organizations. BHCCC hopes to VanKline223raise $20,000 through their second annual Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem Celebrity Food Tasting and Silent Auction. Funds raised will help the organization keep pace with an increasing demand for emergency food services driven by food insecurity. Guiltless Gourmet for A Healthy Harlem takes place Friday, March 22 at Harlem’s Gran Piatto d’Oro on Fifth Avenue and brings together the celebrity chef triumvirate of Melba’s Melba Wilson (Food Networks’ former Fat Chef), Kimberly Van Kline of Passion for Palate Catering and Ronaldo Calle of Gran Piatto d’Oro.

Guiltless Gourmet for a Healthy Harlem will open with a VIP Reception/Chef Rolando2_smallerMeet and Greet followed by Food Tasting and Silent Auction. Guests will sample a range of celebrity chef gourmet delights from appetizers to main dishes and bid on auction items from jewelry to vacations with starting bids as low as $50. Two-tiered priced Guiltless Gourmet tickets are $65.00 for Food Tasting and Auction. The $75.00 tickets include admission to the Guiltless Gourmet VIP event. Tickets can be purchased at God’s Answer Bookstore and BHCCC offices co-located at Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. BHCCC is the social services arm of Bethel Gospel Assembly, Inc. For more information visit www.bethharkccc.org.

Neil Patrick Harris tells online world he wants to purchase a Harlem brownstone

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Neil Patrick Harris, actor, singer and currently a Harlem condo owner, is looking to buy a brownstone in Harlem. How do I know this? Neil Patrick Harris said it on Twitter yesterday tweeting “he’s looking to buy a brownstone in Harlem. Figure someone on Twitter might want to sell. Any takers?”

I’m sure there might be a few takers. He could also ask Marcus Samuelsson for some pointers. He just scored a Harlem brownstone.

But why doesn’t Mr. Harris just go to StreetEasy.com? I see several Harlem brownstones there listed for $1.5 million to $3 million, which should be no problem for Neil Patrick Harris. He’s been making the big bucks since he was a child TV actor.

Hope this little blog write-up helps with your search. And by the way Neil, we are from the same state, i.e. New Mexico! Good luck with your search! I hope you find the Harlem brownstone of your dreams!

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Tribeca Pediatrics signs lease in Harlem, former 99 cent store to become children’s medical facility

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The Commercial Observer reported last week that Tribeca Pediatrics is opening up a branch in Harlem. Tribeca Pediatrics signed a 10-year, 2,500-square-foot lease at 2111 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, which most of us know as the 99 cent store.

The reason for the upscale facility coming to Harlem? According to Douglas Elliman’s retail group team Faith Hope Consolo, who represented both the landlord, Tahl-Propp Equities, and the tenant in the transaction told National Real Estate Investor that “just as Starbucks is a marker for an emerging neighborhood, a sophisticated pediatric clinic is a sign it has arrived. This now coveted corner is transitioning from a 99 cents store to a cutting-edge medical facility for children.”

To learn more about Tribeca Pediatrics, visit their website.

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1Forno Pizzeria in Harlem joins the red awning club

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Most of the Harlem businesses love the color red when it comes to their outdoor awnings with signage, such as Red Rooster Harlem, Harlem Food Bar, Cedric French Bistro, etc. 1Forno Pizzeria at 135 West 116th Street near Lenox Avenue decided to do the same and has installed a big bright red awning with their logo, phone number and address. I walked by the pizza place yesterday (March 10) and noticed the signage. I also noticed in the new awning the Harlem pizza place goes by the name 1Forno Pizzeria, instead of Il Forno.

If you haven’t tried a pie or a slice of pizza from 1Forno on 116th Street, give it a try. I order from them all the time and love that one can create their own toppings from a varied list of toppings! 1Forno also gets good reviews on Yelp. See contact details below.

1Forno Pizza Harlem​
135 w 116th St
New York, NY 10026
212- 222- 3030

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Harlem locals invest in where they live, The Grange Bar & Eatery coming to Harlem’s Hamilton Heights

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I love it when readers write in to tell us another set of Harlem locals are opening up a business right where they live, such as Harlem Tavern, Yatenga and more. Rita Royer-Henley and Roy Henley have been living in Harlem’s Hamilton Heights area for more than eight years and they’re the couple behind The Grange Bar & Eatery, which will be a farmer’s kitchen bistro and bar located right in the heart of West Harlem, Hamilton Heights– at 1635 Amsterdam Ave (Corner of 141st st) to be exact. Opening date is set for mid-April-May 2013

Guests of The Grange Bar & Eatery will be able to enjoy comfort food made in a 2350 sq ft, 75 seat setting with local produce and organic seasonal ingredients when possible, according to the Henley’s. The bar plans to provide “a mixology-driven selection of balanced cocktails.” “We want to go beyond the traditional cocktail and move away from those overly sweet and overpowering drinks. To do so, we will be incorporating in-house naturally pressed juices, herbs and bitters,” says the Henley’s. “We want to feature and support spirits from local small and artisan distilleries from all across the country.”

As for beer and wine, The Grange Bar & Eatery plans on using a 16-Draft Beer system, which is 80 percent craft beers and 20 percent traditional beers; seasonal beers included. The wine will be a balanced selection of international as well as local wines. Overall, guests should plan on “picturing themselves in a farmer’s country kitchen,” says the Henley’s. Oh, and The Grange Bar & Eatery plans on having outdoor seating, subject to City approval.

Out of all the many places in Harlem to open a business, I asked the Henley’s why Hamilton Heights? “We have been living in Hamilton Heights for a combined 8 years and have witnessed how much this beautiful section of Harlem has changed and grown especially in the last 5 years. We soon discovered out of our own need to have more places to go to that were within walking distance. We believe so much in this [part of Harlem]. “We are thrilled to make this happen and setting the standard for this portion of Amsterdam Ave that has so much potential in becoming the next restaurant row in Harlem.”

Congrats to the Henley’s on the opening of The Grange Bar & Eatery in Harlem’s Hamilton Heights. To learn more about the upcoming establishment, go to their Facebook page.

Wanna work at Harlem Shake? Yes, the real Harlem Shake

Interested in working at the real Harlem Shake in Harlem on 124th and Lenox? Here’s the lowdown. Harlem Shake will be doing their hiring through a NY Job Bank. It’s part of a NY state program. Prospective employees may contact Ms. Jai Popat at jpopat@grantassociatesinc.com for more information on job listings and details on sending job applications, starting on or around March 21st, which is coming up soon!

So there you have it. If you wanna work at Harlem Shake, you have the scoop! Good luck to those applying!

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