Tag Archives: Harlem

Spirit of Harlem Community at Dwyer Cultural Center

Apr 11, 2011 @ 8:00
By HarlemGal
Learn about the essence of Harlem through the eyes of contemporary artists. Starting April 12 and running through mid-September, the Dwyer Cultural Center, located at 258 St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem, presents the Spirit of Community, an exhibition featuring commissioned works in photography, mural, sculpture, and video chronicling the sights, sounds, colors, textures, and people of Harlem. In the Spirit of Community, visitors will see how artists lend their imagination and innovation to capture the heartbeat of Harlem’s vibrant and thriving community. On April 12, head on over to the Dwyer at 6:30 PM to see this exhibition. And if you cannot make it then, it runs for five months ending September 15!

Happy hour now available at Lido Restaurant Harlem, lunch to be offered starting April 14

Apr 8, 2011 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
I stopped by Lido at 2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd last night to grab a bite to eat and see what’s the latest with the Italian eatery. There are a few new things happening and coming up.

20110407-105831.jpgFirst, Lido started a happy hours recently. It runs from Tuesday-Friday, 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. The special is half price beer and wine. My understanding is that you can partake in happy hour at the bar or at a table if you’re having an early dinner.

Next, Lido will be opening for lunch starting April 14th. Stay tune for the lunch menu. Their working on it now and hope to share it soon. A Spring menu for dinner will soon follow

And Lido has become a part of the Harlem Park to Park family. They will be participating in the upcoming retail and restaurant month featuring a $20.11 dinner menu. That starts April 15th – May 15th, Tuesday – Friday from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.

So there you have it. Lots of options to check out Lido Restaurant on the corner of 117th and FDB!
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Weekends at Bellevue is filming weekdays in Harlem

Apr 7, 2011 @ 13:24
By HarlemGal
The cast of ‘Weekends at Bellevue,’ a Fox TV pilot based on the same titled book by Julie Holland, is actually spending weekdays in Harlem-at least since Wednesday from what we hear from a fellow HCL blogger. The pilot, which centers on the character Ellie, a psychiatrist in charge of the weekend shift of Bellevue Hospital psychiatric unit, is currently being filmed at the former North General Hospital at 122nd and Madison Avenue. The crew is expected to be at the old hospital until tomorrow, according to our peeps!

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Part Two: NYLean25 day two was tough at Twirl Harlem

Apr 7, 2011 @ 11:00
On Monday, we told how one of our readers is taking the  NYLean25 April Challenge on behalf of HarlemCondoLife.com.  She provides her second diary entry. And based on her words, NYLean25 is getting demanding and at the same time promising.

Dear HarlemGal,
I’d like to first say a quick thanks to my fellow HCL readers for the comments they posted so far. It’s a big help to me and I want them to know it. Keep those comments coming in!

I went to my second class at NYLean25 at Twirl Lounge in Harlem. The class was so full the moved us to the Kennedy Community Center in Harlem.

Day two proved to be much harder than day one. I didn’t realize just how sore my body was until I worked it out again! This session we focused on legs, so there were lots of squats, leg lifts and all that fun stuff. Each week focuses on a different area, so one class will be legs, another will be arms, followed by core. All sessions include high intensity cardio intervals, which is no joke!

I must admit I wasn’t very good on the diet that goes along with the program for the first few days. I hadn’t gone food shopping with my work schedule packed, so I was improvising with stuff I already had. The diet consists of a high fiber, low carb breakfast, non-creamy soup and/or salad for lunch and dinner, and a healthy snack in the morning and afternoon. I finally went food shopping. Currently, I’m stocked up with the right food. I have no excuse!

NYLean25 gave me a list with nine weight loss tips.  I will share them with you throughout my diary entries.  Here is tip #1: drink a minimum of 8 glasses of COLD water a day.  You will burn around 150 calories of energy to heat the cold water to body temperature while simultaneously boosting your metabolism.  (And it’s good for your skin and hair too.) I could go for that!

More soon…

Best,
HCL reader committed to weight loss (HCL reader C2WL)

 

Five and Diamond Harlem participates in Village Voice Annual Tasting, Spring/Summer menu arriving soon

Apr 7, 2011 @ 7:30
By HarlemGal
The Village Voice’s Fourth Annual Tasting took place recently and Harlem’s very own 5 and Diamond, located at 2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd., participated. The event allowed some 1,700 guests to sample food from more than 30 nations. We hear it is an honor to be invited to participate in the Village Voice’s Annual Tasting. It’s by invite only. Ooh-la-la. Kudos to Selene Martinez (co-owner, left in photo) Executive Chef David Martinez (no relation to Selene, center), and Lia Sanfilippo (co-owner, right).

We also hear that, 5 and Diamond is getting ready to unveil its Spring/Summer Menu for all. Now that it is April, perfect time to fill the belly with some incredible cuisine by Chef Martinez! See you there!

Amkoullel to perform for first time in Harlem, Shrine and Farafina host Malian hip hop artist

Apr 6, 2011 @ 7:23
By HarlemGal
World music takes center stage this Thursday and Friday in Harlem. Amkoullel, the Malian hip hop artist will  be performing for the first time in Harlem (and in the USA) this Thursday and Friday (April 7-8).

On April 7th, see Amkoullel perform at the Shrine, located at 2271 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. The show starts at 8 PM. At Shrine, there is no cover charge.  The next day (April 8), see the Afro-beat artist perform at Farafina Cafe, located at 1813 Amsterdam Avenue. This show starts at 11 PM on Friday.

Aside from his music, Amkoullel is known for “harmoniously combining traditional and contemporary global cultures to promote social responsibility.”

Harlem Gal Inc reader takes on NYLean25 April challenge

Apr 4, 2011 @ 11:35
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We were approached recently by NYLean25 to join their program for the month of April at Twirl Fitness Lounge in Harlem. NYLean25 is a 25 minute, three times a week fat burning class. At first we thought, how nice! That’s so sweet. Then we thought, are they trying to tell us something at HCL, like winter is over get off your computer duff! Finally, we said how cool. However, we think this opportunity would be better served through the eyes of a HarlemCondoLife reader. They agreed and we immediately found a willing participant! This HCL reader, female and who asked to remain anonymous, agreed to submit diary entries and photos about her NYLean25 experience. Her other request she wants from us is to cheer her on and provide constructive feedback! I think we can help her out…si?

Dear HarlemGal,
I am tired of the Wii Fit telling me I am overweight! I work out regularly, but I HATE going to the gym! When HarlemCondoLife offered me the opportunity to join NYLean25 for the month of April, I chomped at the bit! Thanks so much!

20110404-121751.jpg I am now committed to working out with NYLean25 three times a week for one month. Each session is only 25 minutes!

This is what the program involves:
-Interval training: an exercise technique that alternates between short bursts of high intensity activity followed by short rest periods or low intensity activity. It is known to burn fat faster.

-Toning and muscle confusion to keep muscles toned and avoid plateaus.

-Good form and posture: performing exercises with the correct form increases the effectiveness of muscle toning and strength building while reducing the possibility of injury.

-A choice of 2 eating plans.

-Weekly weigh-ins and measurements.

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I have a hard time with staying motivated, so being in a program that keeps me accountable for my actions is exactly what I need! I like that NYLean25 includes an excercise AND eating plan. Believe me, I know from experience that you can’t expect to see much results by doing one or the other. I arrived on my first day and got weighed, measured and had my body fat taken (ugh!).

20110404-121835.jpg Then the class began, led by the creater of NYLean25, Robert Brace, who is in the photo above. Robert is a very attractive former professional dancer with 10 years experience in the fitness industry. He has a cute British accent to boost. The class started off intense right off the bat! There was 25 minutes of push-ups, squats, cardio and ab work. I felt challenged, but not overwhelmed. I’ve taken some very intense bootcamp classes that had me dreading going back. Thankfully, I don’t feel that sense of dread with this class.

My goal for the month is to lose five pounds and maybe, just maybe, wear my bathing suit to the beach without board shorts over it!

Until next time. And wish me luck!

Best,
HCL reader committed to weight loss

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My Bad Horse Pizza experience in Harlem

20110403-120639 Apr 3, 2011 @ 12:23
By HarlemGal
Last night (April 2), I did my usual! I put my money where my blog [mouth] is. My theory is, I can blog a ka-chillion posts as a Harlem blogger and receive a ton of hits. However, in my view it don’t mean a thing, especially to readers, if one doesn’t actually go out in Harlem, spend money on the Harlem places one blogs about and share it . Catch my drift? So last night I met up with a friend, who recently bought an apartment in Harlem, to checked out Harlem’s newest restaurant on Frederick Douglass Blvd, i.e. Bad Horse Pizza.

20110403-120403When we arrived, we had to wait a bit for a table. Bad Horse Pizza was busy for its second night of business. Eventually, we were seated in the back. From there, you can see how the interior is designed to look like a barn. The windows near the bar have old fashion, wooden barn doors next to them. The dining tables are wood and the bar has a rustic metal look to it. The place looks great and you feel comfortable inside. Plus if you’re walking to Bad Horse Pizza from the south, you will see the pizzas being made fresh. The kitchen is completely wide open!
20110403-120549As for the food, we ordered a mixed green salad to share, a ten inch acropolis and secaucus pizzas. What we received was a salad, bad horse pizza and a secaucus. We looked at the two-meat pizzas and said…oh well. Let’s eat these. The place is still figuring out their game, which is ok since they just opened, and we were hungry. We devoured two meat pizzas. They were good and filling. If you like Italian sausage and real big pieces of steak on your pizza, you will like these two pies. Our pizza and salad was coupled with free glasses of red wine. Can’t beat that! Overall, our bill was $49, not including tip.

If you’re looking for freshly made house pies, check out Bad Horse Pizza, located at 2222 Frederick Douglas Blvd, for yourself. Then stop by HarlemCondoLife and tell us about your experience!

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UPDATE: Harlem Tavern receives a big delivery, no April Fools

Apr 1, 2011 @ 11:27
By HarlemGal
While Bad Horse Pizza opens this evening (April 1), looks like Harlem Tavern is slowly moving forward with building the place. This morning there was a large truck spotted at 301 West 116th Street delivering what I assume is hardwood floors. Plus renderings posted on Harlem Tavern’s website show hardwood floors around the indoor bar and dining section!

Given it is April 1st, it’s no joke that Harlem Tavern wants to experience soon what Bad Horse Pizza will experience today, opening day!

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Land Yoga lands in Harlem, studio to open up on Frederick Douglass Boulevard

Mar 30, 2011 @ 7:00

By HarlemGal
We received some wonderful and different news in our inbox yesterday! It’s generally real estate stuff in our inbox. We were informed that Land Yoga will be opening up a yoga studio at 2110 Frederick Douglass Blvd. The exact location is right next to Franz James Floral Boutique in The Douglass Condo.

Land Yoga in Harlem is expected to open in about two months. The space will include two private rooms and will offer adult classes as well as extensive children’s programing, including yoga mini camp this summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-4:30 PM. Land Yoga is also seeking wellness practitioners in acupuncture, chiropractic, nutrition, or Alexander technique who are interested in subletting space in Central Harlem.

We were also informed by Land Yoga they are running for a very special grant opportunity that will support their dream to bring yoga to the Harlem community. They need 1,000 votes by this Thursday, March 31. To vote and support Land Yoga, text the word Land to 244326. There is no charge and no spam. Participants will receive two follow-up texts asking name and reasons for voting for this business. Participants must respond to these texts to finalize your vote.

If you want to “like” and learn more about Land Yoga, check out their Facebook page or better yet, learn about the yogi launching Land Yoga by clicking here!

Again, this is refreshing news. We couldn’t be more excited! Namaste!