Tag Archives: @harlemcondolife

Bixi, new Harlem restaurant opening next to Lido

New York City is officially open! I’ve been waiting to share this picture for quite some time due to covid19 and the recent Black Lives Matter movement. Apparently, there is going to be a new restaurant opening on Harlem‘s restaurant row called Bixi. It’s going to be Asian cuisine I believe and it will be managed and operated by the same individuals who run Lido Italian Restaurant on the corner of 117th and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. That’s all the info I have right now. I’m sure more details will arise soon!

New restaurant opening next to Lido.
Photo by Harlemgal

Free film screening in Harlem, See Black and Blue Oct. 9

There’s an opportunity to see a free film in Harlem next week at Magic Johnson Theater!. It’s called Black and Blue! Wednesday, October 9th at 7 pm you can see this free film by using this link. As always, it’s on a first come first serve basis.

Black and Blue is a fast-paced action thriller about a rookie cop (Academy Award® nominee Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating footage.

IN THEATERS OCTOBER 25

Annie’s Juicery lands on Harlem‘s Restaurant Row

I haven’t blogged about Harlem in ages (busy on Instagram though). I tell myself daily that if I come across something very interesting, I will blog. Well, that day has come.

Walking along Frederick Douglass Blvd recently with my kids, which I call and coined back in my early days of blogging, as Harlem’s Restaurant Row, I came across the signage: Annie’s Juicery at 2073 FDB. I was shocked to see this because it wasn’t another restaurant or a cafe, but a place that offers cold pressed juices! Wow! This is different in my view.

I walked by the place on a Saturday and it wasn’t open. However, I checked for Annie’s Juicery online presence and their Instagram account mentioned that they opened in mid-May. See photo below.

Where was I for this opening? How could I miss that? Oh, I must have been busy tending to my two most important clients, my 3 and 5 year old.

And I believe this type of business is a first in Harlem? There’s been places to get extracting juices which is different than cold pressed. Who can help us confirm if this is a first? If you know, chime in.

I plan to stop buy this place soon to try a juice and share more details. But first things first. I wanted you to know that cold pressed juices are now available in Harlem via walk in through Annie’s Juicery and I’m back!

Introducing Bean & Barley, opening on Harlem’s restaurant row

Update: Bean & Barley is open. Stop by and try CBD with your coffee. We did!

As one restaurant closes, another something opens. That’s the cycle of retail life in Harlem/ NYC. In this case, it’s another cafe! At 2118 Frederick Douglass Blvd, the old spot of Jado Sushi, it will now be…Bean & Barley, a coffee/espresso/beer/wine/spirits and bites. At least that is what the bright red awning says as we strolled by on Saturday, June 9.

The windows are papered up for now, but there is a leaflet posted with..barista needed. Stay tuned for more info, as Bean & Barley will more than likely open in the coming weeks.

Paint’n Pour opening in Harlem on restaurant row

As one door closes another opens…and that’s what’s happening at 2080 Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem! Paint’n Pour is moving into the space where The Park 112 Restaurant use to be! The signage is up!

According to their Facebook page, Paint’n Pour was located at 79 Madison Avenue, where one could actually paint “with the help of an open bar.” Paint’n Pours instagram account states they’re moving uptown to Central Harlem and the grand opening is coming soon!

I hope the painting stays indoors along with the cocktails. If my kids see adults painting outside, they’ll want to join in!

Harlem’s coffee scene continues North with ACP Coffee

I have lived in Harlem for close to 12 years now. I’ve seen an explosion in real estate, restaurants…and now coffee bars/cafes. I ventured past 125th Street recently to check out ACP Coffee, which opened this year on Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd between 134th and 135th Street. I know there are a lot of coffee places in the City. Hear me out on why you should make a point to visit ACP Coffee.

First, most of our Harlem based coffee shops that have opened in the last five years more than likely get their beans from a local/roaster. Not a bad thing. ACP Coffee in Harlem has decided to go in a different direction and serve coffee from Coava Coffee Roasters and Counter Culture Coffee Roasters. Coava coffee roasters is from Portland, Oregon, currently using El Salvador La Esperanza.

Second, if you’re into the avocado toast craze ACP Coffee has it on the menu. Their avocado toast is made with sourdough organic bread. Yum.

And last, ACP coffee uses Battenkill Valley grass fed milk for all their coffee drinks. I don’t recall ever having my coffee served with grass fed milk until I visited ACP Coffee. It was absolutely yummy. This type of milk added sweetness and extra foam to my latte.

These are just a few reasons on why you should stop by ACP Coffee in Harlem. As I often say in my blog posts, “don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself! and let me know what you think of the place.

ACP Coffee is located at 2286 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd in Harlem.

Shop stylish kid essentials by Harlem resident, #blackfriday code offered here

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Back in 2012, I blogged about one of my favorite kid accessories store by Harlem resident Alex Gizela, who founded Cabbages & Kings. I had zero Harlem babies then and I loved her apparel on the spot. Two kids later, three scarves, two sets of leg warmers and four pairs of socks from Cabbages & Kings, I still adore all the items offered.

More importantly, my kids love the product…and all of the items are hand made by artisans that reside in Central Mexico and in the Andean Valleys of Peru and Bolivia. Most pieces are a collaborative effort between Cabbages & Kings and the artisans to create pieces based on the culture’s traditional patterns and design.

Check out the merchandise for yourself. And oh, did I tell you that Cabbages & Kings started their 2017 #blackfriday/holiday sale. For those that follow HarlemGal online, there is a 30 percent discount. Use code: HeyMama30. (Please note the code is for a limited time only)

Enjoy! And let the holiday season begin!

NYC KidsFest brings Performing Artists to Morningside Park, Sunday June 18

Need family plans in Harlem June 18? Consider NYC Kidsfest in Morningside Park from 2-7 PM. NYC Kidsfest is a free, one-day family performing arts festival bringing acts of outstanding artistic quality to New York families. Packed with music, theater, dance, storytelling and much more; this festival promises to delight, inspire and arouse the imaginations of children of all ages.

Headliners include: Bassam Saba and members of the NY Arabic Orchestra; Uptown Social Club; Karen Arcenaux—Alvin Ailey Zumba; Galli Theater performance of The Ugly Duckling; Face Painting by Derek Little; Theater workshops with actors from Classical Theater of Harlem; and Arts & Crafts Table

Location: Morningside Park—113th Street @ Manhattan Avenue behind St. John the Divine.

Closest trains: 1, B or C Exit 110th Street. Rain date is June 25!

Whole Foods Market opening in Harlem July 21, 125th & Lenox Avenue 

My kids and I were at Harlem Eat Up today. While strolling around, literally in our Bugaboo, we learned today that Whole Foods Market is opening up their Harlem store July 21, 2017. The two nice gentlemen working their booth informed us when we asked. However, there was no need to ask. There was a sign to the left of them that announced the date! See pic below.

I wonder whose going to check out the new Whole Foods uptown when it opens? I’m curious to see if they plan on offering the same kind of merchandise/products as a downtown store. We will soon find out! 

The store will be located at 125th Street and Lenox Avenue! Right there by the 2/3 subway line!

Is Melba’s restaurant in Harlem open or closed?

Another Harlem blog posted a question yesterday to their site asking: Has Melba’s on 114th Street and Frederick Douglass Blvd shuttered? As of this evening, HarlemGal has the the answer. It’s no!

This blog walked by there this evening and all the lights were on and people were inside! 

What prompted the questions around the status of Melba Wilson’s ten year old restaurant on Harlem’s restaurant row is that someone snapped a photo of that infamous sticker from the City slapped on the restaurant’s grey metal rolling gate. Ouch!

Hopefully, going forward, this type of uncertainty about whether Melba’s restaurant is opened or closed is a thing of the past. Fingers are crossed!