Tag Archives: Levain Bakery

Harlem to celebrate Second Annual Food and Drink Boulevard May 2

Posted on April 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

The Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and Experience Harlem invite us all in Harlem to their annual Food and Drink Blvd event, which is an evening of food, cocktails, music, and culture featuring most of the dining establishments on Harlem’s restaurant row, aka Frederick Douglass Blvd. The event takes place Thursday, May 2nd, from 6-10 pm. The cost to attend is $10 in advance. To purchase tickets for this fun event, go here.
FDBA eblast 2013

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Posted in Harlem

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Attend Savor The Season-Uptown in Harlem September 18

Posted on September 13, 2012 | Leave a comment

Chef Marcus Samuelsson of Harlem’s Red Rooster and Maritza Wellington Owens, Chief Executive Officer, of Harvest Home Farmer’s Market have come together to create Savor The Season-Uptown. Savor The Season will showcase the ‘best of the best’ chefs who work north of 110th Street. Guests will enjoy tastings from eight different restaurateurs, bakeries, wines curated by The Winery and beers and spirits curated by the up and coming Harlem Public. The event will take place the evening of September 18 at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que banquet hall, located on 125th Street and 12th Avenue.

Participating restaurants will be Red Rooster Harlem, Creole, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Jin Ramen, Le Monde, Moby Catering, Melba’s, 5 and Diamond, Levain Bakery, and Tonnie’s Minis.

To learn more about the event and order tickets, click here.

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Posted in 125th Street, 5 and Diamond Harlem, business, entertainment, Events, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lenox Avenue, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Harlem’s restaurant row, Frederick Douglass Blvd., has its own map and alliance group

Posted on January 29, 2012 | 1 comment

It’s official…again! Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem from 110th to 125th Street, also known as restaurant row, has its very own map, according to The New York Daily News. And the folks behind the map is an alliance group called Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA). Check out the map below. It mentions all existing businesses from 110th to 124th Street. The map does not include up and coming places on FDB, such as the Harlem Food Bar or Marcos Leatherlab, the cobbler store.

Lia San Filippo, co-owner of 5 and Diamond Harlem restaurant and co-president of the recently formed FDBA, tells the Daily News “the map was created to help people know that Harlem is here and helps customers find us more easily.” Amen Lia!

Back in 2008, I wrote a blog posting asking if FDB is turning into Harlem’s restaurant row? Looks like we have our answer not only in a map but in the form of an alliance group!

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, apartments, art and culture, baking, Bars, bier international, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, commercial real estate, Community, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem blogs, Harlem businesses, Harlem Restaurant Row, Harlem restaurants, Harlem Tavern, health and wellness, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping, spending

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Harlem In the News: Dining Establishments and Real Estate receive high praise

Posted on October 16, 2011 | 2 comments


Recently, the Village of Harlem received high praise mainly on two fronts, real estate and dining establishments.

In the eating out area, both DNA Info and The New York Daily News raved about how there are several great places to dine uptown and some of those dining establishments have received positive reviews in Zagats.

In the NY Daily News, they mentioned Red Rooster and Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar in one sentence, specifically stating that Zagats says these dining establishments are “the new stars to watch.” The article also mentions “Covo Trattoria & Pizzeria, where happy hours go until midnight, most dishes are less than $15, and the outdoor dining is a Zagat top pick.”

In a separate article, The New York Daily News raved about how Levain Bakery has the best chocolate chip cookies in the City. No surprise there. Their hot and cold coffee is not bad either. Try it.

DNA Info spoke to our favorite Harlem Gal and the women behind Eat In Harlem, Sakita Holley, about how Harlem now has several restaurants “to suit any mood.” Holley endorsed several eating out places starting from East Harlem all the way West. Milk Burger, 67 Orange, Hudson River Cafe and more received a thumbs up from Holley.

Of course, what’s driving all these great new and interesting restaurants in Harlem is real estate or is it the other way around? The Wall Street Journal reported recently that “the number of Harlem apartment sales rose to the highest level since September 2008, according to analysis of city records. But they were only slightly above sales reported in the same quarter in 2010.” The article goes on to say that Harlem is not only performing well in the real estate area, it’s even attracting buyers who are from the second largest economy in the world-China!

Check out all the articles in their entirety below! And that’s Harlem In the News!
Harlem Restaurants to Suit Any Mood
Harlem’s Culinary Treasures
Best of New York
Harlem Attracts Post-Slump Buyers

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, apartments, bier international, Community, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem Tavern, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, New York, New York City, real estate, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants, review, spending

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Harlem to become outdoor music stage June 21

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 20, 2011 @ 7:57
By HarlemGal
On June 21, look around in Harlem. You may hear music everywhere. Harlem Park to Park (HP2P) and its HP2P businesses are taking part in Make Music New York, the citywide free live musical celebration on Tuesday, June 21st.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., participating Harlem Park to Park businesses will become impromptu outdoor stages offering live musical performances and some select specials. A complete list of business are listed below.

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Posted in art and culture, baking, Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Events, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Free!, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping

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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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It’s $20.11 in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 2 comments

Apr 15, 2011 @ 7:15
By HarlemGal
Several Harlemites have $20.11 posted on their Facebook or WeHarlem pages and it’s not a reminder of the current year.  It’s locals reminding us through social networks that it is restaurant and retail month right here in Harlem. From April 15 to May 15, select local businesses are offering special deals. If you’re wondering who is participating, see the complete list below.

Last year, I went to Chez Lucienne and enjoyed the meal and deal very much. I wonder where I should dine this year for this occasion?

And a big thanks to Harlem Park to Park, who is once again leading this effort to promote all the wonderful retail businesses we have right here in Harlem.

RESTAURANTS
67 ORANGE STREET   2082 Eighth Avenue
BIER INTERNATIONAL  2099 Eighth Avenue
CHEZ LUCIENNE  308 Lenox Avenue
CHOCOLAT RESTAURANT  2223 Eighth Avenue
GRAN PIATTO D’ORO  1429 Fifth Avenue
LIDO HARLEM  2168 Eighth Avenue
MOCA LOUNGE  2210 Eighth Avenue
NATIVE RESTAURANT  101 W. 118th Street
NECTAR WINE BAR  2235 Eighth Avenue
RED ROOSTER HARLEM  310 Lenox Avenue
RISTORANTE SETTEPANI  196 Lenox Avenue
SOCIETY COFFEE  2104 Eighth Avenue
SYLVIA’S RESTAURANT  328 Lenox Avenue

RETAIL/SERVICES
BIKRAM YOGA EAST HARLEM  4 E. 116th Street
FRANZ JAMES FLORAL BOUTIQUE  2114 Eighth Avenue
HARLEM FLO ATELIER    2292 Eighth Avenue
HARLEM FLO BOUTIQUE  2276 Eighth Avenue
HARLEM VINTAGE  2235 Eighth Avenue
LEVAIN BAKERY  2167 Eighth Avenue
MODSQUAD CYCLES  2119 Eighth Avenue

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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Levain Bakery to donate gross sales to support the people of Japan

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mar 20, 2011 @ 11:16
By HarlemGal,
Levain Bakery, which recently opened up a store in Harlem, announced on their Facebook page that this coming Wednesday, March 23rd, they will donate 25 percent of their gross sales from their Upper Westside and Harlem shops to the Red Cross for Japan. They are asking friends/supporters to spread the word.

In support of Levain Bakery and the Japanese people, HCL is encouraging all of its readers to stop by Levain Bakery on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 116th Street on Wednesday for treats and let’s help out those in dire need! See you there!

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Posted in baking, business, Community, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping

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Colossal cookies invade Harlem, Levain Bakery opens

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mar 2, 2011 @ 10:30

By HarlemGal
The wait is finally over. Harlem has a new cookie store! I stopped by Levain Bakery, located on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 116th and 117th Street, yesterday to try out the goods. I purchased four $4 cookies: chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and dark chocolate peanut butter chip. I have never tasted a Levain Bakery treat before so I went nuts and asked for one of each flavor. Little did I know.

Before I discuss my favorites, let me state: I am going to be eating cookies until the end of March. I had no idea Levain cookies were so…ahh…huge. I have labeled them big a– cookies, big mac cookies or colossal cookies! These cookies are so big and fat, they look like biscuits. Next time I see my friends who reside on the Upper Westside, I am going to ask “why didn’t you tell me how big these cookies were?” Do I sound like a person who is complaining because I am on the verge of inheriting a new sweet tooth addiction? Simple answer. Yes!

Last night, I bit into each of the four cookies I purchased and do they each pack a punch of flavor. If you love chocolate, try the dark chocolate chocolate chip. It was too much for me and I’d rather eat chocolate cake, but for chocolate cookie lovers it will not disappoint. I also did not care for the chocolate peanut butter chip cookie. If you like peanut butter, this cookie is your friend. Where I am going to become a Levain cookie addict is with the chocolate chip/walnut cookie and the raisin oatmeal cookie. I have come to the conclusion I love traditional, simple ingredient cookies. They remind me of the treats I received when I was a kid. However, these cookies have been injected with 10 times the amount of cookie dough.

Levain Bakery definitely delivers the sweet stuff as some of their fans had already conveyed. Next time, I will only buy one cookie or try something else so that I can now manage my new found sweet tooth addiction.

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Posted in baking, business, Harlem

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Opening of Levain Bakery Harlem store delayed

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Feb 22, 2011 @ 15:49
By HarlemGal
A follower on Twitter informed me today that Levain Bakery is delaying their opening of their Harlem store by one week. I think this photo says it all. I guess the cookie dough is not ready yet!

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Posted in baking, business, Community, Harlem, restaurants, shopping

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