Tag Archives: new york city

Pods arrive in Central Harlem along with a gigantic mural

Dining pods have arrived to part of the restaurant scene in Harlem. And a giant mural on the northwest corner of Frederick Douglass Blvd and 116th Street is going up to commemorate this form of outdoor dining! If you live in the area, you can’t miss the mural (or the pods). The mural looks awesome!

Dining pods are now lining FDB from 116th to 120th Street at the following restaurants: Bixi Harlem, Blvd Bistro, Chocolate, Harlem Burger, Harlem Tavern, Mess Hall/Double Dutch, Silvana and Vinateria. These greenhouse styled dining pods were provided to minority and women-owned restaurants on FBD as part of an initiative sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance and Stella Artois, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch.

The 7-story, 2800 square foot mural was designed and painted by Harlem-based Giannina Gutierrez. Gutierrez created the mural to welcome diners to the area and to showcase the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

Having these dining pods donated to small businesses, who truly need the help during this time, is a great example of private sector, non profits and the community coming together to collaborate for the greater good. This is a wonderful example of corporate social responsibility at its best.

Stop by to see the mural and let’s us know what you think of it here in the comments section! Go out and dine in these donated pods. And drop a line here about your dining experience in a pod too!

Photo by Harlemgal
Photo by Harlemgal

Dragon Sushi rolling into a familiar Harlem space

Remember 5 and Diamond or RDV restaurants and where they were located in Harlem? That commercial space will now be used for a place called Dragon Sushi!

Dragon Sushi, located at 2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd., plans to offer a full menu of sushi and sashimi! Hopefully this month according to the owner! Signage is almost up ! So the opening could be on track!

Dragon Sushi will be the second sushi place to open on Harlem’s restaurant row! The first attempt was by Jade Sushi, two blocks north, which is now Bean and Barley.

Signage going up November 4 for new Dragon Sushi restaurant. Photo by Harlemgal
Photo by Harlemgal

Redesign planned for Harlem Meer area, groundbreaking set for Fall 2020

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If you love Harlem Meer or Lasker Rink or the northern part of Central Park like we do, this piece of news will (or should) please you. We learned today via a press release about a major redesign of Harlem Meer and the area. An announcement will be made on July 18 at Harlem Meer stating that a partnership is in place “to invest $150 million in a forthcoming Lasker Pool and Rink project that will transform the facility’s relationship with the Harlem Meer and the rest of Central Park.”

According to the release, this yet to be designed major project, funded by Mayor Bill de Blasio ($50 million) and the Central Park Conservancy ($100 million; $25 million committed to date), will allow for broader park use and create new recreational opportunities to better serve the Harlem and East Harlem communities, advancing the City’s equity agenda. To lead the design process, Central Park Conservancy in partnership with NYC Parks, will host community visioning sessions in Harlem this fall; with anticipated groundbreaking in Fall 2020.

As more information becomes available, we will pass it along. In closing, we cannot wait to see the ideas that arise from the design process and renderings.

From Harlem to LES, New York City iconic places, like mom and pop shops, disappearing

Two New York City photographers have been documenting the City’s transformation for several years. It started with a book, titled “Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York,” in which they photographed mom-and-pop stores around the city, including select parts of Harlem, such as Lenox Avenue and 125th Street. They recently returned to these Harlem locations, and all the other original locations as well, to see what stands in those places now. Take a look below at the Harlem areas documented and see what’s happened.

Read additional news coverage here.
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Get out and vote! Today is Election Day in New York City

Today is Election Day in New York City and our chance to help elect the officials we want to lead NYC. Polling places are open today from 6 am to 9 pm, which allows plenty of time to get out and vote. So, no matter who you support in this election, please, please, please vote! Go here to find your polling place.
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Listen up Harlem, go vote November 6


The big day is near. Tomorrow, November 6 is election day. It is time of us to go to the voting booths to cast our vote! If you’re a registered voter and not sure where to go to cast your ballot, use New York City’s Board of Elections (BOE) Polling Locator. It will tell you where to go by typing in your building number and street name. The BOE also has an app that will allow you to find your voting poll. Go here to download the app.

Most of us online have been expressing our political views for weeks. I know I have. The day is here where it’s now time for us to do the walk, not just talk. Get out and vote tomorrow! See you at the voting booth!

September 11, 2001, a day to remember always

Today is a day to remember forever. We will never forget it. In honor of 9-11, I am posting pictures of The Freedom Tower. I have pictures of the World Trade Center Towers. However when I look at The Freedom Tower, it reminds me of the past, but it also makes me think of the future… I love you New York City!

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Remembering Whitney Houston: Watch ‘Greatest Love of All’ music video at Harlem’s Apollo Theater


A very good friend of mine texted me Saturday evening (February 11) immediately after hearing of Whitney Houston’s passing saying “I am sure there is a connection between Whitney Houston and Harlem-after all she was a gospel singer to start.” My good friend was right. There is a connection between Whitney and Harlem. I discovered online that “the music video for Whitney’s hit single, ‘Greatest Love of All,’ a song first recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest, was filmed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The video features a cameo by Whitney’s mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston.” Watch the video below. It is very clear she is singing on the big stage at the Apollo in New York City’s Harlem.

If you know of any other connection between Whitney Houston and Harlem, please tell us here so that we can celebrate her and her history to Harlem, and the world.

Reminder: Harlem’s Lee, Lee’s Bakery to be featured on New York’s WABC

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About a month ago HarlemGal Inc. told you about Alvin Lee Smalls of Harlem’s Lee, Lee’s Bakery being interviewed by New York City’s WABC. Well, we know the dates on when the interview will air on Channel 7. Tune in this Saturday, December 17 at 7 pm and then on Sunday, December 18 at 5:30 am. After those air dates, the interview will be streamed on WABC’s website. Hope everyone will watch!
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Community Board 10 in Harlem looking to limit new bars and restaurants from serving alcohol past 2 AM


If you like having your brewski past 2 AM in Harlem, enjoy it now at your favorite hangout cause there is talk of the drinking hours changing for new bars and restaurants to 2 AM. The topic has been in the press everywhere and last night it was covered on Channel 7 with bier international serving as one of the interviewees. Click on the image to see the video. According to several news reports, Community Board 10 is currently study the topic of not allowing new establishments to serve alcohol past 2 AM. What do you think about this? Should Community Board 10 pursue this or drop it and focus on other matters, such as gun violence?