Closed until the New Year

I want to personally thank each and every one of our readers for their support this year. Some of you have been with us from the beginning following us from one host to the other and others have signed up for the mailing list so that you never miss an update. Still others check in… [Read more…]

Harlem Success

There was a lot of speculation about a charter school being headed by a former politician but at the end of the day it seems to be making strides in it’s pursuit of “success for all.” Below is an excerpt of an article that appeared in the New York Sun about a charter school founded… [Read more…]

Follow up: Miracle on 138th Street

From NY1: The line stretched for blocks from Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and 136th Street Thursday as hundreds of people waited in the cold for much needed food. The Feed the Children organization gave out about 643,000 pounds of food, personal care items, and even toys with the help of volunteers from The Abyssinian Baptist… [Read more…]

Washington Heights

amNew York featured a piece about Washington Heights. We like to refer to the area sit sits above Harlem as upper uptown. Brokers never thought they would see buyers getting priced out of Harlem, but that is now the case. Buyers and renters alike turn to Washington Heights as an affordable chunk of Manhattan, where… [Read more…]

Wine and Aromatherapy

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The Men of Xi Phi Chapter present: Winetaste and Aromatherapy v2.5 A Post New Year’s Stress Relaxation Event Emperor’s Roe Caviar Bar 200 Lenox Avenue Harlem at 120th Street Harlem, N.Y.C. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2007 9:00PM An elegant evening of wine tasting, caviar and aromatherapy hand and foot massages. Tickets… [Read more…]

Bar None

Soundz Lounge 3155 Broadway between 123rd and 124th (near Toast) I try to stay away from places near Columbia because I’m just not into the Ivy League B.S. college scene anymore, but I was pleasantly surprised by Soundz. I met a couple of friends there during happy hour and had my fill of $3 Sam… [Read more…]

Profiling: Arthur French

I’ve had the pleasure of working with his wonderfully talented and extremely humble man in the past.  I was excited to see that he is finally receiving mainstream recognition for his mastery of the art of acting. Below is a piece that recently appeared in Playbill about this Harlem native and incredible stage actor Arthur… [Read more…]

Basketball Stars spread Holiday Cheer

Tomorrow morning in Harlem, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Hasan Adams of the New Jersey Nets plan to be among the basketball stars joining 1,000 volunteers to help feed more than 10,000 families throughout the city. Two dozen 53-foot-long containers will line 138th Street in a holiday program started in 2003 by… [Read more…]

Topping the Box Office

The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith and his son, Jaden debuted as the No. 1 movie with $27-million (U.S.). Pursuit of Happyness joins a long line of No. 1 openings for Smith, including the action tales Independence Day and I, Robot. You can see The Pursuit of Happyness at the AMC Magic Johnson 9… [Read more…]

Harlem Speaks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA Hall of Famer Thursday, December 21 6:30 pm | The Museum of the City of New York call 212-348-8300 to RSVP FREE Location for this event: The Museum of the City of New York, auditorium (in basement)5th Avenue between 103rd and 104th Street (Use side entrance on 104th just east of 5th… [Read more…]

A Landmark?

The automat at 104th Street was built in 1930, at the peak of Horn & Hardart’s popularity. Automats were the city’s first fast food joints, where customers slipped change into slots to get their meals. Their numbers reached into the 50s in the 1930s and 1940s, and the last one closed in 1991, said Marianne… [Read more…]

Food Pantries

Volunteer at a Food Pantry Food pantries are emergency feeding programs where emergency food is supplied in grocery bags for people to take home. Many pantries need help with carrying the food, putting together the pantry bags, and with distribution. If you are interested in helping at any of these programs, please contact Kristina Yawn… [Read more…]

Cookin’ Like it’s Golden

At a party in his Harlem apartment, chef Marcus Samuelsson and his co-host Thelma Golden, director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, are passing around cranberry caipirinhas. Two of their guests, the jazz pianist Jason Moran and the choreographer Bill T. Jones, are exchanging stories about life on the road. Both are touring with new… [Read more…]

Carpenters Union

Submitted by: Cinquez NYC CARPENTERS UNION APPRENTICESHIP ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS, Mon Jan 8,2007 From the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, New York District Council of Carpenters, United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America: www.nycdistrictcouncil.com HOW TO BECOME AN APPRENTICE CARPENTER, FLOORCOVERER, MILLWRIGHT, CABINETMAKER, DOCK BUILDER, TIMBERMAN OR RESIDENTIAL HOUSE FRAMING CARPENTER THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED… [Read more…]

Self-Publishing Symposium

New York, New York – The Second Annual Self-Publishing Symposium is set to be held at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture New York, New York – The Second Annual Self-Publishing Symposium is set to be held at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Harlem, New York on Sunday, March 25, 2007. Last… [Read more…]

Cement Masons Union

Submitted by Cinquez From United Cement Masons Union local 780, Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Union: Cement Masons’ Local 780 Joint Apprenticeship Training Program Applications for the Apprentice Program of Cement Masons’ Local 780 will be given out on December 18 and December 19, 2006 between the hours of 10 a.m. And 1 p.m.… [Read more…]

Miracle on 138th Street

Give your time on December 21st to families in need during the holiday season at this volunteer event, “Feeding 10,000-Miracle on 138th St.” This is an all day event we will be participating as a group from 4-8PM.In order to participate you must attend a mandatory meeting on Dec. 18th or 19th at The Abyssinian… [Read more…]

New Year’s Bowl

A Harlemite and Socialite Fight Mold Together

Legendary socialite Bianca Jagger and Harlem single mom Tangia Edwards found common ground on the steps of City Hall yesterday, describing how mold infested their homes and sickened them while landlords did little to help. “Mold is a dangerous threat, regardless of where one lives or how much rent one pays,” said Jagger, 60, who… [Read more…]

Recovery

  bar Originally uploaded by Margie & James.

St. Thomas Battle Continues

“It is ungodly, almost atheistic for the Catholic Church to be engaged in a real estate deal at the expense of what is considered by preservationists, members of the congregation, members of the community as a landmark, as a precious religious edifice that reflects the history of this community,” said State Senator-elect Bill Perkins. Source:… [Read more…]

Forces of Nature

Forces of Nature Dance Theatre (Forces) celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season in conjunction with the 40th celebration of the Institution of Kwanzaa. In honor of this monumental occasion the 25th Anniversary Committee presents the Forces of Nature Dance Theatre 25th Anniversary Gala and New York Season to be held at Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Inc.… [Read more…]

A Touch of Harlem

I’ve passed A Touch of Dee’s many times and tried to peek into the darkened interior but never been bold enough to venture in. This joint seems to jump, especially on the weekends as it fills with regulars who perch themselves atop bar stools. Here is a little glimpse inside from Joshua M. Bernstein’s view.… [Read more…]

Harlem Real Estate Hype in A Segregated City

New York Press published an article, “Black, White and Always Green,” that overviews the real estate market in New York in regards to people of color or the lack thereof. Below are some excerpts from the article. Feedback in reference to your personal experiences as it relates to renting or purchasing in the city is… [Read more…]

Big Brother is Watching You Harlem

The number of surveillance cameras in downtown Manhattan and Harlem has multiplied considerably, making it difficult to walk the streets without being watched. Source: NY Daily News  

Steeple Overlooks Harlem Again

A long-torn hole in Harlem’s skyline was mended today when the Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Lenox Avenue got its steeple back in full. Originally the Second Collegiate Church of Harlem, the Victorian Gothic building was designed by John Rochester Thomas and constructed in 1887. Ephesus has been there since 1930.   Source: NYTimes.com Photo… [Read more…]

HopeLine

One in four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. Domestic violence is the single largest cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States – more than muggings, car accidents, and rapes combined. Research shows that approximately 900,000 parents are beaten or abused by their children… [Read more…]

Monday Night Treats

I know, I know, it is almost Tuesday night and I am just now posting the events I shared last night on Sugatreats. And if you aren’t tuning into Sugatreats each Monday night then you are missing one of the best 4 hours of music and information on the airwaves. Listen live at 90.3 FM… [Read more…]

Profiling: Denzel Washington

Give me any excuse to post a picture of Denzel Washington and I will take full advantage of it. Mr. Washington has earned his way into history as not only one of the best black actors in our era but one of the best actors – period. He has been profiled in a new book… [Read more…]

Street Lit Edges A Place in the Mainstream

You see them all the time on 125th Street. Tables covered with books that have been dubbed “street lit.” The writers follow the tradition of authors like Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim who documented the culture of tough urban streets. Adding to the genre is a high school drop out who goes by the pen… [Read more…]

A.W.O.L Reception and Reading

Click on image to enlarge

New Years at The Den

Sunday Stroll: Lenox Avenue

I took a stroll down Lenox Avenue and was surprised by how quickly the boulevard is changing. By the time I got all the way down to the tip of Central Park I didn’t even recognize the area. The plaza in front of 111 CPN has become a skateboarders haven. Scores of multicultural teens performed… [Read more…]

Upscale Pampering for Uptown Men

B. Braxton 1400 Fifth Avenue, at 116th Street Harlem, New York 212-369-3094 www.bbraxton.com Quietly making an appearance in the area rapidly gentrifying on 116th Street in Harlem, B. Braxton Men’s Salon opened it’s doors last month adjacent to the trendy Asian inspired restaurant Ginger. The upscale parlor caught the attention of Harlem Fur way back… [Read more…]

Mighty Aphrodite

Harlem Fur was the first to sniff out the trail of Aprodite Cleaners as they extend farther uptown. Spotted on the corner of 148th and Frederick Douglas…another Aprodite on the way! Most likely to service the future tenants of The Langston and The Bradhurst. This is in spite of the fact that there are already… [Read more…]

Bargain Hunting

Originally uploaded by s L.

Healthy Harlem Bodegas

A startling survey found only 2 percent of central Harlem bodegas and 4 percent of East Harlem stores sold green veggies. And a majority don’t sell fruits.More than one in four residents in Harlem and north and central Brooklyn is obese, and one in seven has diabetes. As part of the campaign, bodegas in East… [Read more…]

Holiday Gift Giving in Harlem

This is a portion of a nice holiday story published in the Daily News: For the past three years, Carl Redding, owner of the Zagat-listed Amy Ruth’s restaurant, and Chrisena Coleman have collected thousands of toys, books and items of clothing. Together, they will wrap hundreds of gifts and make surprise deliveries to local children… [Read more…]

Commercializing the 125 Corridor

Following up on his article published in the New York Sun about the Three Harlems, Micheal Stoler continues his assessment of the real estate situation in Harlem with a piece titled, The Fourth Harlem. I extracted a few paragraphs from the article which looks at commercial real estate in Harlem. Stoler goes into detail about… [Read more…]

A Place to Call Home