Backyard Life: Blessed in Harlem

On West 120th Street in Harlem, Mark Pinn finds mowing his lawn to be less a chore than a respite from the grind of city life. “It’s a little therapeutic,” Mr. Pinn said. “I get out there and do my thing.” Mr. Pinn and his wife, Katrina Parris, have a 16-by-18-foot plot of lovingly tended… [Read more…]

The Scoop: Summer Wrap Up Edition

Photo by forota/flickr Savoring Summer at the Harlem Meer [NYS] Barack’s speech is life of the party in Harlem [NYDN] As DNC wraps up McCain announces surprising running mate [LADN] Doctors replace Wall Street buyers at Harlem’s Observatory [NYS] Manhattan Real Estate Bubble is drifting away [NYS]

Reviving the lost game of skully

Kevin Davis respects the streets of New York. The former semi-pro football star pays homage to local Uptown neighborhoods with his own personal campaign to bring skully, one of New York’s great 1930s street games, back from the dead. Played with bottle caps on the street with a chalk-drawn field, skully’s return has been met… [Read more…]

Narmer’s Newstand

Planning Commission Approves E. Harlem Rezoning [NYS] Parents slam “K” kid testing[NYP] SEC May Allow Firms To Use International Accounting Rules [NYS] City Gives Out Free Blood Pressure Machines [NYS] Putin Says Bush Started Georgia Conflict to Help McCain[NEWSONE] Harvard Police Under Investigation fo Racial Profiling [NEWSONE] Scratchoff lotto tickets hit $30 a pop![NYDN] Jewish… [Read more…]

New Benches Along Broadway Are Unveiled

Librado Romero/The New York Times Benches along the Broadway malls are being torn up to make way for redesigned seating to the dismay of some residents. ONE way to pass a long summer afternoon would be to stroll the length of Broadway from 60th to 168th Streets, and note that the wood and iron benches… [Read more…]

The Curious World of the Last Stop

Richard Perry/The New York Times Outside the end of the L train in Canarsie, Brooklyn. At the end of the line, the subway creaks to a stop a few yards short of the yellow crash bumper. A few stragglers, or a lurch of homebound commuters, head for the street. Train cleaners wielding worn-sided corn brooms… [Read more…]

The Scoop: A Week of Harlem in One Day

Charlie Parker jazz festival, Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem, USA, by j-No. Cool Jazz in Harlem [NYS] Afternoon Shooting leaves Harlem Rattled [CBS] Two Jersey Women caught in crossfire [NYDN] and Yojimbot got shots of the scene [Gothamist] Riverton: Default Talk and Frayed Nerves [NYT] Fear of Defaults [NYT] Ever wonder about those country homes on… [Read more…]

Narmer’s Newstand

New Yorkers Claim Mistreatment at Hands of Chinese [NYS] Hospital Woes Are Worse In N.Y. Than Rest of U.S. [NYS] Son of Nazi ‘Dr. Death’ wants dad declared dead to donate money [NYDN] Rambunctious Clinton loyalists make anti-war protestors look sober, savvy [NYDN] A Plan to Test the City’s Youngest Pupils [NYT] Mayor: Can’t recall… [Read more…]

Harlem ♥ Obama

Last year I wrote about an entrepreneur I met through Mind, Body N Socials by the name of Michelle Cruz. Michelle had plans to open a cafe in East Harlem called the East Harlem Cafe. Over the past year, Michelle has been working diligently to get the cafe open despite issues with contractors and all… [Read more…]

Apartment Price Chop

From time to time I search for apartment listings in the area.  Much of what is available is still frustratingly out of reach.  Via Streeteasy.com I saw that this HDFC unit came down $20K in price to a seemingly reasonable $269K.  I’ve seen units in the building before and the renovations are decent,  but the… [Read more…]

More on 125th

While the 125th Street Rezoning covered much of 125th street, another section of Harlem’s Main Street is set to be rezoned in the coming months.  The City Planning Commission has approved plans for a 1.7 million sqft. mixed-use development on the eastern end of 125th Street between Second and Third Avenues.  Keep in mind that… [Read more…]

Fading Businesses in ‘New’ Harlem

Harlem blogger Nicole Moore from UptownLife.Net talks about different black-owned businesses (new and old) that have closed their doors or are rumored to be closing soon: “Last week as I walked around the hood I started noticing something a tad bit disturbing– the closing of many new businesses. In spite of Harlem’s much hyped real… [Read more…]

The Scoop: ‘Summer’s Almost Done’ Edition

A sociology professor and demographic analyst looks at the changing trends in the African-American population in Harlem. [Gotham Gazette] Plans for Major Leage Baseball’s TV channel to become the anchor tenant in the planned Harlem Park building seem to be falling apart. [NYTimes] Mayor Bloomberg celebrates the opening of a bike & pedestrian path along… [Read more…]

Narmer’s Newstand

Residents of housing projects rip safety, lack of repair of elevators [NYDN] Prices Soar for Drugstore Essentials [NYP] Cops hiding GPS on suspects cars [NYP] ‘Safe pick for ticket leaves woman scorned [NYP] As Food Costs Rise, So Do School Lunch Prices [NYT] Legal Challenges Likely in Term Limits Fight [NYS] Source: Michael Strahan would… [Read more…]

blogging and bearing witness to History at the DNC

  Professor Jelani Cobb is live and uncut at the Democratic National Convention this week. In addition to being a Delegate for the state of Georgia, Cobb is also blogging for The Root. In his latest post, “Joy and Pain in Denver,” he writes: Almost from the outset of his campaign Barack Obama has inspired… [Read more…]

Summer Heat Mondays

MOBAY’S CUISINE IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW EVER NIGHT, Bhttp://www.mobayrestaurant.com/ For Baton Rouge new

Betty Blayton: 40 Years of Selected Works

Narmer’s Newstand

New Guidelines Would Give F.B.I. Broader Powers [NYT] City Officials Point to Increase in Food Stamp Theft [NYS] School Bus Operators Set Fight Over Special Ed Routes [NYS] Retire, post office asks workers [NYDN] Hallmark launches line of gay marriage greeting cards [NYDN] Thousands Later, He Sees Lottery’s Cruelty Up Close [NYT] Scientists’ quake-up call… [Read more…]

Friday Freestyle Flavor: Random Ramblings About Real Estate

When I moved to Harlem, the deals to be found in the area were some of the best kept secrets in New York. Slowly the secret leaked out and before I knew what happened Harlem was caught up in the midst of what is virtually a real estate tug-o-war. Now, nine times out of ten… [Read more…]

Arts and Opportunies in Upper Manhattan

Ay Ombe Theatre Intensive Workshop September 13 & 14 (Saturday 9am-2pm, Sunday 9am-12pm) Exploring Ay Ombe Theatre’s physical training, creating physical material/actions, and more. All levels. Presented in English and Spanish. Imparted by Josefina Baez (Dominican-york writer, performance theatre artist and director of Ay Ombe Theatre). Explorando las técnicas físicas de Ay Ombe Theatre, creando… [Read more…]

NYC Transit Weekend Advisories

2 Uptown 2 trains skip 79 and 86 Sts Aug 23 – 25, 12:01 AM Sat to 5 AM Mon Free shuttle buses replace 2 trains between 241 and East 180 Sts Aug 23 – 25, 12:01 AM Sat to 5 AM Mon For more information click on the mta.info link in this e-mail, pick… [Read more…]

The Scoop: What’s Buzzin’?

Zagat Buzz wonders, what ever happened to Harlem’s Fatburger and Doug E’s Chicken-n-Waffles? [ZagatBuzz] Sharon Quinn, Harlem’s Runway Diva, bids a sad adieu to some of her favorite Harlem Eateries [Sharon Quinn] Marcus Garvey Bandshell Gets a Facelift [WNBC] Tenants on Riverside Drive Sue Landlord for Repairs [Sun] New York Traffic Ticket Prices Going Up,… [Read more…]

Harlem in Vogue: A Tribute to The Speakeasy

Jazz at the Mansion ’08

Once again, it is the time of year when you can kick back on the lawn the of the lovely Morris-Jumel Mansion to listen to live jazz music while the gentle Manhattan breezes lull you into a rare state of serenity. In my humble opinion, the annual Jazz at the Mansion is the most elegant… [Read more…]

The Real Red Herring

Occasionally our blog posts will be pulled by other blogs or news agencies. In this case, Runnin’ Scared, the 9news blog of the Village Voice, got hold of one of our posts: In May, Runnin’ Scared reported a protest over the City Council’s rezoning plans for 125th Street. One protestor told us, “The renovation of Marcus Garvey… [Read more…]

Twelfth Night Through the 24th

Harlem Entrepreneur Feature

Columbia Magazine featured Harlem Lanes‘ Sharon Joseph in their summer issue.  Joseph is a Harlem native and Columbia Business alum; the article delves into the challenges and opportunities she faced in creating what has become one of Harlem’s hot spots. “Observing the commerce on Harlem’s shopping strip, Joseph saw an opportunity not only to capitalize… [Read more…]

Million $1 Give

Photo of the Day: Rainbow Over Harlem

By jphillipobrien2006.

The Scoop: Uptown and Sometimes Down Edition

Our bud Chris over at Harlem Fur does a photo round up of local businesses vs. chains [HF] Harlem World reports that the elegant Harlem Tea Room will be shuttering their doors at the end of next month [HW] Author of Carlito’s Way Chronicles El Barrio [CR] Summer camp that lets foster children be siblings… [Read more…]

Outdoor Movie Night: I Am Legend

FREE MOVIE NIGHT @ Children’s Aid Society on 101st and Lexington “I Am Legend” Starring Will Smith Friday Aug. 22nd Doors Open 7 pm Movie 8:30 pm

Harlem Gives Back

Our good friends over at Black Gives Back always keep us in the know about philanthropy and good will rarely covered in the mainstream media. B.G.B. recently told us about a New York based program called Young Faces Smiling that offers real world, practical lessons to students.  They have partnered up with record producer Dame… [Read more…]

Renovations to the Marcus Garvey Bandshell

Those of you who have been taking advantage of the free concerts around the neighborhood have personally seen what a beautiful job the city did of renovating the bandshell at Jackie Robinson Park.  Now it is Marcus Garvey’s turn.  See the letter below about the announcement to be given by Mayor Bloomberg. Dear Friend, I… [Read more…]

Jazz in Jackie Robinson Park

Saturday, August 23, 2008 Jazz in the Parks 6:30pm Location: Jackie Robinson Park, Bradhurst and Edgecomb Avenues, from West 145th Street to West 155th Street | get directions FREE | 212-348-8300 Come and tap your feet, or get up and swing as a couple or with friends. This festive occasion of Jazz in the Parks… [Read more…]

bookmark: Palace Council’s Stephen Carter @ Hue-Man Bookstore

Mystery and Murder Set in Harlem  Stephen Carter’s latest novel, Palace Council immerses readers in the world of Harlem’s elite circa the 1950s: “The Garland family appeared in Carter’s first novel, “The Emperor of Ocean Park,” and in this new one its members help anchor his depiction of various Harlem hierarchies, both social (presided over by… [Read more…]

Narmer’s Newstand

18 New Charter Schools to Open in September, Bloomberg Announces [NYT] A New Web Site Makes State Salaries Public [NYS] ‘Harassment’ Weighed as Battle Of Tenants, Landlords Heats Up [ NYS] Two cops are charged in Bronx pistol-whip [NYDN] Backers of Mayoral Control See a Tough Education Fight [ NYS ] Child, Animal Abuse Linked… [Read more…]

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival ’08

Mujer: Dominicana en NY

Feeling the Crunch!

Whether you believe we’re in a “mental” recession or not you cannot deny prices for everything have gone up. My first wake-up call occurred when they removed double cheeseburgers from the Dollar Menu at McDonald’s on 139th and 7th Ave. Then I was being charged 50 cents to get some “Mac” sauce on my Quarter-Pounder.… [Read more…]

The Scoop: Harlemite Edition

Ed. note:  Just a reminder that we are still in summer slowdown mode so the posts will dwindle down over the next couple of weeks.  Thanks for your continued support. Harlem Day Wrap up [KUWTH] Famed children’s author Walter Dean Myers, Bad Boy Makes Good [NPR] Dorothy West’s house proud in Martha’s Vineyard [NYT] Harlem’s… [Read more…]