Artist Spotlight: Trina Slade-Burks

The Harlem Renaissance was an era where artists (often from other parts of the country) convened in Harlem to create and showcase their art. The  residual effects of that by-gone era continue to have a significant impact on aspiring and professional artists everywhere. One such artist is Trina Slade-Burks. Born in Harlem Hospital and raised… [Read more…]

Guest blog: Harlem Needs Love Too

By Ebony Reid As a young professional living the New York City dream, dating has always been one of the best aspects of living in the city. You meet new people, go to swanky restaurants, and dress to impress. The ultimate goal is to have fun while getting to know the other person. When looking… [Read more…]

End of Summer Festivals and Fairs in Harlem

By: D. Bell for Uptownflavor.com As summer comes to a damp muggy close Harlemites are looking for ways to squeeze the last bit of fun out of their systems before the air turns crisp and the leafs change colors. Here are few festivals to remind you that it is still officially summer until September 22nd.… [Read more…]

Harlem is the new Black

N’s new Lenox Avenue store won’t be opening until fall, but  that doesn’t mean that you can’t get new items now! Check out N’s new preview t-shirt collection for both men and women. The sexy signature tee is $20 (tax free!) and the first 50 people to order online will get free shipping! Log on… [Read more…]

Free Tours of Saint Nicholas Park

St. Nicholas Park’s gardener Jennifer Brull will be leading a tour of the Park’s current capital and planting projects Thursday, August 27th at 12pm. Tour will begin at the 135th Street Plaza. A special free tour of St. Nicholas Park given by a Park Ranger from the NYC Urban Park Rangers will take place on… [Read more…]

Photo of the week: Buswash

buswash, originally uploaded by jphillipobrien2006.

Now Open: Questan’s

While I haven’t been down on ‘the row’ to try out the seafood offerings of the new Harlem restaurant Questan’s, word has trickled our way that they are now open for business. Have you been?  How was it?  Read reviews of  Questan’s below: Eating in Translation Harlem Foodie

Sleeping Beauty Puppet Show

Saving La Pregunta Arts Cafe

One of the most eclectic and artistic places in Harlem is La Pregunta Arts Cafe. Located across from City College on Amsterdam Avenue, it is a wonderful space that has opened its doors to poets, filmmakers, visual and performing artists from day one. Unfortunately they are now in need of community support. A collective has… [Read more…]

Harlem Still has Uptown Flavor

Harper’s Bazaar offers a fashion layout in its September issue titled, “Fashion…And all that jazz.” Supermodel Chanel Iman and Arlenis Sosa are dolled up in designs by Dolce & Gabbana, Balenciaga and MaxMara and framed against popular sites in Harlem.  The photos were shot by Peter Lindbergh and inspired by the uber-stylish period of the… [Read more…]

New Supermarket Coming to Harlem

There has been some speculation floating around the Internets about the prospect of a new supermarket coming to the long vacant retail space in SoHa 118. An uptown real estate insider has confirmed that Best Yet, a local supermarket chain, has signed a lease for that location.  So far no mention of the new store… [Read more…]

Prince Hall Grand Lodge hosts Economic Stimulus Raffle

The Universal Square Club of Boyer Lodge #1 of Free & Accepted Masons presents its first annual Economic Stimulus Raffle. The raffle will assist in funding the lodge’s youth development and community outreach programs including Camp Eureka in Roscoe, NY. The camp, owned by the Prince Hall Masons of New York State and managed by… [Read more…]

What Ever Happened to Charles Hamilton?

Harlem rapper Charles Hamilton (cousin to rapper MC Lyte) was on the rise last year with his signature nasal monotone rap style and off the cuff lyrics.  After a series of unfortunate social media missteps Charles has virtually vanished from the web-o-spheres. The Village Voice gives us the lowdown the downward spiral of Charles Hamilton.… [Read more…]

Third Annual 135th Street Agency Harlem BBQ and Fish Fry

Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run and NYC Family Health Walk-A-Thon

Tools of War: Digger’s Delight – Last Weekend

Afro-Latin Grooves at SMH

Uptown Fridays: “Afro-Latin Style” with Geko Jones & Ethegy Friday, August 21, 7 pm (Rain date: August 28th) Join us as for an “Afro-Latin edition” of Uptown Fridays! Dance to the worldly beats of Global Ghetto Technician, Geko Jones, along with a warm-up by up Eclectic Technician Ethegy. Experience this high-energy party flow into paint… [Read more…]

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Puppet Show: Sleeping Beauty

One of the only traveling puppet theaters in the country, the PuppetMobile brings performances of Sleeping Beauty, along with puppet-making workshops, to all corners of the city, free of charge. Recommended ages 2-8. FREE! St. Nicholas Park, Wed, Aug 26 at 7 PM

17th Annual Jazz at the Mansion

The ever gracious Harlem jewel, Marjorie Eliot, will be hosting her 17th Annual Jazz at the Mansion concert at the historic Morris Jumel Mansion on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009. Enjoy a free tour of the mansion and live Jazz on the lawn from 2:00-6:00 PM.  The mansion is located at 65 Jumel Terrace between 160th… [Read more…]

East Harlem Arts Festival

Silence: In Search of Black Female Sexuality

Back By Popular Demand! The post show discussions were hot, and people wanted to come back and bring their boyfriends, girlfriends, mothers, sisters, and daughters. So, we’re back for one more special engagement of Mya Baker’s “Silence: In Search of Black Female Sexuality in America.” Silence: In Search of Black Female Sexuality in America” by… [Read more…]

Art for Change presents Hacia Afuera

ART FOR CHANGE presents HACIA AFUERA: Taking Back Our Streets Through the Arts! August 22 & 23 (Sat-Sun), 12-5pm 104 St & Lexington Ave FREE Outdoor Art & Music Festival (rain or shine) Art for Change presents Hacia Afuera, a weekend-long festival celebrating food, music, performance, and public art. The festival will take place in… [Read more…]

Narmer’s Newsstand

Harlem Business Owner Fires on 4 Robbers, Killing 2, Police Say [CR] Where to Eat, Shop and Play in Harlem [CR] State audit finds inmates collected nearly $30,000 in unemployment checks while in the slammer [DN] What a doll! Bebe Gloton, a breast-feeding toy for children, makes sucking noises as it ‘feeds’ [DN] It’s official:… [Read more…]

The Zagat Guide to Harlem

President Clinton announced today Zagat Survey’s first-ever Spotlight on Harlem neighborhood guide, a partnership between the Clinton Foundation’s Economic Opportunity Initiative and Zagat Survey, as the annual Harlem Week celebration gets underway. The guide highlights 323 of Harlem’s restaurants, nightspots, shops, and attractions with ratings and reviews that are based on the collective opinions of… [Read more…]

Summer Break

It’s that time of year again. Uptownflavor will be on vacation from Aug. 15th through Sept. 15th. If there is a major breaking news event that happens during our long overdue and well deserved break, we may have a special post up. If you would like to be a guest blogger during our break shoot… [Read more…]

Back to School Book Contest

The end of summer is nigh upon us and soon the kidlets will be spiffed up and heading back to school. We want to help our readers celebrate our shared love of reading with a special giveaway of 5 thought-provoking books that parents will love reading. Send your entry to: uptownflavorcontest @ gmail.com Contest is… [Read more…]

Narmer’s Newsstand

Eat Too Much Sugar? Blame Your Ethnicity [REDORBIT] The pursuit of riches at any cost is killing young black men [GUARDIAN] Marriage, family on the decline for highly educated black women [EUREKALERT] Nostalgic Trip Home for a Hip-Hop Icon [NYT] In Desegregation Pact, Westchester Agrees to Add Affordable Housing[NYT] Bloomberg Plans to Stop Promoting Low-Performing… [Read more…]

Cinema Under the Stars

Cinema Under the Stars Wednesday, August 12: St. Nicholas Park, Harlem Film: Sex, Okra and Salted Butter @ African Night Preceded by Live Performance: Ismael Kouyate and Musicians Starting @ 7:30 PM Saturday, August 15: Great Hill, Central Park, Harlem Film: Kirikou and the Sorceress @ African Diaspora Celebration Preceded by Live Performance: Mouminatou Camara… [Read more…]

Harlem Day Schedule

Sunday, August 16th, 2009 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM W. 135th St. (Between Fifth and St. Nicholas Aves.) Free to the general public Part I: 3 Main Stages: 12 Noon – 7:00 PM 1. St. Nicholas Stage – R & B / Hip Hop/Reggae Theme: “KISSing After Dark” W. 135th St. (Between Frederick Douglass Blvd.… [Read more…]

Brown Baggin’ It with Hope Kidz

End of Summer Events at El Museo

This Summer at El Museo… Afternoons at ‘El Rufo’: Para Gente Con Clase: Nacotheque and Guests Saturday, August 15 4pm–7pm Beyond salsa and rancheras, Nacoteque is underground indie rock, nostalgia pop, ska, cumbias, and electro, all in one, plus much more. Jumping in will be DJs Marcelo Cunning and Amylu Meneses that will have you… [Read more…]

Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run

The Bachata Roja Legends Free Outdoor Concert

Harlem Stage presents “The Bachata Roja Legends” – a free outdoor music and dance concert featuring traditional and contemporary Dominican bachata music, played by some of the genre’s legendary artists, in honor of Dominican Restoration Day. Local Latin music group Zon Del Barrio also performs, a variety of items will be raffled off, and DJ… [Read more…]

Summer Streets

This weekend starts Summer Streets (not to be confused with Play Streets.)  Major thoroughfares will be closed to traffic and open to pedestrian friendly activities. Here is more about Summer Streets. Summer Streets will take place for three consecutive Saturdays in August (August 8, 15, 22) from 7:00 am – 1:00 pm. The route will… [Read more…]

Narmer’s Newsstand

MTA, NYC Transit looking for smooth voices to make announcements [DN] High school students cash in on challenging tests [NYP] Black Look in Beauty [TIME] Credit Card Fee Watch: Now There’s a Fee For NOT Buying Stuff[TIME] Fun, Free Things to Do in NYC[LINK] This Week’s Latin Events, Aug. 5-11 [DN] U.S. to Reform Policy… [Read more…]

Summer Dinner Discussion Groups

Summer Dinner Discussion Group Through Thursday, August 6 Presented by Metro Hope Church Join us on Thursday evenings @ 6:30PM, as we support  local businesses and discuss over dinner the intersection of faith with music, justice and film. Place: The Kiosk 116th Street between Madison & Park Avenue. Contact us at info@metrohopenyc.org

Applebee’s Expansion into Harlem

Today Crain’s had an article about the rapid expansion of Applebee’s during the economic downturn. The article mentions the opening of two new restaurants in the Bronx (including the Atlantic Terminal location) as well as the issues that delayed the new Harlem location.

Harlem Week Health Fair and Expo

New York City Health Fair & Expo W. 135th St. (Btwn. Malcolm X & A.C. Powell, Jr. Blvds.) Sunday, August 16th 11:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M. FREE The two-day outdoor affair takes place on Saturday, August 15th and Sunday August 16th. Health care professionals will conduct free tests and screenings to detect and treat disorders… [Read more…]

The Scoop: The Morning Glory Edition

Hamilton Heights house featured as House of the Week [NYP] Astor Row featured in the New York Times [NYT] Life on the block: Photo essay of E. 103 [NYT] ‘Go away drummer boy,’ yell the Villagers [TV] Sotomayer’s success stirs pride in Puerto Ricans [NYT] Sotomayer watches Senate vote from New York City Courthouse [ND]… [Read more…]