Monthly Archives: March 2010

Sylvia's: The Queen is King

Posted on March 31, 2010 by | 6 Comments

By HarlemGuy

I order in quite a bit.  And once I land a favorite it’s hard to turn away.  My new favorite is Sylvia’s. 

Simply stated their service and food is simply the best I have encountered anywhere, and certainly in Harlem.   From a service perspective they are courteous, prompt and professionals.  From a food perspective the prices and portions are great.  Most importantly, the food is absolutely D E L I C I O U S.  There’s a combination of spices in the fried chicken and the ribs that have me craving a dinner right now.

Check our other reviews. 

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Thank you for reading HarlemCondoLife.  Available everywhere including www.HarlemCondoLife.com, email subscription, rss reader, Facebook, Twitter,  iTunes and Podbean (podcast downloads and streaming).

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Sylvia’s: The Queen is King

Posted on March 31, 2010 by | 6 Comments

By HarlemGuy

I order in quite a bit.  And once I land a favorite it’s hard to turn away.  My new favorite is Sylvia’s. 

Simply stated their service and food is simply the best I have encountered anywhere, and certainly in Harlem.   From a service perspective they are courteous, prompt and professionals.  From a food perspective the prices and portions are great.  Most importantly, the food is absolutely D E L I C I O U S.  There’s a combination of spices in the fried chicken and the ribs that have me craving a dinner right now.

Check our other reviews. 

~

Thank you for reading HarlemCondoLife.  Available everywhere including www.HarlemCondoLife.com, email subscription, rss reader, Facebook, Twitter,  iTunes and Podbean (podcast downloads and streaming).

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Tonnie's Minis from Harlem now available at Bloomingdales

Posted on March 31, 2010 by | 5 Comments

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By HarlemGal

HarlemCondoLife

HarlemCondoLife

Did you know the cupcakes from Tonnie’s Minis located at 264 Lenox Avenue are now available at Bloomingdales? I learned this from this television report. That’s wonderful news for Tonnie and his fans. Fans and newcomers have two options to purchase cupcake treats. At Bloomies, you can get a California size cupcake or a mini, but if you can’t get to that gigantic department store for a delicious bite of a Tonnie’s Minis cupcake, don’t fret. The other options is to go to the boutique store in Harlem located at 123rd Street and Lenox Avenue.

I went there recently with a friend visiting from Africa. The place is so cute with a bright orange awning and it smells divine when you enter! The sweet smell exists due to the fact that the room is filled with so many cupcake options. If you want a grande cupcake with your choice of icing, no problem! They have it!

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If you want a pequeno size or two, go with the mini! Of course, when my friend and I went to Tonnie’s, out of all the cupcakes we could have purchased, we went with the red velvet mini cupcake. Yum! Why break with tradition…right? Eating red velvet anything (cake or cupcake) is a natural tendency when you live in Harlem. Want to partake in this tendency? Head on over to Tonnie’s Minis by foot or on the 2/3 subway line! You will enjoy the cupcake experience as well as a nice and spacious walk along Lenox Avenue!

Tonnie’s Minis
264 Lenox Avenue (123 ST )
Harlem, NY 10027
T: 212-831- 5292/5293

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Café Amrita: The Harlem Chameleon

Posted on March 31, 2010 by | 4 Comments

HarlemCondoLife

By Austin2Harlem

Café Amrita, located at 301 West 110th Street, can be almost anything you want it to be. In the morning, it’s a bright, airy spot for coffee, hot chocolate and a breakfast sandwich or toasted bagel. At lunch it’s a good place to grab a quick and delicious grilled Panini.  The roast beef and swiss Panini is my favorite along with chips. Hang out a little later in the evening as the lights are turned down and it transforms into the perfect neighborhood watering hole.

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If you show up before 8 p.m., you’ll be treated to happy hour specials including $4 draft beer and $5 wine. I generally order Samuel Adams on tap or Blue Moon. After happy hour ends, it’s just a buck more, so feel free to stick around and enjoy the game on the big screen TV or just chat with the friendly patrons and staff.  You can choose from the numerous small tables or grab a stool at the long wooden bar.

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No matter when you visit, you’ll find Café Amrita in Harlem to be a warm, relaxed, and a welcoming venue filled with tasty food and drinks at reasonable prices. Throw in the affable mix of Harlem locals, and it may just become your favorite place to spend an hour…or three. I know that for this recently transplanted Texan to Harlem, it’s a spot where you’ll often find me hanging my hat.

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Cafe Amrita
301 West 110th Street
New York, NY 10026
t: 212-222-0683
Open from 8 am to around midnight -1 am every day

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5 & Diamond: And the beat goes on….

Posted on March 30, 2010 by | Leave a comment

By HarlemGuy

Spotted in a recent edition of New York magazine was this review of the latest gem on Harlem’s hottest strip.

Read HarlemCondoLife’s (HCL) other reviews on 5 & Diamond and other local restaurants.  

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Easter Festival Is On! Saturday, April 3rd from 11am to 2pm!

Posted on March 30, 2010 by | Leave a comment

By HarlemGuy

Our friends at St. Nicholas Park are hosting their annual Easter Festival.  

Details below:

This year’s popular Easter Festival is schedule to take place at the 135th Street Plaza in St. Nicholas Park on Saturday, April 3rd from 11am to 2pm. Join the Friends as we usher in Spring with Easter egg decorating, an Easter egg hunt, arts and crafts, and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny! We need lots of help planning! If you would like to volunteer (especially to be the Easter Bunny) and help plan for this event please contact them. 

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Harlem's first beer garden expected to open in May? I don't think so!

Posted on March 26, 2010 by | 5 Comments

By HarlemGal
In my mind, there is no question that Frederick Douglass Blvd is fast becoming a hot spot to hang whether for drinks or dining out or both. Heck, I have been saying all along and I will say it again that FDB is destined to be dubbed restaurant row especially now since this well known Harlem avenue called 8th Ave is getting a beer garden at 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

On their website it states the beer garden will open early Spring. Hmm… Other reports say May. Below are pics taken of 2099 FDB today. Do you see any workers there? I think Bier International hired some ghosts to do construction work because I walk by this space practically every day and I have not seen any action-not a peep, not a sound coming from this space, which leads me to believe “we’re not getting any beer garden in May.” Maybe late June or July it will open, which will be nice to have. Don’t get me wrong. Drinking a brewski during those hot, humid summer days sounds delightful! I cannot wait! Harlemites will now have another option to throw back a few beers then head over to Slyvia’s for some good grub and then on to Harlem Lanes to bowl the night away!

Man-oh-man, I love Harlem and all that it offers! Have a great weekend!

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Sneak peak of Harlem's Just Wingin It

Posted on March 23, 2010 by | 4 Comments

By HarlemGal
In January, we told you how Construction Intervention, the Discovery Channel TV show, was at 2190 Frederick Douglass Blvd performing some construction magic on Harlem’s Just Wingin It! Well, the magic/makeover is finished! Here is a sneak peak at what the public will see when Construction Intervention debuts April 13, 2010 at 10 PM ET/PT April or May.

Check your local listings for exact air date and time of Construction Intervention!

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Bike Harlem – Renters Edition

Posted on March 20, 2010 by | 1 Comment

By HarlemGuy

As a quick followup to our last post on this subject, a kind reader has informed us that Modsquad RENTS BIKES!   So if you are not ready to buy one or get yours out of storage or from under that pile of “stuff” after a long winter, head to Modsquad Bike Shop. 

See you on the urban trails!

Thank you for reading HarlemCondoLife.  Available everywhere including www.HarlemCondoLife.com, email subscription, rss reader, Facebook, Twitter,  iTunes and Podbean (podcast downloads and streaming).

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Bike Harlem!

Posted on March 18, 2010 by | 3 Comments

By HarlemGuy

If your’e anything like me you love to  cycle.    Now’s a great time to get in touch with an important resource.  The Department of Transportation’s web site. 

I includes any and everything you need.  Including street scene live cams (Harlem based cams), maps, parking resources, even applications to request that commercial building owners let you park your bike on site!  Check this and more out at their site. 

Also remember that once a Summer NYC gives out free helmets – I got mine last year!  Looks stylish and offers great protection too.

Also perhaps most importantly, don’t forget that if you happen to be biking in Harlem please stop by the bikeshop Modsquad.

Thank you for reading HarlemCondoLife.  Available everywhere including www.HarlemCondoLife.com, email subscription, rss reader, Facebook, Twitter,  iTunes and Podbean (podcast downloads and streaming).

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Another lot bites the dust on FDB in Harlem

Posted on March 17, 2010 by | Leave a comment

By HarlemGuy

On my way to work this morning I saw a line of construction vehicles from 114 to 110 (Central Park) along Frederick Douglass Boulevard.    Destination: a formerly empty a few doors South from Zoma on “Restaurant Row“.

My favorite picture is the one of the cement trucks lined up from the lot all the way down FDB to the Park.

Frederick Douglass Boulevard remains on fire from a real estate and new construction perspective.

We look forward to watching, observing and participating in the progress.

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What a difference a day makes for Ryan Skeen's 5 & Diamond in Harlem

Posted on March 17, 2010 by | 6 Comments

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By HarlemGal
As that familiar saying goes, what a difference a day makes. I walked by 5 & Diamond, the latest addition to Harlem’s restaurant scene, Tuesday evening and the place looked completely different from Sunday night, which then looked a bit disheveled. The tables are now organized and set with glasses. The bar, or what looked like a bar, was being stocked and one of the investors was on site, i.e. Chef Ryan Skeen. He was there talking away on the phone in what appeared to be a telephone media interview. Clearly, they had some sort of PR push Tuesday cause there are several online articles about the place and the menu was released to NY Magazine.

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I inquired again about opening day.  The folks on site said they would not be ready to open on Wednesday, hopefully Thursday or Friday (March 18 or 19th)  at best. Either way, we all have another option for dining to choose from in Harlem and you can pretty much count on HCL to visit the place soon!

2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York 10026
(Btwn 112th & 113th St)
T: (646) 684-4662

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5 & Diamond is the new restaurant on Frederick Douglass Blvd

Posted on March 16, 2010 by | 5 Comments

By HarlemGal
We now know the name of the restaurant space we have been following for months! It is called 5 & Diamond located at 2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd. The chef will be Ryan Skeen.

From the pics below, workers have been working overtime and told us they are suppose to open tomorrow night, Wednesday. Yikes! Ahh…it appears they have a lot to do from these pics. Stay tune for more info!!!!

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Bead for life in Harlem anyone?

Posted on March 16, 2010 by | 3 Comments

By HarlemGuy

As I rode the subway to work this morning reading the Times on my iPhone, I came across an article about an organization called Beadforlife.   It helps poor Ugandan women leverage their beading skills to rise out of poverty. 

The history behind the organization is fascinating.  But what really got my attention was the organization’s innovative pairing of two traditions to create something truly transformational:  African beads and the American Tupperware party.  They call it a “bead party” (read more about them – and how to throw one).

That got me thinking.  Has anyone in Harlem ever heard of this organization?  Hosted a beadparty?  Or be interested in hosting one?   What impact has such a party had on residents of Harlem and their families wherever they may live?   What can we learn about being equally innovative in exploring sustainable ways to continually meet the persistent needs of our community more directly??

We would love to hear from you on any of the above, and to be part of the story. 

Thank you for reading HarlemCondoLife.  Available everywhere including www.HarlemCondoLife.com, email subscription, rss reader, Facebook, Twitter,  iTunes and Podbean (podcast downloads and streaming).

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WATCH: How to make it in Harlem

Posted on March 15, 2010 by | Leave a comment

By HarlemGal
I believe we can all agree there are a lot of video parodies and spinoffs out in cyberspace about popular TV shows or films, and some of those ideas take off and become contagious-if they are presented in a timely and creative manner. Here is one video trailer that embodies those qualities-and “is divine.” The video trailer How to make it in Harlem appears to be some sort of spinoff of HBO’s How to make it in America. I don’t know a thing about the artist rapping in this video  and I can’t say that it is going to make me go out and buy their album. However, what I can say is I really like this video and it did get me to stop, pay attention and post. That’s some powerful stuff given this artist is entirely unknown to me…until now.

I just want to give the folks behind this video some serious props! I think this video is packaged perfectly. They created a darn good video featuring major buildings, people, monuments, and intersections that identify every beautiful inch of Harlem. And the timing in releasing this video couldn’t be better since HBO’s How to make it in America is airing right now, which I have not seen and will more than likely now check it out.

What do you think of this video trailer? Do you like it or not?

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