Tag Archives: marcus samuelsson

Obscure Harlem Gems at AtlasObscura (#HarlemObscura)

Posted on May 28, 2014 by HarlemGuy | 2 Comments

AtlasObscura.com is “an online compendium of the world’s wonders. In addition to the website we regularly host unique lectures, behind the scenes tours and highly-stylized cocktail galas in unusual places with the hopes of encouraging exploration and discovery amongst our members while sharing these very special historic gems.”

Harlem is on their radar. For example:

There was a recent evening of “high-end historic” cocktails and jazz in the crypt of the Church of the Intercession of Harlem. The crypt has been described as an “eerie underground crypt” and is adjacent to the sprawling Trinity Cemetery.Attendees included Joining them were Loren Schoenberg from the National Jazz Museum and stride pianist Jesse Gelber and the Lucky Chops Brass Band.

Collyer Brothers Park is a small pocket park in Harlem, providing a temporary reprieve from the surrounding urban sprawl. But visitors taking a break on one of the park’s benches may be surprised to know that the park only exists because of (click here to read more…)

Sylvan Terrace, now a residential community and popular film set location, this property was originally part of the Morris-Jumel Mansion estate. The property was divided, and the Sylvan Terrace was built in 1882 by James E. Ray. The road between the 20 (click here to read more…)

If you have obscure Harlem gems you’d like to share tag them as #HarlemObscura and share them on our social media channels or as comments to this piece, and we will feature them.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in HarlemCondoLife, History

Tagged #HarlemObscura, @HarlemHCL, atlasobscura, Church of the Intercession of Harlem, Collyer Brothers Park, east harlem, Harlem, harlem blog, Harlem Blogger, Harlem Condo Life, HarlemBlogger, HarlemCondoLife.com, James E. Ray, jazz, Jesse Gelber and the Lucky Chops Brass Band, Loren Schoenberg, marcus samuelsson, Morris-Jumel Mansion, National Jazz Museum, New York, Sylvan Terrace, Urban sprawl, your gateway to harlem

A Benefit for The East Harlem Collapse – HARLEM HELPS

Posted on March 31, 2014 by harlemhouse | 25 Comments

Hosts: Marcus Samuelsson, David Lauren, Lise Evans, Bevy Smith, Tre’ness Woods-Black, Sidra Smith, Troy White and Karl Franz will all be at this special and important event “Harlem Helps.”

At 7 pm there will be a VIP Cocktail Hour – $350
At 8 pm General Admission will be – $175

Tickets are available on Ginny’s website.

Harlem Helps: A Benefit for the East Harlem Collapse
Wednesday, April 2nd 2014
7PM VIP Cocktail Hour
8PM General Admission

Following the tragic East Harlem explosion at 116th St. / Park Ave on the morning of March 12, 2014, we at Red Rooster Harlem and Ginny’s Supper Club are responding with assistance for our neighbors. We are hosting a fundraiser on the evening of Wednesday April 2 to aid these families and individuals in their hour of need.

Look forward to an evening of food, cocktails, A-List entertainment, and a celebration of the Harlem community. The American Red Cross Greater NY Region has established an East Harlem Fund that will be used to aid the families with daily necessities and resources for recovery. This fund will be the recipient of the proceeds raised.

Special Guests:
Chef Amanda Freitag
Chef Aaron Sanchez
Chef Jonathan Waxman
The Cast of the Broadway Musical Chicago
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem All Stars
Jazzmeia Horn

Ginny’s Supper Club
310 Lenox Avenue
New York, NY 10027
(212)421-3821

→ 25 Comments

Posted in Celebrity, Central Harlem, Community, Drink, Entertainment, Event, Harlem, HarlemCondoLife, Music, New York City, Restaurants

Tagged @HarlemHCL, American Red Cross, Benefit, Bevy Smith, Chef Aaron Sanchez, Chef Amanda Freitag, Chef Jonathan Waxman, community, David Lauren, east harlem, Ginny's Supper Club, Harlem, Harlem Condo Life, Harlem Helps, Harlem Restaurants, HarlemBlogger, HarlemBlogs, HarlemCondoLife.com, HCL, Jazzmeia Horn, Karl Franz Williams, Lise Evans, marcus samuelsson, new york city, Red Rooster Harlem, Sidra Smith, The Cast of the Broadway Musical Chicago, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem All Stars, Tre'ness Woods-Black, Troy White, your gateway to harlem

Quote: Is Harlem ‘Good’ Now? (Marcus Samuelsson)

Posted on February 17, 2014 by HarlemGuy | 13 Comments

“I travel all over the world for work and I am constantly asked to define Harlem. What’s it like, people ask. Is it cool? Is it safe? When I go to places like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to speak among celebrated thinkers and leaders, I’m often asked: Is Harlem good now? I always have to pause before answering. Good compared with what? To when? These questions all miss the mark. Is Harlem good now? That is a question loaded with long-held ideas about race and class, one that dismisses the complex, vital history of this neighborhood and its people, their contributions to civil rights and art, under one word: “bad.”

From the following op ed: http://nyti.ms/1fnop73

You can find books and more by and about Marcus and Harlem on HarlemCondoLife’s new and improved store located here.

→ 13 Comments

Posted in Community, HarlemCondoLife, Quote

Tagged 67 Orange, @HarlemHCL, A Touch of Dee, Aquavit, Bier Internationa, Cecil Hotel, crab man mike, Davos, Doug E.’s Fresh Chicken and Waffles., Harlem, Harlem Condo Life, HarlemCondoLife.com, Just Lorraine’s Place, Langston Hughes, Malcom X, marcus samuelsson, Melba Wilson, Melba's, mies davis, Miss Mamie’s Spoonbread Too, Paris Blues, Red Rooster, Showmans Jazz Club, Small’s Paradise, Sylvia's, The Apollo, The Cecil, The Grange, the Y, World Economic Forum, your gateway to harlem

The Park 112 in Harlem (Review)

Posted on January 6, 2014 by harlemhouse | 34 Comments

We recently visited The Park 112 for dinner on a Wednesday night in December. The Park is conveniently located on Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 112th Street (Harlem Restaurant Row) sandwiched in-beween 67 Orange and the 5 and Diamond Restaurants. Great atmosphere. Its large open multi optional space provides many different seating options. The attractive long raised center communal table sets the mood for potential large get togethers or a table for two sitting across from one another. There are two additional raised tables separate from the communal table near the back. Along the south wall comfortable leather banquettes run the full length of the place with 2 and 4 top seating. The opposite (north) wall is a long attractive bar scene that was festive and full of life when we arrived. We will definitely be back for drinks in the near future.

We arrived early and there were only a few tables but by 9 pm the restaurant was comfortably full. They have a great section in the way back that would be an ideal VIP area or place for a private party with high grand tufted leather banquettes (see photos of interior below).

The speciality cocktails are delicious. I recommend The Park 112 – sparkling wine, pavan orange blossom liqueur, crop meyer lemon vodka & pomegranate in a champagne flute glass. Also The Frederick Douglass – bullet bourbon, chili passion fruit puree, rimmed with chili sugar. WARNING it is hot! I enjoyed the extra heat but another person in my group found it too hot. They also have a Self-Serve Wine Machine. A unique exploration of respectable wines through self-service enomatic machines. This allows the patron to enjoy tastes, half glasses and full pours of a continually rotating list of favorite vintages. Definitely a unique concept and cool addition for Harlem restaurant row.

Lewis Tucker and Chef Kingsley John

We spoke extensively with owner Lewis Tucker and chef Kingsley John who were both enthusiastic and accommodating with information about the Park 112 finally opening. Lewis Tucker who has lived in Harlem, Westchester and the Bronx for years, was the president of Sean Combs Enterprises and he ran Bad Boy Records. Tucker’s list of credentials are too long to list and include being a co-founder of Essential Sports. No stranger to the scene, he explained he wanted to bring a downtown vibe uptown and literally picked this location and designed it with this purpose in mind. In addition to the large interior space, there will be an outdoor private patio in the back once the nice weather rolls around in late Spring. We saw the raw fenced in space and were surprised by how large it was. This has the potential to be very trendy for the summer months ahead and unique to this area. We have a lot of sidewalk seating now in the neighborhood for the summer months – Harlem Food Bar, Vinateria, Harlem Tavern, Harlem Shake, The Corner Social, Jado Sushi, etc., but no private outdoor patio options with the excepotion of Ricardos in East Harlem and one or two other spots.

The menu is multifaceted. Globally inspired small and large plates I would describe as American /Global Fusion/Caribbean with several options for every budget. We ordered before we met chef Kingsley John and after speaking with him we were all left wanting to come back to try recommendations that we hadn’t ordered. Chef John, a native of the West Indies, has worked in the kitchen under Marcus Samuelsson at Aquavit and is passionate about the small and large plates he has created. I’m not a big soup fan but was encouraged to try the carrot ginger soup. It was so good. We also enjoyed the duck lettuce wraps, lobster spring rolls, teriyaki lollipops and crispy prawns. Next time I’d like to try the smoked sea scallops and fried oysters which looked tasty at the table next to ours. The butterflied branzino with head on (large plate) was delicious! Priced at $28 but worth the coin. We also had the spiced crusted rack of lamb and the park 112 steak frittes rib eye. The fries with the steak were decoratively sculptured side by side forming a sort of circular cup-like design. A+ for presentation. There is something for everyone here on the menu. After speaking with Kingsley, we discussed our next visit and how we’d like to focus exclusively on all the Caribbean dishes.

Great desserts. I could have one of their chocolate mousses (pictured below) every day. We sampled several desserts together including the lava cake but I ultimatley stopped sharing the mousse and claimed it as mine. I need it again soon. They are now also open for Sunday Brunch. Visit their menu for all small plates, large plates and brunch items. Another great addition to the neighborhood. Stop in and check out the Park 112 for yourself.

* Large space
* Good bar scene
* American New/Global Fusion/Caribbean
* Downtown chic meets uptown vibe
* Private outdoor dining (Spring 2014)
* Great service
* Friendly atmosphere

The Park 112
2080 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
New York, NY 10026
(646) 524-6610