This six-week old Burmese Mountain Dog looks and acts just like a giant stuffed animal. A word of caution to anyone who meets Uller on the street- any time spent in his presence will make you want one.

Posted by Chris at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

What could be better than a huge pile of new wood chips for the St. Nicholas Park dog run? Lets try a new permanent entrance.

Contract work will begin soon to install the new permanent entrance to the run. To make way for the improvements, the Friends of St. Nicholas Park need your help this Saturday, March 3rd from 11am to 4pm to move the wood chips.

Tools, water and coffee are on the house. Bringing gloves is recommended.

For more information, or to answer your questions, check out the Friends of St. Nicholas Park blog.

Posted by Chris at 11:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As of early Sunday evening, the NYPD is readying Sky Watch on the Southeast corner of Frederick Douglass Circle to, we presume, watch over Saurin Parke Cafe's allotment of H&H bagels. I mean, it had been used to protect Dunkin' Donuts.

The surveillance device, best known to Curbed readers as the "Tower of Fun," is just inside Central Park at Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 110th Street. The location provides a clear line of sight across the traffic circle to Harlem's new premium bagel vendor.

Also, I suppose, it may have a traffic calming effect around the circle. Despite the traffic circle itself supposedly being what would calm traffic on Central Park's Northwest corner, I have noticed a lot of horn blaring and brash taxi maneuvering since it went in.

· Harlem Tower of Fun Now Protecting Donuts [Curbed]
· Bagel in Harlem Leaves, H&H Bagels Appear In Harlem [Harlem Fur]

Posted by Chris at 09:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm a huge fan of odd-ball projects like this.

Curbed today highlights Graceline Court, the development going up immediately west of of the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque No. 7 on Lenox and 116th Street.

The most obvious curiosity is that about a third of floors 6 through 16 are cantilevered over the mosque below. A second curiosity, pointed out in Curbed's comments section, is the building's ability to go beyond three dimensional physical imitations. Look closely at the rendering and you will see that Graceline's facade creates an event where it is simultaneously on the same plane as the mosque's facade, and extending far beyond it.

Look for brokers to exaggerate the square footage of the event horizon.

And look for more Graceline info from Curbed; they hinted of more to come...

· Behold the Graceline Court, Harlem's Amazing Cantilever [Curbed]
· UES Getting in on the Cantilever Fun? [Curbed]

Posted by Chris at 11:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was fearing that Harlem's days as the movie set of choice were over. But filming of the new Franc. Reyes' movie was there on 5th Avenue at 127th Street tonight to calm my panic.

Reyes' new movie, "The Ministers," is the story of an NYPD detective who attempts to avenge the death of her father, but unwittingly becomes involved with one of his killers.

The movie stars ER's John Leguizamo, Manny Perez and Wanda De Jesus (who are also in Reyes' Harlem-shot "Illegal Tender" due out this year) and Harvey Keitel.

Posted by Chris at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Winston is a two year old Harlem French Bulldog who likes to step out dressed in black. Although he was making a solo run when I met him, he has three siblings at home to keep him company.

Posted by Chris at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Non-bank, non-drug store retail Wynn Optics is now open in the Normandie's last vacant storefront space on Lenox and 119th Street.

Given the rate at which they are popping up, I am actually kind of surprised that a newer Aphrodite Cleaners did not open next to the new-ish Aphrodite already in the building.

And for those leaving Wynn who can now see down the block, Halstead has it's new awnings up.

Posted by Chris at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chupe is a beautiful, gentle pooch Cheryl and I ran into outside Karrot on 117th. He has a striking coat of reddish and chocolate colors. His human, who adopted him five years ago from a shelter, said he is probably a mix of Rottweiler and Mastiff.

Posted by Chris at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's one of those classic tales of missed connections in New York.

A Jewish girl from Indiana navigates the maze of New York real estate and finds herself living in Harlem, searching for a bagel. She holds steady in her quest, even after being groped. But one day she is knocked to the ground by a drunk man wielding a bag of cans. She decides it is time to let the quest go. And peeking out from her shadow as it recedes down the street are H&H bagels, now being served at Saurin Parke Cafe on 110th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

When the campaign was over this month, I was surprised to read that Bagel in Harlem had moved, despite her propensity for doing so. I was also surprised to learn that Rob Freeman had sold Saurin Parke.

While some of the changes under the new owners are welcome, such as H&H Bagels, one change seems to have had a noticeable negative impact. Although there is still free WiFi for patrons, the new management is no longer offering free electricity, and the outlets are covered up.

When I stopped by recently, expecting there to be the normal crowd of people on laptops, only three customers total were in the place.

Thankfully, unlike the search for dough with a hole in Harlem, the search for free WiFi with an outlet is much easier. A sampling of hot spots with electricity on Frederick Douglass Boulevard alone includes:

Society Coffee at FDB and 114th
· Society Coffee Celebrating Its One Year Anniversary Next Month [Harlem Fur]

Tribal Spears Gallery and Cafe at FDB and 117th
· Tribal Spears Gallery and Cafe [Official Site]

Patisserie des Ambassades at FDB and 119th
· Culinary Plenipotentiaries: Patisserie Des Ambassades [Harlem Fur]
· Patisserie des Ambassades [Official Site]

Posted by Chris at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Contributed by Neha Singh Gohil.

For the old Dwyer Warehouse, the third time is certainly the charm. After two serious accidents and decades of abandonment, this historic Harlem structure is finally on its way to becoming a vital part of the area's community and economy once again. Developer John Cross is renovating the Dwyer into a residential loft condominium complex, complete with 6,100 square feet of commercial space and a basement devoted to public theatre and cultural events, according to his broker, Denice Johns. And the best part? In a time of reportedly widespread upset about the gentrification of Harlem, Cross' development appears to have hit the mark for contextual progress in this culturally rich, historically African American neighborhood. Yasmine Cornelius, District Manager and a Harlem native, calls the building "a great fit" for the community.

Built in 1890 at a reported cost of $40,000, the original building at 258 St. Nicholas Ave. was a storage warehouse owned by the O'Reilly family. Designed by architect Cornelius O'Reilly himself, the warehouse dominated the landscape of West Harlem, establishing what the Landmarks Preservation Commission referred to as "a prominent visual terminus on the vista" in a 1980's survey of Harlem's historical sites. The New York Times later reported that the O' Reilly family sold the building in 1959, once the Dwyer company was using it as a furniture warehouse. After the sale, the building reportedly fell into disuse, ultimately reverting to the City of New York for taxes.

Photos taken before its demolition portray the nine-story building in all its glory - staggered walls of yellow stone with red and orange brick surrounds setting off the doorways and parts of the roof. A sharp angled bay window on the street corner rose over the building to a turret. Aaron Donovan, of New York transportation blog Startsandfits.com, described the building as a reminder of "a time, before the automobile made buildings things to be whizzed passed at 40 miles per hour, that people cared enough about the places where they lived to decorate them so lovingly." But the same photos also show a rusty metal frame rising from where the roof once stood, and cinder blocks covering the now broken windows. By the early 1980s, the warehouse had been neglected for years, making it dangerous for families in the neighborhood.

The developers intend for the modern complex to be "an exhilarating reinvention of the original," as described in their prospectus. To this end they've attempted to retain some elements of the historic architecture in the new structure. Although the warehouse was completely demolished before the new foundations were laid, sketches of the completed building depict hexagonal windows on the corner, nearly identical to those of the original construction. The architects have also adopted a similar red brick design. The exposed walls of yellow stone are replaced wholesale with sheets of glass to let more light into the lofts, but a portion of the original facade remains intact and, as site supervisor Frank explains, will be "stitched" into the new front of the building. In another nod to the original design, the planned complex is the same height as the warehouse, with a new tenth story roof deck for residents in place of the original courtyards.

But, for all the planning that has gone into it, renovations on the site have been slow-going over the last 20 years. Blue scaffolding has walled off the corner of 123rd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue since at least the beginning of 2002. Earlier attempts at renovation led to disaster when 90 people, including police officers from the nearby 28th precinct, were exposed to fumes from a chemical fire in April 1985, reported the New York Times. Then, in April 2002, with Cross' men hard at work, tragedy struck again. Construction worker Modesto Olivo Sr., 53, tumbled to his death from the seventh story to the basement when the floor collapsed above him, The Associated Press reported.

This last incident was a turning point for the development. Cornelius remembers, "The building had been an eyesore for years, and when it collapsed unexpectedly, everyone felt something needed to be done." Efforts to landmark and register the building as a historic site, begun in the 1980s, were quickly abandoned. After a series of legal actions and emergency demolition of the entire structure by the City of New York, Johns says work on the condos began again at the beginning of 2006. The site supervisor says that work is now going "full steam ahead" and is expected to finish by June 2007. Johns adds that the building, marketed largely by word of mouth alone, is already selling itself.

***

Arnold Torrence, 43, owner of Althea's Lounge next door to the new development, starts his evening behind the long wood bar, setting out his Coronas in a row and slicing lemons. He moves over to the plasma screen at the other end of the bar, fiddling with the volume until the CBS news anchor's voice is just drowned out by the R&B music blasting from his stereo. He's getting ready for his buddies - regulars at the bar who refer to it fondly as their own version of "Cheers," where everybody always comes in with a good attitude, patron Noah explains as he chats away to Torrence about his lunch.

Ask Torrence about his new neighbors, though, and he has nothing much to say until Don W., a third generation Harlem native, takes over for him. Between gulps of his Silver Patron, Don explains that he's got nothing against change or development. He thinks they're "wonderful things." But he's very concerned about the generations of Harlem families that are being "eliminated" by the movement. He worries that the change will "push people out by force" instead of allowing them a "good chance" to stay if they wish. Torrence agrees with Don, but, referring to the new condos, eventually adds, "It'll be good for business." Herein lies the double edged sword of what some label Harlem's Second Renaissance, while others - namely, Harlem historian Michael Henry Adams - decry it as a "hurricane of greed," responsible for displacing hundreds of black Americans from the neighborhood. On the one hand, there is the dislocation of long time residents, and on the other, an improved economy that supposedly works in everyone's favor.

But, John Cross seems to have dodged this criticism of his project by making some key choices about how his building is built and targeted. Not only has he attempted to retain some of the original elements in its construction, but the construction of a non-profit theater space in the building in deference to Harlem's artistic heritage truly involves the community in the building, Cornelius says. She admits the loft concept is new in Harlem - a neighborhood largely made up of four story turn-of-the-century townhouses. But, she explains, this could set an example for other developments in the neighborhood by encouraging projects that serve Harlem's re-emerging arts community. The thought certainly seems timely, what with the re-opening of such legendary jazz venues as Minton's Playhouse, located a few blocks from the new building.

Perhaps most importantly, Cross took the ultimate step of putting together a team of locals to help him fulfill his vision. According to Cornelius, Cross himself is from Harlem, as is Johns, his chosen real estate agent. This carefully molded team flies in the face of other projects in the area which reportedly did not use any African American firms in their work.

In addition, the prices for individual condominium units are across a broad spectrum - from $377,000 for an alcove studio to $1.3 million for the penthouse - Johns says. By opening up the condominiums to the market instead of setting income caps or other similar measures, Cross ensures a mix of people and uses for his space. Cornelius explains, "A lot of people don't fit in the market of low income and would like to remain in or move back to Harlem, and those opportunities should be afforded to them as well." This is precisely what is happening, Johns says. She explains that a number of the buyers are longtime residents of Harlem - mostly attorneys, doctors and entertainers - who would like to live in a loft space but stay in the same neighborhood.

Cross' building is coming into it's own in area finally, as the BBC puts it, "on an upswing." And his careful and considered development of the Dwyer Warehouse seems to have charmed even his most reluctant neighbors. For whoever you talk to, even those not officially hired to market the condos, will give you the hard sell if you ask about them. Torrence's nephew, Eric, will advise you in all solemnity that you'd better buy your unit now, before the prices go up once they're built. Cornelius will tell you that the condos are "well worth it." The charm of his third attempt is still going strong for John Cross, whose many years of hard work on this historic site are finally starting to pay off.

Posted by Chris at 12:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Lucy is another cat who enjoys playing outdoors. However, on the day I saw her just outside Central Park on Lenox and 110th Street, she was on her way to the vet. Lucy has been battling a cancerous tumor for the past couple years. Lucy's owner recently lost her mother to cancer, so she is greatly appreciative of the fight the cat is putting up against the disease.

Posted by Chris at 07:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In their ongoing quest to have one storefront space for every single item of dry clean-only clothing in the neighborhood, Aphrodite Cleaners will soon be opening another Harlem location.

This new Aphrodite, on Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 113th Street, will be just down the street from the newly-opened Aphrodite at 117th and Frederick Douglass, not too far over from the newly-opened Aphrodite at 119th and Lenox, and just a wire hanger's throw from the newly-opened Marcel on the corner of 115th and Frederick Douglas.

I guess, given their name and it being Valentine's Day and all, it kinda makes since.

So how do Harlemites use this to help them celebrate the day of love? Easy.

Drop by Harlem Vintage's Valentine's Day bubbly tasting today from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Pull the classic: "Oops, it looks like I spilled Champagne on your shirt. Why don't you come back to my place and take it off so I can bring it to Aphrodite cleaners?"

Score.

Bonus: Not telling them which Aphrodite location will add extra time for your enjoyment.

· Aphrodite Cleaners: The Starbucks of Uptown? [Harlem Fur]
· Reviews: The Centerline, Aphrodite Cleaners [Harlem Fur]

Posted by Chris at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

This is the type of pet-rification Harlem Fur was born to post on.

Animal General called me recently not to check up on Cimbi, as they do even for their healthy patients, but to ask if I knew of storefront space in South Harlem for an expansion of their practice. I don't, but maybe someone reading this does know of 1,700 animal-friendly sq feet in the nabe.

You may remember that back in May I was bemoaning the lack of veterinary services in South Harlem. After seeing long lines each day the Petland on 117th Street and Lenox Ave held a Vet My Pet event, I checked Switchboard.com for vets in the area to see what options are available. Here is what I found:

For the vets closest to us, Switchboard returned Henry M. Fierman, DVM at 250 W 108th St (212-864-3631), who is 1.5 miles to the South, the 145th Street Animal Hospital at 454 W 145th St (212-234-8087), which is 1.8 miles to the North, and Oliver's Dog & Cat Clinic at 2232 1st Ave (212-348-7070), which is 1.6 miles East... This leaves a huge section of Central Harlem without a vet close by.

Cheryl and I take Cimbi to Animal General at 87th and Columbus, which is 2 miles away- not that much further away than the other vets. Also, being that it is close to the 1/9 stop at 86th Street, it is much easier to get to than vets requiring cross-town travel.

But more than travel convenience brings us to Animal General. After the first visit, Cheryl and I knew that the doctors and clients at Animal General really care about pets. As we were waiting for Cimbi to have her first check-up, a woman in the lobby explained that a beloved neighborhood dog was in for surgery, and residents from the block like her were stopping by at different times to keep the pooch company. I thought, 'why can't we have a place like this in our neighborhood?' Now we soon will.

· Animal General [Official Site]
· Filling Harlem Vet Void, Petland On 117th St. To Hold Two More Vaccination Days [Harlem Fur]

Posted by Chris at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Update: 7Online says that everyone is alive and only a couple of people suffered minor burns.

Three video clips of the Harlem fire: one below and two after the jump.

Posted by Chris at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

More photos of the Harlem fire after the jump.

Posted by Chris at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Three ladders, a bucket, and an extension are currently working to bring people out of a building on the Southeast corner of Lenox and 116th Street in Harlem. More as I get it.

Posted by Chris at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The ASPCA and partner organizations are going city-wide with a month-long pet adoption celebration that includes a countdown to Valentine's Day this weekend. (I know this is kinda late in the posting, but hey, cut me some slack as I reintegrate into life.) This is a great opportunity to spin Valentine's Day to co-workers: "Oh, I have a new life partner. We've already moved in together."

For those of you reading this right now, run. You have about an hour and seven minutes to get to the Commerce Bank at Broadway and 94th Street (1/9/2/3 to 96th) for the nearest-to-Harlem weekend adoption site.

For those of you reading this in the near future, hope is not lost. The North Shore Animal League will be at the Petco on Broadway and 92nd Thursday, February 15th, and Thursday, February 22nd, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m both days (also 1/9/2/3 to 96th).

And for those looking to give a dog a bone outside of the Harlem area, on February 13th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Leashes and Lovers is hosting a "For the Love of Your Dog" Valentine's Eve Party, an exclusive, dog-friendly private event. Location is Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery (at Spring). For those without a pooch, dogs are not required, and the ASPCA will be on site with adoptable canines. Woof woof.

· I Love NYC Pets [ASPCA]
· For the Love of Your Dog Party [Leashes and Lovers]

Posted by Chris at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Harlem resident and Columbia School of Journalism grad student Neha Singh Gohil passed along her article on wine tastings at Harlem Vintage, the boutique wine shop on Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 121st Street. Neha gave us permission to post the whole article, and we are more than happy to take up that offer.

After reading the article, you will want to check out Harlem Vintage's February events calendar. In addition to Saturday events covering winemakers of color (4:00pm to 7:00pm on the 10th, 17th and 24th), there is a Rose Champaign tasting on Tuesday the 13th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and a Valentine's Day bubbly tasting on Wednesday the 14th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Wine tastings serve as meeting place for Harlem residents, old and new

By Neha Singh Gohil

Just before dinner on a recent Saturday evening, people assembled around a long wooden table in Harlem. Edmund Floyd, a black bodyguard in a beanie, has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 20 years. Next to him, Pablo Joo and Nelson Rosado, Latino roommates who moved in just three months ago, clutched shopping bags from Citarella, a gourmet grocery store. Kyla Kupferstein, a black Jewish educator who freelances for magazines in her free time, stood at the end.

These people hadn't met before, but they all shared this: All are Harlemites, and all love wine.

Wine tastings at Harlem Vintage, a boutique wine shop on Fredrick Douglass Boulevard and 121st Street, have always served as a gathering place for West Harlem locals. In an area where almost everyone has an opinion about the new neighbors, nobody brings up gentrification here. The small wine shop became one of the first places where Harlem neighbors - new and old - can come together to enjoy a sip of wine and a laugh on the weekends.

On a recent Saturday, wine representative Anthony Hendrie gave the customers a taste of four Australian wines. As they stood around the table, some people asked which regions the wines come from, while others remembered their last trip to Australia. One black shopper, Mary Collins, 42, told everyone about her cousin, who used to play for the Melbourne Tigers, an Australian basketball team.

That Harlem Vintage has managed to avoid criticism from Harlem's anti-gentrification contingent is surprising, especially considering why the store was built. Owner Eric Woods, a Harlem resident for the past decade, opened the store with his longtime friend Jai Jai Greenfield in October 2004. At the time, said Woods, their philosophy was to "have a service that was commensurate with the change in the neighborhood." The store offers a plush environment, with candles and wood paneled walls crammed with wine bottles from all over the world. The elegant setting invites people to browse away - nothing like the quick service liquor stores with bulletproof glass that dot much of Harlem.

The change that brought the store to Harlem is happening at a fast clip. According to city statistics, between 2001 and 2003 the demand for new housing permits in West Harlem shot from less than 25 per year to 250. These days, a two-bedroom apartment in the area can sell for more than $1 million.

Buyers of these pricey new homes often butt heads with older residents in the neighborhood, each side wary of the other. To make matters harder, 74.5 percent of the community's residents are either black or Hispanic, and nearly 40 percent receive some sort of public income support, according to city statistics. Most of the newcomers, on the other hand, are white or black upper class professionals.

Still, Harlem Vintage has carved a niche for itself by both catering to the uptown yuppies and keeping things local. The store focuses on a special selection of wines by "winemakers of color" and often posts flyers for neighborhood events, parades and new retailers. According to Woods, the company also puts a lot of money back into the community by donating both its products and capital to local vendors, such as advertising in local publications.

When asked what the store contributes to the neighborhood, Kupferstein doesn't hesitate. "Everything in this neighborhood is owned by white people and a lot of businesses are owned by Asians...Black folks who live in the community want to provide a service in the community and that's why this place is still here."

The shop has turned into a selling point that developers and real estate brokers use to attract potential residents moving uptown. Rosado and Nelson, who moved to Harlem from 68th Street and Riverside Drive, heard about the store before they found their apartment right upstairs. These new Harlemites appreciate the neighborhood feel of the store, but like it even more for its unique layout - arranging wines by grape as opposed to region. Harlem, they say, "is not what we expected," and places like Harlem Vintage no doubt contribute to their shifting perception.

Woods estimates that a little more than half of the wine shop's customers are new residents in Harlem. Still, he thinks of convenience as being the shop's biggest advantage. "The reality is that there are plenty of people in the neighborhood who do drink wine and were having to go outside the neighborhood to do it," says Woods. Patrons like Kupferstein, who love the store's hours, agree. The store usually stays open until 11 p.m. on weekends and 10 p.m. on weekdays.

Collins, a 40-year Harlem resident, mentions one last benefit on her way out the door. "The wine tastings help to broaden our horizons," she says.

Posted by Chris at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Homer, the happy Golden Retriever above, was ready to greet everyone who passed by Saurin Parke Cafe while his human ducked inside for coffee to go. A five-year veteran of Harlem, the shiny-coated pooch seems fully accustomed to the nabe's ubiquitous redevelopment.

Posted by Chris at 07:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So concludes another campaign with another victory. And this being the case, this is the third instance in a year's time that I am reassuring ConEd that I will not forget to pay the bill, pleading with the credit card company not to charge a late fee, and re-introducing myself to Cheryl and the cat. ("Seriously, you know me. I live here, with you. We sleep in the same bed.")

Thankfully, my being around has absolutely nothing to do with Harlem rockin' along. Here is some of what I missed posting on:

Zoma, the Ethiopian restaurant on 8th Ave at 113th Street is now open, and Cheryl and I had a very enjoyable dinner last month. Inside, the decor has a refined simplicity, which was complemented by the noticeably attractive staff and clientele. Also, the chic minimalism sets a nice, even background for the complexity of flavor and spice found in every dish we enjoyed that night. I ordered the Tibs Wett, strips of sirloin simmered in a spiced stew with berbere, kibe, garlic, cardamon, coriander and more. Cheryl ordered the Zoma Tibs, cubed filet mignon pieces marinated in Tej, green peppers, red onions and a special sauce. Both entrees tasted pleasantly authentic, not watered down for wider appeal. But be warned, as someone who often measures what I eat in pounds, not servings (serious), even I was challenged by the rich flour-less chocolate cake.

· Zoma [Official Site]
· Zoma Review [via UPTOWNFlavor]

Harlem Vintage, whose recommendations were enjoyed by guests at both our housewarming and New Year's parties, will soon be opening a wine bar next door to their location at Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 121st Street. Following up on rumors found online and in the Harlem Fur inbox, a rep did confirm that the construction next door is their's, and the bar's projected opening is this summer.

· Harlem Vintage [Official Site]
· Harlem Vintage Grows [Curbed]

And everybody is still building stuff all the time everywhere.

· Around the Block Construction [WATPA?]

Posted by Chris at 05:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)