It's a little secrete that, as evidenced by the lack of open seats, everyone seems to know about.

The three-day-old 79 Orchard Street, nowhere near Orchard Street, but instead on Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 112th and 113th, is a recreation of an African American speak easy from a different age. The seats are limited to provide a cozy feel, the downstairs can host intimate gatherings of eight for a multi-course dinner, and the photo rights are held by New York Magazine until their story on the venue runs.

Opened by the owners of Society Coffee, the locale offers unique liquors served by a learned staff who not only know their specialty mixed drinks, but also can converse on esoteric Public Enemy lyrics and releases by MC Solaar.

Posted by Chris at 09:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

For those who want to watch live that moment when Michael Phelps becomes the Olympic Gold Medal Winningest athlete of all time, there is only one place to do it: the past! For those who want to watch the rest of the Olympics while drinking beer and not feel guilty about it, Cafe Amrita at 110th (Central Park North to you new people) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard is a great choice.

I feel wrong sitting idle on my sofa as I watch the world's greatest athletes compete. I feel like I should be 'doing something.' Thankfully, simply sitting back and enjoying the competition is much more easily achieved when in the company of others doing the same.

Posted by Chris at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cheryl and I crashed a wine tasting at Nectar, when we stopped by to see Kareem. He let us hang out at the bar while the tasting finished up, where I took a few no flash photos.

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

A stroll to Blockbuster tonight produced two updates to Lenox Avenue restaurants, and one vicious rumor:

First- South Beach Cafe: As per the sign posted in the window (pictured!), the cafe will be opening next week, and as per the woman at the cafe's take out counter around the corner on 124th, Wednesday seems like a reasonable day for this to happen. She did not have the new menu yet, as some details are still being worked out.

Second- Native: Despite a curious rumor circulating around the Interwebs today, black people were on staff tonight, and were patrons as well.

Third- Louise Family Restaurant: Everything seemed to be perfectly normal on this last west-side-of-Lenox-restaurant, so I'll start the rumor that set crews were seen hanging signs to make it look like Toronto's Yonge Street, where Canadian superhero Centennial will fight the criminal Manimator. (Okay, I had to spend some serious time on Wikipedia to find a Canadian superhero, and this is what the joke is about.)

Posted by Chris at 12:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Some of our readers have written in to ask if life in Harlem is all about couture fashion, which wine shop to choose, or culinary explorations. Yes, we regret to inform you, Harlem is all about that. However, there are discounts to local businesses as well as a comprehensive directory to shopping and dining in Harlem at Experience: Harlem. You may find, among other things on the site, the veterinarian hospital check-up and pedicure discount to your liking.

Posted by Chris at 11:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Better than mixing wine and liquor, Harlem Vintage and Uptown Hound are inviting the nabe to mix wine and four-legged companions (dogs and cats are listed so far, but I am guessing one can take a little liberty with the qualifications).

This Saturday, August 18, from 4 to 7pm, indulge your pet's inner connoisseur with special treats and give-aways for the furry-set sponsored by UH. And just in case you don't have an animal with you, still stop by, as there is always the excuse of Saturday wine tastings form 4 to 7pm.

And as if that is not reason enough to stop by, remember that Harlem Vintage's Second Annual Red Hot Sale begins this Friday, August 17th, and runs thru Labor Day. Get ready for dramatic mark downs on some great vintages.

Posted by Chris at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tribal Spears Gallery will host Susan Madacsi, artist and blacksmith, this month and next.

Madacsi uses both traditional and contemporary blacksmithing techniques to design and create her pieces in steel, copper, and bronze, which she uses to reveal organic forms. The material is first heated to temperatures of up to 2400 degrees and then worked by hand on the anvil with hammers and other tools. For large-scale forgings, Madacsi works with a power hammer to create the forms.

The opening reception is Saturday, August 18th, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, with exibition times from 1:00 to 6:00 pm running thru September 16th.

Tribal Spears Gallery
2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd
New York, NY 10026
(between 116th & 117th St. and 8th Ave.
Trains B & C or Buses # M3 & # M10)

212-666-6550
212-666-6551 Fax
tribalspears.com

Posted by Chris at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

For all of those out there in the nabe who at one time or another have said "If only there was an -x- near-by," now is your chance to make that wish come true. Or at least advocate on behalf of it with a couple mouse clicks.

A Harlem Fur reader, property manager, and Harlemite himself writes in to let us know that he has vacant storefront space around Lenox and 125th, and is wondering what people would like to see fill it up. So feel free to voice your opinion via the survey, in the comments, or via email, as this is not about being rigorously scientific. No, picking great Harlem retail is all about love.

Note: Survey responses were reader submitted, except for Cimbi's.

Posted by Chris at 02:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)

Okay, I know that other places may have served sushi around here, but as far as I know, Charlie's Place on Madison between 125th and 126th is the first regular sushi joint in the area. By regular I mean one can run in after work and pick up a $4 tuna or spicy salmon roll to go.

I find this to be a pretty significant entry on the central Harlem food scene. Myself and many others have long complained that options for quick take out, the kind one is looking for on a weekday evening when getting home, usually lean heavy on the unhealthy side. As I understand it, normal Chinese takeout is worse calorie and fat wise than McDonalds, and normal Chinese takeout is about it for quick delivery in central Harlem. (I do champion the Boar's Head sandwiches at the deli on 116th and Lenox as a quick and not unhealthy choice, but one can only do that so many times.) Charlie's Place does offer some of the fried options, including fried fish and chicken, as well as teriyaki, but they do have the sushi, and at normal prices.

Cheryl and I tried the sushi, her the spicy eel and me the spicy salmon, and were quite satisfied. (The photo of the sushi to go section was taken near the end of the day- it had a much better selection earlier on.)

The only complaint I do have is about the current hours. Charlie's is open from 11:30am to 8:00pm. I can understand sushi not being fare many would consider for breakfast, but I was looking forward to a new option for when I get home late. Eight o'clock is too early. I did talk to two of the employees about any plans to push the close time back, but they don't think any changes on that front will be happening son.

They do deliver, and the number is: 212-410-0277.

Posted by Chris at 11:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea yesterday to hit up more than one of the 5 Starbucks in my office's immediate area for the free iced coffee from 10 to noon. I mean, I'm a red-blooded American, so why turn down something free, if not a lot of something free?

Early into the two hour window, I had the idea that I should have grabbed all Manhattan Starbucks addresses, geo-plotted them, optimized travel routes, and for the 10am start gun, have had myself set at the Southernmost location ready to work my way as far North as I could before time ran out. I could have selected the best attire (easy to move in office wear or standard running shoes and clothes) and maybe sent out a media advisory with a quote from Joey Chestnut.

However, the two gratis coffees that I had (as well as finishing Cheryl's morning tea, drinking my standard large morning coffee, and having another tea for lunch) are likely what was responsible for my being in the office until 10:15pm at will and staying up into the wee hours trying to find old friends online. (You would think that with guys whose last names include "Cudd" and "Grubbs" and women whose first names include "Chamie" and "Bryn" this would be a piece of cake, but somehow it was not.)

Anyway, here are a couple of upcoming Uptown events (and an update on Bugzy to come):

SATURDAY | JUNE 9 | 11:00 AM - 3:00PM | DYCKMAN LANDING (200th St and Hudson River)

Learn to Row!

The Harlem River Boat Club, Row New York, and the Alianza Dominicana invite New Yorker's to learn rowing.

The Harlem River Boat Club uses rowing to promote real waterfront and waterway access for all New Yorkers, especially in the communities that have historically lacked recreational facilities and access to their waterfronts. Programs are affordable to the community and the HRBC is working with other organizations to facilitate enviromental stewardship of waterfront areas along the Harlem and Hudson Rivers.

DIRECTIONS

Take the A (closer) or 1 to Dyckman Street, and walk West along Dyckman to the Hudson river.

SATURDAY | JUNE 16 | 1:00 PM | MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

UPTOWNflavor sends along: Dog Owners and Their Dogs The New Yorkers: A Novel

Bring your dog to a special program for dogs and dog lovers in the Museum's courtyard. Best-selling novelist Cathleen Schine will read from The New Yorkers: A Novel (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007), a hilarious account of the interactions among residents on a tony Upper West Side block and the important role their dogs play in their lives. Adam Gopnik, award-winning critic-at-large forThe New Yorker will
introduce the program. In case of rain, the program will be held in the Museum's auditorium. FREE with Museum admission!

Dogs are welcome!

Reserve on line at www.mcny.org or by telephone at 212.534.1672, ext. 3395.
$ 5 for Museum members, seniors, and students
$ 9 for the general public

DIRECTIONS

By subway: #6 Lexington Avenue train to 103rd St., then walk three blocks west.
#2 or #3 train to Central Park North/110th St., walk one block east to
Fifth Avenue, then south to 103rd St.
By bus: M1, M3, M4, or M106 to 104th St., M2 to 101st St.

Posted by Chris at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I've been kinda quite over here for a while; you can blame New York Cyclist for having done an amazing job tuning up my bike. The new, smooth ride, combined with nature's top notch showing, has had me spending my free time outdoors.

But this news brings me back to The Fur: A reader reports that Cold Stone Creamery has a sign up next to the Body Shop at 125th and 5th. With all of the exercise I am getting, I should be able to eat about a gallon a day without putting on any weight.

You know what kind of ice I will be showing off this summer.

Posted by Chris at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)

Staring at the walls in Society Coffee (Frederick Douglass Blvd @ 114th St.) is now just as interesting as staring at fellow patrons. Small(ish) Works, a show by Erik Sommer, Stephanie Mulvihill and Gina Fuentes Walker, is currently on view.

From the show's description: Stephanie Mulvihill uses quilting and collage to explore ideas of personal fragmentation and reconstruction, as well as question the validity of tradition in a rapidly changing world. Erik Sommer describes his work as a conversation between age and beauty, capturing the passing of time through the deterioration of texture. Using small and multiple photographic images, Gina Fuentes Walker's work explores our relationship with interior space and urban architecture by transforming the mundane into visually heightened environments.

And just by including the title of Sommer's work, "broken sex," I am sure that Harlem Fur will take part in that conversation between age and beauty, but mostly of the single sided type, as mediated through late night Google searches. I mean, we are headed that way as it is.

For those who wish to converse in person, artHARLEM is hosting an artist get together at Saurin Parke Cafe (110th Street @ Frederick Douglass Blvd) this Friday, May 11th, from 6 to 8 pm. To RSVP, email Co-Founder and Director Gina Fuentes Walker at gina -at- hoast -dot- org.

Posted by Chris at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Parks

The Friends of St. Nicholas Park are holding their FIRST! EVER! regular monthly meeting. Attendance is open to all, bringing a friend is encouraged, and people are asked to come with ideas for events and the organization.

The agenda, roughly, will be:

1. Summer Events Calendar
2. Increasing Membership
3. Fundraising Activities
4. Dog Run Update
5. Capital Projects Update

Tuesday, May 8th, 7pm at Harlem Visitor's and Community Resource Center, the first floor at West 502 142nd Street (between Amsterdam and Hamilton Place).

Dance

It was Benny Goodman vs Chick Webb on May 11th, 1937, in what became a classic night of dance and jazz in Harlem's historic Savoy Ballroom. So why let the 70th anniversary of a great battle pass without a little reenactment? Enjoy live music from the Savoy Stompers, a smart dance performance, and a free swing lesson just in case 70 year's time has put a little dust on your dancing shoes. Tickets are $20.

Friday, May 11th, 7pm at the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center, Lexington Ave & East 106 St. For further Details contact:
Clyde Wilder 646 - 546 - 8684
Bronx Barbie 917 - 941 - 0935
Clay Herndon 917 - 549 - 7075

Dogs

Move over big dogs, the little dogs are moving in. Now that big dogs have a place to call their own in St. Nicholas Park, it's time to carve out an area for little dogs (with big dog personalities). Tasks at hand include fence erecting for the small dog run, cutting and moving fencing for the new corral entrance, landscaping around the new corral entrance, and spreading woodchips in the small dog run.

Saturday, May 12th, 10am at St. Nicholas Park dog run @ 135th Street. For more information, check out the St. Nicholas Park blog.

Dogs Again

Uptown Hound will host Sit Stay Dog Training for their seminar "The Urban Dog." The seminar will cover simple things you can do to improve your relationship with your dog, as well as your dog's health. Our cat Cimbi needs some relationship training, so we may try to dress her up as a Wheaten Terrier and bring her along.

Sunday, May 13th, 2pm at Uptown Hound, corner of Adam Clayton Powell and 121st Street. The seminar itself is free but registration is required. To register: email sitstaydogtraining -at- gmail -dot- com or call 646.352.1980.

Posted by Chris at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Native is not dead.

Native, the restaurant pretty much running the show on Lenox Ave in South Harlem, began a phased reopening last week. Selections from the newly developed cocktail menu were introduced Monday and Tuesday, followed by rotating menu selections Wednesday thru Sunday. The grand reopening is set for Wednesday, May 9th. Based on a sneak peak, the time used to remake the restaurant was time well spent.

Stepping inside, one instantly sees that the interior decor has been refined. Someone took care to sweep out the dingy feeling the venue used to have. Solid colors and clean lines replace what I remember as a gradated scheme. The bar is now a concrete-top structure that contrasts nicely with the surrounding solid colors by using washed hues of strong blues. Also, the new bar placement, snaking along the wall back from the door, gives the area a bit more of an open feeling. The former placement could leave guests entering and exiting feeling cramped.

The menu another Harlemite and myself saw Thursday evening is a little disjointed; one would have a hard time determining exactly which native the restaurant was modeled after. However, the entrees we enjoyed were good enough to classify the selections as 'eclectic,' rather than 'schizophrenic.' Appetizers included bar staples such as buffalo wings as well as mainstay staples such as fried calamari. Entrees also ranged from the more casual Red Beans and Rice (with sweet plantains and garlic spinach) to the formal Grilled NY Strip Steak (with stewed tomatoes, black-eyed peas and tostones).

I tried the Basil Curry Chicken (with spicy pan asian sauce and coconut rice), which I found to be excellent. Even after keeping the dish under a warmer while I ran home to grab a camera battery, the chicken was tender and no where near dry. The rice was also good, and tasted like I wanted it to. I would have enjoyed the sauce more if spicy had been left out of the name, as my idea of spicy looks for a bit more kick. The Harlemite I was dining with tried the Moroccan Fried Chicken, which he also enjoyed.

All in all, I was very happy with the fare, and I am looking forward to seeing the full menu on Wednesday.

Posted by Chris at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

The sky is blue, water is wet, and Emperor's Roe is closed for good.

Per a creditable tipster today:

As you probably know, Emperor's Roe on Lenox @ 120th has been "renovating" since last September. I've been speaking with the people involved occasionally, and they really were making a go of it during this time. However, the weekend before last a lien notice was placed in the window, and I have heard from an extremely reliable source that the show's over. This source also informed me that a few experienced downtowners plan to open a hip lounge in the space before summer.

Personally, we at the Fur were pulling for place, if for nothing other than the sheer ridiculousness of being able to say we live in Harlem, "just down from the champaign and caviar bar." I mean, outside of maybe Moscow or Dubai, it is a concept out of place basically anywhere on earth.

Here's hoping that the soon-to-be lounge doesn't fall prey to over-shooting the neighborhood like so many other places. Instead, we hope it gives that corner just what it needs: a solid middle-of-the-road nabe hangout that spills onto the sidewalk in the warm months, and offers plenty of window space during the cold ones.

· Yes, There Is Caviar In Harlem [Harlem Fur]

Posted by Chris at 11:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Stopping by Minton's Playhouse on Wednesday night turned out to be one of the best random decisions Cheryl and I have made in a long time. The staff was friendly, the drinks dangerously strong and cheap ($10 for two Long Island ice teas before 8pm), and the band was good.

How good was the Sugar Hill Jazz Quartet? So good you don't deserve to know what you missed.

Here is what you should do. Right now go grab your bed pillow and start crying on it. Maybe if you sleep on your tears all week, life will forgive you and you can check out the Sugar Hill Jazz Quartet next Wednesday. First set is at 9pm.

Until then, check out a clip of the quartet on Minton's site, and photos of them playing opening weekend there on Big Apple Jazz. Plus, I learned that they were the band playing opening night not too long ago when I was a little, egh, in the bag.

· Patience Higgins and The Sugar Hill Quartet [Minton's Official Site]
· Uptown Jazz Lounge At Minton's Playhouse [Big Apple Jazz]
· Harlem Weekend Wrap-Up: Minton's Playhouse, Posh Paws, Gawker HQ [Harlem Fur]

Posted by Chris at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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)

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)

Signs are in the windows at 113th and Frederick Douglass Boulevard for Zoma, a new Ethiopian restaurant.

I called the number on the awning, but no answer yet.

Posted by Chris at 08:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I called Harlem historian Michael Henry Adams yesterday to break the news when I saw the sign at 124th St. and Manhattan Avenue announcing that a Chuck E. Cheese's will soon open. "Oh lord," he said. "First an IHOP, now Chuck E. Cheese's."

Michael has long predicted that Harlem's revival is being managed in such a way that the neighborhood's history will be lost, and we will end up with Paramus, NJ. I'd say that with the opening of Manhattan's only Chuck E. Cheese, above a Nine West Outlet, he has hit the nail right on the head.

I tried to get a colorful quote from him on Chuck E. Cheese's, encouraging foul language, but he is good at sticking to message. Michael said that he laments places like IHOP and Chuck E. Cheese's opening up when Harlem is loosing its cultural treasures. He readily gave two examples. The Museum of the American Indian moved to the Financial District, and St. Thomas the Apostle, on 118th between St. Nicholas and Frederick Douglass, lost its side alters to St. Patrick's Cathedral, and its main alter to a jackhammer.

When asked why he thinks this is happening, Michael does not hold back. "It is just an inevitability when you have people like the mayor and other politicians who see Harlem as the lowest common denominator." He compares them to a marauding army of the past taking spoils.

Well, at least Bill Perkins, who made the rat problem a central issue, is runnign for office again. Perhaps he can go after this rodent on day one.

Anyway, Michael's day was not all bad. When I called, he was preparing for a photo shoot with the Times for his role in the Museum of the City of New York's upcoming exhibit "Black Style Now." The exhibit, which opens September 9th, explores the history of African-American style and its influence on design. Michael will of course be at the reception September 8th.

Ed's note: I was holding off on this post until Curbed returned from vacation in a week, but UPTOWNflavor, via Greasy Gudie, beat me to the punch.

Posted by Chris at 08:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Billie's Black, a new gourmet soul food restaurant on 119th between Frederick Douglass Boulevard and St. Nicholas Avenue, opens today, Friday, June 23rd.

UPDATE: As per a photo taken this morning, it seems Billie's Black still has a ways to go before opening.

UPDATED UPDATE As per Harlem Fur tipster flip, Billie's Black did open on Friday, and hosted a packed house!

NEXT: On Saturday, June 24th, Tribal Spears Gallery at 2167 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, between 116th and 117th Streets, holds an opening reception in both galleries from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.

The Tribal Gallery features sculptural artists Keith Anderson (California) and Yuko Ueno (Japan). The Johnson-Byrd Fine Art Gallery features abstract artists Derrie Clemmons (Chicago), Spencer Eldridge (Harlem), and Va Ronique Paronneau (France).

Tribal Spears Cafe offers a solid selection of coffee, tea and small edibles good for both gallery goers and those looking for place to access a free Wi-Fi connection.

Posted by Chris at 08:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Harlem Fur tipster John let us know that Melba Wilson, of Melba's on Frederick Douglass Blvd. and 114th Street, is the person buying Native on Lenox Avenue and 119th Street. Melba tried to re-open Minton's Playhouse with Robert De Niro in 1999. Will she have better luck with Native?

Posted by Chris at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Harlem Fur tipster Sebastian from Street Easy wrote in yesterday to say that Elle & Lui, the Moroccan restaurant on 119th and Frederick Douglass, closed. Although Cheryl and I expected this to happen, as the place was almost always empty, it still put a pain in our hearts. Elle & Lui was by far our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood.

This restaurant should have stayed open. The dishes were expertly prepared; different olive flavors would come through in the homemade hummus, the fragrant lamb tangines was amazingly tender with robust accent flavors from the honey nutmeg sauce and caramelized prunes, and even the tea had an air of being carefully selected by the chef.

Cheryl and I talked with the owner and chef on a couple of different occasions and asked why he thought attendance was so low. He said, in his opinion, people still see Harlem as a bedroom community. There may be many people here with million dollar plus residences, but they still work and go out in other neighborhoods. It's not like he didn't do his groundwork in promoting Elle & Lui. The owner attended community and police precinct meetings and came to know the heads of at least two neighborhood home owners' associations, one with more than 400 members.

As for the restaurant moving into the space opening June 23rd, Sebastian says it will be serving gourmet soul food. Uptown flavor dug up the low down on the details. Billie's Black is the name of the new restaurant. They have kept the same phone number and have a website up here. In all seriousness thou, I would like to echo Uptown's sentiment that another soul food restaurant, gourmet, pedestrian or otherwise, is not what Harlem needs.

Here is to hoping that Elle's chef will soon be using his talents somewhere new.

Posted by Chris at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Delores Martin, a bar maid at Minton's Playhouse for 14 years before it closed in 1974, was able to take the stage and say a few words at the legendary jazz joint's re-opening on May 19th. Her son, Kevin McGill, shared some photos he took of the night with Harlem Fur.

We have to say Dolores looks great. Kevin is a graduate of New York Film Academy, with a background in television production, so he has a learned take on how to make a person look good. However, artistry aside, Harlem Fur thinks Delores has a timeless beauty. If we didn't tell you she is the woman on the left, could you guess which woman was her?

More of the photos Kevin sent are up on flickr here.

Posted by Chris at 09:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Chris at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I've walked past Society Coffee on Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 114th Street many times without feeling compelled to stop in. Although it has a well appointed interior with exposed brick, leather chairs and a plush leather banquette, something about naming it Society seems a bit forced. The choice of name reminded me of the kid in first grade who walked around telling everyone he was tough, because he wasn't. But a couple of people asked me what I thought of the place, so I stopped by.

Society has a decent website in development, with photos of the venue, so I thought I would try a short video clip panning the interior to offer something different.

The first thing that hit me was the attractiveness of the staff, both male and female. Whereas last night I felt underdressed, at Society I felt undersexy. This was not just my observation. A friend who joined me later made mention of the same thing.

The next thing that hit me was that Society has wait staff. Starbucks has ruined me. I now always assume that there is register service at coffee houses, even at Settepani, where I have been many times. I always walk up to the register and then feel like an ass when told that there is service at the table. The same thing happened at Society. I was politely told that someone would soon see me at a table.

Once at the table, I talked briefly with the server. He let me know that the venue will be celebrating its one year anniversary next month, I believe on the 9th. He said to expect notice in the next week.

The final big realization of the visit was that Society offers more than coffee and small cakes. Also on the beverage menu are smoothies, beer, wine, and on the food menu are breakfast items, panini sandwiches, and small plates. The lunch options nicely extend out to a lite diner option, and the breakfast menu becomes brunch on the weekends.

Posted by Chris at 07:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Harlem saw two great openings this weekend, and Harlem Fur was kinda there.

Bonus: If you read to the end, you can find out how a free bag of Innova cat food, courtesy of Posh Paws, can be yours!

Minton's Playhouse
Minton's Playhouse was a raging success on Friday. The jazz was hot, the joint was packed, and the drinks were surprisingly well priced. I know most of this because I took photos like the one below.

I will be posting more shots from Friday night at Minton's on Flickr. Take a peek by clicking on the photos in the right-hand side bar. I have a shot of Mr. Earl Spain, the jazz impresario who did what Robert DeNiro could not and re-opened the birthplace of be-bop. The first person to point out Dean, my co-op's president, wins a Posh Paws logo food lid.

Posh Paws
Cheryl and I made our first purchase at Posh Paws on Sunday. We bought Cimbi a blue Flexi-Mat pet bed for the windowsill. The attractive and durable fabric is machine washable and dryable, which makes it ideal for cleaning before our allergic friends come over.

Cheryl and I also met the owners, Doris and Helen, two warm people who are very knowledgeable about companion animal supplies.

Please don't think Cimbi will eat just any cat food, or Cheryl for that matter. Previously, we tried giving our animal Greenies, as we ended up with 20 or so sample bags from a cat show at Madison Square Garden. Neither the cat nor Cheryl showed any interest in them. Not knowing what to do with the remaining bags, we gave them out to Trick-Or-Treaters last year while keeping straight faces. (We didn't live in Harlem then.) Cheryl is sitting next to me right now saying, "don't worry, it wasn't malicious... the kids couldn't get sick... and if they read what it was before eating it, they could give it to their pets."

Now for the good part, how a bag of Innova cat food, courtesy of Posh Paws, can be yours. If you are a Harlem resident, send a photo or two of your cat with a brief bio and a memorable anecdote to editor [at] (no spam) harlem fur [dot] com. I will post your kitty on Harlem Fur and mail you the bag of food. Please specify regular or lite food.

Posted by Chris at 07:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Hard up to wet your whistle in Harlem? Well Gabriel, blow that horn. It's the rebirth of the be-bop womb. Minton's Playhouse is set to reopen for the first time since 1974, dig? And yes, the bar is stocked.

The Fur has a history of the joint shorter than an epic Ken Burns documentary:

In 1938 tenor Saxophonist Henry Minton opened Minton's Playhouse using a part of the dining area in Harlem's Cecil Hotel.

Although the club had a house band, it was the after hours sessions that earned the joint its reputation as a place of innovation. The house band would play earlier in the night. Later, jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Mile Davis, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Thelonious Monk and other musicians of the time would experiment with their music, eventually giving birth to Be-Bop.

Minton's ran for 32 years straight before shutting down after it switched over to disco. The Cecil Hotel changed to. It became a single room occupancy hotel for men down on their luck. The neon signs for both places remain, with the Cecil Hotel's on the corner of 118th and St. Nick and Minton's on 118th between St. Nick and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. Minton's is featured in the 116th Street 2/3 subway stop's glass mosaic.

In early February of 2001 the Cecil Hotel suffered a cigarette-sparked fire that injured twelve people and resulted in the death of at least one man. Had fire inspectors not been near-by when the fire broke out, the results may have been much worse.

Since closing in 1974, Minton's has seen a number of attempts by high-profile people to reopen the venue. Robert De Niro with restaurateurs Drew Neiporent and Melba Wilson (who opened the new Melba's on Frederick Douglass Boulevard) tried in 1996. In 1999, Wall Street hot-shot Kevin Ingram sought to reopen Minton's, but getting caught trying to launder $2.2 million in a federal arms money sting gave him little time to devote to the project.

Now it seems Minton's time to return is here. Harlem jazz club impresario Earl Spain and the owner of both Minton's and the Cecil Hotel, Housing Services Inc., will be opening the venue Friday, May 19th at 3:00pm. Live music begins, again, at 9:00pm.

Let Harlem Fur take you inside for a sneak peak.

Continue reading "Be-Bop, Be-Drunk: Minton's House Set To Play Again" »

Posted by Chris at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

An article in today's New York Times about the restaurant situation in Harlem mentioned something I had not thought about before. State law prohibits serving alcohol within 200 feet of a school or place of worship, and as the article points out, "in some sections of Harlem, there is a church on nearly every block."

I live in one of those sections.

Most of us are familiar with some version of the equation Brian Washington-Palmer, the owner of Native on 118th and Lenox, gave in the article: "food pays the rent; alcohol pays the profits." I had assumed when I moved here that when Harlem reached a critical mass, bistro style restaurants like Native and Elle & Lui would start popping up. Given the number of Harlem churches in my area (Lenox between 116th and 125th), that might be a little more complicated.

But for those who mistakenly think that Harlem is a culinary desert, I politely direct you to Uptown FLAVOR.

Posted by Chris at 07:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last week my office intern Greg and I met up to pass along some documents and two things took me by surprise.

The first was that Greg, an intern, was willing to meet up outside of his scheduled hours before a long weekend to take on additional work (future employers please note the insane dedication).

The second was that Greg, a Columbia University Junior living on 113th and Broadway, had not heard of Saurin Parke. WTF man? Three years in the area and he does not know of a cafe with blog posts as great as this?

Located on the northwest corner of Central Park, Saurin Parke is a great place to, as the website used to read, "relax with a frothy cappuccino in one of the antique leather club chairs, or settle in on the long banquette with your G4, New York Times and/or master's thesis." When I first read the in house recommendations, I was sitting on the long banquette with my G4, the New York Times, and my master's thesis. Amazing.

And it has free Wi-Fi.

Continue reading "A Harlem Oasis: Saurin Parke" »

Posted by Chris at 08:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm not sure what this place is actually named. "Les Ambassades" is on the menu and signage out front, and "Patisserie Des Ambassades" is the name for looking it up on Switchboard and Yelp. Who cares. It's a high diplomatic mission of Senegalese flavor to the French pastry kitchen. The place deserves nomenclatural immunity.

Plus, the restaurant also has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a weekend brunch.

Whatever the official name, it's at 2200 Frederick Douglass Blvd, right around the corner from Elle & Lui.

Gratuitous confection photos after the jump.

Also, UPTOWN flavor spots a new restaurant on 145th, El Puerto, and is looking for reviews.

Continue reading "Culinary Plenipotentiaries: Patisserie Des Ambassades" »

Posted by Chris at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Last Saturday, when I was walking Scott's dog to Morningside Park, I passed Elle & Lui, a Moroccan restaurant on 119th Street between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevards.

Cheryl and I decided to stop in tonight, and it was the best random decision we have made in a long time. The place looks great, and the food was incredible. Elle & Lui is worth it for the hummus alone, and they have a hookah if you decide to stick around.

I have photos of the interior and our excellent dinner after the jump.

Continue reading "Elle & Lui Is A Real Moroccan Delight" »

Posted by Chris at 11:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

When taking Cimbi to Marcus Garvey Park yesterday, I noticed that opposite Settepani on 120th off Lenox is a recently opened Champaign and caviar bar, Emperor's Roe.

Cheryl and I asked our friends Greg and Sara to try it out with us last night, and we gave it a thumbs up.

The owner told us it has only been open a week, and it shows great promise for summer, as the sides open up onto the sidewalk. Plus it also offers sushi, wine, beer and liquor, which might be a more frequent choice than the caviar, which quickly shoots up to $220 for a serving.

So, I guess whomever was overheard saying this was wrong.

Posted by Chris at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)