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 (2)

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)

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)

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)

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 (5)

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)

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)