Last week as I walked around the hood I started noticing something a tad bit disturbing– the closing of many new businesses. In spite of Harlem’s much hyped real estate boom and talk of new money breezing through America’s self-proclaimed Black Mecca, many new Black owned businesses like Nubian Heritage, The Harlem Tea Room and Ginger can’t seem to keep their doors open. But why? I emailed a friend to see if there was something more scandalous at the root of these closings like the Mafia or The NY Board of Health, but she simply responded, “I guess that the businesses closed because they weren’t making enough money to pay the bills.”

No kidding. I’m sure it’s because of money. I guess my question should have been how are these businesses NOT making money in this here gentrified Harlem? People certainly buy Nubian Heritage’s products. I know I do. Maybe too many folk were buying them from the many street vendors on 125th and not enough in the store. Never mind that The Body Shop on that same corner just expanded and now they are twice the size. I guess they are getting a lion’s share of the beauty product revenue in Harlem along with Carol’s Daughter. Too bad! They had an absolutely beautiful spot– huge windows, two floors (the 2nd floor was supposed to be a spa that never materialized). Now I hear this location is going to become an Applebees. So wack!!!

The news of Harlem Tea Room’s closing on September 28 is astonishing. Every time I went there the food and service was always good. I especially loved the Mulligatawny soup and because the Tea Room is not that close to where I live (my apt. is on the Westside), I would make special, albeit rare, trips just to get a bowl.

On the other hand, the news I would hear about Ginger was not so good. I knew someone who went and they were out of chicken wings or another friend who ordered the ribs, which I heard were delicious, but it took them an hour to get them and they were eating in the restaurant. The stories about their delivery service were worse. I’ve mentioned Ginger before and only ordered takeout once, which was cold when I got it and so that was it for me. I always thought it was going to be more like China Grill, but it just ended up being really fancy Chicken & Broccoli. I say why pay $12 for that dish when I can get the same thing on the corner—hot– for $6. But even still Ginger like the Tea Room shouldn’t have closed. These restaurants had prime locations– the Tea Room is smack dab in the middle of two new residential bldgs and Ginger was located on the ground level of a major condo. If a restaurant opened on the main floor of my building, it would be damn near impossible for it to go out of business. Like me, most of my neighbors are tired of having to order out from restaurants located way west on Broadway.

I guess some folks are getting an eye-opener into the dynamics of building business and generating revenue in Harlem. Maybe it’s not all about location, location, location? It seems like folks are flocking to Talay and Covo and they are, for all geographical purposes, located behind God’s back. Maybe new Harlem isn’t all that new. Just a lil’ new money with a lot of old pleasures and pursuits still in tow. Like I bet that damn Applebees is going to make more money than the Tea Room and Ginger combined. Ugghh! No offense but can I get a decent, simple, affordable sushi joint somewhere on Lenox or Seventh in mid-Harlem before we get a Red Lobster or an Olive Garden?

The Commitment is the story of the dedication of these incredible athletes to their team and the game. (It) examines the heart and soul of a basketball legacy by showcasing the brilliance of the past and the dominance that will define the future.

So far the Redeem Team is making a strong outing in Beijing and pouncing on their opponents– whether it’s with heart and soul or because NBA Commissioner Stern and Team USA Coach Krzyzewski are on their necks to perform well remains to be seen. For now though we can enjoy The Commitment Exhibit and the wonderful connection it makes to community. Located right next door to Amy Ruth’s, the producers of the somewhat small space make great use of every square foot by displaying, vertically, every hyperdunk colorway possible and by showcasing a gallery of Olympic jerseys in the entranceway. Through special events like dunk contests for the kids and evening cocktail parties for us adults, the exhibit has the look and feel of a well established museum. Another plus? All Team USA basketball games are being projected at the gallery throughout the Olympic Games. Like the NBA Finals this year between the Celtics and the Lakers, the many photos and other forms of multimedia serve (especially the backboards display) to remind those of us who have grown cynical and disgruntled by a tarnished and overhyped National Basketball Association, that there are still moments and indeed players whose abilities still shine in spite of the swagger and inspire in the face of insouciance.

Please go check out the exhibit and you too may believe in the Dream again.

The Commitment closes Monday, August 25th. The exhibit is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm, and is located at 111 W. 116th St, between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard.

Whether you’re driving with the top back or with the windows rolled down; whether you’re at the beach with your boombox on blast or sitting on your stoop with your iPod playlist on repeat, there is nothing like hearing a great song in the summer time—thus the “Summer Jam”. I mean who’s ever heard of a winter jam (not the kind you spread on toast) or springtime classics? Nah man, it’s all about those summer joints that make you sweat and swerve. Songs that are good in other seasons, but just have that certain beat and ritmo that make the hot concrete feel like an open-air, pulsating dancefloor. Then there are those summer slow jams– those love songs that always seem to get you in the baby-making mood even when the air is thick with humidity and perspiration drips from your warm wet washcloth of a body. Yeah you know what I mean!

Now that summer is half through I’ve been curious about the joints that have been getting folk off. For me it’s been Beyonce’s “Beautiful Nightmare” (a leaked song from her upcoming album), Weezy’s “Lollipop” and most recently Robin Thicke’s “Magic.” I remember one night last month being slightly pissed about waiting so long for my friend to pick me up. When she finally arrived I got in the car and was obviously tight. In about 5 minutes she put on her CD and pressed number 3 and played “Lollipop” and said, “This is your song, right?” I smiled and exhaled a satisfying, “Oh yeah.” She laughed saying, “Now that’s better.” She opened up the sunroof and needless to say, it was all good.

The pics below are friends of mine that I’ve seen around the way at different music concerts and showcases. From Tillman’s Monday night jam with the Marksmen presenting Shu and Stacie Aamons to Giant Step’s Steve Madden showcase featuring Lil’ Jackie to a special showcase back at Tillman’s featuring bright newcomer Maiysha. Like me, these people are music heads looking for their next fix so I thought it most fitting to start with them and find out what are their favorite jams this summer:

Michaela angela Davis: Estelle’s “American Boy” & “Puerto Rico” by Peven Everett sends me into instant happy, happy joy, joy.

Diane DaCosta: Eric Benet’s “You’re The Only One”– that takes me back. Sounds like he misses Halle.

Selwyn Hinds: I dig that Rick Ross joint, “The Boss.” And on the total flip tip, this Latin dance joint “Bem Ma Mi” by Louie Vega featuring Anane.

Abby Dobson: Lizz Wright’s The Orchard– just love her and my own song “Born 2 Luv U.”

Delmar James: I’ve been stuck on the 3Beanstew record, Shae Fiol’s record, and this dude Guyora Kats (used to be Q-Tip’s music director).

Charles Anthony: “Wink” by Little Dragon– they combine movement with laid back subtleties that make you bob your head.

Margeaux Watson: “I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time” by Mariah Carey. That’s me and my girlfriend’s theme song.

Michael Gonzales: When I was on youtube I discovered a dude named Ronnie Foster, whose 1972 “Summer Song” is hot.

Please comment below and tell me what’s been blowing your wig back:

Who cared that it was 95 degrees in the shade and that on the plot of land in Central Park known as SummerStage, leaves fell from the trees– burnt and dried from the heat? Who cared that a bottle of Corona at the concession stand was $7? We were thirsty and nobody was that stupid or that impatient to break out before Santogold (nee Santi White) hit the stage. It was Sunday, July 20th and it was insane! Santi was back in her hometown and we just had to see her shimmy her bad as$. And we just HAD to hear “Creator”, which she brilliantly saved for last.

People had been lined up since 2pm to catch a whiff of this Brooklyn-based wunderkind that RollingStone declared “the future of pop.” By 4pm thousands of bodies laid sprawled out on the green astroturf sunburnt and dehydrated like those falling leaves, agonizing through anesthetizing opening act, Mz. Streamz. Thank God for Kid Cudi and DJs Diplo and A-Trak who were able to maintain a pulse in the arena by providing cool beats and rhymes for our listening pleasure until Sant’s 6pm start time.

Santi’s hour long set was frenetic, bombastic and even a tad sassy. Yep, if ever a Black girl was sassy it would be Santi. Comparisons to MIA exist and will continue to abound. They both have that same jerky arrhythmic flow and they both got a thing for oversized graphic tees and nylon leggings. But Santogold is thicker. Stickier. Murkier. More chutney than chana. More Brooklyn than Bhangra. She’s got this effervescence that envelopes, engages, and entertains simultaneously. When she begins her skittish catcall that opens her hit “Creator”, damn near everyone was on their feet–  jumping and singing along. Tired and Sweaty had to take a back seat to Exhilaration cause it was riding shotgun and clearly everyone was down for the ride!

On Saturday I attended one of the freshest barbecues ever! Hosted by New York City’s marketing Don Juan of style, brands, & aesthetics– Coltrane Curtis, the party invitation read The Hamptons Ain’t Cool. Clearly his answer to the glammed-out, overly hyped, all white wearing party hijinks that has come to define the East End social scene especially on holiday weekends. Nuff said I was in! The Tanqueray sponsored fiesta was held in a new supa dupa fly spot called the Hudson Terrace. This luxurious penthouse loft featured indoor and outdoor spaces, a stage and a spectacular view of the Hudson River. As if the Tanqueray cocktails and La Esquina catered delectables (grilled chipotle-guava glazed ribs & grilled garlic string beans—yum!) were not enough, D-Nice did his thing crazily on the 1’s and 2’s and Talib Kweli rocked the mic nice with some of his freshest joints.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS!

Harlem life, like New York City life is a microcosm of activity every single moment of the day. There is always something to do, to behold, to transfix our gaze, and transform our imaginations. Every time I walk out the door I never know who or what I am going to see. My blogging comrade Sekou documents a lot of the crazy, Only-In-Harlem sightings on his blog and, well let’s put it this way, he’s seen everything from live chickens sauntering on 125th to the illest pink Range Rover.

I remember one day recently walking to Make My Cake on 116th when I noticed a crowd on the corner. There was music, video cameras and mad children. As I neared the ruckus, what looked like a scene from the WWF from afar was a battle of the best Chicken Noodle Soup Dancers under age 12. But of course! This lil girl was just giving it to the crowd. Unfortunately I didn’t whip my camera out til the very end and she was kinda tired by then. Needless to say it was really cool to see the neighborhood kids flex their dance skills and have so much fun.

Just a couple of weeks ago on my way to the Uptown Juice Bar for a veggie burger (yep I’m always on the prowl for food), I stumbled across Harlem Rocks– an annual cycling race held every Father’s Day. It was one of the most exciting sporting events I ever experienced. When those bikers came across the turn and rode past you the wind would actually blow you back increasing the thrill of it all. As the bikers crossed the finish line, the winner and about five other bikers crashed into each other and took a tumble– two of them right in front of me. Talk about feeling the energy!

So to set-off the summer season right, I thought I’d compile a list of the SEVEN THINGS YOU MUST/SHOULD DO THIS SUMMER IN HARLEM:

1.) Experience Harlem Outdoors: Go to the Harlem Mear (one of my most fave places in all of NYC– the lake, the ducks, the swans—so beautiful; SummerStage is great, but you can catch some great artists at one of the City Parks concerts at Jackie Robinson or Marcus Garvey Parks, get great organic fare at the Morningside Farmers’ Market.

2.) Support the arts and go to a Harlem based museum like The Studio Museum & El Museo Del Barrio

3.) Patronize a Mom & Pop Business (A Taste of Seafood, Pieces, Uptown Juice Bar, Watkins Health Food Store, Native & Harlemade)

4.) Check out Harlem’s New Restaurant Row on 12th Avenue (Talay, Covo, Hudson River Café, Body Bar & Grill)

5.) Try a slice of pizza at the original Patsy’s in east Harlem– the best slice you will have in NYC at this famed pizzeria (one of the few coal oven pizzerias still operating in NYC).

6.) Watch a movie under the stars at one of Imagenation’s Outdoor Film Screenings in St. Nicholas Park on Monday evenings

7.) Cool off & order the gelati at Settepani – ice cream is great in the summer, but you have to experience the smooth real fruit sweetness of gelati and now that you don’t have to go to Little Italy or Cipriani’s for a taste, why not?

I love Pieces and Lord knows I love Marshall’s, but I wouldn’t mind a Gap, Steve Madden or Victoria Secrets somewhere on Lenox or 1-2-5. Talay is beautiful and Nectar is simply wonderful with their on point wine menu, but dang can a middle-browser like me just get a neighborhood bar with Guiness on tap, a healthy helping of barbecue wings, and a flat screen where I can watch the Celtics spank that L.A. booty?

Two years ago in Harlem I was able to go to Famous Fish or Taste of Seafood and order some of the best fried whiting Harlem has to offer and then if I felt like being fancy, I could’ve gone to Emperor’s Roe and feasted on Sevruga caviar (for the record even though I frequented ER I never felt fancy enough for caviar). And I guess one could say that’s fresh– high and low culture all within a 20-block radius, all in America’s Black Mecca. The thing is where does it leave a grrrl like me who just wants a sushi restaurant in Harlem? Some place where I can get a spicy tuna roll, a piece of Toro. That can’t be asking for too much, can it?

Gentrification in Harlem, I’m sure like in other urban, inner cities, involves conflict, displacement, renewal and tension. This I know, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the extreme in class positioning reflected so dramatically in the retail offerings (and most dramatically of course is in real estate). It’s either bargain basement Conway’s or Tracy Reese selling N (both on 116th St.); fried chicken wings and fries at New Dragon or 21-Spice Coconut Chicken and decadent pineapple rice at Ginger (also located on 116th). With all the takeout spots and lounges that are opening in Harlem, I’m wondering where do families with children go out for dinner? IHOP? Where can middle-of-the-roaders shop, chill and hang? Like Keanu, I feel like my only choices are either take the red pill or the blue pill, which totally sucks cause what I really want is some edamame and a cold Sapporo.

I recently went to South Beach for a weekend to meet up with my homey that lives in Chicago for a Getaway Grrrls Weekend. I’ve been to Miami several times before, but mostly for business. I always stay on the north end of South Beach in one of the fancy schmancy hotels for which SOBE has become quite well known. These places are cool for business strips with their wifi-ed rooms, quick-fire room service and wonderful outdoor spaces perfect for cocktails and dinner with associates. But personally speaking, I can’t relax in those types of joints so I figured I would do something new this time and stay on the south side of South Beach. In my past experiences it’s always been an adventure if nothing else when on the Southside of town.

And let me tell you, SoFi (South of Fifth)– the name by which this part of Miami Beach is known, is absolutely fantastic. It’s more tranquil (as much as being on South Beach can be tranquil) and I just felt like I was in a cozy community versus the cosmopolitan corporate compound of the north side. The beach was less frenzied and I was still able to get my margaritas delivered right to my lounge chair. If I wanted to get on my club swerve Opium & Prive was a 15-minute walk away. Smack dab in the historic art district SoFi also has the hip personality of SOHO in NYC circa the early 90’s (before Bloomies and Crate & Barrel killed its character). There’s Starbucks for macchiato cravings and Joe’s Stone Crab (use Joe’s Take Out) for the best stone crab and key lime pie I have ever eaten in my life. When you need to head north and mingle with the glamorous goons at The Delano and Shore Club there is a convenient shuttle on Washington Ave that runs from one end of South Beach to the other making stops along the way for just 25 cents a ride. You can’t beat that with a bat and take it from me, this may be my first south side experience where a bat in tow was not necessary, but it won’t be my last!

Places To Stay:
The Savoy - 455 Ocean Drive
The Wave Hotel - 350 Ocean Drive
The (Hilton) Bentley - 101 Ocean Drive

Places To Eat:
Joe’s Stone Crab - 111 Washington Avenue
Big Pink - 157 Collins Avenue
Devito - 150 Ocean Drive (Danny DeVito’s joint)

Places To Hang:
Prive - 136 Collins
Opium Garden - 136 Collins
Nikki Beach - 1 Ocean Drive

(Olivier @Tillmans)

The club scene is getting a bit old for me. So in my pursuit to find other poppin’ hot spots, I’ve had to really think about what I like about hanging out and what I want to get out of it. I obviously want to have a good time, but what exactly does that entail at this stage of the game? Well, first off, in order for the merrymaking mojo to be just right, I need a place that pours good drinks (and preferably a bartender who understands the importance of buybacks). As a matter of fact, the place in question needs to have a good bartender or two in the house, someone friendly who knows their spirits and who can carry a conversation. Right now Olivier and Cyllan from Tillman’s are two of my faves. They make a mean margarita and this other great concoction with ginger beer, ginger wine, and rum. I’ve discussed everything from Lupe Fiasco to the upsides and downsides of marriage with them, and they are both crazy easy on the eyes—which, of course, is a plus!

I remember a few years ago I wandered into Kelley & Ping, an Asian spot in the East Village, and Petal, the bartender that night, held me down so hard that my just “passing through for a quickie” lasted four hours. I just had had an argument with a friend and chickened out of getting a nose piercing and didn’t feel like being bothered, but I definitely needed a cocktail. She persuaded me to try her speciality: Stoli Blueberry Mojitos. Three drinks later I felt so good I nearly walked all the way home—intoxicated, happy, soothed, and invigorated.

Besides a good bartender, I realize now that I prefer to chill with a mature, intellectual crowd. Basically, this means I prefer lounges to dance floors, lovely bathrooms to nasty stalls, and pleasant concierges to snappy security guards. I’m really digging spots where I can sit down—without having to buy a bottle—and chat it up with a group of folk or just one-on-one. And the lounge definitely wins points for having a DJ or a great iPod playlist chock-full of fresh tunes, especially acid jazz, reggae, soul, Afrobeat/Braziliana, and classic hip-hop. To this end, I’m feelin’ Barna on Thursday nights, FROG on Fridays, and Tillmans on Mondays. The lounge at the back of the Coffee Shop is always a good look, and the coconut shrimp is slammin’!

Having a neighborhood spot is key too. You know, a place where everyone knows your name. And when you’ve had one too many vodka cranberries, you can just walk your drunk booty right back home and not worry about leaving your car behind and getting sick in a cab. I live uptown, so in all honesty, the pickin’s are slim. I like Native a whole lot. If Jose is bartending, he’ll pour you a nice drink (try his key lime martini) and flash that ingratiating smile of his. I’ve just discovered Nectar, a new wine bar farther west of Seventh, and had a good time there. The only thing is, they serve only cheese and various salamis, which reads well on the menu, but for me totally doesn’t cut it. After two or three glasses of wine, I need real food—calamari, grilled shrimp, spring rolls—something substantial (and warm) to absorb the alcohol. Cheese and, yikes, salami, for the not-so-big meat eater like myself just sounds like a tummy full of gas and a long night on the throne. I’ve heard great things about Covo, Body, Boucarou, and the Gold Bar, but haven’t been yet. What other spots are popping for us grown folk? Please post your favorites below:

 Unik and Nigel

 Me and D-Nice

Going out is a great way to network and meet new people, and when you can connect your networking to charity funding, it just makes wearing those four-inch heels way more worth it. So last Tuesday night, in my four-inch black platform stilettos, I traveled all the way downtown behind God’s back to Libation for Living Measure’s Evening Benefiting Edeyo. Edeyo is an organization “dedicated to improving the future of children in Haiti by rebuilding schools, supplying students with learning materials and providing them with nutritional support.” Libation, a cute lil’ lounge, was not quite the right spot for this type of affair, though with its private VIP tables stacked side by side on the second floor and narrow main floor, there wasn’t any room to walk around and mingle. UPTOWN mag was one of the sponsor’s, so instead of breaking for the front door and fleeing the chaotic Hypnotique open bar (I’m totally against drinking or eating anything aqua blue), I decided to hang around and behave. And I’m so glad I did because I got to hear Unik Ernest speak (he’s the dude pictured above with America’s Next Top Model’s Nigel Barker). Unik is this guy with an amazing backstory (struggling Haitian immigrant; extremely successful party promoter [Serafina], megasuccessful club and restaurant owner [PM], now rich philanthropist) who founded Edeyo. Hearing his story about how his mom runs the school he had built in Bel Air (a slum in Port Au Prince) and how she literally had to wash the mud out of some child’s hair that had never had a bath or shower was quite moving. Through his broken English, which he quite humorously joked about, Unik showed a passion to give back strong enough to make even the noisiest revelers at the bar shut the fuck up. Shoot, I got in gratis b/c of my media connects to UPTOWN and I still ended up cutting a check before I left. After hearing so many heartbreaking stories about children in Haiti, I felt good knowing that I hope my lil’ contribution will help someone. And besides, I got to rub up on Nigel (an Edeyo board member), who is a darling, and chitchat with D-Nice, so it was all good—scrunched toes, aching feet, and all.