UPTOWNflavor

I’ve had my eye on this Harlem phenom for a while now and he really is a fascinating individual. There are several videos circulating the internet of him creating his special brand of music that demonstrates that this guy is the real deal when it comes to producing. While I don’t like everything he has produced, he is definitely talented.

As a freelance producer, Ryan Leslie’s credits include Beyoncé, Britney Spears and his own discovery/muse, Cassie. He parties with Diddy, dates supermodels and is rarely seen wearing anything other than a custom-made European suit. Yet for Leslie—who has been creating his own recordings since age 11 and who enrolled in Harvard at 15—the real goal is solo success.

-TONY

Listen: Ryan Leslie - IRINA (limited time only)

Facebook :: Myspace :: Official Site

Nelson Mandela: Man of the People

A 90th Birthday Tribute Exhibition with Photographs by Peter Magubane

In celebration of the 90th birthday of former South African President Nelson Mandela, the Schomburg Center presents a photo exhibition featuring portraits of Mandela taken by internationally acclaimed photographer Peter Magubane. Spanning five decades, Magubane’s images cover important milestones in Mandela’s life as well as major moments in South African history, pre and post-apartheid.

On view through Sunday, August 31.

How did the doll head get on the cop car? [WCBS]

East Harlem Summer Health Street Festival [CAS]

Number 3 train back to 24/7 Service past 145th Street [NYDN]

List of events happening in and around the neighborhood this weekend [NYT]

Harlem Week Events [Travel Plan Ideas]

A Great Day in Harlem Events [NYCgovparks]

The Furmeister is Back on the Scene! [Harlem Fur]

The Harlem School of the Arts
645 Saint Nicholas Avenue at 141st Street
New York, NY 10030
Saturday, July 26, 2008
3:00pm - 5:00pm

Bling by Raquel Cepeda is a documentary film, which focuses on the complex relationsiip between “blood” diamonds, conflict, the influence of Hip-Hop music and culture, and community development. Produced by VH1 Rock Docs, Article 19 Films and UNDP, the film features the participation of Hip-Hop artists from the US and Sierra Leone.

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Harlem Family Unity Day @ Grant’s Tomb

Date: July 27, 2008
Ages: All Ages
Price: FREE

Address:
122nd Street and Riverside Drive - 212-870-3070
Manhattan , NY
www.riversideparkfund.org

Description: Live entertainment featuring a variety of cultural performances, Broadway and Off-Broadway excerpts and artistic expressions.

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Inwood Shakespeare Festival: The Curse of Capistrano – El Zorro
12 performance dates: Wednesdays - Saturdays, July 16 - August 2, 7:30pm
A classic take of adventure - Bring your blanket!
Un cuento clásico de aventura – ¡Traiga una manta!
Inwood Hill Park Peninsula – Entrances: 218th Street and Indian Road, and also Isham Street and Seaman Avenue. Info: 917.918.0394 www.inwoodshakespearefestival.com

Tertulia
Thursday, July 24, 8pm
Book presentation/ Presentación del libro: Los Dias del Perejil by Christian Paniagua.
Liberia Caliope Bookstore, 170 Dyckman Street (between Sherman & Vermilyea Ave.) 212.567.3511 / 212.567.5359

Read more »

Date: Sunday, July 27th
Time: Starting 1:00PM
Location: National Black Theatre (>>get directions)
Dr. Teer’s body will be lying in state

Date: Monday, July 28th
Time: Starting 1:00PM
Location: National Black Theatre (>>get directions)
A celebratory parade originating at NBT will proceed to a memorial service honoring Dr. Teer’s life and vision at Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive (between 120th and 122nd Streets). Service begins at 3:00PM.

Date: Monday, July 28th
Time: Starting 9:00PM
Location: Hudson River near Riverside Church
Fireworks display by the Grucci Family in honor of Dr. Teer on the Hudson River near Riverside Church.

The family kindly requests that the colors WHITE and PURPLE be worn in honor of Dr. Teer.

For more information visit the National Black Theatre Online

Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death, a totally unique fiction form, is a gutsy, lusty politically-outspoken narrative of African American street life that explores inner-city agony. Peopled by junkies, crooked cops, prisoners, lovers and dreamers, Van Peebles’ play is considered a tradition-shattering and trend-setting work which spawned the choreo-poem, spoken word and rap music.

The Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem, Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8pm, Friday, August 1, 2008 at 8pm and Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 8pm

The Amphitheater at St. Mary’s Park, Bronx, Friday, August 15, 2008 at 8pm,Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 8pm

Tickets: FREE performances in New York City Parks. All performances

Mystery and Murder Set in Harlem 

Stephen Carter’s latest novel, Palace Council immerses readers in the world of Harlem’s elite circa the 1950s:

“The Garland family appeared in Carter’s first novel, “The Emperor of Ocean Park,” and in this new one its members help anchor his depiction of various Harlem hierarchies, both social (presided over by the formidably snobbish matrons Congressman Adam Clayton Powell calls the “czarinas”) and intellectual. This terrain provides far and away the most absorbing material…”

Excerpted from the New York Times‘ book review, “A Conspiracy So Immense.”

Innovative Technique In African American Rhinoplasty Proves To Preserve Ethnicity, Increase Self-Esteem [click here for more ]

Care Needed in Lending to Students [ NYTimes.com]

Paterson Set to Embrace Student Loan Plan [ NYTimes.com]

New Assessment of City’s Poor [City Limits]

Feds drop criminal probe of Rev. Al Sharpton’s finances [nydailynews]

How Tiny Jamaica Develops So Many Champion Sprinters [ WireTap Magazine ]

Sexually assaulted female troops struggle to recover [ CNN.com ]

Inwood Under Siege: Bikers, Gangs Threaten Gentrification [Curbed]

Unions Decry a New Rush To Fight Fires [The New York Sun]

Not so Fast on the Fare Hike [ New York Post]

camaradaselbarrio.com

Correction Appended: Originally posted July 22

It is with extreme sadness that I write this post. Dr. Barbara Ann Teer made her transition on July 21st at the age of 71, having lived a life dedicated to the arts and to the Harlem community at large.

Through thick and thin, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer fought tooth and nail to maintain the Harlem institution known as the National Black Theatre. I often saw Dr. Teer around Harlem at various arts related events - always looking regal, swathed in her trademark colorful afrocentric designs. You just knew she was “somebody” by the way she carried herself. The profound words of Dr. Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman” say it best,

It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.

Read more »

www.twelvebar.com/

Blogging While Brown

Tuck it Away Owner Stands his Ground Against Columbia [NYO]

The Heat didn’t keep Harlem Bookworms Inside Reading [NY1]

Sharpton’s Tax Probe is Dropped [AP] see also, CNN

La Fonda Boricua Braces for the Big Fight [ESPN]

The Big Fight is Still On for Santana [NYDN]

Harlem Subway Lines “Fare” Well With Arrival Times [NYT]

Kalahari Construction Stall Give it Hives [WATPA]

Inwood described as “lawless” in the Summer [Curbed]

via WSJ Market Watch

Blesso Properties reports in press release to the Wall Street Journal that they have been selling out in New York, despite the softening real estate market.  Loft 124 reportedly sold units for over $1 billion, claiming to have “revitalized the weak Harlem market.”

When BP entered the Harlem market in 2004 with the idea of bringing downtown luxury design to an uptown residential development, the firm anticipated the drawbacks of the location, “Convincing lenders and investors of our ability to sell condos at Manhattan prices on an undesirable block in Harlem was not easy,” explains Mr. Blesso. By incorporating high-quality design and distinctive renovations, this project appeals to the discerning buyer looking for a unique product. The strategy paid off, and Loft 124 exceeded expectations by setting a record for the highest average sell-out of any condominium north of 111th Street; one unit even contracted for $125K over the asking price in December 2007.

The Harlem market was especially soft in early 2008, but unlike other projects that required price reductions to sell units, BP never lowered prices for Loft 124. In fact, at the time the eleventh floor penthouse went into contract at more than $1,000 per square foot, it was the highest price ever for a sale above 111th Street. Today, Loft 124 is considered one of the finest residences in Harlem.

Photo credit: jeremoss via flickr.com

Read more »

Every Thursday Night: Urban Jíbaro Thusrdays at CAMARADAS el barrio with Tato Torres & the Urban Jbaros of YERBABUENA, who continue to bring you the best Boricua Roots Music and the best BarrioRican environment in town EVERY THURSDAY!!!. Come enjoy the sounds of YERBABUENA’s Bomba, Plena & Lelolay every Thursday only at CAMARADAS el barrio.

NOTE: This Thursday, July 24th, Show time will be one hour later than usual due to an earlier commitment by the band.
CAMARADAS el barrio
2241 First Avenue/115 Street
New York, NY

camaradaselbarrio.com

Contact InfoPhone: 2123482703
Email: info@camaradaselbarrio.com

You Are Cordially Invited
To Join
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe
and Council Member Robert Jackson

At a Ceremony
To Name the Promenade at the Heather Garden
In Honor of
Stan Michels

In Recognition of His Years of Dedicated Public Service
and Steadfast Support for Our Parks

Thursday, July 24, 2008
4:00 p.m.

Fort Tryon Park
Margaret Corbin Circle
Fort Washington Avenue north of West 190th Street
RSVP: (212) 408-0111 or Special.Events@parks.nyc.gov

City of New York
Parks & Recreation
Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor
Adrian Benepe, Commissioner