East Harlem Cafe Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary ! Celebration Tuesday afternoon at 3P.

Last night,I attended a wonderfully warm event. I am part of a group called Las Comadres de las Americas (thanks to my sister in the Bay Area who introduced me to the organization and is a member of their board). This year I became one of the moderators for the monthly book club that meets at Borders (lots of fun-feel free to email me for more info on that or check out the website). Monthly we have Comadrazos- where we meet,chat,network and most importantly support each others visions,goals and celebrate-the nature of life being what it is,I don't get to make it as often as I'd like-but I'm glad I braved what seems like never ending rain ~

We had a sponsor (which is generally rare,these are usually pot luck events,everyone tries to bring something)-Nestle,and they were promoting their Abuelita brand of hot cocoa (it was DELICIOUS),a great night to have warm hot cocoa.Added bonus,I won one of the gift bags in the raffle.

We were hosted graciously by the owner of East Harlem Cafe,and today they are celebrating their second anniversary (104th and Lexington Avenue).If you can't make it up there today (I believe it starts at 3p),I encourage you to stop in when you go to El Museo del Barrio (another one of our comadres works for the museum,and gave a fascinating presentation about how Dia De los Muertos is celebrated,and what the museum is doing -more on that in a seperate blog post coming soon !)

East Harlem Cafe : http://eastharlemcafe.com/ (there's some lovely,albeit unexpected music when you open the site)

El Museo del Barrio : www.elmuseo.org

Las Comadres de las Americas : www.lascomadres.org

Join me next month ? :)

Posted via email from Nicole Beauchamp , Your NYC Real Estate Resource

Giglio Fest in East Harlem- August 5th-August 8th !

Lots happening in East Harlem ! Giglio Feast coming up first weekend in August !

East Harlem has been in the news a lot lately, it is home to Manhattan’s first Costco AND Target at East River Plaza, on 116th street off of Pleasant Avenue. It also has a very interesting and varied history.

The neighborhood is also home to Patsy’s ,on 117th and First Avenue, and the (in)famous Rao’s is on the corner of 114th and Pleasant Avenue.

Pleasant Avenue runs north-south from 114th street until 120th street ,in East Harlem, its located east of First Avenue. It is actually the northern most segment of Avenue A-which has many sections that have since been renamed (Asser Levy Place , Sutton Place, York Avenue, and Pleasant Avenue were all at some point known as “Avenue A” ) .

East Harlem was once known as Italian Harlem-as it was home to a large Italian population –which then shifted to people of mostly Spanish descent-one of many reasons it is now colloquially called Spanish Harlem (has also been known as El Barrio to many, as a result of the large Puerto Rican population).Interesting tidbit-Al Pacino was born in “Italian Harlem”, and moved to the Bronx when he was two –he also attended the High School of Performing Arts (part of Fiorello H LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts) ,which incidentally Robert DeNiro also attended.

Every year, everyone always speaks of the San Gennaro feast in Little Italy ,which I do enjoy going too –but did you know that there is also the Giglio di Sant’ Antonio Feast. This year it takes place Thursday August 5th- Sunday August 8th .  Check out their website for more info : www.eastharlemgiglio.com on the dates of the festival and any specific times for entertainment. (I have to admit, I always enjoy going to street fairs, especially when I can *easily* walk to and from them -one of the awesome parts about being in New York City, is that so much is easily accessible, whether in your immediate neighborhood or a short bus or train ride away !)

It’s a great chance to check out a little pocket of Manhattan many people sometimes forgets exists, there’s food and entertainment throughout the festival-it’s the last instance of the festival honoring Sant’ Antonio before returning to Italy.

Definitely a worthwhile detour if you’re in the area to check out the new stores at East River Plaza. Have fun and enjoy !

Posted via email from Nicole Beauchamp Team, Your NYC Real Estate Resource

Big Apple BBQ Festival AND Puerto Rican Day Parade and Fesitval-Festive Friday tips for weekend in Manhattan

New York City sometimes presents an overwhelming number of possibilities of things to do any day of the week, somehow that seems even MORE of an issue when the weekend comes along.

 

A few great options in Manhattan

 

If you like BBQ- this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, 11a-6p) is the 8^th Big Apple BBQ block party. Recently featured on the Today show, as an event to consider planning a trip to NYC around, I often find in recent years that I plan this one weekend in June around it (as it also coincides with the annual reunion weekend festivities for LaGuardia Arts and its predecessor schools of which I am a proud alum ! )  Easiest way to get to the BBQ Street Party, take the 6 to 23^rd Street or the N/R to 23^rd. Be patient, lots of lines, but WELL worth the wait! Here is their website for more info: www.bigapplebbq.org

 

It’s at Madison Square Park in New York City (for those of you scratching your heads, wondering, that sounds an awful lot like Madison Square Garden- DING you are correct). There have been several Madison Square Gardens. The current one is on 8^th Avenue, between 31^st and 33^rd Streets. The first two were at 26^th and Madison Avenue. Madison Square Garden I (built in 1879 and closed in 1890) was actually the first indoor hockey rink in the United States. Madison Square Garden II (built in 1890 and closed in 1925), was designed by Stanford White, and also hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1924. The site is currently occupied by the New York Life Building, which was designed by Cass Gilbert, and completed in 1928.

 

There is a fabulous tour given every Sunday at 11a by the Flatiron Business Improvement District (http://flatironbid.org/tour.php ) I highly recommend it, and tours generally, I love exploring NYC and broadening my knowledge of my native town ! (I hope to even do some double-decker hop on/off tours this summer too !)  Sometimes you might discover a neighborhood you overlooked and say,gee I might want to live here ! J

 

 

Do you like parades, this weekend is also the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, on Sunday morning, starting at 11am, from 44^th to 86^th Streets along Fifth Avenue. Also, the day before the parade, there is a large street festival, with lots of live music and wonderful food, in East Harlem. Spanning from about 106^th Street and Third Avenue, up to 124^th Street or so .Lots of great stands (and restaurants along the way).And if you’re up in East Harlem, check out two of its museums on Museum Mile- El Museo del Barrio and The City Museum of New York.

 

 

Enjoy the weekend in the Big Apple !

 

'til the next time. Always at your service.

Posted via web from Nicole Beauchamp Team, Your NYC Real Estate Resource