☞ SHOP: Harlem Shops Ready for Oscars

For Harlem Restaurant Week and in observance of Harlem Oscar nominee Gabourey Sidibe, a couple of businesses around the Mount Morris Park Historic District are having a special get together this Weekend. Sunday, March 7th: Champagne and refreshments at N Boutique from 12:00-6:00 PM. Viewing party at Native Restaurant from 6:00-11:00 PM. Shop at N Boutique, bring your receipt to Native and get a complimentary Mango Tart and Oscar cocktail. Guess the most Oscar winners and receive a $50 N Gift card or dinner for two at Native. Call Native to reserve a spot for this local event. Closest subways are the 2,3 at 116th or 125th Streets. Gabourey Sidibe photo courtesy of V Magazine.

N Boutique is also offering $20.10 off new arrivals & N branded products and Native has a select 3-course menu for $20.10 as part of Harlem's Restaurant and Retail week.

N, 171 Lenox Avenue at 119th Street. Tel. 212.961.9100 www.nharlemnewyork.com

Native, 161 Lenox Avenue at 118th Street. Tel.212.665.2525 www.harlemnativenyc.com

☞ SHOP: N Boutique Set to Open Mid November

After being closed for most of the year, N Boutique will be re-opening shop by the Mount Morris Park Historic District on November 18th. The new location on Lenox Avenue, between 118th and 119th Street will be the first of several boutique style businesses and stores on this ever-growing commercial row in one of Harlem's most charming quarters. Stay tuned. The closest subway is the 2,3 at 116th and 125th Street. See our previous post on N Harlem and the boutique culture of Harlem: LINK. Photos by Ulysses

☞ SHOP: Did N Boutique on Lenox Close?

A reader mentioned yesterday that they saw N Boutique at 171 Lenox shuttered with brown paper covering the windows.  We were just by the shop this weekend and took the top photo of the window display so all seemed like it was in order as of recent.  The lower photo shows Harlem's first designer boutique (which relocated to this current location just below 119th Street a year ago) with the window gates down but no signage indicating what is really going on.  Could it be just renovations for the holidays?

☞ SHOP: The N Boutique New Look

It's New York Fashion Week and N Boutique at 171 Lenox Avenue (just below 119th) has spruced up their storefront for the occasion. The lower photo shows the facade as it was since the purveyor of designer wares moved by the Mount Morris Park Historic District last November. The nondescript exterior was oftentimes easy to pass by so the new awning provides more of a focus point to the overall look of the shop (and a pop of color). The designer boutique stocks women's and men's clothes, along with some home furnishings, so there's something for everyone to check out. The closest trains to this location are the 2,3 at 116th and 125th Street.

☞ WALK: N Boutique's New Awning

UPDATE: Only a new veritcal gate was installed as of Saturday morning. The mid November opening of N Harlem Boutique seems to be coming along. We noticed men working on the new front facade awning yesterday so maybe in the next week or so, the new store will be revealed. N Harlem was the first designer boutique to arrive north of 96th Street and moved to the Mount Morris Park Historic District in the beginning of the year. To get the new store location, take the 2,3 express train to 125th or 116th Street.

☞ SHOP: Cossoguy and Stella at N Boutique

Tuesday, April 20th, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at N Harlem Boutique. Check out the Spring 2010 Maxime Cossoguy men's denim collection tomorrow night at the event that will feature complimentary drinks from sponsor Stella Artois. Come support one of the best local boutiques uptowns and the Harlem based designer who uses premium denims from Italy and Japan. The nearest subway is the 2,3 at 116th and 125th Street. See our previous post on N Harlem and the boutique culture of Harlem: LINK. Photo by Ulysses

☞ SHOP: N Harlem Boutique Opens on Lenox

N Harlem boutique has officially opened on 171 Lenox between 118th and 119th Streets. We were a bit worked up last week in hopes that the facade activity portended a new awning but found only an upgraded vertical security gate system in place this weekend. The signage is probably behind schedule, so the owners went ahead and opened the boutique today. Come stop by and support Harlem's first designer boutique featuring menswear and womenswear collections. This new store is by the Mount Morris Park Historic District and is close to all the other new shops in South Harlem. The nearest subway is the 2,3 at 116th and 125th Street. See our previous post on N Harlem and the boutique culture of Harlem: LINK. Photos by Ulysses

☞ SHOP: N Harlem Boutique on Lenox

N Harlem Boutique, which we like to think of as the Barney's of Harlem, will be opening up in the former Purple Reign space on Lenox. The location is a smart move since their original retail space on 116th Street was a bit overcrowded and lacked charm. We love that the location between 118th and 119th Street on Lenox Avenue is basically in Mount Morris Park and that this part of Lenox will really be happening by fall with all the restaurants, shops and cafes nearby. One thing the boutique might want to look out for is to get rid of the drop ceiling in the former shop. Nothing says "cheap office space" like a drop ceiling and big fluorescent lights. See our previous post on N Harlem and the boutique culture of Harlem: LINK. Photos by Ulysses

☞ WALK: The Lenox Avenue Boutique Shops

Historic Mount Morris Park's Malcolm X/Lenox Avenue is turning into Harlem's boutique row. If you have been under a rock and have not noticed what is arguably Harlem's most picturesque main street, come walk by to see it for yourself. Settepani was one of the pioneers on the strip alongside the restaurant Native (top two photos). Then Il Caffe Latte came along and, most recently, the Katrina Parris floral boutique next door (fourth photo down). As of last month, the Harlem Yoga studio opened up on the corner. The last two shots are that of the new location of N Boutique, which will provide the most extensive designer collections to be found above 110th Street, and then there's One Bar that is slated also to open soon. As mentioned in the previous post, Tonnie's Minis has the lines forming for their cupcakes a block further up the street. All this is happening from 124th Street to 118th Street, and there are still many charming, brownstone store fronts available for rent. The nearest subway is the 2,3 express on 116th and 125th Street. Photos by Ulysses.

☞ SHOP: Harlem Restaurant Week Boutiques

The local Harlem Restaurant and Retail Week not only offers prix fix restaurant menus but also includes exclusively priced items at some of the key fashion shops uptown. The special price of $20.10 will be discounted on all new arrivals at N Boutique by the Mount Morris Park Historic District. The designer shop also has a signature line of scented soy candles, oils and lotions for $20.10 as part of the month long promotion. See our previous post on N Harlem and the boutique culture of Harlem: LINK. Check out the full list of restaurnts and retailers that will be participating in restaurant week for the next couple of weeks here: LINK

☞ SHOP: Yogurt Shop arriving at Old N Boutique

It has been about a year and a half since the N Harlem Boutique shuttered over by the Mount Morris Park Historic District but it now appears that a lease has finally been signed for that commercial space.  The New York Post announces that a frozen yogurt shop offering low-fat, no-fat and sugar-free options will be arriving at 171 Lenox Avenue between 118th and 119th Street.  Pa-Paya Seed will eventually look like a chic, European coffee house so maybe all of that glass and fluorescent lighting will go away from the interior when it finally opens.  Read more in the Post: LINK

☞ SHOP: N Boutique

This pioneer luxury boutique in Harlem displays two floors of women's and men's designer goods. Located at 114 W 116th St between 7th avenue and Lenox. Tel. (212) 961-1036

☞ SHOP: Tracy Reese

Out of a talented pool of African-American designers in the past three decades, Tracy Reese still stands strong today. In the 80's there was Patrick Kelly who took over Paris and Willi Smith in New York. In the 90's, Byron Lars, Gordon Henderson and Tracy Reese represented the new faces of fashion. Tracy Reese just previewed her Spring 2010 collection at New York Fashion Week and the above video is from her fall collection that will be in stores this month. Ms. Reese has her own boutique in Chelsea but will also be selling at Harlem's N Boutique when it re-opens again this fall in the store's new Lenox Avenue location bordering the Mount Morris Park Historic District. www.tracyreese.com

☞ SHOP: You Me 'N Dupri Boutique Opens

We were not able to make the opening party of Harlem's newest specialty children's boutique called You Me 'N Dupri but the photos sent in look really promising.  Located at 2297 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd and 135th Street, the Harlem shop offers "a great space for children to come play, learn etiquette, have spa days, book signings and more." From the images sent in, there also appears to be a few clothes and toys for sale also. Hours for the new boutique has been listed as Tuesdays-Friday from 11:00 AM-7:00 PM and Saturday/Sunday from 12:00 Noon-8:00 PM.

☞ EAT: New Frozen Yogurt Shop On Lenox

It was reported last year that a European style frozen yogurt cafe will be opening at the old N Boutique location on Lenox and it appears that this will be happening very soon. We walked by this section of the Mount Morris Park Historic District right by 118th Street and saw the sign posted up announcing the arrival of Pa-paya seed.  From what can be found on the website, this new dessert spot will just be another modern yogurt shop and not a boutique type of business.  www.pa-payaseed.com

☞ SHOP: What's Next for Lower Lenox?

Lower Lenox has quite a few shops that have opened up in the past five years but there still exists many storefronts that could be filled. The area around the Mount Morris Park Historic District has some of the best architecture in the city and would make a most picturesque shopping boulevard if more of these retail spaces were filled.  Businesses that have arrived and stuck around include eateries such as Settepani, Native, Il Caffe Latte, Tonnie's Minis.

These current shops are the better ones that have opened and accent one of the more iconic establishments in the area. Newcomer such as Auberge Laurent added a wine bar to the mix and pairs itself nicely with old time businesses such as Lenox Lounge which is a major tourist attraction.  Katrina Parris' floral boutique is also a pleasant accent to the strip and a redesigned wine shop has filled in some space in this section below 125th street to about 118th Street.

Startups are difficult and there have been a few over ambitious casualties.  A caviar bar where Auberge Laurent now resides at 200 Lenox raised some eyebrows several years back and the N boutique's more expensive fashion offerings failed to take off at a location just across the boulevard.  Settepani was set to open a more moderate brick oven pizzeria next door but financials have now stalled that project.  Luxury establishments are probably not the way to go as far as openings are concerned for the historic district so what type of businesses are best suited for one of the most distinct enclaves of Harlem?

☞ SEE: Around Harlem This Weekend

DESIGNER VINTAGE returns to N Boutique this Saturday, November 13th, 12:00 Noon -7:00 PM, 171 Lenox at West 119th Street.  Meet curator Jonathan Boderick of b.o.r.n. Again Vintage when he drops by this weekend at the designer boutique just south of the Mount Morris Park Historic District.

The Harlem Chamber Players will perform Mozart's 'Grand Partita" and Gounod's Petite Symphony with guest conductor Michael Spierman.  Sunday November 14th at 3:00 PM at the historic St. Mary's Episcopal Church, located at 521 West 126th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue). Tickets are $15 ($10 for students and seniors) and are available at the door or online at the West Harlem group's site: www.harlemchamberplayers.org.

Jewish Harlem Walking Tour, Sunday, November 14th, starting 10:45 AM (approximately 3 hours). Meet at 125 West 125th street, next to the H&M store between Lenox and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard. Fees: Adults: $18; seniors and students: $16. Save $2 by pre-registering. Go to the tour site for more information: LINK

The Dance Theatre of Harlem will have their first Sunday Matinee this year on Sunday, November 14th, 3:00 PM. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for children 12 and under. The program will include music performed by Soprano Willsonia Boyer and jazz pianist Brandon McCune.  Go to the Dance Theatre of Harlem site to buy tickets and get more information: LINK.  Photo courtesy of Andrea Mohin.

☞ SHOP: N Harlem Signature Tee Shirts

The N Boutique that originated on West 116th Street will be relocating this fall to a more posh historic Lenox Avenue location between 118th and 119th Street. For those who cannot wait, there are some great tee-shirts on their on-line store, and the first 50 orders will apparently receive free shipping. To get it now, go to www.nharlemnewyork.com for more information.

☞ REMEMBER: 116th and Lenox Circa 1893

Before the various cycles of development started in Harlem, there was always a beginning. The above photo shows 116th Street by Lenox Avenue around 1893. Yes, those are cows standing around an open watering hole. The middle class apartment buildings can be seen encroaching on the once pastoral setting. The farmer was probably one of the last ones to sell out. Click on photo to enlarge. It's highly possible that the Harlem luxury condo development called the Kalahari sits on the exact site of the 1893 farm (second photo). The last photo is a building in the area that was the location of the original N Boutique, which may or may not be the same pediment cornice in the original photo. There's quite a bit of new construction at this juncture of Lenox, so many of the original buildings are long gone. The church to the left is definitely nowhere in sight. Top image courtesy of NYPL. Lower photos by Ulysses. The 2,3 train takes one to this area today that is just outside the Mount Morris Historic District.

☞ INTRODUCING: Katrina Parris Flowers

Oprah approved, boutique florist Katrina Parris is moving to the Mount Morris Park Historic District! With the original location on 112th Street near Central Park North, this acclaimed florist makes the bold move of establishing historic Lenox Avenue as boutique central in Harlem. Right next door is Il Cafe Latte, across the street is Settepani and N Harlem Boutique is setting up shop a block south. Stay tuned for opening information. The store will open on Malcolm X/Lenox Avenue between 119th and 120th Street on the west side. Closest subway is the 2,3 on 116th or 125th Street. www..katrinaparrisflowers.com