REMEMBER: JOSEPH LOTH RIBBON FACTORY CIRCA 1893

An image circa 1893 shows the Joseph Loth Fair & Square Ribbon Factory as it stood fully constructed at 151st Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Hamilton Heights.  The central clock tower was one of the most distinctive features of the building but it no longer exists today because of a fire back in 1916.  Manufacturing was a big part of business uptown by the turn of the last century but the factory owner eventually sold off the building by 1928.  In more recent years, a successful charter school has established itself in the top floor space and appears to be doing quite well:  LINK

ARCHITECTURE: BALCONIES AT A HARLEM CHURCH

Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone now owns the former Mount Moriah Church on Fifth Avenue and has been converting the former house of worship into a home with community space.  The scaffolding for the facade restoration went down earlier this year but we just now noticed the small Juliet balcony additions on the upper floors.   These more shallow architectural elements do a pretty good job at providing a little bit of function without being overly obtrusive to the overall look of a building.  It actually took several views of the former church before we realized that the balconies were added on as part of the renovations.  The door on the other hand appears to be a larger work in progress since not much has changed at the entrance since springtime.

SHOP: BUSINESSES HEAD NORTH FOR OPPORTUNITY

Just a couple of years back, hot new spots were opening around Lenox or FDB by 125th Street but now boutique businesses are looking further north for better opportunities.  We gather that openings have since slowed down further south because new leases are surely costly so savvy shop owners now see that the lack of competition further north and more affordable rents make sense for new businesses launches.

For 2014, there will 7 new notable openings in the upper 130s and the 140s mostly concentrated on the more western locale of Harlem.  At The Wallace just opened its bar at Broadway and 149th Street and has been an instant hit.  The same can be said for Manhattanville Coffee which arrived earlier in the summer at 142nd and Edgecombe and it now looks like Anchor Wine Bar will be next to open its doors over on Broadway by 143rd Street.   Hog's Head Tavern at 142nd and Hamilton Place will surely receive much of our entertainment budget when it opens in the next couple of weeks while Grill On The Hill just 2 blocks south will also be a notable debut in a similar time frame.  Finally The Edge cafe at 139th and Edgecombe or La Tarenga's contemporary French-Senaglese offerings just an avenue over will totally complete the restaurant revolution of the more northern reaches of Harlem.

QUESTION: WHAT'S UP WITH THE HAMILTON THEATRE?

The new owners of the Hamilton Theatre at 146th and Broadway had emptied out the interior formerly used for a dollar department store back in 2013 and has had a "For Rent" sign up until now.  Walking pass the building this week, we noticed an immaculate storefront at ground level without any rent signage out front.  Could this mean a lease has finally been signed?  This is one of the last great usable landmark commercial spaces in West Harlem that has been available in some time and many hope that the historic building will be used to its full potential.  Read more about The Hamilton in our past post: LINK

REVIVE: MORE ACTIVITY AT PS186 SITE

A Bespoke reader sent in the above photo showing some sort of construction activity at the site of PS186 which has been abandoned for 27 years.  Another reader soon after mentioned that they talked to one of the workers while passing by this section of 145th Street just east of Broadway and were told that the crew was set up for asbestos abatement at the historic schoolhouse.  This is somewhat a good sign since one would have guessed getting rid of asbestos would have been a priority over a decade ago so maybe Hamilton Heights will finally see the building restored within a 30 year time period.  Check out the final rendering in our past post: LINK

DWELL: A RECORD STRIVERS ROW CONTRACT

The word is out about Strivers Row in Central Harlem now that a record contract at $2.8 million has been signed for the former Will Marion Cook House at 221 West 138th Street. An initial asking price of $2.45 million was set back in April and apparently there must have been a few interested buyers since the house still does need a tad bit of work.  With that said, the landmark neighborhood is one of the most unique in Manhattan, comes with a private garage out back, has original details intact and one fantastic bathroom renovation that is mostly complete.  More details about this impending sale can be found on Curbed: LINK

INTRODUCING: THE UNION FOOD LAB

The Union Food Lab is a West Harlem incubator kitchen located within the Union Theological Seminary by Broadway and 122nd Street.   This organization is similar to Hot Bread Kitchen in East Harlem since they rent out commercial kitchens for local startup food and beverage companies by shifts and also provide classes.  Any folks out there thinking of setting up a new food company within Harlem should definitely check Union Food Lab out for more details: LINK

ARCHITECTURE: UPTOWN 58 REVEALED

Central Harlem's newest condos to be constructed has now revealed its somewhat completed facade.  Scaffolding had been up at Uptown 58 on West 129th Street for the majority of the year and now all of the netting has come down at the construction just right around the corner from Lenox Avenue.  All of the highest priced condos out of the 19-unit building went into contract this past month after they debuted on the market and the building is apparently 80 percent accounted for at this point.  Uptown 58 is the only new construction adjacent to the Lenox Avenue's restaurant corridor,  sits in close proximity to the express trains on 125th Street and has the standard 15-year tax abatement.

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REMEMBER: THE WATERWAYS OF HARLEM

Harlem has many streams and rivers that used once run through the uptown neighborhood and an empty lot by 141st Street provides a rare glimpse of one of those waterways.  When we looked at an open house on this block on the north side of St. Nicholas Park several years ago, we were told that the lowest sub-floor of the brownstone was a "wet basement"  which meant it alway had about an inch of water  within.   We were told that this occurred because a stream once existed in the neighborhood and had since been covered up over a century ago.   One of the brownstones on the block apparently did not make it to this current century intact and a keen observer can see a shallow flow of water on that lot which is covered in reeds during the warm weather season.  The lower photo was taken in springtime and now the parcel of land has much taller foliage growing within.

RENT: 237 LENOX AVENUE JUNIOR ONE BEDROOM

Our rent pick of the week is a junior one bedroom in the Mount Morris Park Historic District going for $1,495 a month.  There apparently is a separate, small bedroom that just fits a full size bed but nothing else at the 237 Lenox Avenue brownstone apartment.  This is still a pretty great deal for a starter apartment in Manhattan that is close to a lot of amenities and has a lot of charm on the interior.  The location right by the express trains is also one of the loveliest in Harlem: LINK

LISTEN: JAZZMOBILE AT GRANT'S TOMB

Wednesday, July 30th, 7:00PM-8:30PM, Jazzmobile featuring Bobby Sanabria at Grant's Tomb, West 122nd Street and Riverside Drive.  Jazzmobile continues the tradition of free Harlem summer concert and will feature Latin Jazz with Bobby Sanabria at the outdoor plaza in front of Grant's Tomb.  This is one of those true uptown events where all the neighbors come out and listen to an evening of free music. Bring out your lawn chairs and blankets! All concerts are weather permitting and subject to change. More details at:  Jazzmobile.org

READ: $95M SECURED FOR HARLEM WHOLE FOODS

The new construction site that broke ground almost 8 months ago 100 West 125th Street still looks like a large pit of dirt but that might just change very quickly since the a new loan for $95 million has just been secured for the commercial building which will have Whole Foods as the anchor tenant.  An article in the Commercial Observer reports that the transaction closed on July 11th and that the new property will also have an Olive Garden alongside American Eagle.  When all is finished sometimes in 2015, there will be a total of 200,000 square-foot of commercial space and 6-stories all together in the new structure at the corner of Lenox Avenue: LINK

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REMEMBER: LENOX LOUNGE CIRCA 1994

We were checking out a few 90s videos for research over the weekend and saw this old black and white production for the song Secret which reminded us of Harlem photographer Gordan Parks' work.  From that point on, it seemed that the lounge in the background was very reminiscent of Lenox Lounge complete with the older musicians performing in their requisite pork pie hats.  It turns out that this 1994 production is a glimpse of Harlem 20 years ago and the video was indeed filmed at Lenox Lounge.  Unfortunately a lease dispute has now left the formerly iconic space gutted back in 2013 and the future of Harlem's most famous jazz spot is still in question: LINK

DWELL: 2038 MADISON TOWNHOUSE REDUCED

The 2-family East Harlem townhouse at 2038 Madison by 129th Street had an initial asking earlier in the year closer to $3 million but now has been reduced to $2.3 million.  The renovations which includes a majority of original details and truly higher end, context finishes is one of the better ones we have seen uptown but Madison is pretty much a sleepy corner of the neighborhood.  With that said, the housing stock around the immediate blocks are quite nice and some record sales have been reported just one avenue over on Fifth in the past year.  More details on the broker site: LINK

BESPOKE: A STOOP GARDEN BY STRIVERS ROW

The owners of the stoop by 138th Street and 7th Avenue never ceases to impress us every summer with their gardening creativity.  At the height of summer it seems that the foliage is especially verdant and the well-watered display is a lush paradise within the Strivers Row blocks.  This touch of local color always brightens one's day when passing by and it is always very inspiring to see folks so passionate about beautifying the block.

EAT: ANCHOR WINE BAR IN HAMILTON HEIGHTS

We just noticed that one of the Mexican restaurants on the Broadway corridor of West Harlem had shuttered recently and a new place already has been set to move in.  The space at 3508 Broadway just north of 143rd Street has a public notice up for a liquor license and will be called Anchor Wine Bar based on the paperwork in the window.  With an atmospheric name and what appears to be engineered wood floors on the interior, we expect that this new arrival will actually be one to look out for in Hamilton Heights.  Other yet-to-be open restaurants in the area such as Hog's Head Tavern are also upping the game in design and this always shows a particularly high taste level to us and usually indicates the no details are left behind for such establishments.  We are not quite sure of the opening date for Anchor but everything looks like it is coming together quite quickly.

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INTRODUCING: EAST HARLEM GIGLIO FESTIVAL 2014

Mark those calendars for Sunday, August 10th for East Harlem Giglio Festival 2014, which celebrates a beloved tradition in what used to be the largest Italian neighborhood in the states.  The weekend-long festival culminates with an afternoon fete over at Pleasant Avenue from East 114th to East 116th Street with a crowd of men lifting a religious tower that was constructed in the previous days.  Each tower is different every year and this feet of strength was started in Italy centuries ago and is in honor of a town's patron saint.  A population of 100,000 Italians once lived in East Harlem for decades before the demographics changed to El Barrio in the latter half of the 20th century and the immigrant families brought the Giglio Festival to the east side.  A group of relatives who have history uptown return to the old neighborhood on this weekend in August to celebrate the cultural past of East Harlem which used to be called uptown's Little Italy until the 1960s when there was a mass exodus to the suburbs.

This family-friendly event also features food and a block party before the main lifting ceremony. Check out the full list of activities on the official website along with contact information: www.EastHarlemGiglio.com.

READ: CITIBIKE COULD FINALLY ARRIVE UPTOWN

A popular local petition started this past spring had Harlem residents requesting that Citibike expand further north in Manhattan but financing for the popular bike share program has stalled everything until now.  Gothamist reports that new backers will basically put up some major cash and the Citibike expansion could become a reality.  Uptown is mentioned within the recent article but it is unclear if any key spots in Harlem will selected once the new capital has been received: LINK

EXERCISE: BLINK AT 116TH STREET

Harlem's 2nd Blink Fitness appears to almost be ready to debut on the north side of West 116th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenue.  The affordable chain of Equinox first opened at a location on 125th Street last year and now has quickly secured another a spot on 116th Street.  With a complete all-gym pass for around $20 a month, this was our choice in Harlem but the facilities definitely are not as full service as the regular rate exercise emporiums.  Cardio fanatics will enjoy the vast amount of equipment available that always seem to be empty but the free-weight stations are a little more limited in number.  Dumbbells also only go up to 90 pounds so those used to lifting really heavy at the bench might be a little disappointed here.

SEE: ROMEO & JULIET AT MARCUS GARVEY PARK

This weekend will be the last one to check out The Classical Theatre of Harlem's production of Romeo and Juliet  at Marcus Garvey Park with Jazzmobile starting things off at 7:00PM on Friday.  These free public performances are scheduled nightly during the last weekend of July and are great way to enjoy the summer evenings at the restored Richard Rodgers Amphitheater.  More details on the full schedule can be found at the Classical Theatre of Harlem site: LINK

QUESTION: WHAT'S UP WITH 1992 MADISON?

The handsome and rather large corner brownstone at 1992 Madison Avenue has been vacant for at least 5 years now and we were surprised to see the townhouse still in the same condition when walking by this past week.  Records show that the 6,420 square-foot home sold back in 2005 for $887.5K and the interior apparently was pretty intact back then.   Permits from 2006 through 2008 show that a 4-unit building was being planned with central air as part of the amenities and rumors had it that it would all be condos.  From then on, everything stopped during the recession and squatters have apparently damaged the interior by setting a fire a couple of years back.  This location is one of those rare, intact brownstone blocks in Manhattan and should not be an issue with interested developers nowadays so why has this property not changed hands?

ARCHITECTURE: GRIFFINS REVISITED ON SUGAR HILL

We were admiring the large bay-front brownstones up on West 154th Street by St. Nicholas Avenue over the weekend and noticed a distinct motif for the first time.  Griffins seem to have been a major mythical inspiration up on Sugar Hill since this is the third location we have noticed that has these Greek flying beasts carved into the stone.  Lions or even dragons are more popular in other parts of Harlem but Griffins seem to have been the rage on the hill back at the turn of the last century. This pair by far is the most fearsome of the bunch but the other ones that we have run into have also been quite spectacular in a different way:  LINK

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SHOP: WEST 112TH STREET KIOSK STILL VACANT

The old newsstand on West 112th Street by FDB went under some major renovations about two years ago but still sits empty.  Since storefront space is so pricey these days, one would imagine a thrifty entrepreneur would see the potential here but not much has happened over the years.  Any suggestions on what should move in here?

DWELL: 2289 7TH AVENUE TOWNHOUSE

A 2-family townhouse in Central Harlem has arrived on the market at the $1 million price point.  Number 2289 ACP/7th Avenue is a 5 minute walk away from the 135th Street express train and near to  a couple of great local spots such as Yatenga.   This building is on the narrower side and apparently the top floor unit is occupied.  With that said, it all looks to be in pretty good shape for the low asking and could be a great starter home for those entering the brownstone market: LINK

LISTEN: JAZZMOBILE AT GRANT'S TOMB

UPDATE: THE CONCERT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THUNDER STORMS. Wednesday, July 23rd, 7:00PM-8:30PM, Jazzmobile featuring Jeremy Pelt at Grant's Tomb, West 122nd Street and Riverside Drive.  Jazzmobile continues the tradition of free Harlem summer concert and will feature the acclaimed trumpeter Jeremy Pelt tonight at the outdoor plaza in front of Grant's Tomb.  This is one of those true uptown events where all the neighbors come out and listen to an evening of free music. Bring out your lawn chairs and blankets! All concerts are weather permitting and subject to change. More details at:  Jazzmobile.org

REVIVE: CHURCH DEMOLISHED AT 110TH STREET

The church facing Central Park at 110th Street between 7th Avenue and Lenox has now been completely demolished. Bespoke readers were sending in tips about the sale of the house of worship earlier this year and construction crews have been working on the site since May.  We walked by the location this past weekend and noticed that the building has now been totally dismantled.  Apparently an 11-story residential tower will rise on the spot of all goes according to plan: LINK

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INTRODUCING: POPBAR AT MANHATTANVILLE COFFEE

When the owners of Manhattanville Coffee on Edgecombe and 142nd gave us a preview of the new coffee shop, they mentioned that there would be a Popbar mini-fridge on the counter in the future and we were not able to try one out until now.  Popbar is actually an artisan popsicle shop in the West Village and we thought it was an interesting concept to bring this specialty item uptown.  The hand-dipped chocolate blood orange was the obvious choice on this hot July afternoon and the overall impression was that this was one cool grownup take on a childhood classic.  Flavors are definitely more natural and on the lighter side so folks used to heavy artificial stuff might not quite get the appeal.  Hopefully this pop concept will take off in Harlem so that we might just start seeing the gelato versions arrive soon at Manhattanville Coffee.

INTRODUCING: MORE GREEN AT THE GRANGE

Walking around Hamilton Heights this past weekend, we noticed that The Grange at 141st and Amsterdam had new plant boxes placed out front.  The popular West Harlem restaurant is in a landmark building which is under scaffolding now so they can not set up sidewalk seating as originally planned.  Seeing that the whole sidewalk shed situation might not be resolved in quite some time, the owner decided to invest in some foliage to at least dress up the front a little while waiting for the construction to begin.  We are always supportive of making Harlem a little more green during summer so The Grange gets a Bespoke thumbs up for beautifying the block.

RENT: 213 WEST 139TH STREET ONE BEDROOM

A true one bedroom on historic Strivers Row is going for a reasonable $1,600 a month these days.  Considering this is one of the most famous neighborhoods in Central Harlem, prices could be higher but right now there is not too much going on as far as better amenities in the immediate area.  With that said, express subway lines are close enough to make transportation easy and St. Nicholas park is only a 5 minute walk away.  More details can be found on the broker site: LINK

REVIVE: MYSTERY LAND ON PRIME 125TH STREET

One of the last open lots on prime West 125th Street parcel of land still appears to be inactive for some reason.  The corner of 125th Street at the north eastern side of Fifth Avenue looks like a small jungle now facing the brownstones in the area just a block from Marcus Garvey Park and the Mount Morris Park Historic District.  We expected this location to develop more quickly than other areas now that the government is charging market rate taxes on old lots but nothing has happened as of yet.  Does anyone have any details on the history of the plot and why the land has remained neglected in the past few years?

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INTRODUCING: SOFT OPENING FOR AT THE WALLACE

At The Wallace had a soft opening this past Sunday and promises to be the new go to spot for drinks in West Harlem.  This new establishment launched by the folks behind Harlem Public has a more eclectic stance to the interior with a photo booth in one corner, decoupage on the ceiling and a mix of vintage antiques from different decades.  Overall the space is much larger than HP and is really set up to be a cool neighborhood hangout and the Public will end up be the major food destination.  We especially liked the frosted mugs that all of the draft beer were served in and also that the cocktail prices are just $8 for each.  Harlem has seen such a surge of $15 cocktail lounges that it is refreshing to have a new place that is an affordable option and that will be managed by an experienced team familiar with setting up a great business for the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, At The Wallace will be closed for most of the week but expect doors to open towards Thursday or Friday. Right now the gas is not on so it is basically drinks only at this point in time.  This is actually not a problem since one can just head over to Harlem Public next door for some really great bites.

DWELL: 360 WEST 122ND STREET BROWNSTONE

Number 360 West 122nd Street just arrived on the market for $2.6 million and we kind of think the brokers set the asking at a reasonable starting point based on the sales of the surrounding block in the past year or so.  In our opinion, this is one of the best locations in south Harlem since the charming side streets are perfectly intact with brownstones, Morningside Park is just around the corner and the express trains are only a 5 minute walk away. The bustling FDB corridor is also an avenue over but we like that one can still retain the feel of a small village by the Manhattan Avenue corridor and just be a little further away from some main foot traffic along the boulevard.  Finishes are on the moderate side but everything looks up to date.  If this building had more original details and higher end contextual kitchen and baths, we would imagine closing prices closer to $3 million like some of the neighbors: LINK

SEE: FREE SUMMER MOVIES IN ST. NICHOLAS PARK

Wednesday, July 23rd, 7:45PM, Free Outdoor Movies at St. Nicholas Park, 135th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue.  Maysles Cinema's Summer of Music The Marcus Garvey Park Alliance & Reel Harlem: The Historic Harlem Parks Film Festival present The Night James Brown Saved Boston at St. Nicholas Park on the plaza by West 135th Street. Lawn Chairs Permitted Rain Location: TBA

The screening of The Night James Brown Saved Boston starts at 8:45PM this coming Wednesday:

It's the day after the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King. America's inner cities are on fire, and the city of Boston is looking to James Brown to help stop it from exploding and imploding. The Night James Brown Saved Boston focuses on James Brown's extraordinary, history-making concert at the Boston Garden on April 5, 1968, putting the events of that day into the context of the times, and for the first time, telling the dramatic story of what happened that night, spotlighting this crucial moment in the life and career of James Brown. Up to that moment, James Brown has been a great artist, a successful businessman, a civil rights activist and an American patriot. On April 5, 1968, he becomes hero.

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REMEMBER: A DOORWAY ON WEST 127TH

A photo from the Museum of the City of New York circa 1964 shows a unique entrance on West 127th Street just east of Fifth Avenue.  Taxidermy, holiday lights, intricately carved door and a hand painted sign are all there along with some major industrial gates.  Today, the twin buildings still stand and the doorways have been made a little more simple in presentation as can be seen in the lower photo. One major point to note here is that the heavy decorative elements also previously included heavy security which does not seem to be the case these days.

RENT: MARKET RATE AT 2270 FDB

The new building at 2270 FDB on the corner of West 122nd Street just finished up weeks ago and now appears to already have market-rate tenants moving in.  Walking by yesterday, we noticed the missed matched curtains in various windows and furniture in place for many of the units.  Prices apparently start out at $2,350 a month for a studio and up to $5,000 for a 3-bedroom.

QUESTION: WHAT'S UP WITH THE HUGHES HOUSE?

We walked by the Langston Hughes house at 20 East 127th yesterday and noticed conditions did not look so great for the historic home.  All of the once verdant vines out front have dried up and now it appears two windows have been broken at some point. There has been somewhat of an effort to protect the interior from the elements but the clear plastic seems to also be falling apart.  This historic townhouse on the cusp of Central and East Harlem has been on and off the market for the past 5 years but for some reason has not sold.  We would love to see the Harlem poet's great house restored in every single way possible since the interior has some complete details within but the brownstone would have to exchange ownership first for that to happen.  Check out our past post for more details: LINK

SEE: ROMEO & JULIET AT MARCUS GARVEY PARK

Check out The Classical Theatre of Harlem's production of Romeo and Juliet this weekend at Marcus Garvey Park with performances starting at 7:30PM.  These free public performances are scheduled during the night from Tuesdays through Sundays for the rest of July and are great way to enjoy the summer evenings at the restored Richard Rodgers Amphitheater.  More details on the full schedule can be found at the Classical Theatre of Harlem site: LINK