DWELL: 41 BRADHURST IN CONTRACT

Harlem Bespoke: One of the distinct Queen Anne townhouses on Bradhurst by 144th Street has been up for sale at $1.95 million since January and now has a contract out as of this past weekend.  As previously mentioned, everything looks in turnkey condition for the 2-family home but some of the renovations look pretty dated in a non-historic way.  There are no original details within but an interested buyer could just see the interior space as blank canvas to add in better hard finishes.  With that said, express subways are only a couple of blocks away and the commercial corridor on 145th Street has a lot to offer.   More photos and details can be found on the broker site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

SHOP: NEW SHOP ARRIVING AT 2220 FDB

Harlem Bespoke: Back in 2016, there was an announcement that a French restaurant called Le Caméléon would be arriving on FDB just south of 120th Street but apparently the deal fell through.  A minor amount of construction started up soon after but the storefront was seized by the landlord and back on the market by 2018.  We actually have not been aware of any activity on site this year but had a bit of a surprise when walking by the address over the weekend.

BESPOKE KIDS: FILM NIGHT AT UNITED PALACE

Saturday, October 26th, 5:00PM, The Goonies (1985) at United Palace, 4150 Broadway by 175th Street.  Experience the classic film The Goonies from 1985 on a 50-foot screen in Manhattan's 4th largest theater! Wear your Halloween costume and join the parade across the stage before the movie!   Tickets are $15 adults, $8 children and more details can be found online: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2018

CELEBRATE: THE HARLEM HARVEST FESTIVAL 2019

Saturday, October 5th, 11:00AM-4:00PM, 10th Annual Harlem Harvest Festival,  St. Nicholas Avenue between 117th Street and 118th Street.  Harlem Park to Park will present the 10th annual Harlem Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 5th. The event began as a way to bring green markets and artisanal products to Harlem, at a time when there were few to none available for locals. Today, Harlem enjoys a plethora of farmers markets and Harlem Park to Park’s Harvest Festival has evolved into an opportunity to showcase the best, and newest Harlem made products available. Producers of culinary and lifestyle products come together to showcase their wares, providing samples, and selling their goods to festival goers and even retail buyers.  Chef Joseph Johnson’s newly opened FieldTrip Harlem will be one of the many vendors included at this year's celebration. There will also be music by DJ Stormin Norman of Sundae Sermon, Farmers Market vendors, restaurant vendors, demos and community bake offs along with children's activities throughout the day.


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☞ JOIN: HARLEM BESPOKE ON FACEBOOK

Harlem Bespoke: Join our growing community of over 14,360 followers on the Harlem Bespoke Facebook site and receive daily to your account by liking our page: LINK

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REMEMBER: HARLEM'S FIRST CONDOMINIUM

Harlem Bespoke:  We walked by 137 West 110th Street this weekend to follow up on a history post and noticed that everything out front is being renovated.  This kind of brings things to a full circle since back in 1983, getting a bank to finance the building called The Semiramis was quite difficult.  Although the location just west of Lenox Avenue was on Central Park North, this was gateway to Harlem and things were not so great in the historic neighborhood.  A New York Times article from 1985 mentions that it was almost impossible to get a loan for the abandoned building two years previously because nobody believed there was a market for condominiums this far north but a second generation Harlem resident persevered to make it happen.

DWELL: PRICE REDUCTION AT 452 WEST 142ND STREET

Harlem Bespoke:  Number 452 West 142nd Street went up on the market this past May for $3.7 million, had been reduced to $3.495 million as of early September and now has had another price chop with the current asking set at $3.1 million.  As previously mentioned, this 2-family home has pretty much a majority of original details intact including intricate ceiling plasterwork that is usually hard to find and is located on one of the most impressive row of limestone townhouses in Hamilton Heights.  The historic district with record-selling brownstones is just around the corner along with lots of restaurants nearby and express trains at 145th Street are also a short, scenic walk aways.  This 18-foot-wide beauty is definitely one of the uptown standouts and worth checking for those looking in the low $3 million price range.  More details and photos can be found on the broker site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

INTRODUCING: DEAR MAMA OPEN ON WEEKENDS

Harlem Bespoke:  Dear Mama was our pick for best uptown coffee shop back in 2016 when the original debuted in East Harlem and now a second location has become popular on west side but has been mostly shuttered on the weekends.  That has since changed in the past month since the school year started in Manhattanville and the location at 611 West 129th Street just east of Broadway will be open for the entire week now.

BESPOKE: DOCENT TOURS AT MORRIS-JUMEL

Sunday, September 29th, 2:00PM-3:30PM, Docent Tours at Morris-Jumel Mansion, 65 Jumel Terrace at 161st Street. Take a guided, in-depth tour of Manhattan's oldest house, led by one of MJM's expert docents. $12 adults, $9 students and seniors.  This is great research for those interested in the history of Harlem, classic architecture or the decorative arts. For more details, check out the official Morris-Jumel site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

DEMOLITION: BEGINNING OF THE END AT ST. JAMES

Harlem Bespoke:  We received news earlier in the year that St. James Methodist Church had sold to a developer and it appears that everything will be demolished in next few months.  In the past week or so, scaffolding has been going up at the corner of 126th Street on Madison Avenue and things do not look good for the 148-year-old  house of worship.  Demolition permits have been approved back in April and this last historically intact east side block just north of of 125th Street will forever be altered with a modern addition.  More details from a local perspective can be found in our original post from January of this year: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

SEE: AROUND HARLEM THIS WEEKEND

Harlem Bespoke: Keep it all uptown and help out Harlem's great local businesses over the weekend.  Below is the Bespoke list of what is new and notable in the north neighborhoods to try out this upcoming weekend. 


Discovering new contemporary African eateries in Harlem: LINK

Grabbing brunch at Ruby's Vintage on ACP by 137th Street: LINK

Visiting Ploughshares Coffee on Amsterdam and 126th Street: LINK

Checking out the new Pizza by Lucille's on Macomb and 150th: LINK

Dinner at Archer & Goat on Lenox by 119th Street: LINK

Saturday Morningside Farmers Market at 110th and Manhattan: LINK

Weekend lunch at Teranga on 110th Street and Fifth Avenue: LINK

African coffee and tea at Ginjan Cafe on 125th Street: LINK

Reserving a spot at Harlem's only Michelin Star restaurant: LINK

Checking out the new Mountain Bird location on 2nd Avenue and 111th: LINK

Weekend dinners at Belle on ACP 7th Avenue by 139th Street: LINK

Crafted rice bowls at Field Trip on Lenox by 116th Street: LINK

Asian pub grub at The Expat on the corner of Tiemann and Claremont: LINK

Drinks at Sugar Monk on Frederick Douglass by 123rd Street: LINK

Cold brew coffee at Little Bean on St. Nicholas and 111th Street: LINK

Coffee at Lucille's on Macombs Place and 150th Street: LINK

Cocktails and small bites at L'Argot on Hamilton Place: LINK

Coffee and ambiance at Common Good on FDB by 149th Street: LINK

Arepas and drinks at Barepas on Amsterdam by 148th street: LINK

Ethiopian cuisine at Benyam on FDB by 149th Street: LINK

Burgers, shakes and fries at Shake Shack on 125th Street: LINK

Drinks at Boxers Washington Heights on Broadway by 159th: LINK

Pizza Happy Hour on the weekends at Uncle Tony's by 139th Street: LINK

More drinks at the new Harlem Ale House on 127th Street: LINK

Tasting tacos in East Harlem at La Chula on 116th Street: LINK

Hanging out at the Bierstrasse beer garden on 12th Avenue: LINK

Coffee and donuts at Shuteye on 116th between Lenox and 7th Ave: LINK

Cocktails at Hexagon Lounge on 142nd Street by Edgecombe: LINK

Visiting Bo's Bagels on 116th early in the morning before they sell out: LINK

Trying out the brunch burger at RDV on FDB by West 112th Street: LINK

Discovering Japanese style crepes at Crepe Master on 116th: LINK

Tasting ice cream at Sugar Hill Creamery on Lenox by 119th: LINK

Dinner service at Clay on Manhattan Avenue and 123rd Street: LINK 

Drinks at the new Honeywell in Hamilton Heights on Broadway: LINK

Eating hand-made tacos at the Oso on Amsterdam and 140th Street: LINK

Discovering the East Harlem Bottling Co. on Lexington by 107th Street: LINK

Seafood and craft cocktails at  B2 Harlem on West 119th: LINK

Trying out southern whiskey at Uptown Bourbon by 152nd Street: LINK

Slurping up authentic ramen at R.O.K.C on Broadway by 141st Street: LINK

Brunch or dinner at Sottocasa Pizzeria on Lenox by 121st Street: LINK

Eating great Italian at Fumo on Amsterdam and 139th Street: LINK

Destination worthy brunch at Solomon & Kuff on 12th Avenue: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

EAT: OUTDOOR DINING AT RUBY'S

Harlem Bespoke:  We noticed palm trees out front of Ruby's Vintage this past summer and now it appears that a few tables are in place for outdoor dining at the corner of 137th Street and Adam Clayton Powell.  The weather is still nice especially for those brunch dates so make sure to drop by the new Central Harlem eatery voted as one of the best to try out for the weekend: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

DWELL: 13 WEST 121ST STREET REDUCED AGAIN

Harlem Bespoke: Number 13 West 121st Street in the Mount Morris Park Historic District first appeared on the market last October of 2018 with an asking price set at $5.295 million and the price has since been reduced a couple of times this year to a current asking set at $4.499 million.  As previously mentioned, this large 21-foot-wide brownstone has been upgraded with modern infrastructure but still retains a lot of the coveted original details within.  The 2-family landmark home is one of the higher priced townhouses to be found on the Harlem market but the location just around the corner from lower Lenox Avenue and Whole Foods should make this listing one to watch in the next few months.  More photos, details and contact information can be found on Streeteasy: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

INTRODUCING: URBAN INDIAN EXHIBIT AT MCNY

Urban Indian: Native New York Now exhibit at Museum of the City of New York, 104th Street and Fifth Avenue, September 27th 2019 through February 15th, 2020.  Today, more than seventy percent of the Native American population in the United States lives in urban areas. There is a flourishing Native presence in New York City, as Indigenous American people are shaping the city's cultural and political institutions, and collectively reclaiming heritage and urban space. Highlighting a mix of contemporary artworks, performing arts, and community memorabilia, Urban Indian: Native New York Now examines the shared meaning of being a Native person living in New York today, as individuals reflect on tribal affiliations, community well-being, personal growth, and intersectional experiences.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the American Indian Community House (AICH), a non-profit community organization that improves and promotes the well-being of Native Americans residing in New York, Urban Indian and related programming are presented in collaboration with AICH and AMERINDA, a New York City-based Native American multi-arts organization: LINK


HarlemBespoke.com 2019

BESPOKE: HARLEM LISTINGS 2019

Harlem Bespoke: Those who are interested in renting, buying or selling in Harlem should check out the Bespoke Listings page which feature the top experts in Harlem and the uptown market.  Our sponsors are some of the best in the field and cover a wide range of price points within the upper Manhattan market: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

☞ CONTACT: GOT A HARLEM BESPOKE TIP?

Send any tips and especially photos over our way if you have stories on your section of Harlem: harlembespoke@gmail.com

REMEMBER: 2201 7TH AVENUE AT 130TH STREET

Harlem Bespoke:  This is the current photo of the corner of West 130th Street looking up north on 7th Avenue and a vintage 1978 image with the original architecture can be viewed in our previous Harlem Bespoke post.  The older photo has the YMCA building visible in the background but a new condo obscures the modern view.  That new condo also is where The Lafayette Theatre used to be located at but the sight was sold and demolished a few years ago.  Those wondering what was on the near corner of 130th Street can see that it was a larger red historic building but now has an abandoned condominium on site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

INTRODUCING: DRAG NIGHT IN HAMILTON HEIGHTS

September 26th, 7:00PM to 9:00PM, Drag Night at Il Caffe Latte, 458 West 145th Street between Convent and Amsterdam Avenue, $5 admission includes half price drinks.  Il Caffe Latte in Hamilton Heights has been showcasing local talent each month and a past drag night previously sold out. Peachez  returns with a couple of extra friends for two hours of gender illusion with half price drinks for all guest with $5 cover.  More details on the Il Caffe Latte Instagram site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

DWELL: 1700 LEXINGTON BROWNSTONE

Harlem Bespoke: The 5-unit rental brownstone at 1700 Lexington Avenue was briefly on the market for the asking of just under $3 million back in 2016 and now has returned for a reduced price of $2.6 million.  As previously mentioned, this is probably one of the best locations in East Harlem because of the proximity to the 103rd Street subway stop but the painted townhouse is chopped up into many units which may or may not have tenants currently residing within.  With that said, the commercial strip in this area is booming and the interior of the home does have original details.  This is one of more intact brownstone blocks on the east side but the layout appears to be the main issue here.  More details and broker information on Streeteasy: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

ART: HANG NIGHT AT HEATH GALLERY FALL 2019

Friday, September 27th, 7:30PM-10:00, Hang Night at  Heath Gallery at 24 West 120th Street in Mount Morris Park.  HangNight includes an exhibition of affordable art, artists' remarks, open mic for music, vocal and/or spoken word performances and a complimentary beverage.  Going on its 4th year, HangNight™ was created to provide an accessible exhibition opportunity for visual artists and has expanded to include creatives of any genre. This one night exhibition is curated on the spot with 1 piece of art from each participating artist. And the performing artists well...you never know who or what to expect. So grab a friend, grab a ticket, and come out and enjoy cool art, cool performances and a great vibe in our Harlem townhome.  More details and registration information can be found on the official event site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

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REMEMBER: ON THE BOULEVARD CIRCA 1978

Harlem Bespoke:  Photojounalist Manel Armengo visited Harlem back in 1978 and took some incredible photos of the the grittier years of New York City's history.  The above image was taken on a historic boulevard which looks quite different today?  Who can guess the location from the above photos?  There are actually two landmarks that provide a major clue.  An current photo will be posted tomorrow but those who want a preview should go to the Harlem Bespoke twitter account.

QUESTION: WHAT'S UP WITH NORTHEND FOOD HALL?

Harlem Bespoke:  Uptown's first food hall had been planned since 2017 at the storefront space on Broadway and 183rd Street but nothing really has happened since the beginning of the year.  Our last update in January revealed that the facade had finished up for Northend food hall and anchor tenants had been listed out front.  So what is going on now?

DWELL: 41 BRADHURST TOWNHOUSE

Harlem Bespoke: One of the distinct Queen Anne townhouses on Bradhurst by 144th Street has been up for sale at $1.95 million since January.  Everything looks in turnkey condition for the 2-family home but some of the renovations look pretty dated in a non-historic way.  There are no original details within but an interested buyer could just see the interior space as blank canvas to add in better hard finishes.  With that said, express subways are only a couple of blocks away and the commercial corridor on 145th Street has a lot to offer.   More photos and details can be found on the broker site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

SEE: FALL EXHIBITS AT SUGAR HILL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

Wednesday, October 23rd, Frederick J. Brown: Dreams and the Possibility of…at The Sugar Hill Children's Museum, 898 St. Nicholas Avenue on the corner of 155th Street, Hours from 10:00AM-5:00PM, Thursday-Sunday. October 23rd marks the debut of two new exhibitions at the Sugar Hill Children's Museum. Frederick J. Brown: Dreams and the Possibility of… celebrates the artwork of pioneering expressionist artist Frederick James Brown (1945-2012). Featuring a selection of work spanning Brown’s nearly 50-year career and diverse stylistic approaches to canvas, the exhibition examines the artist’s conception of “dreams” through three lenses: the imagined landscape, aspiration and possibility, and “the American Dream.” In concert with reflections provided by activist, journalist and founding member of the Last Poets Felipe Luciano, the works of art showcased in Dreams and the Possibility of… explore the themes of ancestry, belief, and culture, all of which, for Brown, were sites where dreams took shape.

Tatiana Arocha’s Respiro un bosque / I Breathe a Forest immerses viewers in the dense wilderness of South America’s tropical forests. Juxtaposing real specimens, images of rapid devastation, and monumental natural elements, this site-specific exhibition powerfully unmasks an anguished cry from the earth and a yearning for nature and its preservation.  More details on the Children's Museum site: LINK


HarlemBespoke.com 2019

READ: APARTMENT APPLICATION FEE CAPS 2019

Harlem Bespoke:  The New York Times just confirmed that brokers also have a limit on what can be charged on an apartment application fee.  There apparently was a grey area in the new Housing Stability and Tenant Act signed by Governor Cuomo on July 1st of this years since one of the new regulations included placing a cap of $20 for landlords on any application.  But what about brokers?  Apparently a few charged up to $400 an application and just signing up to get a new apartment could cost hundreds or even thousands just for filling out paperwork.  Everything now has been clarified and the law also includes brokers so those who had exorbitant applications from the start of July can get a refund.  Another point to note is that an interested renter can also have any fee waived if documentations for a background check and current credit score are provided to the landlord or broker. More details in the New York Times: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

☞ FOLLOW: BESPOKE VIA TWITTER

Harlem Bespoke also has a Twitter account with over 6,450 followers for those who want daily updates about stuff that is happening in the neighborhood. If you Twitter, check out our Harlem tweets and join here: LINK

GREEN HARLEM: LOCAL UPTOWN COMPOSTING

Harlem Bespoke: As the city's populations grows, being green and sustainable has been a major concern in many communities on the local, industrial or commercial levels.  Green Harlem is a new feature on Harlem Bespoke which will explore various options, plans and main users of the initiative for a more sustainable focus on how we live.

DWELL: 215 WEST 138TH STREET SOLD IN AUGUST

Harlem Bespoke: A gut renovated single-family home in the Strivers Row neighborhood at 215 West 138th Street has arrived on the market for the asking of $2.999 million back in November 2018 had a price reduction to $2.55 million by the time March 2019 rolled around and records now show that the home has finally sold.  As previously mentioned, a few original details have been retained within so there is a contemporary feel to the overall interior.  With that said, we especially like the luxurious bathroom setup with a separate soaking tub and a shower with decorative tiles.  This takes a lot of extra plumbing work but the classic layout is the right way to set up a designer bathroom.   A lot of new businesses are opening up around this block between 7th and 8th Avenue and we expect this to be the next hot hub for Harlem in the next year or so.  More photos and details on Streeteasy: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

CONSTRUCTION: NEW WINDOWS AT PS 157

Harlem Bespoke:  A sidewalk shed had been place around the former P.S. 157 building at the corner of 127th Street and St. Nicholas in the past week.  This local landmark was one of the first adaptive reuse school buildings in the neighborhood and is one one of the more affordable rentals in the neighborhood but vacancy are quite rare.  From what we can see so far, new windows are being added but it is unclear if anything else will be installed in the near future.  Check out our past post to see an archival photo of this unique building on the cusp of West Harlem.

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

DEMOLITION: LAST STANDING IN MANHATTANVILLE

Harlem Bespoke:  We took the elevated 1 train from Hamilton Heights this weekend and noticed that one of the largest buildings in the new Columbia University Manhattanville campus is in the last stages of demolition.  Those who have been around for a minute know that this used to be the Tucki-It-Away storage facility and was a businesses that had been holding out until Eminent Domain laws facilitated the sale of the property.  It all kind of looks like a war zone north of 130th Street but the section by 125th Street now has all new buildings: LINK


HarlemBespoke.com 2019

☞ JOIN: HARLEM BESPOKE ON FACEBOOK

Harlem Bespoke: Join our growing community of over 14,360 followers on the Harlem Bespoke Facebook site and receive daily to your account by liking our page: LINK

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INTRODUCING: BLACK PANTHER FILM FESTIVAL 2019

October 3rd - October 5th, Black Panther Film Festival 2019,  at Maysles Cinema, 343 Lenox Avenue by 127th Street.  The dates for the annual 9th Annual Black Panther Film Festival has been announced at Maysles Cinema in Central Harlem and advance tickets can be purchased online.  Check out the full list of film screenings on the official theater site which also includes dates for Q&A sessions with directors: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

DWELL: 111 WEST 119TH STREET REDUCED FURTHER

Harlem Bespoke: The 19-foot-wide landmark brownstone at 111 West 119th Street had arrived on the market in November 2018 for the asking of $4.15 million, had a price cut to $3.945 million in January and now has been reduced further a couple of times by September to the current $3.395 million.  As previously mentioned, this 2-family townhouse has a main owners triplex on the top floors and a rental garden apartment at the lower level.  There appears to be substantial original details within and modern upgrades such as HVAC have all been included as part of the renovation.  The address is within the coveted Mount Morris Park District which is just a few blocks away from the express trains on Lenox Avenue next to the Whole Foods on 125th Street.  More details and photos can be found on the broker site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

LISTEN: MOTHERSHIP TWO AT MARCUS GARVEY PARK

Saturday, September 21st, 2:00PM-8:00PM, Mothership Two at Marcus Garvey Park, 18 Moutn Morris Park West, entrance at 122nd Street.  Mothership Two is an interactive voyage of music and dance featuring performances, DJs, and live music. The historic Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park becomes a celebration of community, spirit and inclusion that blends afro-fusion, hip-hop, vogue, house, praise and more.The entire Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park will become an interactive voyage of music and dance. All are welcome to this cross-genre celebration of music, dance and community: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

DEMOLITION: PLYWOOD UP AT MCDONALD'S 125TH

Harlem Bespoke:  A lot of folks have been sentimental about the demise of the free-standing McDonald's on 125th Street that has been around since the 80s. We walked by the site at the corner of Broadway today and noticed plywood had already been installed just a little over a week after everything closed down.  To many, this was symbolic to the old neighborhood in many ways and the drive-thru hut also was retro since most locations now have a more minimalistic box design these days.  Columbia University has been building the new Manhattanville campus in the surrounding area for almost a decade now and this location was one of the last buildings to go.  More on the demolition can be found in our past post: LINK




HarlemBespoke.com 2019

INTRODUCING: THE 2ND ANNUAL HARLEM STOOP SALE

Harlem Bespoke:  Saturday, September 21st, 10:00AM to 4:00PM, The 2nd Annual Harlem Stoop Sale, West 127th Street between Lenox and 5th Avenue.  The West 127th Street block association will have their second annual Harlem stoop sale this weekend and everyone is invited.  Make sure to drop by for a day of live music, games, and also meeting the neighbors.  More on the block association website: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019

LAST CHANCE: IN THE DUGOUT WITH JACKIE ROBINSON

In the Dugout with Jackie Robinson exhibit at Museum of the City of New York, 104th Street and Fifth Avenue, through September 22nd.  In 1947 Jackie Robinson made history when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African American in major league baseball. In honor of the centennial of Robinson’s birth, In the Dugout with Jackie Robinson features some 30 images of Robinson and the Dodgers taken for Look magazine. Along with these stunning black-and-white images from the Museum's collection, many never before seen, the exhibition features memorabilia and rare footage of the Robinson family, as well as the published magazines, which provide a window into the media's portrayal of this groundbreaking figure through the lens of the day’s popular picture press. More details can be found at the MCNY site: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2019