BESPOKE KIDS: THE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT

Saturday, July 8th, 12:00PM–2:00PM,  The Billion Oyster Project at The Baylander, West Harlem Piers on the Hudson at 125th Street.  Come see the Billion Oyster Project on the Baylander’s Jungle Deck. Learn about the project's latest effort to restore our harbor!

NEW THIS WEEKEND: UPTOWN TRIENNIAL 2023

Uptown Triennial 2023, on view June 23rd, 2023 through September 17th, 2023 at the Wallach gallery, 615 West 125th Street, west of Broadway, Wednesday-Sunday, 12:00PM-6:00PM.  Uptown Triennial 2023 is a visual arts tribute to the sonic world—in the realms of music, soundscapes, and spoken word—that resonates with the spirit of Harlem. The Triennial was originally conceived in 2017 as a survey of works by artists who live or practice north of 99th Street in Manhattan..

CELEBRATE: HARLEM PRIDE JUNE 2023

Harlem Bespoke:  Mark those calendars for a great day in Harlem featuring food, vendors and a stage with live entertainment. The annual celebration will be set up on 12th Avenue at the north end of the viaduct with great views of the Hudson just steps away. 

UPTOWN NIGHT MARKET JUNE EDITION 2023

Harlem Bespoke: The Uptown Night Market returns for every second Thursday during the summer 2023 season after a successful first run in Manhattanville last year.

BESPOKE KIDS: THE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT

Saturday, June 10th, 12:00PM–2:00PM,  The Billion Oyster Project at The Baylander, West Harlem Piers on the Hudson at 125th Street.  Come see the Billion Oyster Project on the Baylander’s Jungle Deck. Learn about the project's latest effort to restore our harbor!

UPTOWN NIGHT MARKET JUNE EDITION 2023

Harlem Bespoke: The Uptown Night Market returns for every second Thursday during the summer 2023 season after a successful first run in Manhattanville last year.

SEE: 1-54 CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR 2023

Harlem Bespoke: Friday-Sunday, May 19th-21st 11:00AM to 7:00PM, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, at Malt House in the Manhattanville Factory District, 439 West 127th Street by Amsterdam Avenue.  The Harlem location of Gavin Brown in Manhattanville shuttered in 2020 and now the West Harlem location in the old brewery building will be used for the occasional pop-up exhibit for New Yorkers to check out in the unique uptown space.

☞ REMEMBER: GIBB'S DINER OF MANHATTANVILLE

Harlem Bespoke:  Another history post we did over 10 years ago at the start of blog was about West Market Diner (shuttered 2004) in the planned Manhattanville campus footprint.  A blog reader mentioned that their family used to own the diner and shared amazing photos with some insight on the forgotten past of the neighborhood.  The diner building has since been demolished to make way for the new Columbia University campus.

INTRODUCING: BAYLANDER STEEL BEACH 2023

Harlem Bespoke:  The very popular Baylander Steel Beach lounge on the former naval ship at the West Harlem Piers on far West 125th Street wrapped up a second successful season last November when the weather got cold but now things will be warming up since Spring 2023 has finally arrived.  So when will everyone be on deck this season?

BESPOKE KIDS: THE BILLION OYSTER PROJECT IN MAY

Saturday, May 13th, 12:00PM–2:00PM,  The Billion Oyster Project at The Baylander, West Harlem Piers on the Hudson at 125th Street.  Come see the Billion Oyster Project on the Baylander’s Jungle Deck. Learn about the project's latest effort to restore our harbor!

EAT: A SAVORY VIETMANESE CREPE IN HARLEM

Harlem Bespoke:  We stopped by for lunch at the The Expat on Tiemann Place by West 125th Street and Broadway recently to try out the Bánh xèo which is a crispy Vietnamese crepe that is somewhere between a french pancake dish mixed in with a savory taco and completely another level of culinary experience

UPTOWN NIGHT MARKET SPRING EDITION 2023

Harlem Bespoke: The Uptown Night Market returns for every second Thursday during the summer 2022 season after a successful first run in Manhattanville last fall.

SEE: 1-54 CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR 2023

Harlem Bespoke: Friday-Sunday, May 19th-21st 11:00AM to 7:00PM, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, at Malt House in the Manhattanville Factory District, 439 West 127th Street by Amsterdam Avenue.  The Harlem location of Gavin Brown in Manhattanville shuttered in 2020 and now the West Harlem location in the old brewery building will be used for the occasional pop-up exhibit for New Yorkers to check out in the unique uptown space.

DANCE: E-MOVES AT HARLEM STAGE 2023

Thursday-Saturday, April 13th, 14th, 15th, 7:30PM,  E-Moves returns to Harlem Stage 150 Convent Avenue by 135th Street, Tickets $25.  For over 20 years, Harlem Stage’s signature dance series, E-Moves, has brought together phenomenal choreographers, artists, musicians, and dancers of color to showcase their rhythmic visions and pull audiences into a grand celebration of movement and message.

SEE: SAKURA PARK IN BLOOM SPRING 2023

Harlem Bespoke: Cherry Blossoms in Central Park are at peak bloom now but uptown's own hidden Sakura Park by Riverside Drive and 122nd Street has traditionally been a bit slower in pace.  We dropped by again on Tuesday this week and snapped the above photos which show the blossoms at a point 3 range from a scale of 1-5 in peak bloom.

REMEMBER: THE BERNHEIMER & SCHWARTZ BREWERY

Harlem Bespoke: We are reposting one of the original Bespoke articles from a decade ago with updated photos since the Mink Building has become one of the Harlem developments to look out for in 2021.  Note that the archival image is an exclusive to the blog and should not be reproduced without permission. The mention of the brewery is also outdated since that development did not eventually happen.

UPTOWN NIGHT MARKET SPRING EDITION 2023

Harlem Bespoke: The Uptown Night Market returns for every second Thursday during the summer 2022 season after a successful first run in Manhattanville last fall.

REMEMBER: HARLEM'S IRISH VINEGAR HILL

Harlem Bespoke:  Some signs of the old Irish neighborhood in Hamilton Heights are still around for those who choose to take a look closer.  The 135th Street signage on Amsterdam Avenue has an honorific of Vinegar Hill which was what the surrounding blocks was known as up until the early 1970s when there still were many Irish in this part of Harlem.   Then there is the fire station just west of Amsterdam on West  139th Street with Vinegar Hill clearly displayed above the entrance door.

EAT: MAX SOHA REOPENS IN WEST HARLEM

Harlem Bespoke:  Max Soha has become one Harlem's oldest restaurants since opening back in 2001 but has been closed for renovations until now.   This charming West Harlem eatery at 1274 Amsterdam Avenue, between 122nd Street and 123rd Street has proudly served the community for over two decades and now will be full service all day long.  Make sure to drop by this weekend for breakfast, lunch or dinner at this uptown classic!

HarlemBespoke.com 2023

EAT: MAX SOHA REOPENING IN JANUARY 2023

Harlem Bespoke:  Max Soha is now one of Harlem's oldest restaurants since opening back in 2001 and just recently closed down last fall for renovations.  This charming West Harlem eatery at 1274 Amsterdam Avenue, between 122nd Street and 123rd Street has proudly served the community for over two decades and will be opening once again this January.  Hopefully the black squid ink pasta will still be on the menu along with many new plates for the new year. Stay tuned for more updates on this notable 2023 reopening!

HarlemBespoke.com 2023