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

DWELL: AN SRO ON ASTOR ROW

Harlem Bespoke:  How much for an SRO on Astor Row?  Apparently a single room occupancy house at 30 West 130th Street is now up on the market for just under $1.6 million according to Streeteasy.  We especially like these landmark country homes with wood porch out front but there are some factors to consider. The house in question looks to be in a livable condition but even if all gets converted to a single-family home, there is one glaring problem.

BESPOKE: OCTOBER SUGAR HILL MARKET 2017

Saturday, October 14th, Noon-5:00PM, Sugar Hill Market x La Maison d'Art, 259 West 132nd Street, just east of FDB.  The first October Sugar Hill Market for Fall 2017 will pop up in two weeks and features Harlem's best selling, locally made designer collections at La Maison d'Art.  The HB curated boutique market has had some great word of mouth and also awesome shout outs by New York Magazine, Time Out, and New York Daily News in the past.  Sugar Hill market also features new artwork exhibits on the gallery walls of La Maison d'Art which have been popular with visiting guests.  Follow the official SHM Instagram account for more daily updates:  LINK

SEE: AROUND HARLEM THIS WEEKEND

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 neighborhood to try out this  holiday weekend.  

Sugar Hill Market at La  Maison d'Art this Sunday on West 132nd: LINK

Souther French cuisine at RDV on FDB by West 112th Street: LINK

Japanese style crepes at Crepe Master on Fifth Avenue by 125th: LINK

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

LGBT history at the new Gay Gotham exhibit at MCNY at 103rd Street: LINK

New local brew and pizza at Hop House on FDB and 120th Street: LINK

Checking out the new Harlem Shake location on East 111th Street: LINK

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

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

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

Drinks at the new Alibi lounge on 7th Avenue by 139th Street:  LINK

Catching up with 80s fashion through the Antonio exhibit at El Museo: LINK

Trying out burgers at Harlem Burger Co. on FDB and 118th Street: LINK

Discovering the Morningside Park Farmers Market on Saturday: LINK

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

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

Drinks at the Sunday LGBT Pride Night at Hogshead Tavern: LINK

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

Getting java at ACP Coffee on 7th Avenue by 134th Street:  LINK

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

Tasting delicious Japanese curry at the new Curry-Ya Uptown: LINK

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

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

Burgers for dinner at Island Burgers on Broadway by LaSalle Street: LINK

Sunday Brunch at Mountain Bird on East 110th Street: LINK

Brunch or Dinner at Chaiwali on Lenox and 124th: LINK

Tasting incredible Edomae style sushi at Inoue on Lenox and 129th: LINK

EAT: ICE CREAM AT CREPE MASTER

Crepe Master on Fifth Avenue just north of 125th Street opened less than a week ago but is already a big hit. We went back to try the desert option yesterday and really had a major treat with the green tea offering.  Sweet red bean, chewy mochi , cool matcha ice-cream and fresh strawberries in a gluten free wrap made a spectacular presentation that tasted just as amazing as it all looked.  The tiny boutique shop had to close early this past Sunday because they sold out of everything and will also be temporarily shuttered today.  Another point to note is that its all cash only for the time being and doors will open starting at 11:00AM on Wednesday.  Those who want something savory can also get quite a bit to eat during the daytime as previously mentioned in our past post: LINK

EAT: ESO OPENS ON UPPER FDB

A few tips have come in mentioning that Eso has finally had a soft opening on 8th Avenue all the way up by 154th Street.  The official Instagram account calls the new establishment a burger bar and has some delicious photos of the patty offerings posted up that look pretty amazing but some of the more recent images are not so stellar.   There is not much happening otherwise this far north on the boulevard so Eso should be a great alternative to check out this weekend.  More in our past post: LINK

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READ: THE UNDATEABLES IN HARLEM

We happened to notice that Time Out New York's charming series called The Undateables has been featuring gay couples uptown going on their first match making moment since the year started.  Since downtown and midtown Manhattan has gotten so expensive, a lot of the LGBT community has moved uptown especially in the past 5 years.  Older home owners that sold their former properties in Chelsea or the East Village seem to have made up the first wave in South Harlem but now younger renters are become part of the scene just further up north.  One of the dates set at Barawine on Lenox was not so successful but the other two who met at Hogheads Tavern in Hamilton Heights really hit it off: LINK

BESPOKE: SUNDAY SUGAR HILL MARKET

Sunday, May 17th, Noon-7:00PM, Sugar Hill Market x La Maison d'Art at 259 West 132nd Street, just east of FDB/8th Avenue.  Uber cool insider website Thrillist  and AM New York has listed Sugar Hill Market as one of the best events in NYC to attend for 2015 but many uptowners already know that! The HB curated boutique market has had some great word of mouth and also awesome shout outs by New York Magazine, Time Out and New York Daily News in the past. This Sunday will be the first May market in the Spring 2 week cycle so make sure to drop by and meet some great local artisans and designers.  There will also be new artwork hanging on the gallery walls which have been popular with collectors visiting the market.  Follow the SHM Instagram account for more daily updates on upcoming event:  LINK

SHOP: SUGAR HILL MARKET SUNDAY

Sunday, April 12th, Noon-7:00PM, Sugar Hill Market x La Maison d'Art at 259 West 132nd Street, just east of FDB/8th Avenue.  Uber cool insider website Thrillist has listed Sugar Hill Market as one of the best spring events to check out for couples but many uptowners already know that! The HB curated boutique market has had some great word of mouth and also awesome shout outs by New York Magazine, Time Out and New York Daily News in the past.  Spring is also perfect shopping season uptown so Sugar Hill Market will happen for 3 weekends in a row starting this week.  Make sure to follow SHM for more daily updates on this momentous upcoming event:  LINK

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☞ EAT: Harlem's Hot Restaurants 2014

Eater is the über website on all of the best restaurants in the city and two Harlem eateries made the cut  for 2014.  First of all is the Essential 38 which is the top must visit restaurants in Manhattan which includes Balthazar, The Dutch, Spotted Pig and also uptown's own Red Rooster.  Marcus Samuelsson's pioneer Lenox Avenue establishment is packed to the rafters every night even after having been open for several years and Red Rooster's reputation is now international.  The second restaurant with also a poultry-centric name made the Eater  Manhattan Heatmap which is a more of a realtime analysis of what restaurants are getting the best buzz and reviews.  Mountain Bird on 145th Street is the only Harlem restaurant on the Heatmap for February so this little gem of a restaurant in the northern reaches of Manhattan is living up to our 2013 award for being the best new arrival uptown: LINK

Eater Manhattan Heatmap February 2014:  LINK
Eater Essential 38 Map 2014:  LINK

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☞ ARCHITECTURE: The Odeon Theatre c. 1919

A sketch from 1919 shows the original facade of the Odeon Theatre at West 145th Street.  Today, this building still stands just east of FDB/8th Avenue and a good portion of the ornamental details have been retained.  The church that owns the former theater has also left the original hand painted signage on the side of the building intact and what remains of the Odeon appears to be in relatively good condition. Read more about the history of this unofficial Harlem landmark in our past post: LINK


Archival rendering courtesy the Museum of the City of New York

☞ DWELL: 436 Lenox Avenue in Contract

Number 436 Lenox Avenue went up on the market last July for the asking price of $1.35 million and now has a contract out as of this week.  This 17-foot wide, 3-famiy home located by West 132nd Street is within the commercial main strip of the avenue and the building has a retail space on the ground floor which apparently was a funeral home.  There appears to be some details intact inside but it is unclear if the infrastructure has been upgraded.  The block is also still on the up-and-coming side and the building next door has the top floors boarded up.  Express trains are at 135th Street and some of the better shops have been opening up just a few blocks south.

☞ QUESTION: Mailboxes for Brownstones?

A Harlem brownstone renovator had the below question about setting up mailboxes.  Do any Bespoke readers have some advice on what to do for mail delivery?

I am just finishing a brownstone gut renovation that will be a two unit dwelling with a garden apartment. I just realized we haven't thought through how the mail will be received. Are there ideas out there? In the way you have done other renovation tips, would you do a focused post on mailboxes, mail slots, or any other solutions? Thanks!