REMEMBER: BASTILLE DAY IN HARLEM 2015

The 2nd Annual outdoors Harlem Bastille Day Festive was another great day uptown with perfect weather, great food, live jazz, petanque and shopping at 127th Street. HB was  co-sponsor of the event an works with Maison Harlem every year for this community festival that helps raise money for the local Global Language Project which promotes bi-lingual learning in low income communities.  Summer tends to be a little slow in Harlem for local markets and restaurants because of the nice weather but Bastille Day continues to draw in a steady crowd and Maison Harlem was at full seating all day.

Several of the vendors including the new H2Melon cold pressed juice stand ran out of stock by late afternoon which was also great news for the local small businesses that participated.  Some of the other Bastille celebrations in Manhattan are quite congested with tourists but uptowns celebration on the block of 127th Street felt more like a bustling gathering of neighbors and friends.  The Bespoke crew would like to thank everyone that participated or help make the day another great success and we will see everyone again next year!

SHOP: NEW AWNING AT DEVIN'S FISH SHOP

A fire back in April at the local fish fry shop on 147th Street might have ended the small business but a Bespoke reader sent in a photo of the new awning on St. Nicholas Avenue.  This old school favorite is the spot for many locals in the area and it is good to see that the damages did not set them back for long!  Check out what the shop looked like in our original post: LINK

☞ EAT: Harlem Christmas Dining 2013

Below is a list of Harlem restaurants that will be open for Christmas Eve and Maison Harlem will be open Christmas Day:

Maison Harlem, 341 St Nicholas Avenue at 127th Street, Tel: 212 -222-9224.  Open for Christmas  Eve and Christmas Day with a special selection featuring broiled lobster and filet mignon: LINK

Mountain Bird, 231 West 145th Street between FDB/8th Avenue and ACP/7th Avenue, Tel: 212-281-5752.  Open for Christmas Eve featuring a 5 course tasting menu for $49 featuring honey glazed duck alongside a confit, ostrich carpaccio, sautéed red snapper and a vegetarian selection,BYOB: LINK

The Cecil,  210 West 118th and St. Nicholas Avenue. Tel: 212-866-1262.  Open for Christmas Eve featuring a Special Fried Whole Long Island Peking Duckling,  Dinner for Two $135. In Addition Regular Lunch & Dinner Menus Available.  Please Request Duck for Two While Making a Reservation: LINK