In Focus

Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day. Here are some shots from my visit to The Conservatory Garden in Central Park, near Fifth Ave and 105th St.

A Rainy Museum Weekend

It's supposed to be a rainy weekend, perfect for a museum visit...here are some suggestions:

Friday @ The Studio Museum Harlem
144 West 125th Street
New York, New York 10027
Uptown Fridays: “Afro-Latin Style” with Geko Jones & Ethegy
"Dance to the worldly beats of Global Ghetto Technician, Geko Jones, along with a warm-up by up Eclectic Technician Ethegy. Experience this high-energy party flow into paint as visual artists create Afro-Latin inspired work live to the beats! Don’t miss this fun and festive evening of culture in Harlem!"
$10 admission for all before 8 PM

After 8 pm - $15 general admission/ $10 Members, seniors, students

Saturday @ The Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.
New York, NY 10029
Mannahatta/Manhattan
I haven't been to this exhibit yet, but my friend Elizabeth Griffin wrote a great article on the Mannahatta Project for The Daily Green.
Tell them you're an East Harlem resident (if you are one, of course) and you get into the museum for free.

Sunday @ The Studio Museum Harlem
144 West 125th Street
New York, New York 10027
Target Free Sundays
They have a few great exhibits there right now; I definitely want to check out Expanding the Walls: Making Connections between Photography, History and Community.

East Harlem Farmers' Market

On Sundays from July to November, from 10am to 4pm, at 106th and 3rd Avenue, East Harlem has its own farmers' market.



According to Scott Stringer's (our borough president) blog:

"East Harlem, a “food desert,” lacks access to fresh and local fruits and vegetables on the weekends. The first ever weekend Farmers' Market in East Harlem is another way in which Go Green and the Borough President are actively combating issues of food equity and environmental justice."



The market is small, but the vegetables were fresh and extremely inexpensive. Come out on Sundays and support the market. Go Green East Harlem!

Sunday Street Scene

The summer heat had final started to let up.

'El Rufo'

El Museo Del Barrio has some great events coming up including afternoons and evenings at 'El Rufo,' or on the roof.

This one sounds really fun:
Para Gente Con Clase: Nacotheque and Guests
Saturday, Ausust 15 4pm–7pm

Beyond salsa and rancheras, Nacoteque is underground indie rock, nostalgia pop, ska, cumbias, and electro, all in one, plus much more. Jumping in will be DJs Marcelo Cunning and Amylu Meneses that will have you raising el rufo!

Also a TDA rooftop movie later that night.

Hope to see you there.

More info in the calendar section of the El Musseo Del Barrio website.

The One About the Taqueria that Crossed the Road

In its days as a much more modest taqueria it was called "one of the best restaurants in the area," by the New York Times. Now, just across the street in a larger and more grand location, El Paso has been transformed into a tqueria and cavicheria. With its new and extended title comes more upscale dishes as well something lacking in most restaurants around here: atmosphere.

With staco walls, Frida Kahlo art in tile, decorative skeletons and other Dia de los Muertos items, El Paso takes you to something akin to the high end restaurant of Oaxaca. Walk through to the outdoor covered patio area and your trip to Mexico is complete.

Each dish is fresh and authentic, so allow the knowledgeable wait staff to steer you to a dish outside of your comfort zone. If you live around here you've probably had Mole Poblano and enchiladas, but not like these. Try the tacos, you get three of them, perfectly presented. The el pastor taco and the chorizo are my favorites. It's a pleasure to speak to the staff, they are sweet enough to sing a song a friend and I had forgotten the lyrics to, and they are eagerly willing to discuss the future of the old restaurant's space (a Mexican bakery is the rumor). The addition of the ceviche menu had me concern at first, "overextendederia," I feared, was to be added to its new title. Not to worry, the ceviche stays consistent: fresh and authentic again.

This updated restaurant, at least to me, is a welcomed addition to East Harlem. The chatter, as it often is with a gentrifying area, is mixed. This upscale place is a bit pricer then the two other El Paso locations, which remain as traditional taquerias. More expensive, yes, but a destination restaurant, fit to take the East Harlem doubters, of which I know many.

Recommended Dishes: Mole Pablano, Al Pastor (Pork, Pineapple and Onion) Tacos, Enchiladas



El Paso
1643 Lexington Ave at 104th St
212 831-9831
www.elpasotaqueria.com