De La Vega Fine Art

You may have noticed that James De La Vega has been quite prolific lately. "Become Your Dream" has been sketched everywhere from the Upper East Side to way up in Harlem, and the slogan has been on everything from from toilets to all sorts of trash that piled up during the snow storms. Sammy Davis (not JR) the vintage fashion stylist and entrepreneur spotted an object d'art on her street corner and snapped it up to decorate her pad.




Sammy says:
The artist, De La Vega, does this to things around the city that are in the "trash." Pieces of furniture, mattresses ... the sidewalk with chalk ... etc. I see it often just at the right moment. Once I saw "Become Your Dream" after finishing a run in Central Park, chalked on the sidewalk as I left the 110th street entrance. It's a beautiful thing and I thank De La Vega for passing along his message with such guerrilla tactics!


Check out Sammy Davis Vintage.

Vinyl Wine in Edible Manhattan

East Harlem has been in desperate need of a a good wine shop for some time, and this past summer we finally got one -- Vinyl Wine. After checking out the store's great selection and awesome vibe, I thought the shop, and the story of the changing East Harlem scene, would make a great piece for one of my favorite foodie magazines Edible Manhattan. Luckily for me, Edible's editors agreed, and my article is in the newest issue, on newsstands now!

Here's a preview of the piece:

Axl Rose and his glass of wine hold court on one whitewashed brick wall, a record player in the corner plays Sharon Jones then Arcade Fire, the cash register sits on a desk embedded with speaker parts, and behind that desk sits a floppy-haired guy you'd expect to own a record shop. But the wooden bins and plastic crates that line the walls of this narrow store are filled not with records but with organic and natural wines made by small, relatively unknown producers. And, instead of being located on Bleecker or in Brooklyn, the aptly named Vinyl Wine sits between 99th and 100th streets, right on the cusp of East Harlem.



If you haven't checked out Vinyl Wine already here are the details:
Vinyl Wine
1555 Lexington Ave
(between 99th St & 100th St)
Manhattan, NY 10029

Merry Christmas East Harlemites!

The Last Minute East Harlem Gift Guide

Stumped on what to buy your favorite neighbor? Want to show your downtown friends how cool your hood is this holiday? Or, maybe you just don't want to venture too far away in this frigid weather. Try one of these East Harlem gifts.

The Coolest Case: Vinyl Wine offers a 15% discount on any case of wine, even mixed cases and sparklers. Pick up 12 bottles and you'll be good until New Year's at least.
Pick it up at Vinyl Wine, 1555 Lexington Ave

Old-School Shoes: Goliath RF has urban gear and cool kicks for anyone on your list. Last time I was in I saw Reebok Pumps for $30. What a deal!
Pick them up at Goliath RF, 175 E 105th Street


Harlem in Images: The Studio Museum along with SkiraRizzoli has published a new photography book celebrating Harlem's diverse and distinct landscape in images. Harlem: A Century in Images is the perfect coffee table book for any uptowner.
Pick it up at The Studio Museum, 144 West 125th Street.


A Pass to the Neighborhood: Give the gift of art in a pass to El Museo Del Barrio, and they'll visit you up in East Harlem all year long. $50 for a single year pass.
Pick it up at El Museo Del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue

And don't forget we have the city's only Costco and Manhattan's only Target here in East Harlem –– both shops are perfect for last minute gifts.

Happy Holidays, Harlemites!

Update: Either Yo In, Or Yo Out

As of late December 2010, Yo in, Yo Out now has a liquor license. French food and wine...is there anything better?


Your Neighborhood French Bistro

Speaking of French bistros. Oh, we weren't? Sorry, I'm always thinking of French Bistros. I am a lover of all things French, and now we have another piece of France in East Harlem (have you been to any of the French bakeries around?). An adorable bistro/coffee shop has opened on Lexington. It's been open for only a week or so, but I can see it growing into a great spot for coffee, brunch or a small meal. The decor is whimsical: old-fashioned chandeliers, oversized coffee cups with fun designs and a ceiling painted blue with puffy clouds. I know that East Harlem is called Spanish Harlem, but the area is full of ex-pats from France as well as Puerto Rico and Mexico. We were surrounded by French speakers at this bistro – definitely adding to an authentic French vibe.



Location: 1569 Lexington Ave, between 100th and 101st Sts

Phone: (212) 987-5350

Recommended Dishes/Drinks: Chevre Roti au Miel (Goat Cheese Salad), Truffle Croque Monsieur and Chocolate Chaud (Hot Chocolate)

Average Dish Price: $9

-Gloria

East Harlem, The Basics 2

Levi Fishman, writer, four-year East Harlem resident and this blog's first fan, has agreed to give us his East Harlem basics. You might remember Levi from his AM New York piece on East Harlem –– definitely worth a read if you haven't already.

Coffee: The Love Cafe. The owner (Pat) grew up in the neighborhood, so along with your coffee you can get some great stories of what the neighborhood was like back in the day.
283 Pleasant Avenue
(between 115th St & 116th St)

Haircut: Claudio's Barber Shop. Hang out there long enough and you'll get some stories of what the neighborhood was like when it was run by the Italian Mafia.

Mexican Food: Cafe Ollin has probably the best Cemita in the city.
339 E 108th St
(between 2nd Ave & 1st Ave)

Brunch: Itzocan Bistro for a full meal, Pleasant Pastries if you're looking for a muffin to go.

Take-out/Delivery: I agree with Polash. It's just as good as any of the Indian places down on Curry Row. For Chinese delivery, Chinatown East. They're down on 92nd and 3rd, but they deliver all the way up to 120th.

Laundry: The place at 118th and 1st has $1 machines in the back. And it's half a block from Patsy's.

Groceries: Costco. Or Fine Fare. Over the summer, there is a nice fruit stand on 120th and 1st.

Nice View of Uptown Manhattan: Top of the East Harlem Plaza parking garage.

If you're an East Harlemite and would like to tell us your "Basics" shoot me an email. Gloria.Dawson@gmail.com

Quesadillas, Even in the Cold

NYC food blog Eating in Transition has a great write-up on a quesadilla stand on 116th St that's open all season. Seems like it's definitely worth checking out. Read the review at Eating in Transition.

East Harlem, The Basics 1

When you first move to any neighborhood in Manhattan there's always a few things you'd like to ask the local, like, "Where do you get a great slice of pizza?" and "Where can I get a great cup o' joe?" So, here is the first in a new feature, I'm asking East Harlemites where they find their NYC basics. Think of it as East Harlem 101. I'm starting with five year East Harlem resident Craig Nelson. He's a bit of an expert when it comes to suggesting places to eat and things to do, he's the managing editor of Not For Tourists. It's the online version of those awesome little black books.

Craig Nelson's East Harlem Basics:

Pizza: Slice at Patsy's take out window ($1.75 and best in NYC)

Coffee: East Harlem Cafe (but sometimes bodega coffee oddly hits the spot)

Brunch Spot: Not a big brunch person, but getting pastries at La Tropezienne is a weekend morning tradition

Groceries: When in season, local farmers markets and out of season Fine Fare or Met Foods (or Whole Foods on the west side)

Laundry: Place on 105th b/w Lex and 3rd

Takeout: La Fonda Boricua, Sandy Restaurant, or Polash Indian

Thanks for the tips, Craig!

If you're an East Harlemite and would like to tell us your "Basics" shoot me an email. Gloria.Dawson@gmail.com

An East Harlem Hero...Whatever His Reasons

Carlos Flores just wanted to go to work and get his overtime pay. So, on Sunday when Flores was waiting at the 103rd Street subway station and noticed a man had fallen on the tracks and needed needed help, he jumped in and saved him. According to the New York Daily News, "I was thinking, if he gets hit I can't go to work. It's Sunday. I can't miss out. It's a time-and-a-half day," said Flores.
By the way, he made the train and got to work. Phew!

An honest hero...I can't decide if that's refreshing or not. But I wouldn't have turned him away if I was the one in trouble.

What do you think of the Honest East Harlem Hero?

Hat tip: Rachel

Cafe Saint Germain, Your New Brunch Spot

You could easily miss Cafe Saint Germain's store front as you walk down Lexington Avenue. It's quite tiny and the scaffolding currently covering the shop doesn't help with their visibility issues. But, this cafe is worth finding. The look inside is Harlem Renaissance with dark wood and prints from the 30s, like the one of Josephine Baker. The food is modern, healthy and super fresh. Try one of the salads -- I love the La Chevre. The sandwiches and breakfast options are also great and change often.

This restaurant seems to still be getting it's footing; when I visited the credit card machine was down and although 'Wi-Fi' was boldly printed on the front window, it will not be working until later in the week, I was told.

Other than the food, the eclectic tunes and truly fascinating owner, Mario Douge, are worth taking in as well. I can definitely see myself coming here often for brunch, and maybe once the Wi-Fi is up, spending the day sipping a cappuccino, surfing the web and chatting with Douge.

Cafe Saint Germain
1695 Lexington Ave. (bet 106 and 107th Sts)
(212) 286-2466
Mon - Fri:
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat - Sun:
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cafe Saint Germain Facebook Page

Mattress Message

Is this inspiring message from James De La Vega brought to us courtesy of the bedbug epidemic?

The Marathon Uptown

Musical duo cheering on the runners in East Harlem during the New York City Marathon.

Video: A Fresher Harlem

A Fresher Harlem from The Uptowner on Vimeo.

A great new video about the food desert we call home. Read the full piece on the Uptowner, a Columbia University Journalism School website.

Will Wallmart Join the Big Box Stores in East Harlem?

Crains New York Business reports that Wallmart is looking at store locations accross New York City. “They're looking all over,” says Faith Hope Consolo, chairwoman of Prudential Douglas Elliman's retail group to Crains New York. “This is aggressive now. This is not just thinking about it and dabbling. They're dancing around the city.” It appears that real estate in East Harlem and East New York, Brooklyn, are in the running...Which of the Easts will get a Wallmart?

What do you think of all the big box chain store development in East Harlem?

Swimming Up Stream

A quick sketch by James De La Vega.