East Harlem Media, Entertainment and Cultural Center

A massive $700 million project has broken ground on 125th St and 3rd Ave in East Harlem. GlobeSt and Curbed report that the East Harlem Media, Entertainment and Cultural Center has started construction. The multi-use building will have 800 housing units, a cultural center, office space, retail space for local business and more. The building is expected to be LEED certified.

At the start of construction, GlobeSt quoted Mayor Bloomberg saying, Today's groundbreaking, along with the other projects taking shape along 125th Street, are helping sustain the momentum of Harlem's ongoing renaissance. This major multi-use development –– a major investment and show of confidence in Harlem's future –– will serve the community in a variety of important ways: by creating needed affordable housing, valuable community and cultural space, and new office and retail space. Most importantly in today's economy, it will create thousands of permanent and construction jobs.”

Who Even Knew There Was a Catholic Museum in East Harlem?

Yesterday's New York Times has an article on the rise and fall of the National Museum of Catholic Art and History, which believe it or not was in East Harlem. You didn't know their was a Catholic Museum in East Harlem? Well, that could have lent to the museum's struggles. In case you weren't one of the museum's few visitors, when it was open from 2003 to 2007, the museum was located on 115th St and the building is now for sale. The museum was plagued by money issues as well as other problems, but the museum's director had friends in high places who helped keep it afloat.

Photo: Michelle V. Agins/The New York Times

Welcome the New Neighbors…the Artists

Architect’s Newspaper reported that East Harlem's Public School 109 -- on the far east side of 99th St -- will be the future home of 72 artist’s residences. Artspace, a non-profit that creates affordable housing for artists, is working with financial backing from the Ford Foundation on the the project, which is expected to break ground later this year.

Urban Legends in East Harlem

Have you heard the one about the alligator found in the sewer? Well, that really happened -- and in East Harlem!
Get the full scoop in the most recent episode of This American Life.

Friday 4 the Foodies: East Harlem Eats

There's a great post on the music blog Roll With It on places to eat in East Harlem.

"This week I thought I’d take everyone on a visual tour of what I feel is a neglected foodie area of New York City for some people – Lexington Avenue from 96th Street to 104th street in East Harlem."

They've covered some great spots...definitely worth a look.

East Harlem Rated 54th

East Harlem was ranked 54th out of 60 neighborhoods in New York Magazine's Best Places to Live listing. I've always thought of East Harlem as an "up-and-coming" place to live, so I was surprised it was so low. To me the neighborhood gets points for diversity, Mexican food, Central Park and the museums. Why do you love East Harlem? What makes it the area for you?

Virtual Tour: Demolition Depot

Last week when I posted the New York Times Local Stop article about places to check out in East Harlem, Levi made some suggestions of his own. One of those was Demolition Depot because "they have three floors of porcelain bathroom fixtures" he commented.

Even if your not in the market for some home fixin', it's a fun place to visit.








Demolition Depot
www.demolitiondepot.com
216 East 125th Street
New York, NY 10035-1738
(212) 860-1138

Charles Addams's New York

Smart, Very New York Humor


New Yorker magazine articles tend to be long. Sometimes, perhaps, your mind needs a break. You take your relief in the form of a glance at the cartoons. Refreshed you're ready to tackle that article again. Now imagine rooms filled with these moments of relief, those smart quick laughs, the very New York humor that is a New Yorker cartoon. You want to go to there, don't you? Well, you should.

An exhibit of Charles Addams's cartoons is up at the Museum of the City of New York until May 16th. He is the most well-know New Yorker cartoonists -- starting his work for the magazine in the 1930s. He is also famous for creating the Addams Family, and it is very interesting to see the Addams Family become the iconic ghouls they are today throughout his drawings.

The exhibit is curated with thoughtfulness and humor. When the stories that Addams told in his cartoons are placed side by side on the museum walls they lead to even more laughs and smiles. The cutouts of Addams's characters frolicking on the walls add to the whimsy and fun.

Seeing so many of the illustrations together you realize what a great commentary these cartoons were, and in many cases still are, on society, specifically New York City's society. My favorite is the one with the barricades around a banana peel on a city street. Smart, fun humor. Go see for yourself.

Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.
New York, NY 10029
Remember East Harlem residents get in for free.

All images © Charles Addams
Permission of Tee and Charles Addams Foundatio

Local Stop: East Harlem

Earlier this week the New York Times covered East Harlem in their Local Stop section. They visited El Paso Restaurant, the Graffiti Hall of Fame, Metropolis Studios and the Raíces Latin Music Museum, among other stops. I think I would have chosen the Museum of the City of New York and a more off-the-beaten-path restaurant, but nonetheless it's great to see the hood getting some coverage.

What East Harlem stops would you have covered?


Take a look at their slide show of East Harlem haunts.

Photo: Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times

Hat Tip: Levi

Dreams Nearly Washed Away in the Rain

James De La Vega takes a less permanent approach.

Super Weather: Spring is Almost Here

This weekend gave us the most amazing weather. Walking around Saturday at dusk it almost felt like spring. Lots of people were out and about, music playing from open windows mixed with the sounds of a basketball game. It almost made me want to plan a barbecue or slip on my flip-flops. Almost, almost, spring is certainly close.

Become Your Dream

Dreams Were Everywhere Today:

In the trash in the morning....



and again in the evening.












James De La Vega was busy today.

Chef from Aquavit Comes to Harlem

"It is Very Important to Bring a Restaurant to Harlem." - Marcus Samuelsson

The New York Times interviewed Marcus Samuelsson, known for his culinary achievements at Aquavit, about his yet-to-open Harlem restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem. It will be located on 125th St in Central Harlem which is a bit outside of the East Harlem demographic, but it's still exciting to get such a great chef opening up a restaurant uptown. Expect to see fresh local foods on the menu.

See the full article.

Photo by Casey Kelbaugh for The New York Times.


Hat Tip to Dad.

James De La Vega, "Become Your Dream"

A little snow didn't stop James De La Vega from hitting this old bookshelf with his signature tag, "Become Your Dream." I'm dreaming of another snow day...



Spotted on Lexington and 103rd.

Has anyone else seen De La Vega's work? Let us know where.

103rd St Mural