patrixio:

It’s the 1930s, and while elsewhere in the world evil people are poring over maps with plans for plunder and dreams of conquest, cartography is serving a more benign purpose in Harlem, New York City. This Night-Club Map of Harlem is a chart of the fun to be had  in the cultural capital of black America, circa 1932.

At that time, this vibrant community on the northern tip of Manhattan was experiencing what came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance – a flowering of African-American literature, theatre and (jazz) music. This map is focused on the area of Harlem just north of Central Park, where much of that flowering took place.

Perhaps exemplary of that renaissance, this map was drawn by Elmer Simms Campbell (1906-1971), the first African-American cartoonist to be published nationally (in Esquire, Cosmopolitan, The New Yorker and Playboy, among others).  The map faces southwest, is bounded by 110^th Street (in the top left corner), which runs along Central Park’s northern edge, and concentrates on Lenox Avenue and Seventh Avenue (“or heaven”).

_{Click for full-size photo}

This being the tail end of Prohibition (1920-1933), not much effort is made to conceal the fact that alcohol is readily available in Harlem nightlife. As the legend states, [t]he only important omission[on the map] is the location of the various speakeasies but since there are 500 of them, you won’t have much trouble…

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East Harlem — In the past few years, the Department of City Planning discovered several “food deserts” in the city, generally in low-income neighborhoods that often show high rates of food-related illnesses, such as obesity or diabetes. Food deserts are neighborhoods where supermarkets are scarce and residents either have to take the bus or walk several blocks to reach desired grocery shopping locations.

We asked five East Harlem residents, an area considered to be a food desert, and five Upper East Side residents, an area not considered to be a food desert, how accessible fresh produce is in their respective neighborhoods.

<Via City Limits>

nicolebeauchamp:

Lots happening in East Harlem ! Giglio Feast coming up first weekend in August ! East Harlem has been in the news a lot lately, it is home to Manhattan’s first Costco AND Target at East River Plaza, on 116th street off of Pleasant Avenue. It also has a very interesting and varied history. The neighborhood is also home to Patsy’s ,on 117th and First Avenue, and the (in)famous Rao’s is on the corner of 114th and Pleasant Avenue. Pleasant Avenue runs north-south from 114th street until 120th street ,in East Harlem, its located east of First Avenue. It is actually the northern most segment of Avenue A-which has many sections that have since been renamed (Asser Levy Place , Sutton Place, York Avenue, and Pleasant Avenue were all at some point known as “Avenue A” ) . East Harlem was once known as Italian Harlem-as it was home to a large Italian population –which then shifted to people of mostly Spanish descent-one of many reasons it is now colloquially called Spanish Harlem (has also been known as El Barrio to many, as a result of the large Puerto Rican population).Interesting tidbit-Al Pacino was born in “Italian Harlem”, and moved to the Bronx when he was two –he also attended the High School of Performing Arts (part of Fiorello H LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts) ,which incidentally Robert DeNiro also attended. Every year, everyone always speaks of the San Gennaro feast in Little Italy ,which I do enjoy going too –but did you know that there is also the Giglio di Sant’ Antonio Feast. This year it takes place Thursday August 5th- Sunday August 8th .  Check out their website for more info :  www.eastharlemgiglio.com on the dates of the festival and any specific times for entertainment. (I have to admit, I always enjoy going to street fairs, especially when I can *easily* walk to and from them -one of the awesome parts about being in New York City, is that so much is easily accessible, whether in your immediate neighborhood or a short bus or train ride away !) It’s a great chance to check out a little pocket of Manhattan many people sometimes forgets exists, there’s food and entertainment throughout the festival-it’s the last instance of the festival honoring Sant’ Antonio before returning to Italy. Definitely a worthwhile detour if you’re in the area to check out the new stores at East River Plaza. Have fun and enjoy !

Posted via email from Nicole Beauchamp Team, Your NYC Real Estate Resource | Comment »

krabbagz:

TRICK OR TREAT. HARLEM STYLE.

To the lady that thought East Harlem was so dangerous, you can rest assured that Arnel Munoz

“didn’t rob no one.”

Doesn’t that make you feel better?