Blogging the News

Located on the corner of West 118^th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, La Bodega 47 Social Club transforms one of Harlem’s fundamental businesses, the standard Latino grocery store, into a trendy rum lounge.

Owner Brian Washington-Palmer, originally from Berkley, Calif., believed Harlem needed a space that would complement the influx of new residents and development of new businesses and apartment complexes, so he transformed his previous Caribbean-Mediterranean restaurant, Native, into La Bodega 47 Social Club this past March.

“I overheard a woman once say, ‘What kind of bodega sells brunch?’” said Washington-Palmer with a chuckle. Although building the lounge was a collaborative effort, Washington-Palmer designed the lounge himself.

The dinner and drink menu at La Bodega 47 Social Club is influenced by Latino culture. The dinner menu is divided by “small bowls,” which includes “Brazilian Bread Cheeses,” and “big bowls,” which includes “Arroz Con Pollo.” The social club houses a variety of drinks, but the specialty rum cocktails are the “go to” items on the drink menu. Each specialty cocktail incorporates the lounge’s in-house crafted syrups, including the “Latin Old Fashioned.”

When visiting La Bodega 47 Social Club, expect to walk-into a whimsical setting where one can socialize and unwind after a long day at work. “Every night you’ll run into publicist and a lot of different actors and actresses who come here. It’s a low key spot,” said employee Michael Angelo Levy.

Located on the corner of West 118^th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, La Bodega 47 Social Club transforms one of Harlem’s fundamental businesses, the standard Latino grocery store, into a trendy rum lounge.

Owner Brian Washington-Palmer, originally from Berkley, Calif., believed Harlem needed a space that would complement the influx of new residents and development of new businesses and apartment complexes, so he transformed his previous Caribbean-Mediterranean restaurant, Native, into La Bodega 47 Social Club last March.

“I overheard a woman once say, ‘What kind of bodega sells brunch?’” said Washington-Palmer with a chuckle. Although building the lounge was a collaborative effort, Washington-Palmer designed the lounge himself.

The dinner and drink menu at La Bodega 47 Social Club is influenced by Latino culture. The dinner menu is divided by “small bowls,” which includes “Brazilian Bread Cheeses,” and “big bowls,” which includes “Arroz Con Pollo.” The social club houses a variety of drinks, but the specialty rum cocktails are the “go to” items on the drink menu. Each specialty cocktail incorporates the lounge’s in-house crafted syrups, including the “Latin Old Fashioned.”

When visiting La Bodega 47 Social Club, expect to walk-into a whimsical setting where one can socialize and unwind after a long day at work. “Every night you’ll run into publicist and a lot of different actors and actresses who come here. It’s a low key spot,” said employee Michael Angelo Levy.

• In spring 2015, Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson will open his 3rd restaurant, “Streetbird Rotisserie,”  on 116th St and Fredrick Douglas Boulevard.  –HarlemGal Inc.

• The Cecil in Harlem , known for its Afro/Asian/American food, was deemed the best new restaurant in the country by Equire. –Daily News

• Neapolitan Express, an eco-friendly pizza truck, is opening a permanent location in East Harlem. –DNAinfo

• Whole Foods expected to open next winter 2015 on 125th St and Fredrick Douglas Boulevard. –Harlem+Bespoke

• Mark Henegan opens South African restaurant “Madiba Harlem,” and it is  larger than the Fort Greene. –The New York Times

• In spring 2015, Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson will open his 3rd restaurant, “Streetbird Rotisserie,”  on 116th St and Fredrick Douglas Boulevard.  –HarlemGal Inc.

• The Cecil in Harlem , known for its Afro/Asian/American food, was deemed the best new restaurant in the country by Equire. –Daily News

• Neapolitan Express, an eco-friendly pizza truck, is opening a permanent location in East Harlem. –DNAinfo

• Whole Foods expected to open next winter 2015 on 125th St and Fredrick Douglas Boulevard. –Harlem+Bespoke

• Mark Henegan opens South African restaurant “Madiba Harlem,” and it is  larger than the Fort Greene. –The New York Times

In October 2009, nearly 4,000 residents were granted jobs in East Harlem’s newest attraction, East River Plaza, the neighborhood’s first major shopping mall located on East 116th Street.

While the jobs were welcomed and retail sales have generated millions of dollars, small businesses in the area have not been reaping benefits since the arrival of East River Plaza, which houses a Target, Costco Wholesale and Marshall’s among other chain outlets.

1st Ave Grocery Deli, located on East 115th Street and First Avenue, is one of many businesses in the area that has withstood the loss of customers in the last five years, but its survival is now in peril.

“The mall took away half of our business in the last four years,” said Aziz Haimed, who owns the deli and the adjacent sister shop,Deli Inc.

Haimed’s corner store has been in business since 1992, but the store no longer has a lease and he predicts his business will permanently close within the next year. Haimed has been in the area long enough to see a handful of other small business shut down, sometimes in less than year after opening – including Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe, Kennedy Fried Chicken and Ocelotl Diner.

He said he has been able to support two delis in the area for the past years because he runs his businesses with integrity and has kept his prices reasonable, unlike the other small businesses in the area. He expects to close 1st Ave Grocery Deli but remain in business with his second shop, Deli Inc., where the rent is more affordable.

As older businesses shut down, East Harlem has seen the arrival of other new, hip small businesses, such as Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ, Fierce Spa and Makana Hawaiian & Japanese BBQ. Deli Inc. upholds the decorative appearances of the new businesses in the area, shedding away the grungy, dive appeal that is typical for corner stores.

Haimed is grateful he will be able to continue providing services to residents of East Harlem, a neighborhood he is greatly familiar with. “I like the neighborhood. I respect the customers and they respect me,” said Haimed.

In October 2009, nearly 4,000 residents were granted jobs in East Harlem’s newest attraction, East River Plaza, the neighborhood’s first major shopping mall located on East 116th Street.

While the jobs were welcomed and retail sales have generated millions of dollars, small businesses in the area have not been reaping benefits since the arrival of East River Plaza, which houses a Target, Costco Wholesale and Marshall’s among other chain outlets.

1st Ave Grocery Deli, located on East 115th Street and First Avenue, is one of many businesses in the area that has withstood the loss of customers in the last five years, but its survival is now in peril.

“The mall took away half of our business in the last four years,” said Aziz Haimed, who owns the deli and the adjacent sister shop,Deli Inc.

Haimed’s corner store has been in business since 1992, but the store no longer has a lease and he predicts his business will permanently close within the next year. Haimed has been in the area long enough to see a handful of other small business shut down, sometimes in less than year after opening – including Aromas Boutique Bakery & Cafe, Kennedy Fried Chicken and Ocelotl Diner.

He said he has been able to support two delis in the area for the past years because he runs his businesses with integrity and has kept his prices reasonable, unlike the other small businesses in the area. He expects to close 1st Ave Grocery Deli but remain in business with his second shop, Deli Inc., where the rent is more affordable.

As older businesses shut down, East Harlem has seen the arrival of other new, hip small businesses, such as Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ, Fierce Spa and Makana Hawaiian & Japanese BBQ. Deli Inc. upholds the decorative appearances of the new businesses in the area, shedding away the grungy, dive appeal that is typical for corner stores.

Haimed is grateful he will be able to continue providing services to residents of East Harlem, a neighborhood he is greatly familiar with. “I like the neighborhood. I respect the customers and they respect me,” said Haimed.

Renaissance On A Plate – Crystal Civil

In order to promote my blog and build readership, I will use a few social media platforms. Social media is one of the most effective ways to gain followers and connect to people. I believe the most useful platforms for my blog are ones that allow me to showcase visual content and allow me to write short blurbs that will lead readers back to my blog and inform them of my whereabouts.  I will use my social media accounts to stay connected to my readers and keep them up to speed on the latest news surrounding Harlem’s food scene.

Who I will reach:

I will follow individuals, companies and organizations that are closely related to my blog’s mission. Since I am focusing on the gentrification in Harlem through the food industry perspective, I will follow a handful of restaurants, bars, lounges, etc. I believe these small businesses will keep me informed on upcoming events, when a celebrity stops by, if they have community affairs, etc. The information these businesses post on their social media accounts will help me to generate new blog posts and connect to new people. Some of the twitter accounts of these small businesses include: @MelbasHarlem @SylviasSoulFood @AtTheWallace @GrangeBarHarlem @LaBodega47 @TheCecilHarlem @CornerSocialNY @HarlemShakeNYC

In addition to small businesses, I think it is also important for me to follow social media accounts created to promote other blogs and websites. The blogs and websites should focus on topics surrounding Harlem, including gentrification in Harlem, Harlem’s food scene or general news Harlem. If I establish a relationship with these website creators and bloggers, this will help me build my readership. If I re-tweet information posted by these other sites, they will most likely return the favor, which is a great exposure for my blog. Some of these blogs and websites include: @HarlemTrends (blog about “uptown culture, entertainment, restaurants and events”), @HarlemBespoke (a blog about “Harlem’s past and present from a designer’s point of view”), @WelcomeToHarlem (a website that promotes tourism in Harlem), and @HBANY (a website that supports Harlem’s small business).

A few additional social media accounts I will follow are people who can be considered “faces of Harlem.” Celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson @MarcusSamuelsson, who owns two popular restaurants in Harlem, Red Rooster and Ginny’s Supper Club, would be great to follow because his restaurants are part of Harlem’s gentrified restaurant scene. Chef Marcus can also help my blog gain exposure because he has such a large following. Council woman Melissa Mark Viverito @MMViverito, who is also Council speaker, will also be a useful person to follow. She represents District 8, East Harlem and the Bronx, so she may be able to help me gain a better understanding of public issues, such as gentrification, surrounding the neighborhood.

The last social media accounts I think is important to follow is The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture @SchomburgCenter. This research unit’s twitter account may provide me with information related to Harlem’s, including historical and cultural content, and and will keep me informed on any events that may be held at the center.

My Accounts:

Twitter:  I would post every day at least twice day. I would tweet information related to my blog, re-tweet interesting bits on information from other accounts and post links to other sites that may be useful for my followers.

Facebook: I would post on Facebook once or twice, every other day. I think my posts would focus more on the content on my blog and on events that may be useful to my followers.

Instagram: I think my blog needs visual contents to keep my readers interested. I will post a minimum of twice or three times a week. My photos will include food businesses in Harlem, before and after pictures of certain revamped areas in Harlem, construction of new businesses, pictures of the food I eat, etc.

Writing tweets and headlines:

Post one: Who’s down for a hearty Italian American brunch this weekend? #harlem #trufarestaurant #cozybistro http://bit.ly/1uYiL69 (19 characters left)

Post two: The Grange Bar & Eatery re introduces the farm lifestyle to Hamilton Heights. #harlem #farmtotable #alexanderhamilton http://bit.ly/1y2Kioa (0 characters left)

Post three: Time to take it back to the old days in Harlem #harlem #shorthistorylesson #gentrification http://bit.ly/1zfIMhO (27 characters left)

Post four: Southern BBQ and strong signature margaritas, what more does El Barrio need? #Harlem #Harleys #elbarriomargaritas http://bit.ly/1FgKe5w (4 characters left)

The South meets El Barrio at Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ located on 116^th Street and First Avenue. Harley’s brings forth a new culture of food to the neighborhood, and there are two things I believe keep East Harlem’s residents coming back for more – the El Barrio Apricot Margarita and the restaurant’s detailed décor.

The drink menu is an extensive one, ranging from craft beers to sangria, but one of the most popular cocktails on the menu is the El Barrio Apricot Margarita, as mentioned by Jessica Rosario, the manager who has been at Harley’s since the grand opening in December 2011.  “Out of all the cocktails we have, I feel like the El Barrio Margarita is on the menu to bring attention to the people of El Barrio. Anyone from here will say ‘Oh, an El Barrio Margarita? Let me try it’,” said Rosario. This cocktail manages to establish a connection between East Harlem residents and the relatively new BBQ joint. The El Barrio Apricot Margarita is not limited to apricot, but has a variety of different flavors, including mango, raspberry, passion fruit and strawberry.

One step into Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ transports you to an old saloon down in the South. The southern theme of the restaurant was well thought out and is present throughout the entire space, including the restrooms. At the entrance, patrons are greeted with a full wall of southern state license plates, and as they walk further into the restaurant the theme continues to play out. The southern saloon props at Harley’s include, horse shoes, steer head skulls and a life size horse and carriage.

Harley’s prides itself on authentic smokehouse flavors. The meats are smoked for 18-20 hours in the in-house 1000 pound wood smoker. Louis Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Carolina Brisket Sandwich, Louisiana Jambalaya, are some of many Southern BBQ dishes on Harley’s menu. I have visited Harley’s a number of times since the doors opened to neighborhood residents, and the menu items are not traditional dishes one would usually find in East Harlem. “I think this (Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ) is great for the neighborhood. I feel like a new attraction is good for any neighborhood, especially if it’s out of the norm and unique. If you look around here, there’s only Chinese stores, pizza shops, fast food and Cuchifritos,” said Rosario.

The South meets El Barrio at Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ located on 116^th Street and First Avenue. Harley’s brings forth a new culture of food to the neighborhood, and there are two things I believe keep East Harlem’s residents coming back for more – the El Barrio Apricot Margarita and the restaurant’s detailed décor.

The drink menu is an extensive one, ranging from craft beers to sangria, but one of the most popular cocktails on the menu is the El Barrio Apricot Margarita, as mentioned by Jessica Rosario, the manager who has been at Harley’s since the grand opening in December 2011.  “Out of all the cocktails we have, I feel like the El Barrio Margarita is on the menu to bring attention to the people of El Barrio. Anyone from here will say ‘Oh, an El Barrio Margarita? Let me try it’,” said Rosario. This cocktail manages to establish a connection between East Harlem residents and the relatively new BBQ joint. The El Barrio Apricot Margarita is not limited to apricot, but has a variety of different flavors, including mango, raspberry, passion fruit and strawberry.

One step into Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ transports you to an old saloon down in the South. The southern theme of the restaurant was well thought out and is present throughout the entire space, including the restrooms. At the entrance, patrons are greeted with a full wall of southern state license plates, and as they walk further into the restaurant the theme continues to play out. The southern saloon props at Harley’s include, horse shoes, steer head skulls and a life size horse and carriage.

Harley’s prides itself on authentic smokehouse flavors. The meats are smoked for 18-20 hours in the in-house 1000 pound wood smoker. Louis Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Carolina Brisket Sandwich, Louisiana Jambalaya, are some of many Southern BBQ dishes on Harley’s menu. I have visited Harley’s a number of times since the doors opened to neighborhood residents, and the menu items are not traditional dishes one would usually find in East Harlem. “I think this (Harley’s Smokeshack & BBQ) is great for the neighborhood. I feel like a new attraction is good for any neighborhood, especially if it’s out of the norm and unique. If you look around here, there’s only Chinese stores, pizza shops, fast food and Cuchifritos,” said Rosario.

While my goal is to showcase gentrification of Harlem’s food scene, all aspects of gentrification in Harlem are important. The transformation has been ongoing in recent years, and is visible through the increase of middle class residents, construction of elaborate apartment complexes, and the rise of small businesses that cater to a wealthier clientele. As the “new Harlem” continues to develop, the “old Harlem” is fading away. Preserving the history of this New York City neighborhood is important – which is further explained in the following podcast featuring Arthur Lewin, a professor who specializes in Black and Latino Studies at Baruch College.

Professor Arthur Lewin at Baruch College speaks on his opinions of gentrification in Harlem:

“Harlem is the capital of Black America,” professor Lewin said. In the early 1900s thousands of African Americans migrated to Harlem to flee from the highly racist south of the United States. The Harlem Renaissance was an artistic cultural movement that took place in the 1920s. This movement drew in African American artists from all over country to speak up for the rights of black people. Famous authors, including Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, unleashed works of art that showcased the struggles and inequalities African Americans faced during this period. Activists, including W.E.B du Bois and Marcus Garvey, protested to achieve civil rights during this period as well. Jazz music was also a crucial part of the Harlem Renaissance, and Harlem actually became home to this genre of music during this era. Jazz music was played by a number of famous musicians, including Duke Ellington. When the Great Depression came about in the 1930s, Harlem was tremendously affected, like many other cities in America. People were laid off from their jobs, crime increased and this affected the purpose of the Harlem Renaissance. However, when the Civil Rights Movement took place, Harlem played an important role to many activists who participated in the movement.

Although gentrification is in full effect, and is changing the neighborhood, I believe it is important to know the history of Harlem because it birthed the culture of the neighborhood.