The nondescript apartment building on Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. between 131 and 132 Streets (shown above) was (during the Harlem Renaissance) the home of Connie’s Inn, an entertainment hot-spot and comparator with the Cotton Club. As with the Cotton Club, Connie’s Inn featured Black performers but did not allow Black audience members – restricting its audience to whites only.

The food menu is fascinating to peruse, as is the drinks menu:

Connie’s Inn was popular during the 1920s and 1930s and was founded by Connie Immerman – a successful businessman and entrepreneur (a description at the time that often not so subtly meant that he was a bootlegger and gangster).

One of the most famous performers to grace the stage at Connie’s Inn was Duke Ellington, who played there regularly throughout the 1930s. Other notable performers included Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, and Cab Calloway. The club also featured a wide range of entertainment, including jazz bands, comedians, and dance troupes.

In addition to its entertainment, Connie’s Inn was also known for the glamorous nature of its opulent Art Deco decor. Connie’s Inn had plush velvet seating, sparkling chandeliers, and intricate plasterwork.

The covers of its menu (below) however, are a world unto themselves:

The menu with the illustrations (above) is for sale for $888 at Ebay.

Connie’s Inn eventually closed its doors in the 1940s.

New York State’s Teacher of the Year Teaches in Harlem

The 2023 New York State Teacher of the Year, as chosen by the state Board of Regents and Department of Education, Billy Green teaches chemistry and math at A. Philip Randolph High School in Upper Manhattan, making a difference in the lives of young New Yorkers after his own childhood was marked by homelessness and other significant hurdles.