The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association

Neighbors united to improve the quality of life in northeast Harlem

They’re Back!

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Krispy Kreme donuts are back in New York City:

The new storefront opened on August 4th, and is serving up hot donuts to weary Harlemites.

Their latest NYC outpost is at 319 West 125th Street and it features the city’s very first hot light. The shop will serve these right-off-the-line doughnuts at a production rate of more than 100 per hour.

Up until recently, the Penn Station Krispy Kreme, which opened in 2009, was the chain’s only store in New York City. As part of their expansion, they recently opened locations in FiDi and just south of Bryant Park at 37th Street and Sixth Avenue. The international chain is planning an immersive flagship store in Times Square, complete with the world’s largest hot light, stadium-style seating where guests can watch the doughnut-making process, and even a “glaze waterfall.” Locations are also planned for the Upper West Side and the Bronx.

https://www.6sqft.com/krispy-kreme-opens-in-harlem-with-nycs-first-doughnut-hot-light/

For their new Harlem location, Krispy Kreme opened inside a historic building built in 1910; in the 1950s, it was the famous saloon and jazz club “The Baby Grand.” This store employs 45 newly hired team members and managers and offers all the Krispy Kreme classics like the iconic Original Glazed® doughnuts, a full doughnut menu, and hot and cold coffees. It’ll be open Sunday to Thursday from 7am to 10pm and Friday to Saturday from 7am to 11pm, and the store will offer local delivery.

https://www.6sqft.com/krispy-kreme-opens-in-harlem-with-nycs-first-doughnut-hot-light/

Harlem River Drive

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One of my favorite songs of all time, Harlem River Drive, can be found on Soundcloud as a repeatedly covered and remixed tune:

https://soundcloud.com/teza-cappuccino/harlem-river-drive-teza-cappuccino-edit

The Library of Congress has a great short of horse racing on Harlem River Drive. Note the Aquaduct Bridge with its full complement of masonry arches before the center arches were replaced with a steel span to permit boat traffic:

Note the people on the Aqueduct Bridge, taking the parade of wealthy families and their horses.

To see the full 1903 film:

https://www.loc.gov/item/00694402/

More Hurricane Damage

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The day after Hurricane Isaias is one of disbelief in many communities. Today I saw a huge tree down at Park Avenue and 120th Street:

This will undoubtedly impact the use of the sports field that the tree fell into and may impact this school’s opening plans unless the tree is removed and the fence repaired soon.

16mm Black and White Film of Count Basie Available on Ebay

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A 7 minute 16mm film of the Count Basie orchestra is currently up for bids on Ebay.

For jazz fans this might be an interesting find.

Look at the piano he’s conducting from.

For more (and to place a bid) see: https://www.ebay.com/itm/283962234531?ul_noapp=true

Outdoor Dining Will Return (next summer, and kind of late…?)

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The mayor has said that the COVID driven outdoor dining program will return next summer, on June 1st.

Outdoor dining at Harlem Shake on Lenox Avenue, Harlem, New York

“I wanted to say it now because I want people in communities to look forward and see that we’re going to keep coming back strong. I want the folks who own the restaurants to know that they’re going to have that additional revenue going forward. The folks who work in the restaurants to know that whatever else we have to weather, we have seen that this experiment worked,” said the mayor.

That seems kind of late in the season. Many people would be happy to dine out earlier in May, for example and our local restaurants will need every dollar they can get. Let’s hope outdoor dining does return, but earlier than the mayor’s plan.

Twitter: @HarlemBlock

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The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association is now on Twitter as: @HarlemBlock. Our “Bio” could use some refining. Let us know if you have suggestions:

Current Bio: “The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association unites neighbors and works to improve the quality of life in our community for all residents”

Image result for twitter logo

Oh, and please follow us! Our current state is, well, sad:


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Leo Goldstein

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The Bronx Documentary Center has a great online exhibit of the photography of Leo Goldstein. Goldstein photographed East Harlem in the 50’s and captured, in black and white, the gritty world that awaited many Puerto Ricans who moved to New York in the post-war era.

Goldstein belonged to The Photo League which was targeted by the FBI in the postwar witch hunt period as a subversive organization and forced to disband in 1951. However, Leo and a number of former members continued to meet at each other’s homes on a round-robin basis to show and critique their work.

For more of Goldstein’s work, see: https://www.laffbdc.org/leo-goldstein