Welcome to Harlem’s Newsletter

  • Local Restaurants vs. Chains
    Local Restaurants vs. Chains

    A dataset of nearly 800,000 independent and chain restaurants for the contiguous U.S. was used to examine the total number of restaurants with the same name and created an average “chainness” score, which measures the likelihood of finding the same venues in other parts of the country. The paper that examined how “chainy” a community is, by…

  • A Flag?
    A Flag?

    Seriously? Manhattan (as a borough), has a flag? It looks suspiciously like the NYC flag with the only difference being details on the circular seal. The Manhattan Latin motto is gone. The 1625 is replaced with two stars. In the end, it’s pretty underwhelming. Perhaps the confusion between the flags means that we’ve seen the…

  • Falls Requiring Emergency Room Visits by Seniors
    Falls Requiring Emergency Room Visits by Seniors

    About falls among older adults in New York City Each year, one in three older adults (65 years and older) falls. Among New York City’s older adults, there are approximately 30,500 emergency department (ED) visits, 16,600 hospitalizations, and 300 deaths each year. Falls are not a normal part of aging, and research shows that many…

  • Walking Distance to the Subway
    Walking Distance to the Subway

    How Calculated:  Walking distance to a subway station is defined as 1/4-mile or less. Distance was measured between the centroid of 2010 Census blocks and the nearest station entrance. Census block populations within areas defined as walking distance were summed across the neighborhood and divided by total neighborhood population. Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority ,United States Census…

  • HNBA September Meeting on THURSDAY the 16th
    HNBA September Meeting on THURSDAY the 16th

    Because of scheduling issues, the first HNBA meeting of the season will be held on Thursday, September 16th, at 7:00 PM. We’ve decided to continue to gather on Zoom at least until December because of the threat that the Delta Variant poses to our community. At our September 16th meeting, HNBA will host Kristin Richardson…

  • Odd Fellows Temple
    Odd Fellows Temple

    Landmark East Harlem – a fantastic local group that highlights the history and beauty of East Harlem has a wonderful piece out on the (former) Odd Fellows Temple at Park/106. I highly recommend you get on their email list and explore East Harlem through their efforts. www.LandmarkEastHarlem.org421 East 116th Street, New YorkNY 10029 United States…

  • Hart Island
    Hart Island

    New York City’s Hart Island is the site of the city’s potter’s field. During 2020, over 2,000 COVID-19 victims were buried here. The City has a fantastic piece on the island and the history of burials there (coproduced with Columbia University’s School of Journalism). A 2021 analysis by Columbia Journalism School’s Stabile Center and THE CITY found…

  • Sally’s Special Freedom Bus!
    Sally’s Special Freedom Bus!

    The Schomburg has a great image entitled: Sign for Sally’s Special Freedom Bus, to go to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom from August 28, 1963 The sign was located in the window of Sally’s Restaurant, in Harlem, and referenced a bus leaving 58 years ago today. Today that location is the site…

  • The Heat Vulnerability Index
    The Heat Vulnerability Index

    The Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) shows neighborhoods whose residents are more at risk for dying during and immediately following extreme heat. It uses a statistical model to summarize the most important social and environmental factors that contribute to neighborhood heat risk. The factors included in the HVI are surface temperature, green space, access to home…

  • Anchor and…?
    Anchor and…?

    Walking on West 129th Street I noticed a gorgeous Art Nouveaux crest, hiding under layers and layers of paint. The crest is located on what is now a church. I think there is an anchor and a compass. I can also make out the letters “B” and “W”, and the date 1891. A View of…

  • NoMAA Has a New Home
    NoMAA Has a New Home

    NOMAA makes new home at theUnited Palace of Spiritual ArtsNoMAA’s Studios The uptown arts community now has a new place to create art as the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance (NoMAA) has officially opened NoMAA’s Studios @4140, taking residence in the office and four arts studios on the 2nd floor of the United Palace of Spiritual Arts at 4140 Broadway.    Led by Executive Director Niria…

  • Tonight!
    Tonight!

    Tonight is a very rare opportunity to talk to top NYPD brass about policing in East Harlem. Tonight at 6:00 PM, at the Church of the Apostolic Faith – 1421 5th Avenue (5th Avenue and 116th Street) – you are invited to speak about community policing with our elected representatives and with top members of…