The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association

Neighbors united to improve the quality of life in Harlem

Tag: 125th Street BID

The 125th Street BID is 30

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Signed into law in September 1993 by Mayor David N. Dinkins, Harlem’s BID is 30 years old.

East Harlem Church for Sale

A church and parish house on 119th Street near Pleasant Avenue are for sale:

https://www.crexi.com/properties/1181451/new-york-442-444-east-119th-street

As Catholic attendance numbers shrink and costs associated with lawsuits continue to rise, the New York Diocese has been shedding property to save on maintenance costs and to get capital.

Asking Price: Not disclosed.

Deal terms are not currently defined. You can request your own specific terms when submitting a non-binding offer.

Cabaret, in German+English, in Harlem

The German Cabaret artist Sylvia Brecko will entertain you in the Harlem Rose Garden this Sunday from noon to 1 PM in both English (if the majority doesn’t understand German) and German.

All welcome.

Bill Perkins

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Harlem’s 125th Street BID remembers Bill Perkins

Pictured l to r: Joyce Stephens (then NYPD 28TH Precinct Commanding Officer, Barbara Askins (BID) William Perkins (City Council) at a BID’ Fund Raiser — Sports and Fashion Gala .
Councilmember Perkins was a voting member of the 125th Street BID Board of Directors. He kept the BID on point and approved budgets, supported the Harlem Clean Campaign, provided extra sanitation workers, helped the BID articulate its position on what was needed with a dedicated bus lane and more. He was always looking at the situation from all sides and made sure that those who had less in the community would not be left out.  
He constantly acknowledged and praised the BID’s sanitation workers and public safety ambassadors for the work they do on 125th Street and asked us if there was something he could do to help.
Most impressive to us When the pandemic hit and everyone was working from home, Bill Perkins walked across 125th Street everyday checking out the district — sharp as a tack always acknowledging the BID during those troubling times. 
He will truly be missed!!!

A Rose Grows in Harlem

Trauma Unmasked

Tomorrow! A Gospel Christmas

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Tomorrow night at 7:30, all are welcome on East 126th Street to join in the holiday spirit, build community, and celebrate all that we have to be thankful for.

Tomorrow, December 16th. 7:30 PM.

57 East 126th Street.

Ummmm?

As seen on Madison Avenue. A New Jersey plate headed southbound on Madison Avenue.

125th Street BID Opposes Legal Weed Shop Across from the Apollo

The 125th Street BID is opposing opening the state’s first legal cannabis shop across from the Apollo. The BID president said she was not opposed to a cannabis store, just opposed to that prominent location when the community is working so hard to address other stressors on businesses – loitering, trash, shoplifting, mental health, open-air dealing/using, etc.

If you’d like to sign their petition opposing this location, the Change.org petition is here:

https://chng.it/jd6kzMN4

Note that no notice to the community (to CB10) was provided about the location in advance.

Scenes from The 125th Street BID Holiday Lights Parade

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Mayor Eric Adams Praises Hero Officers from East Harlem’s 25th Precinct

In East Harlem, NYC Mayor Eric Adams praised the NYPD officers who saved a man who fell into the subway tracks on Thanksgiving:

THE 29TH ANNUAL HARLEM HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Posted on by Harlem Shill

The traditional Harlem Holiday Lights celebration, a production coordinated by the 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with Manhattan Community Boards 9 and 10, as well as Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association, is focusing on a call for Unity and Peace in the Community, as the theme of the 29th year of this celebration.

Originally scheduled for Nov 15th, due to inclement weather, it will now take place TODAY, on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.

As Seen In Harlem

LGA + Harlem

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Travelers to LGA’s Terminal B have likely noticed the massive mosaic wall with stylized clouds and New York icons sprinkled about.

Artist Laura Owens has created a playful checklist of the important and ephemeral New York sites for visitors and natives to smile and nod at. Everything from the eternal (the pizza slice):

to the soon-to-be-nostalgia, MetroCard:

For her I 🍕NY installation at La Guardia, Owens worked with the largest interior wall of the new terminal and chose ceramic tile as her medium—for the very first time. Working remotely during the pandemic, she oversaw the installation of the 625,000 tiles that were hand-laid to create an almost 25,000-sf image with a pixelated and pointillist feel. In the expansive skyscape, puffy white clouds float in a variegated blue sky, interspersed with 80 iconic images referencing the history, culture and quirky charms of New York City.

And yes, Harlem represents, with the iconic Apollo marquee poking out:

(and note the use of the ever-ubiquitous emblem of New York, the subway tile.

Peace and Unity for Harlem

Join the 125th Street BID in their annual Holiday parade and Holiday lights celebration.

November 15th is the parade date. You know the location, but details on the flyer below:

Harlem Canvas for Change

Posted on by Harlem Shill

HARLEM CANVAS FOR CHANGE
BRINGING ART DOORS TO YOU

ART DOORS is a project where the 125th Street BID worked with property owners to allow artwork to be created by the community on the outside of the doors that they use to receive their freight. Often these doors become eyesores as they are set back from the building line and they fall victim to being a place for where we have witnessed public urination, graffiti, litter and more. 

The 125th Street BID saw the unsightly conditions as another opportunity for placemaking community engagement with the community. The 125th Street BID presented a challenge to the NYPD Explorers program and a community organization “YOUTH ON THE MOVE” to use the doors as canvases to express their thoughts and feelings about human rights and social justice.   This black and white exhibit brings a new look to 124th Street between Frederick Douglass Boulevard and St. Nicholas Avenue.

A special thanks to Barbara Askins, who shepherded this wonderful free outdoor art exhibit.

The Lee Building

The Lee Building. Park/125. As seen on a dull day from the Metro North platform.

Harlem Holiday Lights 2021

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Tonight!

Festivities kick off at 5 p.m. on West 125th Street just east of Broadway, with a Parade of Lights Kickoff. Then the parade will go south along Adam Clayton Powell down to 110th Street, and then come back on Lenox but go around Marcus Garvey Park and then head west again on 125th.

There will be a tree lighting at Marcus Garvey Park and neighbors and businesses offering hot drinks, promotions, and more.

November 16, 2021, 6pm
Grand Marshall, Nick Cannon

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https://www.harlemlightitup.com/

Amazon to Release Harlem on December 3rd

The first trailer for Amazon Prime’s new comedy, Harlem, has been released. Created, directed and executive produced by Tracy Oliver, the series follows four best girlfriends living in the famed neighborhood in Upper Manhattan as they attempt to navigate love, life, and their careers.

Premiering on Friday, December 3, Harlem stars Meagan Good as “Camille,” a young anthropology professor at Columbia with plenty of knowledge about dating but struggles to find balance within her own love life. The series also features Quinn (Grace Byers), a hopeless romantic and fashion designer fighting to keep her business afloat, Angie (Shoniqua Shandai), Quinn’s roommate, a confident and high-spirited singer, and Tye (Jerrie Johnson), a queer tech entrepreneur who keeps romantic partners and vulnerability at a distance.

Here’s the trailer:

A Letter to the NYPD and the Mayor

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Barbara Askins, the indefatigable head of the 125th Street BID, has written a powerful letter to NYC Police Commissioner Shea and Mayor De Blasio regarding the increasingly intolerable quality of life issues in Harlem.

Harlem_BID-Open-Letter_november_3_NKDownload

If you would like to tweet the Mayor:

https://twitter.com/NYCMayor

If you would like to tweet the NYPD Commissioner:

Boot Scraper

A very, very rare 19th (or maybe early 20th) century boot scraper, embedded at the base of brownstone steps.

Its survival is likely because it was embedded in a granite paver that the stoop rose from. No one has replaced the granite (tough work) with a cement base over at least a century.