The Harlem Neighborhood Block Association

Neighbors united to improve the quality of life in Harlem

Tag: Columbia University

Local Sauce Company Bought for 2.3 Billion

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Campbell Soup will buy Rao’s and (Parent Company Sovos Brands) jarred sauce empire for $2.33 Billion.
Over the past 100 years, Rao’s has gone from a Harlem neighborhood staple to its sauces being sold at grocers across the U.S.

Rao’s line Italian sauces, soups, and frozen meals are now available at grocers across the country. The company began in 1896 as a family-owned East Harlem restaurant, famous for its comforting Italian fare with options ranging from classic meatballs to seafood salad.

Reservations are close to impossible to get.

Almost a century after the restaurant’s founding, then-fourth-generation co-owner Frank Pelligrino founded Rao’s Specialty Foods to bring the flavors from the Harlem storefront to homes across the country. In 2017, the brand was acquired by Sovos for an undisclosed amount.

Now, the brand offers dozens of products ranging from sauce, pasta, and frozen meals available in stores across the country and two additional restaurant locations in Las Vegas and Los Angeles — operated by Rao’s Restaurant Group.

Meanwhile, the original Rao’s location has thrived with age. During the pandemic, the restaurant pivoted to takeout for the first time in its then 124-year-old history, which let many locals try the signature lemon chicken for the first time.

Time Running Out (To See The Uptown Triennial)

Art Exhibition: Uptown Triennial 2023

Wallach Art Gallery I The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery
Through Sunday, September 17

If You’ve Ever Wondered Why…?

If you’ve ever wondered why there seems to be more… crazy on the streets of Harlem compared with other neighborhoods, the answer is simple: they built it to be this way:

Please sign the Timbale Terrace petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/reject-timbale-terrace-east-harlem-residents-need-housing-for-our-seniors?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=463c9050-4d0a-11ee-b0f9-8548136bf175

to demand more supportive housing for seniors.

And, please sign up and attend the CB11 Land Use meeting on September 13th, to tell the Land Use Committee why sending more people with severe mental illness and addiction issues from other New York neighborhoods to Harlem is simply too much.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JlTJAdTsRRGs4YVXvh7NFw

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

Posted on by Harlem Shill

The Charlie Parker festival continues after the Sylvia Cuenca Organ Group performance in The Harlem Rose Garden in Marcus Garvey Park.

Friday August 25, 5:30-6:30

Sylvia Cuenca Organ Group

Drummer Sylvia Cuenca has performed around the world with many jazz greats, including four years with Joe Henderson, and 17 years with Clark Terry’s quintet and big band, in addition to stints with Billy Taylor, Gary Bartz, Dianne Reeves, Jimmy Heath, Etta Jones, Kenny Barron and many more . She has been a clinician and educator at a number of universities–most recently Columbia University–and has twice received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. This group features Jared Gold (organ), Paul Bollenback (guitar), and Freddie Hendrix (trumpet).

Restaurant Week In Harlem

Columbia University has some faves to recommend:

https://neighbors.columbia.edu/news/delicious-guide-exploring-new-york-city-restaurant-week-uptown

Harlem Neighbors, Organizers, and Activists Celebrated

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Our neighbors, Eva Chan and Lilian Chow were recently celebrated and highlighted by Columbia University for their work and activism to support Harlem’s growing Asian community.

https://neighbors.columbia.edu/news/how-eva-chan-and-lilian-chow-are-empowering-senior-asian-community-harlem

In the summer of 2021, we started distributing meals to Asian seniors with the help of Heart of Dinner. We’re looking for ways to expand that service because there’s a lot of interest. There is a real lack of groceries for these Asian seniors. They are forced to travel long distances to Chinatown to do their grocery shopping because they don’t know how to use the vegetables and produce that are in the markets near them. 
We’ve been in conversation with grocery store owners in the area–some of which are actually Korean–and they cannot justify selling Asian groceries because there’s not enough demand to cover the cost. So it’s not an easy thing to solve. That’s why we continue our work with Heart of Dinner which gives out Asian vegetables—and the seniors love it.

Eva and Lilian have worked to empower the many elderly Asians and Asian Americans who call Harlem home through political activism, cultural events, and more.

Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics

As seen, upsidedown, reflected in the Harlem River.

Harlem’s Worlds Fair, 1883

Posted on by Harlem Shill

No, the Harlem World’s Fair did not happen in 1883, nor did it happen at all. But it was proposed in this great illustration from Demarest’s Monthly Magazine, November 1879 (thank you to Harlem Bespoke that originally drew my attention to this image):

The fair would essentially be on the Columbia University land, and stretch from Morningside Park to Riverside Park, and bound on the south side by 110th, and on 125th, on the north.

Note the elevated line entering the frame on the bottom left, on 9th Avenue, then zig zagging to 8th Ave. in the curve of death (a ‘popular’ suicide location before the train was rerouted underground under Central Park West:

In the postcard above, note St.John’s the Devine under the tracks, in the distance – just one arch built.

Stoop Sale On Sunday

Juneteenth March/Run/Walk/Roll

Posted on by Harlem Shill

JuneteenthMarch.org

Engineering the Next Generation: Students Wanted

Sector Charlie – Build the Block

Residents & Business Owners of Sector Charlie! Join Neighborhood Coordination Officers Lau & Hackeling for their Build the Block on Mar. 16 at 5pm, @ 85 East 125 Street. Not sure this is your sector? Visit http://ow.ly/iUc250MZFC2 & type in your address to find out.

Set Out Times

Dear Fellow New Yorker,

As part of our commitment to keeping our streets clean, the NYC Department of Sanitation is implementing:

  • A new rule to reduce the time that trash, recycling, and curbside composting will sit on sidewalks. The new rule goes into effect April 1, 2023.
  • Citywide curbside composting service for all New Yorkers by the end of 2024

We invite you to join us for an upcoming Info Session to learn more about these exciting changes! Please register at the link below. If you are unable to attend, you can learn more at nyc.gov/SetoutTimes and nyc.gov/curbsidecomposting.

Meeting DateMeeting TimeRegistration Link
3/15/20231:00 PMhttps://teams.microsoft.com/registration/x2_1MoFfIk6pWxXaZlE77w,rYmh4LvA10CJA3mwZT0llA,vPW-k9nXBU63wY1_0IMYKw,xsKSk2Y7oEiVt5-HEEOdBA,jb7qgevsukyAFwXbVdzVfA,lQJFP6E2x063r0OVMFcn2A?mode=read&tenantId=32f56fc7-5f81-4e22-a95b-15da66513bef&webinarRing=gcc
3/21/20231:00 PMhttps://teams.microsoft.com/registration/x2_1MoFfIk6pWxXaZlE77w,rYmh4LvA10CJA3mwZT0llA,vPW-k9nXBU63wY1_0IMYKw,z2ZlKputvEWZ4dlNvV4qpg,fs6yXau58UiImT2Ds6tYrQ,gG-g05TdpUGk5xGfC-Pdng?mode=read&tenantId=32f56fc7-5f81-4e22-a95b-15da66513bef&webinarRing=gcc
3/23/20231:00 PMhttps://teams.microsoft.com/registration/x2_1MoFfIk6pWxXaZlE77w,rYmh4LvA10CJA3mwZT0llA,vPW-k9nXBU63wY1_0IMYKw,eP04DUy9GEOR768A0HTfew,yKWPJp8Xd0uhkgOz0KUltw,gIECFdpq6ESQCSnwGclZwg?mode=read&tenantId=32f56fc7-5f81-4e22-a95b-15da66513bef&webinarRing=gcc

We look forward to seeing you at one of our info sessions!

Remains

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Three decades after legislation pushed for the return of Native American remains to Indigenous communities, many of the nation’s top museums and universities still have the remains of thousands of people in their collections.

ProPublica has a fascinating project to map any remains of indigenous first peoples. It’s amazing to see the numbers:

And the map of the issue:

The reason this is appearing here, in a blog on Harlem is that we too have indigenous first-peoples’ remains held here in Harlem:

Columbia University’s Department of Anthropology has acknowledged 14 Native American remains. All 14 come from North Dakota:

To see the full map, and learn more about the project, see:

https://projects.propublica.org/repatriation-nagpra-database/institution/columbia-university-department-anthropology/

60 Years Ago

Posted on by Harlem Shill

60 years ago (admittedly in the summer) Robert Kennedy came to Harlem. He spoke at Columbia, visited a summer reading program for youth, and then walked with children in the reading program along West 125th street into the heart of Harlem.

Jet covered the visit and put this image on its cover:

Summer Plans? Broccoli

BROCCOLI CITY FESTIVAL IS BACK!!

JULY 15-16TH 2023
RFK STADIUM GROUNDS DC

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW ABOUT PRESALE TICKETS, LINE-UP & OTHER FESTIVAL UPDATES.

WILL BE THE BIGGEST AND BEST #BCFESTIVAL EVER!!!!

Learn more HERE.

311 Wants to Hear From You

Posted on by Harlem Shill

New York City’s 311 app wants to hear from you. Specifically, they want to hear about your experience using the 311 App and so are inviting you to participate in a survey

To tell them how you love/hate the 311 App, click the button below.

Tell NYC What You Think About the 311 App

Where McDonalds Stood, A Tower Grows

If you remember the McDonalds on 125th Street, under the 1 Train, and on the corner of Broadway, that site (600 West 125th Street) is the location of a large new sustainable and eco-friendly designed building that Columbia University is putting up.

The new building will include elements like a high-performance façade, vegetated roof space, storm water collection and retention, optimized equipment efficiency, and an enhanced Clean Construction program. Amenities include a 150-bicycle storage room, storage space, a fitness center, and lounges on the second and sixth floor with adjoining outdoor terraces. It will have commercial space, and 142 residences for Columbia graduate students and faculty.

And, maybe, just maybe, a McDonald’s franchise would return to occupy the tower’s ground-floor retail space.

Harlem Wellness Fest TODAY

IT’S A MOVE & STRETCH PARTY! Join us for Harlem Wellness Fest @harlemwellnessfest — where you can get to know Harlem’s homegrown fitness & wellness businesses, and map out your wellness routine for fall.

Harlem has seen enormous growth in our fitness and wellness scene over the course of the past decade. While we were hit hard by COVID-19, we’ve built a strong network of minority-owned and women-led small businesses — with amazing teachers and trainers who are expanding and energizing our community culture of fitness & self-care.

Save the date for TWO BIG TENTS with a lineup of FREE classes ranging from dance to yoga, boxing to strength training, and kettlebells to meditation. You can also explore the Humana Pavilion, where you’ll get to know each small business and sample wellness offerings including massage, acupuncture and plant-based nutrition.

REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE IN ADVANCE TO CLAIM YOUR FREE SWAG BAG! (While supplies last, and link in our profile.)

Participating businesses include:
💪🏽Harlem Cycle @harlemcycle
💪🏾Harlem Wellness Center @harlemwellnesscenter
💪🏼Harlem Yoga Studio @harlemyoga
💪🏿Harlem Kettlebell Club @harlemkettlebellclub
💪🏾Women’s World of Boxing @wwboxnyc
💪🏽Cliffs of Harlem @thecliffsharlem
💪🏿Harlem Pilates @harlempilates
💪🏾Benswic @benswic
💪🏽Hurricane Fitness @hurricanefitnessnyc
💪🏼Uplift Spa @upliftspa
💪🏽Harlem Chi Community Acupuncture @harlemchiacupuncture
💪🏿Spa Boutique & Wellness Lounge @spa_boutique_2go
💪🏼Art of Massage @artofmassage_nyc
💪🏽The Juicery Harlem @juiceryharlem
💪🏿Juice Max Eatery @juicemaxeatery

With thanks to Humana @humana, lululemon @lululemon, and our partners at Uptown Grand Central @uptowngrandcentral & TBo Harlem @tbo.harlem.

#Harlem #EastHarlem #ElBarrio #SmallBusiness #Community #Health #Fitness #Wellness #HarlemWellnessFest

125th Street BID and Columbia University to Look at a Digital Rethink of West 125th Street

Posted on by Harlem Shill
125th Street BID’s Partnership with Columbia UniversityWins $26M NSF Grant to Develop Center for Smart Streetscapes
New York, NY—August 10, 2022—The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that it is awarding a $26 million, five-year grant to a team led by Columbia Engineering, together with Florida Atlantic University, Rutgers University, University of Central Florida, and Lehman College, for a new Gen-4 NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Smart Streetscapes(CS3). 
“The most exciting thing about this project is the community involvement at the early-on stage, when we’re planning out what Harlem should have as it relates to technology,” said Barbara Askins, President and CEO, 125th Street Business Improvement District. “For the businesses, the arts and culture, the community organizations, the universities, the office tenants, you name it, this project brings all of that together in a way that will take us into the future through technology.”
This win represents a giant step forward for 125th Street and the Harlem Community. We now have a great go to place to develop solutions for numerous monumental problems that we have been struggling with for decades in our streetscape.


CS3 develops hyper-local real-time, interactive, high-precision applications on the streetscape to improve the quality of life by advancing livable, safe, and healthy communities. 
CS3 will explore new technological innovations determined by community engagement that reflect their needs within the initial context of these five applied themes:
Mobility(Pedestrian, cyclists, vehicles and autonomous systems, trash collection)
Ethical security in public spaces(Retail, urban planning-parks)
Assistive technologies for people with disabilities(Street crossing, real time assistance wayfinding
Future outdoor work(Emergency response, sidewalk logistics for deliveries, impacts of construction)
Hyper-local environmental monitoring(Street flooding, infection modeling, drones)

Landmark East Harlem is Awarded $12,000 for an East Harlem Historic Survey

Landmark East Harlem has been awarded a $12K grant from the Preservation League of New York State – their fiscal sponsor and coalition member, Ascendant Neighborhood Development, received the grant to fund a reconnaissance level survey of historic resources in the northern portion of East Harlem.

This project will complete their comprehensive historic/cultural resources surveying for all of East Harlem.

Read the Press Release

East-Central Harlem survey area (Purple); East Harlem Historic District (Teal); East Harlem South/El Barrio survey area (red)
The final EH historic survey (blue) will complete LEH’s reconnaissance for all East Harlem properties.

Lincoln Jail For Women Opposed By Angela Davis

Posted on by Harlem Shill

Patch.com is reporting that plans to revive Lincoln Jail (on 110th Street between 5th and Lenox) a women’s “trauma informed” jail has run into opposition from local and national activists.

Most prominent among them is, perhaps, Angela Davis, who has signed a letter opposing the creation of a Lincoln Jail for Women as have hundreds of others. You can see the signatories here:

https://medium.com/@nonewwomensjailnyc/over-200-community-members-organizers-scholars-and-formerly-incarcerated-people-and-their-ce9218e021ba

and you can sign it yourself. Simply scroll down to the bottom, or try this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNzfLT7rB7ujYkawyh1STE3ETMcmxJncc8jCM7htD5-3J7sQ/viewform

Claude McKay – Poet, Writer, Activist