Harlem Sundays
There is a thing we have/do here in NYC where some people don't go above 14th Street. Well my sister has a thing where she won't leave Harlem on Sundays and have what she calls "Harlem Sundays", which means not going below 110th. But what is there to do, what about shopping, culture, movies etc...?
Well, each new week brings something new and interesting to the various sections of what we deem Harlem. Yesterday, without really meaning to I had my own Harlem Sunday and it was quite good. It all started out with a trip to Manhattan's first Target. This Target is in Spanish Harlem, let's make no mistake about it, which is in Manhattan. This fact is something you will see as you ride on the M116 cross town to reach your destination. Target is part of a complex that includes a Costco, Old Navy, Marshall's, Bob's Furniture and a couple of other stores, but it's clear that Target and Costco are the main attractions.
I decided to give this Target a try, even though, there is one much closer to me over the river in the Bronx, but I had to see this shiny and new store. It was impressive to say the least. It had all that you're accustomed to but it's a SuperTarget for sure, evidenced by the grocery section. $.19 bananas? Watch out Trader Joe's. My one disappointment is that they did not have any Miss Jessie's products which the store has recently started to carry. So that was a fail.
Otherwise it was a typical trip. And yes there were many of our Caucausian brethren in the mix, it's Target for goodness, and it's in Manhattan!!! The thing is that Harlem is becoming more integrated everyday so it's not shocking in anyway. It is that melting pot that you always here about it New York City being.
After my sojourn to Target, I met up with a friend at Mojo, a nice looking spot on 119th and St. Nicholas for a little nosh. But first I had to get over there from Pleasant Avenue. I waited for the bus, but it did not come. So I ended up walking, it is a long walk. Through Spanish Harlem, did I mention?
On the way to Mojo I stopped by Make My Cake to pick up some brownies. I got two different kind, regular with nuts and a red velvet cheesecake, both looked great, but were dry. Which is a shame because they have good cake and cupcakes, I guess brownies are the weak link. Lunch at Mojo was good, $21 for a pre-fixe meaning you get 2 drinks, bloody mary, champagne or mimosa. After that we strolled along 8th Avenue also known as Frederick Douglas Blvd. On the way to Rite Aid, we stopped at a Patisserie, which was very French but run by Africans, everything looked really good. Then as we left there, we spied a nail salon/spa. But this place also had clothes and jewelry, interesting. Not sure how that will all work out but it seemed like a nice enough place. And then, still on the way to Rite Aid, that was really only a block away, we came across Lee Lee's Baked Goods. They have rugelach!!! And man was it good. The woman behind the counter gave us samples and was extremely nice. This totally made the day.
After the stop to the drug store it was off to the dojo. Yes, the dojo we were off to see Sensei Barry, only in Harlem. My friend had been given a flyer at the 145th subway and wanted to check it out, so we went. It's on Edgecombe and 143rd St, in the basement of a building. There is also a Sensei Mo, who does a bootcamp that I'm thinking about joining. Sensei Barry seems to know his stuff, he does boxing, karate and tai chi and showed us some basics and has great prices, my friend is going twice a week and paying $75 for 14 classes!!! Amazing.
And that is how I spent my Sunday in Harlem. There was shopping, eating, and a dojo, all fun, and I didn't go below 110th Street.
Well, each new week brings something new and interesting to the various sections of what we deem Harlem. Yesterday, without really meaning to I had my own Harlem Sunday and it was quite good. It all started out with a trip to Manhattan's first Target. This Target is in Spanish Harlem, let's make no mistake about it, which is in Manhattan. This fact is something you will see as you ride on the M116 cross town to reach your destination. Target is part of a complex that includes a Costco, Old Navy, Marshall's, Bob's Furniture and a couple of other stores, but it's clear that Target and Costco are the main attractions.
I decided to give this Target a try, even though, there is one much closer to me over the river in the Bronx, but I had to see this shiny and new store. It was impressive to say the least. It had all that you're accustomed to but it's a SuperTarget for sure, evidenced by the grocery section. $.19 bananas? Watch out Trader Joe's. My one disappointment is that they did not have any Miss Jessie's products which the store has recently started to carry. So that was a fail.
Otherwise it was a typical trip. And yes there were many of our Caucausian brethren in the mix, it's Target for goodness, and it's in Manhattan!!! The thing is that Harlem is becoming more integrated everyday so it's not shocking in anyway. It is that melting pot that you always here about it New York City being.
After my sojourn to Target, I met up with a friend at Mojo, a nice looking spot on 119th and St. Nicholas for a little nosh. But first I had to get over there from Pleasant Avenue. I waited for the bus, but it did not come. So I ended up walking, it is a long walk. Through Spanish Harlem, did I mention?
On the way to Mojo I stopped by Make My Cake to pick up some brownies. I got two different kind, regular with nuts and a red velvet cheesecake, both looked great, but were dry. Which is a shame because they have good cake and cupcakes, I guess brownies are the weak link. Lunch at Mojo was good, $21 for a pre-fixe meaning you get 2 drinks, bloody mary, champagne or mimosa. After that we strolled along 8th Avenue also known as Frederick Douglas Blvd. On the way to Rite Aid, we stopped at a Patisserie, which was very French but run by Africans, everything looked really good. Then as we left there, we spied a nail salon/spa. But this place also had clothes and jewelry, interesting. Not sure how that will all work out but it seemed like a nice enough place. And then, still on the way to Rite Aid, that was really only a block away, we came across Lee Lee's Baked Goods. They have rugelach!!! And man was it good. The woman behind the counter gave us samples and was extremely nice. This totally made the day.
After the stop to the drug store it was off to the dojo. Yes, the dojo we were off to see Sensei Barry, only in Harlem. My friend had been given a flyer at the 145th subway and wanted to check it out, so we went. It's on Edgecombe and 143rd St, in the basement of a building. There is also a Sensei Mo, who does a bootcamp that I'm thinking about joining. Sensei Barry seems to know his stuff, he does boxing, karate and tai chi and showed us some basics and has great prices, my friend is going twice a week and paying $75 for 14 classes!!! Amazing.
And that is how I spent my Sunday in Harlem. There was shopping, eating, and a dojo, all fun, and I didn't go below 110th Street.
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