April 2011
2 posts
March 2011
4 posts
3 tags
Red Rooster Restaurant in Harlem →
This looks like a restaurant worth checking out.
February 2011
1 post
Gangs and violence infest East Harlem →
This might explain all of the Crip graffiti we’ve seen on the 4/5/6 train lately.
January 2011
3 posts
Willie Mays's Harlem - Video →
OTR Goes Primetime
In the fifth season on TLC’s Police Women, they have come to Cincinnati. It’s basically watching tough women on Cops, just a little more personal. I received three calls/texts after the season premiere to inform me that my apartment building was on television. (Someone was shot in the leg on my block). Yeah, yeah, the last thing Cincinnati needs is an hour a week showcasing it’s...
December 2010
2 posts
In Changing Harlem, Rift Between Old and New... →
November 2010
1 post
October 2010
4 posts
You know it's Harlem when...
the Chase ATM center smells like fried chicken.
WatchI saw this man on the corner of 125h and Lex a couple of weeks ago. Give it a few seconds to play through. Notice the hawk.
- Harlem (Z)
Survey says....
Your chances of being a victim of a crime is now a one in twelve chance. (Up from last years one in four statistic).
We are also no longer the NUMBER ONE most dangerous neighborhood!
We’re moving on up!
<3 OTR
Harlem Schools - Expensive, but Effective →
September 2010
11 posts
In Harlem, a Hint of a Previous Era as Peddlers... →
I am officially on the lookout for NUTCRACKER.
-Harlem (Z)
A "Blended" Community - Drinking in Harlem →
“Oh my God, it’s snowing in Harlem.”
– man sitting at the gas station watching all the people return from the Electric Zoo festival (courtesy of Z and J’s roommate)
August 2010
8 posts
Bang, bang, bang.
August 27th, 9 PM - I was drinking a daiquiri with a friend in my apartment. Then we hear a loud bang from the street to our south. He told me it was just a car back fire, we then heard it three more times.
Later that evening, we walk to a bar and things seem fine. We return around midnight, and there are five cop cars on the street to our north.
I just checked a local crime website. There were...
WatchHarlem Block Party!
This doesn’t come close to explaining how loud it was in our apartment.
The walls were shaking.
Reactions
On the way back from the Nuyorican tonight, my cousin, J and I were walking down 125th.
As we passed through a group of men a voice on the left called out, “Snow Bunny, Snooooww Bunnny, Snow Bunny.” A voice to our right answered, “Nothing wrong with that. I like ice.”
A few steps later I said, “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
Two young...
First Encounter with the Harlem Police
It’s 10:30 PM and Z and J are walking to the neighborhood Pathmart (which blares hip hop and rap 24/7) when they are stopped by two police officers.
“Hello ladies! Where are you from?”
“Down the street.”
Look of surprise, shock even.
“Quiet neighborhood, huh?”
“Yeah, it’s not so bad.”
“It’s pretty rough. So why did you...
Cops or prostitutes...or neighbor?
Yesterday I had a job interview at Findlay Market. Since it is five blocks away, I decided to walk. I put on black slacks, a white shirt, and a black vest and wore black heals. The first three blocks were nothing out of the ordinary; some strange looks, but mostly pick up lines, trash and beer cans on the sidewalk, people leaning out their windows talking to pedestrians, etc. Then, there was Race...
Day One
After 72 hours of driving, cat-piss motels, and sleep deprivation J and Z have finally “moved” to Harlem. ”Moved” because boxes are still piled everywhere from the couch to the kitchen sink, and halfway up our spiral staircase. But we are here! And we received a lovely good morning from our super at 9 AM, telling us to please (not so politely) move our rug and trash from...
50 Shots Fired at Block Party in Harlem →
Two days before the big move: note to self, do not attend block parties in the middle of the night. Also, generally consider the safety of traveling above 130th after dark. - Z
July 2010
1 post
The last night (and the first).
So here we are, G, Z, and J, together for the last night for quite some time. We had this brilliant idea to start a blog as a way to stay connected and share our experiences in these crazy new neighborhoods. It has taken us 2 hours to figure out how to work this damn site, but we’re getting there.
Starting August 11th, Z and J will be permanently settled in Spanish Harlem. G is staying...