Damn girl, you lost?

There have been three shootings within five blocks of our...

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:30:45 -0400

There have been three shootings within five blocks of our apartment in E. Harlem in the last two weeks alone. Yesterday’s was across the street right next to a school. Stop the violence.

Poor Harlem only gets a one-sentence description about crime...

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:26:26 -0400

Poor Harlem only gets a one-sentence description about crime rates. Park Slope gets a novel. Boo New York Magazine!

They can take care of us.

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:22:38 -0400

They can take care of us.

Red Rooster Restaurant in Harlem

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:42:23 -0500

Red Rooster Restaurant in Harlem:

This looks like a restaurant worth checking out.

Look at the pants on the right - oh, the wonderful things you...

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:34:42 -0500

Look at the pants on the right - oh, the wonderful things you see in Harlem.

Check out the Lenox Lounge!

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:56:00 -0500

Check out the Lenox Lounge!

Gangs and violence infest East Harlem

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:29:02 -0500

Gangs and violence infest East Harlem:

This might explain all of the Crip graffiti we’ve seen on the 4/5/6 train lately.

Willie Mays's Harlem - Video

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:33:33 -0500

Willie Mays's Harlem - Video

OTR Goes Primetime

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:59:27 -0500

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 crimes. Hey, at least they are stopping crime.

Here’s the link:

http://press.discovery.com/us/tlc/press-releases/2011/tlcs-police-women-cincinnati-crack-down-crime-1065/

Harry’s Law premiered tonight on NBC. Kathy Bates stars as a lawyer who is fired from her boring job and fate leads her to the streets of OTR and fight for real people, or something like that. It’s the most ridiculous portrayal I have ever seen. The set looks like a cross between It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Boston Legal. Minus some pictures of the skyline, this was filmed in some place far from Over-the-Rhine. I’m not sure the director has ever seen our city to be honest. If he has, he didn’t take many notes of the citizens. Despite the butchered exterior of the show, the premise has a corny, heart felt tone. Like if there were lawyers on 7th Heaven. This women(Bates) was hit by a car in the neighborhood, and now she is trying to save every kid on the street. She gives teary eyed speeches about the youth, and her new firm partner puts up energetic fights for the same cause. It’s the first episode, and they’re already changing the neighborhood. I’m here now, and we are changing for the better, but these lawyers aren’t real, or on the way. If you don’t take my word for it, you can view full episodes of this disaster on NBC.com.

There’s a lot of progress happening in OTR, don’t get me wrong. This show however, isn’t close to the truth.

Story of our lives. Oh, 125th Street! There are worse things.

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:17:00 -0500

Story of our lives. Oh, 125th Street! There are worse things.

In Changing Harlem, Rift Between Old and New Business Owners

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:25:00 -0500

In Changing Harlem, Rift Between Old and New Business Owners

Holidays in Harlem!

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:45:51 -0500

Holidays in Harlem!

Video

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:41:46 -0500

You know it's Harlem when...

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:54:44 -0400

the Chase ATM center smells like fried chicken.

I saw this man on the corner of 125h and Lex a couple of weeks...

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:26:08 -0400

I 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....

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:03:34 -0400

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

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:07:57 -0400

Harlem Schools - Expensive, but Effective

I go to Pathmark at 125th and Lex for the same reason most...

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:51:35 -0400

I go to Pathmark at 125th and Lex for the same reason most people go: really, really low prices and convenient location. Quote from my roommate describing the Pathmark loyalty card, “This shit is like fucking food stamps.” And it’s true, my boyfriend and I once watched in amazement as a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Creme Brule ice cream went from $5.00 to a way more agreeable $2.50.

Tradeoffs? There are a few.

-Produce. This is not the place you go to buy fresh, local produce. You go to the Wild Olive Market down the street for that, or if you are feeling really adventurous the Harlem Fairway via the M60. Wild Olive has a cleaner, more organic friendly produce section, but only one brand of hummus and cheese. Z and I debate on whether or not this place is an underground front (Nutcracker, maybe?), which would be too bad because I would really miss the friendly cashiers who say, “See you next time,” so genuinely. If this is the case, at least Whole Foods is easily accessible from the 4/5. Cashiers at Pathmark don’t need to be nice because they know you’ll be back anyway.

- Security. I’ve yet to decide whether or not the security outside of Pathmark is a good thing. The fact that Pathmark “needs” cops lining the outside makes me feel like I’m entering some kind of prison or crazy house. Or maybe it’s the people outside badgering you for spare change so they can buy orange juice (orange juice?) and a pack of Newports.

- Lines. There have been multiple times when I feel I have been truly defeated, Pathmark. I give up. You win. And you can take me and my basket of groceries with you to your fiery low price hell! The woman behind me is in one of those electric chairs because she is so big she can’t walk. “Mama,” she says. I stare ahead. Please be talking to someone else. “Mama!” I turn around; raise my eyebrows. Mistake. “Here, get my groceries off the bottom of my cart. Be careful though with the eggs. There are three sodas by my feet, get them too.” What the hell am I supposed to do? Get the damn groceries. Yes, white girl, you get her groceries and let her use your Pathmark loyalty card.

In Harlem, a Hint of a Previous Era as Peddlers Stealthily Quench a Thirst

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:09:57 -0400

In Harlem, a Hint of a Previous Era as Peddlers Stealthily Quench a Thirst:

I am officially on the lookout for NUTCRACKER.

-Harlem (Z)

This Pathmark picture reminds me of our high...

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:07:24 -0400

This Pathmark picture reminds me of our high school abstinence only sex-ed class; it was right across the hall from the parenting class for expecting mothers. Photo courtesy of our roommate.

- Harlem (Z)