George and Ira Gershwin From Central Harlem

George and Ira Gershwin: composers, grew up in Harlem. Lived at 108 West 111th and other addresses.George wrote his first hit song, “Swanee”, at his home at 520 W. 144 Street in 1919.The pair were living at 501 Cathedral Parkway in 1924, and it was in this apartment that George wrote Rhapsody in Blue. Become…

Rev. Lisa Jenkins Baptist Church First Female Pastor

She’s making history in Harlem. Rev. Lisa Jenkins has been elected the first female pastor in the 88-year history of St. Matthews’s Baptist Church. Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem World Magazine Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Harlem World Magazine. (You can unsubscribe anytime)Constant…

Walter’s World: Motown The Musical (with video)

By Walter Rutledge After five weeks of previews Motown the Musical officially opened on Sunday, April 14. The show’s book by Berry Gordy is based on his autobiography, To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories Of Motown by Berry Gordy, which chronicles his life and the Motown era. Director Charles Randolph-Wright takes us…

Walter’s World: Harlem Dance Caravan (with video)

By Walter Rutledge [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Vth0K49xI&w=420&h=315] The Faison Firehouse and Summerstage presented Harlem Dance Caravan on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10 at Marcus Garvey Park’s Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in the village of Harlem. Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem World Magazine Example: Yes, I would like to receive…

NYC’s Bike Share, Largest In The Country, To Begin

New York City, with its constant hum of subways, buses, cabs and ferries, has long had one glaring exception to its many transportation options: bicycles for the masses. Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem World Magazine Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Harlem World Magazine.…

Yolande’s Yard: Mumia, Long Distance Revolutionary (video)

By Yolande Brener Mumia Abu Jamal, birth name Wesley Cook, is the author of seven book, numerous articles for the Black Panther Press and hundreds of radio programs for NPR and Democracy Now.  Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem World Magazine Example: Yes, I would like to receive…

Yolande’s Yard: On the Up and Up with Michael Apted

By Yolande Brener The “7 Up” series started with one documentary intending to examine the state of England’s class system in 1964.  Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem World Magazine Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Harlem World Magazine. (You can unsubscribe anytime)Constant Contact Use.…

Harlem Cultural Jewels Tour Part Of Harlem Advocacy Week

By Yolande Brener Imagining America is a consortium of universities dedicated to civic engagement in the arts. As part of Harlem Advocacy Week, which ran from October 1 to October 7, I attended Imagining America’s tour of Harlem’s Cultural Jewels. Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem World Magazine…

Interview: With Celebrity Hair Stylist David Babaii

David Babaii The Harlem fave celebrity hair styling guru has swirled, tossed and pulled some of the most expensive hair in the world. Here, the stylist to the stars talks tips for Harlem tresses, being Kate Hudson’s mane man and food in Harlem. Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe…

Pat Cleveland Channels Jospehine Baker’s Harlem Swag

“[she came] with… a Harlem shimmy dance-movement that recalled Josephine Baker …” Alicia Drake in the book The Beautiful Fall described Pat Cleveland’s arrival in Paris in the late 1970’s, saying, “[she came] with liquorice hair, legs like pipe-cleaners, and a … Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem…

Azealia Banks is Not Holmes Alone

Azealia Banks is mixing business with pleasure. Sources close to the situation tell us the 21-year-old Harlem-born rapper has split with Lady Gaga ’s powerful manager, Troy Carter , after less than two months in his stable, and is now repped by Dave Holmes , who’s doing double duty as Banks’ boyfriend. Become a Harlem…

Walter’s World: Film Premiere at Faison Firehouse Theater

By Walter Rutledge The Faison Firehouse Theater, located at 6 Hancock Place, in Harlem, will host the highly anticipated red carpet film premiere of The Skinny on Wednesday, June 6th at 7:00pm. It is the third feature film from independent filmmaker Patrik-Ian Polk (Punks, Noah’s Arc) and will be presented during the First Annual Pride…

Cyril Walter Horsham: A Trinidadian American Dream

Cyril Walter Horsham is an author has lived in America for the past 32 years; he came to America from Trinidad and he, like most people who come to America had his own expectations of what America was all about. He realized very early that the reality of life in America was not what he…

Henry “Taj Mahal” Saint Clair Fredericks, Harlem

Henry Saint Clair Fredericks (born May 17, 1942), who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem World Magazine Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Harlem World Magazine. (You can unsubscribe anytime)Constant Contact…

Scientology Harlem Public Affairs Director Ordained

Verlene Cheeseboro, Director of Public Affairs of the Church of Scientology Harlem, is now the first Scientology minister ordained at the Church of Scientology of Harlem. Executive Director of the Harlem Church, Rev. Phyllis Mack, conducted the ceremony. Become a Harlem Insider! Sign-Up for our Newsletter *Select list(s) to subscribe toHarlem World Magazine Example: Yes,…