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The phrase “everything old is new again” is becoming cliche when describing Harlem, yet it seems to fit so well with the “new renaissance” mindset that people have about the diversifying neighborhood. Recently Harlem has been the focus of positive press in places as far as London and Scotland.

The travel section of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette features two stories–one about old Harlem and the other about the “new” Harlem.

The first article is titled “Harlem’s Haunts are Rich in History”. The author, Ervin Dyer, takes readers on an abbreviated tour of Harlem’s landmarks and popular sights. He writes the article in colorful, descriptive language reminiscent of Langston as he describes the wonderment of a newly revived Harlem.

Link: Harlem’s Haunts [Post-Gazette]

The second article, “New Harlem Renaissance Restores Luster of Storied Neighborhood”, focuses on the unique boutique shops that Harlem offers. The author, Eleanor Berman, offers a brief history of the neighborhood along with the sights and sounds that Harlem has to offer with resources for those planning a trip to Harlem.

The two shops mentioned in the article are Straight out of Harlem and Hats by Bunn. Ms. Berman mistakenly notes in her article that “Hatts by Bunn is among Harlem’s many new, upscale shops”. As most Harlemites know, Bunn has been around for many years. A quick call to the store confirmed that indeed Hats by Bunn has been a fixture in Harlem for a number of years, first on 135th Street and currently on Seventh Avenue near 135th Street. Before that the store was located in Brooklyn on Atlantic Avenue.

Straight out of Harlem is an eclectic shop located on Saint Nicholas near 145th Street that has been around for a couple of years but is often overlooked due to their limited hours. The space also functions as an art gallery.

A list of these and other stores is provided at the end of the article.

Link: New Harlem [Post-Gazette]

Harlem was also the subject of a feature travel segment on Syracuse’s Channel 10 News. The segment is about tourism and how it has become a regular part of the Harlem landscape over the past few years. Our good friends over at Harlem One Stop were mentioned, as well as a couple of our favorite eateries and the hidden treasures that we dug up further uptown.

Link: Read or watch the segment at the News 10 website. [News 10 Now]

As Harlem continues to grow and redevelop you are likely to see more of these types of features and increased tourism in the area. If it benefits the neighborhood and offers resources to help restore Harlem to past grandeur it can only be a good thing. As Harlemites know, there is a delicate balance between maintaining the culture of Harlem and extending the Upper West Side to include Harlem. Part of our responsibility is to respect, renew and in some instances recreate.

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