USA Today gives readers a taste of soul that offers no surprises [USA Today]
Columbia Spectator offers a nice profile of the newly reopened Cafe Largo [CS]
Closing of East Harlem schools reflects the battle between the old and the new [NYT]
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The Code of Conduct for blogging is certainly an interesting point of conversation. It’s a delicate balance between adhering to some sort of ethic and infringing upon free speech. I know that sometimes reading some comments on curb or other pages one would wish one could censor it. But that it part of the appeal of the blog. Anonimity and a lack of accountability creates an environment of honesty ironically enough. These are things that people would rarely say in a crowded room for fear of getting ostracized and in some cases (justifiably) get the crap beat out of.lol. Fortunately, there haven’t been lows of a despicable nature on this blog. But one would have to wonder what would necessitate such a code of conduct. In the article you had people receiving threats and having their families pulled into blog battles. That’s horrible.
I’ll be the first to admit that until I found uptownflavor i had no inkling whatsoever to read blogs, much less contribute to them. I had setup a myspace page just for the popularity of it all but it really did little to create a “community”. My close friends and I call each other and go out together so myspace really didn’t do anything I couldn’t do on my own. But a blog like this one provides a “townhall” feeling where citizens (particularly those in harlem) can bring up points of discussion, learn about new developments, or just find out where the next party is at. However, I wanted to feel a sense of accountability for what I said on uptownflavor. That’s why I don’t shy from having my myspace link and picture out there instead of just “anonymous”. Of course I don’t frown upon or have any less respect for those who do just leave anonymous messages. It’s their choice. It’s more a personal check to remind myself that I am part of the local community and that I am an open letter (to a point of course) to those around me. I might make arguments that sound right to me and then proved dead wrong. And I’ll admit it.
As usualy, total Joke! Who in Harlem actually goes to Sylvia’s? It’s a tourist joint today, brand milking tourist buses. And I know Carl personally (Army Ruths) as well as Sylvia however they both should be charged and put behind bars for clogging the arteries of thousands, I kid you not.
If we’re going to be honest, we’re should acknowledge this listing is “work product”, not earned merit. The key to getting mentioned in these listings is hiring a good PR agency or person, that’s all, that’s it. It would be more accurate to call this the list of Harlem restaurants with the best PR people, don’t be surprised if this article got planted by a single agency with all these people as clients.
Some of the best food in Harlem is Creole and that little Italian family spot on 119th & 5th, but they’re small, don’t have the PR machine pushing them, so the outside world does not know about them, only us Harlem people.
I’m not saying these places mentioned are not delightful, but “Sylvia’s” Ha! I don’t know a single person who’s been there in 15 years. Syvia’s is damn near “Papaya King Soul Food”.
Again, being real and if you know Harlem, for example the best fried fish is the “fish hole” on 145th and 8th is it? Or that spot on 125th and Madison is it?..that blue joint on the corner? Hell, they did not even have a sign for years, but this is the only type of thing you know, if you live in Harlem.