The Scoop: Random Acts of Caring, Jazz Opera, and SAGE
Rent-A-Center, which has three stores in Harlem, donated tables and chair sets, microwaves, refrigerators and even HDTV’s to Harlem Hospital’s nurses as part of their “Random Acts of Caring” initiative. [RTO Online]
Harlem chronicler Michael Henry Adams writes about how the working class of Harlem have been abandoned by its politicians who at one time seemed to give the most when they possessed the least . [Black Star News]
Community group SAGE (Services & Advocacy for Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian and Transgender Elders) is concerned that aging, gay New Yorkers face a difficult road of isolation caused in great part by homophobia and the AIDS epidemic. [NYDailyNews]
Apparently the press releases for Body Bar & Grill have reached the Canadian wire. [PR.Canada]
The Oakland Opera has picked up Duke Ellington’s unfinished jazz opera “Queenie Pie” based on the true story of Madam CJ Walker, a beauty shop owner from Harlem who became rich selling hair straightening products. [San Francisco Chronicle]
“N Harlem” will be hosting a fundraiser for the Senator Chuck Allen III Scholarship fund which aids minority students studying law, accounting, public and urban policy and management. [NewsReleaseWire.com]
Tenant advocacy groups in East Harlem, Chinatown, and Bushwick are fighting to protect immigrant communities against predatory schemes being employed by landlords of affordable housing buildings. [AMNY]
Well it seems that Ms. Badu did show up to Club Body after all according to blogger Mz Virgo:
http://mzvirgo.com/2008/05/11/erykah-badu-after-party-at-club-body/
Actually Erykah Badu and the Roots didn’t perform there….it was just the “official” after-party, which may or may not mean that they even showed up. I certainly hope it doesn’t bring the violence you mentioned that Cherry Lounge experienced. That is the last thing that the area needs.
I have to agree it does sound a bit highbrow but it’s good to have a cool dance club near home just in case. The Cherry lounge tried to pull that off some years ago on 128th St near Convent Ave but it tanked. They couldn’t keep a lid on the violence and didn’t attract enough people. While I think that what we need here in Harlem are more decent “beer and burger” joints to balance the higher end spots like Moca’s, Mobay’s, and now defunct-pier 2110 there is a place for Body. As far as I know there are no clubs here in Harlem (i could be wrong) other than El Morroco which is opening in its entirety soon. And when it comes to clubs in general the whole gimmick is to make it feel VIP-ish. That’s as old as time. I personally was impressed to hear about Erykah Badu and the Roots performing there. From a business standpoint the location is prime. Right off the highway, near Hudson River Cafe, DinosaurBBQ, Covo, and the other thai restaurant that’s going to open. It’s a powerhouse strip of nightlife that we got going down there in the valley. Once you have the Pier reconstruction finished it’s going to be a huge people magnet!
That press release for Body Bar sounds so pretentious and unwelcoming. I was looking forward to the place, but after reading this I will probably never set foot in there. Velvet ropes, VIP room, bottle service, etc. – no thanks.