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This post is a ode to the many Harlem small businesses that didn’t make it to 2025. Each business represents not only ...
04/09/2025

This post is a ode to the many Harlem small businesses that didn’t make it to 2025. Each business represents not only a dream, but the action and energy, of all the people that breathed life into so many of these small businesses we loved.

Some couldn’t make it through the pandemic 😢 and some never made it to the pandemic. Either way, they may be gone, but not forgotten….. at least by me. 😉

Let this serve as another reminder to support the small businesses you love TODAY so that they will be here tomorrow. 🙏🏽❤️

Shout out to all the dreamers and do’ers behind, just some of the many businesses here in Harlem that have had to close down or pivot out of their brick and mortars.


Virgo Hardware
Lion Bar

Elmas In Harlem
Harmony
Lil Ocho
Sprinkle Splash

Yuri’s Blue Plate




Queen of Sheba

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🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️❤️
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I recently received an impromptu tour of the brownstone by , which included a look at her mother, ’s record collection ...
29/08/2025

I recently received an impromptu tour of the brownstone by , which included a look at her mother, ’s record collection from her time as a DJ/radio personality on .

In seeing this collection, it took my back to my memories of just how sacred albums were to my mother’s generation. My uncles had all of what are now the classics. From Marvin Gaye to Steve Wonder or from Evelyn Champagne King to Parliament, I was raised on the sounds and the technology of the day.

Looking at this wonderful collection of art and sound was a simple and subtle reminder that technology doesn’t always get it right. As a whole, lost is the art of staring at, reading, examining the credits, appreciating the art direction, styling, photography, artists and credits that came with owning vinyl albums.

Not even a lost art, but a lost form of appreciation. Today this appreciation is replaced by likes, hearts comments and shares. Although, it’s a new form of appreciation, it just feeds this culture of instant gratification. This record collection reminds me of a time when people slowed down and took their time. I miss that.
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What you’re looking at here is a picture that is like at least 6 years in the making. This is sister J. I think her name...
24/08/2025

What you’re looking at here is a picture that is like at least 6 years in the making. This is sister J. I think her name is Janice. 🤦🏽‍♂️ I met her at her table where, on the corner of 126th & Malcolm X Blvd., she sells bean pies and cakes, among other things.

We engaged in small talk, after which, I asked if I could take her picture. She politely refused saying, “not today”, but thereby implying that possibly on another day, she would no okay with it.

I have literally passed by her table hundreds of times over the years, each time asking was she ready for he close up. Each time, she told me no, but i persisted… even on days when I didn’t have my camera, I would ask just to get the reps in. 🤣

A few weeks back she invited me to an event at Mosque No. 7. She sent me a text with the info and I told her I would be there.

Yesterday when I saw her at her table, she reminded of the event happening today at the mosque. I honestly had forgotten the date, but I told her I would be there.

She mentioned taking pictures at the event and I asked, “oh, so can I take your picture too?” She paused to think about it, and then said yes. 🤯 I fell out my chair! 😕 Well… in my mind at least. IRL, I didn’t have a chair. 😂

So today you can imagine my excitement as I went over to Mosque No. 7. I had actually never been inside and the brothers welcomed me with open arms… after a search of course.

Sister J wasn’t in the mosque, but I found her at her usual spot, after I left, and true to her word, she FINALLY let me take her picture.

I’ve been excited about many pictures over the years, but this tops the list since it took so long to happen. 🙏🏽 Thank you Sister J and the gentlemen of Mosque No. 7. You are appreciated. ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽
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Two lawsuits blaming two construction companies for the Legionnaires disease outbreaks that caused the death of five peo...
20/08/2025

Two lawsuits blaming two construction companies for the Legionnaires disease outbreaks that caused the death of five people and sickened 108 people were announced today at the National Action Network headquarters in Harlem.

The lawsuit centers on Harlem Hospital, where lawyers allege that Rising Sun Construction, Skanska USA and the city of New York failed to properly clean storm water from cooling towers and did nothing to protect their workers residents.

Lawyer Benjamin Crump, with Reverend Al Sharpton and construction worker Nunzio Quino, who was one of the people sickened in the outbreak, took the podium to make the announcement.

“I’ve got a rash coming out of here, I don’t know what it is. I’m in pain right now because I have something going down my right leg which I didn’t have before this happened. I had breathing problems. I couldn’t even talk. I had to gasp for air and internal bleeding,” said Quino.

Crump is seeking compensation for victims, as well as, a change in protocols for how these cooling systems are cleaned, monitored and tested.

We can absolutely be sure that these won’t be the only lawsuits that stem from this outbreak. There must be accountability and change.

I find it very strange that 12 buildings, in Harlem alone, have been contaminated with Legionnaires, yet no other buildings downtown with the exact same type of cooling systems and conditions, have not been affected. 🤔

Does everyone follow protocols everywhere else but in Harlem? Did it start in one tower and spread to the others? How many different entities are responsible for the 12 contaminated cooling systems?

There will still be lots of questions that need answers as the aftermath of this outbreak unfolds. The city also must be FAR more transparent than they have been if they expect to gain the trust of an already suspicious community… but I’m doubtful of that and they will probably now blame it on the lawsuits.

Stay tuned Harlem… and be safe out there because the danger from this outbreak is not yet over. 🙏🏽❤️
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The number of legionnaires disease cases has risen to 108 cases and now 5 deaths with 14 current hospitalizations. My de...
19/08/2025

The number of legionnaires disease cases has risen to 108 cases and now 5 deaths with 14 current hospitalizations. My deepest sympathies go out to the families of those who have passed away.

This news kinda struck me as odd… like the math ain’t mathin’, but unfortunately, we are STILL at the outer edge of that window where one could have been infected from the first 11 buildings.

I’m assuming the 12th building was also listed among the addresses already provided by the Department of Health (DOH), although, for some reason, they didn’t specify exactly which building was the 12th. 🤦🏽‍♂️

So the reality is, there could still be more diagnosis’ to come because of of the 12th building. We’re looking at another two weeks from when the 12th building is confirmed as remediated.

I also did some more homework, and I won’t get into the minutiae of it all, but I found out that remediation treatment is determined by the severity of bacteria found and chosen method to treat it. 😳 Meaning that there’s levels to this sh*t. 🤦🏽‍♂️

For heavily contaminated systems, or if initial testing reveals high Legionella levels (≥1000 CFU/mL), a system-wide decontamination may be required.

The DOH, to my knowledge, has not supplied reporting of the bacteria levels discovered in any of the buildings. 🤨

I’m not a fan of them peicemealing us pertinent information or failing to provide better context on what these processes are so we know exactly what to expect… but it is what it is.

That’s all i have for now. I don’t know about you all, but I’m masking up. I can’t hurt!🤷🏽 - Be safe out there Harlem. 🙏🏽❤️
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The MTA board voted to approve the second phase of the 2nd Ave subway project, which will extend Q train service from 96...
18/08/2025

The MTA board voted to approve the second phase of the 2nd Ave subway project, which will extend Q train service from 96th Street north to 125th Street, and then west on 125th Street to Park Ave.

Phase 2 of the project, which has a service date of September of 2032, is expected to cost nearly $7B. The first phase opened in 2017 adding the 72nd, 86th and 96th Street stations. The MTA says there will be a direct connection with the existing 125th Street & Lexington Ave 4,5, and 6 subway lines.

Initial work will begin this year, and major construction is expected to early in 2026, with tunnel boring expected to begin in 2027.

More than 70,000 jobs, including union-wage construction jobs, will result from Phase 2 development, with 20% local hiring goal, which will generate opportunities for hundreds of East Harlem residents.

The overall project budget is nearly $7B and is funded, in part, by revenues generated from the Congestion Relief Zone tolling program.
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So I was up late going thru my images from the last few weeks. It’s been a lot to catch up on since I haven’t posted a p...
17/08/2025

So I was up late going thru my images from the last few weeks. It’s been a lot to catch up on since I haven’t posted a photo dump in maybe over a month. 🤔

That said, going thru my photos, when I saw this image, it was HANDS DOWN my favorite and deserving of its own independent post.

What you’re looking at is the Harlem community listening to the Interim Health Commissioner not give us any new information at a Legionnaire’s disease press conference a week ago.

I almost fell out my chair looking at this, because in that moment right there, we were ALL them! 😂🤣
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NYC officials have FINALLY publicly identified which buildings tested positive for Legionnaires disease contamination.Th...
14/08/2025

NYC officials have FINALLY publicly identified which buildings tested positive for Legionnaires disease contamination.

They are as follows:

BRP Companies, Lafayette Development LLC, 2239 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard

BVK, 215 West 125th Street

Commonwealth Local Development, 301 West 124th Street

CUNY - City College Marshak Science Building, 181 Convent Avenue

Harlem Center Condo, 317 Lenox Avenue

NYC Economic Development Corporation, 40 West 137th Street

NYC Health Department Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, 2238 Fifth Avenue

NYC Health + Hospitals Harlem Hospital, 506 Lenox Avenue

The New York Hotel Trades Council Harlem Health Center, 133 Morningside Avenue

Wharton Properties, 100 West 125th Street (3 of 8 towers)
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MORE DETAILS TO COME!
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So the legionnaires outbreak is up to 90 cases with 3 deaths and 17 currently hospitalized. That’s a 17 case jump from 7...
13/08/2025

So the legionnaires outbreak is up to 90 cases with 3 deaths and 17 currently hospitalized. That’s a 17 case jump from 73 cases announced last Friday.

These new cases could be the tail end of the initial contaminations. The incubation period for Legionnaires’ disease is typically 2-14 days, with most cases developing symptoms within 5 to 6 days.

However, some individuals may experience symptoms as early as 2 days, or as late as 16 days, after exposure.

The NYC Department of Health has stated that EVERYONE within area codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039 is at risk, and even though they said that all eleven buildings with contaminated cooling systems have been treated, the warning remains at high alert even today.

The DOH has not been very helpful in stating what we could, or should, be doing to stay safe, especially for those who cannot just pickup and leave entirely. Most might automatically think of wearing a mask, but from what I’m told, even N95 rated masks are not particularly effective because contaminated droplets are typically larger than fine dust or smoke particles, but can still bypass masks, especially if they condense or settle on surfaces before evaporating.

So your best bet seems to be to limit time outdoors near potential water mist sources in affected ZIP codes and close windows if your apartment faces a cooling tower or mist-producing structure.

Be safe out there in these streets Harlem. Let’s keep those 17 people still hospitalized in our prayers. 🙏🏽❤️

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