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HARLEM DIGEST: Recession signs in Harlem, Langston Hughes back to life in KC, and BET TV SERIES “HARLEM HEIGHTS” OFFERS “GLITZ & DEPTH”

Lots of new construction in the last decade. Get a read on how Harlem is coping with the recession today [NYTimes]

Harlem poet and short story master Langston Hughes brought back to life in KC [UN News]

48% of residents need food help, West Harlem Services struggling to cope [UN News]

Trace Quincy Jones' roots and check out other Harlem artists and issues [Adversity in Harlem]

FINALLY the reviews have started to pour in for the New BET TV Series Harlem Heights. The Philadelphia Enquirer notes the show offers both GLITZ and DEPTH [Examiner]

Happening Now: In the Heights

Green Nuns, BET-TV, Affordable Organic Food Deadline, Free Music Downloads and Cuban Sandwich Search.

HARLEM HEIGHTS

If you are like us, you have been spying the subway ads and transit bus boards for the new BET cable TV series Harlem Heights. We have not had a Monday night free to catch it yet, but judging from the folks in the ads, the series seems to take a narrow racial view of what’s happening in the hood…where are the Latinos? Anyway, we plan to give it a try. We found one early blog reviewer who was less than wowed.

ORGANIC FOOD THAT'S EASY ON THE WALLET

We love organic food, but find ourselves a little short of cash when it comes to making this stuff a regular part of our diets. Now, there is help. West Harlem Community Supported Agriculture is setting up a program to being organic food from upstate farms to West Harlem.

To be eligible, you donate a couple hours work helping to distribute the food and then you get a discount for yourself, which is based on income.

Deadline to sign up is April 17th…. For more info, click here.

NEIGHBORHOOD NUNS

The HH Herald takes hats off to our neighboring nuns in Morningside Heights who have a new vision for St Hilda’s House they hope will be habitable by 2010. Their plan is to build a new “green” convent on an empty lot at Convent Avenue and 150th Street. They are taking environmental impact into account in all phases included how they power the convent, to how far the materials have to travel that are being used in construction. For their NYtimes article, click here.

FREE MUSIC ARCHIVES FROM NEW FREEFORM RADIO

Hard times have us all searching for bargains and now, the Herald’s Favorite Radio Station is offering Free Music Downloads.

WFMU just launched its new Free Music Archives

The new service focuses on Indie and Alternative acts. The better news is that they have teamed up with a winner, KEXP which has been our favorite radio music streaming source for years.

WALK IN THE RAIN

Looking for something to do this weekend: Walking Tour of historic Harlem. It costs $25 and starts at 2pm, Fri, Sat, Sun at the Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street. Call for reservation (718) 789-0430

CUBAN SANDWICH SEARCH CONTINUES

Finally our search continues for the Best Cuban Sandwich in Harlem Heights. Your humble reporter throws down his vote for the Cuban Sandwich at Mi Tierra’s at the corner of Broadway and 146th Street.

The sandwich is garnished with a good garlic sauce…the pickle is optional and the price is fantastic. I grab a café con leche with it. The Cuban sandwich and coffee comes to 5 bucks…talk about a recession special!

TENNIS ANYONE?

OK…it is now officially warm enough to ponder tennis.

QUESTION: Will Riverbank State Park enforce the rules this year, so if you make a reservation, the court will be available?Last year we had a not too enjoyable experience when players decided they could reside on any given court for hours at a time. Please share your experience…

Below is an aerial view of the park. Just below the footbal field are four tennis hard-courts.

HHH Hunt of the Month

The Herald is in the Hunt for the Best....Cuban Sandwich in Hamilton Heights

Give us a shout out! Who makes it and share your thoughts on why it is Numero Uno

News: “From the Heights”

We hear that the planned Columbia University expansion is pushing North and Westward and into the Heights.

Initial reports had the University expansion reaching up to 135th street, and just touching the Southern edge of the Hamilton Heights neighborhood.

Sources tell the Hamilton Heights Herald that the land now occupied by the 99 Cents Store on Broadway and 147th street has been sold and that Columbia plans to use square block parcel for a multi story building that will be part of its planned expansion.

The Herald wants to know. What do you think?

Is this welcome development for a part of Broadway that could use more business traffic?

Do you think it will bring more jobs to the area? Or are you concerned about the potential impact it may have on local rent?

Please let us know if you are like us…are a resident of Hamilton Heights, or part of the Columbia University Community or just a concerned person interested in community development issues?

Hamilton Heights is bounded by 135 and 155th Streets at North and South and by the river and St Nicholas Avenue to the East. It lies in West Harlem and is home to the City University of New York (CUNY), Riverbank State Park, the Dance Theater of Harlem and the Harlem School of Arts.

Have an issue you want to sound off on? Please add your thoughts to our Blog….The Hamilton Heights Herald wants to know all the stuff you deem to be the latest News “From the Heights.”