Visit UPTOWNflavor.com

January 2006

A prognosticating peek at travel’s new world order

On the town: At Ginger’s bar, where specialties include the Typhoon Legend, a mix of pink champagne, plum juice, and ginger purée

Urban: Heat Seeking
Where will travel’s cool kids be heading next? Read on

Manhattanites fleeing the steep rents downtown have been rehabbing Harlem’s gritty reputation. New developments are reaching critical mass, cementing the neighborhood’s status as the one to check out. Ginger, an organic Chinese restaurant from the owner of the East Village spot Butter, is just unveiling in Harlem’s first "green" building (1400 Fifth Ave.; 212-423-1111; entrées, $8–$19). Carol’s Daughter, a bath and beauty emporium, launched in late 2005, with an opening that attracted Jay Z and Jada Pinkett Smith (24 W. 125th St.; 212-828-6757). Hotels are coming too: A Courtyard Marriott debuts in late 2006, and Starwood is said to be looking near the Apollo Theater for a W Hotel site.

 

Source: Conde Nast Traveler

Bedding Down in Harlem

I’d always figured that tourists tended to ignore my Harlem neighborhood, but turns out I’m just a damn fool. I recently read that 30 percent of visitors to New York swing by Harlem at least once, which I guess explains all the Japanese girls I’m always playing eye hockey with at the Lenox Lounge. Trying to snag some of Billie Holiday’s reflected glory, I reckon.

Still, not enough tourists actually decide to make Harlem their headquarters. That’s their loss, considering our abundance of (relatively) low-price bed-and-breakfasts, typically housed in century-old brownstones near Marcus Garvey Park (formerly Mount Morris Park). After the jump, a trio of inns that beat the Hyatt any day o’ the week.

The Harlem Flophouse on 123rd is owned by a pair of artists, and it ain’t a flophouse by a country mile. Ask for the Chester Himes room.

Crystal’s Castle on 119th is, alas, not named after the classic Atari game. It’s run by a family of musicians, and charges a ridiculously low (for New York City) $54.31 per night for a single.

Efuru Guest House is on one of Harlem’s prettiest blocks, right down the street from an awesome Ethiopian-run Italian bakery. They’re running a special through month’s end—$95 per night for a studio with full kitchen, and you get one night free.

The extra bonuses to sacking out uptown? Well, you might run across Clinton, whose office is on 125th. And I’ll totally meet you for a shot of Jack Daniel’s over at the Paris Blues Bar.

The Harlem Flophouse [official site]
Crystal’s Castle [official site]
Efuru Guest House [official site]