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Celebrate Black History Month in Harlem

Harlem has been called the "Capital of Black America," and there's no better time to showcase the best of what it has to offer than during Black History Month.

People are drawn to Harlem's unique "flavor," rhythm, beauty, and its rich and colorful history. With a wealth of historic sites, cultural attractions, unique retailers, and diverse restaurants, Harlem is one of the top destinations in the city. Although it's best known for the Apollo Theatre, Sylvia's, the Cotton Club, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, just to name a few, there are other wonderful places to visit and things to do-and there's something for everyone.

You can drop in at the historic Lenox Lounge. This is the place that has been the setting for several movies featuring folks like Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington, as well as books and poetry by some of Harlem's most prolific writers. There's usually live jazz jumping here, so stop on in and get warmed by hot tunes.

During Black History Month and through March, the Classical Theatre of Harlem, located at the Harlem School of the Arts Theatre, is offering Marat/Sade, a play within a play that is set in a mental hospital and takes place just after the French Revolution; the "actors" are actually inmates of the hospital.

Ginger Express, Harlem's first health-conscious Asian-cuisine restaurant, offers a modern look and health-oriented menu that complements its location in a new eco-friendly, "green" condominium. Ginger's menu offers over 60 varied and nutritious items, including ginger shrimp soup, steamed striped bass with black mushroom sauce, and chix water dumplings.

Through Mar. 18, the Studio Museum in Harlem is offering the first-ever exhibition of comic art from Africa. It includes 32 artists or two-person artists' teams from all over Africa. So come in and check this out and to see what else the Museum has in store.

And don't forget about the River Room, located in Riverbank State Park with views of the Hudson River and Palisades, which features a vibrant menu of gourmet American cuisine featuring fresh seafood, steaks, vegetarian dishes, and imaginative salads and pastas. Late-night jazz transforms the dining room into the Pearl Club.

Through Feb. 27, the National Black Theatre is presenting An Evening Of Comedy With Jackie Moms Mabley and Her Ladies, featuring the remarkable Clarice Taylor (she played Bill Cosby's TV mother). The one-woman show blends the legendary Moms Mabley's delicious humor with a tasty stroll through African American history. Moms' jokes and memories evoke four amazing singers from the past: Ma Rainey, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, and Mahalia Jackson.

Betty Park has been welcoming visitors to her newest establishment, Pier 2110 seafood restaurant and bar and grill, giving Harlem a much-needed venue in which to enjoy the culinary treasures of the ocean.

You might want to work off some of that food by going down an alley. But not just any alley: Try Harlem Lanes, which is becoming well known for great food and fun at affordable prices. So the next time you're looking to "strike" it rich with fun and entertainment, come on in to Harlem Lanes.

Mental exercise can be found at the Hue-Man Bookstore & Café. They have a delightful "children's corner" offering a wide range of fiction and non-fiction literature for toddlers to teens. Adults will discover something to satisfy their literary taste buds, and there's often a special event taking place, such as a reading or book signing.

So whether you find it on a major thoroughfare or off the beaten track, Harlem -- the "Capital of Black America" -- is the place to go during Black History Month.

For more information about other great places to visit in Upper Manhattan, log onto the Empowerment Zone's website at www.umez.org.

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