Blogs

Metro-North trains to and from Westchester could be coming to a train station on the Upper West Side in the next few years, and politicians are starting to line up behind the plan. The first part of the train extension [...]

There was a lot of uproar about Disney “sexing” up Merida in their lead up to her official induction into the Disney Princess Pantheon.  But, at the Disney coronation ceremony last week, which I attended as part of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, she was exactly as you would imagine – wild haired, bold, […]

Looking for a building with a pool on the Upper West Side? There are quite a few condos that fit the bill. Looking for an apartment with its own private pool? You’ve got fewer options, but you might be interested in the $15.9 million duplex at The Aldyn that recently hit the market. It comes [...]

As toxic chemicals spewed from light fixtures at Upper West Side schools over the past couple of years, the city Department of Education essentially told parents that they’d deal with it, eventually. The chemicals, called PCBs, were used in light [...]

Founded by Vy Higginsen in 1998, the Mama Foundation for the Arts (MFA) has been internationally acclaimed for rebuilding Harlem as an artistic cultural center featuring entertainment and arts education. The Mama Foundation has produced a dozen theater productions, which have been performed on several continents. MFA’s best known musical, Mama, I Want To Sing, is the longest running Black Off-Broadway show in American history.

In 2003, Higginsen created the School of Gospel, Jazz, and R&B Arts. Three years later, she formed the award-winning Gospel for Teens program to train youth and “save the music.” According to Lesley Stahl from CBS’s 60 Minutes, “The Gospel for Teens program is not just teaching gospel, it is saving these kids.” Mama Foundation members have performed at numerous special events including the TED2012 Full Spectrum conference, the Congressional Black Caucus, The Stellar Awards, and a reception for Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Madonna, Chaka Khan, opera singer Jessye Norman and gospel artist Shirley Caesar are among the many stars that have shared the stage with the Gospel for Teens Choir.

A renovated five-story brownstone on a residential block on West 126th Street between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Manhattan has been the home of the Mama Foundation for the Arts (MFA) since its inception in 1998. One block away is the foundation’s performance space, The Dempsey Theater, where thousands have enjoyed Mama, I Want To Sing: The Next Generation and Sing Harlem Sing!

What is so wonderful about the work that Mama Foundation is doing is their commitment to bring the arts not just as entertainment but as personal enrichment through the Vy Higginsen’s School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B Arts.

Earlier this year Mama Foundation held a series of lessons for learning to sing gospel. Now Mama Foundation is hosting a series of learning to sing jazz and blues. So step into being a active part of the artistic new Harlem Renaissance. The classes are from 7 to 9pm on four series of Wednesdays: May 22, May 29, June 5 and June 12.  Classes are $80 for the four sessions. To register by phone call (212) 280-1045 or see their website at mamafoundation.org.

The post A New Harlem Artistic Icon Emerges appeared first on MORNINGSIDER.

By Nancy Novick Letty Cottin Pogrebin advocates telling the truth, which is why I’d like to share my first impression of her new book “How to be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick”: What a good idea for a [...]

Last week I spent 4 days at Walt Disney World as a guest of Disney at their Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.  The event is an annual conference of sorts where Disney invites mom and dad bloggers from across the country to learn, get inspired and take part in a truly unique Disney experience.  Our […]

There's finally some action in the old Georgia's Cafe & Bakery space at 89th street and Broadway, which closed last year after a fire. A restaurant tentatively called Cibo e Vino is seeking a

It was only a week or two ago that we published a photo of a new rooftop addition to a townhouse built in 1900 on West 71st street, and our readers gasped. The comments were almost unanimously negative toward the [...]

This is the last week of the season at Juilliard and the school will be thrumming with activity. Check out the events below! For Juilliard’s

Check out this week's top news articles for the Upper West Side.

read more

Disturbing news to start the week: DNAinfo reports that the Dunkin’ Donuts at 2424 Broadway (between 89th & 90th) was robbed by a gun-toting thief last night. The incident occurred around 10:00 pm. There were no injuries and the crook, who remains at large this morning, got away with “an undetermined amount of money.”

Check out the news from last week from around the neighborhood that we've summarized from other media outlets.

If you woke up today craving a street fair, you’re in luck (you’re also in luck if you were craving Mamapalooza 2013). The 29th Annual Amsterdam Avenue Festival hits the Upper West Side today, although the weather is certainly less than appealing at the moment. The action stretches from 77th to 90th Streets (on Amsterdam) [...]

Good free family event in the neighborhood today (rain or shine) — the 10th Annual Mamapalooza Festival is taking place at Pier I in Riverside Park South (Hudson River & 70th). There will be food, live music, kids activities, crafts and more. From Mamapalooza.com: [The] lineup features a great roster of Mama-fronted rock bands catering [...]

There have been an unusually large number of posts over the past few days about fairs, festivals, and other neighborhood events taking place on the Upper West Side today. Here are all the details in one place: 8th Annual Upper West Side “Touch-A-Truck” West Side YMCA (W. 64th, between Central Park West & Broadway) 10:00 [...]

Upper West Sider Jane McIntosh has been visiting a statue in Riverside Park at about 60th street for almost a year and taking pictures with it in various outfits. The statue, called Watching Upon the Present was built out of [...]

Among the many festivities in the neighborhood this weekend is the annual Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Festival on Saturday (5/18). The action runs pretty much all day, from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, at 302 W. 91st (at West End Avenue) and features traditional Greek food and desserts, music and dancing, a flea market, and [...]

One more event of note tomorrow (Saturday, 5/18): The Central Park Conservancy is holding their free annual On A Wing Festival. Activities include interacting with various birds of prey, bird shows, and bird walks. From The Conservancy’s website: It’s spring in Central Park and that means all winged-beings are out in the Park in full [...]

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend (high of 71 degrees on Saturday, 68 on Sunday), and luckily there are lots of great events for adults and kids. Here are a few, and there