Harlem is mourning the loss of Bill Perkins, a stalwart figure in the community, who dedicated his life to public service and the betterment of his beloved neighborhood. Perkins, a longtime Harlem elected official and lifelong resident, passed away at the age of 74, as confirmed by his wife Pamela Green Perkins in a poignant…
Neils Coffee Shop on the Upper East Side closed after over 80 years of business following the owner’s death, who owed nearly a million dollars in unpaid rent.
On March 7, local residents saw a Marshalls notice taped to the window of Neils, informing passersby that the unit was taken under legal possession. Accompanied by the notice was a “SPACE FOR RENT” sign.
The unexpected news about the iconic long-time diner came as a shock. But court documents obtained by UpperEastSite painted a bigger picture, and it turns out the seizure of the property was years in the making, due to accumulating debt.
Cristo Kaloudis, the owner of Neils, owed $903,117 in unpaid rent by late 2021, reported Patch. Kaloudis unfortunately passed away on January 3, 2023, and the final amount of debt “topped around $1 million dollars.”
Photo courtesy of Nikole Rajgor
Initially opened in 1940, the coffee shop proudly stood on the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 70th Street. An old-school diner serving up burgers, fries and multi-cultural comfort cuisines, it’s laid back atmosphere and worn vinyl booths were a refreshing contrast to the upscale eateries on the luxurious Upper East Side.
During its 82-year history, the diner served as a filming location for popular shows such as Gossip Girl and American Horror Story. In a 2017 piece for the Grub Street segment of New York Magazine, fittingly titled “Watching and Lamenting the Death of the New York Diner,” Kaloudis expressed hopes of avoiding closure by passing down the business to his son in a few years. Kaloudis, 79 at the time, also conveyed his dedication to keeping prices affordable for his customers.
“We have low prices here,” said Kaloudis. “I never raise them!”
Neils was a rare gem on the Upper East Side, and whose unique presence and iconic neon red sign will be missed amongst the rows of utopian grand establishments that occupy Lexington Avenue.
A variety of rare and collectible Black dolls will be available at The Morrisania Doll Society’s Black Doll Auction in Harlem. The event starts on May 20, 2023, at the Dwyer Cultural Center, 258 St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem. The doors will open at 12:00 noon for the preview and the auction begins at 1:00 pm…
Dear President Biden, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, House Speaker McCarthy, and House Minority Leader Jeffries. Since its founding, the United States has held honoring its debts as among its most important governing principles. In recent years, that commitment has been challenged from time to time as Congress has periodically increased the limit on…
Just minutes from Harlem the Garden Conservancy has announced a generous gift of $93,000 to Bard College. The money will be used for construction drawings that will be used for the vital rehabilitation of Blithewood Garden. An extraordinary early 20th-century formal Italianate walled garden on Bard College’s main campus. The rehabilitation of Blithewood Garden is…
Music legend Stevie Wonder is receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters at Fordham University’s 178th Commencement on May 20 on the Rose Hill campus. Wonder will offer the Class of 2023 some words of gratitude.
“It is an honor and a thrill to welcome Stevie Wonder to Fordham,” said Fordham President Tania Tetlow. “His music has charmed us, consoled us, elevated us, and entertained us for more than six decades. He is a shining example of an artist’s ability to stir the soul.”
A child prodigy, Wonder—born Stevland Morris—was signed by Motown Records at age 11, and in 1963, as 12-year-old Little Stevie Wonder, he became the youngest recording artist to achieve a No. 1 single, with “Fingertips, Part 2.” He’s regarded as a musical genius and a pioneer—a master of many instruments and groundbreaking in his use of synthesizers. His songs have topped the charts for decades, bridging the genres of pop, R&B, funk, soul, gospel, and jazz.
To date, Wonder has amassed 49 Top 40 singles, 32 No. 1 singles, and worldwide sales of over 100 million units. He has earned 25 Grammy Awards, the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. His iconic 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life, is archived in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress for its cultural, historic, and aesthetic significance.
“Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories,” he once said. “And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it.”
New York’s newest botanic garden is slated to open 1,131 feet in the air this season.
“Sky Bloom,” a new immersive floral experience taking over Edge‘s skydeck opens on Wednesday, May 24, and runs through September 4. Located on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, known for its outdoor viewing area with a glass floor, angled glass walls and transparent staircase up to the 101st floor.
The skyline views are impressive from this height, and Edge is getting more decorative with changing arrangements throughout the summer created by Ivie Joy Flowers. Visitors will step into a cloud of flowers of all shapes, sizes and colors including garden roses, ranunculus, poppies, and wisteria, all while taking in unparalleled views.
“Upon entering Edge, guests will find themselves encapsulated in the ultimate sensorial experience—over 100,000 blooms thoughtfully curated to reflect floral art in fluid motion with the city beyond,” said Ivie Joy, Founder, CEO and Creative Director of Ivie Joy Floral Arts + Events. “Whimsical elements featuring hydrangea, eucalyptus, lavender, poppies, and wisteria frame the expansive New York City skyline. Ivie Joy Floral Arts was born in the heart of New York City and this installation was designed to reflect the love we feel for the place we call home.”
We recommend going at sunset so you can enjoy the experience by daylight, see the sky change over the Hudson and see the city light up.
Edge is also home to City Climb, the highest external building climb in the world. Located atop the sky deck, City Climb allows guests to scale the outside of a 1,200+ foot tall building, then lean out from the outdoor platform at the top of the skyscraper. Those far less daring can just stop and smell the flowers, snap some pics, and take the speedy elevator down.
Tickets to Edge start at $33 for adults with New York City residency and $35 for visitors.
