Around 2017, when my life was moving at an absurd pace, a close friend and fellow hip hop obsessive…read moreinvited me to see Yasiin Bey at the Apollo Theater. I had grown up listening to Mos Def and expected the wit, warmth, and effortless cool of "Ms. Fat Booty." Instead, Yasiin Bey arrived in a more poetic and experimental mode, with the intellectual intensity and Rick Owens aesthetic of an artist still pushing forward. Arriving by subway and seeing that incredible Apollo sign glowing over 125th Street immediately made the night feel important. The theater felt more like a temple than a concert hall, with its deep red interior, velvet seats, and intimate layout bringing the audience remarkably close to the stage. I remember sitting in the auditorium thinking about how many legends had performed there and how much of the music I listened to every day had passed through that building. Throughout the performance, the crowd listened with such intelligence and appreciation that the evening felt almost like attending a class inside a concert. Yasiin Bey was cerebral, theatrical, and willing to challenge expectations, while the Apollo audience completed the exchange with its focus and responsiveness. Sitting there felt sacred and deeply moving, as though I had entered a living tradition rather than simply visited a famous old theater. Years later, my fortune had changed dramatically: instead of power lunches at Casa Lever on Park Avenue, I was schlepping couches into fifth-floor walk-up apartments in Harlem. After one job, as a snowstorm began, I passed the Apollo on my walk to the subway, and its iconic sign brought back a happy memory from before my capitalist world collapsed. On the 6 train downtown, I thought again about how honored I had felt to enter a place so central to Black music, New York, and the culture that shaped my identity. Some institutions can be understood through photographs and history books, but the Apollo has to be entered, heard, and felt, and I hope to bring my children there someday.

Please be mindful that this is a tour of the Apollo theater at an alternate location as the actual…read moretheater is under construction til at least 2026. We were a group of 10 and joined another large group. The tour/presentation was led by the legendary Billy aka Mr Apollo. There are no words to put into how transformative this experience was! Please book a tour of the Apollo. Even not physically On site they do their very best to preserve the history. Everyone was So helpful and friendly. High spirits And they truly care about not only The theater but the neighborhood as well. Great for all ages and super interactive!

I took an Intermediate-Advanced class here for the first time and loved the choreography. Also,…read morethe instructor (Abel) took his time to go around the class several times and point out what I and other students were doing wrong/what we can change as we danced. I thought it was amazing that once I did what he suggested (in this case my arms while doing a turn) I felt instant results and could perform the turn without wobbling. I find this to be a crucial practice for effective teaching, going around and letting us know what we can change to dance better helps us edit what we are particularly doing wrong - and that's what learning is all about! I will definitely take another class here in future.

This is a long, long overdue review so what I'm about to write may no longer apply…read more.. Anyway, way back in the day I was REALLY into salsa. This would have been in the timeframe of 2007-2010 perhaps... I had already taken classes at lots of other dance schools in Manhattan. I would say I was at a high intermediate level. I took my dancing very seriously, and I was more inclined to like the 'dancer's dancer' type studios....where it was all about carrying oneself like a professionally trained dancer. Eventually, of course, Santo Rico came onto my radar and I decided one day to brave it, and go for a group lesson there, all on my own. Now I'd already heard this would be a 'tough school', but....I was so not prepared for what I encountered. Perhaps I should first say that I already knew that the NYC ON-2 scene could be extremely competitive. I'd attended classes and socials at all the usual places...Carlos... Jimmy...Joe...Frankie....YSBD, etc., and had a few privates with Magna, Griselle, etc. When I first walked into Santo Rico, I naturally saw a bunch of other dancers in the studio who'd either just finished a class or were there for the next class. You could have cut the tension with a knife. (Or was I simply projecting, based upon what I'd already heard about this place??) Anyway, when it was time, I joined my group lesson. I recall the group was on the smaller side...there were maybe just six or so women and a more or less equal number of men. The teacher was a young latin male....perhaps in his late 20s at the time? As they say, a female salsa dancer is only as good as her lead. ;-) The man is supposed to give clear cues, and the woman is supposed to know how to interpret them. Up until this point, I normally had never had problems in group classes. But with this instructor, when it came time for us to rotate partners, and HE became my partner, it seemed that during our routine practice, I didn't 'interpret' a cue that he'd given me, 'correctly'. Most would say that HE was in the wrong...that he must not be a very good lead. But he, being the very small-minded man that he apparently was, actually 'yelled' at me, saying something like 'why did you do that....I didn't want you to turn!' (or something like that). I was so embarrassed and shocked that...I probably just blurted out something like '...I thought that's what you wanted me to do...'. In retrospect, his behavior was brutish, inappropriate and uncalled for. I, being so immersed in the NYC salsa scene at that time, however, allowed myself to feel embarrassed... as if maybe I DID do something wrong. But in fact, that's why we supposedly attend such schools...to LEARN. And I mean, it WAS my first time there, as this instructor full well knew. I understand that Santo Rico is all about creating the best of the best salsa dancers...that it's all about precision...and that their female dancers can spin on a dime. (It was their 'gangster' video from around 2008 or so, that inspired me to want to train there.) But, you can still try to create an atmosphere of excellence without having to be mean and embarrassing students. My experience there was such that I had no desire to return.

We went to the Apollo Comedy Club for a pre Birthday celebration. My sis and I had a great time. I…read morejust want to thank Jess @ the bar for making my drink a drink. I truly appreciate you and and Ava. If you ever at the Apollo Comedy Club get your drinks from Big Jess and hook a sistha up. This was the first time we went to the Comedy Club not in the Apollo Theater. It's a good size but a little cluttered with all the chairs they trying to fit in. Some of the comedians were hilarious. Good times, good company and good laughs....

From the owner: Need a good laugh? Join us for Late Night Comedy in Harlem.read more

Speakeasy Dollhouse is a truly fun immersive theater event where you can be as involved or as…read moreuninvolved as you prefer, and all the action/romance/violence/intrigue happens in the space around you. You arrive through a relatively creepy outdoor alleyway guarded by some probably-corrupt policemen. If you get there early enough, you'll witness what appears to be an assault of some kind (more on that later). After passing through a tiny Alice-in-Wonderlandesque door, you find yourself in the 1920s. It's hard to tell at first what's going on and where to look, but if you ask around, you'll eventually find Frank Spano, the proprietor. From there the love triangle surrounding him becomes apparent, and story starts to unfold. There's good swingy jazz, varied drinks (served in teacups or paper bags, a la prohibition style), a lot of good looking people, and a fair amount of pageantry (burlesque, singing, fighting, a funeral, gunplay, a murder trial, etc.). Look to get paid off by local mobsters to lie in court, gossip with local crooked politicians over poker and whiskey, walk in on an illicit affair or marital spat, or get into the smuggling business by brokering a deal between Spano and the local authorities to release his impounded truck full of Canadian Club. If you've got a strong back, become a pallbearer at Frank's funeral. Don't miss seeing the nude corpses in the medical examiners office, including the person on the losing end of the assault I mentioned earlier. Not for the faint of heart. The best part of the story is that its all based on actual events in creator Cynthia von Buhler's family history. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, but whether or not it's all really true, you will have fun one way or another. My advice is not to come with people you haven't seen in a while, because I t's better if you have to strike out on your own a bit to mingle and become a part of the story. Even if you just go for a night out on the town with no intention of talking to anyone other than your SO, dress up in your 1920s finest so you can be an extra in everyone else's fantasy, which is a great way to spend a Saturday evening.

I like this play so much I have seen it twice and will probably go again when I'm next in NYC. The…read moreproducers have done an amazing job of recreating an authentic speakeasy ambience in an old LES tenement. I felt like I'd stepped back in time and loved that so many participants dressed up and took their roles seriously. On my first visit, I was cast as Dominick's teacher and I loved my role. Both Mary Spano and her son, Dominick, made me feel as if I was really part of their story. It's hard for me to think of them as actors because I so thoroughly identified with them and their story. Stepping back, though, all the actors were terrific and very welcoming. They seamlessly absorb the crowd in the story. But Mary Spano and Dominick's performances really stood out. I felt for both these characters and especially for Mary. I was there when she was in labor, holding her hand and praying with her. On my second visit, I was cast as Dutch Schultz' girlfriend. Dutch was very quick with the improvised repartee we exchanged and handsome to boot; so I enjoyed that role and got to confront his wife by the bar. Still my favourite spot was in Mary's room - where a lot of the key action unfolds, including the secrets we learn about the Spano marriage. Mary and Dominick delivered poignant performances each time. And the atmosphere inside the Speakeasy is sexy and fun. Highly recommended for a great evening out.

I'm so glad Matt & his Prelude Productions started their Yelp page so that I can be the first to…read moreshare what a pleasure they were to work with! I was in charge of planning our corporate holiday party this December and found them for our evening's entertainment. Not only were they reasonably priced by NY standards, they were professional and most importantly put on the perfect performance. We hired them for three-piece band (bass, sax, electric piano) for three hours. They arrived early, were confident in their equipment setup, dressed in nice suits, smiled and were engaging throughout and used quality instruments. I highly recommend them. Thank you Matt & Team!

This place a pillar for the community with a lot of history. A friend had extra comedy show tickets…read moreand invited me last minute. I'm glad she did. I laughed so hard that my face hurt. They served soul food and an alcoholic drink called "The Nutcracker". I felt comfortable being myself here. The interior could use some updating, but I see they are doing the best they can. I wasn't expecting them to give goody bags of candy after the show. That was a niiiice touch. Taking our photo against a backdrop like it was a red carpet special event was nice too.

This is a beautiful space that is deceptive from the outside. When you walk in unfortunately there…read moreis a young man on his phone who barely looks up. I was directed to the elevator for my event. When I got off on the floor the space opens.up into a beautiful lobby before their screening room. The screening room was the perfect size, big enough but still intimate. The real hit was the artwork in the lobby and by the bathroom. It really gives a sophisticated and detailed vibe to the eatablishment. I fo not know what their prices are, but I would recommend this place for an event whether private or public.

Cemi is a Puertorico-centric tiny venue/store in the heart of El Barrio, serving as a "voice" for…read moreartists of different mediums. Photography,literature,paintings,hand crafted jewelry (bought a beautiful beaded choker), t-shirts , ceramics, you name it, it's represented. Although Puerto Rico is the main island represented they support artists from all over. Today I sat in the audience,which consisted of rows of wooden chairs,only three across fit, along the center of the store/venue, while an artist presented her work: a journey in book form and song. It was great to see an artist do her thing up close. Um, real close. There was a point when we were asked to sing along and sway and we did.Kumbaya, but in the best way. There was a lotta love in that room which is what is so great about this place. You definitely got caught up in the vibe. The book was for sale afterwards of course. I had already bought my cute necklace and was wearing it, so, no book for me although they raffled off a copy I was hoping to win. I didn't. They do a comedy night too,one is coming up soon which I plan to attend. They had bottled water and mavi but I'm not sure if it was for sale or just for the regulars. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and love how they are trying to support some serious artistry en el barrio. You can check out pics of their past events online/myspace/flickr.

Every year I send my Mother, Grandmother and Aunt to a show for Christmas, this year when I was…read morelooking for a show at the Apollo again, I was unable to find a show they would find appealing. However, I came across this show on Goldstar and thought it would be an excellent idea. The small theatre located in East Harlem was a wonderful experience. I wasn't sure what to expect due to the size of the venue and when we arrived the ticket line was a bit disorganized, but that was basically the sole negative. As I have never seen the "Wizard of Oz" this was going to be a new experience for myself and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The acting was pretty good and I enjoyed the comedy throughout the show and live band that was on the left side of the stage. My family was pleased and enjoyed the show-- as it's a small intimate venue the cost was extremely low but they still delivered a quality product. The characters also stayed late to take pictures with any and everybody.-- thanks again Scarecrow and Dorothy. I would definitely venture here again, and have interest in watching "A raisin in the sun" here next month, once it starts up again.

I had the pleasure of seeing "A Raisin in the Sun" at this homespun theater, and the acting was…read moresuperb at a bargain price. The production was wonderful. I only wished they had mics, and there was a point when someone was "slapped" on stage, but there was no sound. Also, you can very much hear all of the sounds of traffic and talking from outside the theater, especially if you sit higher up, but this also happens in some really nice theaters in Midtown. Sound issues aside, there aren't any "bad" seats in the house. The energy and love of acting are apparent here. That makes up for some shortcomings: a location inside a nondescript tower, a theater that eschews ornate decorations for practical seating, and a neighborhood that can be a tad "lively." I'll definitely be back and will continue to bring people. Thank you HRT for providing theater at an affordable price to an area that may not normally get the opportunity. Tip: The theater sells a lot of tickets discounted through Goldstar.

This is interactive theatre! This is culture! This is Art! This is The Bx!…read more This is a small theatre so naturally there is not a bad seat in the house. The acoustics are great, the space is lovely, the plays exciting, and the staff warm and friendly. This is a cultural institution. Thank you Pregones for keeping the fire alive!

This is a vibrant, small/ quaint performing arts venue in the heart of the South Bronx. The staff…read moreis professional, and very friendly. The Latin American inspired art within its interior reflects the region's African, Indigenous, and European influences and add to the building's charm and aesthetics. Pregones is a community gem, and I will continue to support it.