Bed and Breakfast in Harlem, New York

This is a four bedroom,four bathroom, beautiful 1906 Victorian row house, restored to its full glory in 2007.It is located in the land marked district, known as Sugar Hill in Harlem, which is at 147th St and Convent Ave.

This is a 4-story house. The first floor has an updated kitchen with French doors, which opens onto a garden. There is also a laundry room, powder room and spare room.

On the second floor, there's a large living room with a computer, telephone, two sitting areas, dinning table and powder room.

The upper two floors contain the four bedrooms and four bathrooms.Two of the bathrooms have showers, one has a Jacuzzi and shower and one has a separate tub and a shower.

This building is one block from the subway. There are four trains that stop here, two local and two express. Either of the express trains, the A train or the D train will get you to different parts of midtown in 10-15 minutes or downtown in 20 minutes.There are also buses that run on Convent Ave. and Amsterdam Ave.

This is a safe area to walk around day or night and taking the subway is no problem for you or your children. The subway runs 24/7.The address of this building is 408 Convent Ave NYC. Click here for the Goggle map search and you can see photos of the area. There is enough space for 15 people.

You can cook your own meals in the kitchen and eat at the table in the garden.There is a supermarket one block away.
There are also restaurants and the famous nearby jazz and blues club, St Nicks Pub.

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History:
Sugar Hill

Gospel Music:
Sunday 11.00am Convent Ave Baptist @145th

Largest Cathedral in the World:
St John the Divine

Largest Cemetery in NYC:
Trinity Cemetery

Restaurants:
Baton Rouge
Londels
Covo
Talay
Body
Cafe One
The River Room
Tres Pasos
Café Largo


Or you can order food in from this website or call 212.281.8646

Dance,Music and Theaters:
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Dance Theater of Harlem
The Apollo
The Gate House &
Aaron Davis Hall
Harlem School of the Arts
Classic Theater of Harlem
St Nicks Pub
Parlor Jazz at Marjorie Eliot's
El Morroco Nightclub and Leopard Lounge
Cotton Club

Museums and Libraries:
American Academy of Arts and Letters
The Hispanic Society Of America
Hamilton Grange
Morris Jumel Mansion & Books
Sylvan Terrace
Studio Museum
Schomburg Library
The Cloisters
Jazz Museum
Jazz Foundation
El Museo del Bario
James A.Bailey House

Galleries:
Canvas Paper and Stone
Drum-TV
Wallach Art Gallery

University:
City College

Parks:
River Bank State Park
St. Nicolas Park
Fort Tryon Park
Jackie Robinson Park
Farmers Markets
Ralph Elison Memorial

Walking Tour:
Sugar Hill Walking Tour

Bicycle Rental:
Innovation Bike Shop

Shopping:
Woodbury Common.
It costs $40 each to take a bus there and back.You can rent a mini van for $85
You can also rent a mini van with a driver who will wait for you while you shop and drive you back.Door to door service is $200.A large 7 passenger SUV is $250. Carlos 718.490.3796
Ask Jeremy about transportation for large groups or smaller groups with lots of luggage, to, and from the airport.

More on Harlem:
Harlem One Stop

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Since October 2007,we have been using solar power at Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.This process took us about a year and a half to complete.In January of 2006,we started,to investigate the possibilities,of installing photovoltaics on the roof of our house.After searching for a contractor I found one right here in Harlem. Duce Construction. After taking measurements on my roof to make sure I have enough sunlight,we moved forward with the next step,which was applying to NYSERDA, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.They provide cash incentives for the installation of new solar electric or photovoltaic systems by eligible installers.

Most of this tedious paper work was done by the contractor.I was advised however that I needed a new roof and that would cost as much as the the solar panels.The good news was that I would able to get a low interest loan from Neighborhood Housing Services.This is a non profit bank that provide loans for repairs to home owners and that includes the PV installation.They also assist those in foreclosure.After getting the loan and getting off to a bumpy start with a roof contractor,I found a roofing company in Brooklyn called Greene Roofing.They did do a good job on the roof but I practically had to beg them to come do the work.

One problem that we encountered was Con Ed that pesky power company in NYC,that hates competition.As you may know, everything electrical must be UL rated,so everything from the panels to the wires to the inverter is UL rated,but this is not enough for Con Ed,they want the whole system to be UL rated as a kit.There is a company near Kingston NY,called SunWize that sell these kits so we got our PV panel kit from them.However as we approached the time of installation,Con Ed decided that this kit should be UL rated installed,which meant that they would need their inspectors to be able to check PV panel installation.But their inspectors don't know how to inspect PV installations,so they organized a special class for the inspectors to attend,in order to learn how to check the installed UL rating of a solar panel installation.The problem is that they made the class voluntary and nobody showed up.In the end we paid an outside contractor $1600 to come and inspect the installation.

The paperwork took 18 months and the installation took about 2 weeks.The contractor did a fantastic job and if you are a client of Duce,for Christmas you get a bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne and an invite to their Christmas party.So don't forget that old adage,"act globally,shop locally"In this case it was a great success and we are very proud of our solar panels that will still be generating power long after I move on into the next dimension,unless one of those satelites that periodically fall out of the sky,happens to land on my roof.

The food that we serve at Sugar Hill is organic.No human growth hormones in our milk,no factory farm eggs.Our coffee and tea is fair trade.We have a delicious multi grain bread from a very well known gourmet food store on the Upper West Side called Zabars

There is a garden that is mostly composed of trash. Old wood beams and red brick from nearby construction sites that have debris left over from demolished buildings.We found a large table base made from angle iron that was made to cut rebar and then dumped on the sidewalk, outside a building site.Two weeks later we found a piece of glass leaning up against a lamp post 2 blocks away.It made a perfect table top. In order to create a garden,we brought in soil and some old tree trunks and bark, moss and plants that were taken from the woods in an area south of Woodstock in the Catskills.We have built a wall from tree bark that was striped from fallen trees and we are growing wild Virginia creeper on it.

All the food waste is put on our compost which is mixed with leaves.Almost any organic material is suitable for a compost pile. The pile needs a proper ratio of carbon-rich materials, or "browns," and nitrogen-rich materials, or "greens." Among the brown materials are dried leaves, straw, and wood chips. Nitrogen materials are fresh or green, such as grass clippings and kitchen scraps.

Two years ago I did a course on bio-sustainable agriculture in Costa Rica.My teacher was a man called John Jeavons .Unfortunately my garden is too tiny to grow much food but I learned a great deal about seeds and composting and I bought some heirloom seeds from him.Every year I grow cayenne prized for thousands of years for its healing power. Folklore from around the world recounts amazing results using cayenne pepper in simple healing and in baffling health problems.

As well as having worms in the garden we also have another type of worm that is kept in a container in the kitchen.This type of worm is called a red wriggler we feed these little critters scraps of food and the worms produce a very rich soil from their castings.Referred to as intestines of the earth, earthworms are one of the best soil builders on the planet. Earthworms consume one half to a total of their body weight in organic matter every 24 hours. Earthworms eat organic matter such as table scraps, yard and garden waste, leaves, grasses and manure. In its place, earthworms deposit a water-soluble, ready to use casting 5 to 11 times richer in nitrogen, phosphates, calcium and magnesium than the organic matter they consumed. The earthworms powerful gizzard grinds the matter while the intestinal tract secretes chemicals which release the major as well as micro plant nutrients and then deposit them directly into the soil where plants can readily feed. Redworms will not harm live roots or foliage, they will however, consume anything organic that falls to the ground and convert it into a wonderful fertilizer.

To clean our rooms,we use Mountain Green. This is a non toxic,green cleaner,that is used to clean the bathrooms kitchens, floors,and other surfaces.We also use Mountain Green,laundry detergent.These cleaners are never tested on animals. Green cleaning is using environmentally safe cleaning products, equipment, and methods that do not endanger our environment, employees, or the guests. Traditional cleaning chemicals are often made with chlorine, ammonia or other toxic chemicals. Traditional cleaning products have been linked with skin irritations, respiratory infections, and other serious health problems. Sugar Hill Harlem Inn offers eco safe cleaning products and green cleaning methods to ensure healthy, clean, rooms for our employees and guests.

We have done some research on grey water systems but we have found that automated systems for flushing toilets with grey water are complex and expensive. Flushing with untreated grey water will result in fouling of the tank and fetid anaerobic smells. Treatment is expensive. The $650 Homestead Utilities system (s16), which is the cheapest I’ve heard of, would take 23 flushes a day—if you had a restaurant it could earn its keep.Extreme economic unfeasibility can indicate extreme ecological unfeasibility; the earth would be way better off if I just waste the water than if I wasted all the plumbing, pumps, tanks, filters, and electricity needed to make this sort of system work.

Here finally is a list of green activities in NYC

Harlem walking tours. Click here
There are 3 theaters within walking distance of Sugar Hill.
Harlem Stage Aaron Davis Hall Classic Theater of Harlem
There are also restaurants and jazz clubs.I am not sure how that would benefit the environment,but having fun sure helps the atmosphere.
Bicycle tours.Click here.Or bicycle rental click here
There is a park on the block.
There are 2 botanical gardens,Brooklyn and the Bronx
For a list of free museums Click here
For green markets.Click here
Walking, whether it is a stroll through Central Park or a walk across Brooklyn Bridge is great fun and great excercise
Every Monday during the summer there are free outdoor movies shown in Bryant Park.

And lastly we have gospel music.The church that is nearby that we recommend is called the Convent Avenue Baptist Church .So if you are feeling that all is lost and we are not doing enough,you could always try praying.........and good luck with that option.It sure did not help our President.

Most all of these activities are done by the guests,without my input beyond advising them on the most earth friendly activities and for the most part are free,including many of our museums.

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Due to an overwhelming response to our opening of Sugar Hill Harlem Inn in September 2005,we have added 4 new rooms,each with a private bathroom, in another building 6 blocks north of here.The address is 408 Convent Ave between 147th and 148th street.

The whole building is light and airy and there is central air throughout. The house is similar to the 460 W141st location ,which was built around the same time.It is a limestone Victorian row house on a tree lined street,mostly Ginkgo. It was almost completely gutted and rehabbed in 2006,so the inside is more modern than the main house.Throughout the building all the hardwood floors are new,all the electric and plumbing and light fixtures are new as are all the bathrooms.

Unfortunately many of the original details are gone.There is only one fireplace,but the original staircase is there with some interesting details in the front entrance including 2 floor to ceiling mirrors and some stain glass windows.This main entrance floor is known as the parlor floor.It is a large room,15'x50' with high 11 ft ceilings and hard wood floors.

Although this is a large beautiful space, it is not used so much by the guests so we have functions there,for weddings,showers,parties and corporate meetings etc.There is a computer on this floor and a telephone,that is there for all to use.There is a small bathroom on this floor.A staircase leads downstairs to the garden floor where there is a dining area and a sitting room area, a large,fully equipped communal kitchen with a built in island table, and doors that lead out into a small garden.There are laundry facilities available also on this floor.Bamboo floors have been installed throughout.The house has 4 floors and 2 of the floors have 2 bedrooms on each floor,each with a private bathroom.One of the bathrooms has a jacuzzi,and one has a separate tub,the other bathrooms just have showers.

The address of the new building is 408 Convent between 147st and 148st.It is one block from the subway which is an express subway stop for 2 trains,the A train and the D train.If you click map you can see where each of these trains take you.The A train,the blue line takes you from Inwood all the way at the top of Manhattan down the west side past 42nd st following 8th ave.From the Sugar Hill and Convent Ave. to Times Sq takes only 10-15 minutes as the train only stops 3 times once at 125th and once at 59th,the bottom of Central Park and then 42nd st.By the way the subway is most always refered to as the train.The A train continues into the West Village,also called Greenwich Village,then on to SoHo and Canal St.,speeding along past Wall st and under the Hudson River to Brooklyn Heights into Queens and as far as Howard Beach where you can catch a free bus or pay $5 to take the Air Train to JFK.Yes you can actually get to the airport for $2,not too bad,but I still say FREE is much better and you can click here to read more about that idea

The D train,the orange line, follows the same path as the A train till it gets to 59th st.Then it turns east to 6th Avenue, (Avenue of the Americas),then it heads south passing Rockefeller Center,and Radio City Music Hall,42nd st,West Village,where it veers off to the East, into the Lower East Side,China Town and on into Brooklyn and eventually Coney Island.

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DO NOT take the supershuttle.

It costs $60 to take a cab from JFK,including tip and toll.This is the easiest way to travel to Sugar Hill.It is also the most expensive.Unless you take a limo or a helicopter.

The cab will take you up the Van Wick Expressway to Grand Central Parkway.You are in the borough of Queens.There is little beauty on this road,as a matter of fact,this is about as ugly a drive as you could take anywhere.If ugly scenic drives are your thing, there are some industrial zones in New Jersey that are worse,and I can certainly show you how to find them.If you look up you will see a narrow concrete tresel bridge.This is the bridge for the Air Train.Instructions for taking this are below.

When you get to Grand Central you will see a large park with a lake on your right,this is Flushing Meadows Corona Park.The name Flushing has nothing to do with toilets.It was in fact taken from a Dutch word that hopefully means something else.Corona is a part of Queens whose claim to fame is that Louis Armstrong lived there.His house is now a museum.

You will soon pass by Shea Stadium on the right and then LaGuardia Airport.Hopefully the highway is just that,and not a parking lot, and all this passes you by like a blur.Soon you will pass through Astoria and start the steady climb onto the Triborough Bridge.If you look to the left you will see Manhattan looming in the distance,I am not sure what your feeling will be, probably excitement and awe.It does not matter how many times you see this sight,you cannot help but stare and perhaps wonder at humanity's madness,to create something so intense,so concentrated.

You will now be above Randall's Island and Ward's Island.On the left you will see Manhattan's Psychiatric Center,a scary looking building with bars on the windows.You will then pass through the tolls and enter Harlem.

You are now officially in Manhattan and more important,Harlem,the most famous district on the entire planet.Tell the cab driver to take 125th street,not 126th,because you want to go up Amsterdam Ave, not St Nicholas,or you will have to carry your bags across the 141street.Go straight along 125th past the Apollo on the right and make a right on Amsterdam.You are now climbing the biggest hill in Manhattan.At the top of the hill is City College.Make a right on W141.We are in the middle of the block.Look for the house with all the wood and plants.There is also a large pear tree outside.

If you are going to 408 Convent,you should take St.Nicholas Ave. to 149th.Make a left, go one block and then take another left on Convent.We are between 147 and 148th on the right side just on the other side of the bus stop.Please call us from your cell phone,when you reach Harlem to let us know that you are nearby,so someone can be there to meet you.

Do NOT take the supershuttle

If you don't have too much luggage and stairs are your thing,You can take the Air Train to Howard beach,$5,or there is a free bus that can take there, and then take the A train to 145th st.($2). The subway trip should take about one hour.We are a 5 minute walk from the subway.Walk up the hill along 145th st ,one block, to Convent Ave.There is a limestone church Convent Avenue Baptist Church on the left.If you like gospel music,you can go there Sunday morning at 11am.Make a left and walk down Convent Ave. to 141st.You will notice some beautiful brick and brownstone townhouses on the left.The house on the SE corner of 144th street is of particular interest.The movie,The Royal Tenenbaums was filmed there.You may see a yellow wooden house between 141 and 142, squashed between a large building and a church.This is a museum.It was Alexander Hamilton's country house,but the museum is closed and this house is going to be moved,in the spring or fall of 2008, to St.Nicholas Park,just one block away.
Make a right and we are in the middle of the block on the south side of the street.Look for the house with all the wood and plants and a large pear tree outside.You have arrived.

If you are going to 408 Convent,make sure you get onto the front of the A train and take the 147th street exit at the 145th street stop.Walk one block west to Convent Ave.Cross the street and make a right and walk until you see the first tree.This is a ginkgo biloba tree and it is right outside the house.

Did I mention.......Do NOT take the supershuttle

May I ask – what do you have against the Super Shuttle?!!

People complain about it,because it sometimes drags you all over the place dropping people off and if you are coming from JFK you could be the last to be dropped off,because JFK is south and Harlem in the north.If you were landing at LaGuardia it would be different,because LGA is in the North.But if you are going to take a bus from LGA you might as well catch a city bus and pay $2.
It costs $20 from JFK,so 2 people is $40 and a cab is $60.My bookeeper calls me "bargain Bob",but I'd rather pay $60 for a cab,than sit on that bus for 2-3 hours.

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In the past 2 years since being in the hospitality business,I have had thousands of white Europeans and African Americans come stay at my 2 houses here in Harlem.Nobody has ever had a problem in the neighborhood,and in fact as recently as 6 weeks ago,a guest of mine had her wallet stolen while shopping in Bloomingdale's,a well known store in midtown!!

I know that most likely, friends are questioning your decision to stay in Harlem and between the history of Harlem and that which is depicted in the movies,it would seem to be an irresponsible act to bring yourself and your loved ones into a dangerous situation.Let me reassure you that if you were to walk in this neighborhood you would immediately see that this is not just a safe neighborhood but a fascinating place to see.The architecture is remarkable and very unusual.There are jazz clubs,theaters,museums,parks,restaurants and bars.

The subway is at 145th and St Nicholas,so it is less than a 5 minute walk,there are 4 trains that stop here, the A train and the D train,both of these are express trains and they will take you to midtown in 15 minutes.The B train and the C train are local trains and will stop at all the stations that the express trains skip.NYC is the only subway system that have express trains,so even though our trains are much dirtier than yours,they are much faster.

Midtown may have the advantage of being "convenient" because it is close to Times Sq.but if you are staying in NYC for a week then I presume you wish to see more than Times Sq. and I hope you intend to venture outside of midtown.It is really not such a great place to stay.Few people live there.After the hustle and bustle,of Times Square when you go back home, you may need a vacation!

The standards for accommodation can be both expensive and sub standard and your NYC experience may be limited in your cramped hotel room and the standard tourist agenda.
The sights of NYC are spread out all over Manhattan Brooklyn and the Bronx.....and Harlem,so you will have to take the subway every day.

My guests who come to visit are thrilled by the chance to have a real NYC experience to be part of the neighborhood,to be able to ask the opinion of someone where it is best to go and see,someone who has lived here for 30 years and had businesses,I used to be in retail,all over the city.I know this city intimately.

I would like to share with you some of the reviews of people that stayed here. TripAdvisor and Bedandbreakfast.com

Of course if you still do not wish to make a reservation,I respect your choice and I certainly wish you the very best for your NYC trip.This is an incredible city and I am sure you will enjoy your visit here.Manhattan is by far the most popular destination of anywhere in the USA.Every one of my guests who come here are thrilled by their New York experience.

When I first arrived here in August 1977,I just wanted to be able to say that I saw this city and even though I only stayed for 3 days I never forgot the experience.By some random, unforeseen chance I found myself in Melbourne,Australia and for 2 years kept thinking about this place I wanted to call my home.

The great adventure of the New York experience is the diversity.The acceptance of who you are is universal.This is what I recognized immediately in those 3 days.This remains New York's finest attribute,and it is this that attracts all the people that make this city the great place that it is.Some of you may wonder how a fascist like Mayor Giuliani,fit into this portrait and my guess is that he cheated and stole the 2 elections and just to prove my point,decided that New York needed him beyond what the term limits allow and tried to stay in office for an additional 3 months,using 911 as his excuse.

In August 1979 I returned.I have spent my years here moving from neighborhood to neighborhood in search of that zone that I found in 1977,the real New York,but it keeps changing,gentrifying,so I keep moving.Harlem is one of the places where the spirit of New York can be found.There are other places too,but I don't think the soul of New York can be found in a midtown Manhattan hotel.

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This room is no longer available.


This is a busy time for us and we have gotten all kinds of fantastic reviews at www.tripadvisor.com and we were chosen by BedandBreakfast.com,as the best B&B in NYC in 2007,so we have filled up the rooms this season at an incredible speed.In addition the word is out that we are using renewable energy,generated by solar panels on our roof,the only B&B in NYC to do so.So let me summarize here,in just 2 years of opening our doors at Sugar Hill Harlem Inn,we are the best B&B in NYC and the only B&B to use renewable energy.

In addition, we are in Harlem,not midtown.Don't get me wrong,midtown is a fine place to visit during the day,but I wouldn't want to sleep there.Also we are just a 5 minute walk to the express subway line,the famous and much celebrated 'A train' which takes you to Times Square in less than 15 minutes.


As stated in the opening paragraph,the room you wanted is taken.However we don't want to leave you out in the cold, so we can work this out with you, but you would have to move around a bit from room to room.A lot of people think this is too much of a hassle and as a result do not book.However we have managed to do this many times and we make the move so easy that people are quite happy with the trouble free experience.

You should let us know very soon,because this option will not stay open for long.
You are welcome to call us anytime and we can give you more details.

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Is there parking on Sugar Hill?

Yes unlike the rest of Manhattan,there is parking on the street,that is easy to find and it's free.(My favorite price)

On Monday,Tuesday,Thursday and Friday from 11.30am-1.00pm,east of Amsterdam Ave.,you must move your car from the side of the street that is being swept.Double parking is fine during these times.

West of Amsterdam Ave. and on Amsterdam Ave,the same rules apply but the times are 11am-12.30pm with one exception,no double parking on Amsterdam Ave.

Do not double park on W143st between Amsterdam and Convent.There is a school.

Because of the high volume of churches in Harlem, parking on Sunday morning is much more of a challenge.

The later you arrive after 6pm the more difficult it is to find a parking spot.

Although it is fine to unload your bags, there is no parking anytime on the block.(W.141st).This has the advantage of easy loading and unloading.

You are not allowed to park 15' either side of a fire hydrant.You will probably notice that this rule is not always obeyed,but you can be towed for this violation,unless of course you have one of these.

The nearest parking meters are on Broadway,so,happily you will not encounter them.If you do they only take quarters and that will give you 30 minutes,further downtown,you only get 10 minutes for your quater.The limit is usually 1 hour.Remember this....you can park on a broken meter but only for the 1 hour allotted time. I love broken meters,first of all parking is free and secondly most people think they are not allowed to park on a broken meter so you can often find a spot where it is normally hard to find one.

If you get a parking ticket read my Parking Violations in Disarray blog,or show it to me, I don't excel at too many things but on this very important subject I am not too shabby.

Remember...Read the signs!!If you are in any doubt ask me.

There is a parking lot @145st and St Nick.It costs $20 for 24hrs

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I noticed that a weekly rate doesn't include a breakfast, could you please advise me how much extra this would cost?

We don't have any fixed price for breakfast.I just leave this in place because you would get a substantial discount for the weekly rate,so if you still want breakfast and the discount,why not?I want my cake and I want to eat it too.All I ask is that you give Bernadette a generous tip.It makes her very happy because she feels appreciated and the money puts the icing on the cake, and then we all get to eat cake.

Perhaps if Marie Antoinette had put it that my she would have kept her head.

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This a question that I am frequently asked.


One way to find out is to look at crime statistics.Our precinct # is 30 and if you click here you can see the crime statistics for this district and you can compare them to other areas in the city.


However that ugly concrete building that you see on the website is 10 blocks north of here and this is an entirely different neighborhood.You can even see a distinct difference if you just walk up the hill across Amsterdam Ave. and down onto Broadway.It is a 5 minute walk but you feel like you are in the Caribbean.You see older men sitting on stools,on the sidewalks playing dominoes, the streets are filled with Latin music,mostly salsa.


Over on this side of the hill and further down the area is quiet with mostly middle class African Americans,and some new arrivals that are both black,white and Asian .You will see architecture that looks like this on Convent ave or like this on Hamilton Terrace.There is a museum just half a block away,Hamilton Grange,a memorial for Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury,and one of the founding fathers.There is also a fairly large park St.Nicolas Park,just 2 minutes walk the from Sugar Hill.City College starts at 140 st and Convent and fills the entire area from Amsterdam to the park and down to 135st.There are 3 theaters within 5 minutes walk from Sugar Hill Harlem Inn. The Classic Theater of Harlem,The Gate House and Aaron Davis Hall


I hope this gives you an idea of what the area is like.Bernadette is a 60 year old woman and she has never had any problems walking in the neighborhood.I feel very safe walking around day or night.


I often go upstate to an area,called the Catskills, near Woodstock.I go walking in the woods and look for different wild plants and pieces of dead wood that I bring back to my garden in Harlem,but I have to be very careful.There are ticks everywhere.The whole country side is infested.Unfortunately they carry Lyme Disease and I got it twice last summer. Yes I feel considerably safer in Harlem than up in the woods in the Catskills.

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Take AirTrain to Newark Airport Train Station.

At Newark Airport Train Station, take a NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak train to New York Penn Station.

It takes less than 1 hour and is great if you are arriving at a time when there is likely to be traffic heading through the Lincoln Tunnel (which is unpredictable, but almost always backed-up midweek at 8:00am-10am and 4:30pm-6:30pm).

Fare is about $14 and is probably the best and most economical way to get to NYC from EWR.
You can then take the A train from Penn Station.It is only 4 stops and will take about 15 minutes.

Bus- there is a large coach bus that travels from Newark to either Port Authority, or Penn Station; Fare is $14/each way ($23/RT) and buses depart every 10-15 minutes
Here is the link to the bus service that will take you to Port Authority,(slightly better than Penn Station)

Taxi- travel time can vary widely depending upon traffic... 1 hour is a good guestimate, but can be as quick as 45 minutes or as long as 1 1/2+ hours! Rates are fixed depending upon destination. Base rate for one stop is $56+ $6 toll . There is also a $1 charge for each oversized bag.

Supershuttle This may be OK if you are landing at LaGuardia.Otherwise do not choose this option.By the time you get here it will be time to turn around and go back home.

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I see that you have a two-night minimum stay. We are looking for a one-night stay (2 people) this Friday. Do you make exceptions at this late date?
Yes there are exceptions to the rules,as there should be.We will always try to accommodate you if we can.Do not hesitate to call and we will check the calender and if there is anyway we can fit you in, we will.This works best for the last minute reservations.
You can call us at 917.464.3528 or email at info@sugarhillharleminn.com

The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced: Frank Zappa

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Not far........Harlem is in Manhattan.Harlem is in the Northern part of Manhattan.Many people think that Harlem is a borough,but it is in fact a district.There are 2 possible reasons for this.First it is the biggest district in NYC and second,due to it's history, it is the most famous.It is by my calculation,the most well known district in the world.Take London for example.A Londoner will tell you that the most famous district in the world is Piccadilly Circus,a Frenchman will say the Champs-Elysées.However a Londoner knows more about Harlem than he does the Champs-Elysées and a Frenchman knows more about Harlem than Piccadilly Circus "quod erat demonstrandum" Q.E.D
Perhaps the question that you want to ask is "How far is Harlem from Times Sq",a very popular destination.As with most that is popular in this culture,if you could call it that,it is not very interesting.If bright lights are your thing then Las Vegas is much more impressive.However I seem to be unable to dissuade most people from going down there.So "you must take the A train,",the most famous train in the world.Most people think that Duke Ellington wrote "The A train" but it was in fact, Billy Stayhorn who penned it.They both lived in Sugar Hill.It is considered by the experts, so it surely must be true,to be one of the most important musical compositions of the 20th century.Now find me another lowly subway,underground or metro that has has had a great musical rhapsody, written about it.More evidence that Harlem is the most famous place in the world.Why, even the trains are illustrious.Yes you take this celebrated train 3 stops to 42nd st and it will take between 10 and 15 minutes depending on who is driving the train.Watch as the train comes into the station,and look for a wild angry driver resembling Wolf Larsen.Hop on the train fast because the doors do not stay open for more than a second,and hang on tight.He drives his train in a wild,ferocious manner.His trains will get you there in less than every other driver but be sure to stand by the doors as the train enters the station otherwise you will miss your stop.
If you stay on the train it will take you to Penn Station,then W14st and on though the West Village to Canal St galloping down the dark corridors of the subterranean. That part of the trip will take about 10 minutes and if you descend at Canal,you can walk east,literally and metaphorically, to China Town and Little Italy or you can go north to SoHo where a huge quantity of 19th century cast-iron buildings awaits your stupefaction.If you go East on Spring st and right on Lafayette,you'll come to a fork in the road.There you will see a taqueria,with people spilling out onto the sidewalk.Hidden down in the basement behind guarded steel doors is one of the most celebrated restaurants and watering holes in NYC.It is called La Esquina and it is very difficult to make a reservation.Unless of course you are staying at Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.If you want to make a reservation just ask Jeremy.

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Freedom of Religion

The First Amendment prevents the American government from establishing an official religion.
Citizens have the freedom to attend the church, synagogue, temple or mosque of their choice – or not attend at all. The First Amendment allows us to practice our religion the way we want to.

Freedom of Speech

The First Amendment keeps the American government from making laws that might stop us from expressing rational opinions. People have the right to criticize the government and to share their opinions with others.

Freedom of the Press

A free press means we can get information from many different sources. The government cannot control what is printed in newspapers, magazines and books, broadcast on TV or radio or offered online. Citizens can request time on television to respond to views with which they
disagree; they may write letters to newspaper editors and hope those letters will be printed for others to see. They can pass out leaflets that give their opinions. They can have their own Web pages and offer their opinions to others through the many means made available by the Internet.

Freedom of Assembly

Citizens can come together in public and private gatherings. They can join groups for political,
religious, social or recreational purposes. By organizing to accomplish a common goal, citizens can spread their ideas more effectively.

Right to Petition

“To petition the government for a redress of grievances” means that citizens can ask for changes in the government. They can do this by collecting signatures and sending them to their elected
representatives; they can write, call or e-mail their elected representatives; they can support groups that lobby the government.

Right to Self Medicate:
I know,this is the wrong amendment,in which to place this,but here goes.....

Citizens of this theoretically free country may not use certain medicine's without the written permission,by doctors.That was not true before 1914. Until then, adult citizens could enter a pharmacy and buy any drug they wished, from headache powders to opium. They needed no one's permission. They were, in a phrase, pharmacologically free. When they felt it necessary, they sought advice from physicians or others who had greater experience than themselves.
That freedom was abolished as the paternalist ethic gained currency. Citizens were told they were no longer able to make those kinds of decisions, and they surrendered their authentic right to health care. The prescription law was just one piece of a larger conspiracy against the public. At about this time, the United States got its first laws to license doctors and accredit medical schools. Historian Ronald Hamowy has documented what was on the minds of the doctors: income. They were concerned that free entry, and hence unrestricted competition, into the medical profession was driving down fees. Only government regulation would allow doctors to charge higher payments.
It is certainly helpful to know what one is doing before treating oneself. Sources of information would include doctors, medical societies, insurance companies, Prevention magazine, Consumer Reports , newspapers, and more. Competition and the civil law against fraud and malpractice are the best assurances of drug quality, information and service. People must have the right to enter into any mutually agreed-on contracts for medical services that they choose. Anything less makes a mockery of the idea that we are free.
Thanks to Sheldon Richman, senior editor at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. whose other opinions I do not necessarily share.

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Museum admission prices in New York are ridiculous. The bigger the institutions the higher the price.The MoMA now charges $20 for regular admission (and that's despite recent shows that seemed more like corporate advertising ops than art, such as motorcycles and Armani). It's a good thing that New York's cultural resources run deep. There is an abundance of free or at least cheap places to visit.Here are some........ and Click here for other cool free stuff,concerts etc.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The Schomburg Center's collection covers every phase of black activity wherever black people have lived in significant numbers. Books, manuscripts, periodicals, art, and audiovisual materials. (Tues-Sat)
515 Malcolm X Boulevard @W135th st, New York, NY 10037 (212) 491-2200.The 2 or 3 train stops right there,but if you are going from Sugar Hill,you would walk down the hill to St Nicholas Ave,make a right and go to W135th st and take the B35 bus across town to Malcolm X Blvd,or you could walk.It's about a 15 minute walk.

The Studio Museum in Harlem
The Studio Museum in Harlem is the nexus for black artists locally, nationally, and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by black culture. It is a site for the dynamic exchange of ideas about art and society.There is a suggested price here of $7 which although it is not free, I think you should try to pay it and consider stiffing the museum in the next paragraph.
144 West 125th Street between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd (7th Ave). tel: 212.864.4500.From Sugar Hill,take the A,C,D or B train one stop to W125 st and walk east.It's right across the street from the Apollo

The Metropolitan Museum which also owns the Cloisters at 190th st in Fort Tryon Park,has a suggested price of $20.They will in fact make you believe that this is the price you must pay to enter.Ignore the $20 sign and just pay what you want.The Cloisters is best seen on a beautiful day.The cloistered gardens,which are high up on a hill, look out across the Hudson River to New Jersey.The museum itself contains, sculpture, tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' work, stained glass, enamels and ivories,all medieval.To get there from Sugar Hill Harlem Inn,take the M4 bus on Broadway to the end of the line at 190th street.It takes about 15 minutes and the bus drops you off right at the door.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial.This is 1/2 a block from Sugar Hill Harlem Inn. That's the good news.The bad news is that it is closed and has been for over a year and it does not look like any work is being done over there.The museum is jammed in between a very ugly, circa 1960's apartment building, and a pleasantly dilapidated church.The museum was moved from 142nd st and was at one time part of a 32 acre estate,which was probably stolen from Reckewa's people,as the local Indian Tribe was known.Rumor has it that the whole house is once again being moved ,this time into St Nicholas Park,1/2 a block away.
Federalist Paper author and first secretary of the treasury Alexander Hamilton started construction on his country home in 1800. The National Park Service has well-maintained exhibits inside, including a scale model of the yellow Federal-style house as it looked when it was surrounded by the hills and trees of a vanished Harlem.
287 Convent Ave., between W. 141st and W. 142nd sts. tel. 212/283-5154; www.nps.gov/hagr. Fri-Sun 9am-5pm. Subway: 1/9 to 137th St.; A/B/C/D to 145th St.

The National Museum of the American Indian is home to the collection of the former Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. The collection includes more than 800,000 objects, as well as a photographic archive of 125,000 images. The collection, which became part of the Smithsonian in June 1990, was assembled throughout a 54-year period, beginning in 1903 by George Gustav Heye (1874-1957), who traveled throughout North and South America accumulating Native objects. Heye was the founder of New York’s Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation from its beginning until his death in 1957. The Heye Foundation’s Museum of the American Indian opened to the public in New York City in 1922.
Check the schedule at http://www.nativenetworks.si.edu/. There's programming for kids, too, including storybook readings and workshops. Everything is free, though craft workshops can have material fees of up to $25. Some events require reservations.1 Bowling Green, between State and Whitehall sts. tel. 212/514-3700; http://www.americanindian.si.edu/. Daily 10am-5pm; Thurs until 8pm. Subway: 4/5 to Bowling Green; 1/9 to South Ferry.

El Museo del Barrio
El Museo del Barrio was founded in 1969 by a group of Puerto Rican educators, artists, parents and community activists in East Harlem’s Spanish-speaking El Barrio. Since then, El Museo del Barrio has evolved into New York’s leading Latino cultural institution, having expanded its mission to represent the diversity of art and culture in all of the Caribbean and Latin America.As the only museum in New York City that specializes in representing these cultures, El Museo del Barrio continues to have a significant impact on the cultural life of New York City and is now a major stop on Manhattan’s Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue. El Museo del Barrio thrives on the sustained excellence of its collections, exhibitions and public programming.
1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street New York, NY 10029 212.831.7272.From Sugar Hill,take the B train one stop to Yankee Stadium,take the 4 train to 125st and then the 6 train to 103st.Walk east to 5th ave

The Hispanic Society of America
Hispanic treasures ranging from Bronze Age tools to Goya portraits, seemingly assembled at random, fill this musty but intriguing museum. Don't miss the intricate marble chapel sculptures on the first floor and the gorgeous arabesque tiles upstairs.Again this is very close to Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.
Audubon Terrace, Broadway, between 155th and 156th sts. tel. 212/926- 2234; http://www.hispanicsociety.org/. Tues-Sat 10am-4:30pm; Sun 1-4pm. Subway: 1 to 157th St.

It is also next door to the largest cemetery,in New York City.Trinity Cemetery. It is huge,
it is 24 acres and extends from 153rd to 155th Streets, Amsterdam to Riverside Drive.

The New York Historical Society
170 Central Park West New York, NY 10024 212-873-3400
From November 2006-September 2007 the New-York Historical Society will launch its second major exhibition on the topic of New York's relationship to slavery and the abolitionist movement. The focus of the second exhibition will be on New York's rise to national and global economic power as the nation itself confronted slavery and racial inequality. The period under investigation will begin about 1815 and continue through the Civil War and its aftermath. Although hundreds of significant works of art, objects and documents will be on display primarily from N-YHS collection, this exhibition will have a special focus on lithography, photography and book illustrations to emphasize that New York City, as the nation's publishing center, had a very special role in the formulating of images on both sides of the sectional dispute in the 1850s.
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Open Friday, beginning November 17, until 8:00 p.m. Free admission Fridays, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Courtesy of Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.When you get to the exhibiton an another corporation will make this claim.Just ignore this allegation.

El Taller Latino Americano (The Latin American Workshop) is an arts and education organization in New York City, founded in 1979 by Latin and North Americans to afford opportunities for artistic expression and the exchange of ideas and experiences between people of different cultures For almost 25 years, they have hosted countless well-known artists and desconocidos from all over the Americas. In addition, they offer dance, music and art workshops for adults and children and art exhibits in their Grady Alexis Gallery
2710 Broadway, 3rd floor.New York, NY 10025 (212)665-9460
Take the 1 or 9 train and get off at 103rd Street

American Academy of Arts and Letters
This prestigious century-old organization extends membership to the cream of the nation's writers and artists. In the spring and fall exhibits highlight the works of these artists, as well as the recipients of Academy prizes. There are three exhibits every year.
Audubon Terrace, Broadway, between 155th and 156th sts. tel. 212/368-5900. Open when exhibitions are up, Tues-Sun 1-4pm. Subway: 1 to 157th St.

Art Students League of New York Gallery
This independent art school, founded in 1875, is a New York legend. A host of big names started out here, including Norman Rockwell and Georgia O'Keeffe, who left behind work in the league's permanent collection. The galleries exhibit portions of that collection along with art by current students, members, and other contemporaries.
215 West 57th St., between Broadway and Seventh Ave. tel. 212/247-4510; http://www.theartstudentsleague.org/. Mon-Fri 10am-8:30pm; Sat 9:30am-4pm; Sun 1-4:30pm. Subway: N/R/Q/W to 57th St.; B/D/E to Seventh Ave.

Austrian Cultural Forum
The architecture of the new Austrian Cultural Forum has garnered more eyebrow raises than critical praise. I find the exterior ominous, like a dagger looming over the street. The interior is more attractive, with sleek touches compensating for a cold quality. The multilevel spaces accommodate several galleries. Austrian and European-themed shows rotate through.
11 E. 52nd St., between Fifth and Madison aves. tel. 212/319-5300; http://www.acfny.org/. Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. Subway: E/V to 53rd St.

Carnegie Hall
The Rose Museum recounts the practice, practice, practice it takes to get to this storied music hall. A chronology and memorabilia are on view, in addition to occasional temporary exhibits on Carnegie legends like the Gershwins, Tchaikovsky, or Leonard Bernstein.
154 W. 57th St., between 6th and 7th aves., 2nd floor. tel. 212/903-9629; http://www.carnegiehall.org/. Daily 11am-4:30pm; and to ticket holders during concerts. Subway: A/B/C/D/1/9 to 59th St.-Columbus Circle.

Fashion Institute of Technology Museum
This museum on FIT's campus is long on historical fashion, specializing in the 20th century. Fashion showoffs complement surprisingly sophisticated students shows. Other exhibits display items from the special collections, like accessories or sketches.
The southwest corner of 7th Ave., at 27th St. tel. 212/517-5800; http://www.fitnyc.edu/. Tues-Fri noon-8pm; Sat 10am-5pm. Subway: 1/9 to 28th St.

Federal Reserve Bank (It's not federal,it's private and there is no reserve)
In addition to the gallery of the American Numismatic Society on the ground floor here, advance sign-up will give you the chance to glimpse a little of the building. It's basically a tour of a bank. A bank with the largest gold cache in the world, but still a bank. Along the way you'll see two short videos, one weirdly defensive about the employees of the currency-processing division, and one weirdly defensive about the employees working with the gold. Five stories beneath the street you'll get to see the vault itself, which resembles a gym locker room, only with $90 billion in gold shimmering behind the bars. As a reward for your attention, you'll get a free $1,000 in cash. Shredded cash. Call 1 to 2 weeks in advance to reserve a space.
33 Liberty St., between William and Nassau sts. tel. 212/720-6130; http://www.newyorkfed.org/. Tours weekdays 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm (they last about an hour). Subway: A/C/J/M/Z/2/3/4/5 to Fulton St./ Broadway Nassau.

Fisher Landau Center for Art
Though this museum has been around for almost 15 years, few New Yorkers know about its 25,000-square-foot exhibition and study center. The galleries, which show painting, sculpture, and photography from 1960 to the present, are huge and well lit. You'll find three floors of viewing pleasure, usually modern art icons.
38-27 30th St., between 38th and 39th aves. tel. 718/937-0727; http://www.flcart.org/. Mon-Sun 10am-5pm; extended Fri until 7:45pm. Subway: N/W to 39th Ave.

Hall of Fame for Great Americans
You'd think a gigantic monument designed by Sanford White with tablets by Tiffany Studios, memorializing American heroes like Mark Twain, Abe Lincoln, and Susan B. Anthony, would be a major draw, but this oddball attraction is sadly overlooked. The distant location, on the Bronx Community College campus, might be part of the problem. If you're in the area don't miss out because the open colonnade with its 102 bronze busts and classical architecture is a wonderful surprise.
Hall of Fame Terrace, 181st St. and University Ave., the Bronx. tel. 718/289- 5161; www.bcc.cuny.edu/halloffame. Daily 10am-5pm. Subway: 4 to 183rd St.

John M. Mossman Lock Collection
When you first enter this room you think "well, it's just a bunch of old locks." Inevitably, though, as you learn more about the evolution of keys and vaults you get drawn in. The exhibit includes 4,000-year-old Egyptian devices, Renaissance locks with elaborate tracery, and spectacularly crafted 19th-century time locks. Sign in with the guard on the ground floor and you'll be taken to the exhibit, on a second-floor balcony overlooking the landmark General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen library.
20 W. 44th St., between Fifth and Sixth aves. tel. 212/921-1767; http://www.generalsociety.org/. Sept-Mar Mon-Thurs 9am-7pm, Fri 9am-5pm; Apr-Aug Mon-Thurs 9am-6pm, Fri 9am-5pm. Closed July. Subway: 7 to 5th Ave.; B/D/F/V to 42nd St.

Museum of American Illustration
Illustrators never seem to get their proper respect as visual artists, constantly upstaged by showoff painters and photographers. The two galleries maintained by the Society of Illustrators strive to remedy that situation. Contest winners and works of society members can be found on the walls, along with classics from the permanent collection (the Society was formed in 1901, so there's a lot to fall back on). Exhibits change frequently.
28 E. 63rd St., between Park and Lexington aves. tel. 212/838-2560; http://www.societyillustrators.org/. Tues 10am-8pm; Wed-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat noon-4pm. Subway: N/R/W/4/5/6 to 59th St.


Nicholas Roerich Museum
One of New York's least-known museums showcases the Russian scholar and painter Nicholas Roerich. A genteel Riverside Drive town house holds three floors of galleries, cluttered with Roerich's paintings. The images favor Russian icons and Himalayan landscapes, and though the bright colors and stylized lines border on the cartoonish, the overall effect is impressive. Objects gathered in Roerich's Asian explorations are scattered throughout the museum and a subtle spiritual air pervades. The museum's motto Pax Cultura (Peace Through Culture) gets expressed in a full schedule of free concerts and poetry readings. Music plays Sundays at 5pm; check online for other dates and times.
319 W. 107th St., between Riverside Dr. and Broadway. tel. 212/864-7752; http://www.roerich.org/. Subway: 1/9 to 110th St.

Onassis Cultural Center
Aristotle Onassis,that large Greek shipping tycoon who married Jackie O. was the man behind this Midtown institution, which supports Hellenic art and culture. Rotating exhibits and a long-term display of rare casts of Parthenon marbles can be found here. There's also a pleasant indoor waterfall to rest for a spell.
The Olympic Tower atrium, 641 Fifth Ave., entrance just east of Fifth on 51st or 52nd sts. tel. 212/486-4448; http://www.onassisusa.org/. Subway: E/V to 53rd St.

Pratt Galleries
The fruits of Pratt Institute's prestigious arts and design programs can be found in the galleries the school runs. Current student shows are mixed in with alumni and faculty exhibitions, plus other artistic innovators.
144 W. 14th St., between Sixth and Seventh aves. tel. 212/647-7778; http://www.pratt.edu/. Tues-Fri 10:30am-5:30pm; Sat noon-5pm. Subway: 1/2/3/9 and F/V to 14th St.; L to 5th Ave. Schafler Gallery on Pratt's campus: 200 Willoughby Ave. Ft. Greene, Brooklyn. tel. 718/636-3517. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Subway: G to Clinton-Washington aves.

SculptureCenter
Though this institution has been supporting and showcasing modern sculpture since 1928, its new home in a former Queens trolley repair shop can make a visitor feel like he's come to a start-up. Maya Lin's industrial-chic design is of the moment, but many of the touches are timeless. Ceilings soar 40 feet in the main room, and the basement project spaces are like minimalist catacombs. The rough edges haven't been disguised, but the overall effect is still refined, a perfect backdrop for the contemporary sculptures and installation art exhibited here. It's a miniature version of what the Tate Modern in London should have been. 44-19 Purves St., off Jackson Ave., Long Island City, Queens. tel. 718/361-1750; http://www.sculpturecenter.org/. Thurs-Mon 11am-6pm. Some shows have a $5 suggested donation, not enforced. Subway: E/V to 23rd St./Ely. G to Court St. 7 to Court House Sq.

Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Sony sucks in new generations of technology addicts with this four-level super modern demonstration center. Kids can try their hands at robotics, medical imaging, and video game design, among other expensive toys. Free movies round out the stimuli; see p. 54 in chapter 2. Reservations should be made in advance, up to 2 weeks ahead. Call on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 11am and 4pm. Otherwise, you may not get in, or you may get in at a less convenient hour later in the day.
550 Madison Ave., at 56th St. tel. 212/833-8100, or 212/833-5414 for reservations; http://www.sonywondertechlab.com/. Tues-Wed and Fri-Sun 10am-6pm; Thurs 10am-8pm; last entrance 30 min. before closing. Subway: E/N/R/V/W to Fifth Ave.; 4/5/6 to 59th St.

Urban Center
The landmark 1882 Villard Houses on Madison Avenue have an exclusive look, but the north side is actually open to the public. Enter the central courtyard, designed like an Italian palazzo by McKim, Mead & White, and take the door on your left. The Municipal Art Society and the Architectural League of New York both keep galleries here, with rotating exhibits detailing a love of the city. While you're here, check out the bookstore's huge selection of urban planning and architecture tomes.
The Municipal Art Society. tel. 212/935-3960; http://www.mas.org/. Urban Center Books: tel. 212/935-3592; http://www.urbancenterbooks.com/. Architectural League of New York: tel. 212/753-1722; http://www.archleague.org/. Mon-Wed and Fri-Sat 11am-5pm. Subway: 6 to 51st St.

The Museum of Sex Sorry this one is not free.But I thought I would mention it anyway. If you click on the link there is a $5 coupon,in the bottom left hand corner that can be printed out.The regular admission is $14.50.
Museum of Sex 233 Fifth Avenue (@ 27th Street)New York, NY 10016 General Information: (212) 689-6337 From Sugar Hill,take the D train to 34st and then the B train to 23st

Some of this article was shamelessly stolen from NYC Free & Dirt Cheap.Part of the research and writing by Ethan Wolff February 23, 2007.

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In the past 10 years much has changed in Harlem.Some of these changes have been good and some not so good.An example of the not so good is mallification,(this is not a word to be found in any dictionary but it means,turning a street or neighborhood into a mall).An example of this is 125th st.
The good changes that have come to Harlem are the huge increase in quality restaurants.
Click here for a current list of most of them.
The restaurant that is closest to us that we always recommend is Baton Rouge The food and the atmosphere are great.It is in a brownstone on W145 st,about 5 minutes walk from Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.
Another place in the neighborhood that we recommend is St. Nick's Pub at 150th and St Nicholas Ave.This is a great venue for drinks and jazz.
In central Harlem we recommend the restaurant Native and the very famous jazz club the Lenox Lounge
The most famous restaurant in all of Harlem is Sylvia's,the queen of soul food.Opened in 1962 and known for their Gospel Brunch on Sundays.

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Yes, we have wireless Internet at Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.
Also there are 2 computers in the reception room that you are welcome to use,so you don't have to carry your laptop with you.There is also a printer.
This is a free service.You are welcome to use this anytime from 9am-9pm,unless there is a function going on at that time.
Please feel free to come into the reception room anytime from 9am-9 pm.
I am usually available to answer any questions you may have about the geography or history of New York or Harlem.

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All our rooms have private bathrooms at Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.
Miles' room and Josephine's room also have private kitchens.There is a shower and tub,toilet and sink in the bathroom.
The Renaissance Suite has 2 bedrooms,a kitchen, a living room with a sofa bed and bathroom with shower and tub,toilet and sink
Satchmo's room does not have a kitchen but it does have a large bathroom with a separate shower and tub,toilet and sink and an outside deck.
Lena's room has a small bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower only,no tub.No kitchen.
There is a large kitchen on the ground floor.All our guests are welcome to use this from 9am-9pm.

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These are usually double beds but we also have queen size beds.
We use air beds .This is not an air mattress.These are the same height as a regular bed and they are very comfortable.
Hand-held comfort control wand lets you customize the firmness of the bed.
The vinyl is wrapped in a microsuede fabric that feels great to the touch.
Air coils keep air distributed evenly.
There is a $25 charge for additional beds in the rooms.

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There are 3 theaters on Sugar Hill.They are all about a 5 minute walk from Sugar Hill Harlem Inn.
The Classic Theater of Harlem http://www.classicaltheatreofharlem.org/
Harlem Stage at the Gatehouse http://www.harlemstage.org/
Aaron Davis Hall http://www.ccny.cuny.edu/aboutus/campus/aarondavis00.htm
The Classic Theater of Harlem produces some of the best off Broadway theater in NYC.
The Gatehouse is a brand new theater built in an old water distribution plant and opened last summer.The Harlem film festival is now held there.
Aaron Davis Hall is part of City University.This is a venue for theater,movies and art shows.
The center of the Theater District is 42nd st.This is where you would go to see all the Broadway shows such as The Color Purple and The Lion King There are also many independant theaters in this district where smaller productions can be seen.
To get to the Theater District,take the A train, 3 stops to 42nd st.It takes 5 minutes to walk to the station and the train ride is about 10 minutes.
There are theaters in fact all over NYC and some of the best productions are reviewed on the radio every Saturday Morning 8.30 am-10.30am by David Rothenberg. If you you listen to his show on wbai you can buy really cheap theater tickets.I have bought many tickets through his show and they usually sell for $50 for a pair of tickets.To order tickets,all you have to do is call the radio station during the show and give a credit card number and the tickets will be waiting for you at the box office.
You will also be supporting the only community radio station in NYC.This is the radio station that broadcasts Democracy Now! ,Mon-Fri 9am-10am.This is mostly news not covered by corporate media.

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Take the A or the D train to W145st.Get on at the back of the train,otherwise you will find yourself exiting at W147st.Walk up the Hill (145st) to Convent Avenue,make a left,passing by Convent Avenue Baptist Church.Check out the beautiful Queen Anne buildings,each one uniquely different.I know, if it is unique, then it must be different,but it sounds better,more unique.Make a right on W141st.We are in the middle of the block on the south side of the street.Look for the house with all the wood outside......uniquely different.
.....Just in case.Do not go down St.Nicholas Ave to W141st,the right direction,but a big mistake,unless you love carrying luggage up extremely steep hills.If you do take this route,you will pass by the Harlem School of the Arts and home to The Classic Theater of Harlem.Make a right on W141st. As you struggle up Sugar Hill on W141st,you will be walking past St Nicholas Park,this is a long ribbon park that stretches from W141st all the way to W127th st.At the top of the hill you will see City College,looming down upon you as you battle forward.
Halfway up the Sugar Hill you will pass Hamilton Terrace on your right.A beautiful tree lined block of town houses.As you struggle onward and upward you will see on the corner of 141st and Convent St.Luke's Episcopal Church.At this point, the hill will change from extremely steep to mildly steep and you will see a block of beautiful Victorian limestone,and brick row houses, built between 1905 and 1906,designed by Neville and Bagg.Sugar Hill Harlem Inn is in the middle of the block on the left hand side,as always,look for the house with all the wood outside.

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Is there parking on Sugar Hill?Yes unlike the rest of Manhattan,there is parking on the street,that is easy to find and it's free.On Monday,Tuesday,Thursday and Friday from 11.30am-1.00pm,you must move your car from the side of the street that is being swept.Double parking is fine during these times.Do not double park on W143st between Amsterdam and Convent.There is a school.
If you get a parking ticket read my Parking Violations in Disarray blog.
There is a parking lot @145th and St Nick.It costs $20 for 24hrs

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Driving
Map and directions Driving takes 20-40 minutes and the tolls are around $4 depending on your route. For information on renting a car, click here. For parking information, call (718) 533-3850

Taxis
Taxis into the city take anywhere from 20-40 minutes. They cost between $24-$28 NOT including bridge tolls (these are an additional 3 dollars). Taxis are cash only. Make sure to hail a cab in the designated areas or ask a uniformed airport employee to help you. Generally, it's polite to tip 20% of the total fare.

Car Services
Gotham Limousine: For a much more money than a taxi, you can have a limo or sedan. Services such as opening doors,just in case your arms are too tired, helping with luggage, curbside assistance,what ever that means, airport baggage claim greeting and advance reservations are part of this service. Visit the website for a special discount coupon. This discount system looks fairly convoluted to me so good luck collecting on that one

Public Transportation
The New York City buses run to LaGuardia for $2.00. If you have large quantities of luggage, you will find it difficult to manage this trip. You will need $2.00 in change, or a Metrocard for any public bus.
The M60 bus picks you up at the airport.Ask for a transfer.After crossing the Triboro Bridge,you will travel along 125th st. to Amsterdam Ave.Look for the Apollo on the right hand side,Amsterdam Ave is another 3 blocks. From here you take, another bus north to 141 st,don't forget to get the transfer from the driver or you'll have to pay again.When you get off the bus,make a right on 141st and we are in the middle of the block.Look for the house with all the wood outside.
You can also take SuperShuttle: 800.258.3826 This works well if you come from LaGuardia airport since the first district you arrive in,when you cross the Triboro Bridge is Harlem. So you would normally be one of the first to be dropped off.Just check with the driver to be sure,and ask if he will be dropping off passengers in Harlem first.If the bus makes a left hand turn and starts going downtown after the Triboro Bridge,that is not a good sign.That means you are going away from Harlem and you may be on that bus for a long time.
You can also take a helicopter from LaGuardia but unlike SuperShuttle it won't drop you off in Harlem,I have a flat roof so you could always ask.The rate for the trip is only $990.00.On Saturday and Sunday the helicopter will drop you off at 34st and the West Side Highway.Just grab a limo and come straight up the highway.
If you take the helicopter Monday - Friday,this is not so convenient since the helicopter drops you off near Wall st all the way downtown.You would then need to take a boat to Pier 84 and then that limo ride up the West Side Highway.It would however be quicker and significantly cheaper to take the bus.

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We are here 24 hours and 7 days a week,so you can come anytime.
It is however very helpful if you tell us when to expect you,especially if you intend to arrive before 8am or after 9pm.The best time to do this is at the time of booking.
When you arrive just ring bell number 1. If it is very late or very early,please push the buzzer very softly.You may have to wait a moment for one of us to get to the door.

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The fare for a subway or local bus ride is $2. If you qualify for reduced fare, you can travel for half fare. Up to three children 44 inches tall and under ride for free on subways and local buses when accompanied by a fare paying adult. .

Put $10 or more on your card and receive a 20 percent bonus. For example, a $20 purchase gives you $24 on your card. 12 trips for the price of 10.
You get an automatic free transfer between subway and bus, or between buses.

1-Day Fun Pass Cost: $7, reduced fare not available.Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides from first use until 3 a.m. the following day. Sold at MetroCard Vending Machines and at neighborhood stores. Not available at station booths.

7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCardCost: $24, reduced fare $12Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 7 days from day of first use.
7-Day Express Bus Plus MetroCardCost: $41.

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If we are not leaving until the evening,where can we leave our luggage?
We have a large reception room downstairs where you can leave your bags.There are computers and a kitchen if you need to check email,or make a cup of tea, while waiting to be picked up.
There is a cab company just around the corner and they can send a cab within 5 minutes.
This will not happen if it is during rush hour and it is raining. Any combination of this scenario is not conducive to getting a cab.Standing on a street corner in the rain in order to flag one down will only get you wet.
You will not get sick however since sickness comes from viruses and they flourish better inside where it is warm.The best protection from these viruses is go outside and stand in the cold wind or on a corner in the rain.But if you get tired of that and you must come inside where these pesky viruses reside,be sure to eat huge amounts of capsicum in your daily diet.

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Yes we have space for rent at Sugar Hill Harlem Inn for movie shoots and photo shoots.This can be the entire ground floor of the townhouse or any of our rooms, all of which have private bathrooms and some have private kitchens.All rooms have a fireplace. We have our own caterers or you can hire your own.There is a garden in the back which can be used when the weather permits.There are computers and wireless internet.There are also TVs and DVD players.

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Yes we have event space at Sugar Hill Harlem Inn for rent.This is the entire ground floor of the townhouse.This room is used for small functions such as weddings, showers, parties, poetry and play readings,also meetings and conferences. There is a fireplace. There are 2 sofas and a large round table that can be used or you can bring your own furniture.
We have our own caterers,if music is required we also have a DJ,or you can hire your own.
There is a large kitchen and also a garden in the back which can be used when the weather permits.
There are computers and wireless internet.There is also a TV and DVD player.

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Should the subway be free? Most people would laugh at the concept.Primarily, because of some preconceived ideas of economics."How would we run a subway system if it was free?"
In the same way we could ask "How could we afford abolishing the inheritance tax?"The cost of that little gem would be about $50 billion...per year.This would go towards making the rich even richer, so the money would not really circulate through the average Joe's pocket,but it would trickle down.By the way the antonym to trickle is flow,and if we want to drink, the water should flow.
I am not an expert on economics, but I am nevertheless going to try some rough calculations.
There were at the last census in 2000 approximately 8m people in NYC and the population has been on a steady increase since the 70's when it was around 7m.I would therefore guess that by now the population is around 9m, one third of which use the subway or the bus twice daily at $2 each trip. That means that the MTA take in about $12m per day.For those of you who have not done these fairly simple calculations you may want to ask."What the hell do they do with all that money?"This is a fair question but since I am not an economist I really don't have the answer.I do know the the MTA has 2 sets of books .This came out in a report from the State Controllers office of Alan Hevesi in April of 2003 and most of you know what happened to him.It was stated in the report that more than 1/2 a billion dollars were shifted into a secret account in order to create a deficit,so an increase could be implemented. So the fares were increased in 2003 despite the fact that there was a surplus of $537 million.Remember the subway strike that took place last Christmas,over wages and pensions that the mayor deemed"selfish and illegal?" I don't know if I should laugh or cry at this point.But let's move back to the task at hand which is economics.Our guestimated gross daily income for the subway is $12m per day and the yearly income would then be $4b give or take a million or two.To most of us that would seem like a lot of money but not perhaps to Paul Bremmer who recently dismissed culpability in his oversight of some $12b .360 tons of cash shipped from the US on pallets in military cargo planes, that just fell through the cracks in Iraq,no big deal.
We live in a universe of abundance or so some people believe.Most of those that affirm this,however, are generally pretty well heeled. I don't believe in anything, which of course is impossible since nothing is still something. Krishnamurti said " A cup is useful only when is is empty;and a mind that is full of beliefs is really an uncreative mind"Excuse me I digress.Let us just believe in a universe of abundance long enough to make the subway free.Then we will see an immediate infusion of $12m per day injected into the economy,we will see the smiles on the faces of all those who enter into the otherwise hated underground.Our progressive creed will spread all over the world."NYC has a free subway system,we can do it too." Sounds like good economics to me.
And then........the environmental impact.Wow this will jump start America from a world of gas guzzling cars, all going their separate ways, to a community of people all moving together to seriously take on the problems of global warming.Imagine a system of trains and street cars networking throughout America on roads built for cars.Let GM and big oil pay to put back those tracks that they tore up in the early part of the last century.If we can learn to move together,we can learn to work together and together we can knock down the walls that separate us.

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Yes we have event space at Sugar Hill Harlem Inn for rent.This is the entire ground floor of the townhouse.
This room is used for small functions such as weddings, showers, parties, poetry and play readings,also meetings and conferences. There is a fireplace. There are 2 sofas and a large round table that can be used or you can bring your own furniture. We have our own caterers or you can hire your own.There is a large kitchen and also a garden in the back which can be used when the weather permits.

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The check in time is 1pm and the check out is 11am.You can always come here if you arrive in town early and if your room is ready you can take it and if not you can leave your bags.
We have a large reception room with computers and a kitchen that you are welcome to use should you want a cup of tea.There is also a garden where you can sit when weather permits.
Check out times maybe extended on request.

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Can you put extra beds in the rooms?
Yes we can put 2 extra beds in some of the rooms.There is an exrta charge of $25 per night for this extra bed(s).

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How do I get from JFK?
It costs $60 to take a cab from JFK or you can take the supershuttle
If you don't have too much luggage and stairs are your thing,You can take the Air Train to Howard beach and then take the A train to W 145th st.($7) We are a 5 minute walk from the subway.Walk up the hill along 145th st to Convent Ave.Make a left and walk to 141th st.Make a right and we are in the middle of the block.Look for the house with all the wood outside
It costs $30 to take a cab from La Guardia.
How do I get from Newark Airport?
It costs $65 to take a cab from Newark or you can take the supershuttle.
For public transportation, from Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station, take a NJ Transit or Amtrak train to New York Penn Station.Then take the A train to W145st.

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Are there any grocery stores and/or delis nearby?
There is a bodega on the block and a supermarket 5 blocks from here at 138th st and Broadway.

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Is there a cab stand close to the Inn
There are no cab stands in NYC that I know of but you can call a cab from here or flag one down on Amsterdam Ave 1/2 a block from Sugar Hill Harlem Inn
Is there a bus service nearby?
There are buses on Amsterdam Ave.

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How safe is your area for a female to walk around alone at night, including the subway station? I am assuming there is no problem during the day.

You should not run into any safety issues in the neighborhood.Bernadette is a 60 year old woman and she's never had a problem,day or night.
This does not mean however that you should be negligent.This is a huge city and crime is part of the urban standard.It has been greatly reduced due to a better economy.But nothing to do with Guiliani and his Broken Glass theory.
Care should always be taken wherever you are.Keep you ears and eyes open.If you run into a problem and you get held up,pull some money from your pocket,throw it on the ground and run.

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We are 5 minutes walk from the subway at W145st.This is an express stop for the A train and the D train and a local stop for the B train and the C train.
The ride to midtown (42nd st) is about 10 minutes on the A train.The train makes 3 stops,125th st,1 block from the world famous Apollo, 59th st, Central Park and 42nd st Times Sq.The A train continues downtown and will pass through Greenwich Village,(W 4st stop)and SoHo,(Canal St stop)where you can also walk to China Town and Little Italy.
If you wish to go to Rockefeller Center or Radio City Music Hall you take the D train,about 12 minutes.
For Yankee stadium or to get to the East Side you take the B train 2 stops.Then you can take the 4 train to go downtown on the East Side.
We are also 5 minutes walk from the 1 train.This is a local trian that follows Broadway down the west side past Columbia University (116 st) , Symphony Space (95 st), Zabars (78 st) and Lincoln Center (65 st)

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Do you serve breakfast?
Yes as the title Bed and Breakfast implies we do serve breakfast.In the same way we also provide a bed! And we do not think this is a silly question either since most B&B's in NYC do not serve breakfast.
..............however,there is one exception to this.There is a special rate for visitors who come for one week or more.In this case breakfast is not included.You can however make arrangements with Bernadette for a small fee or a large tip,whichever you prefer!

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Can extra beds be added to the rooms?
Yes we will gladly add an extra bed to the rooms.In fact some rooms can even fit 2 extra beds.They are air beds and are the same height as a regular bed and are very comfortable.

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Is there parking on Sugar Hill?
Yes unlike the rest of Manhattan,there is parking on the street,that is easy to find and it's free.
On Monday,Tuesday,Thursday and Friday from 11.30am-1.00pm,you must move your car from the side of the street that is being swept.Double parking is fine during these times.Do not double park on W143st between Amsterdam and Convent.There is a school.
Sometimes late in the day or the week-ends especially Sunday morning due to the abundance of churches,parking is no so easy.There is a parking lot on W145st and St Nicholas.It cost about $20 for 24 hours.
If you are unlucky and you get a parking ticket.Please check out our blog,Parking Violators of the World Unite.You will find 3 letter forms with complete instructions on how to avoid paying.

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