Harlem is the New Black

I've been to my apartment a few times now. The yellow awning marked Soul Food is my landmark for which way to turn (right or left) on 125th, once I get off the subway. Papa asked me on the phone what the area was called, and I guess technically speaking it's the heart of Harlem . From block to block on 125th, Harlem changes. Walk the length of it from West to East and you will see stores change and people change. On my walk from the subway to my apartment the other day, I inhaled the smells of different foods, incense being sold by the Rasta guys and the fresh sweet smell of pineapple on skewers and mango salad being sold by hispanics. Papa asked me me what kind of people lived in the area, and I told him it's mostly black people. "What percentage do you think?" he said. "I don't know. A lot" I replied. "Well just give me an estimate. 70%?" Walking down the street that day, I realized I was the only white person and it being hot, I was showing a lot of my pale legs. I don't mind being the odd one out. I'll be working in this environment in City Year, and I'm pretty used to the big black population in the city of St. Louis. People seem nice, so far, and I'm thinking prices might be a bit less for dinner at the local BBQ or Soul Food joint. But, where did all the white people go? Are they afraid? This area is so exciting and filled with so many interesting people! The Apollo theater is only a couple blocks away from me, and I hear that it was the place to be when Michael Jackson died. Whoever is afraid is missing out on a big part of NYC. Some white people got off on the subway when I got off, but then it seemed like they disappeared. Very strange. So, I did my cleaning in my apartment for a couple hours, and then returned to the subway. I couldn't help thinking again why there weren't any white people on the street except for me. This time, I had to go across the street to the subway heading downtown, which is where the Starbucks resides. I looked inside and at the people going in and out and realized "This is where the white people go."

Besides Starbucks, I'm also near a Dunkin Donuts, fed-ex, hardware store, pharmacy, outdoor markets, delis, marshall's, H&M, Body Shop and a whole bunch of other places. Everything I could ever need is around me. This makes my apartment louder than most that I was looking at, but once it gets cold, the windows will be closed and less people outside. Besides, I sleep with ear plugs in. With each day, I think the apartment will get a better vibe, as it will become homier and more mine than the last girl's. I look forward to getting a mattress, hanging curtains and putting up pictures of my friends and family. Once everything is fixed up nicely, I'll take pictures. Oh and I'm missing my bass. I plan on pulling out some excerpts as soon as I get my bass in the place and a chance to settle down.

Think I might go out to Dive Bar with Lara for a beer tonight. (Brooklyn Brewery is pretty tasty.) She's trying to make it her neighborhood bar a.k.a get on the bartender's good side, so she can get drinks cheaper.

Later,
.S.