The annual general membership
meeting of The New York City Association of Hotel Concierges was held on April
28th in Sugar Hill, West Harlem, at the new Sugar Hill Apartments and
future home of the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, designed
by David Adjaye. The Association’s meeting was held
in West Harlem at the invitation of Harlem One Stop as part of a West Harlem cultural
tourism initiative funded by a grant from the West Harlem Development
Corporation.
“It’s not just
where we can get space for us,” said Thomas Meckl, NYCAHC member of 27 years,
who discussed the array of meeting locations. “It’s also is it a place we want
our colleagues to know more about.”
As ambassadors
of New York to visitors from around the world and across the country, travelers trust
NYC hotel concierges to offer comprehensive information about the best that the
five-boroughs have to offer.
“Manhattan is
garnering these tourists and there’s a history to Harlem," said Gunter
Kleemann, member and former president of the NYCAHC. “There’s a whole amazing
world up here that’s as unique as any other neighborhood in Manhattan.
With special
events and festivals occurring throughout the year, home to preserved
historical landmarks embedded in New York’s past, and the center of cultural
diversity with guided tours, the area is beginning to see a steady influx of
travelers that’s growing.
Speakers
of the evening included Ellen Baxter, founder and executive director of
Broadway Housing Communities. She spoke of the projects that the BHC has
erected which provided homes to nearly 300 households. After the meeting she
lead a tour previewing the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art &
Storytelling.
“What
I was amazed at was the size that museum was going to be downstairs, the
tremendous amount of interactive stuff, and how exposing preschoolers to art
really contributed to their cognitive development,” added Meckl.
The
Harlem museum was built to highlight the significance of art to children ages 3-8
in an engaging way that stimulates their appreciation for creativity. SHCMAS’s
educational program is guided by Steve Seidel Director of Harvard University’s
Arts in Education Program and also features the historical richness of the
neighborhood itself in relation to the surrounding Washington Heights and
Harlem communities.
Also exclusive to
Harlem is the blend of cuisine available throughout the community. The African
and soul flavors were featured from Farafina Café and Lounge, which hosted the
NYCAHC reception.
After opening
about two years ago, the restaurant is also featured in Forbes Magazine as one of the top ten African Restaurants in New
York City.
Owner, Steve
Abreu, and Chef Lemon, of the Ivory Coast, made an appearance to discuss the
menu with guests and further share the culinary information of the neighborhood
with the association.
“A lot of great
things are happening soon and I think Farafina has something to offer anyone
from any culture, and if you look at the food we serve you see the similarities
with the food in the Caribbean cultures, as well as American,” said Abreu.
Dishes featured
included the chef’s special take on the traditional recipe of Chicken Yassa,
served with an array of staples such as Mac & cheese, mixed vegetables and
Farafina’s couscous.
“The more events
you have the more you explore and can participate by taking one of the tours
going to the restaurants, going to the museums, and seeing what the
neighborhoods have got to offer and then you are more aware and then you become
more able to make first hand recommendations to the area,” added Kleemann. | |||||
| (Photo credit: NYCAHC) |
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| (Photo credit: NYCAHC) |
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| (Photo credit: NYCAHC) |
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| (Photo credit: NYCAHC) |
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