Barnum Bailey House in Harlem, sold!

The Greatest Show in Harlem has finished with a bang. Built in 1886 for circus promoter James A. Bailey (of Barnum & Bailey fame), the limestone castle “with turrets, porches, balconies and no fewer than 66 windows” at 10 St. Nicholas Place in upper Harlem hit the market for $6.5 million earlier this year.

Rep Rangel’s ‘Last Campaign’

Politics

A hot day in Harlem, the last week of July, and most of the elected officials from the heart of the district are gathered in front of the Helen B. Atkinson Health Center on 115th Street, standing underneath some scaffolding in search of shade.

They are waiting for the start of a press conference for health-care reform, brought together by the local chapter of Organizing for America, the retooled leftover operation from Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Across the street lies the vast red brick Martin Luther King Jr. Houses, and down the block a bit, new gleaming glass condos that sit empty, monuments to an era when real estate speculation assumed that changes to Harlem would happen faster than they did. In a new community center on the ground floor of one is a sign advertising a summer “Street Squash” program for kids in the area.

Jay-Z to give 911 benefit concert in NYC

Jay-Z will hold a Sept. 11 benefit concert in New York City.

The New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund says the rapper is scheduled to make the announcement Monday at Madison Square Garden. He’ll be joined by Gov. David Paterson, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

Patsy’s 76th Anniversary in Harlem!

Juan Diaz makes pizzas at Patsy’s Pizzeria in Harlem, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 in New York. Patsy’s is celebrating its 76th year with 90 cent steaks, 60 cent pizza pies, one cent sodas. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Drumming Up Support in the Heights

Politics

If you want to get elected in Washington Heights, start by getting a car.

Paste posters of your face all over it. Blasting merengue from a large roof-mounted megaphone can’t hurt either. Then hit the streets. Knock on doors. Shake hands.

Happy Birthday, Michael (video)

In Memory

Michael singing and dancing to Jam, Billie Jean and ….

… Black or White during a Superbowl halftime show.

More Questions For Rep Rangel

News about Rep. Charles Rangel’s assets—and his problems disclosing them—continues to trickle in. After adding $500,000 in previously undisclosed assets to his 2007 finance report, the Post revealed that he also forgot to disclose the sale of a Harlem townhouse—worth as much as $1.3 million—and also that he “failed to reveal a staggering $3 million in various business transactions over the same period.” This, from the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee!

Third Annual African Day Parade and Festival In Harlem

Event

54 Countries. One Continent plus the The Diaspora representing the 6^th Region of the African Union.

One People.

Parade starts at 126th Street and 8^th Avenue (Frederick Douglass), on to and down 7th Avenue (Adam Clayton Powell Jr) to 116th Street, past the Reviewing Stands between 7^th and 8^th Avenues, and on to Morningside Park

Michelle Obama’s Latest Pair of Shorts

Style

One can’t go to Martha’s Vineyard without packing one or more of the following items: a pastel-pink polo shirt, a navy- or red-and-white-striped boatneck shirt, pleated-front khakis, a straw hat, a head scarf, or something madras. Up until yesterday, Michelle Obama had been seen in none of those things. But then she emerged with a bicycle wearing madras shorts. After she dared to wear mid-thigh-length shorts to the Grand Canyon, she chose a modest length for her great madras unveiling; they extended to a couple of inches above the knee. However, she paired the shorts with a scoop-neck orange tank top, which is likely to send at least a handful of people stuffed into suits in Washington into conniptions. That aside, she seems to have finally fully succumbed to the Vineyard’s preppiness. See the full madras look in the Michelle Obama Look Book. Popped-collar watch starts now.

A Starter’s Guide to Smoking Cigars

How to

A manager from the Davidoff shop in New York City, and a veteran cigar smoker assembled this primer with the five basics for fledgling cigar aficionados

Selection

As with wines, you’ll need to try a variety of cigars to home in on your taste. And your budget. Some good choices to start out with are the Leon Jimenes Robusto ($6), the Montecristo #3 ($8), the Ashton Cabinet #6 ($9.50), and the Davidoff 5000 ($16). For special occasions, I like the God of Fire by Don Carlos, Robusto 2006 ($57 for three).

Photo of West Harlem Rapist

Police released video footage Friday of a man wanted in connection with a series of rapes this month in West Harlem.

The last rape occurred on August 18 when a 69-year-old woman was attacked as she returned to her apartment building on Riverside Drive and 155th Street at about 4 a.m.

The woman was on her way home from work, police said.

The suspect was most likely already inside the building, police said. He pushed the woman into an elevator where he assaulted, raped and robbed her.

Jermaine Hall, Editor-in-Chief of Vibe

Media

The Vibe Lifestyle Network, which recently acquired Vibe magazine and Vibe.com announced that publishing veteran Jermaine Hall will serve as Editor-in-Chief of the re-launched properties. This marks a new combined strategy for the Vibe brand and allows for a consistent voice across all Vibe brands.

A veteran publishing and on-line executive with extensive experience in pop culture, music and fashion, Hall returns to Vibe after serving most recently as Editor-in-Chief of King Magazine, where he almost doubled circulation and developed content alliances with AOL’s Black Voices as well as leading the title to its greatest growth during his tenure. Prior to that, Hall served as Music Editor at The Source, developing relationships with talent, discovering new music trends and selecting cover subjects.