It is interesting how a person, mentioned in the last sentence of a 1979 restaurant review by Gael Greene, can turn out to be a culinary queen and icon 33 years later.

Sylvia Woods was that person. Amidst racial intensity she’d been serving food for the soul, from the soul, to Harlem and beyond. For this reason, she was celebrated today in a Cupcake Parade celebrating her 50th Jubilee and Sylvia’s annual Community Day breakfast. Harlem, as it should be, played the host with the help of famed baker master Raven “Cake Man Raven” Dennis III in front of her restaurant. Different nationalities were in abundance among a mix of suits, monkstraps, sneakers, jeans, hairs, straight, braided, locked—the artsy, the touristy and last but not least, the foodies. Read More

In the wake of the passing of the legendary Sylvia Woods, we wanted to pay our respects and homage to Mrs. Woods by delivering messages from Harlem itself, and the community that she so greatly impacted through her wonderful restaurant, food and hospitality that goes beyond any human measurement. We, for one, want to thank her, and so would these everyday Harlemite men and women: Read More

Today we talk with Marcus about how he celebrated the Fourth of July, his thoughts on Fifty Shades of Gray, and hitting Number 7 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Recorded at Sylvia’s restaurant in Harlem. Read More