Maroons Restaurant in Chelsea to Close?

Ooohhh....family!!!

I just got a text the other day inviting me to join my friends for drinks & dinner in Chelsea to mourn the closing of Maroons Jamaican/Soul Food Restaurant.

Which, according to my friend will be closing its doors permanently in the next few weeks? (I'm guessing as to when it will actually close...)

Did anyone else hear about this?

I am totally bummed....this was also one of my favorite restaurants and I was disappointed that the eagerly awaited Harlem component (scheduled to open on 145th St) never materialized.

Dang! This sucks!

UPDATE: They are closed. It's official. I just found this email to my friend Damaa on her Uptown Flavor website:

Dear Maroons Customers,

With great regret we are sorry to inform you that due to the continuing downturn in the economy that Maroons Restaurant will be closing its doors. It has been our pleasure and honor to serve you over the past 10 years. Every customer was like family to us and we will miss you all very much. We thank you for your support and loyalty over the years and hope to see you again in the future.

Our final days of operation will be this Wednesday, January 28th, Thursday January 29th and Friday January 30th. (We will be closed Monday January 26th and Tuesday January 27th)

Please join us as we celebrate 10 wonderful years!

Food, Family, Home-

Arlene Weston and Maroons Management

Toccara's Fabulous Workout DVD - On Sale Now!!!

Well, it appears that my girl Toccara has finally released her long awaited exercise DVD....and it looks like she's launched a new website too!

Toccara's Fabulous Workout is available for purchase now @ $19.99 (Plus Free Shipping) on her new site: http://www.iamtoccara.com/

Toccara's "BIG & FABULOUS" T-Shirts are also available for purchase here:

http://thefabuloustoccara.com/shop.htm

(Uh...Home Girl...I never got my damn T-Shirt!!!! What up with THAT???)

Btw....love the two chubbsters you got working out with you....makes total sense to me...!!!!

"Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness." ~Edward Stanley

Aretha's Walk Of Fame Star Vandalized

From Ecorazzi.com: And another one bites the dust…

Earlier last week Ecorazzi brought you word that the Hollywood Stars of both Sharon Stone and the Olsen Twins were defaced with the word fur-hag, thanks to their cruel fashion sense. Well now you can add Aretha Franklin’s star to the fur-hag list as well.

The soul singer’s star has also been tagged with the word “fur-hag” thanks to an anonymous anti-fur protestor.

Last time this happened we raised the question:

Is defacing property going too far? If you didn’t chime in then, speak your mind now and tell us what you think about all this paint-throwing hoopla! Effective? Or not so much?

Uh...lol...I ain't saying nothing about that dress......not a word...except that it reminds me of that dress that Irene Cara wore at the end of Sparkle....to the 10th power....

"To break in and steal is one thing, but to do all of that vandalism is something that is totally disconcerting."

Starwood's Aloft Harlem Hotel On Schedule to Open in 2010

I found this one on my girl Damaa's Uptown Flavor Website:


Starwood’s new Aloft Harlem Hotel is still on-target for an opening in 2010 as we reported back in May. Curbed posted new renderings of the project that are a great improvement over the direction earlier versions released.

The new design seems to be along the lines of Soha118 and 2280FDB and other recent Harlem developments with a mix of brick, glass and metal panel. One would have hoped with a hotel program for more of a creative departure from this standard palate, one that is becoming a sort-of generic tone of design for new development in the area.

Maybe this is fine for the character of FDB, but let’s hope future projects, especially along 125th Street can find inspriation in the rich and vibrant culture of Harlem. That said, this new hotel will bring with it a new bar!

The renderings on the Aloft website look like it will be an interesting add to the mix of places that have been coming up in the area.

"Well we're movin on up, To the east side. To a deluxe apartment in the sky. Movin on up To the east side. We finally got a piece of the pie."

New Sunday Worship Services at The Apollo Theater?