NEW RULE

I'm making a new rule, and I think it's a fair one. If you have a young child, the cost of that child's entire wardrobe MUST BE at least as much as the cost of your sneakers. C'mon dudes, it's not like you're sponsored by Nike or Addidas - we know those sneakers cost $300. We also know your son's outfit cost three bucks...back when your parents bought it for you back in 1987.

Barenaked Ladies

Hey Harlem, we're going to see the Barenaked Ladies tonight at Radio City Music Hall!! Who's comin' with us? [crickets......]

The Water Guy

Something tells me the health inspector never checks out the $1 water dudes that walk down the middle of the street

The Bodega Situation

I don't like to think my neighborhood bodega has bulletproof glass so much as they keep the candy bars in a decorative case

LET'S GO BOWLING

Being the true western New Yorkers we are, we decided to go bowling last night. Lucky for us, there’s a bowling alley right in the ‘hood – www.HarlemLanes.com. Their website has pictures of Russell Simmons and Ja Rule bowling there, so how could we not go?
We walked into the place and were greeted by that record-screech sound effect…you know, like when Gary and Wyatt walked into the The Kandy Bar in “Weird Science.” OK, not literally, but let’s just say that in the entire bowling alley, the next closest white person was Ms. Pac Man.
I’ve been to Rock ‘n Bowl many, many times. Last night was my first time at Video Vixen Bowl. The girl a few lanes down was a terrible bowler, but god damn, she could back that ass up when her jam came on. The guys next to us were pretty awesome bowlers. One of the guys picked up a tough spare as I was getting ready to take a turn, so as he walked back, I thought to myself, “this is it, time to break the ice,” so I held it out there – my five, and an extra demonstrative high one at that.
One-one thousand, two-one thousand, uh-oh, did I overstep? Nah, dude was psyched and gave me a mean high five – not angry-mean, but mean like Beaver Cleaver would say. Phew, we was down now – did I use that right?. Laughing, joking and rooting for each other – we were like a Benetton ad. OK, so it was more like a Jimmy Jazz ad, but you get it.

Here we go

Let the High Above Harlem experiment begin!!! Alica and I will be posting our neighborhood observations and such for your amusement. For quick hits, we'll also be on Twitter @HighAboveHarlem.