[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10898-10899]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING HARLEM UPTOWN RENAISSANCE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE NEW HARLEM 
                              RENAISSANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an 
article, ``Harlem's Uptown Renaissance Experience,'' published April 3, 
2007, by the CaribNews. The article, written by Robert Rodney, 
celebrates the Uptown Restaurant's contribution to the new Harlem 
Renaissance.
  During the Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Movement, 
African American art, literature, music, and culture came to the fore. 
Beginning sometime around 1919, depending on which historian you 
reference, and ending in the mid 1930s, the Harlem Renaissance was a 
time for celebrating all things

[[Page 10899]]

black. Harlem, the community, provided all those who visited, with 
pulsating excitement and unparalleled liveliness while cultural 
productions by African Americans gained world wide attention while 
redefining blackness.
  In addition to the contributions of literary heroes like Zora Neale 
Hurston, Countee Cullen, and Langston Hughes; artistic achievements of 
masters like Romare Bearden, Aaron Douglass, and William H. Johnson; 
intellectuals and visionaries like James Weldon Johnson, Marcus Garvey, 
and Jessie Fauset, the cultural production of food, typically 
associated with African people throughout the Diaspora, was also 
celebrated during the Harlem Renaissance.
  The Uptown Renaissance Restaurant, which opened its doors in 2004, is 
quickly gaining recognition for its blend of authentic soul food, 
savory steaks, and hearty salads. Serving food that one would easily 
find at popular House-Rent Parties--where hosts would welcome guests 
into their homes in exchange for financial contributions that would be 
used to pay rent--the Uptown Renaissance Restaurant is contributing to 
the revitalization of Harlem in what most people are calling the New 
Harlem Renaissance.
  It is important to remember the past, especially as we continue to 
shape our future. I encourage everyone to visit the Uptown Renaissance 
Restaurant. Tell them I sent you.

                   [From the CaribNews, Apr. 3, 2007]

                 Harlem's Uptown Renaissance Experience

                           (By Robert Rodney)

  The Uptown Renaissance restaurant opened its door in April of 2004, 
as ``the Ultimate Blend of Steaks, Soul Food and Salads''. The 
restaurant boasts a delectably comprehensive menu from breakfast 
through dinner, where hearty and tasty servings are the order of the 
days and nights with customers coming back for more. Owners and 
operators of the Uptown Renaissance restaurant, the husband and wife 
team of Rene and Claudia Calliste pride themselves on an all-Halal meat 
service, a pork free environment complimented by healthful whole wheat 
breads as stable or accompaniments to respective dishes. From Monday 
through Thursday, the doors of Uptown Renaissance are open from 7 a.m. 
to Midnight, on Friday and Saturday, they are open around the clock. 
The establishment astutely recognized the importance of their 
community, and therefore remained sensitive to its needs by ensuring 
that the clientele from the surrounding community continue to feel 
welcome while simultaneously catering to consumers from all areas.
  The other day I had the pleasure of visiting the Uptown Renaissance 
restaurant to dine and experience one of their specialties, the 
Barbecue Fish. Now, let me tell you this, I am a Jamaican and a lover 
of fish and I have consumed fish that have been prepared in many 
different ways; escoveitched, fried, roasted, jerked, you name it I 
have had it, but never barbecued.
  So I'll admit that I was a little skeptical about having barbecue 
fish but I was pleasantly surprised by the presentation, the generous 
servings and most of all the taste. This meal was comprised of well 
seasoned fried breaded whiting covered with a nice, not too heavy 
barbecue sauce served with generous portions of collard greens, sweet 
yams, macaroni and cheese with corn bread on the side. I totally 
enjoyed this meal and now had discovered a new way of having my 
favorite fish thanks to Uptown Renaissance. I would definitely 
recommend this dish to all fish lovers.
  I also enjoyed the ambiance of the place, I found it to be very 
relaxing with an intimate tone. The service I must say was very 
pleasant and professional and the prices for the portions that you are 
served cannot be beat.
  I would encourage every one to go to the Uptown Renaissance and 
experience a new trend in dining. Rene, Claudia, Eleanor and crew are 
always ready to welcome and give you the royal treatment.
  The Uptown Renaissance Restaurant is located at 108 West 116th 
Street, in Harlem, New York.

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