New York Neighborhoods Giveaway #1: HARLEM

Subway Platform, 125th Street, Harlem

One day as I was waiting for the train, two law enforcement officers approached me and queried, “Ma’am, are you at the right stop? We couldn’t help but notice that you look a little out of place and we were concerned.” I assured them that I was a local and silently wondered how they had missed the gentrification memo (j/k I'm too poor to be a gentrifier). In honor of the good times I had living there (where else will sketchy men follow you yelling ‘Goldilocks’ and ‘Snowflake?’), my next giveaway will feature the treasures of historic Harlem. From now on, my contests will highlight a New York neighborhood.

Prize package includes:

1. Pirate DVD of your choice
2. Michael Jackson glitter shirt (or non-glitter if that is too emasculating)
3. Incense
4. Obama pic (this should be easy enough to obtain, since there is one hanging in 95% of Harlem businesses)
5. Brown sugar themed novel-I don’t know the PC way to describe this genre of literature, but it is available on every street corner. A woman on the subway told me that they are really good.
6. Personalized drawing harnessing the universe to my bidding. Seriously, dreams have come true from these. If you need a refresher on my magical powers please click here.

Subject to availability: Urban tumbleweed*, fish bones, inebriated man extolling the virtues of your anatomy, pro-Mugabe poster

* Piece of disembodied weave often found on sidewalk or subway stairs

Rules: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, contest ends November 30, 2009. To enter, please leave a comment telling me what kind of stories you like to hear (even if for some disturbing reason you don’t want to win, this would be helpful to me in general-I am sensitive to the needs of my readers). In order to win, you must be listed as a follower at left. Bonus: If you refer a friend who becomes a follower, I will put your name in the drawing four times.