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Inside the Newly Opened Aloft Harlem

Where: 2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

Inside a standard, double room at the Aloft

Sure, sure; the Aloft Hotel in Harlem has been open and welcoming guests now for just over a month, but today they held the official grand opening when the politicians and corporate people put on their shiniest ties and mug for the cameras. The guest star was Congressman Charles Rangel, who actually once worked as a desk clerk in the Hotel Theresa, a former hospitality and historical icon in Harlem that closed at the end of the 1960s.

You wouldn't know it from all the culture and energy of Harlem, but the Aloft is the area's first major hotel since the closing of the Theresa. Why has it taken so long?! The easy answer is the gentrification of Harlem, but the more involved explanation is that Manhattan has so many hotel choices already, and Harlem has been viewed by tourists as predominantly a place to visit, but not a place for staying and spending their money. And now that's changed. Heck—the Apollo Theater is around the frickin' corner, on the same block as an American Apparel shop, a MAC Cosmetics, and a large and shiny H&M, all of which are still interspersed with storefront churches promising quick redemption and small restaurants serving up fried chicken-and-waffles.

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Can't No Blizzard Hold The Aloft Harlem Down, Rates Tonight for $239

Where: 2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], Harlem, NY, United States, 10027

New York City may still be struggling to get back on its feet after getting whomped with 20 inches of snow but despite all this snowbliz, The Aloft Harlem Hotel is finally open today. Wooot! (Also, see their excited tweets here.)

Actually this is kind of amazeballs considering that the hotel had so many issues making its initial opening dates of October 21, October 15, October 7, November 11, November 19 and December 2. Good to see that not even a blizzard can hold them down.

Currently, room rates are now available for tonight at $239 for a 285-sq.ft. king room with free WiFi or a 315-sq.ft. room with two queen beds. These rates are advance purchase rates so no cancellations, changes, etc.

But if you're looking for rooms over New Year's Eve, we're sorry to report that the hotel is sold-out.

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Aloft Harlem Is Still on Track with Its December 27 Opening

Where: 2296 Frederick Douglass Blvd. [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

Our Christmas hopes were dashed when we found out that Aloft Harlem wouldn't be open in time for the holiday, but that it would debut December 27. Call us Grinches, but there have been so many delays that we decided to check if the hotel's opening would be postponed yet again.

With a week left to go, the hotel is still sticking to its December 27 opening date. Since it's still too late for Christmas, maybe it's a Kwanzaa miracle?

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Ruh Roh! Not Even Santa Can Stay At Aloft Harlem Until December 27

Where: 2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

All we've been hearing this week, as we travel through airports and malls, is Christmas carols. But one song we won't be hearing? "Deck the Halls of Aloft Harlem."

We really hoped that the constant postponements of the hotel's opening would end before Christmas--and we actually planned to bring you an update today saying: 'Yay, it's here!' But when we finally steeled ourselves to check on things, we saw that the website was carrying a new opening date: December 27.

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Will Aloft Harlem Really Open on Thursday?

Where: 2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

UPDATE: Aloft Harlem is taking rezzies for December 9th although it will still open on December 2nd. Online rezzies are not being accepted until December 17th but if you need to stay there before then, call the hotel at (212) 749-4000

Now that Element Times Square has opened we had to check-in with Starwood's other hip new brand set to have an NYC debut, The Aloft Harlem. And the good news is we must be on Santy's nice list because the hotel is really going to open on Thursday, December 2.

Now, the hotel's website lists December 2nd as the opening day and numerous Starwoodies have told us that 12-2 is a go. But yet we can't make reservations for that date on the hotel's website. In fact, the earliest we could book a room was for December 17 at $239 a night.

Now we don't want to be a grinch about this so we'll keep the faith that Aloft is going to surprise us with open reservations on the 2nd. And while we're checking on all things Aloft today, it looks like Aloft Brooklyn is still holding steady for a January 20, 2011 opening as well. As always, we'll keep you posted on when you can make rezzies here too.

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Dear Santa, Will You Please Bring Us An Aloft Harlem Before Christmas?

Where: 2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

Christmas is almost here. We know it, because there are already tourists lined up outside Radio City Music Hall waiting to see the Christmas Spectacular. And there are directions going up faster than you can say "Saint Nick" up and down Fifth Avenue. Now, we'd be happy to get into this holiday spirit early--if only we knew that Santa would bring us a brand new NYC hotel opening before the 25th.

And at the rate Aloft Harlem is going, we're not sure our letters are getting through to the North Pole.

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A Sneak Peek at Aloft Harlem's Lobby

Where: 2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

Yesterday we were kinda bummed out that the Aloft Harlem had pushed back its opening date yet again to November 11, with an actual reservation opening up on November 19.

However, we can rest assured that this hotel is nearly finished as we've just got some snapshots of the lobby. At top is a picture of the futuristic Aloft Aloha check-in desk and below is a snapshot of the re:mix lounge where guests can hang out, work (see those plug panels on the long table!) and even play pool. Very cool.

It looks like Aloft seems to have upped the design quotient just a bit for this property, these spaces look sleeker and less cutesy than other Alofts. And up in the guestrooms, we see no cowhide above the beds which has us extremely relieved. Now all Aloft Harlem has to do is just open!

Rooms for November 19 are holding steady at $239 a night.

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Aloft Harlem Will Be Just a Bit Longer, Now Opening November 11 (or Around Then)

Where: 2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

They say good things come to those who wait and the good folks of Harlem (and the good folks set to visit Harlem in the near future) will have to wait just a little bit longer (again) for the new Aloft Harlem hotel to open.

Last we heard, the nifty new brand from Starwood would be open for business on October 21 but now we see on the hotel's website that the date has been pushed to November 11.

Ok cool, we thought, we can wait a few more weeks. But when we tried to make a reservation, we couldn't find anything until a week later than that, on Nov. 19. A king room was available for $239 a night, which is actually a special grand opening rate.

We really hope rates don't rise any higher than that. After all, we thought Aloft was the more affordable Starwood brand. As always, we'll keep you posted on how this opening is progressing. But if you've got any tips/questions/concerns, drop them in comments below!.

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Aloft Harlem's Lift Off Is Delayed Again

Where: 2300 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

Ruh roh! Harlem, we have a problem. Well, if you consider another delay in the opening of the long-awaited Aloft Harlem a problem, that is.

Our heads would seriously spin so fast they'd fly off into outer space if we tried to recount the various opening dates this hotel has had by now. Instead, we'll just tell you that the new official opening date for Aloft Harlem is October 21.

Which--if it sticks--will mean it opens on the same day as its cousin, Aloft Brooklyn. Aww, twins!

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Aloft Harlem Now Taking Off Early (Kinda) On October 7

Where: 2300 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

Now we've gotten through one of the hottest summers on record in NYC--and we're talking hotel-wise as much as the weather--it's time to take a deep breath and prepare for what's next. It looks like our next big opening will take place on October 7--when Aloft finally comes to Harlem.

Last time we checked, Aloft Harlem was scheduled to open on October 15. But as much as we'd like to hand out a gold star for the early opening, we're not sure the delays that came before that justify such an accolade. (August 19 was going to be the big day before October 15.)

Still, this is exciting news. It's the first time we'll get to see an Aloft in New York City and we're intrigued by the brand's modern, social spin.

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Aloft Harlem Won't Take Flight Until October 15

Where: 2300 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

When one hotel door opens, another ... won't open for another few months. Yes, more Hotel Delays news, folks. But we don't feel like we can get too upset about this one since it's a Starwood hotel, and another Starwood property in NYC just opened early. That was the W New York Downtown, while the one delayed is Aloft Harlem.

We're not sure what the hold up is here—maybe the hotel needs to hold another talent show?—but the website now tell us that the opening date has been pushed back from August 19 to October 15.

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Aloft Harlem Holds Auditions to Find 'Sassy, Savvy, Outgoing' Talent

Where: 2300 Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map], New York, NY, United States, 10027

The audiences at 'Showtime at the Apollo' are notoriously tough, but yesterday's crowd at the Harlem theater is known for loving a good talent show. Yes, the Starwood HR folks were at it again, this time casting staff for the new Aloft Harlem—which is now opening on August 19.

The hotel's sales and marketing director Aleks Truglio told the New York Times that yesterday's auditions were all about finding "people who are sassy, savvy, outgoing — the people who love working with other people and who embrace human contact.”

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