Author: Edison QNY
Sylvia Woods featured in Ebony Magazine
How Sylvia’s remains a common ground for neighbors and a mecca for visitors venturing uptown in search of a taste of Americana is a study for business schools.
But it’s also a tale of ingenuity, perseverance, family, faith and, as Sylvia might say, home training. Here’s why Sylvia’s…
Pictures of Annual Community Breakfast Party
53rd annual community breakfast party
Sylvia’s Annual Community Breakfast Party treated over 500 guests to smothered chicken, grits, homemade biscuits & and a healthy serving of Harlem’s rich artistic legacy.
The event was complete with live entertainment which made for a great side-walk dance party. Event highlights…
Sylvia’s Restaurant, The Queen of Soul Food 53rd party, opening of Sylvia’s legacy art gallery
53RD ANNUAL COMMUNITY BREAKFAST PARTY
WHO
The Woods Family, Adassa “MaMae” Brithwright, Leroy Campell, James O. Booker, S.H. Mayruk, S. Whittaker, Robyn Willard, The Sylvia & Herbert Woods Scholarship Recipients, Harlemites of All Ages.
WHAT
July 31, 2015 – Sylvia’s Annual Community Breakfast Party treated over 500 guests to smothered chicken, grits, homemade biscuits & and a healthy serving of Harlem’s rich artistic legacy. The event was complete with live entertainment which made for a great side-walk dance party. Event highlights included a retirement tribute to beloved waitress, Adassa “MaMae” Brithwright, who’s smile and motherly service greeted Sylvia’s guests for 31 years.
“MaMae” was presented with a self portrait by artist S.Whittaker. Robyn Willard commissioned S. Whittaker to paint the piece of MaMae as a tribute to her service.
Robyn, Harlem royalty – great granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. Wells and S. Whittaker’s manager, shared her favorite Sylvia’s story of when her grandmother, a lawyer at Harlem Legal Services would take her to Sylvia’s to dine all time; especially when Wells closed. More information about Reign Entertainment Co and S. Whittaker can be found on their website: www.reignentertainmentco.com
In “MaMae’s”retirement speech she ‘thanked guests for supporting Sylvia’s which kept her with a job, which put her daughter through school and is now a nurse.’ Crizette Woods, Sylvia’s youngest daughter, stated that those words are a true testimony to her mother’s legacy. In honor of Sylvia’s 53rd Anniversary, The Woods family has placed art from their private collection on limited view entitled “Sylvia’s Legacy Gallery.” Featured artist include: James O. Booker, Leroy Campbell and S.H. Mavruk. Gallery hours: Monday – Friday 11am – 8pm Sylvia’s Restaurant.
WHERE
Sylvia’s Restaurant 328 Malcolm X Blvd, Sylvia P. Woods Way
ABOUT SYLVIA’S RESTAURANT
Sylvia’s Restaurant, the Queen of Soul Food (TM) was founded in 1962 by the late Sylvia Woods with a seating capacity of 35, and to date is owned and operated by The Woods family. This world renowned culinary icon has proudly served presidents, international dignitaries, celebrities and Harlem residents alike. For over fifty-one years, Sylvia’s Restaurant has continued to flourish as “the world’s kitchen.” This family empire consists of a 450 seat restaurant, Sylvia’s Also Lounge, Sylvia’s Food Products – a nationally distributed line of products, and two successful cook-books. In 2001, in memory of Sylvia’s late husband Herbert, The Woods family founded the Sylvia and Herbert Woods Scholarship Fund which offers collegiate scholarships to Harlem and local residents based on the belief system that “a higher level of education should not be a high-end luxury, but a right to all those who seek it”. To date the fund has awarded 100 scholarships. Sylvia’s has appeared in numerous national & international media outlets and has been saluted by President Clinton; United States Congress; Governor Pataki; Mayors Koch, Dinkins, & Bloomberg; and the New York Stock Exchange to name a few.
Tren’ness Woods-Black elected to NYC & Co. Board of Directors
Election Welcomes Woods-Black To A Board With Growing Representation From Harlem To Help Further Establish Village As Tourist Destination
March 30, 2015 – Harlem, USA – As Harlem continues to establish itself as a world class tourist destination, its local leadership is also being recognized for the role it is playing. Last week, Tren’ness Woods-Black, granddaughter of the late Sylvia Woods and third generation heir of one of Harlem’s most iconic businesses, Sylvia’s, was elected onto the NYC & Company’s Board of Directors. The appointment makes Mrs. Woods-Black the latest in a line of high profile progressive Harlem movers and shakers to join the board and marks a substantial move to build on Harlem’s strengths as a tourism highlight in New York City.
Woods-Black was joined by Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster as a newly minted board member, and both join fellow Harlem builders including Thelma Golden, Studio Museum; Jonelle Procope, the Apollo and Jorge Daniel Venaciano, El Museo Del Bario, among several others. “I am thrilled for the opportunity to strengthen my legacy-building efforts on behalf of Harlem through this very vital New York City organization,” Woods Black remarked.
“Representing a business that has welcomed visitors to Harlem and New York for over 50 years and counting, we understand the importance and value of our visitors and see this as a more crucial time than ever to strengthen the Harlem brand within the context of our great city and global visibility,” Woods added.
Woods Black has enjoyed a long relationship with NYC & Company, having supported a number of the organization’s initiatives including being featured in several of its national and international campaigns. As the VP of Marketing for Sylvia’s and President/Chief Strategist of Tren’ness Woods-Black, LLC, her marketing and events company, she has dedicated her efforts to building upon her grandmother’s legacy and contributing in a meaningful way to the overall preservation of the Village of Harlem and its culture. As such, she is a founding member of Harlem Park to Park, has represented the National Action Network and has been a champion of education for disadvantaged children through her philanthropic work with the Sylvia and Herbert Woods Foundation, where she has raised over $100,000 for the cause.
Woods-Black has also served as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, recognizing the devastating effect heart disease has on the Harlem community. In addition, three years ago, Woods-Black adopted MS/PS 7 School in East Harlem where she mentors students about making healthy food and life choices. She also supports the school’s culinary programming through “WITS” Wellness in the Schools, which is a member of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Chefs Move to Schools planning program. A 20-year restaurant industry veteran, Woods-Black is a founding board member of the NYC Hospitality Alliance.
She has been featured in several major media outlets, including The Associated Press, Good Morning America, MSNBC, The Early Show, BBC, Good Day New York, The New York Times, The Daily News, and the Dr. Phil Show. Most recently she has appeared and/or been featured on: The View, The Food Network Special Savoring Harlem, Time Magazine, Master Chef Australia, and Project Runaway. In addition, Woods-Black and Sylvia’s will both be featured in Harlem Eat Up, the food festival planned for Harlem in May and presented by Marcus Samuelsson.
NYC & Company is the official nonprofit destination marketing organization on New York City.
For More Information Contact:
Valerie Wilson, ValincPR
917-405-5917
Street Naming Ceremony Honoring Sylvia Woods – May 14th 10AM
The Woods family cordially invites you to the street in the renaming of honoring the life and legacy of Sylvia woods. May 14 10 a.m.
Celebrating our blessings as a legacy continues.
Sylvia Woods featured in Ebony Magazine
How Sylvia’s remains a common ground for neighbors and a mecca for visitors venturing uptown in search of a taste of Americana is a study for business schools. But it’s also a tale of ingenuity, perseverance, family, faith and, as Sylvia might say, home training. Here’s why Sylvia’s will most likely remain the Queen of Soul Food, even when the queen is long gone.
