2 Harlem Eateries Hosting Competitions To Crown Neighborhood Titles

HARLEM, NY — Who's the "Mayor of Harlem?" How about "Miss Harlem Shake?" Two neighborhood eateries have launched separate contests seeking to crown their own neighborhood royalty.

The family-owned ice cream shop Sugar Hill Creamery first held its own mayoral race last year, paying homage to the unofficial title that has long been given to prominent Harlemites. After naming two different winners last year, Sugar Hill has relaunched the competition this spring, with a new slate of five different candidates to choose from.

Meanwhile, Harlem Shake, the popular burger joint on West 124th Street, is in the ninth year of its Mr./Miss Harlem Shake competition, with voting set to kick off on Sunday.

Here's what to know about each contest, and how to vote.

Mayor of Harlem

Voting is underway and runs through May 29 in Sugar Hill's competition. To vote, people must visit one of the ice cream shop's two locations — at 184 Lenox Ave. or 3629 Broadway — and make a purchase, where they will be given a paper ballot to fill out.

The winning candidate will get to develop their own ice cream flavor, to be sold at Sugar Hill's stores later this year. Here are the five contenders:

• Dawn Harris-Martine, a.k.a. "Grandma Dawn": a retired school teacher and owner of the "Grandma's Place" bookstore
• Devin-Norelle: a professional model, trans advocate, media figure, public speaker, and opinion writer
• Ty Jones: producing artistic director of the Classical Theatre of Harlem
• Donjai Gilmore: a photographer, producer, educator and "connector and socialite"
• Lawrence Ben Miles: business assistant of the New York Women's Chamber of Commerce in Harlem

Read more about each candidate here, and follow Sugar Hill Creamery's Instagram for more details on each one.

Mr./Miss Harlem Shake

Harlem Shake's contest began in 2014 and is back again this year, with voting set to begin May 1 at the restaurant. (Votes can be cast alongside an order of food).

The prize here is even more substantial: a three-part package of "Fame" (the winner's face on the restaurant wall, and representing Harlem Shake at the African American Day Parade); "Fortune" (a cash prize for the winner and their Harlem charity of choice); and "Feast" (a year of free burgers).

From 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Harlem Shake will host a “Meet the Contestants” soirée at the 124th Street restaurant.

Here are the 10 contenders' names:

• Sheba
• Sean
• Lizzy Chanel
• Hattress
• Kindra
• Amanda Pörq
  
• Donjai
• Nana
• JaQwan
• Pattie

Read more about each candidate here.