The Heart of Harlem we will return to.

“Kurt’s Harlem brownstone, accommodation is simply spell binding, but for those who value culture and history it comes with a bonus – Kurt himself. From the moment he said “Hi I’m Kurt – well not very” this warm and immensely knowledgeable academic and unlikely travellers’ host made us feel immediately at home.

His bookshop home and its environs are very much the heart of Harlem endorsed by the big names who had lived ‘on the block’ “ the Duke (Ellington) Paul Robson,   and others, and the mansion across the street – the oldest house in Manhattan”, even stories of the long gone bad old days of Harlem added to the ambience.

The lovely self-contained apartment behind the bookshop is decorated with elegant period furniture looking and looks out onto a charming garden. Walking through the bookshop with its handpicked books on art, music, racial history and exotic objects just added character.

Our shared interest in music and painting soon got us talking and it turned out that every big name that we’d seen in concert seemed to be either a friend or a client of our host whist his artist friends read like a Guggenheim catalogue.  His immense knowledge and compassionate personality made us feel that we had found a genial, hospitable and highly amusing friend whose accommodation we would return to at the earliest opportunity.

If you want to be alone, no problem – Kurt doesn’t impose. We had to seek him out in his wonderful library/studio and then his easy personality would seep through the conversation drawing us into his cultural landscape and we’d listen in awe.

Compared to a similar priced hotel where you might be in any city in the world for us Kurt’s apartment was the very essence of New York.

B & E St. Julian-Bown, October 2009

A Gem

“Arriving at Jumel Terrace Books B&B is like stepping into a different New York altogether. There is no evidence of manic Manhattan here; the house is tranquil. We stayed in the apartment downstairs, which is beautifully furnished and leads directly out into a lovely garden where we spent happy hours eating lunch, relaxing and browsing books on local history recommended to us by Kurt, our host and an excellent guide to the area. The fridge was stocked with beautiful fruit, coffee, juice and croissants. If you plan to stay at the top of Manhattan or if you want to see a different side of the city, don’t miss Jumel Terrace Books.”

Beautiful B&B in Harlem

“Jumel Terrace Books B&B is a wonderful place to call your own when you stay in New York. I felt like a local! We had breakfast in our private garden and birds were greeting us each morning. In our room, we had fresh tulips and we slept between gorgeous linnen sheets in an antique bed that actually slept even better than a springbox.”

Wanted to spend more time in the area

“I booked a room for myself for a February business trip where I was traveling solo. I enjoyed my room and private bath (which was on the second floor), and the little amenities, like the cheese, cookies, and water waiting for me in my room in the evening, plus the luxurious sheets and towels. My only criticism is that, in the room I stayed in, I could hear the family walking by in the night and the morning, and since it is an old house there are lots of creaky stairs! Beyond that, I really felt they did an excellent job of making me feel welcome. The recommendations for the area were superb, and prompt me to want to return, and the family was willing and able to meet any need I had while balancing all the many needs of an active B&B. The surrounding area is chock full of history, for those who are looking for something beyond the traditional Manhattan tourist experience. Additionally, on street parking is free and abundant, so it’s a perfect place to stay to avoid the horrific parking costs in the city, and it’s right near the subway.”

Worth Flying All the Way from Japan

“I stayed at Jumel Terrace Books BB for 3 days. As I traveled alone and was my first time in NY, I was kind of nervous. However, Kurt, the owner of the hotel gave me a very kind instruction from the airport. He was indeed a very nice person as most of the people commented here! Harlem was never a dangerous place and I am confident I can travel again by myself. To me, it was a very special experience in that there were plenty of jazz music I could listen to and thousands of interesting books! I could stay inside the house and do nothing but read, read, listen to good music I really had a marvelous time and really appreciate the family for their kindness. Last but not least – I got sick the last 2 days and missed St. Nick’s Pub, which is the oldest jazz bar in NY. And I know I will definitely come back, of course as a repeater at Jumel Terrace Books BB!”

A Haven!

“An exquisite, spacious and peaceful apartment located in a vibrant and historic area. The Thometz family is delightful, and we were made to feel incredibly welcome. The apartment is a stone’s throw away from the subway – an easy and safe 15 minute trip from downtown Manhattan. It was wonderful to be able to retreat back there in the evenings. Kurt’s enthusiasm for the city and for the Sugar Hill area is infectious, and he was incredibly kind in helping us plan our days and get the most from our trip. A big personal thank you to him for showing us around the Jumel Mansion! Highly recommend the B&B, and hope to return.”

We Shall Return!

“The apartment is cozy and comfortable by suburban standards, making it spacious and grand by Manhattan standards. The neighborhood is quiet, academic and historic – making it even more charming for a history buff and his bibliophile wife! Our only regret is that we did not plan to stay longer and make full use of the garden, kitchen, and other amenities left to our disposal. The location is perfect for jazz fans looking for some local nightlife or a quiet romantic tour of the historic district. The inn is just lovely – and innkeepers who take care to anticipate our every need, delightful!”

A Home Away From Home

“A wonderful and delightful place to stay. At times, I felt like I was somewhere in Europe. I found the accommodations appropriate the environment peaceful and quiet. A great place to retreat. The bookstore is an added bonus and you could not ask for better innkeepers!”

Excellent Bed and Breakfast

“Accueil tres convivial et chaleureux : un havre de paix dans l’immensite de New York. A recommander vivement !”

A Bed and Breakfast in Washington Heights By Tom Stoelker.  Manhattan Times, July 17, 2008

For Japanese citizen Keiko Matsura, a guest at Jumel Terrace Books, Bed and Breakfast at 426 West 160th St, the garden was the perfect spot for her 18^th birthday accompanied by the Japanese Tea Ceremony.  She had studied the ceremony since she was three years old and it was time for her to officiate the event.

When asked via email why she chose to celebrate the event at Washington Heights’ little known bed and breakfast Matura replied, “I was planning to have a barbecue there, since I knew they had a nice garden.  But after that, I came up with an idea to have a tea ceremony, because it was pretty quiet.  The atmosphere was similar to an occasion of Japanese tea ceremony.”

Keiko and her mother, dressed in traditional kimonos, invited the owners of the bed and breakfast to participate in the ceremony, which traditionally has four participants.

I didn’t know them so well,” said Matsura.  “I found the place by chance and talked with Kurt.  But his way of speaking, personality, and many other things showed me a possibility that they might understand the Japanese tea ceremony.”

Thometz and Huey live in the house, and transforming the home into a bed and breakfast required vey few renovations.  The house, built in 1891 in the Queen Ann style, with its high ceilings and historic background, allows for a grandeur that is alluded to but is not overtly pronounced.

A separate apartment in the lower level already existed, and the entire process took three weeks to complete.  More complicated was the vacating of Huey’s study to make room for the second guest room.  To the visitor’s benefit, her libraris on horticulture, the domestic art and local history remains in the room.

Huey, who grew up in Memphis, is the epitome of Southern hospitality.  It is a background that is reflected in the casual elegance of the décor.  As a costume designer and event planner Huey has garnered years of experience in designing large-scale events at venues such as Lincoln Center.  There, her ability to transform the lobby of the New York State Theater into a nineteenth century Parisian nightclub would have made Toulouse Lautrec swoon.

Hospitality runs in Huey’s family.  She explained that during her childhood her father’s business regularly brought guests to the family home.  “People came and stayed with us on a regular basis.  We had guests from all over the world,” she said.  It was likely then that she developed her maxim: “A hostess’s greatest ally is a good guest.”

“It keeps it interesting.  We love to entertain,” added Thometz.  “This is a happy medium.  The couple does not plan to advertise, relying instead on word of mouth and publicity to suffice.  Even with the bed and breakfast only recently completed, there has been significant interest from foreign magazines and websites., including Conde Nast Traveler of Spain and Le Nouvel Observateur.

Guests have two options, a single room with a private bath and a one bedroom suite with a private entrance.  The suite is equipped with a sitting room, a full bath and a kitchen.  All guests have access to the Jumel Terrace Bookstore, which the couple also runs out of its brownstone, and a charming garden.

For the business traveler there are all the usual amenities, such as Internet access and a printer.  A big plus for those working with nearby hospitals and universities is the library conference room and parlor rentals for entertaining.

The minimum stay required is two nights during the week and three nights on weekends.  A weekday stay for two in the garden suite costs $500 for the two days and a weekend stay costs $800.for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  A continental breakfast is served.

For Matsura, finding Jumel Terrace Books, Bed & Breakfast was fortunate.

I have been to New York only once, but I think it’s not easy to find a place like that,” she said.  “The current of time is totally different from the outside.”

For more detailed information go to http://jtbandb.wordpress.com or call (212) 928-9525