Celebrities and Politicians Remember Sylvia Woods

Restaurateur Sylvia Woods, who operated Sylvia's in Harlem, passed away last week at the age of 86. Today, the Times runs remembrances of this legendary restaurateur from the politicians, celebrities, and musicians who frequented the restaurant over the years.

Ed Koch recalls that she was a "very gracious host," Al Sharpton recounts the time he took Obama to Sylvia's in 2007, and Jann Wenner says that he never went for the food but that it was always "a fun hangout." Rapper and local restaurateur Doug E. Fresh offers this:

It was like coming home to your aunt or your mama’s house. It was really warm and the food was unbelievable. I used to take Michael Bivins from New Edition there. And I would go with Puffy when he first started. He used to help me with my styling, and I went there and talked to him about negotiating his contract with Uptown before he got his deal. It was the mecca of soul food.