Tonight’s Music / Upper West Side

Mike LeDonne Quartet
Smoke, 2751 B’way (btw 105/106 st)
7pm & 9pm / no music charge
two-course dinner prix-fixe available for $29.95
10:30pm $20 minimum (dinner optional) / no music charge

“Hammond B3 master Mike LeDonne, who was just nominated for Best Keyboard Artist 2012 by the prestigious Jazz Journalists Association, leads a jazz dream team of artists in this long-running house party. “…saxophonist Eric Alexander, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Joe Farnsworth are joining LeDonne to present their version of what in the trade is called “grits and gravy” jazz. This is groove music that’s fun and good for the soul.” – (Greg Thomas, NY Daily News)
Vincent Herring (alto saxophone) • Peter Bernstein (guitar) •
Mike LeDonne (B3 organ) • Joe Farnsworth (drums)

Richard Galliano-Christian Howes Quintet
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Broadway, at West 60th Street
at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. $30 to $45 cover, with a $10 minimum
(212) 258-9595, jalc.org

“The energetic violinist Christian Howes has a new album, “Southern Exposure” (Resonance), featuring Richard Galliano, the celebrated French accordionist, as a special guest. They revisit that terrain —  playing music inspired by a wealth of South American traditions —  in this run, with Josh Nelson on piano, George Delancey on bass and Cedric Easton on drums.” — (NATE CHINEN, NYT)

New York Public Library: 
‘100 Years of Flamenco in New York’
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, Broadway (btw W62nd/65th Streets)
from noon to 6 p.m.; FREE
(917) 275-6975, nypl.org/lpa

“This exhibition traces the popularity of the dance form in the city, from the mid-1800s to the present, through engravings and photographs, printed materials, costume pieces and films and recordings. On April 15 at 6 p.m., a special event will include a film screening and a discussion with Deirdre Towers, a dance historian; Robert Browning, founding director of the World Music Institute; the dancers Maria Benitez and Jorge Navarro; and Clara Aich, a filmmaker.”  — (ANNE MANCUSO, NYT)

Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm dates and check times, as schedules are subject to change.

A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating places – Upper West Side

“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, wine bars, cocktail lounges,  tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge.

Dinosaur
700 W125th st @ 12th ave

Walk only five minutes from the 125th st. station on the #1 line to find this authentic honky-tonk barbecue joint. Some folks think Dinosaur is just a place to eat ribs. Au contraire. With 24 carefully selected taps, this is a place to drink beer, and eat ribs.

No food goes better with American craft ales than American barbecue. Dinosaur may be the best combo of good beer drinking and hearty eating in town, which makes the trip to Harlem totally worthwhile.

This second incarnation of Dinosaur in Harlem is in an old brick warehouse near the Hudson River. Don’t let that run down exterior fool you. Inside it’s a large space with huge, rough wooden columns and unfinished wooden floors and brick walls – just right for a bbq joint. As soon as you open the door you are hit with that tantalizing aroma of barbecue coming from the large open kitchen. Reminds me of all those great rib joints I frequented when stationed in North Carolina all those years ago. If your stomach wasn’t grumbling before, it is now.

Head to the bar, sit down and try to decide on a beer. It’s not an easy decision – a good problem to have. This is a pretty damn good beer list to choose from, one that most beer bars should be jealous of. I love that they feature NY craft beers. You may want to try the four beer sampler, which is always fun, and in this place may be necessary.

The Mississippi blues music playing in the background will get you in the mood for their North Carolina style barbecue, and even when it’s a full house your order shouldn’t take too long. The food is all slow smoked, so it’s already mostly done and ready to go. I always start with an order of their giant, spice rubbed wings, so good they may make you give up Buffalo wings.

Unfortunately, a place this good does not fly under the radar. There can be some humongous waits at dinnertime. So you need a strategy – avoid prime time, and try not to arrive with your entire posse, which will limit your seating options.

A seat at the bar, a small table in the bar area, or in the summer, an outside table, underneath what’s left of the elevated W. Side Hwy., all may open before a table inside the main dining room. Otherwise, try Dinosaur for lunch, or come very early or late for dinner.

Website: http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/
Phone #: 212-694-1777
Hours: M-Th 11:30am-11:00pm; Fr-Sa 11:30am-12:00am;
Su 12:00pm-10:00pm
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day; $1 off all drinks
Music: Fri / Sat 10:00pm
Subway: #1 to 125th st
Walk 2 blk W on 125th to Dinosaur Bar-B-Q,
just past the elevated highway