Selected Events – Manhattan’s WestSide

Here’s the place to find today’s selected events. For other useful event info be sure to check out “Notable Events-June” , “on Broadway”  and “Top10 Free” in the header above. For DIY trip planning see “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above.

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party
This annual food and music fest is a benefit for the Madison Square Park Conservancy.
Madison Square Park, at Broadway and 23rd Street
From 11 a.m to 6 p.m., free, but food is $9 a plate
and drinks are $3 to $8.
(646) 747-0584 / bigapplebbq.org;

American Crafts Festival
This biannual display in Lincoln Center sponsored by the American Concern for Art and Craftsmanship — it also takes place in the fall — will fill Damrosch Park.
Damrosch Park, at 62nd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, and Hearst Plaza, at 64th Street and Columbus Avenue, on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. craftsatlincoln.org.

Hare Krishna Parade and Festival 
The parade will begin at noon at Fifth Avenue and 45th Street and continue south to Washington Square Park, where a festival will follow.

Dance & Process* 
For this annual series, the Kitchen selects an influential choreographer who picks several up-and-coming artists for a 10-week group residency, culminating in this presentation of works. As this year’s curator, Sarah Michelson has chosen dance-makers who, like herself, bridge the worlds of contemporary visual art and performance: Kira Alker and Elke Luyten, Anna Azrieli, Moriah Evans and Yve Laris Cohen. (Burke-NYT)
The Kitchen, 512 West 19th Street, Chelsea
at 1pm and 8pm / $15, $12 for students and 65+.
255-5793 / thekitchen.org

New York City Ballet*
The company wraps up its “33 in 3” marathon (33 ballets presented over 3 weeks, with no two programs alike) as its spring season draws to a close. Of the final four programs, the Saturday matinee — which includes Alexei Ratmansky’s “Concerto DSCH,” Justin Peck’s “In Creases” and Balanchine’s “Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3” — seems like the best note to go out on, a good balance of neo-classical tradition and some of the company’s most important contemporary voices. (Burke-NYT)
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center
at 2 and 8 p.m. / $29 to $155.
(212) 496-0600 / nycballet.com</a

Judy Collins
In the 1960s this classically trained pianist made a radical about-face into progressive folk, scoring a Grammy for her recording of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and holding court with Joan Baez as one of the dominant women in counterculture songwriting. (Anderson-NYT)
Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street
at 8 p.m., $42 to $67.
(800) 982-2787 / the-townhall-nyc.org

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Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm dates and check times, as schedules are subject to change.
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A PremierPub + 3 Good Eating places / Midtown West

(“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.)

Russian Vodka Room
265 W 52nd st (btw 7th/8th ave)

Sure, you could travel to Minsk or even Brighton Beach, for an authentic Russian experience, but why bother. On those days when you feel you must wash down your dish of kasha with a few glasses of icy, cold vodka, the Russian Vodka Room will definitely satisfy your urge.

From the outside this place looks a bit drab, and with no windows, a bit mysterious. Midtown tourists walk right by on their way to see “Jersey Boys”, just down the block.

Those in the know enter a secret hideaway, a dimly lit front room with soft jazz playing – a perfect spot for an illicit late-night rendezvous, or maybe a meet-up with your Russian spy handler. Early in the evening the large U-shaped bar fills with the after work happy hour crowd, a group made very happy by the much reduced prices.

Their website says: “Welcome Comrades”. Of course, this welcome focuses on dozens of different vodkas, including their own special infusions, which marinate in giant, clear glass jugs visible around the room. The large vodka martinis ensure that you won’t confuse this place with your mother’s Russian Tea Room.

But man does not live by vodka alone. Eat some food, especially the tapa like appetizers. Be decadent and try the cheese blintzes with chocolate, or try a main dish like beef stroganoff with kasha.

Your best bet is to go on a night when the piano man is playing. This guy, who looks like he has eaten a lot of those cheese blintzes, plays five nights a week from 7 to 12 (no Mondays and Thursdays). When the piano man is playing pop tunes, and you are at the crowded, dimly lit bar testing the horseradish infused vodka, that’s when the RVR shines.

It’s the kind of place where the noise gets louder and the crowd gets happier as the night goes on. I’m generally a beer guy, but I like to come here with a group of friends. We find a table in the back room; we eat, and we drink vodka ‘till it hurts (and it will hurt).

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Website: http://www.russianvodkaroom.com/
Phone #: 212-307-5835
Hours: 4pm-2am; Fri-Sun closes 4am (that could be trouble)
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day
$4 shots infused vodka (2oz), $5 cosmos; $4 czech draft beer
Music: FR-SU; TU-WE / 7pm-12am
Subway: #1 to 50th st
Walk 2 blk N on B’way to 52nd; 1 blk W to RVR
Confusingly, the Russian Samovar is right across the street, on the  S. side of 52nd st.
The RVR, your destination, is on the N. side of 52nd st..

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