Today’s “Fab Five” / Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, July 13, 2013

Don’t Forget! – this evening around 8:20pm we have Manhattanhenge.
This natural spectacle occurs when the sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan’s grid. For your best view, try to place yourself as far east as possible along a broad avenue with views across the island (eg. 14th, 34th, 57th Streets work fine – weather permitting).

Tap it Out is a free, public, outdoor event, and will be presented and performed three times this afternoon in the heart of Manhattan. Dancers and students of all ages and levels, from all over the world, will join together to create a thunderous chorus of 300 hundred tapping feet in a pre-choreographed orchestral collage of a cappella unison rhythms, contrapuntal sequences, individual riffs, movements and grooves. Tap it Out will be conducted by Tap City producer Tony Waag.
Father Duffy Square, Times Square, 47th st and Broadway
At 12, 1 and 2PM / FREE

Latin Sounds: Julieta Venegas / Carla Morrison / Alex Anwandter
“Julieta Venegas is a renowned Mexican singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. With six released albums to date, Venegas has sold more than 9 million copies of her albums worldwide. The Washington Post describes Venegas as a different sort of artist. “While many of her songs will entice you to get up and dance, there is also an intimacy to her work that comes through even for those whose Spanish doesn’t go much beyond “hola.”
Central Park, Rumsey Playfield – mid-Park off Fifth Avenue at 69th Street
At 3PM / FREE
212-360-2777

Bang on a Can All-Stars
Formed in 1992, the Bang on a Can All-Stars are recognized worldwide for their ultra-dynamic live performances and recordings of today’s most innovative music. Freely crossing the boundaries between classical, jazz, rock, world and experimental music, this six-member amplified ensemble has consistently forged a distinct category-defying identity, taking music into uncharted territories. Performing each year throughout the U.S. and internationally, the All-Stars have shattered the definition of what concert music is today.
Governors Island
at 1PM and 3PM / FREE
212-825-3045
Directions: Ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Bldg., 10 South St.,
adjacent to the SI Ferry in Lower Manhattan.

Mariah Carey and the New York Philharmonic
Ave Mariah! It’s no great surprise that Mimi’s name comes first, but make no mistake: This is by and large a public outing for Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic, presented by Major League Baseball to drum up support for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts—and to draw attention to the All-Star Game, too. The program includes some of Carey’s biggest hits, nestled among baseball-related film music (The Natural, 42) and New York–themed classics. Arrange your free tickets via allstargame.com/concert.
Central Park, Great Lawn, Central Park, from 79th to 85th St.
At 7:30PM / FREE
212-310-6600 / centralparknyc.org

Louis Hayes Quintet ‘Cannonball Adderley Legacy’
“Cannonball Adderley was a much-beloved alto saxophonist who balanced the harmonic precision of bebop with the homegrown grit of soul. This tribute band, led by his former drummer Louis Hayes — and featuring Vincent Herring on alto saxophone, Jeremy Pelt on trumpet, Rick Germanson on piano and Dezron Douglas on bass — preserves his spirit faithfully, and with force.” (Chinen-NYT)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton
At 8:30 and 11 p.m. / $30 and $40 cover, with a $10 minimum.
(212) 581-3080 / birdlandjazz.com

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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 ================================================================================

A PremierPub + 3 Good Eating places 

Jimmy’s Corner   / 140 W 44th St (btw B’way & 7th ave) 
Jimmy’s Corner is right in the heart of Times Square, but you won’t find it on the corner, it’s mid-block. Enter this long narrow bar and you are struck by the walls covered with mostly black-and-white boxing photographs, and memorabilia. Soon enough you learn that “Corner” refers to proprietor Jimmy Glenn’s long career as a corner man for some of boxing greats – Liston, Tyson, even “the greatest”, Ali.

Jimmy’s is a sort of time machine, taking you back to a time and place that no longer exists. All around you Times Square has cleaned up, grown up, assumed a new identity. Jimmy’s probably hasn’t changed a bit since it first opened in 1971. Certainly the bar itself looks original and the prices haven’t changed much either. When I brought a friend, who owns her own bar, she was surprised when she got the small tab for a round of drinks. Figured there must be a mistake, that maybe they forgot to charge for all the drinks.

Times Square today is filled with neon glitz and wandering tourists from Dubuque, but not Jimmy’s. You’ll likely find some old timer’s at the bar nursing their drinks, some younger locals at tables in the back, and maybe a few adventuresome tourists clutching their trusty guidebooks. There’s no food served here because this is just a bar, and sometimes that’s all you need.

On nights when no local team is playing, it’s a fine place to sip some drafts and listen to a great old time jukebox (40s, 50s, R&B, and soul). On sports nights this very narrow bar can get a bit claustrophobic, filled with excited fans watching their team on the TVs. Either way, Jimmy’s is the place to be if you are looking for an old time bar in the new Times Square.
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Website: are you kidding !
(although there is a facebook page with lots of photos –
facebook.com/jimmyscornernyc)
Phone #: 212-221-9510
Hours: 11am – 4 am, except Sunday they open 12 noon
Happy Hour: not necessary, low prices all day, every day
Subway: #1,2,3 to TimesSquare 42nd st
walk 2 blks N on 7th ave to 44th st; ½ blk E to Jimmy’s

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

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3 Good Eating places 
It’s not difficult finding a place to eat in Manhattan.
Finding a good, inexpensive place to eat is a bit harder.
Here are a few of my faves in this neighborhood:

Patzeria Perfect Pizza – 231 W46 st (Betw 7th/8th ave)
Perfect name for a pizza joint. On a street filled with Broadway theaters, this is a real hole in the wall, but don’t let the dive look scare you away. You can never go wrong with a slice of NYC pizza, and this one is a classic thin crust. Only a few seats here, but pizza was made to eat standing up.

Shake Shack – 691 8th ave (Betw 43rd/44th st)
Danny Meyer has revolutionized the high quality burger in this town. Now he has a branch on the West Side that was desperately needed, with none of the insane lines that you find at the Madison Sq. Park location. Plus, it may be the cleanest joint to eat in all of Hell’s Kitchen.
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“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”

That covers a wide range of food – pizza,  burgers,  food trucks/carts,  vegetarian/falafel,  ramen, soup & sandwiches,  salad bars,  hot dogs,  bbq,  picnic fixins’,  raw bars & lobster rolls.

No reservations necessary.

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There are other casual dining options in this neighborhood that provide good food, especially as alternatives to overpriced hotel breakfasts, and most importantly, have free Wi-FI:

>Pret a Manger @ 11 W 42nd st (Betw 5th/6th)
Subway: #1/2/3 to 42nd st / times square

>Potbelly @ 30 Rockefeller Plaza (Betw 49/48 st)
Subway: #1 to 50th st

>Pret a Manger @ 1200 6th ave (Betw 47/48)
Subway: #1 to 50th st

For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places and extended descriptions of 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods, order a copy of my e-book:
“Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide”