Today’s “Fab Five” / Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, July 19, 2013
For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide be sure to check out :
“Notable Events-July”, “on Broadway”, and “Top10 Free” in the header above.
For NYCity trip planning see links in “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above.
Metropolitan Opera free summer recital series
An enchanting evening of favorite opera arias and duets featuring rising Metropolitan Opera stars Erin Morley (soprano), Isabel Leonard (mezzo-soprano), and Stephen Costello (tenor), accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore.
Brooklyn Bridge Park – entrance at Old Fulton St. & Furman St.
At 7:00PM / FREE
1-212-360-2777
Summer Night at the Frick
’Tis the season for alfresco drinking, so head to the Frick Collection’s garden court, where you can listen to live music while you imbibe. The free evening also includes 15-minute curator talks about “Precision and Splendor: Clocks and Watches at the Frick Collection,” the special exhibit currently on view. If the work inspires you, make use of gratis sketching materials and art instruction.
The Frick Collection, 1 E 70th St, btw Fifth and Madison Aves
At 6PM / $18, seniors $15
212-288-0700 / frick.org
The Bad Plus* (Friday through Sunday)
“Few groups in the greater jazz orbit sound more doggedly intrepid than the Bad Plus, which flirted with electronic textures on “Made Possible” (eOne), released last fall. The band — Reid Anderson on bass, Ethan Iverson on piano, David King on drums — has recently collaborated with sympathetic interlopers, notably the guitarist Bill Frisell. But this run, taking place on familiar footing, will simply feature the trio in all its lean, concussive glory.” (Chinen-NYT)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m./ $25 cover, with a one-drink minimum.
(212) 255-4037 / villagevanguard.com
Sound It Out 1st Anniversary Hot House Festival* (Friday through Sunday)
For the last year, the Sound It Out concert series, founded by the music journalist Bradley Bambarger, has been a beacon of adventurous programming in Greenwich Village. To celebrate its first anniversary, the series is presenting a four-night festival, running through this weekend.
Highlights include a trio with the guitarist Jonathan Goldberger, the bassist Michael Formanek and the drummer Devin Gray (Friday at 7:45 p.m.); Endangered Blood, a band that includes Mr. Formanek and the multireedists Chris Speed and Oscar Noriega (Friday at 8:45 p.m.); Surface to Air, a chamber-like trio that features Mr. Goldberger (Saturday at 8:45 p.m.); a piano duo with Craig Taborn and Gust Burns (Sunday at 7:30 p.m.); and the Rez Abbasi Trio, led by its namesake guitarist (Sunday at 8:30 p.m.).” (Chinen-NYT)
Greenwich House Music School, 46 Barrow Street, W Village
At 7:45PM / $20 for each night.
(212) 242-4770 / greenwichhouse.org
Lucy Wainwright Roche
Lucy Wainwright Roche is a well-pedigreed singer-songwriter: She’s the child of Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche (of the Roches). She has a sweet voice that’s less striking than that of brother Rufus—but she may find fans via her wistful, acoustic folk-pop.
The Duplex, 61 Christopher St. at Seventh Ave South
At 9:30PM / Cover: $5–$25 plus two-drink minimum
212-255-5438 / theduplex.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.
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A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – Upper West Side
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
NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide 