Today’s “Fab Five” / Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, AUG 02, 2013

 ‘100 Years of Flamenco in New York’
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.
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts:
111 Amsterdam Avenue, at 65th Street, Lincoln Center,
Mondays from noon to 8 p.m. / FREE
(917) 275-6975 / nypl.org/lpa

Visits Aboard a Spanish Galleon (through Aug. 22) For the next few weeks, vintage ship enthusiasts can board “El Galeón,” a copy of a 16th-century vessel, that is docked at Pier 84, near 43rd Street and 12th Avenue, Clinton. The ship, owned by the Nao Victoria Foundation of Seville, Spain, is part of Viva Florida 500 Voyage, a celebration of the voyage of the explorer Ponce de León and the 500th anniversary of his arrival in Florida. Daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with special hours on Wednesday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Thursday (10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). Tickets, available through Circle-Line Sightseeing, are $15, $8 for children 3 to 12. (212) 563-3200; circleline42.com.

Mark Gross Quintet (Friday and Saturday) A well-traveled alto and soprano saxophonist from Baltimore, perhaps best recognized for his tenure in the Dave Holland Big Band, Mark Gross has a new album, “Blackside” (Jazz Legacy Productions), that features Freddie Hendrix on trumpet and Dezron Douglas on bass. Those partners rejoin him here, in a quintet that also includes the pianist Benito Gonzalez and the drummer Corey Rawls. At 7, 9 and 10:30 p.m., Smoke, 2751 Broadway, at 106th Street, (212) 864-6662, smokejazz.com; $38 cover. (Chinen-NYT)

Pilobolus (through Aug. 4)
“Any evening with Pilobolus is like a magic show, with bodies balancing and contorting in seemingly impossible ways. In “esc,” a New York premiere in the first of two programs at the Joyce, the troupe joins forces with Penn & Teller, combining its own corporeal stunts with the duo’s Houdini-inspired exploits. Program B features another new work, “Licks,” in which the frequent Pilobolus collaborator Trish Sie envisions a zany world for 6 dancers, 12 ropes and a rollicking soundtrack by Tijuana’s Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich & Fussible.” (Burke-NYT)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue, at 19th Street, Chelsea,
at 7:30 p.m. / $10 to $75.
(212) 242-0800 / joyce.org

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 – Tribeca

B-Flat  277 Church st (Btw Franklin/White)

There are some places that are tough to find, then add a layer of mystery when you do find them. B-Flat has a nondescript, almost unmarked door at street level – today’s speakeasy vibe. Open this door and you face a dimly lit stairway down to their basement location. It almost takes a leap of faith to follow the stairs down to their interior door. But open that door and a pleasant surprise awaits you.

It’s a basement jazz spot all right, but not like any traditional jazz joint you may have been to before. This place looks as fresh as today, probably because it’s only been open for 6 years. Even though it hasn’t had a chance to age gracefully, the cherry wood accents and low lighting make this small space very inviting.

There is always jazz, often progressive jazz,  playing over their very discrete, stylish bose speakers, setting just the right tone as you find a seat at the bar, or one of the small tables. There is wine and beer available, but this place has some expert mixologists making some very creative cocktails, which I’m told change seasonally, a nice touch.

Come at happy hour and tasty cocktails like the el Diablo or the lychee martini are $8 – not bad. I am a sucker for any drink made with lychee and how can you not try a tequila drink named el Diablo. There is also nice selection of small bites available at happy hour and a food menu that is as innovative as the cocktail menu, so this does not have to be a happy hour only stop.

It wasn’t surprising to find a tasty prosciutto and arugula salad with yuzu dressing, but I did not expect to find such a good version of fried chicken breast on the apps menu. Here it’s called “Tatsuta.” Best bet is to sample happy hour, then dinner on a Monday or Wednesday night, when you can finish with no cover live jazz that starts around 8.

This place is tough to find (look for a small slate sandwich board on the sidewalk out front advertising happy hour) and on some nights when there is no live music it may be a little too quiet for some. But I think it’s worth searching out if you want a place with good music, food, and especially drinks, away from the maddening crowd.

Website: http://http://www.bflat.info/index.html
Phone #: 212-219-2970
Hours: Mo-Wed 5pm-2am; Th-Sat 5pm-3am; no Sun
Happy Hour: 5-7pm every day; $8 cocktails + special prices on apps
Music: Mon/Wed 8pm
Subway: #1 to Franklin; walk 1 blk E to Church; 1 blk N to bFlat

“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.