Today’s “Fab Five” / Selected NYCity Events – TUESDAY, AUG 06, 2013

Early Elton: A Tribute to Early Elton John
Jeff Kazee, John Conte and Rich Pagano perform this rare tribute concert to the the classic music of the Elton John, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson trio tours of 1970-1972 at the 5th annual Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival, a fun, free, postwork fete.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase at this “After-Work Backyard Party” held every Tuesday from June 4th through August 27th. Look for an assortment of wines from City Winery, ice cold beer from Radeberger, ice cream and ice cream sandwiches from Jacques Torres, and hot dogs and other snacks offered by Great Performances.
City Winery, 155 Varick St., at Vandam St.
At 5:30PM / FREE
212-608-0555 / citywinery.com/newyork/

AN EVENING WITH AUTHOR JOHN STRAUSBAUGH AND FRIENDS
John Strausbaugh, “a particularly gifted chronicler of Newyorkiana” (Atlantic Monthly), speaks about his widely-hailed history of Greenwich Village, The Village: 400 Years of Beats and Bohemians, Radicals and Rogues. His special guests will include longtime Villager Dermot McEvoy, author of Our Lady of Greenwich Village. With Q&A and book signing.

John Strausbaugh was the editor of New York Press in its heyday. He has also written for The New York Times and Washington Post. His previous books include Rock ‘Til You Drop and Black Like You.
Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St.(btw Bleecker/W4th St)
At 6PM / $8.00 includes a drink
(212) 989-9319 / corneliastreetcafe.com

“BALLET V6.0” / BalletX
“This new mini-festival, at the Joyce, looks beyond the walls of traditional brick-and-mortar ballet institutions. In the course of two weeks, the festival showcases six ballet start-ups from across the country, each with its own approach to making and presenting ballets for a new audience. First up is the Philadelphia ensemble BalletX, which was founded in 2006 by two former Pennsylvania Ballet dancers, Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan. The troupe’s New York run includes a stark mood piece, set to Baroque music, by the Netherlands-based Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, as well as an intimate portrait by Neenan, “The Last Glass,” set to songs by the indie-rock band Beirut.” (NewYorker mag)
JOYCE THEATRE, 175 Eighth Ave., at 19th St.
At 7:30PM / $10-$39
212-242-0800 / joyce.org

Paquito D’Rivera and Panamericana* (through Aug. 11)
“The clarinetist, alto saxophonist and longtime Cuban exile Paquito D’Rivera favors bright extroversion in his music, which usually incorporates Latin rhythm. As on “Panamericana Suite” (MCG Jazz), which won a Latin Grammy a few years ago, he leads a group that includes Oscar Stagnaro on electric bass and Pernell Saturnino on percussion.” (Chinen-NYT)
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village
At 8 and 10:30 p.m. / $35 at tables, $20 at bar, with a $5 minimum.
212-475-8592 / bluenote.net

Derrick Hodge* 
“A bassist equally admired by observers of modern jazz and contemporary R&B, Derrick Hodge is kicking off a tour to support his first album as a leader, “Live Today” (Blue Note), which features the rapper Common, the singer-songwriter Alan Hampton and the pianist Robert Glasper, among others. The album, which will be released on the day of this performance, is a sturdy showcase for Mr. Hodge’s gift for accessible melody and offhandedly deep grooves.” (Chinen-NYT)
the Cutting Room, 44 East 32nd St.
At 8:30 p.m./$25 day of show, with a $20 minimum.
thecuttingroomnyc.com

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

“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,  chopped salad & salad bars,  hot dogs,  bbq,  soup & sandwiches,  picnic fixins’,  raw bars & lobster rolls. No reservations needed. ================================================================================

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”