Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – TUESDAY, AUG 13, 2013

‘Grand Central Sketchbook: Designers Dream’ (through Dec. 1)
Grand Central Terminal, as envisioned by artists in charcoal drawings, pencil sketches and watercolors, is the subject of this exhibition, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of the historic terminal. Also on view, through 2016, is “ElectriCity: Powering New York’s Rails,” a display of items from the museum collection — including switches and circuit breakers — that illustrates how electricity powers the subway system.
New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Bklyn Heights,
Tuesdays-Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays/Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m
.$7, $5 for 2 to 17 and 62+, free for members and 62+ on Wednesdays.
694-1600, mta.info/mta/museum

Ode to Sanitation Workers
A discussion about New York City sanitation workers will feature Robin Nagle, an anthropologist in residence at the city’s Department of Sanitation and author of “Picking Up: On the Streets and Behind the Trucks With the Sanitation Workers of New York City.” Sanitation Department members and its commissioner, John J. Doherty, will also take part.
Museum of the City of New York, Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.
At 6:30 p.m./$12, $8 for students and 65+, $6 for members, reservations required
(917) 492-3395 / boxoffice.mcny.org

‘Forever Tango’(through Sept. 15)
“Fans of “Dancing With the Stars,” take note: Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, popular dancers on that hit TV show, will be part of the cast of Luis Bravo’s Broadway sensation through Sunday.” (Burke-NYT)
Walter Kerr Theater, 219 West 48th St.
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.,
Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m.,
$30 to $199.
(212) 239-6200, forevertango.us, telecharge.com

Christian McBride Trio
An appearance by CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE is one exception to the Brazilian fare here this week. At forty-one, the bassist McBride is no longer a frighteningly gifted wunderkind, but few living players can approach his present mastery. He leads a trio featuring the pianist CHRISTIAN SANDS and the drummer ULYSSES OWENS, JR., to celebrate the release of the group’s début album, “Out Here.” This evening also includes a toast to mark the sixty-seventh birthday of the noted jazz impresario Todd Barkan. (NewYorker mag)
54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, Manhattan
At 7 and 9 p.m. / $25 to $35 cover, with a $15 minimum.
476-3551 / 54below.com

Mulgrew Miller Birthday Celebration
The death, at age fifty-seven, of the masterly mainstream pianist Mulgrew Miller, this past May, dealt a heavy blow to the jazz community. This tribute, held on his birthday, involves some of the musicians he worked with most, members of Miller’s Wingspan band, including the saxophonist STEVE WILSON, along with the pianist JOHNNY O’NEAL.
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and  Broadway
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m./$40 cover, with a $10 minimum
212-258-9595  / jalc.org

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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SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS @ 3 Museums (WestSide & the BrooklynMuseum) 

‘Ellsworth Kelly: Chatham Series’ (through Sept. 8)
‘Walker Evans: American Photographs’ (through Jan. 26)
Museum of Modern Art: 11 W 53rd St.
(212) 708-9400 / moma.org.
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‘Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft and Design’* (through Sept. 15)
Museum of Arts and Design: 2 Columbus Circle
212-299-7777 / madmuseum.org.
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‘Connecting Cultures: A World in Brooklyn’ (continuing)
This eclectic, imaginatively thought-out one-gallery immersion experience in world art, all from Brooklyn’s collection and installed in the museum’s revamped Great Hall, serves as a teaser to the fabulous collections in the galleries beyond.
‘Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui’ (through Aug. 18)
‘the Bruce High Quality Foundation: Ode to Joy’ (through Sept. 22)
‘Divine Felines: Cats of AncientEgypt’ (through Dec. 29)
Brooklyn Museum: 200 Eastern Parkway, at Prospect Park,
(easy ride from midtown on #2 or #3 subway to Eastern Pkway/Bklyn Museum)
(718) 638-5000 / brooklynmuseum.org

Top Photography Exhibitions – NYCity / Manhattan’s WestSide

  Museum of Modern Art
Bill Brandt: Shadows and Light, (through Aug. 12, 2013)
Walker Evans: American Photographs (through Jan. 26)
11 West 53rd Street / 212-708-9400

  Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photography and the American Civil War (through Sept. 2, 2013)
Everyday Ephiphanies: Photography and Daily Life Since 1969 
(through January 26, 2014)
1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) / 212-535-7710

   ICP
A Different Kind of Order: The ICP Triennial (through Sept. 22, 2013)
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street / 212-857-0000

  American Museum Natural History 
Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies          
(through May 31, 2014)
79th St. And Central Park West / (212) 313-7278 

  Howard Greenberg Gallery
Bruce Davidson: “Time of Change” & “Staff Picks 2013”
(through Aug. 31, 2013)
41 East 57th Street, Suite 1406 / 212-334-0100

  Staley-Wise Gallery
It’s An American Thing (through Sept. 14, 2013)
560 Broadway, Soho / 212-966-6223
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One more photo exhibition, in a special setting – the lovely, new Bklyn Bridge Park with spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, and of course, the Brooklyn Bridge.
(easy to get to via subway: #2 or 3 express to Clark St., the 1st stop in Bklyn.)

‘The Fence’ in Brooklyn Bridge Park (through Oct. 1)
“When is a fence not a fence? When it is the backdrop for a free display of over 200 jury selected images of people, animals and daily life by 39 photographers from the United States and abroad. Presented for the second year by United Photo Industries, a Brooklyn arts cooperative, as a showcase for young photographers, the display consists of a 1,000-foot-long waterproof mesh banner superimposed with color and black-and-white photos.

The banner stretches through Brooklyn Bridge Park, from Pier 15, at Joralemon Street and the East River in Brooklyn Heights, to Main Street in Dumbo.” (Anne Mancuso-NYT)
Pier 5, Joralemon Street and the East River
From 6am to 1am / FREE
(718) 215-9075 / fence.photovillenyc.org
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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (08/09) and (08/11).