Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, AUG 18, 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 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

‘Forever Tango’ (through Sept. 15)
Luis Bravo’s popular tango sensation is now running on Broadway. In his review for The New York Times, Alastair Macaulay wrote that the music was the highlight of the show: “Some of the most irresistible tangos here are those played with no dancing. You can feel the tango’s sensual march, its percussive footwork, its romantic drive.”(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

Lou Donaldson Quartet
“Bebop, blues and boogaloo are all fair game for Lou Donaldson, 86, who was honored as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master this year. His working quartet includes Akiko Tsuruga on organ, Randy Johnston on guitar and Fukushi Tainaka on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave So, at 11th St, West Village
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m./$25 cover, with a one-drink minimum.
255-4037, villagevanguard.com

Roni Ben-Hur Tribute to Wes Montgomery and Grant Green
“Roni Ben-Hur, a literate guitarist, pays homage to two giants of his instrument, each one an inventive and soulful influence. The band assembled for this task includes a veteran drummer, Victor Lewis, along with the vibraphonist Steve Nelson, the trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, the pianist Bruce Barth and the bassist Santi Debriano.” (Chinen-NYT)
Birdland, 315 West 44th St.
At 9 and 11 p.m./ $30 cover, with a $10 minimum
(212) 581-3080, birdlandjazz.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.
————————————————————————————————————————
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”