Today’s “Fab 4” / Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, SEPT 05, 2013.
For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide be sure to check out:
“Notable Events-Sept.”, “on Broadway”, and “Top10 Free” in the header above.
For NYCity trip planning see links in “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above.
U.S. TENNIS OPEN (through Sept. 9)
We are now deeper in the second week of the tournament and the crowds are smaller and the matches fewer, but each match is a gem. On the outer courts this week you find the juniors tournament, where some players look good enough to have been in the main draw, while others look like, well, juniors.
Today’s tip: Find the old masters in exhibitions on the outer courts – Martina, Chrissie, Johnny Mac.
Who to watch today:
Two men’s Quarterfinals and two excellent Doubles matches.
» #1 seed Errani & Vinci vs #1A seed the Williams sisters, who didn’t play enough to be seeded. Finesse vs Power, this ought to be close. With a more intelligent draw, this should have been the finals in women’s doubles. Bonus – it’s being played at noon in Armstrong, not the BigHouse.
» #3 seed and defending champ Andy Murray vs #9 Stan “the man” Wawrinka in the BigHouse in the afternoon. This will be a tough match for Murray. Wawrinka has all the shots, and looked very good beating #5 Berdych in his prior match.
» the #1 seed Bryan brothers, going for a calendar grand slam, against #4 seed Paes & Stepanek. Paes may be the best doubles player around, unfortunately Stepanek is not.
The best, most comprehensive review of the tournament and the current state of tennis can be found at the NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/tennis/index.html
Concert: Choir Works by Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten Sinfonietta; Nocturne; Phaedra
The versatile and prolific composer Benjamin Britten will be honored on his 100th birthday. Celebrated favorites and rarely-performed works of Britten’s repertory will be presented, led by Director of Music and the Arts, Julian Wachner, The Choir of the church and NOVUS NY. Other featured artists include tenor Nicholas Phan, cellist Matt Haimovitz, and The Youth Chorus.
Trinity Church, Trinity Pl. bet. Cedar & Rector Sts.
At 1:00 PM / FREE
1-212-602-0800
The Juilliard Jazz Ensemble: New Orleans: Then and Now
The Juilliard Jazz Ensemble performs New Orleans: Then and Now, featuring popular music from the heart of The Big Easy. This concert takes audiences on a journey from music of the “early jazz” era to contemporary New Orleans. With music from the likes of Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet and Jelly Roll Morton to more modern musicians/composers such as Ellis Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, and Donald Harrison, this program will give listeners a true taste for the place where jazz was born.
Lincoln Center, David Rubenstein Atrium, Broadway between 62nd and 63rd St.
At 7:30PM / FREE (get there early – free performances in the Atrium are very popular)
1-212-875-5377
Cassandra Wilson* (through Sept. 8)
“Ms. Wilson takes pleasure in a genre-blind repertory, as she once again demonstrated on her 2012 album, “Another Country” (eOne). A showcase for her guitar playing and songwriting — not the safest move, for an artist whose most magical work has been jazz-based and interpretive — it’s full of tunes that skew distinctly Wilsonian in their slithery cadences and murmuring incantations.” (Chinen-NYT)
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village
At 8 and 10:30 p.m. / $55 cover at tables, $35 at the bar, with a $5 minimum
475-8592, bluenote.net
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 