Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – WEDNESDAY, SEPT 11, 2013.

Today is, of course, the anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

Buglisi Dance Theater
“More than 100 dancers convene in Lincoln Center for “The Table of Silence Project,” a tribute to Sept. 11 conceived by the choreographer Jacqulyn Buglisi and the Italian visual artist Rossella Vasta. Returning for a third year, the commemorative ritual, with its cyclical, processional patterns, begins at 8:15 a.m. At 8:46 a.m., the moment when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower, it concludes with a moment of silence.” (Burke-NYT)
Revson Fountain, Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center,
buglisidance.org; FREE

‘Parallel Stories: The World Trade Center and Battery Park City’
“To commemorate the 12th anniversary of the terror attacks of 9/11, a discussion about the construction of One World Trade Center and the relationship of the building to neighboring areas, including Battery Park City, will feature Clifford Chanin, director of education at the National Sept. 11 Memorial Museum; Carol Willis, founder and director of the Skyscraper Museum; and Charles J. Urstadt, a former chairman of the Battery Park City Authority.” (NYT)
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, Lower Manhattan
At 7 p.m./the talks are free, as is admission to the museum all day, but donations will be accepted.
437-4200, mjhnyc.org

West Point Concert Band
The West Point Concert Band will perform a variety of music appropriate for the solemn occasion. The concert will be conducted by the West Point Band’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Jim Keene. The concert band is proud to honor America with performances of The Star Spangled Banner and Carmen Dragon’s moving arrangement of America the Beautiful. Music by Aaron Copland will be featureded with Fanfare for the Common Man and Variations on a Shaker Melody.

The band will break into smaller ensembles, as the woodwinds perform an arrangement of Barber’s Adagio for Strings and the brass section performs Grainger’s Irish Tune from County Derry. Additoinally, Taps will be performed by the West Point Band’s principal trumpeter, Staff Sergeant Andrew Garcia. The concert will close with a pair of pieces by Leonard Bernstein: “Simple Song” from Mass, and “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candide Suite.
Trinity Church, Broadway & Wall St.
At 1PM / FREE

The September Concert: The Heart of Jazz for 9/11
More than 30 of NYC’s top jazz artists will gather on 9/11 to mark the anniversary of New York’s most tragic day with The Heart of Jazz — a segment of the annual citywide free concert series, The September Concert.

As much spiritual event as concert, since 2005 The Heart of Jazz has offered NYC’s jazz community a locale to gather, to mourn and look forward in peace — a place to explore the impact of the WTC attacks on themselves, their musical family and their fellow NYers — through the healing qualities of the music.

The Heart of Jazz this year will be held once again at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar on Tuesday, September 11th from 6:00 pm until 11:00 pm. The Sugar Bar is located at 254 W. 72nd St. (bet. Broadway & West End Ave.), mere steps from bus lines and the 1, 2 & 3 train subway stop at 72nd Street. There is no cover charge for this event.

Billy Crystal
Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys?
For a lighter moment on a solemn day, try this author event at B&N, where comedian/actor billy crystal talks about his new memoir.
Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 East 17th St.
At 7:00 PM / FREE
212-253-0810

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”