Today’s “Fab 5”+1/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, OCT. 07, 2013
For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide check out:
♦ “Notable Events-Oct.”, “on Broadway”, and “Top10 Free” in the header above.
♦ For NYCity trip planning see links in “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above.
Kurt Weill on Broadway
Celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of One Touch of Venus, along with excerpts from other incomparable Weill scores, including Lady in the Dark, Street Scene, Love Life, and Lost in the Stars. Ted Chapin hosts a stellar cast including Melissa Errico, Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, and Ron Raines, alongside winners of the Lotte Lenya Competition. Musical direction by Weill specialist James Holmes, stage direction by Richard Jay-Alexander. The evening’s orchestra is Le Train Bleu with conductor Ransom Wilson.
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway
At 8PM / $47
212-864-5400 / symphonyspace.org
Concert: Country singer Cassadee Pope
See the winner of The Voice Season 3, Cassadee Pope, perform from her CD “Frame by Frame”, the day before she is set to release her forthcoming debut album.
Bryant Park, Southwest Porch, Sixth Ave. & 42nd St.
6:00PM / FREE
1-212-768-4242
‘Norma’ at The Met
“A revival of Bellini’s “Norma” is pointless without a powerhouse soprano, and Sondra Radvanovsky—once a stalwart, now a star—proves herself worthy of the challenge, embodying the Druid priestess’s trusting vulnerability and eruptive temper and unleashing high notes mighty enough to level the occupying Roman Army. Aleksandrs Antonenko stands out as a genuinely heroic Pollione. Also with Kate Aldrich and James Morris; Riccardo Frizza conducts.” (NewYorker mag)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center
At 7:30PM / $27 to $445
212-362-6000, metoperafamily.org
Steely Dan (through Oct. 8.)
Steely Dan is giving their fans another opportunity to hear the band delve deep into its three-decade-plus discography, as Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Walter Becker and Donald Fagen will stage complete performances of several classic albums in their entirety, along with selected hits and fan-requested favorites.
Onstage, Donald and Walter will be joined by their eight brilliant supporting musicians, now appearing as The Bipolar Allstars (featuring Keith Carlock on drums, Freddie Washington on bass, Jim Beard on keyboards, and Jon Herington on guitar), along with The Borderline Brats — three sublime, soulful songbirds.
Tonight features “Aja” and select hits; tomorrow it’s Greatest Hits Night!
Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway, at 74th St.
At 8 p.m./$59.50 to $220.
745-3000, beacontheatre.com
Marques Toliver
“This classically trained violinist from Florida now shifts his considerable talent to the unusual hybrid of baroque R&B. In his hands, it is fascinating: Mr. Toliver croons fitfully about spirituality over intricate string solos, joking dryly between songs to break up the bleak tension. He released his lovely first full-length album, “Land Of CanAan,” last spring. He opens for Alice Russell on this night.” (Anderson-NYT)
Highline Ballroom, 431 West 16th Street, Chelsea
At 8 p.m./$25 at the door
777-8932, highlineballroom.com
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
There’s a tradition in many New York City jazz clubs – Monday nights are reserved for big bands. The Village Vanguard, the most storied of clubs, has observed this practice since 1966. The Grammy-winning Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, established by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, is definitely a big band with 4 trumpets, and 4 trombones to accompany 6 reed players. Why not make it your tradition, too.
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Avenue South, just below West 11th St.
At 8:30 and 10:30 pm / $25
212-255-4037 / villagevanguard.com
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 + 3 Good Eating places / Midtown West.
Russian Vodka Room / 265 W 52nd St (btw 7th/8th ave)
Sure, you could travel to Minsk or even Brighton Beach, for an authentic Russian experience, but why bother. On those days when you feel you must wash down your dish of kasha with a few glasses of icy, cold vodka, the Russian Vodka Room will definitely satisfy your urge.
From the outside this place looks a bit drab, and with no windows, a bit mysterious. Midtown tourists walk right by on their way to see “Jersey Boys”, just down the block.
Those in the know enter a secret hideaway, a dimly lit front room with soft jazz playing – a perfect spot for an illicit late-night rendezvous, or maybe a meet-up with your Russian spy handler, but that’s later in the evening. Early in the evening the large U-shaped bar fills with the after work happy hour crowd, a group made very happy by the much reduced prices.
Their website says: “Welcome Comrades”. Of course, this welcome focuses on dozens of different vodkas, including their own special infusions, which marinate in giant, clear glass jugs visible around the room. The large vodka martinis ensure that you won’t confuse this place with your mother’s Russian Tea Room.
But man does not live by vodka alone. Eat some food, especially the tapa like appetizers. Be decadent and try the cheese blintzes with chocolate, or try a main dish like beef stroganoff with kasha.
Your best bet is to go on a night when the piano man is playing. This guy, who looks like he has eaten a lot of those cheese blintzes, plays five nights a week from 7 to 12 (no Mondays and Thursdays). When the piano man is playing American pop tunes, and you are at the crowded, dimly lit bar testing the horseradish infused vodka, that’s when the RVR shines.
It’s the kind of place where the noise gets louder and the crowd gets happier as the happy hour goes on. I’m generally a beer guy, but I like to come here with a group of friends. We find a table in the back room; we eat, and we drink vodka ‘till it hurts (and it will hurt).
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Website: http://www.russianvodkaroom.com/
Phone #: 212-307-5835
Hours: 4pm-2am; Fri-Sun closes 4am (that could be trouble)
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day
$4 shots infused vodka (2oz), $5 cosmos; $4 czech draft beer
Music: FR-SU; TU-WE / 7pm-12am
Subway: #1 to 50th St.
Walk 2 blk N. on B’way to 52nd St.; 1 blk W. to RVR
Confusingly, the Russian Samovar is right across the street, on the S. side of 52nd St.
The RVR, your destination, is on the N. side of 52nd St.
Update: music some nights includes a sax player with a younger, trimmer piano man.
NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide 