Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, OCT. 18, 2013

Union Square Greenmarket night market
in addition to its traditional market of fresh produce, cheeses and meats, union square hosts an evening event that includes live music, family-friendly activities and area restaurants serving prepared dishes, desserts, wine, beer and hard cider. free admission.
4-8pm

Book Reading: Alain de Botton discusses his book “Art as Therapy”
In his new book, written in collaboration with philosophical art historian John Armstrong, Alain de Botton introduces a new method of interpreting art, one that argues that certain great works offer clues on managing the tensions and confusions of everyday life. Using 150 examples of outstanding art, architecture, and design in chapters on love, nature, money, and politics, de Botton aims to guide us to a deeper understanding of art and ourselves.
Cooper Union, Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St.(Btw. Third & Fourth Aves.)
At 6:30 pm / FREE
1-212-353-4195
subway: 1-2-3 to Times Sq, transfer to N/R to 8th St.

Benjamin Britten: The Complete Songs for Tenor and Guitar
Perhaps the greatest 20th century composer of art songs, Britten created a gorgeous and profound body of work for his partner, Peter Pears, and guitarist Julian Bream. Celebrating the Britten centenary, tenor Rufus Müller and guitarist David Leisner present a rare performance of the complete oeuvre, plus the landmark Nocturne for solo guitar. In collaboration with Guitar Plus.

Part of Symphony Space’s In the Salon series.
SYMPHONY SPACE, 2537 Broadway
at 7:230PM / $32
212-864-5400

Claudia Acuña , Latin Jazz Singer
A native Chilean and veteran of New York’s jazz scene who honed her skills performing at legendary clubs like the original Smalls and Blue Note, singer Claudia Acuña has been praised by The New York Times for the “strength and grace” of her singular voice. Singing primarily in Spanish, she transforms South American and jazz standards with her own distinctive, personal, and restlessly adventurous style.
BAMcafe, 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn
at 9:00 pm / FREE
1-718-636-4182
not exactly Manhattan’s WestSide, but you still use #1-2-3 subway and this looks too good to pass on. subway: easy express #2, 3 to Nevins St.

Henry Threadgill’s Zooid *
“The multireedist Henry Threadgill has long been one of the most thrillingly elusive composers in and around the jazz idiom, specializing in bristling counterpoint, unconventional timbres, and tough but slippery rhythms. Zooid, his band, has Jose Davila on tuba and trombone, Christopher Hoffman on cello, Liberty Ellman on guitar and Elliot Kavee on drums. It performs here under the aegis of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, which counts Mr. Threadgill as a charter member.” (Chinen-NYT)
Community Church of New York, 40 East 35th St.
At 8 p.m., /$30
aacm-newyork.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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WHAT’S ON VIEW: Special Exhibitions @ 3 MUSEUMS
(Manhattan’s WestSide & the BrooklynMuseum) 

‘Walker Evans: American Photographs’ (through Jan. 26, 2014)
American Modern: Hopper to O’Keefe (through Jan. 26, 2014)
America’s cultural landscape shifted rapidly in the early 20th century. American Modern at the Museum of Modern Art looks at this change via some of the iconic works produced between 1915 and 1950. Artists highlighted include George Bellows, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz and Andrew Wyeth. In organizing the art thematically, American Modern will highlight the connections between the artists’ works.
Museum of Modern Art: 11 W 53rd St. (btw 5th /6th Ave.)
(212) 708-9400 / moma.org.
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The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya (ongoing)
This exhibition by artist Nathan Sawaya is a critically acclaimed collection of intriguing and inspiring works of art made exclusively from one of the most recognizable toys in the world — LEGO® bricks. The Discovery Times Square exhibit is the world’s biggest and most elaborate display of LEGO® art ever and features brand-new, never-before-seen pieces by Sawaya. This show was named ‘One of CNN’s Ten Global Must-See Exhibitions.’
Discovery Times Square, 226 West 44th St. (btw 7th/8th ave)
866.987.9692 / http://www.discoverytsx.com

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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.
‘Divine Felines: Cats of AncientEgypt’ (through Dec. 29)
Brooklyn Museum: 200 Eastern Parkway, at Prospect Park,
(subway: easy ride from midtown on #2 or #3 express to Eastern Pkway/Bklyn Museum)
(718) 638-5000 / brooklynmuseum.org

WHAT’S ON VIEW: Top Photography Exhibitions
(NYCity / Manhattan’s WestSide)

  Museum of Modern Art
XL: 19NewAcquisitions in Photography (through Dec. 31)
Walker Evans: American Photographs (through Jan. 26, 2014)
New Photography 2013 (through Jan. 6, 2014)
11 West 53rd Street / 212-708-9400

  Metropolitan Museum of Art
Julia Margaret Cameron (through Jan. 5, 2014)
Everyday Ephiphanies: Photography and Daily Life Since 1969 
(through January 26, 2014)
1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) / 212-535-7710

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

   ICP
Lewis Hine
The Future of America: Lewis Hine’s New Deal Photographs
JFK November 22, 1963: A Bystander’s View of History
Zoe Strauss: 10 Years
All these exhibitions run from Oct 4, 2013–Jan 19, 2014
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street / 212-857-0000

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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 (10/16) and (10/14).