Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, NOV. 04, 2013
For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide check out:
♦ “Notable Events-Nov.”, “on Broadway”, and “Top10 Free” in the header above.
♦ For NYCity trip planning see links in “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above.
‘StarTalk Live!’: Space and Comedy
The latest installment of this talk-show series featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson, the astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, and the comedian Eugene Mirman, will take place at 8 p.m. at Town Hall. Others are expected to join the two hosts, whose discussions are usually heard on startalkradio.net.
Town Hall, 123 West 43rd St. (btw. 6th/B’way)
At 8PM / $45.45 to $50.60
982-2787, the-townhall-nyc.org
Big Dance Theater* (through Nov. 9)
“Forget hay rides and trick-or-treating. The best way to observe Halloween is with an outing to “Ich, Kürbisgeist,” Big Dance Theater’s autumnally decked-out play about a reclusive peasant clan and its supernatural pumpkin harvest. Paul Lazar directs, Annie-B Parson choreographs and Sibyl Kempson provides the delightfully unintelligible text, written in an invented language. The work had its premiere at the Chocolate Factory last year, and now New York Live Arts has resurrected it as part of the Replay Series. Can this please happen every year?” (Siobhan Burke-NYT)
New York Live Arts, 219 West 19th St. (btw. 7th/8th ave), Chelsea,
At 7:30 p.m., with 10 p.m. shows on Fridays and Saturdays,/ $15 to $30
212-924-0077, newyorklivearts.org
Steep Canyon Rangers
“The members of this traditional bluegrass group from North Carolina have demonstrated talent for more than sonorous harmony and breakneck fiddle instrumentals. They also served as world-class straight men as Steve Martin’s backing band during his prominent festival dates. Their 2011 record with Mr. Martin, “Rare Bird Alert,” was whimsical and adroit. This performance will revolve around the lead vocals of the band member Woody Platt, who is quite the charmer himself, and the band’s recent release, “Tell the Ones I Love.” (Anderson-NYT)
City Winery, 155 Varick Street, near Spring St.
At 8 p.m., $20 to $28. (Anderson)
608-0555, citywinery.com
JoAnne Brackeen And Ravi Coltrane
“The spirit of Art Blakey hovers directly over this inspired duo, who first (and last) performed together more than 10 years ago: JoAnne Brackeen, justifiably celebrated as the first female Jazz Messenger, was a worthy successor to the band’s great pianists, especially the late Cedar Walton. And although Ravi Coltrane is too young to have actually played with Blakey (his father, John Coltrane, did on several occasions), he started his career as a saxophonist very much in the mold of such famous tenor Messengers as Hank Mobley, Benny Golson and Wayne Shorter.
The piano-tenor duet format will surely bring out the best in both halves of this equation, especially as Ms. Brackeen has repeatedly showed her mettle in purely solo settings, as on her 1999 album “Popsicle Illusion.” Her 1989 solo “Live at Maybeck Recital Hall” is full of wonderful moments, as when she makes “I’m Old Fashioned” sound anything but old-fashioned and renders “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” as if it were autobiographical.’ (WSJ-WILL FRIEDWALD”
The Blue Note, 131 W. Third St.,
At 8 and 10:30PM / $15 at the bar (which have good acoustics); $25 at a table
(212) 475-8592 / bluenote.net
SEAMUS HEANEY TRIBUTES
Various locations
“Heaney, who has been called the greatest Irish poet since Yeats, died in August, at age seventy-four. A number of events are planned in his honor.
The celebrations commence on Nov. 4 at 7, at the Irish Repertory Theatre, where Paul Muldoon, the poetry editor of this magazine, hosts a gathering that includes the writer Colum McCann, Loretta Brennan Glucksman, and members of the theatrical community. (irishrep.org.)
[Unfortunately, the Irish Rep Theater has a small capacity and this event is sold out. Better get to the Cooper Union memorial early (see below). Doors open at 6:15PM, so bring a book of his poetry to read and be sure to get a seat.]
Just about every literary organization in the city has a hand in the event at the Great Hall at Cooper Union on Nov. 11 at 7, featuring Frank Bidart, Sven Birkerts, Eavan Boland, Lucie Brock-Broido, Greg Delanty, Jonathan Galassi, Eamon Grennan, Edward Hirsch, Jane Hirshfield, Yusef Komunyakaa, Atsuro Riley, Tom Sleigh, Tracy K. Smith, Colm Tóibín, Jean Valentine, Anne Waldman, and Kevin Young. Irish pipes will be played, and Paul Simon will be making a guest appearance. (poets.org.)
On Nov. 15 at 8, the actor Gabriel Byrne, the playwright Enda Walsh, and the writers Alice McDermott and Colum McCann join Colette Bryce, Henri Cole, Mark Doty, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Meghan O’Rourke, Elise Paschen, Brenda Shaughnessy, Matthew Sweeney, and many other poets at St. Ann’s Warehouse. (irishartscenter.org.)” – (NewYorker mag)
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 for a table 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 West Side Hwy, all may open before a table inside the main dining room. Otherwise, try Dinosaur for lunch, or come very 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 