Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, NOV. 10, 2013

Israeli Russian Film Festival
The Russian American Cultural Center in New York is hosting this film festival, now in its fourth year, which will showcase works like Shemi Zarhin’s “The World Is Funny” and the documentary “From Black We Make Color,” by Judy Maltz and Richie Sherman. The all-day event will also include the United States premiere of “Lonely Planet,” a mockumentary about a search for a ghost. Films are in Hebrew and Russian with English subtitles.
Tribeca Film Center, 375 Greenwich Street,
From 1:30 to 8 p.m./ $10 per film, $35 for an all-day pass.
941-4000, russianamericanculture.com, tribecafilmcenter.com.

MOSTLY OTHER PEOPLE DO THE KILLING
“Every few years, a band—think the Lounge Lizards or the Bad Plus—comes along just itching to take the stuffing out of jazz. This quartet (the bassist Moppa Elliott, the saxophonist Jon Irabagon, the trumpeter Peter Evans, and the drummer Kevin Shea) has recently stepped up to do the job, slicing and dicing the genre’s conventions and pieties with abandon. And, like the aforementioned ensembles, MOPDOK has the talent to pull the stunt off convincingly.’ (NewYorker mag)
Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St.
212-989-9319

On the Record—A Tribute To the Great Vocal Groups Of the 20th Century
“This revue (starring four singers joined by an occasional singing bassist) celebrates the history of the multi-voice ensemble in American popular music, starting with the Peerless Quartet a hundred years ago and continuing through the Boswell Sisters in the depression, the Andrews Sisters in WW2, right up to the Beatles and the Bee Gees.

Chances are most of your favorites are included and you’re bound to discover a great group that’s wholly new to you, like the Arbors’ thrilling a cappella arrangement of “The Windows of Your Mind.” Show creator Bill Daugherty has powerhouse chops and a remarkable range that allows him to flawlessly capture the essence of such diverse stylists as Bing Crosby, Bill Kenny (the stratos-tenor of the Ink Spots) and even Patty Andrews. The patter is, unfortunately, rather pedantic, but that’s hardly a bother in light of the inspired ensemble (Paul Kropfl, Amanda Savan, and “Dallas”‘s Deborah Tranelli) that Mr. Daugherty has surrounded himself with.” (WSJ)
The Triad (Stage 72), 158 W. 72nd St.,
(800) 838-3006

JACKY TERRASSON (last night!)
Terrasson never quite attained the prominence that was expected after he won the 1993 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. But he remains an alluring player with a proclivity for left turns; on his most recent album, “Gouache,” he put individualized spins on Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” The highlight of the run will take place on Sunday, the final night, when Terrasson is joined by the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, a current jazz sensation who can electrify a stage.” (NewYorker mag)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m./$35 to $45 cover, with a $10 minimum
(212) 258-9595, jalc.org;

Marc Ribot Trio*(last day!)
A dyed-in-the-wool avant-jazz player and a key part of New York’s downtown scene, the guitarist is also a dependably creative and adaptable studio musician, having graced albums by, among others, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (the Grammy-winning “Raising Sand”), Elton John, Tom Waits, and Elvis Costello. With his own trio, which includes the drummer Chad Taylor and the fabled bassist Henry Grimes, Ribot puts a twisted spin on the blues, exotica, and Albert Ayler-derived free jazz.” (NewYorker mag)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th St., West Village,
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m./ $25, with a one-drink minimum.
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 ================================================================================

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

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“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges  – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge.

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
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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 a few more PremierPubs and Good Eating places see previous Featured Neighborhoods in the right sidebar.

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places and descriptions of my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods (plus 27 casual dining places with free Wi-Fi) order a copy of my e-book: “Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($3.99).
(available Winter 2013)