Today’s “Fab 5”+1 / Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, NOV. 14, 2013

Piano Works Concert by Britten and Rachmaninoff
Fall programming focuses on the versatile and prolific composer, Benjamin Britten, in honor of his 100th birthday. Celebrated favorites and rarely performed works of Britten’s repertory will be presented.
Program:
Benjamin Britten Mazurka Elegiaca Opus 23, No. 2; Gemini Variations
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances for Two Pianos With:
Grace Cho and Alejandro Hernandez, piano, NOVUS NY ensemble members Owen Dalby, violin; Alexandra Sopp, flute
Trinity Church, Trinity Pl. bet. Cedar & Rector Sts.
this is a beautiful setting, and a quality performance of Britten’s work
at 1:00 PM / FREE, donations accepted
1-212-602-0800

Lou Reed Memorial
A gathering to remember Lou Reed
“A little over two weeks since his passing, Lou Reed is remembered today with a memorial at Lincoln Center. Open to the public, the event will not involve speeches or performances, but instead features recordings of Reed selected by his family and friends. Stop by the Paul Milstein Pool & Terrace this afternoon, and join others in celebrating the work and life of the legendary musician.” – (Mindy Bond, Flavorpill)
Lincoln Center
1pm – 4pm / FREE

DOC NYC (November 14 through 21)
Real life, made realer. The definitive documentary festival in New York.
“Too many highlights to name, but check out Michel Gondry’s animated (literally, like cartoons) conversations with Noam Chomsky in Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? and Sini Anderson’s inspiring portrait of the riot-grrrl heroine Kathleen Hanna in The Punk Singer. Errol Morris takes on Donald Rumsfeld in the gala opening, The Unknown Known—and Morris takes on me November 15, in conversation at the IFC Center. —(David Edelstein, NY mag)
IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave.,at 3rd St.
212-924-7771 / details at docnyc.net.

“A BED AND A CHAIR: A NEW YORK LOVE AFFAIR” (through Nov.17)
Wynton Marsalis has been delving into the theatrical world of late (notably his stewardship of the new Broadway hit “After Midnight”), and this production, created in collaboration with New York City Center, finds him leading the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a number of vocalists, including Bernadette Peters, Cyrille Aimee, Norm Lewis, and Jeremy Jordan, in a program of specially arranged classics by Stephen Sondheim, celebrating a city that has fed the creativity of both the Broadway genius and the jazz icon.” (NewYorker mag)
City Center, 131 W. 55th St.
At 7PM / $30-$175
212-581-1212.

Glen Berger discusses his new book Song of Spider-Man: The Inside Story of the Most Controversial Musical in Broadway History
Never in the history of Broadway has there been anything like Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Lampooned by reviewers, loved and loathed by audiences, and boldly envisioned by its producers, Spider-Man has forever made its mark in pop culture history. Author Glen Berger was present at the creation, when visionary director Julie Taymor selected him to collaborate with her on the book of the musical.
The DRAMA BOOK SHOP, 250 West 40th Street
At 6PM/ FREE
212 944-0595 / dramabookshop.com

This Changes Everything:
James Ellroy and Thomas Mallon on the Assassination of JFK
James Ellroy, L.A. Confidential; American Tabloid
Thomas Mallon, Henry and Clara; Mrs. Paine’s Garage
James Ellroy, modern master of historically inflected crime fiction and author of L.A. Confidential and American Tabloid, and Thomas Mallon, novelist and essayist, author of Henry and Clara and Mrs. Paine’s Garage, will explore the continuing fascination the assassination of President John F. Kennedy exerts on popular narrative, the significance of the Kennedy assassination to the American experience, and the ways in which the thematic richness of the event has reverberated through our culture in the subsequent decades.
The Paley Center for Media, 25 W 52nd Street, (btw. 5th/6th Ave
At 7:00pm / $25
212-621-6600 / paleycenter.org

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 – Greenwich Village

Caffe Vivaldi  /  32 Jones Street (btw. Bleecker/W4th St.)

Café Vivaldi is a classic, intimate club located in Greenwich Village on Jones Street, the street featured on the cover of Bob Dylan’s second album, “Freewheelin’ ”.

Each night Ishrat, the long time proprietor and impresario, carefully curates and schedules an eclectic series of musicians. You can often see him at his table in the corner, hard at work reviewing music videos and listening to cd demos on his laptop, scouting out future bookings. Musicians come from all over to play and sing in a club in Greenwich Village. Some are local New Yorkers, others are just passing through, in town for a few days.

There is a small bar, seating maybe 10. It’s close to the stage and I find it’s a perfect spot to sip a glass of red wine while listening to the music. The room itself has the performance area at one end and a cozy fireplace at the other. The performance area here is small, dominated by a large black Yamaha Grand piano. Tables are bunched together and most people at the tables are eating lite meals or sampling the wonderful desserts.

There is also a good selection of wines and lite meals, fairly priced, but you are here because of the music. You can never be quite sure what you’re going to find, and that’s half the charm of this place. It’s not a home run every night, but many nights it’s pretty special.

I remember the night I saw the most talented bossa nova group, just in from San Paulo. As I listened, I wondered if there was any better music playing anywhere else in New York City that night. And at Caffé Vivaldi there is never a cover charge. I should note that their recently redesigned web site does give you a better idea of the type of music playing each night.

At one time Greenwich Village was filled with clubs just like this, but times change. Real estate interests have impacted the village, and not for the better. Even Caffé Vivaldi had a rough time recently, when a new landlord raised the rent exorbitantly. Fortunately, Ishrat has built a loyal following over the years, and a fund raiser and slightly more reasonable rent has kept Café Vivaldi in business.

When Woody Allen and Al Pacino wanted to make movies featuring the timeless quality of Greenwich Village they came to Vivaldi. It’s important that we keep this special place alive, for if we lose Cafe Vivaldi, NYC will have lost a piece of it’s soul.

Website: http://caffevivaldi.com/
Phone #: (212) 691-7538
Hours: Music generally 7:30pm – 11pm, but varies
Lunch/Dinner 11am-on
Subway: #1 to Christopher st
Walk 1 blk S on 7th ave S to Bleecker st, 1 blk S/left on Bleecker to Jones st, 50 yards E/left on Jones st to Caffe V

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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 to find 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:

Fish – 280 Bleecker St (just a bit S. of 7th ave South)
This was an easy pick – the best raw bar special in town. $8 gets you 6 of the freshest oysters or clams + a glass of wine or beer. Don’t know how they can do it, but I tell everyone I know about this place. And it’s located right in the heart of some of the best no cover music in town.

Bleecker Street Pizza – 69 7th ave S (corner of Bleecker)
The place is tiny and not much to look at, but this is one good slice. They like to brag that they have been voted “Best pizza in NY” 3 years in a row by the Food Network. I believe them. I would have voted for them.

Num Pang – 21 E 12th st (btw. University place/5th ave)
This is a Cambodian banh mi sandwich shop that kept me well fed while I was in class nearby recently. You may have to wait a few minutes, because everything is freshly made, but it’s worth it. Can you believe – an unheard of 26 food rating by Zagat.

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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 also some casual dining, chain restaurant locations in this neighborhood that have decent food, provide a good hotel breakfast alternative, and have free Wi-FI:

A. Pret a Manger @ 821 Broadway (betw 12/13 st)
Subway: #1/2/3 to 42nd st; transfer to n/q/r to 14th st/union sq

B. Potbelly @ 41 W14th st (betw 5th/6th ave)
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th st

C. Cosi @ 53 E 8th st (betw greene/mercer)
Subway: #1/2/3 to 42nd st; transfer to n/r to 8th 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)