Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, DEC. 12, 2013
For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide check out:
♦ “Notable NYC Events-Dec.”, (because the holiday season kicks into high gear in December)
and also “on Broadway”, and “Top10 Free” in the header above.
♦ For NYCity trip planning see links in “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above.
Holiday Markets
More than 150 vendors are selling their goods in Union Square Park, bordered by Park Avenue South, Broadway and 14th Streets, through Christmas Eve. Hours: weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; urbanspacenyc.com. (through Dec 24)
The Holiday Shops are just part of the seasonal events in Bryant Park, at Avenue of the Americas and 40th Street, through Jan. 5. Hours: weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (through Jan. 5)
In Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal, the 14th annual Holiday Fair offers 76 stalls of goods through Christmas Eve. Hours: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. These shops have some nice stuff. Try to shop before noon and avoid the lunch time worker bee crowds. (through Dec 24)
While in GrandCentral check out the Holiday Train Show (through Feb. 23) which features a 34-foot-long Lionel model train layout. It’s on display at the New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store near the Station Master’s Office. To be honest, this year’s setup is not as good as previous years and not worth a special trip to GCT. But it is FREE and can be viewed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. see mta.info/mta/museum.
Wish You Were Here: Sigmund Freud
Participate in an unusual evening of discussion between Jens Hoffmann and Dr. Sigmund Freud, represented by Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University and author of six books including Memory, Trauma and History: Essays on Living with the Past (2011). Roth curated the 1998 exhibition Freud: Conflict and Culture at the Library of Congress and edited a collected volume of essays on Freud, published under the same title.
The Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Avenue, (btw 81/82)
At 6:30pm / This program is free with Pay-What-You-Wish-Admission. General museum admission is $15.
212-423-3200 / Website
LOSER’S LOUNGE (through Sat)
“Harry Nilsson had one of the sweetest, supplest voices in pop music, until he ruined it with years of drinking, drugs, and a particularly abusive singing-screaming contest with his buddy John Lennon during the recording of their joint venture, “Pussy Cats.”
Earlier this year, Sony Legacy released a definitive, seventeen-album boxed set of Nilsson’s work, a benchmark for the wonderful singers of the Loser’s Lounge to aspire to. The Loser’s leader, Joe McGinty, will have plenty of fascinating, newly discovered material with which to construct his tribute. These shows mark the twentieth anniversary of Loser’s Lounge, one of New York’s liveliest, funniest, and most musically satisfying institutions.” (NewYorker mag)
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St.
7PM THU and FRI; 9:30PM FRI; 6:30 and 9PM SAT / $25
212-539-8778.
STREB “Forces” (through Dec. 22)
“Action heroes are usually the stuff of summer blockbusters, but thanks to Elizabeth Streb they have made their way to the world of dance as well. This pioneering daredevil choreographer showcases the long fall season with her fearless dancers at their home base, the Streb Lab for Action Mechanics in Brooklyn. The new piece, “Forces,” like all of her work, is equal parts circus, stunt and acrobatics, with the aid of Ms. Streb’s homegrown gadgets and contraptions.” — (NYT-BRIAN SCHAEFER)
Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 North First Street, Brooklyn
$40 to $60; family four-pack, $130
(866) 811-4111 / http://streb.org
subway: #1-2-3 to 14th St.; transfer to L train to Bedford (1st stop in bklyn)
walk 6 blocks S on Bedford to 1st St; 3 blks W on 1st St. to STREB (12 min)
Gregory Generet
No longer just subbing for Gregory Porter, vocalist Gregory Generet has turned Thursday nights into a top destination at Smoke. “Mr. Generet is a crooner in the tradition of Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman…(with) a voice so sultry you might get burned” -(New York Times, 2012)
Located off the southern edge of New York’s fabled Harlem neighborhood, Smoke Jazz & Supper Club-Lounge presents world-renowned jazz musicians seven nights a week. Candlelit tables, plush velvet banquets, antique chandeliers, and an historic full-length bar create a real jazz vibe to go with the excellent acoustics and sight lines.
The room has seating for just over fifty, which ensures that every listener is close to the action. The acoustics are some of the best anywhere. Pianist David Hazeltine remarked, “I love playing this room. It’s rare that the piano can be heard as clearly as it is in this club.” Harold Mabern added, “It’s the best jazz club in the world.”
Smoke Jazz and Supper Club-Lounge, 2751 Broadway (btw 105/106)
7pm & 9pm two-course dinner prix-fixe available for $29.95 / no music charge
10:30pm $20 minimum (dinner optional) / no music charge
212.864.6662 / smokejazz.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 and 3 Good Eating places – Tribeca
B-Flat / 277 Church st (Btw Franklin/White)
There are some places that are tough to find, then add a layer of mystery when you do find them. B-Flat has a nondescript, almost unmarked door at street level – today’s speakeasy vibe. Open this door and you face a dimly lit stairway down to their basement location. It almost takes a leap of faith to follow the stairs down to their interior door. But open that door and a pleasant surprise awaits you.
It’s a basement jazz spot all right, but not like any traditional jazz joint you may have been to before. This place looks as fresh as today, probably because it’s only been open for 6 years. Even though it hasn’t had a chance to age gracefully, the cherry wood accents and low lighting make this small space very inviting.
There is always jazz, often progressive jazz, playing over their very discrete, stylish bose speakers, setting just the right tone as you find a seat at the bar, or one of the small tables. There is wine and beer available, but this place has some expert mixologists making some very creative cocktails, which I’m told change seasonally, a nice touch.
Come at happy hour and tasty cocktails like the el Diablo or the lychee martini are $8 – not bad. I am a sucker for any drink made with lychee and how can you not try a tequila drink named el Diablo. There is also nice selection of small bites available at happy hour and a food menu that is as innovative as the cocktail menu, so this does not have to be a happy hour only stop.
It wasn’t surprising to find a tasty prosciutto and arugula salad with yuzu dressing, but I did not expect to find such a good version of fried chicken breast on the apps menu. Here it’s called “Tatsuta.” Best bet is to sample happy hour, then dinner on a Monday or Wednesday night, when you can finish with no cover live jazz that starts around 8.
This place is tough to find (look for a small slate sandwich board on the sidewalk out front advertising happy hour) and on some nights when there is no live music it may be a little too quiet for some. But I think it’s worth searching out if you want a place with good music, food, and especially drinks, away from the maddening crowd.
Website: http://http://www.bflat.info/index.html
Phone #: 212-219-2970
Hours: Mo-Wed 5pm-2am; Th-Sat 5pm-3am; no Sun
Happy Hour: 5-7pm every day; $8 cocktails + special prices on apps
Music: Mon/Wed 8pm
Subway: #1 to Franklin; walk 1 blk E to Church; 1 blk N to bFlat
NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide 