Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, DEC. 19, 2013

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.

Explore the life of Leonardo da Vinci, the artist and scientist.
Leonardo da Vinci (1552–1519) has been especially popularized as the universal genius of the Renaissance for his activity as artist and scientist. Carmen C. Bambach, Curator, Department of Drawings and Prints, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will attempt to explain some of Leonardo’s methods and innovations, based on an examination of his extant notebooks and practices, and how he was perceived historically. The exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Treasures from the Biblioteca Reale, Turin, will be open at 5:30 pm for lecture attendees. This lecture is co-organized by the Morgan Drawing Institute.
Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave. (btw 36/37 St.)
At 6:30PM / $15
212-685-0008

Michael Feinstein (through Dec. 28, no Dec. 22 & 23)
“It wouldn’t be the holidays without Michael Feinstein —he’s no less a seasonal landmark than the tree at Rockefeller Center. Chances are you know people who’ve come from all over the country to see the decorations on Fifth Avenue, and the Feinstein Holiday show, no less than Radio City’s annual holiday pagent (which, this year, features the excellent singer Jennifer Sheehan ) is always on their must-see list.

Although Feinstein’s at the Regency has shuttered its chimney, the good news is that Mr. Feinstein himself is bringing his traditional holiday package to Times Square, and he always puts together a stunning mix of the old-time holiday standards we expect and something new and/or offbeat. And yes, there’s always Tom Lehrer’s classic “Chanukah in Santa Monica.” (WSJ)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. (btw 8/9 Ave.)
At 8:30 PM / $75 (at the bar) – $200
(212) 581-3080

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-BrianSchaefer)
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
this is not manhattan’s westside, but it is brooklyn’s westside (hipster williamsburg),
and definitely worth the trip – this show is awesome!
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)
and stop at the radegast biergarten, which is right on the way, before or after the show

Carnegie Hall – “Under the Mistletoe,”
Traditional and contemporary holiday songs with the New York Pops, directed by Steven Reineke; with the actress and singer Ashley Brown; and Essential Voices USA, directed by Judith Clurman.
Carnegie Hall, 57th St. @ 7th ave
At 8 p.m./ $34 to $120.
212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org

Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm dates and check times, as schedules are subject to change. ==========================================================================================

What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 3 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

“Eighteenth Century Pastels” (through Dec. 29)
“Julia Margaret Cameron” (through Jan. 5, 2014)
“Medieval Treasures From Hildesheim” (through Jan. 5, 2014)
“Interwoven Globe: The Worldwide Textile Trade, 1500-1800″ (through Jan. 5, 2014)
‘Balthus: Cats and Girls — Paintings and Provocations’ (through Jan. 12, 2014)
“Brush Writing in the Arts of Japan” (through Jan. 12, 2014)
“Venetian Glass by Carlo Scarpa, The Venini Co., 1932–1947” (through March 2, 2014)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, at 82nd St.
(212) 535-7710 / metmuseum.org

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‘Robert Motherwell: Early Collages’ (through Jan. 5, 2014)
‘Christopher Wool’ (through Jan. 22, 2014)
“Kandinsky in Paris, 1934–1944“ (through Apr. 23, 2014)

Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th St.
(212) 423-3500 / guggenheim.org.

‘Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Hals: Masterpieces of Dutch Painting From the Mauritshuis’ (through Jan. 19, 2014)
Frick Collection, 1 East 70th St., at Fifth Ave.
admission is by timed tickets.
288-0700 / frick.org

========================================================== Museum Mile is a section of Fifth Avenue which contains one of the densest displays of culture in the world. Ten museums can be found along this section of Fifth Avenue:

• 110th Street – Museum for African Art

• 105th Street – El Museo del Barrio

• 103rd Street – Museum of the City of New York

• 92nd Street – The Jewish Museum

• 91st Street –  Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

• 89th Street – National Academy Museum

• 88th Street – Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

• 86th Street – Neue Galerie New York

• 83rd Street – Goethe-Institut

Last, but certainly not least, America’s premier museum
• 82nd Street – The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Additionally, though technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 70th St. and the The Morgan Library & Museum on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave. Now plan your own museum crawl. ==========================================================

What’s on View: Top Photography Exhibitions
(NYCity / Manhattan’s WestSide)   

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

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

ICP 1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street / 212-857-0000
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

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

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar: “NYCity Events: Manhattan’s WestSide” dated 12/17 and 12/15.