Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, JAN. 13, 2014

Cosmologist Max Tegmark
Cosmologist Max Tegmark leads an astonishing journey through past, present and future, and through the physics, astronomy and mathematics that form the foundation of his work He will focus on his hypothesis that our physical reality is a mathematical structure and his theory of the ultimate multiverse.

In a dazzling combination of popular and groundbreaking science, Tegmark not only helps us grasp his often mind-boggling theories, but he also shares with us some surprising triumphs and disappointments that have shaped his life as a scientist.
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St.
at 7:30 pm / $15; $13.50 seniors
212-769-5100

Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express
“Mr. Alexander, an effervescent pianist and one of Jamaica’s proudest musical exports, stamps his native groove with an uptown twist in a group that typically includes two bassists and an impressive clutch of drummers. Sharing the bill is the singer Caterina Zapponi, with a band that includes the eminent Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and one of his sons, Martin, on bass. “(Nate Chinen-NYT)
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village
At 8 and 10:30 p.m./ $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum.
(212) 475-8592, bluenote.net

New York Jewish Film Festival (January 8–23)
Presented by the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, this global survey of innovative and provocative movies focusing on the Jewish experience is back in 2014 for its 23rd installment. A number of films presented in years past have gone on to be distributed nationally in theaters and on TV (in fact, Ajami, a tense crime thriller that unfolds on the streets of Jaffa in Israel and was featured in the 2010 festival, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film).

A full schedule is at nyjff.org.
Walter Reade Theater, 165 West 65th St., and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th St.
Tickets are $13, $9 for students and 62+, $8 for members of the Film Society and the Jewish Museum.

Jack O’Brien Reading and Discussion
The Broadway director Jack O’Brien will discuss and read from his memoir “Jack Be Nimble: The Accidental Education of an Unintentional Director,” released last year. His most recent work, “Macbeth,” will end its run on Sunday at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center.

The free event is co-sponsored by the Theater Arts Committee.
National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South
At 8 p.m./ FREE
(212) 475-3424, nationalartsclub.org.
not quite WestSide, but close enough
subway: #1 to 18^th St.
walk: 4 blk W to Park; 2 blk N to 20^th; 1 blk E to venue (15 min).
bonus: stop for hot chocolate @ City Bakery on 18^th St. nr 5^th ave

Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and 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, and of course, pubs  – 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. ================================================================================

◊ 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 Spring 2014)