Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, JAN. 17, 2014
For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide check out:
♦ “Notable NYC Events-Jan”, 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.
Early American Guitars: The Instruments of C.F. Martin
This Special Exhibition just opened this week.
Legendary guitar maker Christian Frederick Martin built his first instrument in the United States in the 1830s. He settled in NYC on Hudson Street, establishing the forerunner of the still family-owned and -operated C.F. Martin & Company, which is located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
After emigrating from Saxony, Martin encountered the Spanish-style guitar and incorporated elements from that tradition into his own Viennese style of instrument construction. The result was a new form of the guitar, a style that would become important as a basis for other American makers of the instrument.
Tis exhibition includes roughly 35 instruments taken from the Martin Museum in Nazareth, The Met and private collections.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Ave. at 82nd St.
212-535-7710|/ / metmuseum.org/
Second annual Black Comic Book Festival (Friday and Saturday)
“Commentary will be as abundant as illustrations when scholars, artists and collectors gather for this free symposium. One of the earliest black superheroes to appear in mainstream comics is thought to be the Black Panther, who made his debut in Marvel’s Fantastic Four in 1966. At last year’s festival, a costumed Black Panther and Superman mingled with Khalil Gibran Muhammad, the center’s director.
The festival begins on Friday with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed at 7 by a conversation that will include Jonathan Gayles, an associate dean at Georgia State University, whose documentary, “White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black Masculinities in Comic Books,” was shown at last year’s event. On Saturday there will be more discussions, screenings and an exhibition. Young artists can also create their own comic books during a workshop on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.” (Mancuso-NYT listings)
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Lenox Avenue, at 135th Street, Hamilton Heights.
Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
Registration is encouraged and can be made at
schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com; (212) 491-2200
Al Foster’s Birthday Celebration (Friday and Saturday)
‘The veteran drummer Al Foster, who will turn 71 on the second night of this stand, has a rhythmic signature that’s both assertive and relaxed. He’s likely to propel his top-shelf quartet — with Eric Alexander on tenor saxophone, Adam Birnbaum on piano and Doug Weiss on bass — in that slippery fashion, while leaving plenty of room for solo exhortation. “ (Chinen-NYT listings)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway, at 106th St.,
At 7, 9 and 10:30 p.m./ $38 cover.
(212) 864-6662, smokejazz.com
JEN CHAPIN
“With songs delivered in a style that ranges from tender fragility to unexpected steeliness, Chapin brings a jazzy edge to the folk form. Sometimes she explores a fleeting emotion, sometimes she weaves a solid narrative—not at all surprising from the daughter of Harry Chapin, a master musical storyteller. She’ll be performing songs from her new album, “Reckoning,” with a fine band including her husband, Stephan Crump, on bass, Jamie Fox on guitar, Dan Rieser on drums, Chris Brown on piano, and Erin Hill on harp and supporting vocals.” (NewYorker listings)
Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd St.
subway: #1-2-3 to PennStation; walk 4 blocks E on 32nd St. to venue (about 15 min)
At 8PM / $20
212-691-1900/ thecuttingroomnyc.com
ROY HARGROVE & RH FACTOR
“The marriage of hip-hop and jazz is a thriving union, and the trumpeter Hargrove has always been a step or two ahead of his peers with his RH Factor band. The funk flies, Hargrove blows hard, and purists are outraged. But for this onetime wunderkind, who was hailed as a keeper of the traditionalist flame when he first hit the scene in the early nineties, staying contemporary is the same as breathing.” (NewYorker listings)
Highline Ballroom, 431 West 16th Street, Chelsea,
At 8 p.m./$30, with a $10 minimum at tables.
(212) 414-5994, highlineballroom.com
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 – 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 