Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, FEB. 03, 2014

ASTEROIDS: EARTH’S NEAREST NEIGHBORS WITH AMY MAINZER
Asteroids have interacted with Earth in the past and are certain to do so in the future. In this talk, Mainzer will explore the origins and evolution of the smallest bodies in our solar system as well as what has recently been learned about their orbital and physical properties. Recent advances in ground- and space-based astronomy have yielded new estimates of their numbers, orbits, sizes, and compositions. Systems to discover, track, characterize, and predict potential impacts from Earth’s nearest neighbors will be discussed.
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St.,
at 7:30 pm / $15
212-769-5100

Make it a double feature at the museum

‘The Power of Poison’ (through Aug. 10)
The good and bad uses of poison will be covered in this interactive exhibition that includes animation and a bit of theater. In his review for The New York Times, Edward Rothstein said that this is one of the museum’s “most theatrical exhibitions” and that the curating team has “combined elements with deft curatorial alchemy, touching on every taxonomical category.”
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street,
Daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m./ $22, $17 for students and 60+
(212) 769-5200, amnh.org

Screening | 2 Oscar-Winning Short Films:
On the Bowery / 3rd Ave. El
During this Oscar season, take a retrospective look at past winners and nominees in the categories of documentaries and short subjects.

On the Bowery (1957) Nominee, Best Documentary (Feature) 65 minutes
3rd Ave. El (1955) Nominee, Best Short Subject (One- Reel) 11 minutes
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts,
 
Third Floor Screening Room
at 6:00 pm / FREE

Jazz ‘Fame’
“The quotation marks in the title might seem a tad awkward, but they serve a purpose, since this benefit concert celebrates the jazz legacy of La Guardia High School, of “Fame” movie fame. Among the artists appearing — some, but not all, alumni — are the clarinetists Paquito D’Rivera and Don Byron; the pianists Arturo O’Farrill and Jeremy Manasia; and the bassists Andy Gonzalez and Marcus Miller.” (Chinen-NYT)
La Guardia High School, 100 Amsterdam Avenue, at 65th Street,
At 7:30 p.m./ $35 and $75
212-496-0700, alumniandfriends.org

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
There’s a tradition in many New York City jazz clubs – Monday nights are reserved for big bands. The Village Vanguard, the most storied of clubs, has observed this practice since 1966. The Grammy-winning Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, established by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, is definitely a big band with 4 trumpets, and 4 trombones to accompany 6 reed players. Why not make it your tradition, too.
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Avenue South, just below West 11th St.
At 8:30 and 10:30 pm / $25
212-255-4037 / villagevanguard.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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WHAT’S ON VIEW: Special Exhibitions @ 4 MUSEUMS (Manhattan’s WestSide)

‘Walker Evans: American Photographs’ (through Mar. 09)
“In 1938, the Museum of Modern Art mounted its first one-person photography exhibition: “American Photographs,” by Walker Evans. This gripping, 75th-anniversary reprise of that show presents more than 50 images from that body of work. It is accompanied by a reissue of the original catalog, which includes a wonderfully insightful essay by Evans’s friend and supporter Lincoln Kirstein. Together, the show and the book reverberate now in a time when the idea of America is subject to debates as fractious and far-reaching as at any time since the Civil War.” (Johnson-NYT)
Isa Genzken: ‘Retrospective’ (through March 10)
‘Ileana Sonnabend: Ambassador for the New’ (through April 21)
 ‘Designing Modern Women 1890-1990’(through Oct. 5)
Museum of Modern Art: 11 W 53rd St. (btw 5th /6th Ave.)
(212) 708-9400 / moma.org.
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‘Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital’ (through June 1)
“If you haven’t quite wrapped your head around the concept of 3-D printing, or haven’t yet had a digital scanner wrap itself around you, now you can do both in this survey of computer-assisted art, architecture and design. The show looks at art made since 2005 and fills nearly three floors, including many irresistible interactive projects. Its ideas may not be entirely new; the Museum of Modern Art’s 2008 exhibition “Design and the Elastic Mind” covered much of the same territory, but there’s something to be said for this more down-to-earth, production-focused exhibition.” (Rosenberg-NYT)
Museum of Arts and Design, Columbus Circle,
212-299-7777,madmuseum.org.
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‘The Armory Show at 100: Modern Art and Revolution’ (through Feb. 23)
“The Historical Society visits a watershed exhibition in the history of American art (and a significant event in the annals of New York City) with this centennial celebration of the 1913 Armory Show, the controversial survey that introduced New York audiences to the works of such modern artists as Duchamp, Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh. Some of those same pieces return here.” (TONY listings)
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, at 77th St.
(212) 873-3400 / nyhistory.org.

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The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya (ongoing)
This exhibition by artist Nathan Sawaya is a critically acclaimed collection of intriguing and inspiring works of art made exclusively from one of the most recognizable toys in the world — LEGO® bricks. The Discovery Times Square exhibit is the world’s biggest and most elaborate display of LEGO® art ever and features brand-new, never-before-seen pieces by Sawaya. This show was named ‘One of CNN’s Ten Global Must-See Exhibitions.’
Discovery Times Square, 226 West 44th St. (btw 7th/8th ave)
866.987.9692 / http://www.discoverytsx.com

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : … …” dated (02/01) and (01/30).