Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, FEB. 17, 2014

Social Media Week 2014 (through Feb 21)
“Always on, Always connected: The Future of Now”
Conference – Explore the social, cultural and economic impact of social media at this massive meet-up

“The week-long massive meet-up devoted to exploring the social, cultural and economic impact of social media returns to New York with its sixth edition. This year, the proceedings are centralized at Highline Stages with highlights including keynotes by Buzzfeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti and Upworthy’s Eli Pariser; a masterclass on Impulse Response hosted by the New York Times R&D Lab; an exploration into Attention Economics with TrueX; and a panel discussing Millennial habits and how they are affecting content today.

In addition to the talks at the hub, there are a number of supporting events you can get in on (many are free), throughout the city. For a complete list of what’s happening check out the Social Media Week’s official handy dandy guide.” Mindy Bond, Flavorpill
Highline Stages, 440W15th St.
At 7PM today; 7:45AM other days
Ticket Price$174.30 (Campus Pass (Discounted 30.00%) – $174.30, Networking pass – $29, Insider – $399, CMO Pass – $999)
socialmediaweek.org/newyork/

Captain Black Big Band
“Orrin Evans, a Philly pianist who approaches jazz tradition with both reverence and a deep inquisitiveness, leads his fine large ensemble, which translates postbop fire to the big-band canvas. While there’s no cover charge, a two-course prix-fixe dinner is available for $29.95.” (TONY mag)
Smoke Jazz Club and Lounge, 2751 Broadway
between 105th and 106th Sts
at 7PM / no cover
212-864-6662/ smokejazz.com

“Connie’s Piano Songs: The Art Songs of Elizabeth ‘Connie’ Converse” 
featuring Charlotte Mundy and Christopher Goddard

“One thing about music geeks (who, * moi? *)—we live to discover an artist who’s as obscure and overlooked as she is remarkable, and, also, we just plain love a mystery. Little about the music and life of “Connie” Converse makes sense: born in 1924, she held down a day job as a secretary and wrote and wrote and recorded her own contemporary folk songs in an era decades before that concept was even invented. Then, at the age of 50, she completely fell off the planet; for all we know, she’s apparently holing up in a bar in Argentina alongside by Jimmy Hoffa and Judge Crater.

In 2009, a CD of her own recordings was released under the title “How Sad, How Lonely,” and now the resourceful singer-guitarist Howard Fishman has produced a new album of Converse’s songs rendered by soprano Charlotte Mundy and pianist Christopher Goddard, which will be launched Monday night at Poisson Rouge. Converse’s music anticipates the entire singer-songwriter era, and at the same time seems to come from some undiscovered alternate universe of sound.” (WSJ)
Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St.
at 6PM / $15
(212) 228-4854 / lepoissonrouge.com

BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO
“Stanley Dural, Jr., who has been performing under this stage name for decades, was one of the first to bring Louisiana’s accordion-heavy dance music to the masses. A seasoned party professional, he pays a pre-Mardi Gras visit to the city, with a run at the Iridium. The first two nights, he’s with his band (keep an eye on that washboard player), and on the last night he’s sitting in on Hammond B-3 organ, one of his first loves, with the Les Paul Trio.” (NewYorker mag)
Iridium, 1650 Broadway, at 51st St.
At 8 and 10PM / $35 + $15 food or drink minimum.
212-582-2121 / iridiumjazzclub.com

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
A popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland every Monday night. For the past nine years, it’s been the spot to mix and mingle with Manhattan show folk and their fans.

The buoyant, sharp and charming Broadway impresario Jim Caruso hosts a combination open-mic, networking event and party, where some nights you may hear the biggest stars on Broadway relax on their night off by performing their favorite songs in an informal setting. Always fun.
Birdland – 315 West 44th St (btw 8th/9th ave)
9:30 pm / $20 (includes a drink if you sit at the bar, which are not bad seats)
(212) 581-3080 / birdlandjazz.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 @ 3 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

‘Silla: Korea’s Golden Kingdom’ (through Feb. 23)
“Venetian Glass by Carlo Scarpa, The Venini Co., 1932–1947” (through March 2, 2014)
‘Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China’ (through April 6)
‘The American West in Bronze, 1850-1925’ (ends April 13)
‘Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris’ (through May 4)
William Kentridge: ‘The Refusal of Time’ (through May 11)
The Flowering of Edo Period Painting: Japanese Masterworks from the Feinberg Collection’(through Sept. 7)
‘Early American Guitars: The Instruments of C.F. Martin’ (through Dec. 7)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, at 82nd St.
(212) 535-7710 / metmuseum.org
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‘Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes From the Hill Collection’ (through June 15)
“This sensational, beautifully presented show of 33 late-15th- to early-18th-century bronzes reflects a taste for historically important, big-statement examples in exceptional condition. They vividly reflect the Renaissance’s new interest in antiquity and the human form while encouraging concentration on emotional expression, refined details (great hair!), struggling or relaxed figures and varied patinas. Works by the reigning geniuses Giambologna, Susini and the lesser-known Piamontini dominate, further enlivened by a handful of old master and late-20th-century paintings from the Hill collection.”
(Roberta Smith-NYT)
Frick Collection: 1 East 70th St.
212-288-0700, frick.org.
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‘Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Video’ (through May 14)
“Kandinsky in Paris, 1934–1944“ (through Apr. 23, 2014)
Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th St.
(212) 423-3500 / guggenheim.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. ==========================================================

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar: “NYCity Events: Manhattan’s WestSide” dated 02/15 and 02/13.