Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – TUESDAY, FEB. 18, 2014

Booker T. Jones
“As the leader of Booker T. & the MGs, the house band for Stax Records, Mr. Jones poured the foundation of Memphis soul from his Hammond organ in the 1960s. Today, Mr. Jones remains a modest, vigorous multi-instrumentalist and producer with a charming lack of musical borders. His is a rare talent: He can leap from producing Willie Nelson to pounding out a cameo on the ska-punk band Rancid’s album “Let the Dominoes Fall.” With Aaron Lee Tasjan.” (Anderson-NYT)
City Winery, 155 Varick Street, near Spring Street, South Village,
At 8 p.m., $35 to $50
212-608-0555, citywinery.com

Reflections of Monk (through Feb. 22)
“A dream team of top-notch bandleader-improvisers join forces to pay tribute to one of the 20th century’s winningest, most enduring oeuvres. Your tour guides through the wonderful world of Thelonious Monk–iana are trumpeter Tom Harrell, saxist Greg Osby, drummer Matt Wilson, bassist Ben Allison and pianist Aaron Goldberg, with saxist Melissa Aldana (winner of the 2013 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition) joining in on Feb 21 and 22.” (TONY mag)
Birdland, 315 W 44th St. btw Eighth and Ninth Aves
At 8:30 and 11PM / $40, with a $10 minimum
212-581-3080 / birdlandjazz.com

Fred Hersch Trio (through Feb. 23)
“The pianist has a nurturing relationship with the Village Vanguard, as demonstrated on his 2012 release, “Alive at the Vanguard,” the third live album that he has recorded there. He returns Feb. 18-23, joined by the same telepathic team assembled for that album: the bassist John Hébert and the drummer Eric McPherson.” (NewYorker mag)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village,
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., $25 and $30 cover, with a one-drink minimum.
212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com 

Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca (through Feb. 22)
“The stellar Ms. Barrio and her team of percussionists, guitarists, vocalists and fellow dancers have been regulars at Joe’s Pub for 15 years. Their anniversary program includes excerpts from a new work, “Antigona,” along with well-known and well-loved selections from their soulful repertory.” (Burke-NYT)
Joe’s Pub, at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, at Astor Place
At 7:30 and 9 p.m., with an additional performance on Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.,
$35 to $45.
212-967-7555, joespub.com

Tony Shalhoub and Santino Fontana
in Conversation With Tom Santopietro and Special Guest Christopher Hart.
Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub (TV series Monk) joins Broadway star Santino Fontana in conversation with Tom Santopietro and special guest Christopher Hart about the upcoming play, Act One, based on playwright Moss Hart’s autobiography.
Barnes & Noble, 2289 Broadway @ 82nd ST.
AT 7PM / FREE
212-362-8835

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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This Week in NYCity (courtesy NYPost):

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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, jazz clubs, 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 (except for certain jazz clubs).

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. It’s cramped, even for NYCity, but usually there is room up the spiral staircase to sit down and eat. In good weather carry your sandwich a few blocks to Union Sq park. 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)