Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, APR. 12, 2014.

Chaplin at Mutual (1916-1917)
Watch four Charlie Chaplin shorts.

Finding his “movie legs” at Keystone and Essanay, Chaplin signed a contract with the Mutual Film Corp. for 12 shorts which made him the one of the highest paid performers in the world. The stint with Mutual was a major creative burst for the comedian and is represented today with THE COUNT (’16), THE PAWNSHOP (’16), THE IMMIGRANT (’17), and THE ADVENTURER (’17). The Mutual films show Chaplin at the peak of his two-reel form, and from these first years in the film industry Chaplin went on to independence at his own studio where he would create longer and more complex comedies.
Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center
2:30 p.m. / FREE

Pride of Brooklyn Homebrew Festival 2014
The suds face-off returns for its second year, with 25 Kings County home-brewers battling for top honors from judges and the public. Sip through entries (each participant will bring five gallons of their brew), along with pours from local brewery Yonkers, while noshing on pulled-pork sliders from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.
Littlefield, 622 DeGraw St. (between Third and Fourth Aves)
1pm / $25-$55
littlefieldnyc.com
ok. so this is off our track in Gowanus, of all places.
but it is a beer fest, which makes it worth the trek
subway: #1-2-3 to Times Sq, transfer to R to Union St.

Hazmat Modine & SaRon Crenshaw
With dueling harmonicas, a scintillating sousaphone, and the mysterious sheng (the ancient Chinese mouth organ), the band runs the gamut of genres and instrumentation. Most of what they play are originals, but keep an ear out for cover versions of “Slim Gaillard, Jimmy Rogers, Jaybird Coleman, and Irving Berlin.” Lead Wade Schuman will send the audience home humming & stomping after the romping, dynamic and passionately unique experience that is Hazmat Modine.

Charismatic jazz and blues guitarist SaRon Crenshaw works the crowd in the headlining slot. Support comes from Wade Schuman’s brassy, gritty world-blues combo Hazmat Modine, which has collaborated with Natalie Merchant and the Kronos Quartet.
Terra Blues, 149 Bleeker St.
@7PM, followed by the Saron Crenshaw Band @10PM / $15

The Big Cheesy (April 12 – 13)
A grilled cheese extravaganza
“If ever there were a reason to put your diet on hold, it’s this: The Big Cheesy grilled cheese competition. This two-day pop-up resto and culinary throwdown features the gooiest and cheesiest sandwiches around pressed together by the culinary experts at Murray’s Melts, 5oz Factory, Sons of Essex, Meltkraft and more. You’re the judge, so best use your one-hour of sampling wisely at this “homage to fromage.” Added bonus: two Goose Island beers are included in the cost of admission.”
(Flavorpill’s Mindy Bond – she’s good, knows what’s happening)
Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry Street,
Daily, 11am – 7pm / $30

JANE MONHEIT (through April 12)
“The days when her vocal bona fides were questioned are long since past, and Monheit has become a jazz mainstay. On her recent album, “The Heart of the Matter,” she goes where her fancy takes her, mixing the Beatles, Ivan Lins, Randy Newman, and a “Sesame Street” anthem into her repertoire. For this run, she’s fronting the Manhattan School of Music Big Band, featuring musicians from her alma mater.” (NewYorker)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St.
At 8 and 10:30 p.m. / $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum
212-581-3080 / bluenote.net
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♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.

♦ NYCity is a big town with many visitors where quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.

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What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 3 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

‘The American West in Bronze, 1850-1925’ (LAST DAY)
‘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 04/10 and 04/08.