Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, APR. 14, 2014.

Gail Collins, When Everything Changed:
The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present
Author and beloved New York Times columnist Gail Collins re-releases her national best-selling book, When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present, in a keepsake edition.
Barnes & Noble, 2289 Broadway, at 82nd St.
At 7PM /FREE
212-362-8835

Simon Townshend – Danielia Cotton
Simon Townshend is straight from the lineage of one of British music’s most famous families, a familiar name but with an original sound. The son of England’s top big-band reed man and baby brother of Who legend Pete Townshend. In addition to his own music, Simon has been guitarist and vocalist in The Who since 1996, playing sold out tours around the world, including monumental performances at the 2010 Super Bowl and the closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics. He was referred to by one U.S. newspaper as The Who’s “secret weapon.”

Danielia Cotton is a fiery blues-rock artist with a chip on her shoulder. She doesn’t like comparisons, although with her first release of her debut disc she was earning them with such titans as Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, and the Rolling Stones.
City Winery, 155 Varick St.
8:00 PM / $22-$28
citywinery.com/newyork

Writer to Writer: Akhil Sharma and George Packer
Akhil Sharma will be appearing to discuss his latest book, Family Life, with New Yorker staff writer George Packer, author of The Unwinding. The evening will feature a reading, discussion and audience Q&A, followed by a book signing and wine reception.

” ‘Family Life’ is devastating as it reveals how love becomes warped and jagged and even seemingly vanishes in the midst of huge grief. But it also gives us beautiful, heart-stopping scenes where love in the Mishra family finds air and ease.” — Sonali Deraniyagala, The New York Times
The Center for Fiction, 17 E. 47th St. (btw Fifth and Madison)
at 7PM / FREE. RSVP please
(212) 755-6710 / centerforfiction.org

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

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
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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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Chelsea is the heart of the NYCity contemporary art scene. Home to more than 300 art galleries, the Rubin Museum, the Joyce Theater, and The Kitchen performance spaces, there is no place like it anywhere in the world. Come here to browse free exhibitions by world-renowned artists and those unknowns waiting to be discovered in an art district that is concentrated between West 18th and West 27th Streets, and 10th and 11th Avenues. Afterwards stop in the Chelsea Market, stroll on the High Line, or rest up at one of the many cafes and bars and discuss the fine art – my fave is Ovest on W 27th St., where the aperitivo is like Happy Hour on steroids.

WHAT’S ON VIEW: Here are two gallery exhibitions recommended by the NYT:

Gerard & Kelly: ‘Timelining’ (through April 19)
“Conceived and scored by the dancers and visual artists Brennan Gerard and Ryan Kelly, this performance, on view during gallery hours, is a kind of ritualized recounting, working backward in time, of the histories of paired relationships. The performers include couples, gay and straight; ex-lovers; a mother and daughter; and female twins, all of whom follow basic guidelines set down by Mr. Gerard and Mr. Kelly, but personally customize them, with moving results. It’s a high point of the Chelsea season so far.”(Cotter)
The Kitchen, 512 West 19th Street, 212-255-5793, thekitchen.org. 

Sarah Lucas: ‘NUD NOB’ (through April 26)
“How far can you go with an art career based on limited set of puerile dirty jokes? Pretty far if you’re Sarah Lucas. Known for funky assemblages and photographs that visually pun on the sexually distinctive features of human anatomy, Ms. Lucas recently was named to represent Britain in next year’s Venice Biennale. This rousing show of monumental phalluses in polished bronze and crusty concrete connects the viscerally low-minded and the intellectually high with terrific economy and shameless panache.” (Johnson)
Gladstone Gallery, 515 West 24th Street, 212-206-9300, gladstonegallery.com.

For a listing of 25 essential galleries in the Chelsea Art Gallery District, organized by street, which enables you to create your own Chelsea Art Gallery crawl, see the Chelsea Gallery Guide (nycgo.com) Or check out TONY magazine’s list of the “Best Chelsea Galleries” and click through to see what’s on view. ==========================================================

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (04/12) and (04/10).