Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014.

Spotlight on Artisanal Products: Baci & Perugina Chocolates
“You could pick up a box of Baci for Mama, or you could take her to this class so she can learn to create her own. Students will learn how to make the infamous chocolate candy as well as a crostata and flourless chocolate cake, with a history lesson on Perugina thrown in for good measure. The class will be taught by Viola Buitoni, a descendant of the company’s founding family and a noted chocoholic. Tickets are $70 and include several Baci-inspired desserts and a glass of Prosecco.” (VillageVoice)
Eataly, 200 Fifth Avenue, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Workout in the Park
“Presented by SELF Magazine, is designed to inspire you to kick-start your your spring fitness routine by bringing all the best exercise classes to one place. Hosted by Bob Harper, a trainer on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” the event will demonstrate both high-energy and more chilled-out exercise options (yoga, pilates), new trends in the field, health, dietary and beauty workshops, and consultations. Harper himself will also do the “ultimate total body-blasting workout.” (DNA info)
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park. Enter at 69th Street and Fifth Avenue,
Tickets are available for $30.

Sustainable Seafood Week NYC (until Sun May 11)
“Ride a wave of eco-friendly celebrations at this blowout supporting local fishermen and chefs. The party kicks off at the Sustainable Seafood Shindig, where chefs like Tom Colicchio (Craft) and Bill Telepan (Telepan) will host exclusive tastings, each teaming with a fisherman and a fellow chef to create sustainable dishes. Luke’s Lobster will host a supper club at its FiDi location, serving lobster potpie and oysters; and throughout the week, participating venues (Colicchio & Sons, the Memaid Inn) will be dishing out responsibly harvested food.” (TONY)
Various locations. sustainableseafoodweeknyc.com/. $65-$135

Ship To Shore: a Sea-to-Table Tasting Cruise
Discover the world between the city and the sea while sailing along New York City’s shoreline. Learn about the secret lives of the fish, birds, plants of New York’s waterways with experts Tim Dillingham, Sean Dixon, Peter Malinowski, Don Riepe and Susan Elbin. Sample oysters, clams, scallops, nuts, berries, beer and wine sourced from within 150 miles of New York City, and inspired by what Manhattan’s earliest residents might have been eating in 1609, when Henry Hudson sailed into town.

Hosted by The American Littoral Society and Field Guide; Seafood Provided by Village Fishmonger NYC and Fishers Island Oyster Farm; Snacks Provided by Good Eggs; Libations courtesy of SingleCut Beersmiths
When: Saturday, May 10th, 2:00pm-5:00pm
Where: Aboard the Cabana, departs from East 23rd Street Skyport Marina, NYC
Early bird prices were $55.00 per person (through Saturday May 3rd); now $75
at shiptoshore.eventbrite.com

Shuckin’ Awesome: A Sustainable Oyster Throwdown
The week’s closing party, Shuckin’ Awesome: A Sustainable Oyster Throwdown will be hosted by SUSHISAMBA West Village. The event, held on the rooftop, will feature raw oyster creations from four acclaimed New York City chefs, an open bar, passed aperitivos and live DJ beats through the evening. Guests along with four special guest judges, including Journalist Bao Ong (New York Times, Travel + Leisure) and TV Personality/Reporter Michelle Park, will have the chance to vote for their favorite.

The official Sustainable Seafood Week ‘wrap’ party and the perfect way to end the weekend!
When: Sunday, May 11th, 6:00pm-8:30pm
Where: Rooftop of SUSHISAMBA West Village, 87 Seventh Avenue South,
Tickets are $65.00 per person at Samba Brands Management

Marilyn Maye
“Who else but Marilyn Maye could present such a perfect and personal tribute to Johnny Carson, her longtime friend and benefactor? Departing from 54 Below’s usual Broadway-centric orientation, Ms. Maye (whom Carson introduced as “The Super Singer”) is a 1960s variety show all by herself: She’s not only a singing star and an ace comedian, but she has also the flash and dazzle of the most skillful juggler or tap dancer and her vocal acrobatics (which would be astounding even if she weren’t 86) give you the same thrill as a great trapeze artist.

Her miraculous timing is put to the test in this multimedia presentation, in which she interacts with vintage 1970s “Tonight Show” clips of herself—most movingly as part of a sequence of torch songs that builds to a medley of “Those Were the Days” and, believe it or not, “I Will Survive.” (WSJ)
54 Below, 254 W 54th St., btw Broadway and Eighth Ave
at 8pm / $40–$65 plus $25 food or drink minimum
(646) 476-3551 / 866-468-7619 / 54below.com

Brad Mehldau Trio
“An unstoppable force on piano since his emergence in the mid-’90s, Brad Mehldau has raised the bar for instrumentalists across the board, collaborating with the likes of Jon Brion, Pat Metheny, Chris Thile and most recently drummer Mark Guiliana on the electronic jazz feast Taming the Dragon (Nonesuch).

At the Village Vanguard (May 6-11) Mehldau returns to the source of it all with his acoustic trio featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. The band’s 2012 Nonesuch efforts Ode and Where Do You Start, focusing on originals and covers respectively, spill over with harmonic invention and interpretive finesse.” (VillageVoice)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village,
212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com;
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., $25 and $30 cover, with a one-drink minimum.

PlusOne
Joan Osborne with special guests Allison Moorer & Martha Redbone (Sunday)
The 2nd Annual Joan Osborne Mother’s Day Benefit Concert – expanded to two nights this year – will benefit the Somaly Mam Foundation, dedicated to eradicating the trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and girls in Southeast Asia,

Joan Osborne’s eighth studio album, the recently released Love and Hate, is one of the most personally-charged, creatively ambitious efforts of her two-decades-plus recording career. The collection of new studio recordings – with Osborne as a co-writer on every song – is her most intimate record to date and is receiving critical acclaim. The NY Daily News expressed, “She treats love and hate not as distinct forces but as evil allies, conspiring against hapless humans.” RollingStone.com added, “There’s a substance and depth here that is not easily achieved, and I think Osborne is getting more interesting with time.” Osborne co-produced Love and Hate with Jack Petruzzelli (Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright)—with whom she also recorded 2012’s Bring It On Home, which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Blues Album category.
City Winery, 155 Varick St., near Spring St.
212-608-0555, citywinery.com
At 8pm / $45-$65
Saturday is sold out; listed today so you won’t be shut out tomorrow.
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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 MUSEUMS (Manhattan’s WestSide)

‘A World of Its Own: Photographic Practices in the Studio’ (through Oct. 5)
‘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.

Designing Modern Women 1890-1990:

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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 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 (05/08) and (05/06).