Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2014.

Japan Day
“Returns to Central Park with an afternoon’s worth of events centered around culture, cuisine and the arts of Japan. From 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell, take in performances like jazz music, karate and fashion design; or cheer on the athletes at the Japan Run. For a more leisurely Sunday, check out the activity and food tents, where you can work on your origami or calligraphy or stuff your face with gyoza, miso soup, ramen and other tasty Japanese snacks.” (Gothamist)

Chocolate Tasting
“A chocolate tasting and a discussion about the interconnection of Jewish history and the history of chocolate will be led by Deborah R. Prinz, author of “On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao.” (NYT)
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, Lower Manhattan,
646-437-4200, mjhnyc.org
At 2:30 p.m. / $18, $15 for students, $12 for members.

Of Montreal
“Of Montreal’s vibey, spirited energy offers a type of rock that plays with electric guitars and tambourines in familiar yet refreshing ways. Hailing from Athens, Georgia, their sound has evolved over the years but still has an unmistakable element, one that is reminiscent simultaneously of vaudeville and the 1970s. The band is a part of the eccentric Elephant 6 Collective — which also claims acts like Circulatory System and Neutral Milk Hotel — and will certainly send the crowd whirling with their animated, nostalgic riffs and loud, amped-up vocals.” (Eleanor Lambert-Village Voice)
Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, near Thompson Street, Greenwich Village, 212-505-3474, lepoissonrouge.com
At 9 p.m., / $25

Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band
“Latin jazz, in its many regional and stylistic forms, has rarely received as much attention as it has in the past few years. This is due in part to the work of the pianist Palmieri, one of the genre’s most influential and indefatigable figures, a ten-time Grammy winner and a 2013 N.E.A. Jazz Master, who has led rhythmically exhilarating, improvisation-infused ensembles for more than five decades. His group is joined for this run by the violinist Alfredo de la Fé, the vibraphonist Joe Locke, and the saxophonists Donald Harrison and Ronnie Cuber.” (NewYorker)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St.
212-475-8592

Manhattan Cocktail Classic (through May 13)
“In recent years, New York City—which, thanks to its mass-transit system, is practically designed with imbibing in mind—has seen an efflorescence of high-end cocktail culture. If you haven’t experienced it, this five-day event offers an opportunity to catch up, double-fisted. It starts with a gala party at the New York Public Library—featuring d.j. turns by Big Boi, Questlove, and AndrewAndrew—and includes mixology classes, distillery tours, and the creation of the World’s Largest Hand-Muddled Caipirinha.” (NewYorker)
manhattancocktailclassic.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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Many Fish, Small Pond – Bronx Zoo

A school of shellcracker fulu (Haplochromis ishmaeli) in the Jonathan L. Cohen Crocodile Pool, part of the “Madagascar” exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. The exit sign in the distance is for the building, not the tank. (May 11, 2014)

Every Sunday in the NYT Metropolitan section, a photographer offers a new slice of New York. A wonderful slice of life it is – Thanks NewYorkTimes: N.Y. / Region section

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A PremierPub – West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

Sometimes you just need a beer and a burger. If so, Corner Bistro is the place you want. Located just outside the hip Meatpacking district, this corner bar and grill is decidedly unhip, but it’s not uncrowded, especially at night. Seems that everyone knows this place has one of the better burgers in town.

In the maze of streets known as the West Village, where West 4th intersects with West 12th (and West 11th, and West 10th, go figure), you will eventually find Corner Bistro on the corner of West 4th and Jane Street. An unassuming neighborhood tavern, it looks just like dozens of other taverns around town. The bartender tells me that the Corner Bistro will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary next year. The well worn interior tells me that the place itself is much older.

Corner Bistro has outlasted many of those other taverns around town because they know how to keep it simple — just good burgers and beer, fairly priced. The classic bistro Burger is only $6.75, and should be ordered medium rare, which will be plenty rare for most folks. Actually, it will be a juicy, messy delight – make sure you have extra napkins. I like to pull up a stool and sit by the large front window in the afternoon, where I can rest my burger and beer on the shelf, and watch the Villagers walk by.

Corner Bistro seems to attract very different groups of patrons depending on time of day. While it’s crowded with locals in the evening, in the afternoon you hear different foreign languages, and watch groups of euro tourists wander in, led by their guidebooks and smartphones.

For the classic Bistro experience, order your burger with a McSorley’s draft, the dark preferably. This is the same beer that you can get over at the original McSorley’s in the East Village, the pub that claims to be the oldest continually operating bar in NYCity. The only difference is that this McSorley’s ale is served with a smile by the bartenders here. Or you can get a Sierra Nevada, Stella, or Hoegaarden on tap if you want to go upscale a bit. Either way this is a simple, but quality burger and beer experience that is just too rare these days (sorry for the pun).

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Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk 2 blk W. on 13th St. to 8th Ave.; 1 blk S. on 8th Ave. to Jane St.
Update:

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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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