Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2014.

New York Dance Parade and Festival
“We know you like to shake what your mama gave you at your favorite watering hole, but did you know that “social dancing” in bars is technically illegal without a permit? Fight the man, Footloose-style, at the Eighth Annual New York Dance Parade & Festival, which was created to defend public dancing as a constitutional right. More than 10,000 dancers from across the globe will sashay, B-boy and conga their way along the route—stopping at the Union Square grandstand on the way to perform everything from ethnic folk dances to contemporary hip-hop. The promenade ends at Tompkins Square Park, where DanceFest—featuring more performances, lessons and parkwide social dancing—will already be under way.” (TONY)
From Broadway and 21st St to Tompkins Square Park.
Parade from 1pm-3pm; DanceFest from 3pm-7pm / all FREE
267-350-9213 / danceparade.org

Taste of Tribeca,
It’s the season for neighborhood tastings, and Tribeca’s famous high-end eateries will showcase the food that’s made them perennial award winners. For $50 on the day of the event, guests can sample the best of restaurants like Bouley and Tribeca Grill. Pick up a tasting card, which includes six tastes.

There will be a wine tour and live entertainment courtesy of City Winery. A complete list of events and participating restaurants available online.
Duane Street between Greenwich and Hudson.
From 11:30 a.m. – 3pm

Gizmodo Home of the Future (through May 21)
“Experience how you will live, work, and play in the not-so-distant future at Gizmodo’s first-ever Home of the Future, an immersive installation showcasing the design, ideas, and technology set to redefine urban dwelling.

Visitors can check out and test-drive a mind-boggling array of innovative designs and cutting-edge products that will shape urban life in the coming decade – from an electric cruiser for your daily commute to a bathroom scale that measures weight, body composition, and even air quality, to an ingenious vertical garden tower for growing vegetables indoors and a telepresence robot that can beam you into an office meeting when working remotely from home. Home of the Future also plays host to an array of talks and panels led by architecture buffs, design enthusiasts, tech innovators, and urban futurists. For a full schedule visit the website.”
(FlavorPill, Mindy Bond, Editor)
St. Patrick’s Youth Center, 268 Mulberry Street, near Houston Street in SoHo.
Nearest subway: Broadway-Lafayette.
Hours: 11:00 am to late. / FREE
Come work in the Home of the Future—stop by to sit on our snazzy furniture and use our superfast WiFi. Plus, we’ll be hosting events every night.
go here to see the schedule and RSVP – homeofthefuture.gizmodo.com

Eddie Izzard Force Majeure (closes May 18)
One of the most acclaimed comedians of his generation, Izzard’s unique, tangential, absurd, and surreal comic narratives are lauded for their creativity and wit, earning him a New York Drama Desk Award and two Emmys for Dress to Kill, two British Comedy Awards for Top Stand-Up Comedian, and an Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement.
Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway,
212-465-6225, beacontheatrenyc.com

Louis Hayes and the Jazz Communicators
“If the name of the band sounds vaguely reminiscent of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, there’s good reason: Like Blakey, Mr. Hayes is a locomotive hard-bop drummer with a history of grooming younger players. This weekend, celebrating the release of an album recorded on this bandstand, that means the saxophonist Abraham Burton, the vibraphonist Steve Nelson, the pianist David Bryant and the bassist Dezron Douglas.” (Chinen-NYT)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway, at 106th St.,
212-864-6662, smokejazz.com
At 7, 9 and 10:30 p.m./ $38 cover.
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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 (05/14) and (05/12).