Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014.
For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide check out:
♦ “9 Notable NYCity Events-May”, and also “on Broadway”, and “Top10 Free” in the header above.
♦ For NYCity Sights, Sounds and Stories check out our sister site: nyc123blog.wordpress.com
♦ For NYCity trip planning see links in “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above. =========================================================================
Ben Wolfe Quintet Featuring Nicholas Payton (through May 25)
“As on an elegant, swinging album from last year, “From Here I See,” the bassist Ben Wolfe augments his ensemble with a commanding guest, the trumpeter Nicholas Payton.” (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jalc.org
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. / $35 to $45 cover, with a $10 minimum
Hailu Mergia
“Rescuing of obscure musicians otherwise lost to time has been a popular trend of late, ranging from the renaissance of Latino protest singer Sixto Rodriguez to unearthing the synth-laced Afrobeat made in Nigeria by William Onyeabor.
Another curious entry comes from the Awesome Tapes From Africa label, which a few years ago reissued a winsome album from Ethiopian accordionist and keyboardist Hailu Mergia. Mr. Mergia was a big star in his native country before relocating to the U.S., where he drove a cab in Washington, D.C. The success of that reissue has him gracing stages in his adopted country now.” (WSJ)
(le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St.
(212) 505-3474
Free Suckling Pig Roast
“The Village Russian restaurant Ariana is kicking off the weekend with a free suckling pig roast and punch party. At 7 p.m., the kitchen will start serving up bits of the buckwheat-stuffed hog, and the bar will pour a berry and vodka punch. You’ll want to get there early to partake — food and drink are first come, first served.” (VillageVoice)
Ariana, 138-140 West Houston St.
at 7 p.m.
Here’s a sweet doublehaeder at Joe’s Pub, one of the fine, small music venues in town:
Bill Kirchen
“With a voice that echoes the world-weary timbre of Willie Nelson, Bill Kirchen is best known for his gritty, R&B-infused country rock with Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen during the early ’70s. Known as “The Titan of The Telecaster,” Kirchen has collaborated with Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Gene Vincent, and Link Wray while consistently producing excellent albums, most recently 2013’s “Seeds And Stems.” (DNA Info)
Joe’s Pub, at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, at Astor Place
at 7:30PM / $20 cover, with a $12 minimum.
212.697.7555 / joespub.com
Rickie Lee Jones
“The granddaughter of the vaudevillians Frank (Peg Leg) and Myrtle Lee Jones, Rickie Lee was born in Chicago, grew up in Arizona, and eventually found her way to Southern California. She released her first album in 1979, and caused an immediate sensation with her womanly subject matter delivered in a distinctive little-girl voice and original compositions that took singer-songwriter pop in a cool, jazzy direction.
Her most recent album is “The Devil You Know,” featuring interpretations of songs by the Stones, the Band, Donovan, Tim Hardin, Neil Young, and others. She is currently at work on a crowd-funded album of new material.” (NewYorker)
Joe’s Pub, at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, at Astor Place
at 9:30PM / $60 cover, with a $12 minimum.
212.697.7555 / joespub.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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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:
NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide 