Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, JUNE 06, 2014.

OutdoorFest (through Sun. June 8)
“A 10-day festival where you can celebrate your passion for the outdoors

If you think living in the city means you can’t enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle, think again. Founded by Sarah L. Knapp, OutdoorFest is a 10-day festival that seeks to wake New Yorkers up to all the great activities that are available within the boundaries of the five boroughs. From camping at Floyd Bennett Field to surfing in Queens, OutdoorFest connects you with the resources so you can indulge in the great outdoors.

Other events planned include a camping getaway, outdoor yoga, bouldering classes, sailing, urban foraging and more. For a full rundown of what is available visit the festival’s website. But act quick, some of the events have a cap on participants.” (Mindy Bond, Editor-Flavorpill)
Various New York Locations
outdoorfest.org / FREE

Smokey Robinson
“One of R&B’s most beautiful voices, with the Miracles and as a solo artist, has also served as one of pop’s most affecting and prolific songwriters, for himself and for the Temptations. Mr. Robinson also helped run the eminent Motown Records as its longtime vice president; the man’s a one-stop Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” (Anderson-NYT)
Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway, at 74th St.
800-745-3000, beacontheatre.com
At 8 p.m. / $40 to $129.50

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (also Saturday)
“Duke Ellington created some of his most enduring works—miniatures and extended pieces—after World War II, in his final two decades, and Mr. Marsalis and the JLCO have curated a sampler of the Maestro’s late-in-life masterpieces. Titled “Modern Ellington,” the concert will include excerpts from the pianist’s most celebrated suites of the era, the exotic “Far East Suite” and the majestic “Queen’s Suite”; some of his most ambitious works such as “The Clothed Woman” and “The Tattooed Bride”; and an assortment of worthy oddities and obscurities.” (WSJ)
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway
212-258-9595, jalc.org
Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. / $30 to $120.

Bill Frisell: The Electric Guitar in America (also Saturday)
“The innovative jazz guitarist, melding his predilection for sonic exploration and his deep affection for the less-travelled byways of music, has created “The Electric Guitar in America,” a program celebrating the legacy of the Fender Telecaster. Expect him to revel in the work of the stupendous country-and-Western team of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, the surf-music maestro Dick Dale, the iconic country pickers Chet Atkins and Merle Travis, and others.” (NewYorker)
the Appel Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
212-721-6500, jalc.org
At 7 and 9:30 p.m. / $55 and $75.

RadioLoveFest (through June 8)
“The music and talk shows that are the staples of radio programming will move from the studio to the stage for this five-day festival sponsored by WNYC and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Most of the events — including concerts, discussions and theatrical pieces — will be recorded for later broadcast.

Among those taking part are the radio hosts and personalities John Schaefer, Jonathan Schwartz, Robert Krulwich and Ophira Eisenberg.
Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Avenue, at Ashland Place, Fort Greene,
At various times, 718-636-4100, bam.org; prices vary; some events are sold out.” (NYT)
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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 and 3 Good Eating Places – Greenwich Village

Caffe Vivaldi / 32 Jones Street (btw. Bleecker/W4th St.)

Café Vivaldi is a classic, intimate club located in Greenwich Village on Jones Street, the street featured on the cover of Bob Dylan’s second album, “Freewheelin’ ”.

Each night Ishrat, the long time proprietor and impresario, carefully curates and schedules an eclectic series of musicians. You can often see him at his table in the corner, hard at work reviewing music videos and listening to cd demos on his laptop, scouting out future bookings. Musicians come from all over to play and sing in a club in Greenwich Village. Some are local New Yorkers, others are just passing through, in town for a few days.

There is a small bar, seating maybe 10. It’s close to the stage and I find it’s a perfect spot to sip a glass of red wine while listening to the music. The room itself has the performance area at one end and a cozy fireplace at the other. The performance area here is small, dominated by a large black Yamaha Grand piano. Tables are bunched together and most people at the tables are eating lite meals or sampling the wonderful desserts.

There is also a good selection of wines and lite meals, fairly priced, but you are here because of the music. You can never be quite sure what you’re going to find, and that’s half the charm of this place. It’s not a home run every night, but many nights it’s pretty special.

I remember the night I saw the most talented bossa nova group, just in from San Paulo. As I listened, I wondered if there was any better music playing anywhere else in New York City that night. And at Caffé Vivaldi there is never a cover charge. I should note that their recently redesigned web site does give you a better idea of the type of music playing each night.

At one time Greenwich Village was filled with clubs just like this, but times change. Real estate interests have impacted the village, and not for the better. Even Caffé Vivaldi had a rough time recently, when a new landlord raised the rent exorbitantly. Fortunately, Ishrat has built a loyal following over the years, and a fund raiser and slightly more reasonable rent has kept Café Vivaldi in business.

When Woody Allen and Al Pacino wanted to make movies featuring the timeless quality of Greenwich Village they came to Vivaldi. It’s important that we keep this special place alive, for if we lose Cafe Vivaldi, NYC will have lost a piece of it’s soul.

Website: http://caffevivaldi.com/
Phone #: (212) 691-7538
Hours: Music generally 7:30pm – 11pm, but varies
Lunch/Dinner 11am-on
Subway: #1 to Christopher st
Walk 1 blk S on 7th ave S to Bleecker st, 1 blk S/left on Bleecker to Jones st, 50 yards E/left on Jones st to Caffe V

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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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3 Good Eating places

It’s not difficult to find a place to eat in Manhattan.
Finding a good, inexpensive place to eat is a bit harder.
Here are a few of my faves in this neighborhood:

Fish – 280 Bleecker St (just a bit S. of 7th ave South)
This was an easy pick – the best raw bar special in town. $8 gets you 6 of the freshest oysters or clams + a glass of wine or beer. Don’t know how they can do it, but I tell everyone I know about this place. And it’s located right in the heart of some of the best no cover music in town.

Bleecker Street Pizza – 69 7th ave S (corner of Bleecker)
The place is tiny and not much to look at, but this is one good slice. They like to brag that they have been voted “Best pizza in NY” 3 years in a row by the Food Network. I believe them. I would have voted for them.

Num Pang – 21 E 12th st (btw. University place/5th ave)
This is a Cambodian banh mi sandwich shop that kept me well fed while I was in class nearby recently. It’s cramped, even for NYCity, but usually there is room up the spiral staircase to sit down and eat. In good weather carry your sandwich a few blocks to Union Sq park. You may have to wait a few minutes, because everything is freshly made, but it’s worth it. Can you believe – an unheard of 26 food rating by Zagat.

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“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”

That covers a wide range of food – pizza, burgers, food trucks/carts, vegetarian/falafel, ramen, chopped salad & salad bars, hot dogs, bbq, soup & sandwiches, picnic fixins’, raw bars & lobster rolls. No reservations needed. ================================================================================

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places and descriptions of my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods (plus 27 casual dining places with free Wi-Fi) order a copy of my e-book: “Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($3.99).
(available Fall 2014)