Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2014.
For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide check out:
♦ “9 Notable NYCity Events-June”, and also “on Broadway”, and “Top10 Free” in the header above.
♦ For NYCity Sights, Sounds and Stories visit out our sister site: nyc123blog.wordpress.com
♦ For NYCity trip planning see links in “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above. =========================================================================
World Cup
“Soccer fans will be glued to their screens today as World Cup 2014 kicks off in Brazil. Thirty-two nations battle it out during the Group Match stage from June 12 – 26, and there’s no shortage of venues to watch the games in New York City — every competing nation has presence here. Divided into eight four-team groups, the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Team USA is in the tough Group G, with Germany (ranked 2) and Portugal (13) favored to advance. Host nation Brazil will have a big home turf advantage and are the pre-tournament favorite, but Spain, Germany, Argentina and Italy are also in with a chance. Head to “Little Brazil,” on Manhattan’s West 46th Street, today at 4 p.m. when Brazil plays Croatia in the first game.” (DNA Info)
and why not start this month long extravaganza with some music
World Cup Kickoff Concert
Nation Beat will play funk and country-blues, with a bit of New Orleans flavor, as part of this celebration of the World Cup in Brazil. They will be joined by the percussion ensemble Maracatu New York, and there will be a capoeira demonstration by Raízes do Brasil Capoeira. From 12:30 to 2 p.m./ FREE
Brookfield Place Waterfront, 220 Vesey Street, at West Street, Lower Manhattan,
The website nycgo.com, has a list of World Cup friendly bars and restaurants to view matches.
Decade of Shack (ends June 13)
“It’s burgermania Shake Shack style as Danny Meyer’s empire celebrate its 10th anniversary with a weeklong throwdown. Top culinary wonders including David Chang, Daniel Boulud and April Bloomfield have signed on to collaborate with Shake Shack to create special edition burgers. Each day throughout the festivities, a different chef’s burger is available for purchase at the original Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.
Feast on such creations as the Momofuko Shrimp Stack on Tuesday, or the AZ Cabrito Butter Burger on Wednesday. Come June 12th, the actual birthday of the burger palace, Madison Square Park plays host to live music by The Tall Pines, Ski Lodge and Miniature Tigers, and a special hot dog cart makes the rounds with complimentary “pay what you’d like” Shack-cago Dogs. And as no birthday is complete without a cake, Dominque Ansel is whipping one up and it will be given out in the early evening, while supplies last.” (Mindy Bond, Editor-FlavorPill)
Madison Square Park, btw 23rd/26th St.; 5th/Mad Ave.
Microscopic Septet
“Humor has always been a significant element of this group’s purview, but it has never obscured their substantial musicianship. Following a fourteen-year split, the saxophone-heavy ensemble, led by Phillip Johnston, an exacting soprano saxophonist who now lives in Australia, and Joel Forrester, an inspired, unclassifiable pianist, have reunited on an annual basis for the past few years.
Blending twisted swing, Monk-inflected bebop, and various outlying strains, the Septet was gloriously out of step with the mainstream during their nineteen-eighties heyday—and, thankfully, they remain so. They celebrate the release of a new album, “Manhattan Moonrise.” (NewYorker)
Smalls, 183 W. 10th St.
212-252-5091.
Stacey Kent (through June 14)
“An American-born jazz singer whose life and career have taken root in Europe, Ms. Kent has a delicate but determined style, girded by her multilingual poise. She has a new album, “The Changing Lights,” that celebrates her effervescent affinities with the bossa nova idiom.”)
Her duets with her husband, the saxophonist Jim Tomlinson, rekindle memories of Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz.” (Chinen-NYT)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
At 8:30 and 11 p.m. / $40 cover, with a $10 minimum.
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com
Anat Cohen (through June 15.)
“The accomplished Israeli-born clarinettist and saxophonist personifies the multicultural and pan-stylistic eclecticism that are hallmarks of the contemporary-jazz scene: she is comfortable flitting from Middle Eastern strains to Brazilian choro to swing, bebop, and modal idioms. The drummer Matt Wilson and the bassist Martin Wind will be Cohen’s support team, and special guests are promised.” (NewYorker)
I have said this before, I’ll say it again. This is one of NYC’s Jazz treasures playing at an iconic NYCity Jazz Club. You gotta go.
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.
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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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The Week That Was in NYCity
(courtesy NYPost, with the most unique front/back pages anywhere)
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A PremierPub – Tribeca
B-Flat / 277 Church st (Btw Franklin/White)
There are some places that are tough to find, then add a layer of mystery when you do find them. B-Flat has a nondescript, almost unmarked door at street level – today’s speakeasy vibe. Open this door and you face a dimly lit stairway down to their basement location. It almost takes a leap of faith to follow the stairs down to their interior door. But open that door and a pleasant surprise awaits you.
It’s a basement jazz spot all right, but not like any traditional jazz joint you may have been to before. This place looks as fresh as today, probably because it’s only been open for 6 years. Even though it hasn’t had a chance to age gracefully, the cherry wood accents and low lighting make this small space very inviting.
There is always jazz, often progressive jazz, playing over their very discrete, stylish bose speakers, setting just the right tone as you find a seat at the bar, or one of the small tables. There is wine and beer available, but this place has some expert mixologists making some very creative cocktails, which I’m told change seasonally, a nice touch.
Come at happy hour and tasty cocktails like the el Diablo or the lychee martini are $8 – not bad. I am a sucker for any drink made with lychee and how can you not try a tequila drink named el Diablo. There is also nice selection of small bites available at happy hour and a food menu that is as innovative as the cocktail menu, so this does not have to be a happy hour only stop.
It wasn’t surprising to find a tasty prosciutto and arugula salad with yuzu dressing, but I did not expect to find such a good version of fried chicken breast on the apps menu. Here it’s called “Tatsuta.” Best bet is to sample happy hour, then dinner on a Monday or Wednesday night, when you can finish with no cover live jazz that starts around 8.
This place is tough to find (look for a small slate sandwich board on the sidewalk out front advertising happy hour) and on some nights when there is no live music it may be a little too quiet for some. But I think it’s worth searching out if you want a place with good music, food, and especially drinks, away from the maddening crowd.
Website: http://http://www.bflat.info/index.html
Phone #: 212-219-2970
Hours: Mo-Wed 5pm-2am; Th-Sat 5pm-3am; no Sun
Happy Hour: 5-7pm every day; $8 cocktails + special prices on apps
Music: Mon/Wed 8pm
Subway: #1 to Franklin; walk 1 blk E to Church; 1 blk N to bFlat
NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide 