Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014.

Dave Chappelle (through June 26)
“In the years since the demise of Chappelle’s Show, this comic’s mystique has grown almost as much as his fans’ reverence. He laid low until last year, when his Oddball Festival gigs proved that his incisive mind and delivery had not suffered. Some things are different—he’s ripped, and he smokes like a fiend now—but anyone going to this show not just to hear him say “I’m rich, bitch” will be satisfied.” (TONY)
Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave, at 50th St

Benedikt Jahnel Trio
“Though it didn’t make much of a splash at the time, “Equilibrium,” released on ECM in 2012, was a sure-footedly atmospheric debut by this trio, consisting of the German pianist Benedikt Jahnel, the Spanish bassist Antonio Miguel and the Canadian drummer Owen Howard. The group surfaces here, no doubt playing music from that album, among other things.” (Chinen-NYT)
Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, Greenwich Village,
212-989-9319, corneliastreetcafe.com;
At 9 and 10:30 p.m. / $10 cover, with a $10 minimum.

Swedish Midsummer Festival 2014
Decorate the midsummer pole and make flower wreaths at this annual Swedish celebration.
“For the love of all things Swedish, this annual festival transforms Robert F. Wagner Park in Battery Park City into a Swedish haven for one evening. The culturally curious can snack on Swedish food from Smorgas Chef, Crepe du Nord or Red Rooster Harlem, watch Swedish folkdancers, listen to traditional music, decorate the midsummer pole, make flower wreaths, or engage in Swedish games. If you thought the country was only known for its meatballs and affordable furniture, think again.”
(Mindy Bond, Editor-FLAVORPILL)
Robert F. Wagner Park, Battery Park City in lower Manhattan
at 5-8 pm. / FREE – Rain or shine

Terri Lyne Carrington, Geri Allen, and Esperanza Spalding (through June 22)
“It takes special gifts to draw attention away from Allen, a brilliant, eclectically minded pianist who seems to have the history of jazz at her fingertips, but the bassist Spalding and the drummer Carrington are the players to do it. As yet undocumented on recordings, this sporadically convened, continually maturing trio has a special affinity for the music of Wayne Shorter, Carrington’s former employer.” (NewYorker)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village,
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. / $25 and $30 cover, with a one-drink minimum.
212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com

Dar Williams
Dar Williams’ career began in the New England folk scene of the mid-1990s but since then she’s become one of the premier singer/songwriters in America. In 1993, she released The Honesty Room under her own label, Burning Fields Music. In 1998, Dar’s song “What Do You Hear In These Sounds” charted on MTV’s cutting edge channel M2 and became on of the Top 50 Grossing touring acts.

She’s sold well over a quarter-million records. Dar was the highest-charting independent artist on Triple-A radio for her 1997 album “End of the Summer.” Recent albums include The Beauty of the Rain (2003), My Better Self (2005), Promised Land (2008), Many Great Companions (2010), and her latest In the Time of Gods (2012). “One of America’s very best singer-songwriters.” – The New Yorker
Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St.
212.220.1459
at 8PM / $55, $45, $35

===============================================================
♦ 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.
==============================================================================

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

===========================================================================================
“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.
===========================================================================================

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.

================================================================================
“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)