Today’s “Fab 5″+1/ Selected NYCity Events  – WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014

Cultural Landscapes of Greenwich Village with Francis Morrone
– Washington Square
“This walking tour will explore the blocks surrounding Washington Square and feature Francis Morrone’s encyclopedic knowledge–with a flair for the wicked anecdote–on the singers, artists, writers and architecture that gives Greenwich Village its artistic caché.

Subjects include Edward Hopper, Willa Cather, Dawn Powell, Marcel Duchamp, and Bob Dylan. We’ll also talk about MacDougal Alley and the creation of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Provincetown Playhouse, the history of Village coffee houses, and the Bleecker Street Cinema.” (FlavorPill)

This man knows it all. I was fascinated by his lectures for an entire semester – he’s a walking encyclopedia about all things NYCity. You won’t be disappointed.
Washington Square Park, 1 Washington Sq E
6pm / $25 (confirm meet-up address upon ticket purchase)
ideasmyth

Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2014:
Amel Larrieux, Avery*Sunshine and The Jones Family Singers
Amel Larrieux
Blending eclectic sonics and dancefloor diva charisma, the alluring urban chanteuse Larrieux embodies the best and smartest of pop, soul, jazz, folk and R&B.

Avery*Sunshine
Rooted in gospel, Atlanta singer/songwriter/pianist Avery*Sunshine reaches deep into a cornucopia of styles to offer songs of luminous insight and blazing bright, no-hold-barred soul.

The Jones Family Singers (New York Debut)
The Jones Family Singers have made a joyful noise together for decades, singing and playing hard-driving, old-school Gospel funk with unyielding power. Tonight, the thrilling Texas-based family band makes its New York debut.
Damrosch Park, 60 Lincoln Center Plaza
6:30pm / FREE
lcoutofdoors.org

SummerStage: Ingrid Michaelson
“This Brooklyn indie-pop singer-songwriter with the piercing yet featherweight trill is best known for entreating her lover to “do what bunnies do” on her single “You and I,” but her saccharine sensibilities are usually a little more diplomatic. Ms. Michaelson turned to danceable and bluesy infatuation tunes on her newest studio album, “Lights Out.” This show, with Neulore and Secret Someones as the opening acts, is a benefit for SummerStage, presented in conjunction with the Bowery Presents.” (Anderson-NYT)
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, midpark at 70th Street,
800-745-3000, summerstage.org;
At 6 p.m.,/ $25

The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It
John Dean, White House Counsel during the Nixon administration, discusses his provocative new book, The Nixon Defense: What He Knew and When He Knew It, and other details of the Watergate cover-up.
Barnes & Noble, 1972 Broadway
7:00pm / FREE
212-595-6859

Madison Square Music: Oval Lawn Series
Forro in the Dark & Debo Band
You’ll want to bring a picnic blanket to the 12th season of Madison Square Park’s outdoor concert series—Calexico will be dishing out some of their famous fare Cal-Mex fare while you jam to tunes from all over the world.

Forro in the Dark, as their name implies, is a band made of Brazilian ex-pats who play fun, upbeat, forro music in both English and their native Portuguese. Forro is described by the band as “hip-swiveling, dancefloor-filling, rural party music of Brazil’s northeastern states.” Mauro Refosco (zabumba drum and vocals), Guilherme Monteiro (guitar and vocals) and Jorge Continentino (pifano flute, sax and vocals) use their intrinsic talent and creativity to bring the genre of forro into the present while respecting and paying homage to its roots. As said by record label Nublu: “Give them half an ear, and your hips will take over and start rolling to their Brazilian roots rock. They’re a little afro-beat, a little country western swing, a little dub, and all rock and roll, fueled by the insistent rhythm of forro.”
Madison Square Park, 23rd St to 26th St., (btw Fifth and Madison Aves.)
At 7pm / FREE
212-538-1884 / madisonsquarepark.org

PlusONE:
“Word for Word Author”
Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith
The Dynamic duo from Clerks make a rare appearance in honor of their new book, “Jay & Silent Bob’s Blueprints for Destroying Everything”—an illustrated collection of how to wreak havoc wherever you go.

Please note: Kevin Smith will pre-sign books before the event that can be purchased on-site. Jason Mewes will sign books following the talk/Q&A. He will be happy to take photos with people who buy the book. No memorabilia will be signed at this event.
The Bryant Park Reading Room, 1065 Avenue of the Americas,
located on the 42nd St. side of the park – under the trees – between the back of the NYPL on 5th Avenue & 6th Avenue. Look for the burgundy and white umbrellas. In case of rain, events are held under a tent at the Reading Room. In case of severe weather, please check bryantpark.org for the indoor location.
12:30PM / FREE
212-768-4242 / bryantpark.org

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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 + 3 Good Eating places

Jimmy’s Corner / 140 W 44th St (btw B’way & 7th ave)

Jimmy’s Corner is right in the heart of Times Square, but you won’t find it on the corner, it’s mid-block. Enter this long narrow bar and you are struck by the walls covered with mostly black-and-white boxing photographs, and memorabilia. Soon enough you learn that “Corner” refers to proprietor Jimmy Glenn’s long career as a corner man for some of boxing greats – Liston, Tyson, even “the greatest”, Ali.

Jimmy’s is a sort of time machine, taking you back to a time and place that no longer exists. All around you Times Square has cleaned up, grown up, assumed a new identity. Jimmy’s probably hasn’t changed a bit since it first opened in 1971. Certainly the bar itself looks original and the prices haven’t changed much either. When I brought a friend, who owns her own bar, she was surprised when she got the small tab for a round of drinks. Figured there must be a mistake, that maybe they forgot to charge for all the drinks.

Times Square today is filled with neon glitz and wandering tourists from Dubuque, but not Jimmy’s. You’ll likely find some old timer’s at the bar nursing their drinks, some younger locals at tables in the back, and maybe a few adventuresome tourists clutching their trusty guidebooks. There’s no food served here because this is just a bar, and sometimes that’s all you need.

On nights when no local team is playing, it’s a fine place to sip some drafts and listen to a great old time jukebox (40s, 50s, R&B, and soul). On sports nights this very narrow bar can get a bit claustrophobic, filled with excited fans watching their team on the TVs. Either way, Jimmy’s is the place to be if you are looking for an old time bar in the new Times Square.
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Website: are you kidding !
(although there is a facebook page with lots of photos –
facebook.com/jimmyscornernyc)
Phone #: 212-221-9510
Hours: 11am – 4 am, except Sunday they open 12 noon
Happy Hour: not necessary, low prices all day, every day
Subway: #1,2,3 to TimesSquare 42nd st
walk 2 blks N on 7th ave to 44th st; ½ blk E to Jimmy’s

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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 finding 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:

Patzeria Perfect Pizza – 231 W46 st (Betw 7th/8th ave)
Perfect name for a pizza joint. On a street filled with Broadway theaters, this is a real hole in the wall, but don’t let the dive look scare you away. You can never go wrong with a slice of NYC pizza, and this one is a classic thin crust. Only a few seats here, but pizza was made to eat standing up.

Shake Shack – 691 8th ave (Betw 43rd/44th st)
Danny Meyer has revolutionized the high quality burger in this town. Now he has a branch on the West Side that was desperately needed, with none of the insane lines that you find at the Madison Sq. Park location. Plus, it may be the cleanest joint to eat in all of Hell’s Kitchen.

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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 essays on my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods on Manhattan’s WestSide (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)