Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events is on hiatus Aug 6-16.
We follow the European custom and will be taking our August holiday.
Return here on August 17 to plan your day in NYCity with our “Fab 5”, carefully curated, Selected Events for Manhattan’s WestSide.
In the interim this site will continue to provide essential travel resources for visitors to NYCity. Be sure to check out the info linked to in the header above:
➢ “9 Notable NYCity Events-August”,
➢ “onBroadway”,
➢ “Top10 Free”
We are especially proud of “onBroadway” which features “The Best of Broadway on Sale”, and important links for the most up to date Broadway theater info.
In addition, we alternate the following features on a daily basis:
– On odd days we feature one WestSide neighborhood, highlighting our fave “Premier Pub”, and a few of our fave casual dining options; think “Fast Food NYCity Style”
– On even days we highlight museum and gallery special exhibitions in the world’s cultural capital (5th avenue museums, WestSide museums, or Chelsea galleries).
And don’t forget these hot summer festivals in NYC:
Broadway in Bryant Park (Thursdays through Aug. 14)
This series of lunchtime performances continues
on August 7 with musical numbers from “Jersey Boys,” “50 Shades! The Musical,” “Cabaret” and “Revolution in the Elbow of Ragnar Agnarsson Furniture Painter,” which is in previews at the Minetta Lane Theater.
on August 14 with musical numbers from “Matilda,” “On The Town,” “Mamma Mia!” and “MOTOWN The Musical”
At 12:30 p.m., Avenue of the Americas, at 40th Street, 212-768-4242. http://www.bryantpark.org / free.
Lincoln Center Festival 2014
JULY 07 – AUGUST 16, 2014
The Lincoln Center Festival looks outside the Western European canon and broadens notions of classicism by presenting classical works from other parts of the world. The last performance this season looks very special:
“The Maids”
/Sydney Theatre Company (Aug. 6–16)
New York City Center
Sydney Theatre Company returns with Cate Blanchett, Isabelle Huppert, and Elizabeth Debicki in Jean Genet’s absorbing play. http://lincolncenterfestival.org/
Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival 2014
JULY 25 – AUGUST 23, 2014
Inspired by the genius and brilliance of Mozart, Lincoln Center presents an expansive calendar of concerts, dance, opera, late-night recitals, and world premieres. http://mostlymozart.org/
SummerStage 2014 — Central Park and Manhattan
JUNE 03 – AUGUST 24, 2014
SummerStage’s Mainstage events in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield are an eclectic mix of the finest musicians, dancers and spoken word artists from around the world, in both free and benefit performances. Beyond the mainstage, other Manhattan SummerStage events take place in Lower Manhattan and Harlem. http://www.centralpark.com/guide/activities/concerts/summerstage-festival.html
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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 – 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 