Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events –SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2014

Brazilian Day Celebration (through Sunday)
This annual weekend celebration of Brazilian culture is a sure sign of the Labor Day holiday. Today a musical parade will move along 46th Street, from Times Square (7^th Ave) to Madison Avenue, beginning at 11 a.m. “The Lavagem da Rua 46” (the Cleansing of West 46th Street), will have performers dressed in white sweep to music. It will be followed by a music festival (on a stage at 46^th St. & Madison), along with arts and crafts, exotic food, samba and more. From 1pm until 4 p.m.

On Sunday, an annual street fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Avenue of the Americas, between 43rd and 56th Streets; and on 46th Street, between Madison and Seventh Avenues.
lavagemdarua46ny.com; brazilianday.com; brazilweeknyc.com.

‘Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration’
“Timed to coincide with what would have been Charlie Parker’s birthday, this booking features a band briskly conversant in the bebop idiom. On alto saxophone, in Parker’s shoes, is Vincent Herring; on trumpet is Jeremy Pelt. Their top-shelf rhythm section features the pianist Don Friedman, the bassist Lonnie Plaxico and the drummer Victor Lewis.” (Chinen–NYT)
Birdland, 315 West 44th St.
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com;
At 8:30 and 11 p.m./ $40 cover, with a $10 minimum.

Caribbean Festivals (through Monday)
“This weekend vibrant spectacles will keep the sounds and colors of the season alive at celebrations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Saturday’s fare includes a parade and a carnival for children at 9 a.m. and a steel band concert at 6 p.m. A band competition, on Sunday at 7 p.m., will feature performers like the Mighty Sparrow, (King) David Rudder and Robert (Lord) Nelson. On Monday, the parade along Eastern Parkway begins at 11 a.m. at Schenectady Avenue, with marchers continuing along the Parkway to the Flatbush Avenue Extension. The parade is free, but tickets (starting at $40) are required for the shows; details are at wiadca.com.

Caribbean pride will also be displayed on Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. at a free festival sponsored by Virgin Islanders United in Jackie Robinson Park, 85 Bradhurst Avenue, at 146th Street, Hamilton Heights. The performers include the Image Band, the Mighty Swallow, and Elizabeth Watley and the Outta Limitz Band; virginislandersunited.org. Not a bad finale to the season.” (Anne Mancuso-NYT)

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Trio da Paz and Friends (also Sunday)
“Officially billed as “Trio da Paz and Friends Play Jobim, Getz, and Other Brazilian Classics,” this engagement augments that excellent trio with the singer Maucha Adnet, the trumpeter Claudio Roditi and the tenor saxophonist Harry Allen.” (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jalc.org
at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. / $35 to $45 cover, with a $10 minimum

Elsewhere, but absolutely worth the detour:

U.S. TENNIS OPEN (Day 6) / TODAY’S PREMIER EVENT
The U.S. Open continues today (11AM) at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens (about 45 min. from Times Square), and runs through Sept. 8. This is the fourth and final tournament which culminates the tennis Grand Slam each year. It consists of five event championships: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, with additional tournaments for seniors and juniors.
subway: #1-2-3 to Times Square; transfer to #7 to Mets-Willets Point.

When you first arrive check out one of the electronic scoreboards listing in progress matches. Find a match or players that interest you. Head over to their court for some great competitive tennis, because in this tournament even the qualifiers are great players. Sometimes the most competitive, fun matches are on the outer courts.

There is no other major sporting event where you can get so close to world class athletes as at the U.S. Open – on the outer courts, the Grandstand court, or even Louis Armstrong stadium. Courts where you can get a real sense of the pace of the game.

Matches to watch today (per Mark Preston – usopen.org):
♣ This is the third year in a row at the US Open that #13 John Isner and #22 Phillip Kohlschreiber have met in the third round, each time playing in a packed Louis Armstrong Stadium. In 2012, Kohlschreiber won in five sets in an instant classic that ended at 2:26 a.m., tying the record for the tournament’s latest finish. Last year, the German again won, emerging victorious in four sets, with the final set going to a tight tiebreak, which he won, 7-5.

The matchup continues to be appealing. While Isner is ranked 10 spots higher, Kohlschreiber always plays him tough. The German is a solid baseliner and returner, with one of the best one-handed backhands in the game, and he does a good job blocking back the 6-foot-10 Isner’s imposing serve. Isner, as always, will need to serve big and not get broken early. Kohlschrieber will need to keep his unforced errors to a minimum and extend back-court rallies — and extend the match, too, with an eye to tiring the big man.

The two players’ numbers in the crunch are telling. Kohlschreiber is 14-9 in his career in five-set matches, while Isner is just 5-12. However, Isner has a big advantage in tiebreaks: 31-24 vs. 21-20 for the German. The other category Isner has a big advantage in? His height: he’s a full foot taller than Kohlschreiber.

♣ Men’s No. 1 Novak Djokovic has cruised into the third round, losing just 11 games in his two matches—a solid start for a guy looking to play his way into his fifth consecutive US Open final. The 27-year-old Serb was particularly impressive in his second-round win over Paul-Henri Mathieu, winning 88 percent of first-serve points, serving up 13 aces and blasting 33 winners against just 16 unforced errors. He’s now reached at least the third round in 25 consecutive Grand Slam events.

The top seed today takes on Sam Querrey, who may well be playing his best tennis of the year right now. The big-hitting, 26-year-old American packs quite a punch, but his career has been staggered by a series of injuries that have knocked him back on his heels. To his credit, Querrey is a fighter, and though he’s currently ranked No. 57, he’s a legitimate Top 20 talent, having ranked as high as No. 17. This should be a good test for both men and a chance for Querrey to get an accurate gauge of his game as compared to one of the game’s greats. The American—with 46 aces in two matches—will no doubt come out firing, but Djokovic has too much game to provide an easy target. The Serb leads their career meetings 7-1 and figures to extend that edge today. In an entertaining three, the top seed advances.

♣ Like Djokovic, #1 Serena Williams is off to a flying start here in Flushing, winning her first two rounds in dominating fashion, dropping just five games in two matches. The biggest talent in the women’s game has thus far come up short at the majors this year. In fact, the 17-time Grand Slam singles champion has yet to advance as far as the quarters at any of the Slam season’s first three events. That annoying little tidbit is no doubt providing additional incentive to the two-time defending US Open champ, who’s looking to become the first woman to three-peat here since Chris Evert strung four titles together from 1975-78.

Williams looks to take the next step toward that goal today against Varvara Lepchenko (see photo), the third American she’ll face here in three rounds. The 28-year-old Lepchenko was particularly impressive in her second-round win over Mona Barthel, winning 79 percent of her first-serve points and making just nine unforced errors to advance to this third round, matching her best career US Open showing. But it’ll be impossible for Lepchenko to match that effort against Williams, who owns a career 2-0 edge in their head-to-heads, spotting Lepchenko just six games in those two matches. Expect that trend to continue, as Williams moves on in straight sets, single-handedly eliminating 17.6 percent of the American contingent in the women’s draw.
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♣ For a look at how the game of doubles should be played, look in on the #1 seed Bryan brothers playing the last match in the intimate Grandstand today, or get to court 5 early to watch the women’s #2 seed Hsieh and Peng play.

Today’s tips: Lines to get into the show courts will be long this holiday weekend. Pick a court with matches you are most interested in and stay put. Watching the players on the new practice courts is a good way to get a free tennis lesson, and video screens show when your fave player is scheduled to hit. The best review of the tournament and the current state of tennis can be found at the NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com

Finally, these places around the grounds provide special fan experiences, a place to beat the heat, and are open to the public:
Heineken House – big screen tv’s, quality photo booth op, various sporting challenges, sandwiches & beer available for purchase. Say Hi to my fave Heineken girl – Missy.
American Express Fan Experience – swing analysis, 180 degree photo op, charging lockers. Second level of the lounge is only open to card members, where food and drinks are available for purchase.
Time Warner Cable Studios – photo ops, prizes, charging stations.

And only for Chase Bank customers:
Chaise Lounge – snacks and light refreshments (requires pre-registration).

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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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Chelsea is the heart of the NYCity contemporary art scene. Home to more than 300 art galleries, the Rubin Museum, the Joyce Theater, and The Kitchen performance spaces, there is no place like it anywhere in the world. Come here to browse free exhibitions by world-renowned artists and those unknowns waiting to be discovered in an art district that is concentrated between West 18th and West 27th Streets, and 10th and 11th Avenues. Afterwards stop in the Chelsea Market, stroll on the High Line, or rest up at one of the many cafes and bars and discuss the fine art – my fave is Ovest on W 27th St., where the aperitivo is like Happy Hour on steroids.

For a listing of 25 essential galleries in the Chelsea Art Gallery District, organized by street, which enables you to create your own Chelsea Art Gallery crawl, see the Chelsea Gallery Guide (nycgo.com) Or check out TONY magazine’s list of the “Best Chelsea Galleries” and click through to see what’s on view. ==========================================================

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (08/28) and (08/26).