Today’s “Fab 5″+1 / Selected NYCity Events – TUESDAY, FEB. 03, 2015
“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to. We make it as easy as 1-2-3.”

Panel Discussion: Charlie Hebdo, Zero Tolerance, and Freedom of Speech  —
SmartStuff/ Conversation   (6:30pm)   

“The Big Quiz Thing” —  SmartStuff/ Trivia  (7:30pm) 

John Hooper in Conversation With Alexander Stille  —  
SmartStuff/ Book Talk   (8pm)   

Rebecca Rabinow on Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection   —  
SmartStuff/ Art Talk   (6:30pm)   

All About Comics with Scott McCloud  —  SmartStuff/ Book Talk   (8:15pm)   

Diana Ross  —  Pop/Rock   (8pm)

For other useful and curated NYCity event info for Manhattan’s WestSide:

♦ “9 Notable Events-Feb.”, and “Top10 Free” in the header above.
♦ For NYCity trip planning see links in “Resources” and “Smart Stuff” in the header above.
♦ For NYCity Sights, Sounds and Stories visit out our sister site: nyc123blog.wordpress.com
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Panel Discussion: Charlie Hebdo, Zero Tolerance, and Freedom of Speech
“Like many around the globe, people in the arts are contemplating the complex issues of free speech after the tragic events at Charlie Hebdo. So Creative Time, MoMA PS1, and The Museum of Modern Art, in collaboration with Reuters, have joined together to create what we hope will be a timely and thoughtful conversation that dives into some of the difficult questions raised.

Journalist, author, and former editor of The Sunday Times Sir Harold Evans will moderate a discussion that includes artist Kader Attia; artist Sharon Hayes; Vice News editor-in-chief Jason Mojica; author and historian Simon Schama; commentator, satirist, and architect Karl Sharro; actor, playwright, and professor Anna Deavere Smith; and Aasif Mandvi, of The Daily Show fame. Works by Hayes and other artists such as Pussy Riot, Yoko Ono, and Halil Altindere are currently on view in the exhibition Zero Tolerance at MoMA PS1, which reflects artists’ responses to the ongoing tension between freedom and control.” (thoughtgallery.org)
Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St.
at 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm / FREE, advance registration is required. Space is limited.
212-708-9400

“The Big Quiz Thing”
“Show off your impressive stash of trivial knowledge, or your ability to come up with smart-alecky witticisms, at this live trivia game show. Hosted by quizmaster Noah Tarnow, the event includes audio and video puzzles. If you don’t know an answer, create a clever one for a potential Smart-Ass Point. The winning team receives nerdy bragging rights—and a cash jackpot! This special flashback version features some of this year’s best (and most difficult) questions.” (TONY)
SubCulture, 45 Bleecker St. (btw Bowery and Lafayette St.)
7:30 PM / $15
bigquizthing.com

John Hooper in Conversation With Alexander Stille
“Mr. Hooper, whose book “The Spaniards” provided cultural and historical context to understand what makes Spanish people tick, pulls off the same trick with his new book, “The Italians.” Mr. Hooper uses new research to build on his work as a correspondent for The Economist and The Guardian based in Rome. He will be joined at this free discussion by Alexander Stille, a contributor to The New York Times and author of “Excellent Cadavers: The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic.” (NYT)
McNally Jackson, 52 Prince Street, between Lafayette and Mulberry Streets, SoHo,
8PM / FREE
212-274-1160, mcnallyjackson.com.

Rebecca Rabinow on Cubism: The Leonard A. Lauder Collection
“Now that you’ve taken in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s masterful Cubism show (if you haven’t, hurry—it closes Feb. 16)—listen as a Met curator lectures on the style that rocked the art world a century ago.” (thoughtgallery.org)
Rebecca Rabinow, Leonard A. Lauder Curator of Modern Art, is Curator in Charge of the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture, 8 W 8th St.
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm / FREE, Seating may be limited
212-673-6466

Elsewhere, but these both look worth a detour:
All About Comics with Scott McCloud
Universally acclaimed by everyone from Garry Trudeau to Matt Groening as completely brilliant, Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, a comic book about comics, makes the case for comics as a valid literary form (as more than pulp and kids’ stuff).

Join him for an exhilarating trip through the inner workings of comics—what they are, how they work and what they could be—and hear about his newest book, The Sculptor, a graphic novel. There will be a selling of Scott McCloud’s new book, The Sculptor, following the event.
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave.
8:15PM / $36
212-415-5500

Diana Ross
“Loew’s Kings Theatre was one of five palatial venues built and operated by the chain in the early 20th century, beginning as a 3,600-seat vaudeville theater before moving onto sound films. A landmark of the Flatbush neighborhood in Brooklyn, young teens like Henry Winkler and Sylvester Stallone worked as ushers at the theater, which closed in 1977. Derelict for more than 30 years, the City of New York began restoring the lobby and interior to its former grandeur. After four years of work and $95 million in renovations, on Tuesday the Kings Theatre reopens with a crowning performance by Motown legend, Diana Ross.” (WSJ)
Kings Theater, 1027 Flatbush Avenue, near Tilden Avenue, Flatbush, Brooklyn,
8pm / $100-$150 (may be a tough ticket, try stub hub, etc)
kingstheatre.com.

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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 (pop. 8.4 million) had a record 56 million visitors last year and quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.
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A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – Greenwich Village

Caffe Vivaldi / 32 Jones Street (btw. Bleecker St./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. 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

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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 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. $9 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.

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“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”

This covers a wide range of food – the traditional pizza, burgers, & hot dogs; but also food trucks & carts, soup & sandwiches, picnic fixins’, raw bars & lobster rolls, bbq, vegetarian / falafel, ramen, chopped salad & salad bars. No reservations needed. ================================================================================

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places, with expanded descriptions, maps with contact info, and essays on my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods on Manhattan’s WestSide order a copy of my e-book:
“Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($3.99, available Spring 2015).
◊ Order before May 31, 2015 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places on Manhattan’s WestSide with free Wi-Fi.
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