Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, MAR. 29, 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.”

Total Vocal    —  A Capella Music   (2pm)   

Christian McBride Big Band  —  Jazz   (8pm)   

An Afternoon with AMC’s Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner   —  
SmartStuff/ Conversation   (4pm)     

Michele Rosewoman’s New Yor-Uba  —  Jazz   (7:30pm)    (9:30pm)

“Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955–1980″   —
SmartStuff/ Museum   (10:30am-5:30pm)

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

♦ “9 Notable Events-Mar.”, 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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Total Vocal
Distinguished Concerts International NY presents Total Vocal, a celebration of contemporary a cappella music featuring arrangements from Pitch Perfect, The Sing-Off, and the American pop lexicon. The performance includes Special Guest Artists “Barden Bellas” Kelley Jackle and Shelley Regner from the movie Pitch Perfect, Youtube vocal sensation Peter Hollens and is conducted and hosted by Deke Sharon, a pioneer of the contemporary a cappella genre.
Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave at 57th St.
2:00pm / $20-$100
212-247-7800

Christian McBride Big Band
“Even after winning the Grammy for their 2011 album, “The Good Feeling,” appearances by this exuberant modern jazz big band are regrettably rare and, more surprisingly, the group has yet release a follow-up album. Which is a shame, since the album boasts one expressively swinging number after another, both in terms of new originals and fresh takes on jazz standards, like Mr. McBride’s unique solo feature on the Basie favorite “Broadway.” The band features several other star players, including saxists Ron Blake, Steve Wilson and Antonio Hart (the latter two, on alto, will be alternating nights), and the stylish vocalist Melissa Walker, but the real attraction is the ensemble itself.” (WSJ)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Broadway at 60th St., Fifth Floor,
(212) 258-9595

An Afternoon with AMC’s Mad Men’s Matthew Weiner
Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner discusses how his hit television series became not just the story of the rise of advertising, but of a generation of Jews coming into their own in post-war America.

Presented in conjunction with the Museum’s new exhibition Designing Home: Jews and Midcentury Modernism.
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place
4:00pm / $25
646-437-4202 / http://www.mjhnyc.org

Michele Rosewoman’s New Yor-Uba
“Ms. Rosewoman is a pianist and composer whose great guiding purpose, over the last few decades, has been a synthesis of modern jazz and ancient Afro-Cuban folklore. This weekend she presents “Alabanza,” a piece that had its recent premiere in Havana, with her group New Yor-Uba, which includes the percussionists Román Díaz and Mauricio Herrera, the saxophonist Roman Filiu, the trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and the drummer Tyshawn Sorey.” (Chinen-NYT)
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.,
Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jazz.org.

“Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955–1980″
“Opening Sunday at MoMA is “Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955–1980,” a new exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of “Latin American Architecture since 1945” a landmark survey of modern architecture in Latin America shown by MoMA in 1955. This new show brings together architectural drawings, models, vintage photographs, and film clips rarely exhibited, even in their home countries.” (dnainfo.com)
MoMA, 11 W. 53rd St., (btw 5/6 ave), Midtown.
10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. / $25.

BONUS JAZZ PICKS:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. Here are my favorite Jazz clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who is playing tonight:
Greenwich Village:
Village Vanguard – 178 7th Ave. South, villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592
55 Bar – 55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883
Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. jazz.org/dizzys, 212-258-9595
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave), birdlandjazz.com, 212-581-3080
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. smokejazz.com, 212-864-6662
Special Mention:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. caffevivaldi.com, 212-691-7538
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprises with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It’s my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.

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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, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 56 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  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. (Btw 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 NYCity 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. (Btw 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 a bit less of the insane lines that you find at the Madison Sq. Park location. Worth the wait.

Xi’an Famous Foods – 24 W45th St. (Btw 5th/6th ave)
Try to avoid long lunch lines. Order lamb hand ripped noodles and warm your insides at one of the tables in the back. You’ll return, just remember that even mild is pretty spicy.
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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.

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◊ 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 Summer 2015).
◊ Order before May 31, 2015 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.
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