NYC Events,”Only the Best” (09/24) + Today’s Featured Pub (WestVillage)

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above: “September NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.

OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above; “LiveMusic.”

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Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

AYODELE CASEL AND ARTURO O’FARRILL (through Sept. 29).
at the Joyce Theater / 7:30PM, $
“O’Farrill, a jazz pianist and composer who has won multiple Grammys, is celebrated for his performances of, and contributions to, Afro-Latin music. Casel — “a spectacular tap artist,” according to The New York Times dance critic Gia Kourlas — also draws from her African-American and Puerto Rican roots in her dancing. Given their shared cultural background and artistic focus, the two are a natural team. Their collaboration, which debuts at the Joyce on Tuesday and features live music and a squad of stellar dancers, explores the relationship between tap, jazz and Afro-Latin culture through various musical and dance styles.” (NYT)

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5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> STEVE LEHMAN TRIO WITH CRAIG TABORN
>> LIZZO
>> New York City Ballet
>> The Lineup with Susie Mosher
>> Philharmonic Insights at the Atrium: “Staging Tales of Darkness”

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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Music, Dance, Performing Art

STEVE LEHMAN TRIO WITH CRAIG TABORN (Sept. 24-25)
at Jazz Standard / 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; $30
“In Lehman’s scattered, tone-smearing saxophone style, a lot of influences swim to the surface. He nods to a broad saxophone tradition — the blossoming flow of Charlie Parker; the clean, darting intellect of Steve Coleman — but also draws from today’s electronic avant-garde. You can sense that he’s probably listened to the rough, worried noise music of Ben Frost and to the drifting ambient sounds of Tim Hecker. On “The People I Love,” his latest album, Lehman takes on a range of sources — from the jazz pianist Kenny Kirkland to the electronica duo Autechre. Taborn, a stellar pianist, joins Lehman’s trio (the bassist Matt Brewer and the drummer Damion Reid) for that recording; the same lineup appears at these shows.” (NYT- GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

LIZZO
at Radio City Music Hall / 8 p.m.; $
By all accounts, this multihyphenate is the world’s hottest classically trained flutist; in addition to trilling on her instrument, she sings, raps and twerks. Though she dropped her first album in 2013 and earned major label backing in early 2016, Lizzo has truly found her light this year. Her Atlantic Records debut, “Cuz I Love You,” came out in April, and she earned her first Billboard No. 1 with “Truth Hurts” this month. Fans have embraced Lizzo’s up-tempo anthems and message of self-love. In May, they snatched up all the tickets for her back-to-back shows at Brooklyn Steel, and did it again for her Sunday night performance at Radio City, but tickets for Tuesday’s show are still available.” (NYT-OLIVIA HORN)

New York City Ballet (thru Oct.13)
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 3PM, $35
“Performances of Balanchine’s treasured triptych “Jewels” continue on Friday and Saturday, followed on Sunday and Tuesday by a program pairing Mr. B with the acclaimed British choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. Wednesday brings an all-Balanchine program of “Valse Fantaisie,” “Kammermusik No. 2” and “Union Jack.” On Thursday, City Ballet hosts its eighth Fall Fashion Gala, which features new works from the principal dancer Lauren Lovette and the former soloist Edwaard Liang, and costumes by Zac Posen and Anna Sui. Rounding out the evening is the Balanchine classic “Symphony in C.” (NYT)

The Lineup with Susie Mosher
Birdland / 9:30PM, $25
“Mosher is one of those talents you need to see to believe: warm, funny, biting, ferociously committed. In her weekly series at the downstairs Birdland Theater, she invites a gaggle of performers from Broadway and beyond to show their talents. Guests at the September 24 edition include Jaime Cepero, Christina Wheeler, Florrie Bagel, Joseph Redd, Marquee Five, Anthony Nunziata, Jessica Fishenfeld, Benny Benack III, Erin Maguire and musical director Brad Simmons.” (TONY)

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Philharmonic Insights at the Atrium: “Staging Tales of Darkness”
Atrium @ Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, FREE
“Bengt Gomér — director / set and lighting designer of the staging of Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung that the New York Philharmonic will present in its US Stage Premiere September 26–28 — and Nina Stemme, who plays Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle — will go behind-the-scenes to discuss the making of this new production with New York Philharmonic Vice President, Artistic Planning, Isaac Thompson.”

Continuing Events

HARLEM COMEDY FESTIVAL (Sept. 22-29)
at various locations
“There’s more to stand-up in Harlem than the long-running amateur night at the Apollo Theater, as this celebration aims to demonstrate in the coming week at places such as Under Bar and the Chipped Cup. The preliminary rounds of the festival’s contest for aspiring stand-ups will be held from Monday to Wednesday, culminating with the finale on Sept. 29 at Harlem Nights. Other shows, meanwhile, will feature proven headliners such as Tony Woods.” (NYT-Sean L. McCarthy)

New York Oyster Week (thru Sept.29)
Multiple venues
“Whether you love to slurp them straight out of the shell or just happen to appreciate their role in the ocean’s ecosystem, Oyster Week has an event for you. The week kicks off with a fundraiser for the Billion Oyster Project and their plan to replenish the oyster population in New York harbor by 2035 at Pier A Harbor House, mingle with oyster experts while tasting signature bites and enjoying premium cocktails. Other events include a SHUCKeasy pairing oysters with cocktails, a rare showcase of Mexican oysters and Oystoberfest with all-you-can-drink Radeberger beer.” (TONY)

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COMING SOON (WFUV)

9/24 Jade Bird, Webster Hall
9/24 Brittany Howard, Beacon Theatre
9/24 The B-52s, SummerStage Central Park
9/24 Tegan and Sara, The Murmrr
9/25 Janelle Monae, The Rooftop at Pier 17
9/25 Michael Kiwanuka, Brooklyn Steel
9/25 Xavier Rudd, Music Hall of Williamsburg

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♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. BUT quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.

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A PremierPub / West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

Sometimes you just need a beer and a burger. If so, Corner Bistro is the place you want. Located just outside the hip Meatpacking district, this corner bar and grill is decidedly unhip, but it’s not uncrowded, especially at night. Seems that everyone knows this place has one of the better burgers in town.

In the maze of streets known as the West Village, where West 4th intersects with West 12th (and West 11th, and West 10th, go figure), you will eventually find Corner Bistro on the corner of West 4th and Jane Street. An unassuming neighborhood tavern, it looks just like dozens of other taverns around town.

The bartender tells me that the Corner Bistro celebrated it’s 55th anniversary last year. The well worn interior tells me that the place itself is much older.

Corner Bistro has outlasted many of those other taverns around town because they know how to keep it simple — just good burgers and beer, fairly priced. The classic bistro Burger is only $9.75, and should be ordered medium rare, which will be plenty rare for most folks. Actually, it will be a juicy, messy delight – make sure you have extra napkins. I like to pull up a stool and sit by the large front window in the afternoon, where I can rest my burger and beer on the shelf, and watch the Villagers walk by.

Corner Bistro seems to attract very different groups of patrons depending on time of day. While it’s crowded with locals in the evening, in the afternoon you hear different foreign languages, and watch groups of euro tourists wander in, led by their guidebooks and smartphones.

For the classic Bistro experience, order your burger with a McSorley’s draft, the dark preferably. This is the same beer that you can get over at the original McSorley’s in the East Village, the pub that claims to be the oldest continually operating bar in NYCity. The only difference is that this McSorley’s ale is served with a smile by the bartenders here. Or you can get a Sierra Nevada, Stella, or Hoegaarden on tap if you want to go upscale a bit. Either way this is a simple, but quality burger and beer experience that is just too rare these days (sorry for the pun).
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Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk: 1 blk W. on 13th St. to 8th Ave.; 1 blk S. on 8th Ave. to Jane St.
Update:
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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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Bonus Live Music – NYC Jazz Clubs:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. My favorite Jazz Clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide, feature top talent every night of the week.
Hit the Hot Link and check out who is playing tonight:

Greenwich Village:
(4 are underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. So., villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037 (1st 8:30)
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592 (1st set 8pm)
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883 (1st 7pm)
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346 (1st 8)
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346 (1st set 7:30pm)
The Stone at The New School – 55 w13 St. (btw 6/5 ave) – thestonenyc.com (8:30PM)

Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595 (1st set 7:30pm)
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave) — birdlandjazz.com / 212-581-3080 (1st 8:30pm)
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. — smokejazz.com/ 212-864-6662 (7pm)
Jazz Standard – 116 E27 St. (btw Park/Lex) – jazzstandard.com – (1st set 7:30)

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

In Memoriam:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. — caffevivaldi.com / 212-691-7538 (1st 7pm)
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprised with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It was my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.
Alas, Caffe V is no more, another victim of a rapacious NYC landlord. Owner Ishrat fought the good fight and Caffe V will be sorely missed.
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319
And more recently we have lost Cornelia Street Cafe. After 41 years, it too became another victim of an unreasonable rent increase.

I MEMORIALIZE THESE WONDERFUL CLUBS AS A WARNING.
WE HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO SAVE THESE SPECIAL PLACES.

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Bonus#2 – 14 Plays and Musicals to Go to in N.Y.C. This Weekend – NewYorkTimes (09/19/19)

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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