Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > SATURDAY/ FEBRUARY 08, 2020

“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:  “February 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:

RAVI COLTRANE (Feb. 4-9)
at Jazz Standard / 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; $30
“Coltrane has released just one leadership album in the past decade, but he’s kept a busy and diverse itinerary as a bandleader in live scenarios. If recording devices have been running, there ought to be enough material by now for a boxed set of live recordings from his past 10 years, full of various bands and projects. The band this saxophonist will bring to New York in the coming week is new, and if the personnel is any indication it suggests an interest in tacking to the center of a certain musical tradition, with help from musicians whose hometowns all boast rich, nurturing jazz histories: the pianist Orrin Evans, from Philadelphia; the bassist Bob Hurst, from Detroit; and the drummer Jeff Watts, known as Tain, from Pittsburgh. (Allan Mednard, a New Yorker, will fill the drum chair from Tuesday to Feb. 6.)” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> “Clair De Lune: French Songs by Moonlight”
>> New York City Ballet
>> Dee Dee Bridgewater
>> Animation First Fest
>> Versus: Brains vs. Brawn
>> NYC’s Raclette Party by French Morning
>> Brooklyn Wine Fest.

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

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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

“Clair De Lune: French Songs by Moonlight”
“Feel the love of the musique française at ‘Clair de Lune’
In what could serve as an early Valentine’s Day rendezvous, “Clair De Lune: French Songs by Moonlight” is a program of music curated from revered French composers (Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Henri Duparc, among others) performed by soprano Manya Steinkoler, mezzo-soprano Emma Lavandier, left, and pianist Francisco Miranda.” (Newsday)
WHEN | WHERE 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8; St. John’s In the Village, 218 W. 11th St., Manhattan
INFO $15-$40; stjvny.org

New York City Ballet (through March 1)
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $35+
“The coming week brings a potpourri of programs: The “New Combinations” bill on Friday and Tuesday pairs Jerome Robbins’s “Opus 19/The Dreamer” (1979) with Christopher Wheeldon’s “Polyphonia” (2001), Justin Peck’s “Bright” and Alexei Ratmansky’s new work, “Voices.” The Saturday and Sunday matinees highlight collaborations between Balanchine and Stravinsky, while the performances on Saturday evening and Wednesday juxtapose Balanchine with Peck in two slightly different mixes. The program on Feb. 6 again includes Balanchine (“Haieff Divertimento” and “Episodes”) and Peck (the lovely “Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes”) along with Robbins (“Concertino”).” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

Dee Dee Bridgewater (Feb. 5-9)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8 and 10:30 p.m.; $30-$45
“There’s little that the vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater can’t wrap her inclusive sensibilities around. On her most recent album, “Memphis . . . Yes, I’m Ready,” the venerated performer takes on R. & B. and gospel material associated with the Southern region she originally called home. True to form, the ever-game Bridgewater grabs this repertoire by the throat and doesn’t let go until it gleefully surrenders to her ardor.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS
(Lectures, Discussions, Book Talks, Literary Readings, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

Animation First Fest (Feb.7-9)
@ French Institute: Alliance Française / varioustimes, $16+
“It’s time again to fête French illustrators at the Animation First Fest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to French animation. This year’s roster includes 18 premieres, award-winning shorts, immersive exhibits, virtual reality, video game demonstrations, and panels. A few highlights: Hello World!, made with papier-mâché puppets animated in stop-motion with hand-crafted sculptures; Lorenzo Mattotti’s The Bears’ Famous Invasion of Sicily, inspired by a classic Italian children’s book; The Swallows of Kabul, which uses illuminates the brutality of life under the Taliban regime with shimmering watercolor-style animation; and the documentary Notre Dame de Paris The Age of the Builders, which spans 850 years.” (gothamist)

Versus: Brains vs. Brawn
Caveat, 21 Clinton St./ 9:30PM, $20
“Your hosts Meg Pierson, Zak Martellucci, and Dustin Growick lead a rotating cast of special guest experts in a battle royale of serious—and not so serious—topics. Who will come out on top? Dinosaurs or mammals? Biology or physics? Space or oceans? Chock-full of trivia, games, and prizes, the show will conclude with the answer to an age-old question. The winner is up to you, as audience endorsements and YOUR vote will ultimately determine which team is crowned champion of VERSUS.
Tonight:Psychology expert and brain science educator Vanessa Hill reps “brains” while data scientist and philanthropist Tiffany Kelly reps “brawn” in this Versus showdown.” (ThoughtGallery)

NYC’s Raclette Party by French Morning
Eat all the cheese at a raclette party
Le District, 225 Liberty St./ 6:30PM; $40; drinks available for purchase.
“Meet the future of fondue parties — raclette! At a raclette party, the semi-hard Swiss cheese is melted in cast iron pans until it’s all bubbly and gooey, then eaten with potatoes, bread, charcuterie, or — why not? — your bare hands. Le District is hosting a raclette party this weekend, where a ticket gets you access to ooey raclette and all its fixings, plus happy hour pricing at Le Bar and Bar à Vin for half an hour before dinner.” (thrillist)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Brooklyn Wine Fest.
Upgrade your after-work bottle of wine
Brooklyn Expo Center, 72 Noble St. / 1PM, OR 6PM, $70 includes a souvenir glass and all wine samples; food available for purchase
“Upgrade your wine IQ with a day at the Brooklyn Wine Fest. There, you can try unlimited samples from wineries, learn enough wine words (Malic! Musty! Supple! Raw!) to make a date think you actually know what you’re talking about, and find a new favorite vintage to drink while crying after a long day at the office. In between sips at the fest, you can bop to live music and snack on food from Chava’s Empanadas, Mozzarepas, and more.” (thrillist)

Continuing Events

NYC Restaurant Week (LAST WEEKEND)

A celebration of NYC’s most fabulous pastime: dining out. With hundreds of restaurants throughout the City rolling out special prix-fixe menus for a limited time, this is your chance to revel without a cause.

Restaurants offer a minimum of three choices for appetizers and three choices for entrées at lunch ($26). Restaurants offer a minimum of three choices for appetizers, three choices for entrées and at least two desserts at dinner ($42). Several restaurants may also offer drink specials, supplemental items and other à la carte options for an additional price.
2-course lunch $26 | 3-course dinner $42

NYC Broadway Week (LAST WEEKEND)
“There’s nothing like live theater—and no place for it like Broadway. NYC Broadway Week invites you to experience the magic firsthand with 2-for-1 tickets to some of the most spectacular performances on stage right now.”

AND

NYC Must-See Week (LAST WEEKEND)
“It may be impossible to do it all in New York City—but trying is the fun part. During NYC Must-See Week, enjoy 2-for-1 tickets to many of the iconic experiences right in our backyard, including attractions, museums, tours and performing arts.”

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COMING SOON (WFUV)

2/7-8 Richard Thompson, Symphony Space
2/8 Michael Kiwanuka, Terminal 5
2/8 They Might Be Giants, Bowery Ballroom
2/8 Live From Here w/Andrew Bird, Bedouine, Sarah Jarosz, The Town Hall
2/9 Aztec Two-Step, City Vineyard
2/10 EOB (Ed O’Brien of Radiohead), (le) Poisson Rouge
2/11 Richard Julian, Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1
2/12 The Heavy, Webster Hall
2/12 James Maddock, Rockwood Music Hall
2/12 Joe Pug, Rough Trade

♦ 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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Chelsea Art Gallery District*

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.

Here are two exhibitions the Vulture (NY Magazine) likes:

coming soon