NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/10) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 04/10/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/ APRIL 10, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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:

DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM (also Apr.12-13)
at City Center / 7 p.m.; $35+
“The ballet company celebrates its 50th anniversary season with an opening night honoring Arthur Mitchell, who along with Karel Shook formed the group in 1969. Now led by Virginia Johnson, its artistic director, and Anna Glass, its executive director, Dance Theater will present four works, either in their entirety or in excerpts, that Mitchell created or contributed to: “The Greatest,” “Creole Giselle,” “Bach Passacaglia” (performed by students of Dance Theater’s school) and “Tones II,” a piece from 1971 reimagined for 14 dancers. The season also includes Robert Garland’s “Return” and “Nyman String Quartet No. 2,” and Geoffrey Holder’s “Dougla.” (NYT-Gia Kourlas)

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Melissa Etheridge, The Medicine Show
>> La Traviata
>> The Mason Brothers Quintet
>> Mott the Hoople ’74, The Wallflowers
>> JONATHAN FINLAYSON
>> HAND HABITS
>> James Carter Organ Trio

Continuing Events
>> SOUNDTRACK OF AMERICA
>> STREB

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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Melissa Etheridge, The Medicine Show
Town Hall / 8PM, $50+
“Join Melissa Etheridge for an evening of unforgettable songs and new music from her forthcoming album The Medicine Show out April 12th. The album will be the singer’s 15th studio recording,

“Calling the album ‘The Medicine Show’ puts straight up, front and center, that this about health, wellness, cannabis, this new thought, new paradigm, however you want to talk about it, however you want to understand it,” Etheridge said in a statement. “We’re not afraid of this anymore. We’ve come a long way.”

La Traviata (next Apr.13, 8:30PM)
The Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera House / 8PM, $95+
“Michael Mayer’s richly textured new production features a dazzling 19th-century setting that changes with the seasons. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts soprano Diana Damrau as the tragic heroine, Violetta, and tenor Juan Diego Flórez as Alfredo, Violetta’s hapless lover. Baritone Quinn Kelsey is Alfredo’s father, Germont, who destroys their love. Another cast of stars takes over in the spring with soprano Anita Hartig as Violetta and tenor Stephen Costello as the lovers and Plácido Domingo and Artur Ruciński sharing the role of Germont, with Nicola Luisotti on the podium.”

The Mason Brothers Quintet
Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“Brothers Brad and Elliot Mason share a truly unique musical bond and vision when performing together. Described as “one of the most important trombone voices of today’s generation,” Elliot is a longtime member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Brad has proven himself as one of New York’s highly respected trumpet players and educators. Their past several performances at Dizzy’s Club generated glowing reviews and increasing demand for a return performance, which we are excited to present tonight. For the first time at Dizzy’s, the Mason Brothers will perform a program of music written by all-time jazz greats John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Duke Ellington.”

Mott the Hoople ’74, The Wallflowers
@ Beacon Theatre / 8PM, $66+
“Glam vets Mott the Hoople are celebrating the 45th anniversary of their 1974 tour, and for the occasion, frontman Ian Hunter is reuniting with ’74-era members Ariel Bender and Morgan Fisher, which marks the first time the three of them have toured together since that year. Jakob Dylan’s still-active ’90s-era alt-rock band The Wallflowers open.” (brooklyn vegan)

JONATHAN FINLAYSON (April 10-13)
at the Stone / 8:30 p.m.; $20
“Last year, Finlayson, a young trumpeter with an appetite for tangled rhythm and lithe, fugacious melody, released a compelling album, “3 Times Round,” with his sextet. In the coming week at the Stone, across four evenings, he gathers a different band each night: On Wednesday and Thursday, there are trios (featuring the bassist Mark Helias and the drummer Tom Rainey on the first night, then the saxophonist Brian Settles and the drummer Chad Taylor on the second). On April 12, he presents a quintet that includes the alto saxophone phenom Immanuel Wilkins, and on April 13, he closes the run with a septet, playing a new suite of music called “The Odyssey of Big Boy.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

HAND HABITS
at Bowery Ballroom / 8 p.m.; $15
“Meg Duffy, the songwriter behind this indie-rock project, is a musician’s musician. A product of New York’s Hudson Valley D.I.Y. community, Duffy gained a reputation in Los Angeles for shredding on demand as a go-to session guitarist and a member of Kevin Morby’s touring band. Duffy’s solo work is more restrained and reflective, as evinced on Hand Habits’ recent sophomore album, “Placeholder,” which features a softened guitar tone and raw lyrics about anxiety. After supporting Japanese Breakfast at two New York shows in January, Hand Habits return as a headliner.” (NYT-OLIVIA HORN)

James Carter Organ Trio (April 9-13)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St./ 8:30PM, 11:00PM, $30-$40
It’s been nearly thirty years since James Carter hit the scene as a rough and tough tenor with a heart of gold, but there’s still plenty of brawl left in the backstreet saxophonist. This lean, serrated trio, with organ and drums, is just the setting to hear Carter in all his swaggering glory.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

More Smart Stuff coming soon.

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Continuing Events

SOUNDTRACK OF AMERICA
at the Shed
(April 9, 8:30 p.m.; through April 14).
“For its opening, this flashy new interdisciplinary arts space — a cultural counterweight to the surrounding commercial development in Hudson Yards — will host five nights of concerts honoring the influence of African-American musicians. Developed by the filmmaker Steve McQueen, the series aims to explore the story of black music in America from early spirituals to today’s diverse forms. To that end, the performances in the coming week feature artists such as the jazz pianist and bandleader Jon Batiste, the rappers Smino and Rapsody, the avant-pop cellist Kelsey Lu and the R&B singer Emily King.” (NYT-OLIVIA HORN)

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STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

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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 2018 – awesome! 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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Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

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

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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WHAT’S ON VIEW
My Fave Special Exhibitions – MUSEUMS / Manhattan’s WestSide
(See the New York Times Arts Section for listings of all museums,
and also to see their expanded reviews of exhibitions)

Museum of Modern Art

“The Value of Good Design”  (through June 15)

“The simple flask of the Chemex coffeemaker, the austere fan of aluminum tines on a garden rake, and the airtight allure of first-generation Tupperware exemplify the democratic promise of the Good Design movement in this edifying survey, which highlights (although not exclusively) the museum’s role in its history. Also on view—and among the winners of MOMA’s first design competition, held in 1940-41—is a molded plywood chair by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen; it’s a classic design, but, owing to technological limitations in its day, it wasn’t mass-produced until 2006. Starting in 1938, MOMA mounted an annual exhibition called “Useful Objects,” which championed the inexpensive and doubled as recommendations for holiday gifts. No item had a value of more than five dollars the first year; a decade later, the limit was a hundred dollars. By the fifties, the museum had established partnerships with national retailers for the exhibited products, from textiles to appliances, and, in the eighties, it opened its own design store. In the current show, the most compelling items are the everyday gems: Timo Sarpaneva’s cast-iron and teak casserole, from 1959; the original Slinky, from 1945; and a collapsible wire basket, from 1953, as graceful as a Ruth Asawa sculpture.” (

“Joan Miró”  (through June 15)

“This enchanting show draws on the museum’s immense holdings of Miró’s work, along with a few loans. Its star attraction is “The Birth of the World,” painted in 1925, while the artist was under the spell of the Surrealist circle of André Breton. It presents drifting pictographic elements—a black triangle, a red disk, a white disk, an odd black hook shape, and some skittery lines—on an amorphous ground of thinned grayish paint that soaks here and there into the unevenly primed canvas. It’s large—more than eight feet high by more than six feet wide—but feels larger: cosmic. There had never been anything quite like it in painting, and it stood far apart from the formally conservative, lurid fantasizing of the other Surrealist painters. Today, we are ever less apt to base valuations on precedence—who did what first. Art of the past seems not so much a parade as a convocation, subject to case-by-case assessments. Never unsettling in the ways of, say, Matisse or, for heaven’s sake, Picasso, Miró is a modernist for everybody. He earns and will keep his place in our hearts.” (

American Museum of Natural History

‘T. REX: THE ULTIMATE PREDATOR’  (through Aug. 9, 2020).
“Everyone’s favorite 18,000-pound prehistoric killer gets the star treatment in this eye-opening exhibition, which presents the latest scientific research on T. rex and also introduces many other tyrannosaurs, some discovered only this century in China and Mongolia. T. rex evolved mainly during the Cretaceous Period to have keen eyes, spindly arms and massive conical teeth, which could bear down on prey with the force of a U-Haul truck; the dinosaur could even swallow whole bones, as affirmed here by a kid-friendly display of fossilized excrement. The show mixes 66-million-year-old teeth with the latest 3-D prints of dino bones, and also presents new models of T. rex as a baby, a juvenile and a full-grown annihilator. Turns out this most savage beast was covered with — believe it! — a soft coat of beige or white feathers.” (Farago-NYT)

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Posts in right Sidebar dated 04/08 and 04/06.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/09) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 04/09/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > TUESDAY/ APRIL 09, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.”

==========================================================

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

MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
at the Joyce Theater / 7PM, $45+
“A century ago, the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, was submitted to the states for ratification. In honor of that anniversary, the Graham company presents the EVE Project, a robust collection of work from several generations of female choreographers, spread over a half-dozen programs. There are Graham classics, like “Herodiade,” “Errand Into the Maze” and “Chronicle,” as well as pieces by Annie-B Parson and Lucinda Childs. Two new works will be introduced, too: one by Pam Tanowitz and one by Maxine Doyle and Bobbi Jene Smith.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Julien Labro & the Chanson Experiment
>> SFJAZZ Collective
>> Keren Ann w/ Chris Garneau
>> AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
>> James Carter Organ Trio
>> Jeff Tweedy
>> Don Giovanni

Continuing Events
>> SOUNDTRACK OF AMERICA
>> STREB

COMING SOON (WFUV)
4/9 Charlotte Gainsbourg, Brooklyn Steel
4/10 Melissa Etheridge, Town Hall
4/10 The Wallflowers & Mott the Hoople, Beacon Theatre

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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Julien Labro & the Chanson Experiment
Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“Julien Labro is one of the most in-demand accordionists for a wide range of bandleaders, from straight-ahead jazz to music from around the world. The Chanson Experiment, Labro’s most recent project, is an exploration of his French roots. In this program he composes and arranges traditional French chansons with a 21st century perspective, bringing a modern harmonic sophistication to the heart-on-your-sleeve themes. The accordion, the cornerstone of the French chanson, shines bright at the forefront of this program thanks to Labro’s jaw-dropping virtuosity. Enjoy Labro’s adventurous new project, which simultaneously embraces, challenges, and reimagines French classics for a contemporary audience.”

SFJAZZ Collective (April 9-14)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“The SFJAZZ Collective doesn’t waste its time on lightweights. Refashioning the work of the jazz master Miles Davis and the genius Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Jobim, this eight-piece aggregate flaunts its stellar arranging chops and the star power of such soloists as the saxophonists David Sánchez and Miguel Zenón and the trumpeter Etienne Charles.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

Keren Ann w/ Chris Garneau
City Winery / 8PM, $20-$25
“Keren Ann is an artist, singer-songwriter but also an artist who’s songs have been sung or performed by such eclectic and international artists : David Byrne, Iggy Pop, Luz Casal, Rosa Pasos, Anna Calvi, Jane Birkin, Henri Salvador ou Françoise Hardy.

In parallel of her records and numerous tours, she works on original soundtracks for films (La femme la plus assassinée du monde by Franck Ribière, among others) but also for theater or contemporary danse (Collaborations with choreographs Sharon Eval or Damien Jalet). Bleue is her 8th solo album.
Melancholy, Keren Ann and folk’s music fellow traveller, dominates in this new album where the artist tells the ephemeral. How love, attachment, as immense as it is, disintegrates and gets scuttled.”

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
at the Rose Theater / 7:30 p.m.; $45+
‘This fine, exuberant ensemble is led from the violin by Richard Tognetti, who also made two of the arrangements on this program, namely the first four fugues from Bach’s “The Art of Fugue,” and Beethoven’s mammoth Op. 130 quartet, with “Grosse Fuge” as its ending. Also on the bill is Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12, with Inon Barnatan at the keyboard.” (NYT-David Allen)

James Carter Organ Trio (April 9-13)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St./ 8:30PM, 11:00PM, $30-$40
It’s been nearly thirty years since James Carter hit the scene as a rough and tough tenor with a heart of gold, but there’s still plenty of brawl left in the backstreet saxophonist. This lean, serrated trio, with organ and drums, is just the setting to hear Carter in all his swaggering glory.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

Jeff Tweedy (Apr.8-9)
The Town Hall / 7:30PM, $45+
“Jeff Tweedy of Wilco plays two shows behind his second studio album WARM following his acoustic retrospective Together at Last (2017) and his band’s 2016 LP, cheekily titled Schmilco. The record sort of acts as a companion to Tweedy’s highly-praised memoir Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) in which the scribe reflects on stories about his past, the formation of Wilco, his song-writing process, overcoming hardships and more. Expect a sprawling, deep set stacked with new and stellar tracks from WARM and hopefully a few classics.” (TONY)

Don Giovanni (next Apr.12, 8PM)
Metropolitan Opera House / 8PM, $30+
“Baritone Peter Mattei and bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni star as opera’s most notorious seducer in Mozart’s masterpiece of dark comedy. Cornelius Meister makes his Met debut conducting performances that also include sopranos Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Guanqun Yu as Donna Anna, sopranos Federica Lombardi and Susanna Phillips as Donna Elvira, and basses Ildar Abdrazakov and Adam Plachetka as Leporello.”

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

More Smart Stuff coming soon.

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Continuing Events

SOUNDTRACK OF AMERICA
at the Shed
(April 9, 8:30 p.m.; through April 14).
“For its opening, this flashy new interdisciplinary arts space — a cultural counterweight to the surrounding commercial development in Hudson Yards — will host five nights of concerts honoring the influence of African-American musicians. Developed by the filmmaker Steve McQueen, the series aims to explore the story of black music in America from early spirituals to today’s diverse forms. To that end, the performances in the coming week feature artists such as the jazz pianist and bandleader Jon Batiste, the rappers Smino and Rapsody, the avant-pop cellist Kelsey Lu and the R&B singer Emily King.” (NYT-OLIVIA HORN)

——————————————————————————————–

STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

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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 2018 – awesome! 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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Bonus NYC events– 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.

 

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub / Midtown West

Russian Vodka Room / 265 W 52nd St (btw 7th/8th ave)

Sure, you could travel to Minsk or even Brighton Beach, for an authentic Russian experience, but why bother. On those days when you feel you must wash down your dish of kasha with a few glasses of icy, cold vodka, the Russian Vodka Room will definitely satisfy your urge.

From the outside this place looks a bit drab, and with no windows, a bit mysterious. Midtown tourists walk right by on their way to see “Jersey Boys,” just down the block.
(Alas, no more. After 10 years, “Jersey Boys” finally closed, now it’s “Mean Girls.”)

lThose in the know enter a secret hideaway, a dimly lit front room with soft jazz playing – a perfect spot for an illicit late-night rendezvous, or maybe a meet-up with your Russian spy handler, but that’s later in the evening. Early in the evening the large U-shaped bar fills with the after work happy hour crowd, a group made very happy by the much reduced prices.

Their website says: “Welcome Comrades”. Of course, this welcome focuses on dozens of different vodkas, including their own special infusions, which marinate in giant, clear glass jugs visible around the room. The large vodka martinis ensure that you won’t confuse this place with your mother’s Russian Tea Room.

But man does not live by vodka alone. Eat some food, especially the tapa like appetizers. Be decadent and try the cheese blintzes with chocolate, or try a main dish like beef stroganoff with kasha.

Your best bet is to go on a night when the piano man is playing. This guy, who looks like he has eaten a lot of those cheese blintzes, plays five nights a week from 7 to 12 (no Mondays and Thursdays). When the piano man is playing American pop tunes, and you are at the crowded, dimly lit bar testing the horseradish infused vodka, that’s when the RVR shines.

It’s the kind of place where the noise gets louder and the crowd gets happier as the happy hour goes on. I’m generally a beer guy, but I like to come here with a group of friends. We find a table in the back room near the piano man; we eat, and we drink vodka ‘till it hurts (and it will hurt).
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Website: http://www.russianvodkaroom.com/
Phone #: 212-307-5835
Hours: 4pm-2am; Fri-Sun closes 4am (that could be trouble)
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day
$4 shots infused vodka (2oz), $5 cosmos; $4 czech draft beer
Music: FR-SU; TU-WE / 7pm-12am
Subway: #1 to 50th St.
Walk 2 blk N. on B’way to 52nd St.; 1 blk W. to RVR
Confusingly, the Russian Samovar is right across the street, on the S. side of 52nd St.
The RVR, your destination, is on the N. side of 52nd St.
Update: music now includes a younger, trimmer piano man. “Tiny” we miss you.

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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.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/08) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 04/08/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > MONDAY/ APRIL 08, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.
To make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

==========================================================

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

Jeff Tweedy (Apr.8-9)
The Town Hall / 7:30PM, $45+
“Jeff Tweedy of Wilco plays two shows behind his second studio album WARM following his acoustic retrospective Together at Last (2017) and his band’s 2016 LP, cheekily titled Schmilco. The record sort of acts as a companion to Tweedy’s highly-praised memoir Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) in which the scribe reflects on stories about his past, the formation of Wilco, his song-writing process, overcoming hardships and more. Expect a sprawling, deep set stacked with new and stellar tracks from WARM and hopefully a few classics.” (TONY)

=========================================================

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra: Manhattan Sings!
>> Catherine Cohen: The Twist?… She’s Gorgeous
>> Third Rail Projects
>> “Ask A Spaceman” Live with Paul M. Sutter
>> Three Identical Strangers: The Film and the Men Behind It
>> Trilogy of Nations: Japan, Korea, and China with Sam Mehta
>> Monday Night Magic

Continuing Events
>> SOUNDTRACK OF AMERICA
>> STREB

COMING SOON (WFUV)
4/8-9 Andrew Bird, National Sawdust
4/8 Muse, Madison Square Garden
4/9 Charlotte Gainsbourg, Brooklyn Steel
4/10 Melissa Etheridge, Town Hall
4/10 The Wallflowers & Mott the Hoople, Beacon Theatre

==================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Manhattan School of Music Jazz Orchestra: Manhattan Sings!
Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“Manhattan School of Music’s programs of study for Jazz Arts majors are designed to develop skilled performers, composers, arrangers, and jazz educators in preparation for careers in jazz music. Systematic and rigorous conservatory training, combined with a myriad of performance and networking opportunities in New York City, makes this program one of the richest of its kind for emerging jazz musicians. These talented young musicians prove that the spirit of swing is alive and well, and that the future of jazz is in extremely capable hands. Tonight, under the leadership of conductor and arranger Jim McNeely, the Jazz Orchestra will work alongside members of its growing vocal program to celebrate the longstanding vocal tradition in jazz.”

Catherine Cohen: The Twist?… She’s Gorgeous
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater / 9:30PM, $15
“If you live in New York and haven’t seen Catherine Cohen perform live…seek treatment. The comedy chanteuse had us mesmerized when she was singing in dive bars about boys; now armed with a full backing band at one of the city’s best venues, Cohen is a total force of nature. She takes over Joe’s Pub for a night of wickedly subversive musical comedy, fabulous looks and self-directed diva worship. She’s joined by regular collaborator Henry Koperski at the keys. Not to be missed.” (TONY)

Third Rail Projects (April 8-12)
Winter Garden at Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St./ 12:00-12:10PM, +1:00-1:10PM, FREE
“The company that turned a former hospital into an immersive “Alice in Wonderland” for “Then She Fell” (2012) and a Bushwick warehouse into a swinging-seventies resort for “The Grand Paradise” (2016) now transforms the palm-tree-stocked Winter Garden at the Brookfield Place mall into a fantasy oasis. Set in the nineteen-eighties and filled with period moves, “Oasis” follows four office workers on their lunch break as they discover what seems to be a mirage of a tropical paradise. The story unfolds in lunchtime vignettes on weekdays at noon and 1; an evening show, on April 12, combines all the episodes.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

HWBC & Science Friday Present “Ask A Spaceman” Live with Paul M. Sutter
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby St./ 7PM, $6, includes 1 drink
Go interstellar with astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter, who leads a panel looking at life, death, and origins, as inspired by his book Your Place in the Universe: Understanding Our Big, Messy Existence. Science Friday co-hosts, with space biophysics, nuclear secrecy, and the role of teeth in understanding human evolution among the expertises on display.” (ThoughtGallery)

Three Identical Strangers: The Film and the Men Behind It
Temple Emanu-El, 1 E. 65th St./ 6:30PM, $18
“It began as the ultimate feel-good story: three identical triplets separated at birth and adopted by three different families are reunited by astonishing coincidence. Their reunion unfolds like a fairy tale as they discover dozens of commonalities, from their fondness for wrestling to the way they cross their legs. The media falls in love with them, and they even become the darlings of Studio 54.

Then the past disrupts that reunion after the three discover that their separation had been intentional, the plan of a Jewish scientist who used them in an experiment to unravel how identity is shaped, with the collaboration of a Jewish adoption agency.

Join us to watch this extraordinary documentary film that won the Special Jury Prize at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival and then to hear from two of the triplets, David Kellman and Bobby Shafran, and director Tim Wardle, about the ethical tangle that shaped the triplets’ lives.”

Trilogy of Nations: Japan, Korea, and China with Sam Mehta
The Explorers Club, 46 E. 70th St./ 7PM, $25
“Delve into the overlapping qualities and striking differences between three interlinked nations of East Asia. Author Sam Mehta, who has traveled extensively in the region, looks into shared histories, paths to prosperity, and varying approaches to contemporary challenges across Korea, Japan, and China.” (ThoughtGallery)

“During the last ice age, the sea level was low enough to expose Japan, Korea and China as a part of the single landmass. The story of these East Asian countries has been interlinked ever since. China of course is the largest and had the most influence on Japan and Korea. The Chinese-influenced cultures have evolved differently based on their unique geography, history and culture. However, they are many similarities, thus appropriately the three great economies of Japan, Korea and China are often referred to as a trilogy of nations.”

Monday Night Magic
Players Theatre, West Village / 8PM, $37.50
“For 21 years, this proudly old-school series has offered a different lineup of professional magicians every week: opening acts, a headliner and a host, plus two or three close-up magicians to wow the audience at intermission. Housed for the past seven years at the unprepossessing Players Theatre, it is an heir to the vaudeville tradition.

Many of the acts incorporate comedic elements, and audience participation is common. (If you have young children, bring them; they make especially adorable assistants.) Shows cost just $37.50 in advance and typically last well over two hours, so you get a lot of value and variety for your magic dollar. In contrast to some fancier magic shows, this one feels like comfort food: an all-you-can eat buffet to which you’re encouraged to return until you’re as stuffed as a hat full of rabbits.” (TONY)

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Continuing Events

SOUNDTRACK OF AMERICA
at the Shed
(April 9, 8:30 p.m.; through April 14).
“For its opening, this flashy new interdisciplinary arts space — a cultural counterweight to the surrounding commercial development in Hudson Yards — will host five nights of concerts honoring the influence of African-American musicians. Developed by the filmmaker Steve McQueen, the series aims to explore the story of black music in America from early spirituals to today’s diverse forms. To that end, the performances in the coming week feature artists such as the jazz pianist and bandleader Jon Batiste, the rappers Smino and Rapsody, the avant-pop cellist Kelsey Lu and the R&B singer Emily King.” (NYT-OLIVIA HORN)

——————————————————————————————–

STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

============================================================================
♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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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Bonus NYC Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite non jazz music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who’s playing tonight:

City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St., joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
Town Hall – 123 W43rd St., thetownhall.org, 212-997-6661
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
and one more, not quite WestSide
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com

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

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 discovery and enjoyment.

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.
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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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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 is one exhibition the New Yorker likes:

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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.

*Now plan your own gallery crawl, but better to plan your visits for Tuesday through Saturday; most galleries are closed Sunday and Monday.

TIP: After your gallery tour, stop in Ovest at 513W27th St. for Aperitivo Italiano (Happy Hour on steroids). Discuss all the great art you have viewed over a drink and a very tasty selection of FREE appetizers (M-F, 5-8pm). OR try this NYT recommendation: “When you’re done, adjourn to the newly renovated Bottino , the Chelsea art world’s unofficial canteen on 10th Avenue (btw 24/25 St.) “

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 04/06 and 04/04.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/07) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square / Theater District)

Posted on 04/07/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > SUNDAY/ APRIL 07, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.
To make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

==========================================================

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

Alex Ferreira (also Apr.12)
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St./ 9:30PM, $50
Whether he’s cradling a ukulele or crouching over a synth machine, the Dominican singer-songwriter Alex Ferreira takes his cues from the kind of old-school Latin balladry that allows for a generous outpouring of feelings. Even though he’s a classic romantic at heart, he delights in his own hyperactive need to experiment, which has allowed him to build a wildly eclectic catalogue. His solo albums and collaborative projects feature songs that dabble in the assorted dance rhythms of bachata, merengue, electro-pop, and folk.” (Julyssa Lopez, NewYorker)

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Gabrielle Stravelli Sings Willie Nelson
>> MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
>> Sullivan Fortner Trio
>> Joshua Redman Quartet
>> Brooklyn Folk Festival
>> The Photography Show
>> Beer Festival at Dekalb Market! Crawl at the Hall!

Continuing Events
>> New Directors/New Films Festival
>> STREB

COMING SOON (WFUV)
4/8-9 Jeff Tweedy, Town Hall
4/8-9 Andrew Bird, National Sawdust
4/8 Muse, Madison Square Garden
4/9 Charlotte Gainsbourg, Brooklyn Steel
4/10 Melissa Etheridge, Town Hall
4/10 The Wallflowers & Mott the Hoople, Beacon Theatre

==================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Gabrielle Stravelli: Pick Up My Pieces—Gabrielle Stravelli Sings Willie Nelson
Birdland / 6PM, $30
“Stravelli has a groovy ’70s-chick vibe and a supple, versatile voice that can navigate multiple genres with ease but has a special affinity for jazz. After many years as one of New York’s best-kept secrets, she is finally riding a well-deserved tide of acclaim. At Birdland she rifles through the songbook of country icon Willie Nelson, from songs he wrote (including “Crazy”) to standards he memorably covered (such as “Stardust”).” (TONY)

MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
at the Joyce Theater / 2PM, +7:30PM, $45+
“A century ago, the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, was submitted to the states for ratification. In honor of that anniversary, the Graham company presents the EVE Project, a robust collection of work from several generations of female choreographers, spread over a half-dozen programs. There are Graham classics, like “Herodiade,” “Errand Into the Maze” and “Chronicle,” as well as pieces by Annie-B Parson and Lucinda Childs. Two new works will be introduced, too: one by Pam Tanowitz and one by Maxine Doyle and Bobbi Jene Smith.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

Sullivan Fortner Trio (LAST DAY)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $35
A highlight of his latest album, “Moments Preserved,” finds the adroit pianist Sullivan Fortner reunited with his former employer, the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove, for a lovely account of Elmo Hope’s early-sixties gem “Eyes So Beautiful As Yours.” It’s an off-center and cunning choice that showcases Fortner’s historical awareness as well as the shining touch and unerring taste that he displayed on his recent work with the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. He leads a trio that features the bassist Ameen Saleem and the drummer Jeremy (Bean) Clemons.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

Joshua Redman Quartet (LAST DAY)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“One of the biggest saxophone stars of the modern era, Redman plays innovative cuts from an upcoming quartet album—what will be his first in nearly two decades. This agile combo consists of pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.” (TONY)

“Critics and fans alike are blown away by Redman’s passionate live performances and acclaimed recordings. In The Joshua Redman Quartet, Redman evokes a sound that can be challenging, provocative, and forward-looking, but also hard-swinging, melodic, and soulful – music with a joyous and celebratory spirit.”

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Brooklyn Folk Festival (Ap.5-7)
St. Ann & the Holy Trinity, 157 Montague St., Bklyn / 7PM, $25
“The Brooklyn Folk Festival is entering its eleventh year, which makes it a battle-tested stalwart among music festivals and, in the folk world, a sexy young comer. Presented at St. Ann’s Church by the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, it thrives on its inclusiveness. This year’s edition opens on April 5 with a Sardinian vocal quartet and concludes, two days and more than forty acts later, with a Malian kora player. It also features workshops on such pursuits as flat-foot dancing; like the beloved Newport festivals of yore, the prevailing vibe is that of a socialist summer camp. Fittingly, one highlight is a sing-along to commemorate Pete Seeger—no doubt presently engaged in unionizing his fellow-angels—on his centennial. Another is the annual Banjo Toss, a wish-fulfillment exercise for generations of bluegrass audiences in which the festival producer Eli Smith leads contestants in hurling the instrument into the poor, unsuspecting Gowanus Canal.” (Jay Ruttenberg, NewYorker)

=========================================================

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

The Photography Show (Apr.05-07)
Marvel at the longest-running photography fair
Pier 94 / 12-7PM, $30
“If a picture’s worth a thousand words, the Photography Show at Pier 94 is swimming in ‘em. Cheryl Medow’s shots of tropical birds in their environments will stop landscape lovers in their tracks, a solo exhibition spotlighting documentary photographer Danny Lyon’s influences will quench journalism junkies’ curiosity, and dudes donning dangly earrings will gawk at David LaChapelle’s iconic portraits.” (thrillist.com

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Beer Festival at Dekalb Market! Crawl at the Hall!
Find a new favorite brewer
Dekalb Market Hall / 2-5PM, $35
“Downtown Brooklyn’s newest beer festival is kicking off at the Dekalb Market Hall this weekend. Admission to Crawl at the Hall will get you a souvenir mug and two 8-ounce beers from each of the eight local breweries present (in other words, 128 ounces of beer). Add $15 to the ticket and you’ll get early admission, a Bavarian pretzel necklace, a $5 Dekalb Market Hall credit, and a 32-ounce Craft + Carry crowler for the road. Not a bad Sunday afternoon.” (thrillist.com)

Join us as we host our first ever Craft + Carry Crawl At The Hall at Dekalb Market Hall in Downtown Brooklyn! Featuring 8 different local breweries, you’ll be sure to find a new favorite on Sunday, April 7th!

=======================================================

Continuing Events

New Directors/New Films Festival (LAST DAY)
The future of cinema.
MoMA Theaters and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center
“At 48, the joint Museum of Modern Art and Film Society of Lincoln Center festival is one of the most venerable New York film fests — but also the one that’s still most apt to challenge, vex, and explode your perceptions. This year’s starts with a bang — the Sundance sensation Clemency, Chinonye Chukwu’s prison drama with Alfre Woodard and Aldis Hodge. Another Sundance winner, Monos, stars Julianne Nicholson as an American engineer held captive in a South American jungle by teenage guerrillas. The programmers say it’s “sure to be one of the most hotly debated films of 2019,” so see it early and stake out your position.” (David Edelstein, NewYork Magazine)

My favorite NYCity film festival. These films are not all home runs, but it is so exciting when you find the next Pedro Almodóvar.

SOUNDTRACK OF AMERICA
at the Shed
(April 5 and 7, 8 p.m.; April 9, 8:30 p.m.; through April 14).
“For its opening, this flashy new interdisciplinary arts space — a cultural counterweight to the surrounding commercial development in Hudson Yards — will host five nights of concerts honoring the influence of African-American musicians. Developed by the filmmaker Steve McQueen, the series aims to explore the story of black music in America from early spirituals to today’s diverse forms. To that end, the performances in the coming week feature artists such as the jazz pianist and bandleader Jon Batiste, the rappers Smino and Rapsody, the avant-pop cellist Kelsey Lu and the R&B singer Emily King.” (NYT-OLIVIA HORN)

——————————————————————————————–

STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

==========================================================================
♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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.

=====================================================
Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

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

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub

Jimmy’s Corner / 140 W 44th St (btw B’way & 7th ave)

IMG_2083Jimmy’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, with a great selection of  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.
————————————————————————————————————————
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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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/06) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 04/06/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > SATURDAY/ APRIL 06, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.
To make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

==========================================================

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

Elsewhere, but this first Saturday event is always worth the detour,
and it’s easy to get to. Take the #2, or #3 express, stops right at the museum’s front door.

Frida Khalo First Saturday
Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway, Bklyn / 5-11PM, FREE
“The Brooklyn Museum’s First Saturday in April will honor Frida Kahlo with a night of music, performance and art from Mexican-American, Chicanx and Latinx creators like the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, a performance by Yas Mama! and music by Pistolera.” (amNY)

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> MICHAËL ATTIAS
>> Patty Griffin 
>> NATALIA OSIPOVA
>> Joshua Redman Quartet
>> MCCOY TYNER AND CHARLES MCPHERSON WITH THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA
>> Brooklyn Folk Festival
>> The Photography Show
>> NYC Craft Beer Festival

Continuing Events
>> New Directors/New Films Festival
>> STREB

COMING SOON (WFUV)
4/8-9 Jeff Tweedy, Town Hall
4/8-9 Andrew Bird, National Sawdust
4/8 Muse, Madison Square Garden
4/9 Charlotte Gainsbourg, Brooklyn Steel
4/10 Melissa Etheridge, Town Hall
4/10 The Wallflowers & Mott the Hoople, Beacon Theatre

==================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

MICHAËL ATTIAS
at Greenwich House Music School / 7:30 p.m.; $20
On Friday, Attias will release “Échos la Nuit,” an album of slow, ruminative solo recordings on which he plays both the alto saxophone (his primary instrument) and the piano. Hearing these 12 tracks is like inspecting the mysterious line drawings of a beloved artist. Sometimes you’ll almost discern the contour of a landscape or the dark shading of a limb, but ultimately the shapes all drift back into a desolate, spacious abstraction. At Greenwich House, Attias will perform solo and in a quartet.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Patty Griffin 
“The Americana singer-songwriter had to battle cancer and complications that took away her voice for awhile before she could complete her new album, “Patty Griffin.” The result isn’t just one of her strongest albums in years but also one of the year’s best; Griffin tackles both personal and political issues on songs like “Mama’s Worried” and “The Wheel.” (Newsday)
WHEN | WHERE 8 p.m. Saturday, April 6, Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St., Manhattan
INFO $39.50 to $49.50; 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com

NATALIA OSIPOVA 
at New York City Center / 8PM; $35
“Few contemporary ballerinas have the clout to carry a solo show and tour it internationally, but Osipova, a principal with the Royal Ballet, has been a global fan favorite for years. This is because of her ability to fuse fearlessness with vulnerability and apply it to classic and contemporary work alike. For this program, she has recruited David Hallberg, a cherished partner, with whom she will dance the United States premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s “Valse Triste,” which takes its name from Sibelius’s well-known waltz, and “The Leaves Are Fading” by Antony Tudor. Additional works on the bill — some Osipova will do with other partners; some Osipova and Hallberg will perform solo — are by Iván Pérez, Kim Brandstrup, Roy Assaf and Yuka Oishi.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

Joshua Redman Quartet (Apr.2-7)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“One of the biggest saxophone stars of the modern era, Redman plays innovative cuts from an upcoming quartet album—what will be his first in nearly two decades. This agile combo consists of pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.” (TONY)

“Critics and fans alike are blown away by Redman’s passionate live performances and acclaimed recordings. In The Joshua Redman Quartet, Redman evokes a sound that can be challenging, provocative, and forward-looking, but also hard-swinging, melodic, and soulful – music with a joyous and celebratory spirit.”

MCCOY TYNER AND CHARLES MCPHERSON WITH THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA (April 5-6)
at the Rose Theater / 8p.m.; $
“Two jazz giants, Tyner and McPherson will celebrate their 80th birthdays together in a performance with Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. (Tyner reached the milestone late last year; McPherson will turn 80 in July.) The large ensemble will play Tyner’s and McPherson’s compositions, which have been newly arranged for orchestra by members of the group.” (NYT- GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Brooklyn Folk Festival (Ap.5-7)
St. Ann & the Holy Trinity, 157 Montague St., Bklyn / 7PM, $25
“The Brooklyn Folk Festival is entering its eleventh year, which makes it a battle-tested stalwart among music festivals and, in the folk world, a sexy young comer. Presented at St. Ann’s Church by the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, it thrives on its inclusiveness. This year’s edition opens on April 5 with a Sardinian vocal quartet and concludes, two days and more than forty acts later, with a Malian kora player. It also features workshops on such pursuits as flat-foot dancing; like the beloved Newport festivals of yore, the prevailing vibe is that of a socialist summer camp. Fittingly, one highlight is a sing-along to commemorate Pete Seeger—no doubt presently engaged in unionizing his fellow-angels—on his centennial. Another is the annual Banjo Toss, a wish-fulfillment exercise for generations of bluegrass audiences in which the festival producer Eli Smith leads contestants in hurling the instrument into the poor, unsuspecting Gowanus Canal.” (Jay Ruttenberg, NewYorker)

=========================================================

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

The Photography Show (Apr.05-07)
Marvel at the longest-running photography fair
Pier 94 / 12-7PM, $30
“If a picture’s worth a thousand words, the Photography Show at Pier 94 is swimming in ‘em. Cheryl Medow’s shots of tropical birds in their environments will stop landscape lovers in their tracks, a solo exhibition spotlighting documentary photographer Danny Lyon’s influences will quench journalism junkies’ curiosity, and dudes donning dangly earrings will gawk at David LaChapelle’s iconic portraits.” (thrillist.com

NYC Craft Beer Festival
Sample suds at a craft beer fest
“The NYC Craft Beer Festival promises beverages from more than 70 breweries, and with unlimited beer or cider tastings you’ll be able to try plenty. Guests will also find food available and games, and all will score a souvenir tasting glass to go.” (Newsday)
WHEN | WHERE  1 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6; Union West 535 W. 28th St., Manhattan
INFO Admission $55+ per session; 201-434-8700, nyccraftbeerfest.com

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Continuing Events

New Directors/New Films Festival (March 27 to April 7)
The future of cinema.
MoMA Theaters and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center
“At 48, the joint Museum of Modern Art and Film Society of Lincoln Center festival is one of the most venerable New York film fests — but also the one that’s still most apt to challenge, vex, and explode your perceptions. This year’s starts with a bang — the Sundance sensation Clemency, Chinonye Chukwu’s prison drama with Alfre Woodard and Aldis Hodge. Another Sundance winner, Monos, stars Julianne Nicholson as an American engineer held captive in a South American jungle by teenage guerrillas. The programmers say it’s “sure to be one of the most hotly debated films of 2019,” so see it early and stake out your position.” (David Edelstein, NewYork Magazine)

My favorite NYCity film festival. These films are not all home runs, but it is so exciting when you find the next Pedro Almodóvar.

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STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

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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 2018 – awesome! 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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Bonus NYC events– 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.

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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WHAT’S ON VIEW
These are My Fave Special Exhibitions @ MUSEUMS / Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue
(See the New York Times Arts Section for listings of all museum exhibitions,
and also see the expanded reviews of these exhibitions)

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Hilma af Klint : Paintings for the Future (thru 04/23/19)

“Convinced that the world was not ready for her artistry in 1906, particularly as an underrepresented female in her field, af Klint of Sweden kept her work private. Her paintings anticipated by years “breakthroughs” by Kandinsky, Mondrian and others and were unseen before 1986. The Guggenheim rediscovers her.”

“Recognized as one of the art world’s earliest abstract painters, Hilma af Klint was a steadfast believer that her work was inspired by the spiritual. The new Guggenheim exhibition, “Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future,” showcases the work of this groundbreaking Swedish artist (1862-1944), whose work was rarely seen until the 1980s.” (Newsday)

See our art critic’s top pick of the year.
“Luckily, the number-one pick in Jerry Saltz’s best art shows of 2018 is still running. Hilma af Klint’s Paintings for the Future at the Guggenheim Museum examines the work of the unacknowledged Swedish visionary and makes a case for her being the first modernist abstract painter. Saltz is especially enamored with the first gallery, so make sure you spend some time there.” (NYMagazine)

GD: Definitely worth a visit. af Klint was like the original Kandinsky and it’s interesting to see both of their works in the same museum, even if not side-by-side.

New-York Historical Society

‘BETYE SAAR: KEEPIN’ IT CLEAN’  (through May 27).

“Saar has been making important and influential work for nearly 60 years. Yet no big New York museum has given her a full retrospective, or even a significant one-person show, since a 1975 solo at the Whitney Museum of American Art. As this exhibition demonstrates, the institutional oversight is baffling, as her primary themes — racial justice and feminism (her 1972 breakthrough piece, “The Liberation of Aunt Jemima,” merges the two by transforming the racist stereotype of the smiling black mammy into an armed freedom fighter) — are exactly attuned to the present.” (Cotter-NYT)
212-873-3400, nyhistory.org

Jewish Museum

‘SCENES FROM THE COLLECTION’  “After a surgical renovation to its grand pile on Fifth Avenue, the Jewish Museum has reopened its third-floor galleries with a rethought and refreshed display of its permanent collection, which intermingles modern and contemporary art, by Jews and gentiles alike — Mark Rothko, Lee Krasner, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, and the excellent young Nigerian draftswoman Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze — with 4,000 years of Judaica. The works are shown in a nimble, non-chronological suite of galleries, and some of its century-spanning juxtapositions are bracing; others feel reductive, even dilletantish. But always, the Jewish Museum conceives of art and religion as interlocking elements of a story of civilization, commendably open to new influences and new interpretations.” (Farago) 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org

Museum of the City of New York

NY AT ITS CORE (ongoing)
“Ten years in the making, New York at Its Core tells the compelling story of New York’s rise from a striving Dutch village to today’s “Capital of the World.” The exhibition captures the human energy that drove New York to become a city like no other and a subject of fascination the world over. Entertaining, inspiring, important, and at times bemusing, New York City “big personalities,” including Alexander Hamilton, Walt Whitman, Boss Tweed, Emma Goldman, JP Morgan, Fiorello La Guardia, Jane Jacobs, Jay-Z, and dozens more, parade through the exhibition. Visitors will also learn the stories of lesser-known New York personalities, like Lenape chieftain Penhawitz and Italian immigrant Susie Rocco. Even animals like the horse, the pig, the beaver, and the oyster, which played pivotal roles in the economy and daily life of New York, get their moment in the historical spotlight. Occupying the entire first floor in three interactive galleries (Port City, 1609-1898, World City, 1898-2012, and Future City Lab) New York at Its Core is shaped by four themes: money, density, diversity, and creativity. Together, they provide a lens for examining the character of the city, and underlie the modern global metropolis we know today. mcny.org” (NYCity Guide)

and you should be sure to check out these special exhibitions at that little museum on Fifth Ave., The Metropolitan Museum of Art
(open 7 days /week, AND always Pay What You Wish for NewYorkers)

“In Praise of Painting” (thru Oct.4, 2020)

“How great are the Met’s holdings in the Dutch golden age? Very. This long-term installation rings the lower level of the Lehman Wing with scores of lesser-known gems from the mid-seventeenth century, many of them rarely on view before, amid masterworks by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and Ruisdael. The period, vivified here, began in 1648, when the end of the Eighty Years’ War with Spain brought a boom in wealth and morale, expressed by genre paintings that exalt the national ideal of gezelligheid—social warmth, comfort, belonging. A key figure was Gerard ter Borch, who had travelled widely and worked at the court of Philip IV, in company with Velázquez. Ter Borch’s lustrous, ineffably witty domestic scenes inspired a generation of masters, notably Vermeer, whose genius rather eclipsed his elder’s. The pictures often star ter Borch’s younger sister Gesina, preening in satins or enigmatically musing. Herself a painter, she is cutely funny-looking—pointy nose, weak chin—and desperately lovable. There’s much to be said for a world with such a family in it.”

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Museum Mile is a section of Fifth Avenue which contains one of the densest displays of culture in the world. Eight museums can be found along this section of Fifth Avenue:
• 105th Street – El Museo del Barrio (closed Sun-Mon)*
• 103rd Street – Museum of the City of New York (open 7 days /week)
•  92nd Street – The Jewish Museum (closed Wed) (Sat FREE) (Thu 5-8 PWYW)
•  91st Street  –  Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (open 7 days /week)
•  89th Street –  National Academy Museum (closed Mon-Tue)
•  88th Street –  Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (closed Thu) (Sat 6-8 PWYW)
•  86th Street –  Neue Galerie New York (closed Tue-Wed) (Fri 6-8 FREE)
Last, but certainly not least, America’s premier museum
•  82nd Street – The Metropolitan Museum of Art (open 7 days /week)*
*always Pay What You Wish (PWYW) for NewYorkers

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (Wed 2-6pm PWYW; First Friday each month (exc Jan+Sep) 6-9pm FREE) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015).
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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 04/04 and 04/02.
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/05) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 04/05/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > FRIDAY/ APRIL 05, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.
To make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

==========================================================

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

MCCOY TYNER AND CHARLES MCPHERSON WITH THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA (April 5-6)
at the Rose Theater / 8p.m.; $
“Two jazz giants, Tyner and McPherson will celebrate their 80th birthdays together in a performance with Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. (Tyner reached the milestone late last year; McPherson will turn 80 in July.) The large ensemble will play Tyner’s and McPherson’s compositions, which have been newly arranged for orchestra by members of the group.” (NYT- GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Brooklyn Folk Festival
>> NATALIA OSIPOVA
>> Sullivan Fortner Trio
>> Joshua Redman Quartet
>> Unknowability: How Do We Know What Cannot Be Known?
>> The Photography Show
>> NYC Craft Beer Festival

Continuing Events
>> New Directors/New Films Festival
>> STREB

COMING SOON (WFUV)
4/5 Tom Paxton, City Winery
4/8-9 Jeff Tweedy, Town Hall
4/8-9 Andrew Bird, National Sawdust
4/8 Muse, Madison Square Garden
4/9 Charlotte Gainsbourg, Brooklyn Steel
4/10 Melissa Etheridge, Town Hall
4/10 The Wallflowers & Mott the Hoople, Beacon Theatre

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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Brooklyn Folk Festival (Ap.5-7)
St. Ann & the Holy Trinity, 157 Montague St., Bklyn / 7PM, $25
“The Brooklyn Folk Festival is entering its eleventh year, which makes it a battle-tested stalwart among music festivals and, in the folk world, a sexy young comer. Presented at St. Ann’s Church by the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, it thrives on its inclusiveness. This year’s edition opens on April 5 with a Sardinian vocal quartet and concludes, two days and more than forty acts later, with a Malian kora player. It also features workshops on such pursuits as flat-foot dancing; like the beloved Newport festivals of yore, the prevailing vibe is that of a socialist summer camp. Fittingly, one highlight is a sing-along to commemorate Pete Seeger—no doubt presently engaged in unionizing his fellow-angels—on his centennial. Another is the annual Banjo Toss, a wish-fulfillment exercise for generations of bluegrass audiences in which the festival producer Eli Smith leads contestants in hurling the instrument into the poor, unsuspecting Gowanus Canal.” (Jay Ruttenberg, NewYorker)

NATALIA OSIPOVA 
at New York City Center / 8PM; $35
“Few contemporary ballerinas have the clout to carry a solo show and tour it internationally, but Osipova, a principal with the Royal Ballet, has been a global fan favorite for years. This is because of her ability to fuse fearlessness with vulnerability and apply it to classic and contemporary work alike. For this program, she has recruited David Hallberg, a cherished partner, with whom she will dance the United States premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s “Valse Triste,” which takes its name from Sibelius’s well-known waltz, and “The Leaves Are Fading” by Antony Tudor. Additional works on the bill — some Osipova will do with other partners; some Osipova and Hallberg will perform solo — are by Iván Pérez, Kim Brandstrup, Roy Assaf and Yuka Oishi.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

Sullivan Fortner Trio (April 2-7.)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $35
A highlight of his latest album, “Moments Preserved,” finds the adroit pianist Sullivan Fortner reunited with his former employer, the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove, for a lovely account of Elmo Hope’s early-sixties gem “Eyes So Beautiful As Yours.” It’s an off-center and cunning choice that showcases Fortner’s historical awareness as well as the shining touch and unerring taste that he displayed on his recent work with the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. He leads a trio that features the bassist Ameen Saleem and the drummer Jeremy (Bean) Clemons.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

Joshua Redman Quartet (Apr.2-7)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“One of the biggest saxophone stars of the modern era, Redman plays innovative cuts from an upcoming quartet album—what will be his first in nearly two decades. This agile combo consists of pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.” (TONY)

“Critics and fans alike are blown away by Redman’s passionate live performances and acclaimed recordings. In The Joshua Redman Quartet, Redman evokes a sound that can be challenging, provocative, and forward-looking, but also hard-swinging, melodic, and soulful – music with a joyous and celebratory spirit.”

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Unknowability: How Do We Know What Cannot Be Known?
The New School, 66 W. 12th St./ 11AM-3:30PM; FREE
“How we know what we cannot know” remains a root human concern, even in these post-truth times. Over Thursday and Friday, catch multidisciplinary talks on unknowability, broken down into Humanities, Science and Mathematics, and Psychology and Social Science sessions. Among the topics: consciousness, the Oracle at Delphi, and “The Hierarchy of Ignorance.” (ThoughtGallery)

The Photography Show (Apr.05-07)
Marvel at the longest-running photography fair
Pier 94 / 12-7PM, $30
“If a picture’s worth a thousand words, the Photography Show at Pier 94 is swimming in ‘em. Cheryl Medow’s shots of tropical birds in their environments will stop landscape lovers in their tracks, a solo exhibition spotlighting documentary photographer Danny Lyon’s influences will quench journalism junkies’ curiosity, and dudes donning dangly earrings will gawk at David LaChapelle’s iconic portraits.” (thrillist.com

NYC Craft Beer Festival
Sample suds at a craft beer fest
“The NYC Craft Beer Festival promises beverages from more than 70 breweries, and with unlimited beer or cider tastings you’ll be able to try plenty. Guests will also find food available and games, and all will score a souvenir tasting glass to go.” (Newsday)
WHEN | WHERE 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; 1 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6; Union West 535 W. 28th St., Manhattan
INFO Admission $65 per session; 201-434-8700, nyccraftbeerfest.com

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Continuing Events

New Directors/New Films Festival (March 27 to April 7)
The future of cinema.
MoMA Theaters and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center
“At 48, the joint Museum of Modern Art and Film Society of Lincoln Center festival is one of the most venerable New York film fests — but also the one that’s still most apt to challenge, vex, and explode your perceptions. This year’s starts with a bang — the Sundance sensation Clemency, Chinonye Chukwu’s prison drama with Alfre Woodard and Aldis Hodge. Another Sundance winner, Monos, stars Julianne Nicholson as an American engineer held captive in a South American jungle by teenage guerrillas. The programmers say it’s “sure to be one of the most hotly debated films of 2019,” so see it early and stake out your position.” (David Edelstein, NewYork Magazine)

My favorite NYCity film festival. These films are not all home runs, but it is so exciting when you find the next Pedro Almodóvar.

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STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

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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 2018 – awesome! 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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Bonus NYC Events – Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite non jazz music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Hit the Hot Link and check out who’s playing tonight:

City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St., joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
Town Hall – 123 W43rd St. (btw 6/7), thetownhall.org, 212-997-6661
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
Sony Hall – 235 W 46th St. (btw 7/8), sonyhall.com, 212-997-5123
and one more, not exactly WestSide:
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com

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
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 discovery and enjoyment.
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.

See Below.
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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
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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’. ”

maxresdefaultEach 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 fairly priced wines,  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, NYCity will have lost a piece of it’s soul.

CAFFE VIVALDI HAS CLOSED, VERY SAD.
I HAVE LEFT THIS REVIEW ON MY SITE AS A KIND OF MEMORIAL.
As reported in the “Gothamist”:
“Caffe Vivaldi, one of the last bohemian bastions of the West Village, is set to close this weekend. During its 35 years on Jones Street, the casual cafe won the hearts of locals and celebs alike, including Oscar Isaac, Bette Midler, and Al Pacino.

Despite that friendly communal atmosphere, the owners ultimately struggled to survive under their notorious vulture landlord Steve Croman, who they say waged a harassment campaign against the restaurant, and eventually tripled their rent.”

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 left on Bleecker to Jones St., 50 yards 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.

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 St.)
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 Square 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”
No reservations needed.
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NYCity is the most diverse and interesting place to find a meal anywhere in the world. With more than 24,000 eating establishments you might welcome some advice.

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places, 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” ($4.99, available SUMMER 2019).
◊ Order before AUG. 31, 2019 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/04) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 04/04/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > THURSDAY/ APRIL 04, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.
To make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

==========================================================

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

Leyla McCalla
Atrium at Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, FREE, get there early for a seat.
“Hailed as “a cunning interpreter and arranger” by NPR, Haitian-American folk singer-songwriter Leyla McCalla is equally at ease with English, French, and Haitian Creole. Deeply influenced by traditional Creole, Cajun, and Haitian music, as well as by American jazz and folk, her music is at once earthy, elegant, soulful, and witty.

A classically trained cellist, she is perhaps best known for her work with the Grammy-winning African-American string band The Carolina Chocolate Drops, but her virtuosity also shines in her critically acclaimed solo albums. The “ambitious, deep and gorgeous” Vari-Colored Songs (Offbeat Magazine) was named 2013’s Album of the Year by the London Sunday Times, and the upcoming Capitalist Blues continues to showcase the breadth of her talents. Incorporating elements of swinging blues, classic New Orleans R&B, and calypso, it reveals a more danceable side to her music, and with her finger on the pulse of our current political climate.”

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> EX HEX
>> NATALIA OSIPOVA
>>  Don Giovanni
>> Sullivan Fortner Trio
>> Joshua Redman Quartet
>> MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
>> Unknowability: How Do We Know What Cannot Be Known?

Continuing Events
>> New Directors/New Films Festival
>> STREB

COMING SOON (WFUV)
4/5 Tom Paxton, City Winery
4/8-9 Jeff Tweedy, Town Hall
4/8-9 Andrew Bird, National Sawdust
4/8 Muse, Madison Square Garden
4/9 Charlotte Gainsbourg, Brooklyn Steel
4/10 Melissa Etheridge, Town Hall
4/10 The Wallflowers & Mott the Hoople, Beacon Theatre

==================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

EX HEX
at Bowery Ballroom / 8 p.m.; $22
“Technically skilled and wildly inventive, the rock nomad Mary Timony is routinely held up as a guitar god. With Ex Hex, the Washington-based trio she has led since 2014, Timony’s style pulls back from the experimentalism she embraced as the frontwoman of the riot-grrrl-adjacent group Helium in the 1990s. Rounded out by the bassist Betsy Wright and the drummer Laura Harris, Ex Hex play more straight-ahead garage rock; their second full-length recording, “It’s Real,” is packed with power chords, revved-up guitar solos and layered vocals — perfect fodder for the group’s notoriously fun live show.” (NYT-OLIVIA HORN)

Don Giovanni (next Apr.9, 8PM)
Metropolitan Opera House / 8PM, $
“Baritone Peter Mattei and bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni star as opera’s most notorious seducer in Mozart’s masterpiece of dark comedy. Cornelius Meister makes his Met debut conducting performances that also include sopranos Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Guanqun Yu as Donna Anna, sopranos Federica Lombardi and Susanna Phillips as Donna Elvira, and basses Ildar Abdrazakov and Adam Plachetka as Leporello.”

NATALIA OSIPOVA
at New York City Center $35 (April 3-4, 7:30 p.m.; through April 6).
“Few contemporary ballerinas have the clout to carry a solo show and tour it internationally, but Osipova, a principal with the Royal Ballet, has been a global fan favorite for years. This is because of her ability to fuse fearlessness with vulnerability and apply it to classic and contemporary work alike. For this program, she has recruited David Hallberg, a cherished partner, with whom she will dance the United States premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s “Valse Triste,” which takes its name from Sibelius’s well-known waltz, and “The Leaves Are Fading” by Antony Tudor. Additional works on the bill — some Osipova will do with other partners; some Osipova and Hallberg will perform solo — are by Iván Pérez, Kim Brandstrup, Roy Assaf and Yuka Oishi.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

Sullivan Fortner Trio (April 2-7.)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $35
A highlight of his latest album, “Moments Preserved,” finds the adroit pianist Sullivan Fortner reunited with his former employer, the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove, for a lovely account of Elmo Hope’s early-sixties gem “Eyes So Beautiful As Yours.” It’s an off-center and cunning choice that showcases Fortner’s historical awareness as well as the shining touch and unerring taste that he displayed on his recent work with the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. He leads a trio that features the bassist Ameen Saleem and the drummer Jeremy (Bean) Clemons.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

Joshua Redman Quartet (Apr.2-7)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“One of the biggest saxophone stars of the modern era, Redman plays innovative cuts from an upcoming quartet album—what will be his first in nearly two decades. This agile combo consists of pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.” (TONY)

“Critics and fans alike are blown away by Redman’s passionate live performances and acclaimed recordings. In The Joshua Redman Quartet, Redman evokes a sound that can be challenging, provocative, and forward-looking, but also hard-swinging, melodic, and soulful – music with a joyous and celebratory spirit.”

MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
at the Joyce Theater / 8PM, $45+
“A century ago, the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, was submitted to the states for ratification. In honor of that anniversary, the Graham company presents the EVE Project, a robust collection of work from several generations of female choreographers, spread over a half-dozen programs. There are Graham classics, like “Herodiade,” “Errand Into the Maze” and “Chronicle,” as well as pieces by Annie-B Parson and Lucinda Childs. Two new works will be introduced, too: one by Pam Tanowitz and one by Maxine Doyle and Bobbi Jene Smith.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

=========================================================

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Unknowability: How Do We Know What Cannot Be Known?
The New School, 66 W. 12th St./ FREE
Apr.4 3PM-7:30PM; Apr.5 11AM-3:30PM
“How we know what we cannot know” remains a root human concern, even in these post-truth times. Over Thursday and Friday, catch multidisciplinary talks on unknowability, broken down into Humanities, Science and Mathematics, and Psychology and Social Science sessions. Among the topics: consciousness, the Oracle at Delphi, and “The Hierarchy of Ignorance.” (ThoughtGallery)

=======================================================

Continuing Events

New Directors/New Films Festival (March 27 to April 7)
The future of cinema.
MoMA Theaters and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center
“At 48, the joint Museum of Modern Art and Film Society of Lincoln Center festival is one of the most venerable New York film fests — but also the one that’s still most apt to challenge, vex, and explode your perceptions. This year’s starts with a bang — the Sundance sensation Clemency, Chinonye Chukwu’s prison drama with Alfre Woodard and Aldis Hodge. Another Sundance winner, Monos, stars Julianne Nicholson as an American engineer held captive in a South American jungle by teenage guerrillas. The programmers say it’s “sure to be one of the most hotly debated films of 2019,” so see it early and stake out your position.” (David Edelstein, NewYork Magazine)

My favorite NYCity film festival. These films are not all home runs, but it is so exciting when you find the next Pedro Almodóvar.

———————————————————————————————

STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

==========================================================================
♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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.

=====================================================
Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

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

=========================================================

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

===============================================================================

WHAT’S ON VIEW
My Fave Special Exhibitions – MUSEUMS / Manhattan’s WestSide
(See the New York Times Arts Section for listings of all museums,
and also to see their expanded reviews of exhibitions)

Museum of Modern Art

“The Value of Good Design”  (through June 15)

“The simple flask of the Chemex coffeemaker, the austere fan of aluminum tines on a garden rake, and the airtight allure of first-generation Tupperware exemplify the democratic promise of the Good Design movement in this edifying survey, which highlights (although not exclusively) the museum’s role in its history. Also on view—and among the winners of MOMA’s first design competition, held in 1940-41—is a molded plywood chair by Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen; it’s a classic design, but, owing to technological limitations in its day, it wasn’t mass-produced until 2006. Starting in 1938, MOMA mounted an annual exhibition called “Useful Objects,” which championed the inexpensive and doubled as recommendations for holiday gifts. No item had a value of more than five dollars the first year; a decade later, the limit was a hundred dollars. By the fifties, the museum had established partnerships with national retailers for the exhibited products, from textiles to appliances, and, in the eighties, it opened its own design store. In the current show, the most compelling items are the everyday gems: Timo Sarpaneva’s cast-iron and teak casserole, from 1959; the original Slinky, from 1945; and a collapsible wire basket, from 1953, as graceful as a Ruth Asawa sculpture.” (

“Joan Miró”  (through June 15)

“This enchanting show draws on the museum’s immense holdings of Miró’s work, along with a few loans. Its star attraction is “The Birth of the World,” painted in 1925, while the artist was under the spell of the Surrealist circle of André Breton. It presents drifting pictographic elements—a black triangle, a red disk, a white disk, an odd black hook shape, and some skittery lines—on an amorphous ground of thinned grayish paint that soaks here and there into the unevenly primed canvas. It’s large—more than eight feet high by more than six feet wide—but feels larger: cosmic. There had never been anything quite like it in painting, and it stood far apart from the formally conservative, lurid fantasizing of the other Surrealist painters. Today, we are ever less apt to base valuations on precedence—who did what first. Art of the past seems not so much a parade as a convocation, subject to case-by-case assessments. Never unsettling in the ways of, say, Matisse or, for heaven’s sake, Picasso, Miró is a modernist for everybody. He earns and will keep his place in our hearts.” (

American Museum of Natural History

‘T. REX: THE ULTIMATE PREDATOR’  (through Aug. 9, 2020).
“Everyone’s favorite 18,000-pound prehistoric killer gets the star treatment in this eye-opening exhibition, which presents the latest scientific research on T. rex and also introduces many other tyrannosaurs, some discovered only this century in China and Mongolia. T. rex evolved mainly during the Cretaceous Period to have keen eyes, spindly arms and massive conical teeth, which could bear down on prey with the force of a U-Haul truck; the dinosaur could even swallow whole bones, as affirmed here by a kid-friendly display of fossilized excrement. The show mixes 66-million-year-old teeth with the latest 3-D prints of dino bones, and also presents new models of T. rex as a baby, a juvenile and a full-grown annihilator. Turns out this most savage beast was covered with — believe it! — a soft coat of beige or white feathers.” (Farago-NYT)

================================================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Posts in right Sidebar dated 04/02 and 03/31.
================================================================================
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events, “Only the Best” (04/03) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 04/03/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/ APRIL 03, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.
To make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

==========================================================

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

The Knights
An adventurous collective.
Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall / 7:30PM, $
“This is one orchestra that plays whatever music its members are curious about, in this case an eclectic contemporary program plus a Vivaldi oldie. One highlight is the local premiere of a Concertino Grosso, written and performed by incandescent Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh.” (J.D., NY Magazine -Vulture)

=========================================================

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)

>> NATALIA OSIPOVA
>>  An Intimate Evening with JD Souther
>> Sullivan Fortner Trio
>> Joshua Redman Quartet
>> MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
>> Michael Lewis in Conversation with Malcolm Gladwell: Against the Rules
>> Book Launch: TO OBAMA: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hope by Jeanne Marie Laskas

Continuing Events
>> New Directors/New Films Festival
>> STREB
===================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

NATALIA OSIPOVA
at New York City Center $35 (April 3-4, 7:30 p.m.; through April 6).
“Few contemporary ballerinas have the clout to carry a solo show and tour it internationally, but Osipova, a principal with the Royal Ballet, has been a global fan favorite for years. This is because of her ability to fuse fearlessness with vulnerability and apply it to classic and contemporary work alike. For this program, she has recruited David Hallberg, a cherished partner, with whom she will dance the United States premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s “Valse Triste,” which takes its name from Sibelius’s well-known waltz, and “The Leaves Are Fading” by Antony Tudor. Additional works on the bill — some Osipova will do with other partners; some Osipova and Hallberg will perform solo — are by Iván Pérez, Kim Brandstrup, Roy Assaf and Yuka Oishi.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

An Intimate Evening with JD Souther w/ Sheri Miller
City Winery / 8PM, $25-$32
“… On his own, but certainly not alone, his songwriting flourished. By 1976, Eagles had huge hits with his music, Linda Ronstadt had made breathtaking recordings of his songs, some of them duets with him. A major career accolade was received in 2013, as JD was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

His new album “Tenderness” finds Souther stretching musically, balancing his pop and jazz sensibilities, paying particular homage to his earliest influences, the geniuses of the 20th Century Great American Songbook: Cole Porter particularly, as well as the Gershwins, Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, Fred Coots, Yip Harburg, and picking up along the way some of the modern grace of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.”

Sullivan Fortner Trio (April 2-7.)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $35
A highlight of his latest album, “Moments Preserved,” finds the adroit pianist Sullivan Fortner reunited with his former employer, the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove, for a lovely account of Elmo Hope’s early-sixties gem “Eyes So Beautiful As Yours.” It’s an off-center and cunning choice that showcases Fortner’s historical awareness as well as the shining touch and unerring taste that he displayed on his recent work with the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. He leads a trio that features the bassist Ameen Saleem and the drummer Jeremy (Bean) Clemons.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

Joshua Redman Quartet (Apr.2-7)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“One of the biggest saxophone stars of the modern era, Redman plays innovative cuts from an upcoming quartet album—what will be his first in nearly two decades. This agile combo consists of pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.” (TONY)

“Critics and fans alike are blown away by Redman’s passionate live performances and acclaimed recordings. In The Joshua Redman Quartet, Redman evokes a sound that can be challenging, provocative, and forward-looking, but also hard-swinging, melodic, and soulful – music with a joyous and celebratory spirit.”

MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
at the Joyce Theater / 7:30PM, $
“A century ago, the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, was submitted to the states for ratification. In honor of that anniversary, the Graham company presents the EVE Project, a robust collection of work from several generations of female choreographers, spread over a half-dozen programs. There are Graham classics, like “Herodiade,” “Errand Into the Maze” and “Chronicle,” as well as pieces by Annie-B Parson and Lucinda Childs. Two new works will be introduced, too: one by Pam Tanowitz and one by Maxine Doyle and Bobbi Jene Smith.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

=========================================================

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Michael Lewis in Conversation with Malcolm Gladwell: Against the Rules
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave./ 7:30PM, $55
“Some of the most insightful reporting on the damage wrought by the last couple of years has been done by Michael Lewis, best known for books like Moneyball and Liar’s Poker. Find him in conversation on his new podcast, Against the Rules, which focuses on fairness and what happens when the authority of the referee is lost. Lewis will be joined by Malcolm Gladwell. The event will be recorded live for the podcast.” (ThoughtGallery)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Book Launch: TO OBAMA: With Love, Joy, Anger, and Hope by Jeanne Marie Laskas
powerHouse Arena, 28 Adams St./ 7PM, FREE
“Every evening for eight years, at his request, President Barack Obama received ten handpicked letters written by ordinary American citizens from his Office of Presidential Correspondence. He was the first president to put such a deliberate focus on constituent mail—to interact daily with it and to archive it in its entirety. Think of it as the unfiltered voice of a nation. In TO OBAMA: WITH LOVE, JOY, ANGER, AND HOPE, New York Times bestselling author Jeanne Marie Laskas tells the story of the profound ways these letters, and the people who wrote them, shaped his presidency.”

=======================================================

Continuing Events

New Directors/New Films Festival (March 27 to April 7)
The future of cinema.
MoMA Theaters and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center
“At 48, the joint Museum of Modern Art and Film Society of Lincoln Center festival is one of the most venerable New York film fests — but also the one that’s still most apt to challenge, vex, and explode your perceptions. This year’s starts with a bang — the Sundance sensation Clemency, Chinonye Chukwu’s prison drama with Alfre Woodard and Aldis Hodge. Another Sundance winner, Monos, stars Julianne Nicholson as an American engineer held captive in a South American jungle by teenage guerrillas. The programmers say it’s “sure to be one of the most hotly debated films of 2019,” so see it early and stake out your position.” (David Edelstein, NewYork Magazine)

My favorite NYCity film festival. These films are not all home runs, but it is so exciting when you find the next Pedro Almodóvar.

———————————————————————————————

STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

==========================================================================
♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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.

===========================================================
Bonus NYC events– 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.

 

=========================================================

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

================================================================================

A PremierPub / Tribeca

B-Flat / 277 Church St. (btw Franklin/White St)

b_flat4There are some places that are tough to find, then add a layer of mystery when you do find them. B-Flat has a nondescript, almost unmarked door at street level – today’s speakeasy vibe. Open this door and you face a dimly lit stairway down to their basement location. It almost takes a leap of faith to follow the stairs down to their interior door.
But open that door and a pleasant surprise awaits you.

It’s a basement jazz spot all right, but not like any traditional jazz joint you may have been to before. This place looks as fresh as today, probably because it’s only been open for 6 years. Even though it hasn’t had a chance to age gracefully, the cherry wood accents and low lighting make this small space very inviting.

There is always jazz, often progressive jazz, playing over their very discrete, stylish bose speakers, setting just the right tone as you find a seat at the bar, or one of the small tables. There is wine and beer available, but this place has some expert mixologists making some very creative cocktails, which I’m told change seasonally, a nice touch.

Come at happy hour and tasty cocktails like the el Diablo or the lychee martini are $8 – not bad. I am a sucker for any drink made with lychee and how can you not try a tequila drink named el Diablo. There is also nice selection of small bites available at happy hour and a food menu that is as innovative as the cocktail menu, so this does not have to be a happy hour only stop.

It wasn’t surprising to find a tasty prosciutto and arugula salad with yuzu dressing, but I did not expect to find such a good version of fried chicken breast on the apps menu. Here it’s called “Tatsuta.” Best bet is to sample happy hour, then dinner on a Monday or Wednesday night, when you can finish with no cover live jazz that starts around 8.

This place is tough to find (look for a small slate sandwich board on the sidewalk out front advertising happy hour) and on some nights when there is no live music it may be a little too quiet for some. But I think it’s worth searching out if you want a place with good music, food, and especially drinks, away from the maddening crowd.

Website: http://http://www.bflat.info/index.html
Phone #: 212-219-2970
Hours: Mo-Wed 5pm-2am; Th-Sat 5pm-3am; no Sun
Happy Hour: 5-7pm every day; $8 cocktails + special prices on apps
Music: Mon/Wed 8pm
Subway: #1 to Franklin; walk E 1 blk to Church; N 1 blk to bFlat

==================================================================================
“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.
============================================================

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/02) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 04/02/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > TUESDAY/ APRIL 02, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.
To make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

==========================================================

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

Joshua Redman Quartet (Apr.2-7)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“One of the biggest saxophone stars of the modern era, Redman plays innovative cuts from an upcoming quartet album—what will be his first in nearly two decades. This agile combo consists of pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.” (TONY)

“Critics and fans alike are blown away by Redman’s passionate live performances and acclaimed recordings. In The Joshua Redman Quartet, Redman evokes a sound that can be challenging, provocative, and forward-looking, but also hard-swinging, melodic, and soulful – music with a joyous and celebratory spirit.”

=========================================================

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>  An Intimate Evening with JD Souther
>> Sullivan Fortner Trio
>> Amanda Duarte: Staying Alive
>> MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
>> Tosca
>> NATO at 70: Does the Alliance Have a Future?
>> The Neuroscience of the Craving Brain

Continuing Events
>> New Directors/New Films Festival
>> STREB
===================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

An Intimate Evening with JD Souther w/ Sheri Miller
City Winery / 8PM, $25-$32
“… On his own, but certainly not alone, his songwriting flourished. By 1976, Eagles had huge hits with his music, Linda Ronstadt had made breathtaking recordings of his songs, some of them duets with him. A major career accolade was received in 2013, as JD was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

His new album “Tenderness” finds Souther stretching musically, balancing his pop and jazz sensibilities, paying particular homage to his earliest influences, the geniuses of the 20th Century Great American Songbook: Cole Porter particularly, as well as the Gershwins, Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, Fred Coots, Yip Harburg, and picking up along the way some of the modern grace of Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.”

Sullivan Fortner Trio (April 2-7.)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $35
A highlight of his latest album, “Moments Preserved,” finds the adroit pianist Sullivan Fortner reunited with his former employer, the late trumpeter Roy Hargrove, for a lovely account of Elmo Hope’s early-sixties gem “Eyes So Beautiful As Yours.” It’s an off-center and cunning choice that showcases Fortner’s historical awareness as well as the shining touch and unerring taste that he displayed on his recent work with the singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. He leads a trio that features the bassist Ameen Saleem and the drummer Jeremy (Bean) Clemons.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

Amanda Duarte: Staying Alive
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater / 7PM, $20
“Satan’s Alley may sound like an apt description for our present political circumstances, but it’s also the name of the fictional musical in the lurid, outrageous Saturday Night Fever sequel Staying Alive. And, 35 years later, it’s the inspiration for Amanda Duarte’s raw, intensely revealing new show. The writer and Dead Darlings host puts the inferno of her personal life in perspective with the great garbage fire of American discourse and sets us straight for the battles to come. Not to be missed.” (TONY)

MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
at the Joyce Theater / 7:30PM, $
“A century ago, the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, was submitted to the states for ratification. In honor of that anniversary, the Graham company presents the EVE Project, a robust collection of work from several generations of female choreographers, spread over a half-dozen programs. There are Graham classics, like “Herodiade,” “Errand Into the Maze” and “Chronicle,” as well as pieces by Annie-B Parson and Lucinda Childs. Two new works will be introduced, too: one by Pam Tanowitz and one by Maxine Doyle and Bobbi Jene Smith.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

Tosca (last performance Apr.6, 1PM)
Metropolitan Opera House / 7:30PM, $20+
“Met favorite Sondra Radvanovsky and rising star Jennifer Rowley share the title role of the volatile diva at the heart of Puccini’s operatic thriller. Joseph Calleja brings his stylish tenor to the role of Cavaradossi, Wolfgang Koch is the nefarious police chief Scarpia, and Carlo Rizzi conducts Sir David McVicar’s resplendent production.”

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

NATO at 70: Does the Alliance Have a Future?
National September 11 Memorial & Museum / 7PM, FREE
“On September 12, 2001, NATO invoked Article 5, the mutual defense clause of its founding treaty, for the first and only time in its history. As a result, NATO deployed allied troops to fight alongside Americans in Afghanistan, a mission that continues today. Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the treaty’s signing, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO R. Nicholas Burns and former Deputy Secretary General of NATO Alexander Vershbow will discuss the current state of NATO and shed some light on the Alliance’s uncertain future.”

The Neuroscience of the Craving Brain — Anna Yusim, M.D.
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave./ 7PM, FREE
“When we try to get rid of a bad habit, whether it involves food or drugs or gambling, it often seems like we’re fighting ourselves inside. The reality is not far off: Addiction twists the reward pathways of the brain to keep addicts tied to whatever gets them high. But can we use our knowledge of the brain to undo these neurological knots? Join us for an interactive panel discussion to learn what addiction is, why some people are more susceptible to it, the role different parts of the brain play in addiction and behavior, and how to break the addiction cycle.”

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Continuing Events

New Directors/New Films Festival (March 27 to April 7)
The future of cinema.
MoMA Theaters and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center
“At 48, the joint Museum of Modern Art and Film Society of Lincoln Center festival is one of the most venerable New York film fests — but also the one that’s still most apt to challenge, vex, and explode your perceptions. This year’s starts with a bang — the Sundance sensation Clemency, Chinonye Chukwu’s prison drama with Alfre Woodard and Aldis Hodge. Another Sundance winner, Monos, stars Julianne Nicholson as an American engineer held captive in a South American jungle by teenage guerrillas. The programmers say it’s “sure to be one of the most hotly debated films of 2019,” so see it early and stake out your position.” (David Edelstein, NewYork Magazine)

My favorite NYCity film festival. These films are not all home runs, but it is so exciting when you find the next Pedro Almodóvar.

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STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

============================================================================
♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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.

=====================================================

Bonus NYC Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite non jazz music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who’s playing tonight:

City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St., joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
Town Hall – 123 W43rd St., thetownhall.org, 212-997-6661
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
and one more, not quite WestSide
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com

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

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 discovery and enjoyment.

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.
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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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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 is one exhibition the New Yorker likes:

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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.

*Now plan your own gallery crawl, but better to plan your visits for Tuesday through Saturday; most galleries are closed Sunday and Monday.

TIP: After your gallery tour, stop in Ovest at 513W27th St. for Aperitivo Italiano (Happy Hour on steroids). Discuss all the great art you have viewed over a drink and a very tasty selection of FREE appetizers (M-F, 5-8pm). OR try this NYT recommendation: “When you’re done, adjourn to the newly renovated Bottino , the Chelsea art world’s unofficial canteen on 10th Avenue (btw 24/25 St.) “

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 03/31 and 03/29.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/01) + Today’s Featured Pub (Upper West Side)

Posted on 04/01/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > MONDAY/ APRIL 01, 2019

“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:  “APRIL 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.
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:

Sondheimas
Joes Pub @ The Public Theater / 9:30PM, $20
“Sondheimas, the annual quasi-religious celebration of the birth of the savior of musical theater, Stephen Sondheim, is thrilled to come to Joe’s Pub in its 6th year. SONDHEIMAS UNDER THE COVERS will bring surprises in the form of covers of our Steve’s work. Old and new, popular and ridiculous, we will cover them all! Hosted by Maggie Larkin (The Great Wine Way). Musical Direction by Andrei Strizek. Special guests include George Abud, Molly Pope, James Jackson Jr., and more! “

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>  Lyrics & Lyricists: Sondheim—Wordplay
>> Bodeans
>> Brit Floyd
>> William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Quintet
>> CHOIR OF KING’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,
>> The Wilsonian Century: Perspectives on the Treaty of Versailles at 100
>> Monday Night Magic

Continuing Events
>> New Directors/New Films Festival
>> STREB
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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Lyrics & Lyricists: Sondheim—Wordplay
92nd Street Y, / 2PM, +7:30PM, $73
“The 92nd Street Y’s estimable Lyrics & Lyricists series devotes its latest evening to the omnidextrous Stephen Sondheim, whose verbal mastery perhaps represents the all-time high-water mark in the art of Broadway lyric writing. Christopher Gattelli directs a revue written by Jack Feldman and Ted Chapin, with a cast of six very fine musical-theater actor-singers: Melissa Errico, Christopher Fitzgerald, Telly Leung, Lesli Margherita, Ruthie Ann Miles and Lauren Worsham.” (TONY)

Bodeans
Iridium Jazz Club / 8:30PM, $55+
“Those who have followed BoDeans’ remarkable 30-year musical career know that their blend of compelling songs and high energy performances have retained an unpretentious rock & roll loyal following like no other.Best known for their catchy single, “Closer To Free,” the band’s accessible adult alternative sound has led to many a milestone, including a Rolling Stone Reader’s Poll for Best New American Band in 1987, and support slots with U2, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Tom Petty, George Thorogood, The Pretenders, David Bowie and numerous others.”

Brit Floyd
@ Beacon Theatre / 8PM, $46+
“Brit Floyd are not your average tribute band — they’re known for a spectacular light show, and they really do justice to Pink Floyd’s music. Tonight, they’ll be covering The Wall in its entirety for its 40th anniversary.” (BrooklyVegan)

William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Quintet
Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“Hear the brightest young jazz students perform alongside modern trumpet great Ingrid Jensen. Part of the William Paterson University Department of Music, the Jazz Studies Program is unique among college programs for its emphasis on small-group playing. The elite program also emphasizes arranging, composition, and solo performance, offering a well-rounded education to its dedicated young musicians. The 7:30pm set features the Orchestra, and the 9:30pm set features their jazz ensemble, so you can pick your preference or make a full night out of two unique shows.”

CHOIR OF KING’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE,
at St. Thomas Church / 7:30 p.m.; $20
There is a symbolic passing of the baton here, or at least of the vestments. Stephen Cleobury has been the director of music at King’s College, with its famed boy choristers, since 1982. On this, his final tour before retirement in the fall, he and his choir stop at St. Thomas, where his successor, Daniel Hyde, is currently director of music. The program sprawls, from Monteverdi, Tallis and Byrd to Britten, Howells and Vaughan Williams.” (NYT-David Allen)

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

The Wilsonian Century: Perspectives on the Treaty of Versailles at 100
Columbia University, Butler Library, 535 W. 114th St., Room 203/ 6PM, FREE
“A renowned panel of scholars and authors discuss the global impacts of the Treaty of Versailles. Examine the centennial of the peace agreement that ended the First World War, tracing its worldwide impact on democracy and tyranny, international governance, and the shaping of the modern world. The talk will be moderated by Clay Risen, of The New York Times.” (ClubFreeTime)

Monday Night Magic
Players Theatre, West Village / 8PM, $37.50
“For 21 years, this proudly old-school series has offered a different lineup of professional magicians every week: opening acts, a headliner and a host, plus two or three close-up magicians to wow the audience at intermission. Housed for the past seven years at the unprepossessing Players Theatre, it is an heir to the vaudeville tradition.

Many of the acts incorporate comedic elements, and audience participation is common. (If you have young children, bring them; they make especially adorable assistants.) Shows cost just $37.50 in advance and typically last well over two hours, so you get a lot of value and variety for your magic dollar. In contrast to some fancier magic shows, this one feels like comfort food: an all-you-can eat buffet to which you’re encouraged to return until you’re as stuffed as a hat full of rabbits.” (TONY)

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Continuing Events

New Directors/New Films Festival (March 27 to April 7)
The future of cinema.
MoMA Theaters and Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center
“At 48, the joint Museum of Modern Art and Film Society of Lincoln Center festival is one of the most venerable New York film fests — but also the one that’s still most apt to challenge, vex, and explode your perceptions. This year’s starts with a bang — the Sundance sensation Clemency, Chinonye Chukwu’s prison drama with Alfre Woodard and Aldis Hodge. Another Sundance winner, Monos, stars Julianne Nicholson as an American engineer held captive in a South American jungle by teenage guerrillas. The programmers say it’s “sure to be one of the most hotly debated films of 2019,” so see it early and stake out your position.” (David Edelstein, NewYork Magazine)

My favorite NYCity film festival. These films are not all home runs, but it is so exciting when you find the next Pedro Almodóvar.

———————————————————————————————

STREB (weekends through May 12)
Streb Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Bklyn. / Sat.5PM, Sun.3PM; $25
“The shows that STREB Extreme Action puts on at its Williamsburg headquarters  have a carnival atmosphere, and not just because eating and drinking are encouraged. Will the Action Heroes, as the intrepid dancer-acrobats are styled, collide as they hurl themselves off a trampoline? Will they get whacked by swinging cinder blocks or huge metal contraptions? Probably not, but they want you to cringe. Their newest machine is the Molinette, a giant bar that revolves like the blade of a windmill.” (Brian Seibert, NewYorker)

The Streb performers are absolutely amazing and so worth the detour.
I try to see them every year, can’t get enough.

==========================================================================
♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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.

=====================================================
Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

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

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
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A PremierPub / Upper West Side

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que / 700 W125th St. @ 12th ave.

Walk only five minutes from the 125th St. station on the #1 line to find this authentic honky-tonk barbecue joint. Some folks think Dinosaur is just a place to eat ribs. Au contraire. With 24 carefully selected taps, this is a place to drink beer, and eat ribs.

HarlHostStandNo food goes better with American craft ales than American barbecue. Dinosaur may be the best combo of good beer drinking and hearty eating in town, which makes the trip uptown to West Harlem totally worthwhile.

This second incarnation of Dinosaur in Harlem is in a two story, old brick warehouse near the Hudson River. Don’t let that run down exterior fool you. Inside it’s a large space with huge, rough wooden columns and unfinished wooden floors and brick walls – just right for a bbq joint. As soon as you open the front door you are hit with that tantalizing aroma of barbecue coming from the large open kitchen. Reminds me of those great rib joints I frequented when stationed in North Carolina all those years ago. If your stomach wasn’t grumbling before, it is now.

Head to the bar, sit down and try to decide on a beer. It’s not an easy decision – a good problem to have. This is a pretty damn good beer list to choose from, one that most beer bars should be jealous of. I love that they feature NY craft beers. You may want to try the four beer sampler, which is always fun, and in this place may be necessary.

The blues music playing in the background will get you in the mood for their North Carolina style barbecue, and even when it’s a full house your order shouldn’t take too long (assuming you snagged a table). The food is all slow smoked, so it’s already mostly done and ready to go. I always start with an order of their giant, spice rubbed wings, so good they may make you give up Buffalo wings.

Unfortunately, a place this good does not fly under the radar. There can be some long waits for a table at dinnertime. So you need a strategy – avoid prime time, and try not to arrive with your entire posse, which will limit your seating options.

A seat at the bar, a small table in the bar area, or in the summer, an outside table underneath what’s left of the elevated West Side Highway, all may open before a table inside the main dining room. Otherwise, try Dinosaur for lunch, or come very late for dinner, maybe after a show at the nearby Cotton Club nightclub.

Website: http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/
Phone #: 212-694-1777
Hours: Mo-Th 11:30am-11:00pm; Fr-Sa 11:30am-12:00am;
Su 12:00pm-10:00pm
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day; $1 off all drinks
Music: Fri / Sat 10:30pm
Subway: #1 to 125th St.
Walk 2 blk W on 125th St. to Dinosaur Bar-B-Q,
just past the elevated highway.
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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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