NYC Events,”Only the Best” (05/06) + Today’s Featured Pub (Upper West Side)

Posted on 05/06/2018 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 NYC Events > SUNDAY/ MAY 06, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-MAY”
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.

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

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

Vincent Herring vs. Eric Alexander (LAST DAY)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway / 7, 9, 10:30PM, $40
“The connection between pugilism and jazz isn’t commented on much these days, but the golden era of the music was filled with mano-a-mano battles that left egos and reputations blood-spattered. Harking back to those brutal and undeniably thrilling days, the alto saxophonist Vincent Herring and the tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, two modern masters of hard bop, enter the ring for a night of competitive rigor.” (NewYorker)

=========================================================
5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> TRIBUTE TO ROBBINS
>> CHUCHO VALDÉS
>> Kenny Barron
>> Frieze Art Fair
>>Sacred Sites Open House Weekend
Continuing Events
>> Hudson Yards Shed
>> Red Bull Music Festival
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

TRIBUTE TO ROBBINS
New York City Ballet (May 5 – 13)
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 3PM, $35+
“A fitting gift to Jerome Robbins, the Company will debut two world premieres animated by the master choreographer’s legacy, including a Peck piece with Leonard Bernstein music. Accompanying the festivities are two lighthearted ballets: Circus Polka features a sprightly carousel of young students as they prance at the beck and call of a dapper ringmaster, and The Four Seasons translates Verdi’s vibrant melodies into frosty flirtation, springtime awakening, sultry revelry, and autumnal bacchanal.”

CHUCHO VALDÉS (LAST DAY)
at the Blue Note / 8 and 10:30PM, $55-$75
“Earlier this week, Mr. Valdés, a Latin jazz patriarch, began an extended run at the Blue Note that will find him flexing his powers in a variety of contexts. Through Sunday, he performs with a midsize ensemble, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the founding of Irakere, his watershed Cuban fusion band. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he’s joined by the trumpeter Roy Hargrove and the vocalist Roberta Gambarini; on Thursday, he performs alone; and from May 4 to 6, he’ll be accompanied by Ron Carter. (The drummer Lenny White joins Mr. Valdés and Mr. Carter for the last two dates, with the violinist Regina Carter coming aboard for the final evening.)” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Kenny Barron (LAST DAY )
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“As if his artistry were a benchmark meant to spur on his acolytes, the nearly seventy-five-year-old dean of mainstream jazz piano never rests on his laurels. The leader of an acclaimed trio, Barron convenes a beefed-up unit for this engagement—a captivating quintet heard on the recently released “Concentric Circles,” which includes the saxophonist Dayna Stephens and the trumpeter Mike Rodriguez.” (NewYorker)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

Frieze Art Fair (5/3-5/6)
“Head over to Randall’s Island Park this spring to experience the contemporary art world in an alfresco environment. Interact with public installations, sit in on “Frieze Talks,” enjoy the Frieze Art Fair’s Reading Room, and of course, lay your eyes on some of the most talked about artwork in the city. friezenewyork.com” (cityguideny.com)

Fill up on Art (NY Magazine’s Weekend Agenda)
This weekend is the behemoth Frieze art fair on Randall’s Island, and we’ve been busy culling the best of more than 190 galleries from over 30 countries. If you’re on the island, check out these five can’t-miss artists. But the fun happens all over town, and we’ve got you covered there, too. And if you’re anti-Frieze, there’s also Cultural Traffic, Art New York, Fridge Art Fair, Moniker Art Fair, Other Art Fair, Superfine!, and TEFAF. Have fun!

Sacred Sites Open House Weekend ( Sat 5, Sun 6)
at various locations and times;
“Even if you’re not a godly guy or gal, New York Landmarks Conservancy offers a great chance to take a peek at the art and architecture of houses of worship across all five boroughs with its annual Sacred Sites Open House Weekend. This year’s activities are organized around the theme “Sacred Sounds and Settings.” Check out guided tours, concerts, organ demonstrations and more, all for free. Righteous.” (TONY)

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

Continuing Events

Hudson Yards Shed (May 01-13)

“Hudson Yards continues to transform before our eyes with an ever-growing list of new sites, such as Vessel, the beehive-like public landmark that’s New York’s answer to the Eiffel Tower. But the largest and most exciting cultural contribution to the far West Side is the Shed, a multi-arts performance venue opening in spring 2019. To provide a sneak peak of what’s to come, the entertainment center presents a free art series, just a block away from its home base. Dubbed A Prelude to the Shed, the two-week event is being held at a structure that has been designed to change fluidly as dancers and guests move about.

Aside from exhibiting “A Stroll Through the Fun Palace,” which showcases the archives of Cedric Price (an inspiration to the architects of the Shed), the main event boasts a killer lineup of entertainers for the evening performances. On select nights, check out R&B singer Abra, electronic-music producer and performer Arca, and the New York rapper-singer Azealia Banks.

Beyond the lit musical performances, there’s plenty of art and dance to catch, too. Artist Tino Sehgal’s This variation seamlessly intertwines throughout the day with ​William Forsythe’s new work, ​titled​ Pas de Deux Cent Douze​. There’s also ​D.R.E.A.M. Ring dance battles organized by dancer Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray​. Chances are, you’ll feel encouraged to bust a move and shake your tail feather along with them—especially if you hit the grab-and-go café for beer and wine beforehand.” (TONY)

“The innovative Red Bull Music Festival (May 03-25) returns for the sixth year with a lineup as diverse as the city itself. This Friday, catch a performance by cult musician John Maus at Deno’s Wonder Wheel, Saturday, see a conversation with Harry Belafonte, and on Sunday, see Brooklyn-based experimental R&B and gospel artist Serpentwithfeet in the Refectory at the High Line Hotel. Beginning Friday, you can also catch an exhibition by hip-hop pioneer and cult artist RAMMΣLLZΣΣ.” (NYMagazine)

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

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

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd 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.

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

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (05/05) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 05/05/2018 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > SATURDAY/ MAY 05, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-MAY”
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.

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

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

Kenny Barron (May 2-6)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“As if his artistry were a benchmark meant to spur on his acolytes, the nearly seventy-five-year-old dean of mainstream jazz piano never rests on his laurels. The leader of an acclaimed trio, Barron convenes a beefed-up unit for this engagement—a captivating quintet heard on the recently released “Concentric Circles,” which includes the saxophonist Dayna Stephens and the trumpeter Mike Rodriguez.” (NewYorker)

and don’t forget to  Sip tequila while watching a horse race.
“This Saturday is the convergence of Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby, which means plenty of festivities to go around. Check out this list of Cinco de Mayo events in New York, and for some derby action, head to Red Rooster, Maison Premiere, the Roof, or Maysville for one of their parties. Choose wisely.” (NYMagazine)

=========================================================
7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Michael Formanek
>> ZAKIR HUSSAIN AND DAVE HOLLAND’S CROSSCURRENTS
>> ALL ROBBINS NO. 1: THE BERNSTEIN COLLABORATIONS
>> John Lloyd Young
>>CHUCHO VALDÉS
>> Frieze Art Fair
>>Sacred Sites Open House Weekend
Continuing Event
Hudson Yards Shed
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Michael Formanek
The Stone at the New School, 55 W. 13th St./ 8:30PM, $20
“An apprenticeship in the eighties with such mainstream titans as Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson gave Formanek, a bassist, all the hard-won grounding he needed to evolve into one of the most respected instrumentalists, composers, and bandleaders of today’s adventurous scene. This wide-ranging residency finds him in the company of several audacious compatriots, including the guitarist Mary Halvorson, the pianist Kris Davis, and the trumpeter Taylor Ho Bynum.” (NewYorker)

ZAKIR HUSSAIN AND DAVE HOLLAND’S CROSSCURRENTS (May 4-5)
Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center / 8 p.m., $
“The Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain and the British-born bassist Dave Holland have been at the top of their respective fields since the 1970s. Mr. Holland is one of the most inventive, broad-ranging bassists in jazz; Mr. Hussain plays with fellow heroes of Indian classical music, as well as a cross section of international stars. Recently the two masters have come together in Crosscurrents, a band devoted to what’s now an old idea — the fusion of rock, jazz and Indian classical — but with its own sparkling allure. The group includes the saxophonist Chris Potter, the guitarist Sanjay Divecha, the pianist Louiz Banks, the drummer Gino Banks and the vocalist Shankar Mahadevan.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

ALL ROBBINS NO. 1: THE BERNSTEIN COLLABORATIONS
New York City Ballet (May 4 – 20)
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 2PM, $35+
“Two American masters converge in these high-energy story ballets. Fancy Free follows three soldiers on shore leave in the Big City, while Dybbuk delves into a mystical world with dreadful consequences. Renewing their international hit, West Side Story Suite brings audiences to the feuding streets of 1950s New York City with heart-rending poignancy.”

John Lloyd Young
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $75+
“The Tony-winning star of Jersey Boys, both the Broadway musical and the Clint Eastwood film, brings his musical highs and puppyish eyes back to Feinstein’s/54 Below in a new set that focuses on material from his 2012 album, My Turn.” (TONY)

CHUCHO VALDÉS (May 1-6)
at the Blue Note / 8 and 10:30PM, $55-$75
“Earlier this week, Mr. Valdés, a Latin jazz patriarch, began an extended run at the Blue Note that will find him flexing his powers in a variety of contexts. Through Sunday, he performs with a midsize ensemble, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the founding of Irakere, his watershed Cuban fusion band. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he’s joined by the trumpeter Roy Hargrove and the vocalist Roberta Gambarini; on Thursday, he performs alone; and from May 4 to 6, he’ll be accompanied by Ron Carter. (The drummer Lenny White joins Mr. Valdés and Mr. Carter for the last two dates, with the violinist Regina Carter coming aboard for the final evening.)” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

Frieze Art Fair (5/3-5/5)
“Head over to Randall’s Island Park this spring to experience the contemporary art world in an alfresco environment. Interact with public installations, sit in on “Frieze Talks,” enjoy the Frieze Art Fair’s Reading Room, and of course, lay your eyes on some of the most talked about artwork in the city. friezenewyork.com” (cityguideny.com)

Fill up on Art (NY Magazine’s Weekend Agenda)
This weekend is the behemoth Frieze art fair on Randall’s Island, and we’ve been busy culling the best of more than 190 galleries from over 30 countries. If you’re on the island, check out these five can’t-miss artists. But the fun happens all over town, and we’ve got you covered there, too. And if you’re anti-Frieze, there’s also Cultural Traffic, Art New York, Fridge Art Fair, Moniker Art Fair, Other Art Fair, Superfine!, and TEFAF. Have fun!

Sacred Sites Open House Weekend ( Sat 5, Sun 6)
at various locations and times;
“Even if you’re not a godly guy or gal, New York Landmarks Conservancy offers a great chance to take a peek at the art and architecture of houses of worship across all five boroughs with its annual Sacred Sites Open House Weekend. This year’s activities are organized around the theme “Sacred Sounds and Settings.” Check out guided tours, concerts, organ demonstrations and more, all for free. Righteous.” (TONY)

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

Continuing Events

Hudson Yards Shed (May 01-13)

“Hudson Yards continues to transform before our eyes with an ever-growing list of new sites, such as Vessel, the beehive-like public landmark that’s New York’s answer to the Eiffel Tower. But the largest and most exciting cultural contribution to the far West Side is the Shed, a multi-arts performance venue opening in spring 2019. To provide a sneak peak of what’s to come, the entertainment center presents a free art series, just a block away from its home base. Dubbed A Prelude to the Shed, the two-week event is being held at a structure that has been designed to change fluidly as dancers and guests move about.

Aside from exhibiting “A Stroll Through the Fun Palace,” which showcases the archives of Cedric Price (an inspiration to the architects of the Shed), the main event boasts a killer lineup of entertainers for the evening performances. On select nights, check out R&B singer Abra, electronic-music producer and performer Arca, and the New York rapper-singer Azealia Banks.

Beyond the lit musical performances, there’s plenty of art and dance to catch, too. Artist Tino Sehgal’s This variation seamlessly intertwines throughout the day with ​William Forsythe’s new work, ​titled​ Pas de Deux Cent Douze​. There’s also ​D.R.E.A.M. Ring dance battles organized by dancer Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray​. Chances are, you’ll feel encouraged to bust a move and shake your tail feather along with them—especially if you hit the grab-and-go café for beer and wine beforehand.” (TONY)

“The innovative Red Bull Music Festival (May 03-25) returns for the sixth year with a lineup as diverse as the city itself. This Friday, catch a performance by cult musician John Maus at Deno’s Wonder Wheel, Saturday, see a conversation with Harry Belafonte, and on Sunday, see Brooklyn-based experimental R&B and gospel artist Serpentwithfeet in the Refectory at the High Line Hotel. Beginning Friday, you can also catch an exhibition by hip-hop pioneer and cult artist RAMMΣLLZΣΣ.” (NYMagazine)

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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:
(5 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)
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319 (6pm)

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)

Special Mention:
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 surprises with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It’s my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

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)

Neue Galerie

‘BEFORE THE FALL: GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN ART OF THE 1930S’  (through May 28). “An exhibition in the form of a chokehold, the third of the Neue Galerie’s recent shows on art and German politics pushes into the years of dictatorship, with paintings, drawings and photographs by artists deemed “degenerate” by the Nazis — as well as by those who joined the party or who thought they could shut out the catastrophe. (You will know the dissidents, like Max Beckmann and Oskar Kokoschka; the fascists and sellouts are less known.) Gazing at ornery still lifes of dolls and dead flowers, or dreamy landscapes in imitation of an earlier German Romanticism, you may ask to what degree artists are responsible for the times in which they work. But then you see “Self-Portrait in the Camp,” by the Jewish German painter Felix Nussbaum — made between his escape from a French internment camp and his deportation to Auschwitz — and you know that there can be no pardon. (NYT -Farago)
212-628-6200, neuegalerie.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)

‘THOMAS COLE’S JOURNEY: ATLANTIC CROSSING’ (through May 13). “The Met’s exhibition of the nation’s first major landscape artist and progenitor of what would be called the Hudson River School is gorgeous, politically right for right now and a lesson in the mutability of art history. Politically, Cole’s art is conservative, but it’s also work that challenges and complicates that term. And this show is precisely about complication. Just as Cole is most realistically and revealingly seen and judged against the background of his time, so is the exhibition, coming as it does in this confounding MAGA moment.” (Holland Cotter)

‘DIAMOND MOUNTAINS: TRAVEL AND NOSTALGIA IN KOREAN ART’ (through May 20). “Mount Kumgang, or the “Diamond Mountain,” lies about 90 miles from Pyeongchang’s Olympic Stadium, but it’s a world away: The august, multipeaked range lies in North Korea and has been impossible to visit for most of the past seven decades. Featuring stunning loans from the National Museum of Korea and other institutions in Seoul, South Korea, this melancholy beauty of a show assembles three centuries’ worth of paintings of the Diamond Mountain range, and explores how landscapes intermingle nostalgia, nationalism, legend and regret. The unmissable prizes here are the painstaking paintings of Jeong Seon, the 18th-century artist who is perhaps the greatest of all Korean painters. And later impressions of the mountains, including a blotchy vision from the Paris-based modernist Lee Ungno, give a deeper historical weight to very live geopolitics.” (NYT – Farago)
212-535-7710, metmuseum.org

‘THE FACE OF DYNASTY: ROYAL CRESTS FROM WESTERN CAMEROON’ (through Sept. 3). “Upstairs, the Michelangelos continue to knock ‘em dead; downstairs, in the African wing, a show of just four commanding wooden crowns constitutes a blockbuster of its own. These massive wooden crests — in the form of stylized human faces with vast vertical brows — served as markers of royal power among the Bamileke peoples of the Cameroonian grasslands, and the Met’s recent acquisition of an 18th-century specimen is joined here by three later examples, each featuring sharply protruding cheeks, broadly smiling mouths, and brows incised with involute geometric patterns. Ritual objects like these were decisive for the development of western modernist painting, and a Cameroonian crest was even shown at MoMA in the 1930s, as a “sculpture” divorced from ethnography. But these crests had legal and diplomatic significance as well as aesthetic appeal, and their anonymous African creators had a political understanding of art not so far from our own.” (Farago)

===========================================================
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 05/03 and 05/01.
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (05/04) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 05/04/2018 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > FRIDAY/ MAY 04, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-MAY”
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.

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

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

CHUCHO VALDÉS (May 1-6)
at the Blue Note / 8 and 10:30PM, $55-$75
“Earlier this week, Mr. Valdés, a Latin jazz patriarch, began an extended run at the Blue Note that will find him flexing his powers in a variety of contexts. Through Sunday, he performs with a midsize ensemble, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the founding of Irakere, his watershed Cuban fusion band. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he’s joined by the trumpeter Roy Hargrove and the vocalist Roberta Gambarini; on Thursday, he performs alone; and from May 4 to 6, he’ll be accompanied by Ron Carter. (The drummer Lenny White joins Mr. Valdés and Mr. Carter for the last two dates, with the violinist Regina Carter coming aboard for the final evening.)” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

=========================================================
7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> KING KRULE
>> ZAKIR HUSSAIN AND DAVE HOLLAND’S CROSSCURRENTS
>> ALL ROBBINS NO. 1: THE BERNSTEIN COLLABORATIONS
>> DENNY ZEITLIN WITH BUSTER WILLIAMS AND MATT WILSON
>> John Lloyd Young
>>Vincent Herring vs. Eric Alexander
>> Frieze Art Fair
Continuing Event
Hudson Yards Shed
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

KING KRULE
at Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom / 8 p.m. $
“Archy Marshall makes music that’s often described as punk jazz — but you’d be forgiven for not having any idea what that means. The London native, who performs under the moniker King Krule, does combine punk’s crunch and jazz’s melodic explorations, but his work is also grounded in R&B and, on his most recent album, “The Ooz,” deconstructed early rock. Think Elvis, slowed down and distorted by a heavy veil of reverb. Toeing the line between pop song structure and total improvised chaos, Mr. Marshall makes occasionally alien sounds that never lose their more visceral, sensual pleasures.” (NYT-NATALIE WEINER)

ZAKIR HUSSAIN AND DAVE HOLLAND’S CROSSCURRENTS (May 4-5)
Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center / 8 p.m., $
“The Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain and the British-born bassist Dave Holland have been at the top of their respective fields since the 1970s. Mr. Holland is one of the most inventive, broad-ranging bassists in jazz; Mr. Hussain plays with fellow heroes of Indian classical music, as well as a cross section of international stars. Recently the two masters have come together in Crosscurrents, a band devoted to what’s now an old idea — the fusion of rock, jazz and Indian classical — but with its own sparkling allure. The group includes the saxophonist Chris Potter, the guitarist Sanjay Divecha, the pianist Louiz Banks, the drummer Gino Banks and the vocalist Shankar Mahadevan.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

ALL ROBBINS NO. 1: THE BERNSTEIN COLLABORATIONS
New York City Ballet (May 4 – 20)
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 8PM, $30+
“Two American masters converge in these high-energy story ballets. Fancy Free follows three soldiers on shore leave in the Big City, while Dybbuk delves into a mystical world with dreadful consequences. Renewing their international hit, West Side Story Suite brings audiences to the feuding streets of 1950s New York City with heart-rending poignancy.”

DENNY ZEITLIN WITH BUSTER WILLIAMS AND MATT WILSON (May 4-5)
at Mezzrow / 8 and 9:30PM, $20-$25
“Mr. Zeitlin, who turned 80 last month, has always kept his crisp, rich harmonies fastened to crisscrossing cadences. What might first scan as easygoing cocktail jazz is a much headier concoction. The pianist began making this kind of music for Columbia Records in the 1960s, then eventually roved into jazz-rock fusion and electronic experiments (just last year, he released “Expedition,” a remarkable album of synthesizer excursions with the drummer George Marsh). But he’s never given up making bracing original music in an acoustic trio format, and recently he’s done it with two A-list collaborators: Mr. Williams, a bassist, and Mr. Wilson, a drummer. They’re featured on Mr. Zeitlin’s fine new album, “Wishing on the Moon,” and they join him here.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

John Lloyd Young
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 9:45, $75+
The Tony-winning star of Jersey Boys, both the Broadway musical and the Clint Eastwood film, brings his musical highs and puppyish eyes back to Feinstein’s/54 Below in a new set that focuses on material from his 2012 album, My Turn.” (TONY)

Vincent Herring vs. Eric Alexander (May 4-6)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway / 7, 9, 10:30PM< $40
“The connection between pugilism and jazz isn’t commented on much these days, but the golden era of the music was filled with mano-a-mano battles that left egos and reputations blood-spattered. Harking back to those brutal and undeniably thrilling days, the alto saxophonist Vincent Herring and the tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, two modern masters of hard bop, enter the ring for a night of competitive rigor.” (NewYorker)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

Frieze Art Fair (5/3-5/5)
“Head over to Randall’s Island Park this spring to experience the contemporary art world in an alfresco environment. Interact with public installations, sit in on “Frieze Talks,” enjoy the Frieze Art Fair’s Reading Room, and of course, lay your eyes on some of the most talked about artwork in the city. friezenewyork.com” (cityguideny.com)

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

Continuing Event

Hudson Yards Shed (May 01-13)

“Hudson Yards continues to transform before our eyes with an ever-growing list of new sites, such as Vessel, the beehive-like public landmark that’s New York’s answer to the Eiffel Tower. But the largest and most exciting cultural contribution to the far West Side is the Shed, a multi-arts performance venue opening in spring 2019. To provide a sneak peak of what’s to come, the entertainment center presents a free art series, just a block away from its home base. Dubbed A Prelude to the Shed, the two-week event is being held at a structure that has been designed to change fluidly as dancers and guests move about.

Aside from exhibiting “A Stroll Through the Fun Palace,” which showcases the archives of Cedric Price (an inspiration to the architects of the Shed), the main event boasts a killer lineup of entertainers for the evening performances. On select nights, check out R&B singer Abra, electronic-music producer and performer Arca, and the New York rapper-singer Azealia Banks.

Beyond the lit musical performances, there’s plenty of art and dance to catch, too. Artist Tino Sehgal’s This variation seamlessly intertwines throughout the day with ​William Forsythe’s new work, ​titled​ Pas de Deux Cent Douze​. There’s also ​D.R.E.A.M. Ring dance battles organized by dancer Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray​. Chances are, you’ll feel encouraged to bust a move and shake your tail feather along with them—especially if you hit the grab-and-go café for beer and wine beforehand.” (TONY)

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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 – 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., thetownhall.org, 212-997-6661
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Another outrageous rent increase by a rapacious NYC landlord will close BBKings as of April 29 – How Sad.
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
and one more, not exactly WestSide
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com,

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.
See Below.

———————————————————————————————————-

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
=================================================================================

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.

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

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.

========================================================
“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
No reservations needed.
========================================================
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 FALL 2018).
◊ Order before NOV.30, 2018 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” (05/03) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 05/03/2018 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > THURSDAY/ MAY 03, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-MAY”
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.

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

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

Not Manhattan’s WestSide, but it is Brooklyn’s WestSide and this looks worth the detour.

Afterwords stroll along the Brooklyn Esplanade and head down to Juliana’s for some of the best pizza in all of NYCity. Return to Manhattan on the ferry as the sun sets over the lower Manhattan skyline.

“Broadway: A History of New York City in Thirteen Miles”
Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St./ 6:30PM, $5
“In his new book, architectural historian Fran Leadon delves into the history of NYC’s iconic artery, from its colonial roots to its twentieth-century status as a locus of spectacle and entertainment. Join Leadon in conversation with Untapped Cities editor and author of Images of America: Broadway, Michelle Young, for an exploration of how Broadway offers a lens for understanding the capital of culture and commerce.”

=========================================================
7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> NEW YORK CITY BALLET
>> Kenny Barron
>> Denny Zeitlin
>> John Lloyd Young
>> CHUCHO VALDÉS
>>The Language of Flavor in Honey
Continuing Event
Hudson Yards Shed
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through June 3).
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $30+
“Most of the coming week features classic works by City Ballet’s patriarch George Balanchine — such as “Apollo,” “Agon” and “The Four Temperaments” — and recent choreography by Alexei Ratmansky and the company members Justin Peck and Peter Walker. For the spring gala on May 3, the attention switches to City Ballet’s other artistic forefather, Jerome Robbins, who was born a century ago and died in 1998. The program includes several of Robbins’s works, a new tribute by Mr. Peck and a sampler of Robbins’s beloved Broadway dances staged by the choreographer Warren Carlyle.” (NYT-BRIAN SCHAEFER)
TONIGHT: SPRING GALA: TRIBUTE TO ROBBINS
This one looks special

Kenny Barron (May 2-6)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
As if his artistry were a benchmark meant to spur on his acolytes, the nearly seventy-five-year-old dean of mainstream jazz piano never rests on his laurels. The leader of an acclaimed trio, Barron convenes a beefed-up unit for this engagement—a captivating quintet heard on the recently released “Concentric Circles,” which includes the saxophonist Dayna Stephens and the trumpeter Mike Rodriguez.” (NewYorker)

Denny Zeitlin
Mezzrow, 163 W. 10th St./ 8PM, +9:30PM, $20-$25
“Zeitlin hardly disappeared after his initial flurry of critical attention in the mid-sixties, but the whip-smart West Coast pianist (and professor of psychiatry) has reëstablished his place in the pantheon over the past decade, with a series of recordings featuring the bassist Buster Williams and the drummer Matt Wilson. Both of them join him May 4-5, following two nights of solo performances by the visiting leader.” (NewYorker)

John Lloyd Young
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 9:45, $75+
The Tony-winning star of Jersey Boys, both the Broadway musical and the Clint Eastwood film, brings his musical highs and puppyish eyes back to Feinstein’s/54 Below in a new set that focuses on material from his 2012 album, My Turn.” (TONY)

CHUCHO VALDÉS (May 1-6)
at the Blue Note / 8 and 10:30PM, $55-$75
“Earlier this week, Mr. Valdés, a Latin jazz patriarch, began an extended run at the Blue Note that will find him flexing his powers in a variety of contexts. Through Sunday, he performs with a midsize ensemble, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the founding of Irakere, his watershed Cuban fusion band. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he’s joined by the trumpeter Roy Hargrove and the vocalist Roberta Gambarini; on Thursday, he performs alone; and from May 4 to 6, he’ll be accompanied by Ron Carter. (The drummer Lenny White joins Mr. Valdés and Mr. Carter for the last two dates, with the violinist Regina Carter coming aboard for the final evening.)” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

Elsewhere, but this looks sweet enough for the detour:

The Language of Flavor in Honey
Museum of Food and Drink, 62 Bayard St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn / 6:30PM, $30
“Learn to taste and pair honey with expert Carla Marina Marchese, who leads an interactive tasting flight through six limited harvest honeys. After the tasting, there will be a signing of The Honey Connoisseur: Selecting, Tasting, and Pairing Honey, With a Guide to More Than 30 Varietals.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Frieze Art Fair (5/3-5/5)
“Head over to Randall’s Island Park this spring to experience the contemporary art world in an alfresco environment. Interact with public installations, sit in on “Frieze Talks,” enjoy the Frieze Art Fair’s Reading Room, and of course, lay your eyes on some of the most talked about artwork in the city. friezenewyork.com” (cityguideny.com)

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

Continuing Event

Hudson Yards Shed (May 01-13)

“Hudson Yards continues to transform before our eyes with an ever-growing list of new sites, such as Vessel, the beehive-like public landmark that’s New York’s answer to the Eiffel Tower. But the largest and most exciting cultural contribution to the far West Side is the Shed, a multi-arts performance venue opening in spring 2019. To provide a sneak peak of what’s to come, the entertainment center presents a free art series, just a block away from its home base. Dubbed A Prelude to the Shed, the two-week event is being held at a structure that has been designed to change fluidly as dancers and guests move about.

Aside from exhibiting “A Stroll Through the Fun Palace,” which showcases the archives of Cedric Price (an inspiration to the architects of the Shed), the main event boasts a killer lineup of entertainers for the evening performances. On select nights, check out R&B singer Abra, electronic-music producer and performer Arca, and the New York rapper-singer Azealia Banks.

Beyond the lit musical performances, there’s plenty of art and dance to catch, too. Artist Tino Sehgal’s This variation seamlessly intertwines throughout the day with ​William Forsythe’s new work, ​titled​ Pas de Deux Cent Douze​. There’s also ​D.R.E.A.M. Ring dance battles organized by dancer Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray​. Chances are, you’ll feel encouraged to bust a move and shake your tail feather along with them—especially if you hit the grab-and-go café for beer and wine beforehand.” (TONY)

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

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

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd 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.

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

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:

A special pat on the back to MOMA, who is now displaying art from the seven countries affected by Trump’s travel ban.

“Trump’s ban against refugees from seven Muslim-majority nations has sparked acts of defiance in NYC, from demonstrations across town, to striking taxicab drivers at JFK to Middle Eastern bodega owners closing their shops in protest. Recently, the Museum Of Modern added its two cents by bringing out artworks it owns from the affected countries, and hanging them prominently within the galleries usually reserved for 19th- and 20th-century artworks from Europe and the United States. Paintings by Picasso and Matisse, for example, were removed to make way for pieces by Tala Madani (from Iran), Ibrahim El-Salahi (from Sudan) and architect Zaha Hadid (from Iraq). The rehanging, which was unannounced, aims to create a symbolic welcome that repudiates Trump by creating a visual dialog between the newly added works and the more familiar objects from MoMA’s permanent collection.” (TONY)

Stephen Shore (thru May 28)

“This immersive and staggeringly charming retrospective is devoted to one of the best American photographers of the past half century. Shore has peers—Joel Meyerowitz, Joel Sternfeld, Richard Misrach, and, especially, William Eggleston—in a generation that, in the nineteen-seventies, stormed to eminence with color film, which art photographers had long disdained. His best-known series, “American Surfaces” and “Uncommon Places,” are both from the seventies and were mostly made in rugged Western states. The pictures in these series share a quality of surprise: appearances surely unappreciated if even really noticed by anyone before—in rural Arizona, a phone booth next to a tall cactus, on which a crude sign (“GARAGE”) is mounted, and, on a small-city street in Wisconsin, a movie marquee’s neon wanly aglow, at twilight. A search for fresh astonishments has kept Shore peripatetic, on productive sojourns in Mexico, Scotland, Italy, Ukraine, and Israel. He has remained a vestigial Romantic, stopping in space and 
time to frame views that exert a peculiar tug on him. This framing is resolutely formalist: subjects composed laterally, from edge to edge, and in depth. There’s never a “background.” The most distant element is as considered as the nearest. But only when looking for it are you conscious of Shore’s formal discipline, because it is as fluent as a language learned from birth. His best pictures at once arouse feelings and leave us alone to make what we will of them. He delivers truths, whether hard or easy, with something very like mercy.” (NewYorker)

Tarsila do Amaral (thru June 3)

Introducing New York to the First Brazilian Modernist
“Forty-five years after Tarsila do Amaral’s death, MOMA presents her first-ever museum exhibition in the U.S. Some artists are so iconic, they’re known by only one name: Brancusi, Léger, Tarsila. Wait, who? The painter Tarsila do Amaral is so famous in her native Brazil that forty-three years after her death she helped close out the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when a projected pattern of red-orange-yellow arcs graced the stadium floor, an homage to her 1929 painting “Setting Sun.” That chimerical landscape—stylized sunset above tubular cacti and a herd of capybaras that shape-shift into boulders—hangs now at MOMA, in the artist’s first-ever museum exhibition in the U.S., “Tarsila do Amaral: Inventing Modern Art in Brazil.” (NewYorker)

‘TARSILA DO AMARAL: INVENTING MODERN ART IN BRAZIL’ (through June 3). “The subtitle is no overstatement: In the early 1920s, first in Paris and then back home in São Paulo, Brazil, this painter really did lay the groundwork for the coming of modernism in Latin America’s most populous nation. Tired of the European pretenders in Brazil’s art academies, Tarsila (who was always called by her first name) began to intermingle Western, African and indigenous motifs into flowing, biomorphic paintings, and to theorize a new national culture fueled by the principle of antropofagia, or “cannibalism.” Along with spare, assured drawings of Rio and the Brazilian countryside, this belated but very welcome show assembles Tarsila’s three most important paintings, including the classic “Abaporu” (1928): a semi-human nude with a spindly nose and a comically swollen foot. (Jason Farago)” (NYT)

Whitney Museum of American Art

‘GRANT WOOD: AMERICAN GOTHIC AND OTHER FABLES’ (through June 10). This well-done survey begins with the American Regionalist’s little-known efforts as an Arts and Crafts designer and touches just about every base. It includes his mural studies, book illustrations and most of his best-known paintings — including “American Gothic” and “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” Best of all are Wood’s smooth undulant landscapes with their plowmen and spongy trees and infectious serenity. (Smith, NYT)

‘ZOE LEONARD: SURVEY’  (through June 10).
Some shows cast a spell. Zoe Leonard’s reverberant retrospective does. Physically ultra-austere, all white walls with a fiercely edited selection of objects — photographs of clouds taken from airplane windows; a mural collaged from vintage postcards; a scattering of empty fruit skins, each stitched closed with needle and thread — it’s an extended essay about travel, time passing, political passion and the ineffable daily beauty of the world. (Cotter, NYT)
==============================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 05/01 and 04/29.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (05/02) + Today’s Featured Pub (WestVillage)

Posted on 05/02/2018 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/ MAY 02, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-MAY”
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.

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

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

CHUCHO VALDÉS (May 1-6)
at the Blue Note / 8 and 10:30PM, $55-$75
“Earlier this week, Mr. Valdés, a Latin jazz patriarch, began an extended run at the Blue Note that will find him flexing his powers in a variety of contexts. Through Sunday, he performs with a midsize ensemble, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the founding of Irakere, his watershed Cuban fusion band. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he’s joined by the trumpeter Roy Hargrove and the vocalist Roberta Gambarini; on Thursday, he performs alone; and from May 4 to 6, he’ll be accompanied by Ron Carter. (The drummer Lenny White joins Mr. Valdés and Mr. Carter for the last two dates, with the violinist Regina Carter coming aboard for the final evening.)” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

=========================================================
7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> E-MOVES
>> Kenny Barron
>> Denny Zeitlin
>> John Lloyd Young
>> NEW YORK CITY BALLET
>> Making America Modern
>> Carl Zimmer – From Ebola to Dinosaurs to 23andMe: Writing About the Science of Life
Continuing Event
Hudson Yards Shed
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

E-MOVES (May 2-5)
at Harlem Stage / 7:30PM, $20
“What does it mean to be African in today’s America? Three choreographers grapple with that question in Harlem Stage’s signature contemporary dance series. Lacina Coulibaly, from Burkina Faso, presents an ode to African culture, “The Rite of Initiates.” Ousmane Wiles, from Senegal, combines West African, Afrobeat, house and vogue dance styles in “Sila Djiguba,” and Zimbabwe-born artist Nora Chipaumire contributes “Dark Swan,” a solo performed by Shamar Watt that is a nod to the 1905 dance classic “The Dying Swan.” (NYT – Brian Schaefer)

Kenny Barron (May 2-6)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
As if his artistry were a benchmark meant to spur on his acolytes, the nearly seventy-five-year-old dean of mainstream jazz piano never rests on his laurels. The leader of an acclaimed trio, Barron convenes a beefed-up unit for this engagement—a captivating quintet heard on the recently released “Concentric Circles,” which includes the saxophonist Dayna Stephens and the trumpeter Mike Rodriguez.” (NewYorker)

Denny Zeitlin
Mezzrow, 163 W. 10th St./ 8PM, +9:30PM, $20-$25
“Zeitlin hardly disappeared after his initial flurry of critical attention in the mid-sixties, but the whip-smart West Coast pianist (and professor of psychiatry) has reëstablished his place in the pantheon over the past decade, with a series of recordings featuring the bassist Buster Williams and the drummer Matt Wilson. Both of them join him May 4-5, following two nights of solo performances by the visiting leader.” (NewYorker)

John Lloyd Young
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 9:45, $75+
The Tony-winning star of Jersey Boys, both the Broadway musical and the Clint Eastwood film, brings his musical highs and puppyish eyes back to Feinstein’s/54 Below in a new set that focuses on material from his 2012 album, My Turn.” (TONY)

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through June 3).
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $30+
“Most of the coming week features classic works by City Ballet’s patriarch George Balanchine — such as “Apollo,” “Agon” and “The Four Temperaments” — and recent choreography by Alexei Ratmansky and the company members Justin Peck and Peter Walker. For the spring gala on May 3, the attention switches to City Ballet’s other artistic forefather, Jerome Robbins, who was born a century ago and died in 1998. The program includes several of Robbins’s works, a new tribute by Mr. Peck and a sampler of Robbins’s beloved Broadway dances staged by the choreographer Warren Carlyle.” (NYT-BRIAN SCHAEFER)
TONIGHT: BALANCHINE BLACK & WHITE

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

Making America Modern
New York School of Interior Design, 170 E. 70th St./ 6PM, $15
“In this talk, design historian Marilyn F. Friedman will introduce her new book Making America Modern: Interior Design in the 1930s, which chronicles the evolution of modern interior design in the U.S. during the 1930s. Ms. Friedman will discuss interiors by such design luminaries as Donald Deskey, Cedric Gibbons, Eleanor Le Maire, William Lescaze, Tommi Parzinger, Gilbert Rohde, and Russel Wright; she will also highlight the work of lesser-known, but still accomplished, designers. Interiors include private commissions and exhibition displays spanning the economic spectrum, from those created for wealthy patrons, such as Walter Annenberg and Abby Rockefeller Milton, to those designed with affordability in mind.”

Carl Zimmer – From Ebola to Dinosaurs to 23andMe: Writing About the Science of Life
Columbia University, 116th St. & Broadway, World Rm, Pulitzer Hall/ 5PM, FREE
“Carl Zimmer is a columnist for the New York Times. His journalism has also appeared in magazines such as National Geographic, Wired, and The Atlantic. Among his awards, he has earned the Stephen Jay Gould Prize and the Online Journalism Award. His thirteenth book, “She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity” will be published in May 2018.”

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

Continuing Event

Hudson Yards Shed (May 01-13)

“Hudson Yards continues to transform before our eyes with an ever-growing list of new sites, such as Vessel, the beehive-like public landmark that’s New York’s answer to the Eiffel Tower. But the largest and most exciting cultural contribution to the far West Side is the Shed, a multi-arts performance venue opening in spring 2019. To provide a sneak peak of what’s to come, the entertainment center presents a free art series, just a block away from its home base. Dubbed A Prelude to the Shed, the two-week event is being held at a structure that has been designed to change fluidly as dancers and guests move about.

Aside from exhibiting “A Stroll Through the Fun Palace,” which showcases the archives of Cedric Price (an inspiration to the architects of the Shed), the main event boasts a killer lineup of entertainers for the evening performances. On select nights, check out R&B singer Abra, electronic-music producer and performer Arca, and the New York rapper-singer Azealia Banks.

Beyond the lit musical performances, there’s plenty of art and dance to catch, too. Artist Tino Sehgal’s This variation seamlessly intertwines throughout the day with ​William Forsythe’s new work, ​titled​ Pas de Deux Cent Douze​. There’s also ​D.R.E.A.M. Ring dance battles organized by dancer Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray​. Chances are, you’ll feel encouraged to bust a move and shake your tail feather along with them—especially if you hit the grab-and-go café for beer and wine beforehand.” (TONY)

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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:
(5 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)
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319 (6pm)

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)

Special Mention:
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 surprises with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It’s my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub / West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

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

kac_120405_phude_corner_bistro_bar_1000-600x450In the maze of streets known as the West Village, where West 4th intersects with West 12th (and West 11th, and West 10th, go figure), you will eventually find Corner Bistro on the corner of West 4th and Jane Street. An unassuming neighborhood tavern, it looks just like dozens of other taverns around town.

The bartender tells me that the Corner Bistro celebrated it’s 50th anniversary last year. The well worn interior tells me that the place itself is much older.

Corner Bistro has outlasted many of those other taverns around town because they know how to keep it simple — just good burgers and beer, fairly priced. The classic bistro Burger is only $6.75, and should be ordered medium rare, which will be plenty rare for most folks. Actually, it will be a juicy, messy delight – make sure you have extra napkins. I like to pull up a stool and sit by the large front window in the afternoon, where I can rest my burger and beer on the shelf, and watch the Villagers walk by.

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

For the classic Bistro experience, order your burger with a McSorley’s draft, the dark preferably. This is the same beer that you can get over at the original McSorley’s in the East Village, the pub that claims to be the oldest continually operating bar in NYCity. The only difference is that this McSorley’s ale is served with a smile by the bartenders here. Or you can get a Sierra Nevada, Stella, or Hoegaarden on tap if you want to go upscale a bit. Either way this is a simple, but quality burger and beer experience that is just too rare these days (sorry for the pun).
=========================================================
Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk 2 blk W. on 13th St. to 8th Ave.; 1 blk S. on 8th Ave. to Jane St.
Update:
==============================================================
“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” (05/01) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 05/01/2018 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > TUESDAY/ MAY 01, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-MAY”
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.

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

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

DJANGO FESTIVAL ALL-STARS
at Carnegie Hall / 8PM, $18+
“The Django Festival All-Stars go a little bit beyond celebrating their namesake, Django Reinhardt, the Romani French guitarist known as gypsy jazz’s main hero. Their songbook includes many items from Reinhardt’s repertoire, as well as originals by the group’s own band members inspired by the broader field of early 20th-century jazz. At this concert, the founding bandleader Dorado Schmitt will pass the All-Stars’ mantle to his sons Samson and Amati, who are both guitarists. The show features appearances from a few special guests, including the vocalist Melody Gardot and the clarinetist Ken Peplowski.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

=========================================================
7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> NEW YORK CITY BALLET
>> ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER
>>Roméo et Juliette
>> The Breeders
>> Inside the Male Brain: Toxic Masculinity and #MeToo
>> HOT TICKET – Queens Taste 2018
Continuing Event
Hudson Yards Shed
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

CHUCHO VALDÉS (May 1-6)
at the Blue Note / 8 and 10:30PM, $55-$75
“Earlier this week, Mr. Valdés, a Latin jazz patriarch, began an extended run at the Blue Note that will find him flexing his powers in a variety of contexts. Through Sunday, he performs with a midsize ensemble, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the founding of Irakere, his watershed Cuban fusion band. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he’s joined by the trumpeter Roy Hargrove and the vocalist Roberta Gambarini; on Thursday, he performs alone; and from May 4 to 6, he’ll be accompanied by Ron Carter. (The drummer Lenny White joins Mr. Valdés and Mr. Carter for the last two dates, with the violinist Regina Carter coming aboard for the final evening.)” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through June 3).
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $30+
“Most of the coming week features classic works by City Ballet’s patriarch George Balanchine — such as “Apollo,” “Agon” and “The Four Temperaments” — and recent choreography by Alexei Ratmansky and the company members Justin Peck and Peter Walker. For the spring gala on May 3, the attention switches to City Ballet’s other artistic forefather, Jerome Robbins, who was born a century ago and died in 1998. The program includes several of Robbins’s works, a new tribute by Mr. Peck and a sampler of Robbins’s beloved Broadway dances staged by the choreographer Warren Carlyle.” (NYT-BRIAN SCHAEFER)
TONIGHT: 21ST CENTURY CHOREOGRAPHERS

ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER
at Bowery Ballroom / 9PM, $20
“On such superb solo albums as “Personal Record” (2013) and “New View” (2016) — not to mention the excellently weird music she made in the 2000s as half of the Fiery Furnaces — Eleanor Friedberger has set herself apart as one of indie rock’s sharpest narrators. With “Rebound,” her fourth solo LP, Ms. Friedberger swerves toward New Romantic balladry, with echoes of the ’80s goth disco in Greece that gave the album its name.” (NYT-SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON)

Roméo et Juliette (Apr 23-May 12, next May 05)
Metropolitan Opera House / 7:30PM, $95+
“Bartlett Sher’s production of Gounod’s sumptuous Shakespeare adaptation was a hit of the 2016–17 Met season (“a revelation” declared the Huffington Post). Now the sweeping tragedy returns with Ailyn Pérez and Bryan Hymel, both celebrated in French repertoire, as the star crossed young lovers. Plácido Domingo conducts.”

The Breeders
Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St. May1. better get tickets NOW / 8PM,$35
“In the mid-eighties, a young musician named Kim Deal answered a classified ad, in the Boston Phoenix, for a female bassist who appreciated Peter, Paul, and Mary and Hüsker Dü, and ended up joining the Pixies, one of the touchstones of the alternative era. As the group’s popularity soared, its internal tensions mounted, culminating in an infamous fax from the lead singer, Black Francis, informing Deal that the band was kaput. (It has since returned, both with and without Deal.) This gave her more time to focus on the Breeders, an outfit she shares with her guitarist twin sister, Kelley. They’re best known for their sophomore record, “Last Splash,” from 1993, a collection of scrappy alt-rock treasures capped by the slinky single “Cannonball.” Their 2013 reunion still hasn’t concluded, to fans’ delight: they play a run of area shows in support of a celebrated new album, “All Nerve.” (NewYorker)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

HOT TICKET – TONIGHT
Queens Taste 2018
New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park/ Tuesday May 1 – 6PM to 9PM Not exactly Manhattan’s WestSide, but my mouth waters just thinking about this.

Are you a Queens foodie? Sample the many flavors of the borough at Queens Taste 2018.
More than 60 restaurants, beverage companies, dessert makers, and specialty food purveyors will offer samples of their products — everything from crunchy to creamy, fiery to flaky, and sweet to savory. The cuisines to be on display include BBQ, Chinese, Colombian, French, Guyanese, Indian, Italian, Jamaican, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Mexican, Peruvian, and Thai.

Plus, regional wine experts, local spirits stores, and borough-based breweries will pour their products, and clients of the Entrepreneur Space, a food-and-business incubator that QEDC operates in Long Island City, will be on hand with their artisan specialties.

It’s an all-you-can-sample world and it’s for a good cause.

Tickets cost $125 each or two for $200. They are available at http://www.thequeenstaste.com.
Proceeds support QEDC’s ongoing efforts to attract, create, and maintain jobs in the borough. (As QEDC is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, proceeds are tax deductible as permitted by law.)

Elsewhere, but this looks like something we need to know about:

Inside the Male Brain: Toxic Masculinity and #MeToo
Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St./ 6:30PM, $5
Get a glimpse of the male psyche at Inside the Male Brain, an exploration of the various internal and external forces that have driven men’s worst behaviors.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

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

Continuing Event

Hudson Yards Shed (May 01-13)

Hudson Yards continues to transform before our eyes with an ever-growing list of new sites, such as Vessel, the beehive-like public landmark that’s New York’s answer to the Eiffel Tower. But the largest and most exciting cultural contribution to the far West Side is the Shed, a multi-arts performance venue opening in spring 2019. To provide a sneak peak of what’s to come, the entertainment center presents a free art series, just a block away from its home base. Dubbed A Prelude to the Shed, the two-week event is being held at a structure that has been designed to change fluidly as dancers and guests move about.

Aside from exhibiting “A Stroll Through the Fun Palace,” which showcases the archives of Cedric Price (an inspiration to the architects of the Shed), the main event boasts a killer lineup of entertainers for the evening performances. On select nights, check out R&B singer Abra, electronic-music producer and performer Arca, and the New York rapper-singer Azealia Banks.

Beyond the lit musical performances, there’s plenty of art and dance to catch, too. Artist Tino Sehgal’s This variation seamlessly intertwines throughout the day with ​William Forsythe’s new work, ​titled​ Pas de Deux Cent Douze​. There’s also ​D.R.E.A.M. Ring dance battles organized by dancer Reggie “Regg Roc” Gray​. Chances are, you’ll feel encouraged to bust a move and shake your tail feather along with them—especially if you hit the grab-and-go café for beer and wine beforehand.

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Another outrageous rent increase by a rapacious NYC landlord closed BBKing’s as of April 29 – How Sad.
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
and one more, not quite WestSide
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com,

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.
===========================================================

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

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 an exhibition the New Yorker likes:

Erin Shirreff   Through May 15.

“Negative space—and outer space, too—is as assertive as physical form in the work of this New York-based artist, which toggles between photographic and sculptural, flat and deep, moving and static. The centerpiece is a wall-filling video, entitled “Son,” in which colors shift slowly around a central black circle; it was inspired by the recent solar eclipse, a moment when the sun resembled a void. On other walls, large crescents and slivers of printed aluminum are arranged in deep frames; while adamantly abstract, they could pass for dioramas of phases of the moon. With speckled cyanotypes printed on pictures of sculptures torn out of books, Shirreff seems to suggest that her own spatial investigations are simply part of a continuum—a reminder that even the stillest object is also on the move, thanks to the passage of time.”

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

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 the 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.) “

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 04/29 and 04/25.

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

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/30) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 04/30/2018 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > MONDAY/ APRIL 30, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-April”
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.

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

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

Frances Ruffelle Live(S) in New York
The Green Room 42 / 7PM, $30
“Ruffelle has a place of her own in the hearts of musical-theater fans for her performance as sacrificial waif Éponine in the original London and Broadway casts of Les Misérables. Having recently relocated to New York City, she returns to the nightclub stage with a charmingly game and gamine monthly set at the Green Room 42.” (TONY)

Eponine has all grown up and she puts on one hot show – don’t miss it.

=========================================================
7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> The New York Pops: Part of His World—The Songs of Alan Menken
>> Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
>>Shaw Songs! A Festive Cabaret Evening
>> The Breeders
>>The History of the World in 100 Performances with Adam Gopnik: My Fair Lady Hits Broadway
>> Psychobiography with Dr. Gail Saltz
>>National Bubble Tea Day
>> HOT TICKET – TUESDAY
Queens Taste 2018
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

The New York Pops: Part of His World—The Songs of Alan Menken
Carnegie Hall, Perelman Stage / 7PM, $100+
“The Pops snap and crackle through a star-studded 35th-anniversary gala evening of orchestral delight in a tribute to the music of Alan Menken, who helped revivify the moribund world of musical-theater through works including Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Among the Menken veterans scheduled to perform are Michael Arden, Roger Bart, Jodi Benson, Ashley Brown, Kerry Butler, Nick Cordero, Corey Cott, Susan Egan, Harvey Fierstein, James Monroe Iglehart, Adam Jacobs, Judy Kuhn, Patina Miller, Cheryl Freeman, Roz Ryan, Vaneese Thomas and Lillias White. Steven Reineke wields the baton.” (TONY)

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
Birdland, / 9:30PM, $30
“Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night. It’s a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars, backed by Steve Doyle on bass, Billy Stritch on piano and Daniel Glass on drums, hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.” (broadwayworld)

Shaw Songs! A Festive Cabaret Evening
The Players Club / 7PM, $35
“Gingold Theatrical Group’s beloved Project Shaw series departs from its usual mandate—staged readings of every play by George Bernard Shaw—for an evening of songs that the Bearded One might have enjoyed. Expect to hear Gilbert and Sullivan, Rodgers and Hart, Noel Coward and Cole Porter. The lineup of performers includes Ed Dixon, Jeff Harnar, Christine Pedi, Jon Weber, Lauren Worsham, Karen Ziemba and violin virtuoso Aaron Weinstein.” (TONY)

The Breeders
Brooklyn Steel, 319 Frost St., East Williamsburg. April 30. sold out.
Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St. May1. better get tickets NOW / 8PM,$35
“In the mid-eighties, a young musician named Kim Deal answered a classified ad, in the Boston Phoenix, for a female bassist who appreciated Peter, Paul, and Mary and Hüsker Dü, and ended up joining the Pixies, one of the touchstones of the alternative era. As the group’s popularity soared, its internal tensions mounted, culminating in an infamous fax from the lead singer, Black Francis, informing Deal that the band was kaput. (It has since returned, both with and without Deal.) This gave her more time to focus on the Breeders, an outfit she shares with her guitarist twin sister, Kelley. They’re best known for their sophomore record, “Last Splash,” from 1993, a collection of scrappy alt-rock treasures capped by the slinky single “Cannonball.” Their 2013 reunion still hasn’t concluded, to fans’ delight: they play a run of area shows in support of a celebrated new album, “All Nerve.” (NewYorker)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

HOT TICKET – TUESDAY
Queens Taste 2018
New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park/ Tuesday May 1 – 6PM to 9PM Not exactly Manhattan’s WestSide, but my mouth waters just thinking about this.

Are you a Queens foodie? Sample the many flavors of the borough at Queens Taste 2018.
More than 60 restaurants, beverage companies, dessert makers, and specialty food purveyors will offer samples of their products — everything from crunchy to creamy, fiery to flaky, and sweet to savory. The cuisines to be on display include BBQ, Chinese, Colombian, French, Guyanese, Indian, Italian, Jamaican, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Mexican, Peruvian, and Thai.

Plus, regional wine experts, local spirits stores, and borough-based breweries will pour their products, and clients of the Entrepreneur Space, a food-and-business incubator that QEDC operates in Long Island City, will be on hand with their artisan specialties.

It’s an all-you-can-sample world and it’s for a good cause.

Tickets cost $125 each or two for $200. They are available at http://www.thequeenstaste.com.
Proceeds support QEDC’s ongoing efforts to attract, create, and maintain jobs in the borough. (As QEDC is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, proceeds are tax deductible as permitted by law.)

The History of the World in 100 Performances with Adam Gopnik: My Fair Lady Hits Broadway
With special guests Kevin Kline, Melissa Errico, and André Bishop
Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, FREE, but get there early for a seat.
“On March 15, 1956, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s My Fair Lady arrived on Broadway for the first of its 2,717 performances (the longest Broadway run of its time). Considered by many critics, scholars, and fans as “the perfect musical,” the show’s Tony Award–winning original Broadway production starred Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison as Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins. But the show’s life didn’t begin in New York and it certainly didn’t end when the original production closed. Through performance and conversation, New Yorker writer and host Adam Gopnik with guests including actors Kevin Kline and Melissa Errico, and Lincoln Center Theater Artistic Director André Bishop, uncover the history of this landmark musical.”

Psychobiography with Dr. Gail Saltz | On Alexander Hamilton with Richard Sylla
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave./ 12PM, $29
“The inner lives of great people are often more mysterious and fascinating than their public lives. Dr. Gail Saltz, the author, psychoanalyst and television commentator, invites experts and brings her own expertise to bear as she examines the psychology of people who have shaped history.

Dr. Saltz interviews Richard Sylla, author of Alexander Hamilton: The Illustrated Biography, who shows us the incredible story of the founding father who made America modern and became the toast of Broadway. An immigrant from the West Indies, Hamilton played a crucial part in the development of the new nation, playing influential roles in the Revolutionary War, establishing the Constitution, writing The Federalist Papers and modernizing America’s fledgling finances. Sylla and Dr. Gail Saltz will discuss the flesh-and-blood Hamilton — student, soldier, lawyer, political scientist, finance minister and politician.”

National Bubble Tea Day
Head to New York’s best shops for boba. Favorites include Tea and Milk, The Teapsy and Culture Tea Bar.
The best bubble tea spots in NYC
“Bubble tea, a tasty import from Taiwan, is being stirred up all over NYC. Chew on this list of places to find boba.
Bubble tea can provide a sweet, refreshing relief after a hectic work or on a weekend outing. Whether at an established chain or locally owned shop, this tea type can be custom made to suit your liking and lifestyle (plus no mysterious add- ins or super saccharine taste). The Chinatown staple is quickly becoming one of our favorite cheap eats in the city, so go ahead and get a bubble tea from these places throughout NYC.” (TONY)

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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 63 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.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

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

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd 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.

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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).
=====================================================
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.
Update#2: Rumor that “Tiny” is back playing only on Friday nights – need to check it out.

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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” (04/29) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 04/29/2018 by GregD

Today’s Nifty 9 NYC Events > SUNDAY/ APRIL 29, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-April”
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.

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

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

Marilyn Maye: 90 at Last!
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $85+
“Back by popular demand! In 90 At Last! marvelous Marilyn Maye returns to her home away from home to celebrate her (latest) milestone birthday with her favorite audiences. Every performance will feature a special 90th birthday celebration for this very beloved lady of cabaret. As always, Marilyn carries the torch from her peers who originated tunes of the Great American Songbook to the singers who perform these songs today and will carry them on to future generations.”

“A phenomenal demonstration of one woman’s stamina and musical intelligence! This ageless dynamo has earned a singular place in New York’s cabaret world.” (NYT)

Remember, this lady is 90, See her while you can. She puts on a wonderful show.

=========================================================
8 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Buddy Guy
>> Allan Harris “The Genius of Eddie Jefferson”
>>Chucho Valdes
>> Houston Person Quartet
>>NEW YORK CITY BALLET
>> All Japan Ramen Contest
>> Sakura Matsuri / Cherry Blossom Festival
>> The World’s Fare
Continuing Events
>> Tribeca Film Festival
>> HOT TICKET – TUESDAY
Queens Taste 2018
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Buddy Guy
BB King’s / 6PM, $150+
“At the end of the week, Times Square loses another iconic club in BB King’s, the latest victim of vulture developers who’ve forever altered the landscape of the New York City concert stage circuit. In marking the shuttering of this beloved forum for blues guitarists, r&b singers, and hip-hop acts alike, there isn’t really anyone alive and kicking better suited for the job than a man so close to the heart of the venue’s namesake: Mr. Buddy Guy.

We can only hope that Buddy will nod to the fiftieth anniversary of his classic second album, A Man and the Blues, at some point during this Irish wake for the midtown nightspot. But regardless of what surprises Buddy has in store, his presence at the farewell is not to be missed. He’s played BB King’s countless times during its years of operation, and has also shared the stage with Riley himself on some of the greatest blues jams in modern history, from a 1993 performance at the Apollo alongside Albert Collins, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck to, of course, that unforgettable jam with Obama. There isn’t a better way to close out BB’s than a surefire classic performance from the last of the great Chicago bluesmen.” (Ron Hart,Village Voice)

Allan Harris “The Genius of Eddie Jefferson” (April 27-29)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway, between 105th and 106th Sts./ 7, 9, 10:30PM, $40
“Vocalese, the art of applying original lyrics to the contours of previously recorded jazz improvisations, was perfected by the vocalist Eddie Jefferson, an irrepressible performer who was killed at age sixty, in 1979. Harris pays tribute to this pioneering singer, bringing his own lustre to such touchstones as “Moody’s Mood for Love,” a Jefferson concoction that’s been interpreted by everyone from Aretha Franklin to Amy Winehouse.” (NewYorker)

Chucho Valdes (April 24-29)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8:00PM, +10:30PM, $55-$75
“Irakere, co-founded by the virtuosic pianist Chucho Valdes, was a pioneering Cuban band that first gained prominence, in the nineteen-seventies, for its tangy blend of Caribbean influences and jazz. Valdes, a volcano of a stylist, will assemble a version of the outfit to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of the Grammy-winning ensemble’s inception.” (NewYorker)

Houston Person Quartet (April 26-29)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $30
“83 years young, the tenor titan Houston Person can still blow with the best of ’em. With over 75 albums to his repertoire and counting (the essential Rain or Shine came out last year), the South Carolinian owns one of the deepest catalogs in jazz as a leader. If you haven’t already, it’s highly suggested you start picking up any of his great work on Prestige or Muse or HighNote; maybe begin with the butter-smooth goodness of The Nearness of You, which turns forty this year and features Person backed by a killer band (Melvin Sparks on guitar, Charles Earland on organ, Grady Tate on drums, and others). As a producer as well as a performer, Houston has always known the secret to constructing a quality combo, and he returns to the Standard this weekend with his current quartet: Lafayette Harris on piano, Matthew Parrish on bass, and drummer Vince Ector, all of whom played on Rain or Shine. Houston is among the last of the tenor giants working the clubs on the regular, one who has been so important to the evolution of the offshoot known as soul jazz. Get out and see him.” (Ron Hart, VillageVoice)

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through June 3).
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center /2PM, + 8PM, $
“Most of the coming week features classic works by City Ballet’s patriarch George Balanchine — such as “Apollo,” “Agon” and “The Four Temperaments” — and recent choreography by Alexei Ratmansky and the company members Justin Peck and Peter Walker. For the spring gala on May 3, the attention switches to City Ballet’s other artistic forefather, Jerome Robbins, who was born a century ago and died in 1998. The program includes several of Robbins’s works, a new tribute by Mr. Peck and a sampler of Robbins’s beloved Broadway dances staged by the choreographer Warren Carlyle.” (NYT-BRIAN SCHAEFER)
TODAY: ALL BALANCHINE, 3 PM
——————-
The meat of the season begins on May 3 with Robbins 100, a celebration honoring the centennial of Jerome Robbins’s birth. As part of it, the choreographer and director Warren Carlyle presents a work featuring a cast of 30 and music and choreography from eight Broadway musicals associated with Robbins, including “On the Town” & “The King and I.” (NYT-GIA KOURLAS)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

These are elsewhere, but worth the detours:

All Japan Ramen Contest (April 28-29)
“The next star of New York City’s ramen scene is likely to come from overseas, with Ichiran, Menya Jiro and E.A.K. Ramen. This weekend, you can taste seven exclusive bowls of ramen (and other Japanese goodies) by chefs flying in front Japan for a two-day contest of soup supremacy spanning two boroughs. The All Japan Ramen Contest is part of an annual block party called Japan Fes with performers, snacks and vendors. On April 28, the action is in Manhattan on Eighth Avenue between 15-16th streets in Chelsea, and on April 29 head to Queens on Steinway Street between Broadway and 34th Avenue in Astoria.
Both events go from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission is FREE, bowls are $10 each.”

Sakura Matsuri / Cherry Blossom Festival (April 28-29)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden / 10 a.m.-6 p.m., $30
“There’s no better place in the city to experience cherry blossom season than Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where over 200 trees line its Cherry Esplanade and dot the gorgeous landscape of its Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Head there this weekend for peak blooms and the Japanese cultural extravaganza that is Sakura Matsuri, with tons of costumed flower fans, martial arts and live music, manga workshops, tea ceremonies and tons of activities for kids.”(MetroNY)

The World’s Fare (April 28-29)
Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Ave., Queens / $29+
“Promoting equality and diversity in the food industry, as well as international cuisines, the World’s Fare is a two-day event taking place at Citi Field with over 100 vendors. Your ticket gets you in (food is pay-as-you-go); upgrade for entry to the international Beer Garden featuring 80 brews. There will be live world music, art installations, pizza-making classes and even sumo wrestling demos by champion Yama.” (MetroNY)

HOT TICKET – TUESDAY
Queens Taste 2018
New York Hall of Science, Flushing Meadows Corona Park/ Tuesday May 1 – 6PM to 9PM Not exactly Manhattan’s WestSide, but my mouth waters just thinking about this.

Are you a Queens foodie? Sample the many flavors of the borough at Queens Taste 2018.
More than 60 restaurants, beverage companies, dessert makers, and specialty food purveyors will offer samples of their products — everything from crunchy to creamy, fiery to flaky, and sweet to savory. The cuisines to be on display include BBQ, Chinese, Colombian, French, Guyanese, Indian, Italian, Jamaican, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Mexican, Peruvian, and Thai.

Plus, regional wine experts, local spirits stores, and borough-based breweries will pour their products, and clients of the Entrepreneur Space, a food-and-business incubator that QEDC operates in Long Island City, will be on hand with their artisan specialties.

It’s an all-you-can-sample world and it’s for a good cause.

Tickets cost $125 each or two for $200. They are available at http://www.thequeenstaste.com.
Proceeds support QEDC’s ongoing efforts to attract, create, and maintain jobs in the borough. (As QEDC is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit, proceeds are tax deductible as permitted by law.

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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.
===========================================================================

Continuing Events

Tribeca Film Festival (last day)
“It’s all happening downtown.
NYC’s lovable giant mongrel film fest is back for its 17th year, with a slew of features and docs and panels and Big Events like the Schindler’s List reunion with Spielberg, Neeson, and others. Among the highlights are the Rachel Weisz lesbian drama Disobedience, the stand-up teenage-girl-comedian drama Jellyfish, and about 100 other films.” (D.E., NY Magazine)

“The Tribeca Film Festival is much more than just movies.

With virtual reality and interactive installations in Tribeca Immersive, live music events, the Tribeca ESPN Sports Film Festival, the various Tribeca Talks, and free panels for working and aspiring filmmakers, you could be quite entertained without entering a theater… not that we recommend that.

The director, cast, and crew are often on hand for a Q & A after the screenings. The films, chosen from over thousands of submissions every year, are from every corner of the globe and offer almost as many perspectives as New Yorkers have opinions. Almost every film is a North American, international, or even world premiere, so you could be among the first to see the next big hit!”

===========================================================
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:
(5 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)
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319 (6pm)

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)

Special Mention:
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 surprises with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It’s my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.

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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)

Neue Galerie

‘BEFORE THE FALL: GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN ART OF THE 1930S’  (through May 28). “An exhibition in the form of a chokehold, the third of the Neue Galerie’s recent shows on art and German politics pushes into the years of dictatorship, with paintings, drawings and photographs by artists deemed “degenerate” by the Nazis — as well as by those who joined the party or who thought they could shut out the catastrophe. (You will know the dissidents, like Max Beckmann and Oskar Kokoschka; the fascists and sellouts are less known.) Gazing at ornery still lifes of dolls and dead flowers, or dreamy landscapes in imitation of an earlier German Romanticism, you may ask to what degree artists are responsible for the times in which they work. But then you see “Self-Portrait in the Camp,” by the Jewish German painter Felix Nussbaum — made between his escape from a French internment camp and his deportation to Auschwitz — and you know that there can be no pardon. (NYT -Farago)
212-628-6200, neuegalerie.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)

‘THOMAS COLE’S JOURNEY: ATLANTIC CROSSING’ (through May 13). “The Met’s exhibition of the nation’s first major landscape artist and progenitor of what would be called the Hudson River School is gorgeous, politically right for right now and a lesson in the mutability of art history. Politically, Cole’s art is conservative, but it’s also work that challenges and complicates that term. And this show is precisely about complication. Just as Cole is most realistically and revealingly seen and judged against the background of his time, so is the exhibition, coming as it does in this confounding MAGA moment.” (Holland Cotter)

‘DIAMOND MOUNTAINS: TRAVEL AND NOSTALGIA IN KOREAN ART’ (through May 20). “Mount Kumgang, or the “Diamond Mountain,” lies about 90 miles from Pyeongchang’s Olympic Stadium, but it’s a world away: The august, multipeaked range lies in North Korea and has been impossible to visit for most of the past seven decades. Featuring stunning loans from the National Museum of Korea and other institutions in Seoul, South Korea, this melancholy beauty of a show assembles three centuries’ worth of paintings of the Diamond Mountain range, and explores how landscapes intermingle nostalgia, nationalism, legend and regret. The unmissable prizes here are the painstaking paintings of Jeong Seon, the 18th-century artist who is perhaps the greatest of all Korean painters. And later impressions of the mountains, including a blotchy vision from the Paris-based modernist Lee Ungno, give a deeper historical weight to very live geopolitics.” (NYT – Farago)
212-535-7710, metmuseum.org

‘THE FACE OF DYNASTY: ROYAL CRESTS FROM WESTERN CAMEROON’ (through Sept. 3). “Upstairs, the Michelangelos continue to knock ‘em dead; downstairs, in the African wing, a show of just four commanding wooden crowns constitutes a blockbuster of its own. These massive wooden crests — in the form of stylized human faces with vast vertical brows — served as markers of royal power among the Bamileke peoples of the Cameroonian grasslands, and the Met’s recent acquisition of an 18th-century specimen is joined here by three later examples, each featuring sharply protruding cheeks, broadly smiling mouths, and brows incised with involute geometric patterns. Ritual objects like these were decisive for the development of western modernist painting, and a Cameroonian crest was even shown at MoMA in the 1930s, as a “sculpture” divorced from ethnography. But these crests had legal and diplomatic significance as well as aesthetic appeal, and their anonymous African creators had a political understanding of art not so far from our own.” (Farago)

===========================================================
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 04/27 and 04/25.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/28) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 04/28/2018 by GregD

Today’s Nifty 9 NYC Events > SATURDAY/ APRIL 28, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-April”
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.

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

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

Elsewhere, but this is always worth the detour:
Sakura Matsuri / Cherry Blossom Festival (April 28-29)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden / 10 a.m.-6 p.m., $30
“There’s no better place in the city to experience cherry blossom season than Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where over 200 trees line its Cherry Esplanade and dot the gorgeous landscape of its Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. Head there this weekend for peak blooms and the Japanese cultural extravaganza that is Sakura Matsuri, with tons of costumed flower fans, martial arts and live music, manga workshops, tea ceremonies and tons of activities for kids.”(MetroNY)

=========================================================
8 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Allan Harris “The Genius of Eddie Jefferson”
>> Karrin Allyson
>>Chucho Valdes
>> Houston Person Quartet
>> “Black, Brown & Beige” & “The Best of Basie”
>>NEW YORK CITY BALLET
>> All Japan Ramen Contest
>> The World’s Fare
Continuing Events
>> Tribeca Film Festival
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Allan Harris “The Genius of Eddie Jefferson” (April 27-29)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway, between 105th and 106th Sts./ 7, 9, 10:30PM, $40
“Vocalese, the art of applying original lyrics to the contours of previously recorded jazz improvisations, was perfected by the vocalist Eddie Jefferson, an irrepressible performer who was killed at age sixty, in 1979. Harris pays tribute to this pioneering singer, bringing his own lustre to such touchstones as “Moody’s Mood for Love,” a Jefferson concoction that’s been interpreted by everyone from Aretha Franklin to Amy Winehouse.” (NewYorker)

Karrin Allyson (April 24-28)
Birdland / 8:30PM, +11:00PM, $40
“Over the course of her lengthy recording career, singer Allyson has released albums devoted to jazz standards, the Great American Songbook, Rodgers and Hammerstein show tunes, Brazilian fare and Coltrane classics.” (TONY)

Chucho Valdes (April 24-29)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8:00PM, +10:30PM, $55-$75
“Irakere, co-founded by the virtuosic pianist Chucho Valdes, was a pioneering Cuban band that first gained prominence, in the nineteen-seventies, for its tangy blend of Caribbean influences and jazz. Valdes, a volcano of a stylist, will assemble a version of the outfit to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of the Grammy-winning ensemble’s inception.” (NewYorker)

Houston Person Quartet (April 26-29)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $30
“83 years young, the tenor titan Houston Person can still blow with the best of ’em. With over 75 albums to his repertoire and counting (the essential Rain or Shine came out last year), the South Carolinian owns one of the deepest catalogs in jazz as a leader. If you haven’t already, it’s highly suggested you start picking up any of his great work on Prestige or Muse or HighNote; maybe begin with the butter-smooth goodness of The Nearness of You, which turns forty this year and features Person backed by a killer band (Melvin Sparks on guitar, Charles Earland on organ, Grady Tate on drums, and others). As a producer as well as a performer, Houston has always known the secret to constructing a quality combo, and he returns to the Standard this weekend with his current quartet: Lafayette Harris on piano, Matthew Parrish on bass, and drummer Vince Ector, all of whom played on Rain or Shine. Houston is among the last of the tenor giants working the clubs on the regular, one who has been so important to the evolution of the offshoot known as soul jazz. Get out and see him.” (Ron Hart, VillageVoice)

“Black, Brown & Beige” & “The Best of Basie” (Apr.26-28)
Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center / 8PM, $90+
“An utterly fail-safe program mates gems from the classic Count Basie band with a full-length performance of Duke Ellington’s “Black, Brown & Beige,” the master’s 1943 extended piece reflecting on the African-American experience. As Ellington performed the three-movement suite in its entirety only three times in his career, it will be a joy to hear the sweeping work brought to life once again.” (NewYorker)
“While availability is limited for this performance, secure your seats now to see the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at their next New York performance, Celebrating Ornette Coleman, May 18-19.”

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through June 3).
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center /2PM, + 8PM, $
“Most of the coming week features classic works by City Ballet’s patriarch George Balanchine — such as “Apollo,” “Agon” and “The Four Temperaments” — and recent choreography by Alexei Ratmansky and the company members Justin Peck and Peter Walker. For the spring gala on May 3, the attention switches to City Ballet’s other artistic forefather, Jerome Robbins, who was born a century ago and died in 1998. The program includes several of Robbins’s works, a new tribute by Mr. Peck and a sampler of Robbins’s beloved Broadway dances staged by the choreographer Warren Carlyle.” (NYT-BRIAN SCHAEFER)
TODAY: BALANCHINE BLACK & WHITE, 2 PM
21ST CENTURY CHOREOGRAPHERS, 8 PM
——————-
The meat of the season begins on May 3 with Robbins 100, a celebration honoring the centennial of Jerome Robbins’s birth. As part of it, the choreographer and director Warren Carlyle presents a work featuring a cast of 30 and music and choreography from eight Broadway musicals associated with Robbins, including “On the Town” & “The King and I.” (NYT-GIA KOURLAS)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

All Japan Ramen Contest (April 28-29)
“The next star of New York City’s ramen scene is likely to come from overseas, with Ichiran, Menya Jiro and E.A.K. Ramen. This weekend, you can taste seven exclusive bowls of ramen (and other Japanese goodies) by chefs flying in front Japan for a two-day contest of soup supremacy spanning two boroughs. The All Japan Ramen Contest is part of an annual block party called Japan Fes with performers, snacks and vendors. On April 28, the action is in Manhattan on Eighth Avenue between 15-16th streets in Chelsea, and on April 29 head to Queens on Steinway Street between Broadway and 34th Avenue in Astoria.
Both events go from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission is FREE, bowls are $10 each.”

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour and remember, Let’s go Mets.

The World’s Fare (April 28-29)
Citi Field, 123-01 Roosevelt Ave., Queens / $29+
“Promoting equality and diversity in the food industry, as well as international cuisines, the World’s Fare is a two-day event taking place at Citi Field with over 100 vendors. Your ticket gets you in (food is pay-as-you-go); upgrade for entry to the international Beer Garden featuring 80 brews. There will be live world music, art installations, pizza-making classes and even sumo wrestling demos by champion Yama.” (MetroNY)

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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.
===========================================================================

Continuing Events

Tribeca Film Festival (various locations, April 18–29)
“It’s all happening downtown.
NYC’s lovable giant mongrel film fest is back for its 17th year, with a slew of features and docs and panels and Big Events like the Schindler’s List reunion with Spielberg, Neeson, and others. Among the highlights are the Rachel Weisz lesbian drama Disobedience, the stand-up teenage-girl-comedian drama Jellyfish, and about 100 other films.” (D.E., NY Magazine)

“The Tribeca Film Festival is much more than just movies.

With virtual reality and interactive installations in Tribeca Immersive, live music events, the Tribeca ESPN Sports Film Festival, the various Tribeca Talks, and free panels for working and aspiring filmmakers, you could be quite entertained without entering a theater… not that we recommend that.

The director, cast, and crew are often on hand for a Q & A after the screenings. The films, chosen from over thousands of submissions every year, are from every corner of the globe and offer almost as many perspectives as New Yorkers have opinions. Almost every film is a North American, international, or even world premiere, so you could be among the first to see the next big hit!”

CLOSING Event

“This is your last weekend to visit Times Square’s iconic B.B. King Blues Club before it’s forced to close because — what else? the rent is too damn high. Owners Blue Note Entertainment Group are looking to relocate the venue, but don’t miss your chance to celebrate 18 years of music by catching a show before revered jazz guitarist Buddy Guy closes it all out on Sunday night. Through April 29, 237 W. 42 St., bbkingblues.com” (Metro NY)

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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., thetownhall.org, 212-997-6661
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Another outrageous rent increase by a rapacious NYC landlord will close BBKings as of April 29 – How Sad.
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
and one more, not exactly WestSide
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com,

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.
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.

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.
========================================================

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.

========================================================
“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
No reservations needed.
========================================================
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 FALL 2018).
◊ Order before NOV.30, 2018 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.

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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (04/27) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 04/27/2018 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > FRIDAY/ APRIL 27, 2018

“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, better check the tab above: “NYC Events-April”
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.

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

Houston Person Quartet (April 26-29)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $30
“83 years young, the tenor titan Houston Person can still blow with the best of ’em. With over 75 albums to his repertoire and counting (the essential Rain or Shine came out last year), the South Carolinian owns one of the deepest catalogs in jazz as a leader. If you haven’t already, it’s highly suggested you start picking up any of his great work on Prestige or Muse or HighNote; maybe begin with the butter-smooth goodness of The Nearness of You, which turns forty this year and features Person backed by a killer band (Melvin Sparks on guitar, Charles Earland on organ, Grady Tate on drums, and others). As a producer as well as a performer, Houston has always known the secret to constructing a quality combo, and he returns to the Standard this weekend with his current quartet: Lafayette Harris on piano, Matthew Parrish on bass, and drummer Vince Ector, all of whom played on Rain or Shine. Houston is among the last of the tenor giants working the clubs on the regular, one who has been so important to the evolution of the offshoot known as soul jazz. Get out and see him.” (Ron Hart, VillageVoice)

=========================================================
6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Allan Harris “The Genius of Eddie Jefferson”
>> Karrin Allyson
>> Roméo et Juliette
>>Chucho Valdes
>> “Black, Brown & Beige” & “The Best of Basie”
>>NEW YORK CITY BALLET
Continuing Events
>> Tribeca Film Festival
========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Allan Harris “The Genius of Eddie Jefferson” (April 27-29)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway, between 105th and 106th Sts./ 7, 9, 10:30PM, $40
“Vocalese, the art of applying original lyrics to the contours of previously recorded jazz improvisations, was perfected by the vocalist Eddie Jefferson, an irrepressible performer who was killed at age sixty, in 1979. Harris pays tribute to this pioneering singer, bringing his own lustre to such touchstones as “Moody’s Mood for Love,” a Jefferson concoction that’s been interpreted by everyone from Aretha Franklin to Amy Winehouse.” (NewYorker)

Karrin Allyson (April 24-28)
Birdland / 8:30PM, +11:00PM, $40
“Over the course of her lengthy recording career, singer Allyson has released albums devoted to jazz standards, the Great American Songbook, Rodgers and Hammerstein show tunes, Brazilian fare and Coltrane classics.” (TONY)

Roméo et Juliette (Apr 23-May 12, next May 01)
Metropolitan Opera House / 8PM, $
“Bartlett Sher’s production of Gounod’s sumptuous Shakespeare adaptation was a hit of the 2016–17 Met season (“a revelation” declared the Huffington Post). Now the sweeping tragedy returns with Ailyn Pérez and Bryan Hymel, both celebrated in French repertoire, as the star crossed young lovers. Plácido Domingo conducts.”

Chucho Valdes (April 24-29)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8:00PM, +10:30PM, $55-$75
“Irakere, co-founded by the virtuosic pianist Chucho Valdes, was a pioneering Cuban band that first gained prominence, in the nineteen-seventies, for its tangy blend of Caribbean influences and jazz. Valdes, a volcano of a stylist, will assemble a version of the outfit to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of the Grammy-winning ensemble’s inception.” (NewYorker)

“Black, Brown & Beige” & “The Best of Basie” (Apr.26-28)
Rose Theatre, Jazz at Lincoln Center / 8PM, $90+
“An utterly fail-safe program mates gems from the classic Count Basie band with a full-length performance of Duke Ellington’s “Black, Brown & Beige,” the master’s 1943 extended piece reflecting on the African-American experience. As Ellington performed the three-movement suite in its entirety only three times in his career, it will be a joy to hear the sweeping work brought to life once again.” (NewYorker)
“While availability is limited for this performance, secure your seats now to see the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at their next New York performance, Celebrating Ornette Coleman, May 18-19.”

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through June 3).
NYS Theater, Lincoln Center / 8PM, $
“Most of the coming week features classic works by City Ballet’s patriarch George Balanchine — such as “Apollo,” “Agon” and “The Four Temperaments” — and recent choreography by Alexei Ratmansky and the company members Justin Peck and Peter Walker. For the spring gala on May 3, the attention switches to City Ballet’s other artistic forefather, Jerome Robbins, who was born a century ago and died in 1998. The program includes several of Robbins’s works, a new tribute by Mr. Peck and a sampler of Robbins’s beloved Broadway dances staged by the choreographer Warren Carlyle.” (NYT-BRIAN SCHAEFER)
TONIGHT: All Balanchine
——————-
The meat of the season begins on May 3 with Robbins 100, a celebration honoring the centennial of Jerome Robbins’s birth. As part of it, the choreographer and director Warren Carlyle presents a work featuring a cast of 30 and music and choreography from eight Broadway musicals associated with Robbins, including “On the Town” & “The King and I.” (NYT-GIA KOURLAS)

BONUS

Acosta Danza (Apr.25-27)
New York City Center / 7:30PM, $25+
This would have been my top event, but it looks like a tough ticket -may have to go to the secondary market.
“Around the turn of the millennium, Carlos Acosta was part of a wave of brilliant Cuban ballet dancers who passed through American Ballet Theatre and other world-class troupes. After a long stint with London’s Royal Ballet, he’s now in his forties and directing his own ensemble, Acosta Danza, here making its U.S. debut headlining a weeklong festival of Cuban arts.

For three nights on the City Center Mainstage, see Spanish choreographer Goyo Montero’s Alrededor No Hay Nada and Cuban choreographer Marianela Boán’s intense two-man duet El Cruce Sobre el Niágara. Raúl Reinoso’s Nosotros features live musical accompaniment from cellist Cicely Parnas and pianist José Gavilondo, and Acosta himself performs in a new duet by Belgium-based Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Mermaid, about a tipsy encounter between strangers. Closing the program is Twelve from Madrid’s Jorge Crecis — a fast-paced frenzy that utilizes glow sticks, water bottles, and immaculate timing to explore the limits of the human body.” (Elizabeth Zimmer, Village Voice)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC Events
(Lectures/Discussions, Book Talks, Film, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)

come back tomorrow for Smart Stuff events.

==========================================================================
♦ 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 63 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.
===========================================================================

Continuing Events

Tribeca Film Festival (various locations, April 18–29)
“It’s all happening downtown.
NYC’s lovable giant mongrel film fest is back for its 17th year, with a slew of features and docs and panels and Big Events like the Schindler’s List reunion with Spielberg, Neeson, and others. Among the highlights are the Rachel Weisz lesbian drama Disobedience, the stand-up teenage-girl-comedian drama Jellyfish, and about 100 other films.” (D.E., NY Magazine)

“The Tribeca Film Festival is much more than just movies.

With virtual reality and interactive installations in Tribeca Immersive, live music events, the Tribeca ESPN Sports Film Festival, the various Tribeca Talks, and free panels for working and aspiring filmmakers, you could be quite entertained without entering a theater… not that we recommend that.

The director, cast, and crew are often on hand for a Q & A after the screenings. The films, chosen from over thousands of submissions every year, are from every corner of the globe and offer almost as many perspectives as New Yorkers have opinions. Almost every film is a North American, international, or even world premiere, so you could be among the first to see the next big hit!”

=====================================================
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.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

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

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd 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.

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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:

A special pat on the back to MOMA, who is now displaying art from the seven countries affected by Trump’s travel ban.

“Trump’s ban against refugees from seven Muslim-majority nations has sparked acts of defiance in NYC, from demonstrations across town, to striking taxicab drivers at JFK to Middle Eastern bodega owners closing their shops in protest. Recently, the Museum Of Modern added its two cents by bringing out artworks it owns from the affected countries, and hanging them prominently within the galleries usually reserved for 19th- and 20th-century artworks from Europe and the United States. Paintings by Picasso and Matisse, for example, were removed to make way for pieces by Tala Madani (from Iran), Ibrahim El-Salahi (from Sudan) and architect Zaha Hadid (from Iraq). The rehanging, which was unannounced, aims to create a symbolic welcome that repudiates Trump by creating a visual dialog between the newly added works and the more familiar objects from MoMA’s permanent collection.” (TONY)

Stephen Shore (thru May 28)

“This immersive and staggeringly charming retrospective is devoted to one of the best American photographers of the past half century. Shore has peers—Joel Meyerowitz, Joel Sternfeld, Richard Misrach, and, especially, William Eggleston—in a generation that, in the nineteen-seventies, stormed to eminence with color film, which art photographers had long disdained. His best-known series, “American Surfaces” and “Uncommon Places,” are both from the seventies and were mostly made in rugged Western states. The pictures in these series share a quality of surprise: appearances surely unappreciated if even really noticed by anyone before—in rural Arizona, a phone booth next to a tall cactus, on which a crude sign (“GARAGE”) is mounted, and, on a small-city street in Wisconsin, a movie marquee’s neon wanly aglow, at twilight. A search for fresh astonishments has kept Shore peripatetic, on productive sojourns in Mexico, Scotland, Italy, Ukraine, and Israel. He has remained a vestigial Romantic, stopping in space and 
time to frame views that exert a peculiar tug on him. This framing is resolutely formalist: subjects composed laterally, from edge to edge, and in depth. There’s never a “background.” The most distant element is as considered as the nearest. But only when looking for it are you conscious of Shore’s formal discipline, because it is as fluent as a language learned from birth. His best pictures at once arouse feelings and leave us alone to make what we will of them. He delivers truths, whether hard or easy, with something very like mercy.” (NewYorker)

Tarsila do Amaral (thru June 3)

Introducing New York to the First Brazilian Modernist
“Forty-five years after Tarsila do Amaral’s death, MOMA presents her first-ever museum exhibition in the U.S. Some artists are so iconic, they’re known by only one name: Brancusi, Léger, Tarsila. Wait, who? The painter Tarsila do Amaral is so famous in her native Brazil that forty-three years after her death she helped close out the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when a projected pattern of red-orange-yellow arcs graced the stadium floor, an homage to her 1929 painting “Setting Sun.” That chimerical landscape—stylized sunset above tubular cacti and a herd of capybaras that shape-shift into boulders—hangs now at MOMA, in the artist’s first-ever museum exhibition in the U.S., “Tarsila do Amaral: Inventing Modern Art in Brazil.” (NewYorker)

‘TARSILA DO AMARAL: INVENTING MODERN ART IN BRAZIL’ (through June 3). “The subtitle is no overstatement: In the early 1920s, first in Paris and then back home in São Paulo, Brazil, this painter really did lay the groundwork for the coming of modernism in Latin America’s most populous nation. Tired of the European pretenders in Brazil’s art academies, Tarsila (who was always called by her first name) began to intermingle Western, African and indigenous motifs into flowing, biomorphic paintings, and to theorize a new national culture fueled by the principle of antropofagia, or “cannibalism.” Along with spare, assured drawings of Rio and the Brazilian countryside, this belated but very welcome show assembles Tarsila’s three most important paintings, including the classic “Abaporu” (1928): a semi-human nude with a spindly nose and a comically swollen foot. (Jason Farago)” (NYT)

Whitney Museum of American Art

‘GRANT WOOD: AMERICAN GOTHIC AND OTHER FABLES’ (through June 10). This well-done survey begins with the American Regionalist’s little-known efforts as an Arts and Crafts designer and touches just about every base. It includes his mural studies, book illustrations and most of his best-known paintings — including “American Gothic” and “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” Best of all are Wood’s smooth undulant landscapes with their plowmen and spongy trees and infectious serenity. (Smith, NYT)

‘ZOE LEONARD: SURVEY’  (through June 10).
Some shows cast a spell. Zoe Leonard’s reverberant retrospective does. Physically ultra-austere, all white walls with a fiercely edited selection of objects — photographs of clouds taken from airplane windows; a mural collaged from vintage postcards; a scattering of empty fruit skins, each stitched closed with needle and thread — it’s an extended essay about travel, time passing, political passion and the ineffable daily beauty of the world. (Cotter, NYT)
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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 04/25 and 04/23.

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