NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/06) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 08/06/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 NYC Events > SUNDAY/ AUGUST 06, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-August”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

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

Space & Science Festival
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, various times & prices
“Space and science enthusiasts of all ages can experience some of NASA’s most exciting projects, missions, and technologies at the sixth-annual edition of this Intrepid festival. Check out presentations by NASA astronauts and scientists, take a spin in a NASA Multi-Axis Space Trainer, and explore the International Space Station and faraway planets using state-of-the-art virtual-reality technology. Visitors can also get an up-close look at the 5,500-pound, nearly 11-foot-tall Mars rover concept vehicle; hang out on the flight deck for free film screenings (Back to the Future screens on August 8); and visit the museum’s current exhibition, “Drones: Is the Sky the Limit?” which offers an interactive survey that traces the technology’s origins to its current applications.” (Amelia Rina, VillageVoice)

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

>>Basement Bhangra: 20th Anniversary
>>Bandstand Sings the Big Band
>>Songbook Summit
>>Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jeff Ross
>>Talking Drums: Stand Up! Speak Out!
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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Basement Bhangra: 20th Anniversary
Central Park Summerstage / 2PM, FREE
This Sunday, head to Central Park to celebrate twenty years of DJ Rekha’s Basement Bhangra party. Founded in 1997, the hugely successful monthly party brought the exhilarating style of Indian dance music to a diverse crowd of partiers, and also led dance classes so attendees could learn the traditional moves. On this stacked bill, some of the major names in international bhangra will make appearances, including Panjabi MC, a U.K. artist who has worked in bhangra since 1993, and the reggae-bhangra fusion artist Apache Indian. The party will take place all afternoon in the park, a lovely end to your mid-summer weekend.” (Sophie Weiner, VillageVoice)

Bandstand Sings the Big Band
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, +9:30PM, $25
“On their night off from the resonant Broadway musical Bandstand, members of the cast come out swinging with Great American Songbook classics from the 1940s, when the show is set.” (TONY)

Songbook Summit
59E59 Theaters,/ 7PM, $35
It’s delightful, it’s delicious, it’s de-lovely.
Will Anderson and Peter Anderson are identical twins who play the saxophone and clarinet. They will perform in a six-piece ensemble throughout August highlighting four great American composers: Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, George Gershwin, and Richard Rodgers. The first week is Porter, so anything goes!

“Virtuosos on clarinet and saxophone,” (The New York Times) identical twins Peter & Will Anderson return to 59E59 Theaters by popular demand for a celebration of the great American Songbook. Shining the spotlight on the work of four of its most distinguished composers (one composer each week), a 6-piece ensemble featuring vocalist Molly Ryan will perform hits such as ‘Summertime’, ‘My Favorite Things’, ‘Night & Day’,’Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, and ‘Rhapsody in Blue’.
August 2 – 6: Cole Porter
Featuring ‘Night & Day’, ‘Begin the Beguine’, ‘I Get a Kick out of You’, ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’, ‘Just One of Those Things’, and more!

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

Elsewhere, but this one looks worth the detour:

Billion Oyster Social
Midnights, / 5:30PM, $30
“If you spend many of your evenings at $1-oyster happy hours but would like to take the obsession to new and exciting heights, the Billion Oyster Project has teamed up with Williamsburg’s swank Midnights for a night of mollusks and beverage pairings that’ll run you a doable $30. A selection of a half-dozen oysters will be prepared in a few different ways by executive chef Josh Cormier; the accompanying drinks are from Raffaello Van Couten. As you slurp and sip, you’ll learn about sustainable oyster farming and how the Billion Oyster Project plans to make New York Harbor the oyster capital of the world once again by restoring its population to a billion of the bivalves. All the shells from the event will be collected and used as substrate for new oysters, one of the project’s ongoing initiatives with restaurants around the city.” (Alicia Kennedy, VillageVoice)

Let’s not forget these wonderful continuing events:

Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jeff Ross (thru Aug 24 with various guests)
at Radio City Music Hall / 8PM, $55+
“For years withdrawn from public life, Mr. Chappelle is touring once again, bringing his insightful and often controversial comedy to his legion of fans. Over the course of a three-week residency, he will perform alongside comics including Chris Rock, Trevor Noah and Ali Wong, as well as musical guests like Erykah Badu, Chance the Rapper and Lauryn Hill.” (ELISE CZAJKOWSKI-NYT)

“Dave Chappelle’s 16-show Radio City run has had amazing guests each night, both announced ones and surprise ones. This is the second of two nights with Chris Rock, and Jeff Ross is billed too.”

Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2017
“Lincoln Center Out of Doors, one of the country’s longest-running free outdoor summer festivals, opens this year on July 26 and runs through August 13. The 47th edition of the popular festival will fill the Lincoln Center campus with a diverse range of music, dance, spoken word, and family events, featuring dozens of artists from across the city, country, and world-all completely free and open to the public.

For more info on this terrific festival, Time Out NY has it all covered.

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Bonus NYC events– Jazz Venues:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. Here are my favorite Jazz clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who is playing tonight:

Greenwich Village:
(5 are underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. South, villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319

Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave) — birdlandjazz.com / 212-581-3080
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. — smokejazz.com / 212-864-6662

Special Mention:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. — caffevivaldi.com / 212-691-7538
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprises with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It’s my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

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 these exhibitions)

Whitney Museum of American Art:

Calder: Hypermobility (thru Oct 23)
“focuses on the extraordinary breadth of movement and sound in the work of Alexander Calder. This exhibition brings together a rich constellation of key sculptures and provides a rare opportunity to experience the works as the artist intended—in motion. Regular activations will occur in the galleries, revealing the inherent kinetic nature of Calder’s work, as well as its relationship to performance. Influenced in part by the artist’s fascination and engagement with choreography, Calder’s sculptures contain an embedded performativity that is reflected in their idiosyncratic motions and the perceptual responses they provoke.”

Museum of Arts and Design (thru Aug 20)
2 Columbus Circle
Counter-Couture: Handmade Fashion in an American Counterculture
“In all its sumptuous, ragtag, iconoclastic, and utopian forms, hippie clothing reflected the seismic cultural shifts of Vietnam War-era America, eschewing the mass-produced in favor of the personalized and the handmade. This captivating exhibition, installed in moodily lit galleries against purple-and-gold wallpaper, goes beyond the expected caftans and macramé to detail the nuances and extremes of countercultural aesthetics. A section devoted to stage costumes includes a medieval-inspired muumuu, its pastel-ombré velvet adorned with a starburst appliqué; Mama Cass Elliot, of the Mamas & the Papas, wore it in 1967. Nearby, looping film footage includes performance documentation of the Cockettes, an anarchic theatre group whose psychedelic, thrift-store drag sensibility helped shape a nascent queer aesthetic. From the Army-surplus garments appropriated and painstakingly embroidered by flower children to the dashikis and African fabrics embraced by the black-pride movement to the ascetic styles of communes and cults, the exhibition emphasizes how vernacular fashion signalled antiestablishment values and group identity. That said, high fashion isn’t neglected. One highlight is the visionary designer Kaisik Wong’s glittering, futuristic “wearable art,” which resembles armor and cocoons from another planet—or the next Aquarian age.” (NewYorker)

Museum of Modern Art:

‘ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG: AMONG FRIENDS’ (thru Sept.17)

“This retrospective of one of America’s great artists includes more than 250 paintings, sculptures, drawings, sound and video recordings, prints and photographs created over the course of a sixdecade career. Rauschenberg sometimes worked with artists, dancers, musicians and writers (including John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Yvonne Rainer and Jasper Johns), and the exhibition will be supplemented by dance and performance.” ( STAV ZIV-Newsday)

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)

American Museum of Natural History:

Mummies (thru 1/7/18)
“For thousands of years, peoples around the world practiced mummification as a way of preserving and honoring their dead. Mummies brings you face to face with some of these ancient individuals and reveals how scientists are using modern technology to glean stunning details about them and their cultures. In Mummies, ancient remains from the Nile Valley of Africa and the Andes Mountains of South America will be on view, allowing visitors to connect with cultures from the distant past. Mummification, a more widespread practice than most think, was used not only for royal Egyptians but also for common people and even animals. Interactive touch tables let visitors virtually “unravel” or see inside mummies as they delve deep into the unique stories of the people or animals who lie within. Other parts of the exhibition showcase the latest isotopic and DNA testing being performed on mummies, and explain how these sophisticated analytical techniques are helping scientists discover important clues about long-vanished practices. Mummies was developed by The Field Museum, Chicago.”(NYCity Guide)

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 08/04 and 08/02.
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/05) + Today’s Featured Pub (WestVillage)

Posted on 08/05/2017 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > SATURDAY/ AUGUST 05, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-August”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

Have time for only two NYC Events today? Do this:

Space & Science Festival (also Sunday)
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, various times & prices
“Space and science enthusiasts of all ages can experience some of NASA’s most exciting projects, missions, and technologies at the sixth-annual edition of this Intrepid festival. Check out presentations by NASA astronauts and scientists, take a spin in a NASA Multi-Axis Space Trainer, and explore the International Space Station and faraway planets using state-of-the-art virtual-reality technology. Visitors can also get an up-close look at the 5,500-pound, nearly 11-foot-tall Mars rover concept vehicle; hang out on the flight deck for free film screenings (Back to the Future screens on August 8); and visit the museum’s current exhibition, “Drones: Is the Sky the Limit?” which offers an interactive survey that traces the technology’s origins to its current applications.” (Amelia Rina, VillageVoice)

Elza Soares + Liniker e os Caramelows + Teleseen
Central Park, SummerStage / 7PM, FREE
“Brazilian singer Soares made a name for herself in the 1950s, incorporating elements of New Orleans jazz into traditional samba music. Since then, her inimitable rasp and unwavering courage in the face of tragedy, exile and hardship has made her a living legend. Expect to hear from her superb 2016 album, The Woman at the End of the World, which ventures into the gritty blend of samba and punk known as samba suja, or dirty samba, at this show.” (TONY)

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

>>INTERSECT
>>Tony Malaby Festival
>>Songbook Summit
>>Summer Streets NYC 2017
>>TARGET FIRST SATURDAYS
>>Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jeff Ross
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

INTERSECT
at Bryant Park / 6PM< FREE
“This free two-day festival in Midtown is stacked with an intergenerational buffet of talent. All four of the first day’s performances, which start at 6 p.m., include music by the pianist and composer Billy Childs. His music integrates the influences of Chick Corea, CTI Records’ studio-driven sound, contemporary chamber music, and the film scores of composers like Howard Shore and Hans Zimmer. Mr. Childs himself will close Friday evening’s programming with his quartet. Saturday’s program, beginning at 2 p.m., features performances by the pianist Helen Sung and the vocalist Luciana Souza, followed by three different groups exploring music by the clarinetist, composer and conductor Derek Bermel.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Tony Malaby Festival
Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St./ 8PM, $10
“Brawny-toned and tough-minded, yet reflective and lyrical when the music calls for it, the saxophonist Malaby has been a significant presence on the jazz scene for the past twenty-plus years. This trim gala finds him collaborating with such noteworthy peers as the bassist William Parker, the guitarist Ben Monder, and the drummer Tom Rainey in a variety of ensembles.” (NewYorker)

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

Summer Streets NYC 2017
“Seven miles of Gotham turf along Lafayette Street and Park Avenue is completely cleared of vehicles in order to create a pedestrian paradise. Hundreds and thousands of revelers descend upon the asphalt for invigorating sight-filled tours, plus free activities including a rock climbing wall, a zipline, outdoor art installations and misting stations. You won’t want to miss this year’s six rest stops which include a 270-foot water slide, fitness classes, a dog park, arts and crafts workshops, plus walking tours that explore NYC parks and some of the most beautiful NYC buildings. This is one of the best NYC events in August, so make sure to hit the streets for the first three Saturdays.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, but this is always worth the detour:
TARGET FIRST SATURDAYS
at the Brooklyn Museum /5–11PM, FREE. / Happy Hour is 5–7PM.
“The next installment of this free monthly series celebrates the 50th anniversary of the West Indian American Day Parade. The lineup of performances, talks and other activities includes a 6 p.m. soca dance workshop taught by Krista Martin and a screening of Cori Wapnowska’s new documentary, “Bruk Out!,” which follows the journeys of several performers at an international dancehall competition in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The film is followed by a conversation with the director and the dancehall queen known as Famous Red, moderated by Seph Rodney.” (SIOBHAN BURKE-NYT)

Let’s not forget these wonderful continuing events:

“Dave Chappelle’s 16-show Radio City run has had amazing guests each night, both announced ones and surprise ones. This is the first of two nights with Chris Rock, and Jeff Ross is billed too.”

“We are thrilled about this year’s festival,” says Jill Sternheimer, Director of Public Programming at Lincoln Center. “It’s a profound reminder of what is truly great about this city-the opportunity to come together on a beautiful summer night and experience totally free world-class concerts and performances from such a wide array of incredible artists, and to be able to share in the sense of community that goes along with that. It’s what Lincoln Center Out of Doors is all about”
Tonight:
Nick Lowe’s Quality Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue, Los Straitjackets, Cut Worms
@ Damrosch Park, 7:30PM, FREE
“The great Nick Lowe teams once again with collaborators Los Straightjackets for this free show at part of the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival. Making for a nice pairing is Cut Worms’ Everly Brothers-style pop (which will be augmented by a few members of Woods tonight).

For more info on this terrific festival, Time Out NY has it all covered.

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2016. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub / West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

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

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

The bartender tells me that the Corner Bistro celebrated it’s 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).
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Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk 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 Elza Soares + Liniker e os Caramelows + Teleseen, INTERSECT, Nick Lowe’s Quality Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue Los Straitjackets Cut Worms, NYC Events, Songbook Summit, Space & Science Festival, Summer Streets NYC 2017, TARGET FIRST SATURDAYS, Tony Malaby Festival | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 08/04/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > FRIDAY/ AUGUST 04, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-August”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

Have time for only two NYC Events today? Do this:

INTERSECT (also Aug.5).
at Bryant Park / 6PM< FREE
“This free two-day festival in Midtown is stacked with an intergenerational buffet of talent. All four of the first day’s performances, which start at 6 p.m., include music by the pianist and composer Billy Childs. His music integrates the influences of Chick Corea, CTI Records’ studio-driven sound, contemporary chamber music, and the film scores of composers like Howard Shore and Hans Zimmer. Mr. Childs himself will close Friday evening’s programming with his quartet. Saturday’s program, beginning at 2 p.m., features performances by the pianist Helen Sung and the vocalist Luciana Souza, followed by three different groups exploring music by the clarinetist, composer and conductor Derek Bermel.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

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

>>Shaina Taub
>>Tony Malaby Festival
>>Songbook Summit
>>Harlem’s Hell Fighters: They Made Music, Art and War
>>*OlioMuse* An Exploration of the String Quartet Across Time
>>“First Fridays”
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Shaina Taub
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater / 7PM, $20
Accomplished piano songstress and theater composer Taub, whose wrote the score for the 2016 Public Works production of Twelfth Night, shares new material in her latest Joe’s Pub set.” (TONY)

Tony Malaby Festival (thru Aug 05)
Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St./ 8PM, $10
“Brawny-toned and tough-minded, yet reflective and lyrical when the music calls for it, the saxophonist Malaby has been a significant presence on the jazz scene for the past twenty-plus years. This trim gala finds him collaborating with such noteworthy peers as the bassist William Parker, the guitarist Ben Monder, and the drummer Tom Rainey in a variety of ensembles.” (NewYorker)

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

Harlem’s Hell Fighters: They Made Music, Art and War
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West / 6:30PM, FREE
“Through the stories of three of its most famous members, Sammons will reveal the impact the regiment had on music through the work of James Reese Europe, on art though the work of Horace Pippin, and heroism through the influence of Henry Johnson. The popularity of the Harlem Hellfighters was so great that in 1943 it was featured in the film Stormy Weather, clips of which will open the talk preceded by some James Reese Europe’s compositions. Plus, see Horace Pippin’s iconic piece, The Barracks, on display in our exhibition World War I Beyond the Trenches.”

*OlioMuse* An Exploration of the String Quartet Across Time
The Strand, 828 Broadway / 7PM, $25
“Explore the development of the string quartet from the late Baroque period through today with conductor, composer, and conservatory professor Whitney George. The music of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel, and Bartok will be among the selections played live as accompaniment.” (thoughtGallery.org)

“First Fridays”
The Frick Collection, 1 E. 70th St./ 6-9PM, FREE
“Museum admission and gallery programs are free the first Friday evening of the month (except September and January). Enjoy gallery talks, music performances, and sketching, or simply find yourself in the company of the Old Masters and art enthusiasts from around the world.”

Let’s not forget these wonderful continuing events:

Dave Chappelle and the Roots (thru Aug 24 with various guests)
at Radio City Music Hall / 8PM, $55+
“For years withdrawn from public life, Mr. Chappelle is touring once again, bringing his insightful and often controversial comedy to his legion of fans. Over the course of a three-week residency, he will perform alongside comics including Chris Rock, Trevor Noah and Ali Wong, as well as musical guests like Erykah Badu, Chance the Rapper and Lauryn Hill. For his first four shows, Tuesday through next Friday, each one starting at 8 p.m., he will be joined by the Roots, the “Tonight Show” house band since 2014.” (ELISE CZAJKOWSKI-NYT)

“We are thrilled about this year’s festival,” says Jill Sternheimer, Director of Public Programming at Lincoln Center. “It’s a profound reminder of what is truly great about this city-the opportunity to come together on a beautiful summer night and experience totally free world-class concerts and performances from such a wide array of incredible artists, and to be able to share in the sense of community that goes along with that. It’s what Lincoln Center Out of Doors is all about”
Tonight:
Chloe & Maud
Apt 33: Where Dreams Are Made
Hearst Plaza / 7PM, FREE
“Sizzling sister act Chloe & Maud bring tap back to the heart of pop culture with a night of fierce footwork and passionate artistry.”

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson: Suite for Ma Dukes (New York premiere)
Damrosch Park / 7:30PM, FREE
“New Yorkers can finally experience this towering orchestral tribute to the music of composer, producer, and rapper J Dilla.”

For more info on this wonderful festival, Time Out NY has it all covered.

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

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 one exhibition the New Yorker really likes:

“Cells” (Jun. 28-Aug. 11)
Boesky, 509 W. 24th St./ Chelsea
“This ten-person show of works that flirt with functionality is as fun as a visit to Pee-wee’s Playhouse. The splendidly weird designs of the Haas Brothers include several “Zoidberg lamps,” silver-plated fixtures ringed with bulbous protuberances reminiscent of their namesake, a crustaceanlike alien on the cult T.V. show “Futurama.” Jessica Jackson Hutchins’s low ceramic tables are simultaneously heavy, delicate, busy, minimal, and unstable. Jackie Brookner contributes wooden seating, coated with crusts of black earth and sporting red-velvet tongues. A ten-foot-wide cotton embroidery by Cosima von Bonin, which involves a cigarette smoker, a cartoonish critter, and disembodied white gloves, hangs on the wall like a quilt awaiting a wild night’s sleep.”

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For a listing of 25 essential galleries in the Chelsea Art Gallery District, organized by street, which enables you to create your own Chelsea Art Gallery crawl, see the Chelsea Gallery Guide (nycgo.com) Or check out TONY magazine’s list of the “Best Chelsea Galleries” and click through to see what’s on view.

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

TIP: After your gallery tour, stop in Ovest at 513W27th St. for Aperitivo Italiano (Happy Hour on steroids). Discuss all the great art you have viewed over a drink and a very tasty selection of FREE appetizers (M-F, 5-8pm). OR try 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.) “

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 08/02 and 07/31.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged *OlioMuse* An Exploration of the String Quartet Across Time, Art and War, Dave Chappelle and the Roots, Harlem’s Hell Fighters: They Made Music, INTERSECT, Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2017, Shaina Taub, Songbook Summit, Tony Malaby Festival | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/03) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 08/03/2017 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > THURSDAY/ AUGUST 03, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-August”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

Have time for only two NYC Events today? Do this:

Elsewhere, but this topic is way too important to ignore, which makes this book talk so worth the detour. No one is more passionate and knowledgeable about the subject then Jeremiah Moss.

“Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost Its Soul” by Jeremiah Moss—In Conversation with Judy McGuire
powerHouse Arena, 28 Adams St./ 7PM, FREE
“New York has long been a destination for rebels and rule breakers, artists, writers, and other hopefuls longing to be part of its rich cultural exchange and unique social fabric. But today, modern gentrification is transforming the city from an exceptional, iconoclastic metropolis into a suburbanized luxury zone with a price tag only the one percent can afford.

Jeremiah Moss, author of the popular blog Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, has spent the past decade observing and painstakingly documenting the sea change that has occurred in New York City, and has emerged as one of the most outspoken and celebrated critics of this dramatic shift.

Now, in Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost Its Soul, he reports on the city’s development in the twenty-first century, a period of “hyper-gentrification” that has resulted in the shocking transformation of beloved neighborhoods and the loss of treasured unofficial landmarks.”

American Acoustic with Punch Brothers + I’m With Her
Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway / 8PM, $40+
“A-list newgrass group the Punch Brothers, led by übertalented mandolinist, singer, songwriter and Prairie Home Companion host Chris Thile, headlines this night of twangy goodness. Count on hearing traditional string music performed with insane chops and plenty of whimsical asides. Joining them on stage is all-female folk trio I’m With Her and jazz guitarist Julian Lage.” (TONY)

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

>>Broadway in Bryant Park
>>Gregory Lewis Organ Monk Trio
>>Tovah Feldshuh: Aging Is Optional
>>Tony Malaby Festival
>>Songbook Summit
>>Steve Kazee
>>GHOST TRAIN ORCHESTRA
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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Broadway in Bryant Park
Bryant Park / 12:30PM, FREE
“LiteFM radio hosts a showcase of actors from the hottest on and off Broadway shows playing their hits in Bryant park. Try not to sing and dance along to tunes from classics like Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, and Avenue Q, as well as newcomers like Kinky Boots, Waitress, and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. The recurring event will take place every Thursday from July 6 through August 10th.” (TONY)
TODAY:
Today’s show is hosted by Bob Bronson and includes performances from:
Miss Saigon
Chicago
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Broadway Dreams

Gregory Lewis Organ Monk Trio
at Pier 84 in Hudson River Park / 7PM, FREE
“For years Gregory Lewis has been rewiring Thelonious Monk’s music for the organ. With a kind of offhand savvy, he simplifies Monk’s harmonies and lets his ludic rhythms take the lead. But on his most recent album, Mr. Lewis has something else on his mind. “The Breathe Suite,” released this year, collects six heavy, swarming originals dedicated to black lives lost in conflicts with the authorities or engaged in the struggle for racial justice. Mr. Lewis may draw from both sides of his repertoire at this free show.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Tovah Feldshuh: Aging Is Optional (also Aug 03)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $60
“The four-time Tony nominee Tovah Feldshuh is a formidable actor (Golda’s Balcony, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and Scarsdale spitfire whose nightclub performances tend to show off her zany streak. Tonight she revives one of her most successful one-woman ventures.” (TONY)

Steve Kazee
Feinstein’s/54 Below, 254 W54th St. / 9:30PM, $45
“The sensitively hunky star of Broadway’s Once (for which he won a 2012 Tony Award) shares a new batch of his original alt-country songs.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

GHOST TRAIN ORCHESTRA
at the Manhattan Bridge Archway / 6PM, FREE
“Musically speaking, what’s called the Jazz Age was in fact a time of gestation and transition: A small-band tradition, primarily centered in New Orleans and the Midwest, began making its way to the coasts in the 1920s, and growing into something bigger. The big-band sound and its attendant dance craze were in the offing. The Ghost Train Orchestra, a midsize ensemble, explores the music of that period, dipping into both the Dixieland and swing-era songbooks, and offering some nostalgic compositions of its own. This concert, which includes a swing-dancing lesson from Paolo Pasta Lana, is part of Live at the Archway, the Dumbo Improvement District’s series of free summer shows in a public plaza beneath the Manhattan Bridge.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

Too much good music today. More Smart Stuff coming tomorrow.

Let’s not forget these wonderful continuing events:

“We are thrilled about this year’s festival,” says Jill Sternheimer, Director of Public Programming at Lincoln Center. “It’s a profound reminder of what is truly great about this city-the opportunity to come together on a beautiful summer night and experience totally free world-class concerts and performances from such a wide array of incredible artists, and to be able to share in the sense of community that goes along with that. It’s what Lincoln Center Out of Doors is all about”
Tonight:
Bollywood Boulevard: A Journey Through Hindi Cinema
Damrosch Park / 7:30PM
The artistry of Hindi cinema comes alive during this exuberant stage show that fuses live music, dance, and imagery that will thrill lifelong fans and novices alike. Join a passionate group of performers as they trace the evolution of Bollywood, from black-and-white classics to colorful blockbusters, and bring the spirit and romance of India’s grand palaces, mountain vistas, and sweeping mustard fields to Damrosch Park.

For more info on this wonderful festival, Time Out NY has it all covered.

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Bonus NYC Events – Jazz Venues:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. Here are my favorite Jazz clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who is playing tonight:

Greenwich Village:
(5 are underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. South, villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319

Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave) — birdlandjazz.com / 212-581-3080
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. — smokejazz.com / 212-864-6662

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♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

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” closed Jan.15)

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

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

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

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

It’s the kind of place where the noise gets louder and the crowd gets happier as the happy hour goes on. I’m generally a beer guy, but I like to come here with a group of friends. We find a table in the back room near the piano man; we eat, and we drink vodka ‘till it hurts (and it will hurt).
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Website: http://www.russianvodkaroom.com/
Phone #: 212-307-5835
Hours: 4pm-2am; Fri-Sun closes 4am (that could be trouble)
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day
$4 shots infused vodka (2oz), $5 cosmos; $4 czech draft beer
Music: FR-SU; TU-WE / 7pm-12am
Subway: #1 to 50th St.
Walk 2 blk N. on B’way to 52nd St.; 1 blk W. to RVR
Confusingly, the Russian Samovar is right across the street, on the S. side of 52nd St.
The RVR, your destination, is on the N. side of 52nd St.
Update: music now includes a younger, trimmer piano man. “Tiny” we miss you.
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 "Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost Its Soul", American Acoustic with Punch Brothers + I'm With Her, Broadway in Bryant Park, GHOST TRAIN ORCHESTRA, Gregory Lewis Organ Monk Trio, NYC Events, Songbook Summit, Steve Kazee, Tony Malaby Festival, Tovah Feldshuh: Aging Is Optional | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/02) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 08/02/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/ AUGUST 02, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-August”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

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

GILLIAN WELCH
at the Beacon Theater /8PM, $37.50 – $52.50
“The folk and country singer-songwriter Gillian Welch is known for taking her time between solo releases. Her most recent album, “The Harrow & the Harvest,” came out to widespread acclaim and multiple Grammy nominations six years ago. While Ms. Welch’s fans are still awaiting a proper follow-up, she and her close collaborator David Rawlings have embarked on a short run of shows at which they will perform “The Harrow & the Harvest” in its entirety to promote the LP’s release on vinyl.” (SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON-NYT)

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5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Songbook Summit
>>Atlas Circus Company
>>Exploring Legends Interview with Scott Parazynski
>>Susan Howe: My Emily Dickinson
>>Dave Chappelle and the Roots
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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Atlas Circus Company
Dixon Place, / 7:30PM, $18–$25
“You thought “Get Lucky” was just a Daft Punk song. It’s also the rallying cry for a young circus troupe out of Allentown, whose new Lucky, their third full-length work, runs through August 16 in this welcoming subterranean space. Atlas’s previous undertaking, Wild, followed the classic story of a juggle-happy kid who runs away to join the circus and finds himself in a wooded glade with aerial acrobats, clowns, other jugglers, and some really touching plot twists. Lucky, created by Thomas McCarthy and Henry Evans, aims to provide “meaningful narrative,” combining theater, dance, and circus arts into a hilarious experience for all ages; it features a man who can’t stop falling on his face trying to navigate the challenges of city life. David Evans provides original music, and Tyler Holoboski choreographs.” (Elizabeth Zimmer, VillageVoice)

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

Exploring Legends Interview with Scott Parazynski
The Explorers Club, 6 E. 70th St./ 6PM, $25
“Hear from the only person who’s been at the top of the planet’s tallest peak and also gone to space. Dr. Scott Parazynski speaks about his adventures, the current state of NASA, and the future of private space efforts.” (ThpughtGallery.org)

Susan Howe: My Emily Dickinson
Albertine, / 7PM, FREE
“Originality is the discovery of how to shed identity before the magic mirror of Antiquity’s sovereign power.” So writes the poet and translator Susan Howe in her forceful creative study My Emily Dickinson, first published in 1985. It’s a sentence well served as a descriptor of Howe’s own work, which has proved, for nearly half a century, that historicism can make for some of the most inventive and effective contemporary writing around. The elegant Upper East Side French-American bookstore Albertine brings together Howe; New Directions editor-in-chief Barbara Epler; the publisher Isabella Checcaglini; and the translator Antoine Cazé, for a reflection on My Emily Dickinson, which, in its 32nd year, is receiving its first French-language edition from Ypsilon. The panel will be in English.” (Sarah Edwards, Village Voice)

Let’s not forget these wonderful continuing events:

Dave Chappelle and the Roots (thru Aug 24)
at Radio City Music Hall / 8PM, $55+
“For years withdrawn from public life, Mr. Chappelle is touring once again, bringing his insightful and often controversial comedy to his legion of fans. Over the course of a three-week residency, he will perform alongside comics including Chris Rock, Trevor Noah and Ali Wong, as well as musical guests like Erykah Badu, Chance the Rapper and Lauryn Hill. For his first four shows, Tuesday through next Friday, each one starting at 8 p.m., he will be joined by the Roots, the “Tonight Show” house band since 2014.” (ELISE CZAJKOWSKI-NYT)

===========================================================
Bonus NYC events– Jazz Venues:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. Here are my favorite Jazz clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who is playing tonight:

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

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)

Museum of the City of New York
‘A CITY SEEN: TODD WEBB’S POSTWAR NEW YORK, 1945-1960’ (thru Sept.04)
“Webb, a Detroit native who lost his money in the 1929 crash, served as a Navy photographer during World War II. His first major solo exhibition, “I See a City,” opened at the Museum of the City of New York in September 1946. Now the museum is putting the photographer, who died in 2000, in the spotlight again with more than 100 of his pictures of the city, including this shot of 125th Street in Harlem in 1946.
WHEN | WHERE Through Sept. 4, at the Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave.
INFO $18; 2125341672, mcny.org (STAV ZIV-Newsday)

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)

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (now-9/6/17)
“This newest show, Visionaries: Creating a Modern Guggenheim, provides a rare chance to explore in-depth some of the key artists of this essential New York institution. Framed by the interests of six leading patrons, Visionaries brings together canvases from masters like Max Ernst, René Magritte, and Yves Tanguy, and sculptures by Joseph Cornell and Alberto Giacometti. In addition, Jackson Pollock’s Alchemy (1947) is being shown in the U.S. for the first time in nearly 50 years. More than a dozen works on paper by Picasso and Van Gogh, rarely on view to the public, can be seen in the Thannhauser Gallery, and paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Gauguin, and Édouard Manet are displayed on the museum’s legendary ramps.”

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

at the very least you will want to see this one:
MM

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

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (SUN 11am-1pm PWYW) 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 07/31 and 07/29.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Atlas Circus Company, Exploring Legends Interview with Scott Parazynski, GILLIAN WELCH, Songbook Summit, Susan Howe: My Emily Dickinson | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/01) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 08/01/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 NYC Events > TUESDAY/ AUGUST 01, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-August”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

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

Dave Chappelle and the Roots (thru Aug 04)
at Radio City Music Hall / 8PM, $55+
“For years withdrawn from public life, Mr. Chappelle is touring once again, bringing his insightful and often controversial comedy to his legion of fans. Over the course of a three-week residency, he will perform alongside comics including Chris Rock, Trevor Noah and Ali Wong, as well as musical guests like Erykah Badu, Chance the Rapper and Lauryn Hill. For his first four shows, Tuesday through next Friday, each one starting at 8 p.m., he will be joined by the Roots, the “Tonight Show” house band since 2014.” (ELISE CZAJKOWSKI-NYT)

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5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Blondie & Garbage
>>Tovah Feldshuh: Aging Is Optional
>>Celebrating Nat King Cole with Sachal Vasandani & Friends
>>Al Franken: Giant of the Senate
>>Astronomy Live: Come Fly with The MARSBAND
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Blondie & Garbage
Beacon Theater / 7:30PM, $60+
“The Wisconsin alt-rock powerhouse Garbage formed in 1993, at the tail end of the grunge era, from which they drew inspiration. After a few highly successful albums, the group disbanded in the early Aughts. But over the last few years, they’ve made a convincing comeback — their 2016 album, Strange Little Birds, was a return to form, retaining the group’s trademark gloomy mood and continuing to deftly meld genres like synthpop and alt-rock. These unique signatures are what earned lead singer Shirley Manson and her band both mainstream popularity and a hardcore cult following. They’ll play at the Beacon this week as the opener for legendary post-punk provocateurs Blondie.” (Sophie Weiner, Village Voice)

Celebrating Nat King Cole with Sachal Vasandani & Friends
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“Over the past decade, vocalist Sachal Vasandani has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center alongside artists like Jon Hendricks (for his 90th birthday), the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Michael Feinstein, and more. Tonight he returns to the intimate Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola to celebrate Nat “King” Cole. He’s brought this acclaimed project to major stages in both small group and orchestral contexts, and it will be a treat to experience it in our smallest performance space. With classics like “Unforgettable,” “Mona Lisa,” and “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” plus a few original tunes, Vasandani and his friends will share their deep passion for the legendary Nat “King” Cole.”

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

Al Franken: Giant of the Senate
The Great Hall at Cooper Union / 8PM, $15–$32
“When, in 2007, Minnesota senator Al Franken first announced his campaign for office, politicians and fans alike wrote him off as a laughingstock of a candidate. (Several prominent outlets reported the news with headlines specifying “no joke.”) Oh, how naïve we all used to be. Flash-forward to 2017, and the former Saturday Night Live comedian is hardly the most controversial television personality making moves in Washington. In the age of Trump, however, Franken’s jaded perspective on politics and America’s obsession with celebrity is both unique and necessary — and he shares that valuable p.o.v. in his new memoir, Al Franken, Giant of the Senate. (In one typically confident chapter, he declares Ted Cruz “the Dwight Schrute of the Senate.”) At this Strand-sponsored talk, Franken will be joined by Late Night host (and fellow SNL alum) Seth Meyers to discuss his witty and insightful reflections. Books will be available for purchase on site.” (Amy Brady, VillageVoice)

Astronomy Live: Come Fly with The MARSBAND
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ 7PM, $15
“Join Director of Astrovisualization Carter Emmart and the musicians of The MARSBAND, including Keith Patchel for an immersive exploration of the Red Planet. Experience the Martian landscape up close, accompanied by a live performance, as you fly around the planet in an educational, musical meditation.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

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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. Check out who’s playing tonight:

City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W54th St., 54below.com, 646-476-3551
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St., joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Metropolitan Room – 34W22ndSt., metropolitan room.com, 212-206-0440
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
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com,
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474

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.

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

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’. ”

Each 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 2017).
◊ Order before Nov. 30, 2017 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Al Franken: Giant of the Senate, Astronomy Live: Come Fly with The MARSBAND, Blondie & Garbage, Celebrating Nat King Cole with Sachal Vasandani & Friends, Dave Chappelle and the Roots, NYC Events, Tovah Feldshuh: Aging Is Optional | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (07/31) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 07/31/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 NYC Events > MONDAY/JULY 31, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-August”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

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

Natalie Douglas: A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr.
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 7PM, $30
“Octuple MAC Award winner Douglas has previously plumbed the catalogs of Nina Simone, Lena Horne, Abbey Lincoln and Billie Holiday, among many others. Now she applies her formidable voice to songs by singer, dancer, actor, Rat Packer and all-around showbiz icon Sammy Davis Jr., backed by a snappy six-piece band led by Mark Hartman at the piano.” (TONY)

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

5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Monday Nights with WBGO: Celebrating Nat King Cole with Sachal Vasandani & Friends
>>Kevin Smith Kirkwood: Classic Whitney—Alive!
>>Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesnt Count
>>Maer Wilson, The Other Side of Philip K. Dick: A Tale of Two Friends
>>Sellout: How Washington Gave Away America’s Technological Soul, and One Man’s Fight to Bring It Home
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Monday Nights with WBGO: Celebrating Nat King Cole with Sachal Vasandani & Friends
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“Over the past decade, vocalist Sachal Vasandani has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center alongside artists like Jon Hendricks (for his 90th birthday), the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Michael Feinstein, and more. Tonight he returns to the intimate Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola to celebrate Nat “King” Cole. He’s brought this acclaimed project to major stages in both small group and orchestral contexts, and it will be a treat to experience it in our smallest performance space. With classics like “Unforgettable,” “Mona Lisa,” and “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” plus a few original tunes, Vasandani and his friends will share their deep passion for the legendary Nat “King” Cole.”

Kevin Smith Kirkwood: Classic Whitney—Alive!
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St./ 9:30PM, $25
“On a night off from his ensemble role in Broadway’s Kinky Boots, Kirkwood takes center stage as Whitney Houston in a show that impressively re-creates the doomed diva’s greatest hits and concert banter.” (TONY)

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

Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesnt Count
The Half King, 505 W. 23rd St./ 7PM, FREE
“The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America’s Democracy” is the alarming subtitle to David Daley’s expose of the REDMAP program. He’ll talk redistricting, dark money, and a firewall constructed to withstand popular democracy.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Maer Wilson, The Other Side of Philip K. Dick: A Tale of Two Friends
Bryant Park/Bryant Park Reading Room
Between 40th & 42nd Sts. and Fifth and Sixth Aves./ 12:30PM, FREE
“Join film connoisseur Scott Adlerberg and special guests for talks on film, the culture of cinema and filmmaking.
Maer Wilson, The Other Side of Philip K. Dick: A Tale of Two Friends
Hosted by Scott Adlerberg, resident film expert.
Part of the Reel Talks program.”

Sellout: How Washington Gave Away America’s Technological Soul, and One Man’s Fight to Bring It Home
Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave./ 6:30PM, FREE
With Victoria Bruce, journalist and author, in conversation with Jim Kennedy, the protagonist of “Sellout.”
“This conversation tells the story of one citizen’s fight to preserve a US stake in the future of clean energy and the elements essential to high tech industries and national defense.”

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Whitney Museum of American Art:

Museum of Modern Art:

‘ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG: AMONG FRIENDS’ (thru Sept.17)

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

American Museum of Natural History:

==============================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 07/29 and 07/27.
============================================================

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Kevin Smith Kirkwood: Classic Whitney—Alive!, Maer Wilson, Monday Nights with WBGO: Celebrating Nat King Cole with Sachal Vasandani & Friends, Natalie Douglas: A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesnt Count, Sellout: How Washington Gave Away America’s Technological Soul and One Man’s Fight to Bring It Home, The Other Side of Philip K. Dick: A Tale of Two Friends | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (07/30) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square / Theater District)

Posted on 07/30/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 NYC Events > SUNDAY/JULY 30, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-July”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

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

Catherine Russell
Dizzy’s Club, / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $45
“Russell has the kind of genes that practically demand a career in jazz: her father, Luis Russell, was a big-band leader famously associated with Louis Armstrong, and her mother, Carline Ray, was a guitarist with the pioneering all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm band. But the feisty vocalist Russell took a few interesting detours along her musical route, including stints as a backup singer for the likes of David Bowie, Paul Simon, and Cyndi Lauper. Her 2016 album, “Harlem on My Mind,” found her doing what she does so well, polishing swing classics with panache and sass.” (NEWYORKER)

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

5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Summergarden: New Music for New York
>>CHRISTIAN SANDS
>>FRED HERSCH TRIO
>>Hudson River Park, the High Line and New Architecture in West Chelsea and the Far West Village
>>Secrets and Seawalls | A Dance Performance Aboard Ship Wavertree
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Summergarden: New Music for New York
MOMA, The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden / 8PM, FREE
Entrance to Summergarden is through the Sculpture Garden gate on West 54 Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
Tonight: Jazz Concert II:
Patrick Bartley’s Dreamweaver Society
“The Museum of Modern Art established Summergarden in 1971. In keeping with MoMA’s history of presenting jazz and classical music in the Sculpture Garden, this year’s concert series once again welcomes the participation of The Juilliard School and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Titled New Music for New York, the series comprises four evenings of adventurous contemporary music, with premieres each night.”

CHRISTIAN SANDS (LAST DAY)
at Jazz Standard / 7:30 and 9:30PM, $30
“Mr. Sands, a young pianist, studied under Billy Taylor and has put in years as a sideman with the bassist Christian McBride. That’s about all you need to know in the way of bona fides. What about his sound? On his new album, “Reach,” Mr. Sands drifts comfortably among swinging postbop (“Armando’s Song”), eloquent balladry (“Somewhere Out There”) and backbeat-driven head-bobbing (“Gangstalude”). He appears at Jazz Standard for four nights with Eric Wheeler on bass and Jerome Jennings on drums. On July 29 and 30, he will also welcome aboard the alto saxophonist Antonio Hart and the trumpeter Josh Evans.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

FRED HERSCH TRIO ((LAST DAY)
at the Village Vanguard / 8:30 and 10:30PM, $30
“Mr. Hersch plays the piano with a scrupulous momentum, especially when he’s with his trio. His solos can be swift and elusive, but they never sacrifice their distinctive lyrical clarity. Next week at the Village Vanguard, he will perform two sets a night with his longtime sidemen, the bassist John Hébert and the drummer Eric McPherson. This run is part of a busy summer: Before it’s over, Mr. Hersch will release both a solo piano album, “Open Book,” and a memoir, “Good Things Happen Slowly.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

Hudson River Park, the High Line and New Architecture in West Chelsea and the Far West Village
Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Pl./ 10:30AM, $30
Meet at the landside end of Pier 62 (West 22 St.), adjacent to the north entrance of Chelsea Piers and ‘Wichcraft

“View a stunning variety of new architecture in West Chelsea and the Far West Village, as well as portions of Hudson River Park and the High Line, around which these new buildings are clustered. Included are buildings designed by Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Shigeru Ban, Neil Denari, Selldorf Architects, Todd Schliemann/Ennead Architects, Richard Meier, and others.

Tours will run rain or shine. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to tour start time. Registration is limited to 15; walk-ups are not guaranteed a spot on the tour. Some tours utilize VOX amplification systems; attendees are welcome to bring their personal earbuds.
Guide: Kyle Johnson, AIA”

Secrets and Seawalls | A Dance Performance Aboard Ship Wavertree
South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St./ 5PM, $30
“Secrets and Seawalls is an evening of dance in two distinct acts. Inspired by hurricane Sandy and New York’s strength and susceptibility, Melissa Riker, in collaboration with architect Lee H. Skolnick, FAIA, has created an evening of whispers, secrets and raw beauty exploring vulnerability, power, and how each are revealed. Dancers whisper across an expanse; stealing and sharing secrets in a shifting, immersive environment.
The piece is spurred by questions: Does power exist in the structures we create? In the way we withhold information? Or, is it in the vulnerability revealed before the storm?” (ThoughtGallery.org)

VIP tickets are $45 and includes exclusive pre-show tour of Wavertree and after show meet and greet with the performers.

Let’s not forget this marvelous continuing event:

“We are thrilled about this year’s festival,” says Jill Sternheimer, Director of Public Programming at Lincoln Center. “It’s a profound reminder of what is truly great about this city-the opportunity to come together on a beautiful summer night and experience totally free world-class concerts and performances from such a wide array of incredible artists, and to be able to share in the sense of community that goes along with that. It’s what Lincoln Center Out of Doors is all about”
Today:
Family Weekend: Double Dutch
‘Til the Street Lights Come On: Celebrating Double Dutch in NYC
“After a 30-plus year hiatus, Double Dutch returns to the plazas of Lincoln Center. Join us for a historic two-day event celebrating Double Dutch and the women of color who’ve contributed to the cultural fabric of NYC through this competitive sport turned art form.
Featuring demonstrations, jump-ins, panel discussions, a film screening and exhibition, and the Double Dutch Summer Classic.”

For more info on this wonderful festival, Time Out NY has it all covered.

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

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub

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

Jimmy’s Corner is right in the heart of Times Square, but you won’t find it on the corner, it’s mid-block. Enter this long narrow bar and you are struck by the walls covered with mostly black-and-white boxing photographs, and memorabilia. Soon enough you learn that “Corner” refers to proprietor Jimmy Glenn’s long career as a corner man for some of boxing greats – Liston, Tyson, even “the greatest,” Ali.

Jimmy’s is a sort of time machine, taking you back to a time and place that no longer exists. All around you Times Square has cleaned up, grown up, assumed a new identity. Jimmy’s probably hasn’t changed a bit since it first opened in 1971. Certainly the bar itself looks original and the prices haven’t changed much either. When I brought a friend, who owns her own bar, she was surprised when she got the small tab for a round of drinks. Figured there must be a mistake, that maybe they forgot to charge for all the drinks.

Times Square today is filled with neon glitz and wandering tourists from Dubuque, but not Jimmy’s. You’ll likely find some old timer’s at the bar nursing their drinks, some younger locals at tables in the back, and maybe a few adventuresome tourists clutching their trusty guidebooks. There’s no food served here because this is just a bar, and sometimes that’s all you need.

On nights when no local team is playing, it’s a fine place to sip some drafts and listen to a great old time jukebox, with a great selection of 40s& 50s R&B and soul. On sports nights this very narrow bar can get a bit claustrophobic, filled with excited fans watching their team on the TVs. Either way, Jimmy’s is the place to be if you are looking for an old time bar in the new Times Square.
————————————————————————————————————————
Website: are you kidding !
(although there is a facebook page with lots of photos –
facebook.com/jimmyscornernyc)
Phone #: 212-221-9510
Hours: 11am – 4 am, except Sunday they open 12 noon
Happy Hour: not necessary, low prices all day, every day
Subway: #1,2,3 to TimesSquare 42nd st
walk 2 blks N on 7th ave to 44th st; ½ blk E to Jimmy’s

==================================================================================
“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 CHRISTIAN SANDS, Hudson River Park, Secrets and Seawalls | A Dance Performance Aboard Ship Wavertree, the High Line and New Architecture in West Chelsea and the Far West Village | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (07/29) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 07/29/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > SATURDAY/JULY 29, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-July”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

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

FRED HERSCH TRIO ((July 25-30)
at the Village Vanguard / 8:30 and 10:30PM, $30
“Mr. Hersch plays the piano with a scrupulous momentum, especially when he’s with his trio. His solos can be swift and elusive, but they never sacrifice their distinctive lyrical clarity. Next week at the Village Vanguard, he will perform two sets a night with his longtime sidemen, the bassist John Hébert and the drummer Eric McPherson. This run is part of a busy summer: Before it’s over, Mr. Hersch will release both a solo piano album, “Open Book,” and a memoir, “Good Things Happen Slowly.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>BILLY DRUMMOND
>>Liz Callaway: The Beat Goes On
>>Catherine Russell
>>BALLET FESTIVAL
>>West Side Story: The Evolution of Lincoln Center
>>Gourmet Food Circle: Walking Food Tour of Flushing, Queens
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

BILLY DRUMMOND
at Mezzrow / 8PM, +9:30PM, $20-$25
“Mr. Drummond — aptly, a drummer — plays with quick-thinking focus and forbearance. He can pile on the activity without weighing things down, a rare talent. It will serve him well at Mezzrow, a little basement club that’s better suited for percussion-free combos than it is for drummers. With Donald Vega and Dave Kikoski sharing piano duties, and David Wong on bass, he should have little trouble striking a measured balance; in Mr. Drummond’s hands, the intimacy of the space will become an advantage.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Liz Callaway: The Beat Goes On
Feinstein’s/54 Below, 254 W 54TH St. / 7PM, $45+
“The sunny Callaway, whose gleaming Broadway belt has brightened such shows as Cats, Baby and Miss Saigon, returns to 54 Below with a collection of songs from the 1960s, including selections from her 2001 album The Beat Goes On.” (TONY)

Catherine Russell (also Sunday)
Dizzy’s Club, / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $45
“Russell has the kind of genes that practically demand a career in jazz: her father, Luis Russell, was a big-band leader famously associated with Louis Armstrong, and her mother, Carline Ray, was a guitarist with the pioneering all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm band. But the feisty vocalist Russell took a few interesting detours along her musical route, including stints as a backup singer for the likes of David Bowie, Paul Simon, and Cyndi Lauper. Her 2016 album, “Harlem on My Mind,” found her doing what she does so well, polishing swing classics with panache and sass.” (NEWYORKER)

BALLET FESTIVAL (LAST DAY).
at the Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave., at 19th St./ 7:30PM, $31-$51
“This festival of small and enterprising ballet troupes continues with Claudia Schreier & Company (Friday and Saturday), Cirio Collective (Sunday and Monday), Gemma Bond Dance (Tuesday and Wednesday), and Amy Seiwert’s Imagery (Thursday through July 29). Although they create their work outside of large institutions, many of the choreographers have culled their dancers from the ranks of New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet and other established companies. Among the high-profile guests is the former City Ballet principal Wendy Whelan, who appears on Ms. Schreier’s program.” (SIOBHAN BURKE, NYT)

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

West Side Story: The Evolution of Lincoln Center
Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Pl./ 2PM, $20
Meet at the fountain in the plaza of Lincoln Center.
“Discover the evolution of this pioneering cultural complex of the mid-20th Century. Explore its origins as a Robert Moses urban renewal project announced in 1956, through its design and construction by some of our most iconic Modern architects in the turbulent 60s, to its reimagining by Diller, Scofidio and Renfro in this past decade for the New York of the 21st Century.

Tours will run rain or shine. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to tour start time. Registration is limited to 20; walk-ups are not guaranteed a spot on the tour. Some tours utilize VOX amplification systems; attendees are welcome to bring their personal earbuds.
Guide: John Kriskiewicz, Assoc. AIA
Organized by: AIANY Architecture Tour Committee”

Elsewhere, but this looks yummy and worth the detour:

Gourmet Food Circle: Walking Food Tour of Flushing, Queens
China Institute, 100 Washington St./ 11AM, $55
“Flushing Chinatown, also known as “Mandarin Town” is one of the largest and fastest growing ethnic Chinese enclaves in New York City. With such a sizable Chinese community, it is hardly surprising that Flushing has become a hot spot for some of the best Chinese food that New York has to offer.

Join China Institute as we partner with Flushing Town Hall to host a walking food tour of the neighborhood, part of our ongoing Gourmet Food Circle, programming series. Participants will have a chance to learn more about the area’s dynamic history, as we sample neighborhood favorites from local cafes, restaurants, and shops with Queens-based food writer, Joe DiStefano. The tour will start on Main Street, and end at Flushing Town Hall, where participants will have a chance to view the center’s upcoming exhibition, Taking it to the Streets: 1950s NY through the Lens of Flushing Photographer Frank Oscar Larson.”

Let’s not forget this marvelous continuing event:

For more info on this wonderful festival, Time Out NY has it all covered.

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Chelsea Art Gallery District*

Here is one exhibition the New Yorker really likes:

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

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

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 07/27 and 07/25.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Gourmet Food Circle: Walking Food Tour of Flushing, Queens, West Side Story: The Evolution of Lincoln Center | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (07/28) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 07/28/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > FRIDAY/JULY 28, 2017

“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 be sure to check the tab above: “Notable NYC Events-July”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you’ll find anywhere.

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

“We are thrilled about this year’s festival,” says Jill Sternheimer, Director of Public Programming at Lincoln Center. “It’s a profound reminder of what is truly great about this city-the opportunity to come together on a beautiful summer night and experience totally free world-class concerts and performances from such a wide array of incredible artists, and to be able to share in the sense of community that goes along with that. It’s what Lincoln Center Out of Doors is all about”
Tonight:
The Paul Taylor Dance Company performs at the Damrosch Park Bandshell, with a program that includes Taylor’s 1991 classic “Company B,” originally set to Second World War-era recordings by the Andrews Sisters, here performed live by Duchess.

For more info on this wonderful festival, Time Out NY has it all covered.

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Liz Callaway: The Beat Goes On
>>Catherine Russell
>>BILLY DRUMMOND
>>FRED HERSCH TRIO
>>BALLET FESTIVAL
>>World War I New York
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Liz Callaway: The Beat Goes On (also Saturday)
Feinstein’s/54 Below, 254 W 54TH St. / 7PM, $45+
“The sunny Callaway, whose gleaming Broadway belt has brightened such shows as Cats, Baby and Miss Saigon, returns to 54 Below with a collection of songs from the 1960s, including selections from her 2001 album The Beat Goes On.” (TONY)

Catherine Russell (also Saturday & Sunday)
Dizzy’s Club, / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $45
“Russell has the kind of genes that practically demand a career in jazz: her father, Luis Russell, was a big-band leader famously associated with Louis Armstrong, and her mother, Carline Ray, was a guitarist with the pioneering all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm band. But the feisty vocalist Russell took a few interesting detours along her musical route, including stints as a backup singer for the likes of David Bowie, Paul Simon, and Cyndi Lauper. Her 2016 album, “Harlem on My Mind,” found her doing what she does so well, polishing swing classics with panache and sass.” (NEWYORKER)

BILLY DRUMMOND (also Saturday)
at Mezzrow / 8PM, +9:30PM, $20-$25
“Mr. Drummond — aptly, a drummer — plays with quick-thinking focus and forbearance. He can pile on the activity without weighing things down, a rare talent. It will serve him well at Mezzrow, a little basement club that’s better suited for percussion-free combos than it is for drummers. With Donald Vega and Dave Kikoski sharing piano duties, and David Wong on bass, he should have little trouble striking a measured balance; in Mr. Drummond’s hands, the intimacy of the space will become an advantage.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

BALLET FESTIVAL (through July 29).
at the Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave., at 19th St./ 7:30PM, $31-$51
“This festival of small and enterprising ballet troupes continues with Claudia Schreier & Company (Friday and Saturday), Cirio Collective (Sunday and Monday), Gemma Bond Dance (Tuesday and Wednesday), and Amy Seiwert’s Imagery (Thursday through July 29). Although they create their work outside of large institutions, many of the choreographers have culled their dancers from the ranks of New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet and other established companies. Among the high-profile guests is the former City Ballet principal Wendy Whelan, who appears on Ms. Schreier’s program.” (SIOBHAN BURKE, NYT)

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

World War I New York
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West/ 6:30PM, FREE
“What role did New York play during World War I? Join author Kevin Fitzpatrick to learn about the city during the war and the memorials created afterward to remember those who sacrificed. Using material from his book, Fitzpatrick will show you where General John J. Pershing departed for Europe, where bond rallies were held, and the studios where artists created wartime posters. See images of some of the beautiful and iconic memorials, monuments, and tributes that communities and bereaved family members erected in the years after the war.”

==================================================
Bonus NYC Events – Jazz Clubs:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. Here are my favorite Jazz clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who is playing tonight:

Greenwich Village:
(5 underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. South, villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 60 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2017. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub / Tribeca

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge (except for certain jazz clubs).

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Ballet Festival, BILLY DRUMMOND, Catherine Russell, Fred Hersch Trio, Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2017, Liz Callaway: The Beat Goes On, NYC Events, World War I New York | Leave a comment

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub / West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment. ===========================================================================

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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Chelsea Art Gallery District*

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)

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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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.)

3 Good Eating places

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub

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

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment. ==================================================================================

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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Chelsea Art Gallery District*

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub / Tribeca

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

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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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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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