NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/17) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 06/17/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7  NYC Events > SATURDAY/JUNE 17, 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-June”

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

Marilyn Maye (LAST DAY)
Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St./ 7PM, $35
“Posting herself at the crossroads where cabaret, jazz, and Broadway meet, the resilient octogenarian vocalist Maye embodies showbiz experience that seems unimaginable today—including seventy-six appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” She may be a throwback to another era, but her life force speaks firmly of the now.” (NewYorker)

This old babe is a special performer, catch her while you can.

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6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>L.A. Dance Project
>>Maria Grand
>>GEORGE COLEMAN QUARTET
>>Tierney Sutton
>>A Beginner’s Guide to All Things Whiskey
>>Chelsea “Best Exhibits” Gallery Tour
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

L.A. Dance Project
Joyce Theater, 175 8th Ave/ 2PM, +8PM, $56-$81
“Benjamin Millepied, who turns forty this week, was an early star at the School of American Ballet and the New York City Ballet. He choreographed and danced in the notorious Black Swan, then married his screen colleague Natalie Portman. He founded this distinguished repertory troupe in Los Angeles in 2012, went off to a thorny three-year stint as director of the Paris Opera Ballet, and is now back in California, from whence he brings two programs of promising work. The first, opening Tuesday, June 13, includes Ohad Naharin’s Yag and two of Millepied’s own dances, the 2014 Hearts & Arrows and the world premiere of In Silence We Speak. The second bill, playing in repertory starting Wednesday, June 14, reprises Silence and features Justin Peck’s Murder Ballades, a MinEvent by Merce Cunningham, and Millepied’s Orpheus Highway.” (Elizabeth Zimmer, VillageVoice)

Maria Grand
at the Jazz Gallery / 7:30 and 9:30PM, $22
“On “TetraWind,” an EP released this year, Ms. Grand, 25, unfurls a teetering logic. She conjoins the spiky rhythms of Rashaan Carter’s bass with tilting sheets of harmony, built by her tenor saxophone, David Bryant’s keyboard and Roman Filiu’s alto saxophone. As an improviser, the Swiss-Argentine Ms. Grand is both measured and frank, often venturing into gentle provocation. She appears here with an eight-piece ensemble featuring Mr. Carter, Mr. Bryant and Mr. Filiu, as well as the percussionist Mauricio Herrera, the drummer Jeremy Dutton, the dancer Lucía Rodríguez and the rapper Amani Fela. On Saturday she will be joined by Rajna Swaminathan on the mridangam, a double-headed drum.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

GEORGE COLEMAN QUARTET
at Smoke Jazz Club, / 7PM and 9PM, $45
“A leading elder statesman in jazz, Mr. Coleman is known for his subtly adventurous solos, full of extended arpeggios; his keen but coolheaded tone; and a brief affiliation with the Miles Davis Quintet in the 1960s that jump-started his career. He didn’t record as a leader until the mid-1970s, but has released a steady stream of satisfying work ever since. Last year’s “A Master Speaks” was recorded at Smoke, and Mr. Coleman — a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master — returns to the club this weekend for a three-night run. He’s joined by the pianist Jeb Patton, the bassist John Webber and the drummer Joe Farnsworth.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Tierney Sutton (LAST DAY)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, $35
“Three years after she trained her sights on Joni Mitchell, with her 2013 musical mash note “After Blue,” the inclusive jazz vocalist Sutton put a personal spin on the work of Gordon Sumner with “The Sting Variations.” “Roxanne” didn’t make the cut, but such soundtrack-of-a-generation material as “Message in a Bottle” and “Fields of Gold” is given new life.” (NewYorker)

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

Elsewhere but this one definitely looks worth the detour:
A Beginner’s Guide to All Things Whiskey
Q.E.D., 27-16 23rd Ave., btw. 27th & 28th Sts., Astoria, Queens / 5-7PM, $40
“What’s the difference between Bourbon, Rye and Scotch? What is Moonshine, and where does it come from? What flavors should I expect in each style of whiskey? These answers and many more will be covered in this simple and comprehensive class exploring all things whiskey. It will discuss the history of the delicious brown booze and the proper ways in which to store, drink and enjoy it. Eliminating the confusion and frustration of what whiskeys to drink, will turn you into a happier and more savvy whiskey drinker.
Every student will get to taste four different types of whiskey!”

Chelsea “Best Exhibits” Gallery Tour
New York Gallery Tours, 1PM, +3:45PM, $25
“Highlights of this STUPENDOUS tour, featuring exhibits that appeared on our May and June “Best Exhibits” tours: (1) the most dazzling computer-driven light art show we’ve ever encountered, (2) astonishing photo-realistic paintings selling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars each, and (3) Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett starring in a 12-minute wild-and-crazy video art piece about a powerful woman, among 7 extraordinary shows.”

The tour will take place no matter what the weather – rain, snow or shine (the art is all indoors). Meet at 526 W. 26th St. between 10th & 11th Ave. Nearest subways: C- or E-Train to 23rd St. Admission is $25.

and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight in Lower Manhattan –  the very lowest WestSide of Manhattan:

River To River Festival (June 14–25)
The 16th annual River To River Festival will have over 100+ performances — with 12 days of dance, music, theater and the visual arts activities. The festival will take place across 31 unique sites across Lower Manhattan and Governors Island.
TONIGHT: Catacomb by Beth Gill (June 17-19)
Federal Hall / 8PM
“Inspired by the imagination and subconscious, Catacomb is a dance by five performers inhabiting a dreamlike, sensory-rich world that draws the audience into an immersive act of witnessing. Gill creates an intimate, surrealist space building on the formalism of her past several works (Electric Midwife, New Work for the Desert), while forging new psychologically-informed terrain through explorations of role, gathering and layering of meaning and being, and ultimately, disappearance.”

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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):

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

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:

Alex Katz (thru June 30)
Taylor 16×34, 515 W19th St. Chelsea
“As a student at Cooper Union, in 1946, Katz was struggling in drawing class, so he started sketching people wherever he went. The pocket-size results, exhibited here together for the first time, are an illuminating example of the contest between an aspiring artist’s attempt to capture every detail of what he’s seeing and the confident ease with which, as a mature painter, Katz came to encapsulate faces and gestures. In one drawing, a pair of women and a pair of men sit kibbitzing on benches in Union Square; Katz captures all four physiognomies and expressions—from a querulous, sharp-nosed woman to a sympathetic, shovel-chinned man—with vigilant specificity.” (NewYorker)

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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 06/15 and 06/13.

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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/16) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square / Theater District)

Posted on 06/16/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7  NYC Events > FRIDAY/JUNE 16, 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-June”

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

Tierney Sutton (June 15-17)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, $35
“Three years after she trained her sights on Joni Mitchell, with her 2013 musical mash note “After Blue,” the inclusive jazz vocalist Sutton put a personal spin on the work of Gordon Sumner with “The Sting Variations.” “Roxanne” didn’t make the cut, but such soundtrack-of-a-generation material as “Message in a Bottle” and “Fields of Gold” is given new life.” (NewYorker)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>GEORGE COLEMAN QUARTET
>>Contemporary Dance: Ballet
>>Marilyn Maye
>>Swan Lake
>>Bloomsday on Broadway XXXVI
>>AMIR ELSAFFAR AND RIVERS OF SOUND
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

GEORGE COLEMAN QUARTET
at Smoke Jazz Club, / 7PM and 9PM, $45
“A leading elder statesman in jazz, Mr. Coleman is known for his subtly adventurous solos, full of extended arpeggios; his keen but coolheaded tone; and a brief affiliation with the Miles Davis Quintet in the 1960s that jump-started his career. He didn’t record as a leader until the mid-1970s, but has released a steady stream of satisfying work ever since. Last year’s “A Master Speaks” was recorded at Smoke, and Mr. Coleman — a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master — returns to the club this weekend for a three-night run. He’s joined by the pianist Jeb Patton, the bassist John Webber and the drummer Joe Farnsworth.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Contemporary Dance: Ballet
BRYANT PARK PRESENTS (Fridays through July 14)
at Bryant Park / 6PM, FREE
“For the opening of its Friday evening summer dance series, Bryant Park Presents offers a program devoted to ballet including David Fernandez’s neoclassical Some Dance Company, which includes members from New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theater; Gabrielle Lamb’s Pigeonwing Dance; Da’ Von Doane & Artists of the Shift, led by that Dance Theater of Harlem dancer; Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance; and Bennyroyce Dance, which will present dances by Norbert De La Cruz III, Bennyroyce Royon and the former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater principal Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish. Coming performances in this weekly mixed bill include the Ashley Bouder Project, HopeBoykinDance and the Limón Dance Company.” (NYT-GIA KOURLAS)

Marilyn Maye (June 14-17)
Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St./ 9PM, $35
“Posting herself at the crossroads where cabaret, jazz, and Broadway meet, the resilient octogenarian vocalist Maye embodies showbiz experience that seems unimaginable today—including seventy-six appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” She may be a throwback to another era, but her life force speaks firmly of the now.” (NewYorker)

Swan Lake (Jun 12 – 17)
American Ballet Theatre @ Metropolitan Opera House / 7:30PM, $22+
“The swans haven’t left the lake just yet: This weekend is your final chance to catch performances of “Swan Lake.” (And Saturday night, Misty Copeland is scheduled to dance.) Beginning Monday, another love story consumes Ballet Theater when John Cranko’s “Onegin,” based on Pushkin’s novel in verse, opens with Diana Vishneva in the first of her final two performances with the company. That remarkably lush dancer will pour her emotions into the part of Tatiana opposite the debonair Marcelo Gomes. On Tuesday and Thursday, Alessandra Ferri, the veteran ballerina, performs as a guest artist with Roberto Bolle.” (NYT-GIA KOURLAS)

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

Bloomsday on Broadway XXXVI
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway / 7PM, $26
“For over a decade, Joyce’s great work was famously banned throughout the United States. This year’s Bloomsday features authors, actors and devoted Joyceans performing readings from the offensive, subversive, obscene, political, sexual and heretical elements of Ulysses. Featuring a Whirlwind Tour of all 18 chapters of Ulysses, hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon; Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds) as Molly Bloom; and an exploration of the court battles and impassioned efforts to save or condemn Joyce’s contentious book, hosted by author Kevin Birmingham (The Most Dangerous Book: The Battle for James Joyce’s Ulysses).”

More selected events coming soon.

and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight in Lower Manhattan –  the very lowest WestSide of Manhattan:

River To River Festival (June 14–25)
The 16th annual River To River Festival will have over 100+ performances — with 12 days of dance, music, theater and the visual arts activities. The festival will take place across 31 unique sites across Lower Manhattan and Governors Island.

TONIGHT: AMIR ELSAFFAR AND RIVERS OF SOUND
at 28 Liberty Plaza / 6PM, FREE
“In Rivers of Sound, Mr. ElSaffar’s 17-piece ensemble, rhythm is a load-bearing vehicle, steadily carrying his compositions across land and sea. The pulse changes hands often, Mr. ElSaffar’s trumpet working in an exchange with the tabla and the guitar and the buzuq, a stringed instrument from the eastern Mediterranean. Rivers of Sound brings together virtuosos from Middle Eastern, South Asian and Western jazz traditions, and its music has a liquid quality: It’s full of momentum, but not in the way of a single moving thing. Instead, it seems to flow and spill across bounds. The group’s release of “Not Two,” its arresting debut album, on Friday occasions this free concert, part of the serendipitously named River to River Festival.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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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, almost all 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 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):

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

A PremierPub

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

IMG_2083Jimmy’s Corner is right in the heart of Times Square, but you won’t find it on the corner, it’s mid-block. Enter this long narrow bar and you are struck by the walls covered with mostly black-and-white boxing photographs, and memorabilia. Soon enough you learn that “Corner” refers to proprietor Jimmy Glenn’s long career as a corner man for some of boxing greats – Liston, Tyson, even “the greatest,” Ali.

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

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

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

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“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge (except for certain jazz clubs).
If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/15) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 06/15/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7  NYC Events > THURSDAY/JUNE 15, 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-June”

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

ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE IMPOSTERS
at Central Park SummerStage / 7:30PM, $55
“Elvis Costello’s classic 1977 debut, “My Aim Is True,” turns 40 in July — but the unpredictable Mr. Costello isn’t doing anything as obvious this summer as an anniversary tour for that landmark release. Instead, he’s extending a tour begun last fall whose set lists center on another high point in his catalog, the 1982 album “Imperial Bedroom.” Expect updated arrangements of tracks like “Almost Blue” and “Tears Before Bedtime,” and, as always, a few surprises.” (NYT-SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Brian Stokes Mitchell: Plays with Music
>>DR. JOHN AND HENRY BUTLER
>>Swan Lake
>>TimesTalks: Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, Karl Marlantes and Mai Elliott in Conversation with James Bennet
>>In Their Lives: Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs
>>Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Brian Stokes Mitchell: Plays with Music (thru June 24)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $100
“Superlative or not, there aren’t many adjectives that fit Brian Stokes Mitchell as well as “unparalleled.” Last starring on Broadway in 2016’s SHUFFLE ALONG, the two-time Tony winner and member of the Theatre Hall of Fame has cemented himself as one of the greatest leading men on Broadway, and his rich, deep baritone is a force all its own. This week, alongside long-time collaborator Tedd Firth, he makes his Feinstein’s/54 Below solo debut, sampling songs from his upcoming album, PLAYS WITH MUSIC, an eclectic collection of showtunes, folk songs, and more.” (Ashley Steves, Village Voice)

DR. JOHN AND HENRY BUTLER
at the Town Hall / 8PM, $45+
“Two singing pianists who loom large in the contemporary lore of New Orleans music, Mr. Butler and Dr. John both descend from the musical parentage of Professor Longhair, the famous barrelhouse piano innovator. And each has honed a personal style of bluesy rock ’n’ roll guided by his own personality: for Mr. Butler, both roisterous and admonishing; for Dr. John, sidelong and mystical. While both have been playing around the country for decades, there is no record of their sharing a bill, so this show will have a historic overtone to match the inevitable air of revelry.” (NYT – GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Swan Lake (Jun 12 – 17)
American Ballet Theatre @ Metropolitan Opera House / 7:30PM, $
“Of all the great classics performed by ABT today, Swan Lakeremains the quintessential ballet, the one that defines the standards of the Company, tests its dancers, and ennobles the spirit of the audience. This romantic fable of ill-fated passion, dreamlike transformation, and ultimate forgiveness is set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score. With breathtaking choreography and visually magnificent sets evoking a Renaissance court, the fabled lake of the swans rises into view, inspiring awe for generations to come.”

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

TimesTalks: Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, Karl Marlantes and Mai Elliott in Conversation with James Bennet
Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th St./ 7PM, $40
“September will see the arrival of the next Ken Burns exploration, a 10-part documentary on the Vietnam War. He’ll speak about the project and the war’s lingering impact at a TimesTalks panel. Burns will be joined by his frequent collaborator Lynn Novick, editorial page editor of the New York Times James Bennet, and authors Karl Marlantes and Duong Van Mai Elliott. Merkin Concert Hall.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Elsewhere, but this one looks worth the detour:
In Their Lives: Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs
Greenlight Bookstore, 686 Fulton St./ 7:30PM< FREE
“In Their Lives: Great Writers on Great Beatles Songs presents essays from a chorus of twenty-nine luminaries singing the praises of their favorite Beatles songs. Arranged chronologically by the date of the song’s release, and including a note from Paul McCartney, these essays highlight both the Beatles’ evolution as well as the span of generations their music affected. From Beatlemaniacs who grew up listening to the iconic albums on vinyl to new fans who download the songs on iTunes, each contributor explores a poignant intersection between Beatles history and personal history.

Editor Andrew Blauner hosts readings by distinguished authors who have contributed to the anthology, including Touré (I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon), Elissa Schappell (Blueprints for Building Better Girls), and Rebecca Mead (My Life in Middlemarch) read from their essays, and discuss the Beatles’ legacy and impact, culturally, historically, and individually.”

Welcome to Your World: How the Built Environment Shapes Our Lives
Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Pl./ 6PM, $10
“The psychology of being placed in New York City—from surfing the chaos of a midtown avenue to enveloping pockets downtown—is often tangible. A new book by architecture critic Sarah Williams Goldhagen reveals recent discoveries in cognitive psychology and neuroscience that show the ways built environments impact our memories, emotions, and well-being. Find her in conversation at the Center for Architecture.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

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

and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight for Lower Manhattan –  the very lowest WestSide of Manhattan:

River To River Festival (June 14–25)
The 16th annual River To River Festival will have over 100+ performances — with 12 days of dance, music, theater and the visual arts activities. The festival will take place across 31 unique sites across Lower Manhattan and Governors Island.

===========================================================
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):

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

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, 1945­1960’
“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)

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:
Age of Empires: Chinese Art of the Qin & Han Dynasties (221 B.C.-A.D. 220)
“Not least among the achievements of Ying Zheng, the founding emperor of the short-lived Qin dynasty (221-206 B.C.), was propaganda, some of which still echoes bombastically on the walls of this show: you won’t depart with any confusion about who first unified China. But the chance to see a platoon of his spectacular terra-cotta warriors, half a dozen or so of the thousands that were buried with the emperor, who died in 210 B.C., and excavated in the nineteen-seventies, is not to be missed. Fitted together like action figures from mass-produced body parts and originally equipped with real bronze weapons, the life-size sculptures have individually detailed faces of surprising charisma. One kneeling archer, with square-toed shoes and a mustache, is so striking he may trigger déjà vu. Along with the soldiers comes a wide-ranging selection of contemporaneous artifacts, many of them demonstrating a naturalistic approach to anatomy and an untrammelled expressive whimsy—both of which were later eradicated by the heavy stylization during the Han dynasty. Examples of the former include a recently discovered terra-cotta strongman with a potbelly; examples of the latter include a bronze lamp shaped like a mythical bird tipping its head back to swallow its own smoke. But, if many of the show’s pieces make Qin and Han culture look unexpectedly relatable, its highlights are those that were unmistakably made long ago and far away, particularly the unforgettable jade burial suit of the Han princess Dou Wan. Discovered in a cliffside tomb in Hebei Province, in 1968, the ritual object is made of more than two thousand rectangular panels of jade, sewn together with gold.” (NewYorker)  THRU JULY 16.

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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 06/13 and 06/11.
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/14) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 06/14/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6  NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/JUNE 14, 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-June”

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

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Beacon Theatre, / 8PM, $60+
“Over their three decades and counting, Cave & Co. have lost none of their fire and drama playing live. What’s more, the band’s new album, Skeleton Tree, demonstrates that Cave’s writing has only intensified its profoundly haunting qualities. Bathed in grief and world-shattering loss, the album was written in the aftermath of the passing of the singer’s 15-year old son.” (TONY)

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5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Swan Lake
>>Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade Trio
>>I Like the Nightlife, Baby
>>Psychoanalyzing Seinfeld
>>Italo Calvino’s Six Memos for the Next Millenium
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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Swan Lake (Jun 12 – 17)
American Ballet Theatre @ Metropolitan Opera House / 7:30PM, $
“Of all the great classics performed by ABT today, Swan Lakeremains the quintessential ballet, the one that defines the standards of the Company, tests its dancers, and ennobles the spirit of the audience. This romantic fable of ill-fated passion, dreamlike transformation, and ultimate forgiveness is set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score. With breathtaking choreography and visually magnificent sets evoking a Renaissance court, the fabled lake of the swans rises into view, inspiring awe for generations to come.”

Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade Trio (June 13-18)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8 and 10:30PM, $20- $35
“What’s missing from this picture? Wayne Shorter, of course, but the intrepid members of the great saxophonist’s quartet meshed so well that remaining together as a creative unit, even without the master in charge, became imperative. The trio’s 2015 début recording, “Children of the Light,” found the pianist Pérez, the bassist Patitucci, and the drummer Blade displaying the churning, intuitive interaction that made their work with Shorter a joy.” (NewYorker)

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

I Like the Nightlife, Baby
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave./ 7PM, $20
“In the season finale of Only in New York, series host and Pulitzer-nominated reporter Sarah Maslin Nir sits down with celebrated New York DJ Lina Bradford and pop-up club host Simonez Wolf to explore the city’s ever-morphing and inventive nightlife scene.

Only in New York with Times reporter Sarah Maslin Nir is a conversation series bringing together two distinctive New Yorkers from different worlds to explore key questions about the city’s identity, culture, and history — glass of wine in hand.”

Psychoanalyzing Seinfeld with Sherry Amatenstein and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
Book Culture, 536 W. 112th St./ 7PM, FREE
Please join us Wednesday, June 14th at 7pm for a special event with Sherry Amatenstein, author of How Does That Make You Feel?, and Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia. The two authors will be discussing their books, as well as analyzing the neuroses of Seinfeld characters!

Italo Calvino’s Six Memos for the Next Millenium
Albertine, 972 Fifth Ave./ 7PM, FREE
“A Conversation with Jeanne Gang and Daniel Levin Becker
“Perhaps it is a sign of our millennium’s end that we frequently wonder what will happen to literature and books in the so-called postindustrial era of technology. I don’t much feel like indulging in this sort of speculation. My confidence in the future of literature consists in the knowledge that there are things that only literature can give us, by means specific to it.” Italo Calvino

In 1984, Italo Calvino was invited to give the Charles Eliot Norton Lectures at Harvard University. Although he died before he was able to deliver them, he wrote five of the six planned lectures on the imaginative possibilities of language and literature.

Join American architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang in conversation with Oulipian author and translator Daniel Levin Becker for a discussion of Geoffrey Brock’s masterful new translation of Calvino’s lectures, collected as Six Memos for the Next Millennium.”

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and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight for the very Lower WestSide of Manhattan:

River To River Festival (June 14–25)
The 16th annual River To River Festival will have over 100+ performances — with 12 days of dance, music, theater and the visual arts activities. The festival will take place across 31 unique sites across Lower Manhattan and Governors Island.

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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.

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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 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’. ”

maxresdefaultEach night Ishrat, the long time proprietor and impresario, carefully curates and schedules an eclectic series of musicians. You can often see him at his table in the corner, hard at work reviewing music videos and listening to cd demos on his laptop, scouting out future bookings. Musicians come from all over to play and sing in a club in Greenwich Village. Some are local New Yorkers, others are just passing through, in town for a few days.

There is a small bar, seating maybe 10. It’s close to the stage and I find it’s a perfect spot to sip a glass of red wine while listening to the music. The room itself has the performance area at one end and a cozy fireplace at the other. The performance area here is small, dominated by a large black Yamaha Grand piano. Tables are bunched together and most people at the tables are eating lite meals or sampling the wonderful desserts.

There is also a good selection of fairly priced wines,  but you are here because of the music. You can never be quite sure what you’re going to find, and that’s half the charm of this place. It’s not a home run every night, but many nights it’s pretty special.

I remember the night I saw the most talented bossa nova group, just in from San Paulo. As I listened, I wondered if there was any better music playing anywhere else in New York City that night. And at Caffé Vivaldi there is never a cover charge. Their recently redesigned web site does give you a better idea of the type of music playing each night.

At one time Greenwich Village was filled with clubs just like this, but times change. Real estate interests have impacted the village, and not for the better. Even Caffé Vivaldi had a rough time recently, when a new landlord raised the rent exorbitantly. Fortunately, Ishrat has built a loyal following over the years, and a fund raiser and slightly more reasonable rent has kept Café Vivaldi in business.

When Woody Allen and Al Pacino wanted to make movies featuring the timeless quality of Greenwich Village they came to Vivaldi. It’s important that we keep this special place alive, for if we lose Cafe Vivaldi, NYCity will have lost a piece of it’s soul.

Website: http://caffevivaldi.com/
Phone #: (212) 691-7538
Hours: Music generally 7:30PM – 11PM, but varies
Lunch/Dinner 11AM-on
Subway: #1 to Christopher St.
Walk 1 blk S. on 7th ave S. to Bleecker St., 1 blk left on Bleecker to Jones St., 50 yards left on Jones St. to Caffe V.
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“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge.

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

It’s not difficult to find a place to eat in Manhattan.
Finding a good, inexpensive place to eat is a bit harder.
Here are a few of my faves in this neighborhood:

Fish – 280 Bleecker St. (just a bit S. of 7th ave South)
This was an easy pick – the best raw bar special in town. $9 gets you 6 of the freshest oysters or clams + a glass of wine or beer. Don’t know how they can do it, but I tell everyone I know about this place. And it’s located right in the heart of some of the best no cover music in town.

Bleecker Street Pizza – 69 7th ave S. (corner of Bleecker St.)
The place is tiny and not much to look at, but this is one good slice. They like to brag that they have been voted “Best pizza in NY” 3 years in a row by the Food Network. I believe them. I would have voted for them.

Num Pang – 21 E 12th St. (btw. University Place/5th ave.)
This is a Cambodian banh mi sandwich shop that kept me well fed while I was in class nearby recently. It’s cramped, even for NYCity, but usually there is room up the spiral staircase to sit down and eat. In good weather carry your sandwich a few blocks to Union Square park. You may have to wait a few minutes, because everything is freshly made, but it’s worth it. Can you believe – an unheard of 26 food rating by Zagat.

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“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
No reservations needed.
========================================================
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 Aug. 31, 2017 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.

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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/13) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 06/13/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6  NYC Events > TUESDAY/JUNE 13, 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-June”

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

Museum Mile Festival
Fifth Ave between 82nd and 105th Sts./ 6PM-9PM,FREE
“This festival is back for its 39th year, which turns Fifth Avenue into the city’s largest block party. Live music and entertainment flood the streets while museums open their doors to the public at no charge. This year’s participants include Museum of the City of New York, the Jewish Museum, Cooper Hewitt, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Neue Galerie New York and more.” (TONY)

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5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Swan Lake
>>DAVID GILMORE GROUP
>>Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade Trio
>>Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
>>Fully Connected: Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Overload
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Swan Lake (Jun 12 – 17)
American Ballet Theatre @ Metropolitan Opera House / 7:30PM, $
“Of all the great classics performed by ABT today, Swan Lakeremains the quintessential ballet, the one that defines the standards of the Company, tests its dancers, and ennobles the spirit of the audience. This romantic fable of ill-fated passion, dreamlike transformation, and ultimate forgiveness is set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score. With breathtaking choreography and visually magnificent sets evoking a Renaissance court, the fabled lake of the swans rises into view, inspiring awe for generations to come.”

DAVID GILMORE GROUP
at Jazz Standard / 7:30 and 9:30PM, $
“Mr. Gilmore, a guitarist, navigates even the most tangled-up rhythms with a sympathetic and lyrical touch. This year he released “Transitions,” an album that shuffles through a broad assemblage of grooves; but more than much of his previous work, it often finds him settling into a warmblooded swing feel, or abandoning fixed rhythm completely. On Tuesday he will perform two sets with the group from the record: Mark Shim on tenor saxophone, Victor Gould on piano, Carlo DeRosa on bass and E. J. Strickland on drums.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade Trio (June 13-18)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8 and 10:30PM, $20- $35
“What’s missing from this picture? Wayne Shorter, of course, but the intrepid members of the great saxophonist’s quartet meshed so well that remaining together as a creative unit, even without the master in charge, became imperative. The trio’s 2015 début recording, “Children of the Light,” found the pianist Pérez, the bassist Patitucci, and the drummer Blade displaying the churning, intuitive interaction that made their work with Shorter a joy.” (NewYorker)

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Beacon Theatre, / 8PM, $60+
“Over their three decades and counting, Cave & Co. have lost none of their fire and drama playing live. What’s more, the band’s new album, Skeleton Tree, demonstrates that Cave’s writing has only intensified its profoundly haunting qualities. Bathed in grief and world-shattering loss, the album was written in the aftermath of the passing of the singer’s 15-year old son.” (TONY)

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

Fully Connected: Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Overload
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave./ 7PM, $29
“Everything is amazing and nobody is happy,” in Louis C.K.’s famous formulation. The promise of the efficiencies of technology have paid out as massive time sucks. Hear from Julia Hobsbawm, the author of Fully Connected: Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Overload, as she presents some practical suggestions for balancing the flow of knowledge with social health.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

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and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight for the very Upper WestSide of Manhattan:

2017 Uptown Arts Stroll
“The 2017 Uptown Arts Stroll is kicking off with a bang. Since 2003, this annual showcase has offered a variety of arts and cultural events in Washington Heights, Inwood and West Harlem; in addition to performances, it’s presenting art exhibitions, literary events and open studios.” (untappedcities)

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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):

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

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:

mm

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)

 The Museum of the City of New York:

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

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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PLUS, These wonderful museum exhibitions elsewhere, continue through this period:

‘GEORGIA O’KEEFFE: LIVING MODERN’ at the Brooklyn Museum (through July 23). Given that most artists are to some extent dandies, it would be wrong to view this fascinating show through an exclusively feminist lens. But it does demonstrate the powerful, carefully cultivated aesthetic and inborn independence that connects the art, wardrobe, living spaces and public persona of America’s first celebrity artist. In and around her art, she redefined gender and style. (Roberta Smith-NYT)
>and another view of this exhibition–Georgia O’Keeffe: “Living Modern” provides a new look at an iconic American artist at the very institution that hosted her first solo museum exhibition in 1927—the Brooklyn Museum. Presenting O’Keeffe’s remarkable wardrobe in dialogue with iconic paintings and photographs, this singular exhibition focuses in on the modernist persona O’Keeffe crafted for herself. With photographs by luminaries like Alfred Stieglitz, Ansel Adams, and Annie Leibovitz, the show reflects O’Keeffe’s radical rethinking of female identity, and the artist’s commitment to elements of modernism—minimalism, seriality, simplification—not only in her art, but also in her distinctive style of dress. (NYCity Guide)

(now-9/6/17) The newest show at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 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.

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 06/11 and 06/09.
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/12) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 06/12/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6  NYC Events > MONDAY/JUNE 12, 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-June”

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

Michael Gross with William D. Cohan: Covering the Wealthy
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave./ 8PM, $32
“One of our most provocative journalists, Michael Gross has cornered the market for insiders’ stories of the most bewitching and private worlds of the privileged, very rich, talented and beautiful. In books that offer an unprecedented blend of broadsheet gravitas and tabloid entertainment, he’s taken delighted readers inside the glorified worlds of fashion, culture and NYC real estate to reveal secrets, scandals and stories of sex, power, money and ego. William D. Cohan, the former Wall Street M&A investment banker for Lazard Frères and New York Times bestselling author of three books about Wall Street, joins him for what’s sure to be a riveting, insightful and delicious conversation about the power brokers, publishers, geniuses and visionaries who made New York City the center of the fashion and business world.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

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

5 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>FEIST
>>GRUNT: The Curious Science of Humans at War
>>Public Lecture Series with David Thoreson: The Northwest Passage
>>Aging in America: A Cultural History
>>OutdoorFest
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

FEIST (June 10-12)
at the Town Hall / 8PM, $40-60
“The Canadian singer-songwriter Feist prefers not to rush her art. Four years elapsed between the breakthrough pop success of her 2007 album, “The Reminder,” and her next release, “Metals”; another six went by before she returned this spring with her latest album, “Pleasure,” a work of slow-burning beauty. These shows promise to be well worth the wait for Feist’s patient fans.” (NYT-SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON)

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

GRUNT: The Curious Science of Humans at War
The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Ave./6PM, FREE
“Much of military science is preoccupied with the study of violence, the development of strategy, of weapons, of warfare. But on a daily basis, soldiers also fight more esoteric battles against less considered adversaries. In GRUNT: The Curious Science of Humans at War, America’s favorite science writer, Mary Roach, explores those aspects of war that no one makes movies about—not the killing but the keeping alive.

GRUNT salutes the scientists and surgeons running along in the wake of combat. In GRUNT, the heroes engage in highly unorthodox thinking; like Navy flight surgeon Angus Rupert, who flew blindfolded and upside down to test a vibrating suit designed to help pilots fly by feel should they become blinded or disoriented, and Captain Herschel Flowers of the Army Medical Research Laboratory, who injected himself with cobra venom to test the possibility of building immunity.”

Public Lecture Series with David Thoreson: The Northwest Passage
The Explorers Club, 6 E. 70th St./6PM, $25
“David Thoreson FN ’16 will share stories of adventure as the first American to sail the Arctic’s Northwest Passage in both directions, including an eyewitness account of the climate change impacts to sensitive Arctic and ocean environments. His presentation includes visual stories of three Arctic expeditions aboard small sailboats. It stitches these voyages together with history, photography, trip planning, satellite data, wildlife, native villages, and changes in the environment which have contributed to loss of Arctic ice.”

Author @ the Library:
Aging in America: A Cultural History
Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave./ 6:30PM, FREE
With Lawrence R. Samuel, founder of Boomers 3.0. and author of several books, including “Freud on Madison Avenue: Motivation Research and Subliminal Advertising in America.”
“This illustrated lecture traces the story of aging in the United States over the course of the last half century.”

OutdoorFest
at various locations and times; free–$69
“OutdoorFest, a ten-day lineup of activities, classes and volunteering opportunities, aims to get New York apartment dwellers to engage with the natural environment around the five boroughs. Look up the full schedule to save your spot for mountain biking, outdoor yoga, backcountry cooking, fly fishing, hiking, running and, naturally, beer drinking—can’t miss that.” (TONY)

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

and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight for the very Upper WestSide of Manhattan:

2017 Uptown Arts Stroll
“The 2017 Uptown Arts Stroll is kicking off with a bang. Since 2003, this annual showcase has offered a variety of arts and cultural events in Washington Heights, Inwood and West Harlem; in addition to performances, it’s presenting art exhibitions, literary events and open studios.” (untappedcities)

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

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):

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

A PremierPub / Tribeca

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/11) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 06/11/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7  NYC Events > SUNDAY/JUNE 11, 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-June”

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

Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg / “Red Giselle” (Jun 09-11)
City Center, 31 W. 55th St./ 8PM, $60+
“The Russian choreographer Boris Eifman has built a huge following, particularly in Russia, entranced by his acrobatic and emotionally extreme style. In his 1997 portrait of the legendary Russian ballerina Olga Spessitseva, he finds a subject well suited to his operatic approach: a great but fragile artist’s descent into madness. The metaphor of “Giselle”—the tale of a young woman who dies of heartbreak and becomes a troubled spirit—is a central plot device. (Spessitseva was famous for her depiction of Giselle.) The recorded score consists of bits of Tchaikovsky, Schnittke, and Bizet.” (NewYorker)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Duet
>>SARA SERPA AND ANDRÉ MATOS
>>FEIST
>>Northside Festival
>>Big Apple BBQ
>>Green Festival Expo
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Duet (June 06-11)
Blue Note , / 8:00PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“Japan has produced an impressive assemblage of jazz pianists; from Toshiko Akiyoshi and Makoto Ozone to Junko Onishi. And now, well into the change of the 21st century, the pianist/composer Hiromi Uehara is the latest in that line of amazing musicians. Ever since the 2003 release of her debut Telarc CD Another Mind, Hiromi has electrified audiences and critics east and west, with a creative energy that encompasses and eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical and pop parameters; taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication. Her new CD, Alive, her ninth as a leader, features her critically-acclaimed Trio Project, consisting of contrabass guitarist Anthony Jackson (Steely Dan, Paul Simon, Michel Camilo, The OJays, and Chick Corea) and drummer Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Judas Priest, David Gilmour, and Jack Bruce).

“Hiromi is one of the most remarkable pianists of the past half century.” All Music

SARA SERPA AND ANDRÉ MATOS
at Joe’s Pub / 7:30PM, $15
“Ms. Serpa, a Portuguese vocalist, typically sings wordless original compositions, improvising with a shapely logic that blurs the lines between what’s composed and what’s extrapolated. The guitarist Mr. Matos has been her creative partner for many years; here they perform with the cellist Erik Friedlander, the violist Joanna Mattrey and the drummer Devin Gray.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

FEIST (June 10-12)
at the Town Hall / 8PM, $40-60
“The Canadian singer-songwriter Feist prefers not to rush her art. Four years elapsed between the breakthrough pop success of her 2007 album, “The Reminder,” and her next release, “Metals”; another six went by before she returned this spring with her latest album, “Pleasure,” a work of slow-burning beauty. These shows promise to be well worth the wait for Feist’s patient fans.” (NYT-SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Northside Festival
“This weekend, for the ninth year running, North Brooklyn’s Northside Festival of music and innovation will showcase a range of local and touring acts at venues across Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Greenpoint. Northside is probably best known for its outdoor shows in McCarren Park, where some of the fest’s most famous acts perform. This year is no different: Brooklyn’s own avant-popsters Dirty Projectors, who released their excellent, searingly personal new album in February, take that stage on Thursday, while r&b heartthrob Miguel turns up the heat on Saturday. Perhaps Northside’s biggest strength, however, is its emphasis on acts at smaller venues. One option for a more intimate experience is the ambient legend William Basinksi, who plays Williamsburg arts space National Sawdust (with Julianna Barwick’s meditative looping opening). Harder-edged fare is available as well: communist punk provocateurs Downtown Boys at Saint Vitus, or a celebration of Brooklyn label Sacred Bones’ tenth anniversary at Brooklyn Bazaar.” (Sophie Weiner, Village Voice)

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

Big Apple BBQ (also Sunday)
Madison Square Park; 11am; free entry, fast pass $150
“The only big apple you’ll find here will be jammed inside a swine’s mouth—where fruit belongs. Fifteen pitmasters from across the nation bring their best barbecue offerings to the two-day cookout. There’s free entry to the block party, where you can enjoy the sounds of live bands and pony up a small fee for each plate of the smoky goods. True ’cue lovers may have a hard time stopping at just one.” (TONY)

Green Festival Expo (also Sunday)
Javits Center; 10am; single-day pass $12, run of show $32
“Consider this expo your crash course on how to go green in an urban environment. The festival welcomes sustainable-living aficionados to help attendees discover thousands of green products from the worlds of fashion, wellness, transportation and more. In addition to noshing on healthy eats at the Vegan/Vegetarian Food Court, you can check out hands-on demos, take a yoga or meditation class at the Gita Nagari Yoga Pavilion and listen to talks with over 50 speakers, including Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman.” (TONY)

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

and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight for the very Upper WestSide of Manhattan:

2017 Uptown Arts Stroll
“The 2017 Uptown Arts Stroll is kicking off with a bang. Since 2003, this annual showcase has offered a variety of arts and cultural events in Washington Heights, Inwood and West Harlem; in addition to performances, it’s presenting art exhibitions, literary events and open studios.” (untappedcities)

=====================================================
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):

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

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:

Alex Katz (thru June 30)
Taylor 16×34, 515 W19th St. Chelsea
“As a student at Cooper Union, in 1946, Katz was struggling in drawing class, so he started sketching people wherever he went. The pocket-size results, exhibited here together for the first time, are an illuminating example of the contest between an aspiring artist’s attempt to capture every detail of what he’s seeing and the confident ease with which, as a mature painter, Katz came to encapsulate faces and gestures. In one drawing, a pair of women and a pair of men sit kibbitzing on benches in Union Square; Katz captures all four physiognomies and expressions—from a querulous, sharp-nosed woman to a sympathetic, shovel-chinned man—with vigilant specificity.” (NewYorker)

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

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

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

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

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 06/09 and 06/07.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (06/10) + Today’s Featured Pub (Upper West Side)

Posted on 06/10/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7  NYC Events > SATURDAY/JUNE 10, 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-June”

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

FEIST (June 10-12)
at the Town Hall / 8PM, $40-60
“The Canadian singer-songwriter Feist prefers not to rush her art. Four years elapsed between the breakthrough pop success of her 2007 album, “The Reminder,” and her next release, “Metals”; another six went by before she returned this spring with her latest album, “Pleasure,” a work of slow-burning beauty. These shows promise to be well worth the wait for Feist’s patient fans.” (NYT-SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg
>>Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway
>>Northside Festival
>>Jazz Age Lawn Party
>>Big Apple BBQ
>>Green Festival Expo
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg / “Red Giselle” (Jun 09-11)
City Center, 31 W. 55th St./ 8PM, $60+
“The Russian choreographer Boris Eifman has built a huge following, particularly in Russia, entranced by his acrobatic and emotionally extreme style. In his 1997 portrait of the legendary Russian ballerina Olga Spessitseva, he finds a subject well suited to his operatic approach: a great but fragile artist’s descent into madness. The metaphor of “Giselle”—the tale of a young woman who dies of heartbreak and becomes a troubled spirit—is a central plot device. (Spessitseva was famous for her depiction of Giselle.) The recorded score consists of bits of Tchaikovsky, Schnittke, and Bizet.” (NewYorker)

Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway (June 06-10)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $45-$65
“The vocally superb Brazilian baritone Paulo Szot, who made Broadway audiences swoon as Emile De Becque in the 2008 revival of South Pacific, returns to Feinstein’s/54 with a new batch of favorites from musical-theater history.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Northside Festival
“This weekend, for the ninth year running, North Brooklyn’s Northside Festival of music and innovation will showcase a range of local and touring acts at venues across Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Greenpoint. Northside is probably best known for its outdoor shows in McCarren Park, where some of the fest’s most famous acts perform. This year is no different: Brooklyn’s own avant-popsters Dirty Projectors, who released their excellent, searingly personal new album in February, take that stage on Thursday, while r&b heartthrob Miguel turns up the heat on Saturday. Perhaps Northside’s biggest strength, however, is its emphasis on acts at smaller venues. One option for a more intimate experience is the ambient legend William Basinksi, who plays Williamsburg arts space National Sawdust (with Julianna Barwick’s meditative looping opening). Harder-edged fare is available as well: communist punk provocateurs Downtown Boys at Saint Vitus, or a celebration of Brooklyn label Sacred Bones’ tenth anniversary at Brooklyn Bazaar.” (Sophie Weiner, Village Voice)

Tonight’s Pick: MIGUEL
at McCarren Park / 6:30PM, $39-$44
“Miguel is one of the most versatile talents in pop: His 2015 album, “Wildheart,” drew freely from R&B, rock, funk and more, and received glowing notices from critics. While he’s popular enough to play arenas, this outdoor show, presented by Northside Festival, is a prime opportunity to hear Miguel sing about love, sex and psychedelic dreams in a more relaxed setting. The Los Angeles singer-songwriter Saro and the soul artist BJ the Chicago Kid open.” (NYT-SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON)

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

Jazz Age Lawn Party (also Sunday)
Governors Island; 12pm; $55+
“Slap on your spats and practice the Charleston because the Jazz Age Lawn party is returning to Governor’s Island. Sip on Prohibition-era cocktails by Lejay Liqueur and local Bootlegger 21 New York, and none of the back-alley hooch of the day. Food vendors will be on hand to keep your Lindy Hop hoppin’ during incredible daylong jazz performances from Philadelphia’s prized Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society, as well as singer-songwriter Queen Esther. Sure to mesmerize is the ultimate 1920s ensemble band Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra, led by the party’s host, crooner-conductor Arenella. As the tunes blast, partake in dance lessons from instructors and perfect your fox-trot.” (TONY)

Big Apple BBQ (also Sunday)
Madison Square Park; 11am; free entry, fast pass $150
“The only big apple you’ll find here will be jammed inside a swine’s mouth—where fruit belongs. Fifteen pitmasters from across the nation bring their best barbecue offerings to the two-day cookout. There’s free entry to the block party, where you can enjoy the sounds of live bands and pony up a small fee for each plate of the smoky goods. True ’cue lovers may have a hard time stopping at just one.” (TONY)

Green Festival Expo (also Sunday)
Javits Center; 10am; single-day pass $12, run of show $32
“Consider this expo your crash course on how to go green in an urban environment. The festival welcomes sustainable-living aficionados to help attendees discover thousands of green products from the worlds of fashion, wellness, transportation and more. In addition to noshing on healthy eats at the Vegan/Vegetarian Food Court, you can check out hands-on demos, take a yoga or meditation class at the Gita Nagari Yoga Pavilion and listen to talks with over 50 speakers, including Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman.” (TONY)

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

and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight for the very Upper WestSide of Manhattan:

2017 Uptown Arts Stroll
“The 2017 Uptown Arts Stroll is kicking off with a bang. Since 2003, this annual showcase has offered a variety of arts and cultural events in Washington Heights, Inwood and West Harlem; in addition to performances, it’s presenting art exhibitions, literary events and open studios.” (untappedcities)

==================================================
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 (UG), 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

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 in advance at these top NYC events, even if just on day of performance.
NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
================================================================================

A PremierPub / Upper West Side

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Website: http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/
Phone #: 212-694-1777
Hours: Mo-Th 11:30am-11:00pm; Fr-Sa 11:30am-12:00am;
Su 12:00pm-10:00pm
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day; $1 off all drinks
Music: Fri / Sat 10:30pm
Subway: #1 to 125th St.
Walk 2 blk W on 125th St. to Dinosaur Bar-B-Q,
just past the elevated highway.
========================================================
“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge (except for certain jazz clubs).

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a  comment. 
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/09) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 06/09/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7  NYC Events > FRIDAY/JUNE 09, 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-June”

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

Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg / “Red Giselle” (Jun 09-11)
City Center, 31 W. 55th St./ 8PM, $60+
“The Russian choreographer Boris Eifman has built a huge following, particularly in Russia, entranced by his acrobatic and emotionally extreme style. In his 1997 portrait of the legendary Russian ballerina Olga Spessitseva, he finds a subject well suited to his operatic approach: a great but fragile artist’s descent into madness. The metaphor of “Giselle”—the tale of a young woman who dies of heartbreak and becomes a troubled spirit—is a central plot device. (Spessitseva was famous for her depiction of Giselle.) The recorded score consists of bits of Tchaikovsky, Schnittke, and Bizet.” (NewYorker)

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6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>‘LA DIVA — LA LUPE!’
>>Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway
>>GIRLPOOL
>>Barbès Benefit
>>Northside Festival
>>Pop-Up Magazine: Spring Issue
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

‘LA DIVA — LA LUPE!’
at Aaron Davis Hall, W135 St & Convent Ave. / 7:30PM, $30
“The vocalist La Lupe had a brief but incendiary career. She remained a proud and affecting torch singer, even as the sound of Latin music shifted around her in the 1960s and ’70s. The City College Center for the Arts has been hosting a series of events over the past two weeks celebrating La Lupe’s life, and it culminates on Friday with this concert, featuring the vocalists Caridad de la Luz, who goes by La Bruja; Nina Rodriguez; and Calma Carmona, as well as the percussionist John Rodriguez, known as Dandy, who performed for many years with Tito Puente, a frequent collaborator with La Lupe.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway (June 06-10)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $45-$65
“The vocally superb Brazilian baritone Paulo Szot, who made Broadway audiences swoon as Emile De Becque in the 2008 revival of South Pacific, returns to Feinstein’s/54 with a new batch of favorites from musical-theater history.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, but these three look worth the detour, especially the Barbès Benefit:

GIRLPOOL
at Warsaw, 261 Driggs Ave,. Bklyn. / 8PM, $18
“The Los Angeles folk-pop duo Girlpool attracted a devoted audience with its early releases, which were built from little more than the close harmonies and minimal guitar-bass interplay of its founding members, Harmony Tividad and Cleo Tucker. For its latest album, “Powerplant,” the band has added a drummer and begun augmenting its songs with louder and more complex arrangements, with exciting results. The Brooklyn garage-rock trio Ian Sweet opens.” (NYT-SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON)

Barbès Benefit
Drom, 85 Ave. A./ 7PM, $25
“The list of shuttered New York music venues threatens to grow even longer with the possible closure of Barbès, a beloved Park Slope mainstay. Opened in 2002 by Olivier Conan, a Paris native, Barbès services an essential New York musical community that does not fit neatly into rock, jazz, or avant-garde, but often touches on all of them, as well as on many underappreciated world-music styles. Conan, who moved to New York in 1984, worked a variety of odd jobs and played cuatro in the Mexican-themed Las Rubias del Norte and the French-tinged Bébé Eiffel. Wanting to make a home for eclectic groups like his own, Conan founded the club on credit cards and self-admitted naïveté. Maintaining what was always a threadbare operation grew more difficult over the years, as gentrification drove up Conan’s rent, bills, and debts. Earlier this month, he reluctantly sent out a fund-raising plea and set up a benefit concert. “It feels funny, because it’s an admission of failure,” he said by phone last week. “But at the same time the response has been overwhelming—people are saying, We care about this community.” The benefit lineup showcases the club’s musical diversity—and its importance. It includes the Balkan–Mexican–Indian brass band Fanfare Barbès, the Jazz Passengers, the Moroccan ensemble Innov Gnawa, and the noirish trio Big Lazy, among others.” (NewYorker)

Northside Festival
This weekend, for the ninth year running, North Brooklyn’s Northside Festival of music and innovation will showcase a range of local and touring acts at venues across Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Greenpoint. Northside is probably best known for its outdoor shows in McCarren Park, where some of the fest’s most famous acts perform. This year is no different: Brooklyn’s own avant-popsters Dirty Projectors, who released their excellent, searingly personal new album in February, take that stage on Thursday, while r&b heartthrob Miguel turns up the heat on Saturday. Perhaps Northside’s biggest strength, however, is its emphasis on acts at smaller venues. One option for a more intimate experience is the ambient legend William Basinksi, who plays Williamsburg arts space National Sawdust (with Julianna Barwick’s meditative looping opening). Harder-edged fare is available as well: communist punk provocateurs Downtown Boys at Saint Vitus, or a celebration of Brooklyn label Sacred Bones’ tenth anniversary at Brooklyn Bazaar.” (Sophie Weiner, Village Voice)

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

Pop-Up Magazine: Spring Issue
TOWN HALL / 7:30PM, $35–$55
“These days, there’s a news medium for everyone: newspapers, podcasts, video, and more. Pop-Up Magazine, a project founded by Douglas McGray and Chas Edwards of the California Sunday Magazine, combines them all for an unforgettable night free from the onslaught of tweets and push notifications. Join a talented coterie of writers, filmmakers, radio producers, and photographers as they present a multimedia-enhanced “live magazine” detailing stories about pop culture, social issues, politics, and more. The roster of “contributors” to the spring issue, which has been presented in San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., before landing in New York, includes novelist Daniel Alarcón (At Night We Walk in Circles), photographer Gillian Laub, and former Voice staffer Brittany Spanos (now at Rolling Stone). Afterward, mingle with the evening’s performers at the bar and take advantage of the opportunity to interact — through more than just an @-mention — with dozens of journalists, storytellers, and other creatives in one place.” (Tatiana Craine, Village Voice)

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and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight for the very Upper WestSide of Manhattan:

2017 Uptown Arts Stroll
“The 2017 Uptown Arts Stroll is kicking off with a bang. Since 2003, this annual showcase has offered a variety of arts and cultural events in Washington Heights, Inwood and West Harlem; in addition to performances, it’s presenting art exhibitions, literary events and open studios.” (untappedcities)

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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):

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

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, 1945­1960’
“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)

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).
==============================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 06/07 and 06/05.
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/08) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 06/08/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7  NYC Events > THURSDAY/JUNE 08, 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-June”

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

Pop-Up Magazine: Spring Issue
TOWN HALL / 7:30PM, $35–$55
“These days, there’s a news medium for everyone: newspapers, podcasts, video, and more. Pop-Up Magazine, a project founded by Douglas McGray and Chas Edwards of the California Sunday Magazine, combines them all for an unforgettable night free from the onslaught of tweets and push notifications. Join a talented coterie of writers, filmmakers, radio producers, and photographers as they present a multimedia-enhanced “live magazine” detailing stories about pop culture, social issues, politics, and more. The roster of “contributors” to the spring issue, which has been presented in San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., before landing in New York, includes novelist Daniel Alarcón (At Night We Walk in Circles), photographer Gillian Laub, and former Voice staffer Brittany Spanos (now at Rolling Stone). Afterward, mingle with the evening’s performers at the bar and take advantage of the opportunity to interact — through more than just an @-mention — with dozens of journalists, storytellers, and other creatives in one place.” (Tatiana Craine, Village Voice)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>CHICO FREEMAN PLUS-TET
>>France Rocks Festival: Fishbach
>>Nicki Parrott
>>Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Duet
>>Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway
>>Lower Manhattan Through Time,
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

CHICO FREEMAN PLUS-TET
at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola / 7:30 and 9:30PM, $40
“A tenor saxophonist of svelte tone and free-flowing lyricism, Mr. Freeman, 67, is most at home in a swinging post-bop mode. Originally from Chicago, Mr. Freeman spent most of his career in New York before moving to Europe for a decade; he returned to the United States last year, and he is still working to reinsert himself in the scene. He performs here with his Plus-tet, a group he assembled upon his return that includes the pianist Anthony Wonsey, the bassist Kenny Davis, the vibraphonist Warren Wolf and the drummer Nasheet Waits.” (GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO-NYT)

France Rocks Festival: Fishbach
Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM, FREE, better get there early.
“Here’s your chance to experience the moody, ’80s inspired music of “one of the most promising women of French pop” (RFI). Fishbach, the synth-pop project of 25-year-old singer-songwriter Flora Fischbach, burst onto the scene at the Festival des InRocks in 2015, gathering critical accolades and a growing legion of fans at major French music festivals, including the Printemps de Bourges and Trans Musicales de Rennes. With her darkly sensual voice set over electro beats, Fishbach brings magic to macabre lyrics that recall poète noir Arthur Rimbaud, who also hails from Fischbach’s hometown of Charleville-Mézières in eastern France.”

Nicki Parrott
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St./ 8;30PM, +11PM, $40
“Parrott, a formidable mainstream bassist and singer of considerable charm, has discovered a sweet spot in the repertoire of the late vocal legend Blossom Dearie, as revealed on her enchanting new album, “Dear Blossom.” Her effervescent trio includes the neo-swing guitarist Frank Vignola.” (NewYorker)

BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL PRESENTS:
Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Duet (June 06-11)
Blue Note , / 8:00PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“Japan has produced an impressive assemblage of jazz pianists; from Toshiko Akiyoshi and Makoto Ozone to Junko Onishi. And now, well into the change of the 21st century, the pianist/composer Hiromi Uehara is the latest in that line of amazing musicians. Ever since the 2003 release of her debut Telarc CD Another Mind, Hiromi has electrified audiences and critics east and west, with a creative energy that encompasses and eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical and pop parameters; taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication. Her new CD, Alive, her ninth as a leader, features her critically-acclaimed Trio Project, consisting of contrabass guitarist Anthony Jackson (Steely Dan, Paul Simon, Michel Camilo, The OJays, and Chick Corea) and drummer Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Judas Priest, David Gilmour, and Jack Bruce).

“Hiromi is one of the most remarkable pianists of the past half century.” All Music

Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway (June 06-10)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $45-$65
“The vocally superb Brazilian baritone Paulo Szot, who made Broadway audiences swoon as Emile De Becque in the 2008 revival of South Pacific, returns to Feinstein’s/54 with a new batch of favorites from musical-theater history.” (TONY)

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

AUTHOR @ THE LIBRARY
Lower Manhattan Through Time,
Mid-Manhattan Library / 6:30PM, FREE
“This illustrated presentation features a discussion of how much some parts of Lower Manhattan have changed over time, while also showing just how much other downtown locations have remained the same, using the popular “then and now” format.”

with Richard Panchyk, author of 26 books, including “New York City Skyscrapers,” “German New York City,” “Catholic New York City,” and “New York City History for Kids.”

Split Screens Festival  (LAST DAY)
at IFC Center
“This theater, home to the country’s largest documentary film festival, Doc NYC, is now bingeing on the fictional marvels of television. Programmed by the film and TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz, this festival, which will continue through Thursday, is divided into premieres, including HBO’s “The Deuce”; showcases, including a panel on Amazon’s “The Man in the High Castle”; close-ups — as the festival is calling its onstage interviews — with Margo Martindale and Rami Malek; and a rewind of the nightmarish finale of NBC’s “Hannibal.” (KATHRYN SHATTUCK-NYT)

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

and don’t forget this continuing event, an eclectic extravaganza that is an annual highlight for the very Upper WestSide of Manhattan:

2017 Uptown Arts Stroll
“The 2017 Uptown Arts Stroll is kicking off with a bang. Since 2003, this annual showcase has offered a variety of arts and cultural events in Washington Heights, Inwood and West Harlem; in addition to performances, it’s presenting art exhibitions, literary events and open studios.” (untappedcities)

=======================================================
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’. ”

maxresdefaultEach night Ishrat, the long time proprietor and impresario, carefully curates and schedules an eclectic series of musicians. You can often see him at his table in the corner, hard at work reviewing music videos and listening to cd demos on his laptop, scouting out future bookings. Musicians come from all over to play and sing in a club in Greenwich Village. Some are local New Yorkers, others are just passing through, in town for a few days.

There is a small bar, seating maybe 10. It’s close to the stage and I find it’s a perfect spot to sip a glass of red wine while listening to the music. The room itself has the performance area at one end and a cozy fireplace at the other. The performance area here is small, dominated by a large black Yamaha Grand piano. Tables are bunched together and most people at the tables are eating lite meals or sampling the wonderful desserts.

There is also a good selection of fairly priced wines,  but you are here because of the music. You can never be quite sure what you’re going to find, and that’s half the charm of this place. It’s not a home run every night, but many nights it’s pretty special.

I remember the night I saw the most talented bossa nova group, just in from San Paulo. As I listened, I wondered if there was any better music playing anywhere else in New York City that night. And at Caffé Vivaldi there is never a cover charge. Their recently redesigned web site does give you a better idea of the type of music playing each night.

At one time Greenwich Village was filled with clubs just like this, but times change. Real estate interests have impacted the village, and not for the better. Even Caffé Vivaldi had a rough time recently, when a new landlord raised the rent exorbitantly. Fortunately, Ishrat has built a loyal following over the years, and a fund raiser and slightly more reasonable rent has kept Café Vivaldi in business.

When Woody Allen and Al Pacino wanted to make movies featuring the timeless quality of Greenwich Village they came to Vivaldi. It’s important that we keep this special place alive, for if we lose Cafe Vivaldi, NYCity will have lost a piece of it’s soul.

Website: http://caffevivaldi.com/
Phone #: (212) 691-7538
Hours: Music generally 7:30PM – 11PM, but varies
Lunch/Dinner 11AM-on
Subway: #1 to Christopher St.
Walk 1 blk S. on 7th ave S. to Bleecker St., 1 blk left on Bleecker to Jones St., 50 yards left on Jones St. to Caffe V.
==============================================================
“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge.

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

3 Good Eating places

It’s not difficult to find a place to eat in Manhattan.
Finding a good, inexpensive place to eat is a bit harder.
Here are a few of my faves in this neighborhood:

Fish – 280 Bleecker St. (just a bit S. of 7th ave South)
This was an easy pick – the best raw bar special in town. $9 gets you 6 of the freshest oysters or clams + a glass of wine or beer. Don’t know how they can do it, but I tell everyone I know about this place. And it’s located right in the heart of some of the best no cover music in town.

Bleecker Street Pizza – 69 7th ave S. (corner of Bleecker St.)
The place is tiny and not much to look at, but this is one good slice. They like to brag that they have been voted “Best pizza in NY” 3 years in a row by the Food Network. I believe them. I would have voted for them.

Num Pang – 21 E 12th St. (btw. University Place/5th ave.)
This is a Cambodian banh mi sandwich shop that kept me well fed while I was in class nearby recently. It’s cramped, even for NYCity, but usually there is room up the spiral staircase to sit down and eat. In good weather carry your sandwich a few blocks to Union Square park. You may have to wait a few minutes, because everything is freshly made, but it’s worth it. Can you believe – an unheard of 26 food rating by Zagat.

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“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
No reservations needed.
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NYCity is the most diverse and interesting place to find a meal anywhere in the world. With more than 24,000 eating establishments you might welcome some advice.

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places, and essays on my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods on Manhattan’s WestSide, order a copy of my e-book:
“Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($4.99, available Fall 2017).
◊ Order before Aug. 31, 2017 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.

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