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

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/07) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 06/07/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/JUNE 07, 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:

The Science of First Impressions | Alexander Todorov + Ellen Burstyn
Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St./ 7PM, $25
“We make up our minds about others after seeing their faces for a fraction of a second—and these snap judgments predict all kinds of important decisions. For example, politicians who simply look “more competent” are more likely to win elections by larger margins. Yet the character judgments we make from faces are as inaccurate as they are irresistible; in most situations, we would guess more accurately if we ignored faces. So why do we put so much stock in these impressions?

Together with award-winning actress Ellen Burstyn, Alexander Todorov—one of the world’s leading researchers on the subject—answers this question as he tells the story of the modern science of first impressions.”

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6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>The Atheist Gospel Trombone Choir
>>John Moreland
>>Nicki Parrott
>>Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Duet
>>Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway
>>Split Screens Festival
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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

The Atheist Gospel Trombone Choir
Joe’s Pub / 9;30PM, $15
“Modeled on United House of Prayer for All People “shout” choirs like Harlem’s mighty McCullough Sons of Thunder Brass Band, the Atheist Gospel Trombone Choir delivers loud, passionate horn music in service of bandleader Jacob Garchik’s contrarian theology. The Brooklyn composer and multi-instrumentalist’s group — consisting of six trombones, a baritone horn, a sousaphone, and drums — will perform his 2013 solo release, The Heavens. The setlist should include that album’s “Dialogue With My Great-Grandfather” and “The Problem of Suffering,” along with new arrangements of gospel vocal-group classics like the Famous Blue Jays’ “I’m Bound for Canaan Land,” from 1947, and the Mississippi Nightingales’ 1971 track “Don’t Let Him Ride.” While Garchik’s jazz-oriented crew tend to lend more swing to these foot-stompers, you’ll still hear the United House of Prayer’s Psalm 150–inspired mandate to “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” roiling amid the syncopation.” (Richard Gehr, VillageVoice)

Elsewhere, but this one looks worth the detour:
John Moreland
BoweryBallroom, 9 Delancey St./ 9PM, $15
“With a voice that merges Springsteen with Steve Earle and a lyrical approach heavy on stinging one-liners, John Moreland has emerged over the last several years as one of the most emotionally commanding singer-songwriters in the country. The Oklahoma native’s past few albums, beginning with 2013’s In the Throes, are quiet gems that explore the contours of romantic ruin and existential upheaval. On his new Big Bad Luv, Moreland expands not only his sonic template but also his emotional range, adding peace and levity to his typical diet of pain and remorse. After frequenting venues like Hill Country and Rockwood Music Hall in recent years, Moreland heads to the Bowery Ballroom for his largest headlining New York show to date. Performing on an acoustic double bill, Moreland will play a selection from his latest records, focusing on highlights like “Lies I Chose to Believe” and “Latchkey Kid.” (Jonathan Bernstein-VillageVoice)

Nicki Parrott (also Thur)
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)

Split Screens Festival (June 02-08)
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)

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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.

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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):

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

Whitney Museum of American Art:

2017 WHITNEY BIENNIAL (through June 11).
“This is arguably the best Biennial in years, and perhaps the best ever in its combination of demographics, aesthetics and political urgency. Nearly half of the featured artists are female, and half nonwhite. Their works reach from figure painting to virtual reality. Income inequality, racism, misogyny, immigration and violence are confronted in ways that set a high standard for social engagement sustained by formal ambition.” (Smith-NYT) 212-570-3600, whitney.org

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 06/05 and 06/03.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Duet, John Moreland, Nicki Parrott, NYC Events, Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway, Split Screens Festival, The Atheist Gospel Trombone Choir, The Science of First Impressions | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/06) + Today’s Featured Pub (WestVillage)

Posted on 06/06/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 7 NYC Events > TUESDAY/JUNE 06, 2017

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

BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL PRESENTS:
Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Duet (Jun 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

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6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>>The Met Orchestra
>>Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway
>>Chrysta Bell
>>Split Screens Festival
>>In Search of the Lost Chord: 1967 and the Hippie Idea
>>Jazz 101: Cool Jazz, Hard Bop, Modal Jazz, Free Jazz
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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

The Met Orchestra
at Carnegie Hall / 8PM, $27.50+
“The players of the Metropolitan Opera continue their survey of Mahler, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Saturday afternoon, Schumann’s Symphony No. 3 prefaces “Das Lied von der Erde,” with the mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill and the tenor Stuart Skelton. At 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Mahler’s “Blumine” and the “Kindertotenlieder,” sung by Anne Sofie von Otter, come with Sibelius, in the form of the Violin Concerto, played by Christian Tetzlaff, and the Symphony No. 7.” (DAVID ALLEN, NYT)

Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway
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)

Chrysta Bell
JOE’S PUB, / 9:30PM, $15
“It’s going to be a busy summer for Chrysta Bell. Not only does she have an acting role on Showtime’s Twin Peaks reboot, but the Texas native is also hitting the road in support of her album, We Dissolve, out June 9. The record’s first single, “Gravity,” shows the singer’s lighter side, as she moves away from the strained persona of her past works and toward a playful, more optimistic identity. Part of the shift likely comes from the absence of her longtime collaborator and morbid Twin Peaks director, David Lynch, with whom she released her two preceding records. On her own, Bell fashions a straightforward song structure that allows her airy, ethereal voice — instead of a brooding composition — to build the songs. After all, if David Lynch describes you as a “beautiful alien” the first time he sees you perform, you’re probably doing something right already.” (Devon Antonetti, VillageVoice)

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

Split Screens Festival
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)

In Search of the Lost Chord: 1967 and the Hippie Idea
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave./ 7PM, $25
“Fifty years after 1967, Danny Goldberg explores the continued relevance of political and cultural movements from that pivotal year in history. 1967 was the year of the release of the Beatles’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and of debut albums from the Doors, the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, among many others.
In addition to the thriving music scene, 1967 was also the year of the Summer of Love; the year that millions of now-illegal LSD tabs flooded America; Muhammad Ali was convicted of avoiding the draft; Martin Luther King Jr. publicly opposed the war in Vietnam; Stokely Carmichael championed Black Power; Israel won the Six-Day War; and Che Guevara was murdered. It was the year that hundreds of thousands of protesters vainly attempted to levitate the Pentagon. It was the year the word “hippie” peaked and died, and the Yippies were born.

Author and entertainment executive Danny Goldberg tells the subjective history of 1967 — the year he graduated from high school — by looking not only at the political causes but also at the spiritual, musical and psychedelic movements.”

Jazz 101: Cool Jazz, Hard Bop, Modal Jazz, Free Jazz
Jazz at Lincoln Center, Rose Hall/Time Warner Center, 5th Floor/ 6:30PM, $35
“As the 1940s gave way to the 1950s, Jazz developed many new offshoot styles. Cool Jazz arrived, seeking a marriage of BeBop and Swing Era music. Hard Bop sought to infuse bop with Blues and Gospel roots. Modal Jazz wanted to rebuild the music’s harmonic system completely, while Free Jazz sought to uproot many (and sometimes all!) of our preconceptions of what this music should sound like! Join us as we explore these many styles, and the innovators who created them.”

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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:

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

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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 2016. Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub / West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

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

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

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

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

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

For the classic Bistro experience, order your burger with a McSorley’s draft, the dark preferably. This is the same beer that you can get over at the original McSorley’s in the East Village, the pub that claims to be the oldest continually operating bar in NYCity. The only difference is that this McSorley’s ale is served with a smile by the bartenders here. Or you can get a Sierra Nevada, Stella, or Hoegaarden on tap if you want to go upscale a bit. Either way this is a simple, but quality burger and beer experience that is just too rare these days (sorry for the pun).
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Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk 2 blk W. on 13th St. to 8th Ave.; 1 blk S. on 8th Ave. to Jane St.
Update:
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“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge (except for certain jazz clubs).

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Chrysta Bell, Hiromi & Edmar Castaneda Duet, In Search of the Lost Chord: 1967 and the Hippie Idea, Jazz 101: Cool Jazz, NYC Events, Paulo Szot: Salute to Broadway, Split Screens Festival, The MET Orchestra | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/05) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 06/05/2017 by GregD

Today’s Fab 5 NYC Events > MONDAY/JUNE 05, 2017

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

Taste of Times Square 5-9PM
46th Street between Broadway and 10th Avenue (including historic Restaurant Row).
Festival admission is free. Each “taste” ticket is $1 with dishes ranging from 2-6 tickets.
“Enjoy a world of flavors from Times Square’s top restaurants and live performances from a selection of New York City musicians. Over 50 of our best restaurants offer their finest tastes from around the globe at Taste of Times Square.”

I know you’re skeptical. Times Square restaurants?
We’re not talking Olive Garden or TGIF. Try perfectly grilled Italian marinade lamb chops from The Palm West Side, or Rigatoni Bolognese from Orso, or Prime beef sliders with a side sweet potato casserole from Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Finish up with The Full Scoop – malted ice cream with sea salt caramel from Ice & Vice.
Over 50 mostly great restaurants, this is my favorite food festival all year – don’t miss it.

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

>>The Worlds of Lerner and Loewe
>>School of American Ballet
>>Bob Dylan at Gerde’s Folk City
>>The History of Garlic: From Medicine to Marinara

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Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Lyrics & Lyricists: From Camelot to California—The Worlds of Lerner and Loewe
92nd Street Y / 2PM, +7:30PM, $58+
“Broadway music director Rob Berman hosts the latest edition of the 92nd Street Y’s estimable Lyrics & Lyricists series. This episode is devoted to songs by the team of Alan Jay Lerner and Fredrick Loewe (My Fair Lady). The singers are Chuck Cooper, Lilli Cooper, Ryan Silverman and erstwhile A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder costars Bryce Pinkham and Lauren Worsham.” (TONY)

School of American Ballet
at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Lincoln Center/ 7PM, Benefit Performance, $125
“This New York City Ballet-affiliated school will present its end-of-the-year workshop performances on Saturday and Monday, an anticipated showcase now in its fifth decade. The program features Christopher Wheeldon’s “Scènes de Ballet,” created for students at the school in 1999 and an instant hit, and Peter Martins’s “Hallelujah Junction” (2001; set to music by John Adams, it features two pianos onstage). But beyond the opportunity to see ballet’s next generation, the main highlight is George Balanchine’s “Scotch Symphony” (1952), staged by the school’s esteemed Suki Schorer and Susan Pilarre. Chances are, it will sparkle with new life.” (GIA KOURLAS-NYT)

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

The History of the World in 100 Performances with Adam Gopnik:
Bob Dylan at Gerde’s Folk City
With special guests The Tallest Man on Earth and Paul Muldoon
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, FREE, better get there early to get a seat.
“Before he was a Nobel laureate, he was a young, double-talking Woody Guthrie devotee from Minnesota. A show at a Greenwich Village café and a positive review in the New York Times would change everything. In the latest installment of his beloved series that investigates essential cultural moments, New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik with guest artists including The Tallest Man on Earth and poet Paul Muldoon dig into the legendary performance.”

The History of Garlic: From Medicine to Marinara
The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Ave./ 6PM, $15
“In Sarah Lohman’s new book, Eight Flavors: The Untold Story of American Cuisine, Lohman traces the origins of the eight most popular flavors in American cooking, looks at the people that brought them to this country, and explores how they shaped American cuisine. Working with the archives at The New York Academy of Medicine, Lohman will explore how Americans shifted from using garlic as a medicine to treat maladies as varied as tuberculosis and hemorrhoids, to consuming two pounds of garlic per capita per year in the 21st century. We’ll even explore modern day medical trials to see if garlic’s healing properties are fact or fiction.”

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

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

==================================================================================
♦ 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 06/03 and 06/01.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bob Dylan at Gerde’s Folk City, The History of Garlic: From Medicine to Marinara | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/04) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 06/04/2017 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 NYC Events > SUNDAY/JUNE 04, 2017

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

Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg / “Red Giselle” (also Jun 09-11)
City Center, 31 W. 55th St./ 2PM, $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)

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

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

>>The Worlds of Lerner and Loewe
>>Javon Jackson
>>DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND 40TH ANNIVERSARY
>>World Science Festival
>>Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit
===========================================================

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Lyrics & Lyricists: From Camelot to California—The Worlds of Lerner and Loewe
92nd Street Y / 2PM, +7PM, $58+
“Broadway music director Rob Berman hosts the latest edition of the 92nd Street Y’s estimable Lyrics & Lyricists series. This episode is devoted to songs by the team of Alan Jay Lerner and Fredrick Loewe (My Fair Lady). The singers are Chuck Cooper, Lilli Cooper, Ryan Silverman and erstwhile A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder costars Bryce Pinkham and Lauren Worsham.” (TONY)

Javon Jackson (LAST DAY)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S./ 8:30PM, +10:30Pm, $30
A champion of the rugged tenor-saxophone tradition of such modern masters as Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Joe Henderson, Jackson has, in the course of a committed three-decade career, carved out his own identity as a bountiful improviser. His meat-and-potatoes quartet includes the pianist Jeremy Manasia.” (NewYorker)

DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND 40TH ANNIVERSARY (LAST DAY)
at the Blue Note / 8 and 10:30PM, $30-$45
“The New Orleans brass band tradition by now is a broad and flexible cultural export, but it wasn’t always. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band was the first such group to incorporate funk, hip-hop and other types of jazz into a relatively traditional formation. Over a storied career the band has recorded 12 studio albums and paved the way for a horde of similar acts, from the Rebirth Brass Band to the Soul Rebels. This four-night run is a celebration of the group’s 40th anniversary.” (GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO-NYT)

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

World Science Festival
Tonight: (1 of many):Cool Jobs
NYU Skirball Center,566 LaGuardia Pl./ 1:30PM, $25
“The World Science Festival’s highly celebrated program, Cool Jobs, is back with an astounding line-up of the coolest science teachers around. Can you break a cinder block on your chest? Dance your way into learning about fossils? Play catch with a robot? These are all things that these people do every day…at work. And all because they know how to make science the most exciting thing around. Come experience their passion during an interactive performance you will not want to miss.”

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit
Washington Square Park; 12PM – 6PM, FREE
“This city tradition feels fresh every spring when artists following in the footsteps of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning set up shop in the park. Hundreds of exhibitors, from NYU students to artists who remember the Village as a creative enclave, display their paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry and woodcraft.” (TONY)

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

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

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

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub / Midtown West.

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

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

From the outside this place looks a bit drab, and with no windows, a bit mysterious. Midtown tourists walk right by on their way to see “Jersey Boys,” just down the block.
(Alas, no more. After 10 years, “Jersey Boys” closed Jan.15)

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

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

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

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

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

==============================================================================
“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 Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, The Worlds of Lerner and Loewe | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/03) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 06/03/2017 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > SATURDAY/JUNE 03, 2017

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

Mavis Staples, Toshi Reagon
Central Park SummerStage / 6PM, FREE
“Living in New York has its perks; one of the best is the opportunity to see legendary musical performers amid the beauty of Central Park on a nice summer day, for free. As part of the Central Park SummerStage festival this year, concertgoers will have the chance to experience the famous soul singer Mavis Staples. Staples, who rose to prominence in the Fifties with her family’s band, the Staple Singers, is known best for her renditions of civil rights songs like Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” and Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” and for her activist work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Her half-century-long career is still going strong, driven by her powerhouse voice, political integrity, and musical passion.” (SOPHIE WEINER, VillageVoice)

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

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

>>CONNIE CROTHERS TRIBUTE
>>ECO-MUSIC BIG BAND
>>DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND 40TH ANNIVERSARY
>>American Ballet Theatre
>>Scooper Bowl: All You Can Eat Ice Cream Festival
>>World Science Festival
>>Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit
>>PLUS Mad. Sq. Eats

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

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

ECO-MUSIC BIG BAND
at Zankel Hall / 8PM, $25
“Since the dissolution of Sam Rivers’s Rivbea Orchestra, we’ve been low on big bands ready to mix the high-dial energy of experimental improvising with a syncretic approach to America’s vast popular-music tradition. So it’s good to find this politically engaged ensemble doing its thing. Since 2015 it has released two thrilling albums, full of big-shouldered groove, fine-grained harmonies and frothy improvising — as well as occasional operatic vocals. Here the group will play a program that it’s calling “Speaking Truth to Power,” with a jazz rendition of Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du Soldat” (featuring the actor John Palladino, of “Orange Is the New Black”), and a performance of Fred Ho’s baritone saxophone concerto, “When the Real Dragons Fly.” (GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO-NYT)

DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND 40TH ANNIVERSARY (June 1-4)
at the Blue Note / 8 and 10:30PM, $30-$45
“The New Orleans brass band tradition by now is a broad and flexible cultural export, but it wasn’t always. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band was the first such group to incorporate funk, hip-hop and other types of jazz into a relatively traditional formation. Over a storied career the band has recorded 12 studio albums and paved the way for a horde of similar acts, from the Rebirth Brass Band to the Soul Rebels. This four-night run is a celebration of the group’s 40th anniversary.” (GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO-NYT)

CONNIE CROTHERS TRIBUTE
at Greenwich House Music School / 7:15PM, $
“The pianist Connie Crothers embodied the teachings of her mentor, Lennie Tristano, then took them with her as she entered a new and freer zone. An inventive improviser, she let a singer’s attention to melody be her guide; as a result, she played experimental jazz piano with a remarkably gut-opening, humane effect. And she made a deep impression on students — dozens of them, many of whom became devoted apostles of her teaching style and her legacy. Several of those musicians will perform in this free concert, including the pianist Carol Liebowitz, presenting her wonderful duet with the clarinetist Bill Payne, and the pianists Kazzrie Jaxen and Virg Dzurinko, also playing in duo.” (GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO-NYT)

American Ballet Theatre (thru July 08)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center / 2PM, +8PM, $22+
Tonight: The Golden Cockerel (Jun.1-3)
“In a flood of blazing color, the stage erupts in a style at once storybook naïve and neoprimitivist-modernist. Alexei Ratmansky’s narration is suspenseful, amusing, energetic,” praised The New York Times at its ABT premiere last season. This fairy tale features tour-de-force theatrical roles, including the doddering Tsar Dodon, the deceptively seductive Queen, and the darkly magical cockerel—all set against a kaleidoscope of vibrant color that evokes a mythical Russia.”

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

Scooper Bowl: All You Can Eat Ice Cream Festival
Bryant Park, 42nd St.and 6th Ave.; 12PM-9PM, $20
“Enjoy the Scooper Bowl, an all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, all for charity in Bryant Park from June 1-3. Supporting the Jimmy Fund, ice cream outposts like Baskin-Robbins, Ben & Jerry’s, Big Gay Ice Cream, Wafels & Dinges, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and many more will be slinging cups each day.” (TONY)

Sure, there are many other fine events today, but all the high quality ice cream you can eat, for a good cause, in a gem of a park is tough to beat. This is the most fun charitable contribution you will ever make. Ever.

World Science Festival
Tonight: (1 of many): Truth or Consequences: Science in a Polarized World
NYU Skirball Center,566 LaGuardia Pl./ 8PM, $20
“Has there ever been a more urgent time for treating science as science and not a malleable element of politics?

Our age is marked by the proliferation of information, and yet we can’t agree. Science is supposed to be neutral, and yet it has generated some of the deepest societal divides. Why? Our response to scientific information depends on psychology, emotion, peer pressure, politics, and cultural influences. How can we navigate these differences and implement smart policy in a contentious society? Join a vibrant and important discussion examining the interface between the scientific process and the sometimes unscientific public, as we hurtle headlong into an uncertain future.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

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

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

PLUS Mad. Sq. Eats (LAST DAY)
General Worth Square; starts 11am; free access
“Twice a year, this outdoor food fest brings buzzworthy bites from the city’s best restaurants to Worth Square in the Flatiron District. Best eats include Roberta’s sensational pizza, MeltKraft grilled cheese sandwiches and cheesesteaks by the Truffleist. The one-stop shop for the tastiest grub in town will be available every day until June 3, so make sure to wear your stretchy pants.” (TONY)

The great food options here along with the lovely Madison Square Park across the street make an unbeatable combo.

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

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

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

Museum of the City of New York
‘A CITY SEEN: TODD WEBB’S POSTWAR NEW YORK, 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

===========================================================
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 06/01 and 05/30.
=============================================================

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Ballet Theatre, CONNIE CROTHERS TRIBUTE, DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND 40TH ANNIVERSARY, ECO-MUSIC BIG BAND, Mavis Staples, NYC Events, Scooper Bowl: All You Can Eat Ice Cream Festival, Toshi Reagon, Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, World Science Festival | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/02) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 06/02/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > FRIDAY/JUNE 02, 2017

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

Scooper Bowl: All You Can Eat Ice Cream Festival
Bryant Park 42nd St.and 6th Ave.; 12PM-9PM, $20
“Enjoy the Scooper Bowl, an all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, all for charity in Bryant Park from June 1-3. Supporting the Jimmy Fund, ice cream outposts like Baskin-Robbins, Ben & Jerry’s, Big Gay Ice Cream, Wafels & Dinges, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and many more will be slinging cups each day.” (TONY)

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

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

>>SEAN JONES QUARTET
>>Javon Jackson
>>DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND 40TH ANNIVERSARY
>>VISION FESTIVAL 22
>>American Ballet Theatre
>>The Frick Collection – First Fridays
>>PLUS Mad. Sq. Eats

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

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

SEAN JONES QUARTET (June 01-04)
at Jazz Standard, / 7:30 and 9:30PM, $30
Mr. Jones is a straight-ahead trumpeter from the Freddie Hubbard school of improvisers: fleet, boisterous and harmonically minded. A member of the SFJazz Collective and a former lead trumpeter in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Mr. Jones releases “Live From Jazz at the Bistro,” his eighth LP for Mack Avenue Records and his first live album, on Friday. For these performances, he will appear with some of the musicians from that record: the pianist Orrin Evans, the bassist Luques Curtis and the drummer Obed Calvaire. (GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO-NYT)

Javon Jackson (May 30-June 4)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S./ 8:30PM, +10:30Pm, $30
A champion of the rugged tenor-saxophone tradition of such modern masters as Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Joe Henderson, Jackson has, in the course of a committed three-decade career, carved out his own identity as a bountiful improviser. His meat-and-potatoes quartet includes the pianist Jeremy Manasia.” (NewYorker)

VISION FESTIVAL 22 (May 28 through June 3).
at Judson Memorial Church
“The Vision Festival, New York’s annual gathering of the improvising avant-garde, is a locus for some of the country’s most unbounded musicians. The alto saxophonist Darius Jones; Artifacts Trio (Nicole Mitchell, Tomeka Reid and Mike Reed); the tenor saxophonist David Murray; and Trio 3 (Oliver Lake, Reggie Workman and Andrew Cyrille) are all on the bill. And it’s a multimedia affair, with a reading by the esteemed poet Fred Moten; dance performances; and film screenings on the Black Panther Party and the musician Cooper-Moore, who is this year’s honoree. The festival will take place mostly at Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village, but some of the events, including midnight performances, are at Anthology Film Archive and Nublu.” (GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO-NYT)

American Ballet Theatre (thru July 08)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $22+
Tonight: The Golden Cockerel (Jun.1-3)
“In a flood of blazing color, the stage erupts in a style at once storybook naïve and neoprimitivist-modernist. Alexei Ratmansky’s narration is suspenseful, amusing, energetic,” praised The New York Times at its ABT premiere last season. This fairy tale features tour-de-force theatrical roles, including the doddering Tsar Dodon, the deceptively seductive Queen, and the darkly magical cockerel—all set against a kaleidoscope of vibrant color that evokes a mythical Russia.”

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

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

World Science Festival
Tonight: (1 of many): Mummy Knows Best: Trivia at the Museum – “Unwrap an evening of mystery and celebrate the American Museum of Natural History’s newest temporary exhibition—Mummies. Join comedian and journalist Faith Salie under the blue whale to unearth rare facts and show off your smarts in a pub-style quiz format. Tackle trivia questions and physical challenges with a drink in hand! And if things get too tough, you might even get an assist from a team of top scientists!”
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ 6PM, $45

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

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

PLUS Mad. Sq. Eats (thru Jun 03)
General Worth Square; starts 11am; free access
“Twice a year, this outdoor food fest brings buzzworthy bites from the city’s best restaurants to Worth Square in the Flatiron District. Best eats include Roberta’s sensational pizza, MeltKraft grilled cheese sandwiches and cheesesteaks by the Truffleist. The one-stop shop for the tastiest grub in town will be available every day until June 3, so make sure to wear your stretchy pants.” (TONY)

The great food options here along with the lovely Madison Square Park across the street make an unbeatable combo.

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

City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W54th St., 54below.com, 646-476-3551
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St., joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Metropolitan Room – 34W22ndSt., metropolitan room.com, 212-206-0440
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
Town Hall – 123 W43rd St., thetownhall.org, 212-997-6661
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com,
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474

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

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – Greenwich Village

Caffe Vivaldi / 32 Jones Street (btw. Bleecker St./W4th St.)

Café Vivaldi is a classic, intimate club located in Greenwich Village on Jones Street, the street featured on the cover of Bob Dylan’s second album, “Freewheelin’. ”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Good Eating places

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

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

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

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

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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.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Javon Jackson, The Frick Collection - First Fridays | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (06/01) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 06/01/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > THURSDAY/JUNE 01, 2017

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

Scooper Bowl: All You Can Eat Ice Cream Festival
Bryant Park; 12PM-9PM, $20
“Enjoy the Scooper Bowl, an all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, all for charity in Bryant Park from June 1-3. Supporting the Jimmy Fund, ice cream outposts like Baskin-Robbins, Ben & Jerry’s, Big Gay Ice Cream, Wafels & Dinges, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and many more will be slinging cups each day.” (TONY)

Sure, there are many fine events today, but all the high quality ice cream you can eat, for a good cause, on a nice sunny day is tough to beat.

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

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

>>DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND 40TH ANNIVERSARY
>>This Is How Music Works
>>VISION FESTIVAL 22
>>American Ballet Theatre
>>World Science Festival
>>2017 Uptown Arts Stroll
>>PLUS Mad. Sq. Eats

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

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

This Is How Music Works
The Town Hall / 8PM, $25–$60
“Rock star–turned–safe streets advocate David Byrne adapts his challenging 2012 book How Music Works into an evening-length salon, using dance, theater, comedy, and, of course, music to illustrate his far-ranging ideas. Re-released the day of the show with a new chapter, the meandering nonfiction screed is hard to pin down and includes not just recollections of the Talking Heads’ career but also dissections of birdsong, psychoacoustic theory, and how the U.S. treats music from other countries (not well, he concludes). The additional section extends another of Byrne’s explorations, the machinery of the music industry, examining the rise of discovery services like Spotify and how they affect the business, the artists, and the songs themselves. Helping him to explain this ambitious project are choreographer Paul Lazar, magician Noah Levine, actors from UCB, and many more guests to be revealed when they walk onstage.” (Zoë Beery, VillageVoice)

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

World Science Festival
Tonight: “Geneticists, paleoanthropologists, and biologists come together for a World Science Festival evening moderated by Dateline NBC correspondent John Hockenberry. Given the vast shift in priorities for human natural selection, and technology at the ready to set our own genetic paths, the night will ask “Are We the Masters of Our Fate?” NYU Skirball Center.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

BookExpo (also Friday)
“BookExpo returns to Javits Center! Guests for talks will include Stephen King, Alan Alda, James Patterson, Marc Maron, Neil Patrick Harris, NASA’s Dr. Scott Kelly, Zac Posen, and more.” (nycityguide)

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

The great food options here along with the lovely Madison Square Park across the street make an unbeatable combo.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Whitney Museum of American Art:

Museum of Modern Art:

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

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

The Museum of the City of New York:

American Museum of Natural History:

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

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

(3/3-7/3) 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)

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 05/30 and 05/28.
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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2017 Uptown Arts Stroll, American Ballet Theatre, DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND 40TH ANNIVERSARY, NYC Events, Scooper Bowl: All You Can Eat Ice Cream Festival, This Is How Music Works, VISION FESTIVAL 22, World Science Festival | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (05/31) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square / Theater District)

Posted on 05/31/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/MAY 31, 2017

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

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

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

>>John Mayall
>>The MET Orchestra
>>Louis Hayes: Serenade for Horace Silver
>>American Ballet Theatre
>>World Science Festival
>>2017 Uptown Arts Stroll
>>PLUS Mad. Sq. Eats

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

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

John Mayall
Iridium, / 8:30PM, $55-$75
“Often referred to as “The Godfather of British Blues,” John Mayall has an impressive musical career that spans over 50 years. The English blues singer, pianist, harmonica player, guitarist, and songwriter founded the band, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in the 1960’s—a band whose members included many celebrated blues and blues rock guitarists, such as: Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Walter Trout, Coco Montoya and Buddy Whittington.” (brooklynvegan.com)

The MET Orchestra
Carnegie Hall,/ 8PM, 27.50+
“With the opera season wrapped, the Met’s pit band moves in to Carnegie Hall for a three-night series led by Esa-Pekka Salonen. The first concert features mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and tenor Matthew Polenzani singing selections from Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn, plus his Symphony No. 1.” (J.D., NY magazine)

Louis Hayes: Serenade for Horace Silver (LAST DAY)
Dizzy’s Club, / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“With drummer Louis Hayes, saxophonist Abraham Burton, trumpeter Josh Evans, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, pianist David Bryant, and bassist Dezron Douglas

Master musician Louis Hayes is one of the most prolific jazz drummers of all time. While still in his teens in 1956, Louis Hayes moved to New York and joined the Horace Silver Quintet, spending the following years working with greats like John Coltrane and Curtis Fuller, and then joining Cannonball Adderley’s quintet in 1959. He has since become one of the most recorded drummers in history and one of the players most successful in navigating the changes in jazz since the hard bop era.

Though his résumé also includes working with Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Yusef Lateef, Ravi Shankar, J.J. Johnson, Ray Brown, Wes Montgomery, and countless more, he has spent the last several decades as a leader, mobilizing some of the tightest and most cohesive groups in the business. Tonight’s band is no exception. Expect a festive three nights as we celebrate Hayes’ 80th birthday and his Blue Note album release.”

American Ballet Theatre (thru July 08)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center / 2PM, +7:30PM, $22+
“The company continues its spring season with performances of “Giselle,” through Wednesday, and Alexei Ratmansky’s “The Golden Cockerel,” based on Michel Fokine’s 1914 original, beginning on Thursday. This weekend brings a flurry of New York debuts in the leading roles of “Giselle,” including Misty Copeland and Alban Lendorf (Friday), Sarah Lane and Daniil Simikin (Saturday afternoon), and Gillian Murphy (Saturday evening). Ms. Murphy will dance alongside the consummately princely David Hallberg, in his first season back after a long recovery from injury.” (NYT-SIOBHAN BURKE)

Tonight: Giselle – “The epitome of Romantic ballet, this heart-rending tale of unrequited love, remorse, and forgiveness perfectly fuses music, movement, and drama. The role of Giselle requires an exquisite stylist with daring dramatic and technical skills, creating a compelling portrait of the innocent, yet ultimately noble, village maiden. In this universally acclaimed production, ABT’s unrivalled roster of international ballet stars brings Giselle’s mystery and ethereal beauty vividly to life.”

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

World Science Festival
Tonight: A computer scientist, an engineering theorist, an artist, and a neuroscientist join WNYC’s John Schaefer for a World Science Festival conversation about “AI and the Art of Ingenuity.” They’ll question a machine’s capacity to innovate, and explore what artificial intelligence reveals about the human kind. NYU Skirball Center.

The great food options here along with the lovely Madison Square Park across the street make an unbeatable combo.

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

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2017 Uptown Arts Stroll, John Mayall, The MET Orchestra, VISION FESTIVAL 22 | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (05/30) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 05/30/2017 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > TUESDAY/MAY 30, 2017

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

World Science Festival | Opening Night: Time, Creativity, and the Cosmos
Jazz at Lincoln Center, Rose Hall/Time Warner Center, 5th Floor / 7PM, $50+
“It’s the opening night of the tenth World Science Festival, which celebrates science through discussions, explorations, performances and more. This year’s festivities begin with Time, Creativity, and the Cosmos, a night of eclectic performances, featuring works from famed violinist Joshua Bell, renowned opera star Renée Fleming and others.” (untappedcities.com)

“The tenth World Science Festival opens with a new work celebrating the human spirit of exploration, discovery, and creativity. Told by acclaimed physicist Brian Greene as a cosmic journey that wends its way from the Big Bang to the end of time, the evening features an exceptional and eclectic group of performers including famed violinist Joshua Bell, renowned opera star Renée Fleming, and the innovative dance troupe Pilobolus, among others. The evening is a celebration of science and art examining our collective longing to transcend the boundaries of space and time.”

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

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

>>Louis Hayes: Serenade for Horace Silver
>>FRIGHTENED RABBIT AND TORRES
>>American Ballet Theatre
>>CAMILA MEZA AND THE NECTAR ORCHESTRA
>>Casey Stengel: Baseball’s Greatest Character
>>Manhattanhenge
>>PLUS Mad. Sq. Eats

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

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Louis Hayes: Serenade for Horace Silver (May 29 – 31)
Dizzy’s Club, / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“With drummer Louis Hayes, saxophonist Abraham Burton, trumpeter Josh Evans, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, pianist David Bryant, and bassist Dezron Douglas

FRIGHTENED RABBIT AND TORRES
at Brooklyn Steel / 7:30PM, $35
“Straightforward, soaring indie rock is in many ways a less popular sound than it was a decade ago, but Frightened Rabbit has broken through by steadfastly honing its chops on tours with giants of the genre like Death Cab for Cutie and the National. (The group’s most recent album, the moody “Painting of a Panic Attack,” drew strong reviews when it was released last year.) The singer-songwriter Torres, whose grunge-leaning music makes for spellbinding live shows, is a well-chosen opening act.” (SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON-NYT)

CAMILA MEZA AND THE NECTAR ORCHESTRA
at the Jazz Gallery / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $15
“The guitarist and vocalist Camila Meza, who hails from Chile but lives in New York, allows harmonic development to guide the weaving momentum of her compositions. She belongs to a small crowd of singer-songwriters in the city who write mostly acoustic music that’s informed by indie rock, North and South American folk, and some contemporary jazz. (Others you might have heard: Becca Stevens, Alan Hampton, Gretchen Parlato.) Here, Ms. Meza will debut fresh material with a new group, the Nectar Orchestra, which is one-half jazz combo and one-half string quartet.” (GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO – NYT)

American Ballet Theatre (thru July 08)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $22+
“The company continues its spring season with performances of “Giselle,” through Wednesday, and Alexei Ratmansky’s “The Golden Cockerel,” based on Michel Fokine’s 1914 original, beginning on Thursday. This weekend brings a flurry of New York debuts in the leading roles of “Giselle,” including Misty Copeland and Alban Lendorf (Friday), Sarah Lane and Daniil Simikin (Saturday afternoon), and Gillian Murphy (Saturday evening). Ms. Murphy will dance alongside the consummately princely David Hallberg, in his first season back after a long recovery from injury.” (NYT-SIOBHAN BURKE)

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

Casey Stengel: Baseball’s Greatest Character
Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave./ 6:30PM, FREE
“With Marty Appel, a former Yankee public relations director, television executive producer, and author.

This lecture paints an intimate portrait of a private man who was larger than life and remains the embodiment of the national pastime.”

Manhattanhenge
American Museum of Natural History; 7pm; $15
“Witness the perfect alignment of the sun on Manhattan’s east and west streets, with a planetarium show and explanation from astrophysicist Jackie Faherty.” (TONY)

The great food options here along with the lovely Madison Square Park across the street make an unbeatable combo.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Chelsea Art Gallery District*

Here is one exhibition the New Yorker really likes:

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

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

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 05/28 and 05/26.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged CAMILA MEZA AND THE NECTAR ORCHESTRA, FRIGHTENED RABBIT AND TORRES, Louis Hayes: Serenade for Horace Silver, Manhattanhenge, World Science Festival | Leave a comment

Selected NYCity Instagram Photos (05/29) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 05/29/2017 by GregD

Today’s NYCity Instagram Photos > MONDAY / MAY 29, 2017

Today we celebrate Memorial Day so there will be no selected events, instead we will treat you to some very fine New York City photographers and their Instagram sites. Selected NYC Events, “Only the Best,” returns tomorrow, Tuesday, May 30.

underground_nyc

silviosandino

papakila

sean _p

visualmemories

seaandshoots

==================================================
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:

==================================================================================
♦ 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))

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==================================================================================
“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 | Leave a comment

	Darin on October NYC Events + NYC Weeke…
	Darin on Selected Events (10/13) + Toda…

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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Chelsea Art Gallery District*

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub / Midtown West.

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

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – Greenwich Village

Caffe Vivaldi / 32 Jones Street (btw. Bleecker St./W4th St.)

3 Good Eating places

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub

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

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Chelsea Art Gallery District*

Today’s NYCity Instagram Photos > MONDAY / MAY 29, 2017

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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A PremierPub / Tribeca

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

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