Selected NYC Events (10/09) + Today’s Featured Pub (WestVillage)

Posted on 10/09/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SUNDAY / OCT 09, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

BILL FRISELL (through Oct. 16, except Monday)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St./ 8PM, +10:30PM, $20-$35
“The 2014 album “Guitar in the Space Age!” documented Frisell’s infatuation with the pop and country music of his impressionable youth. The record never quite achieved liftoff, but in performance this brilliant instrumentalist and his sharp quartet (with the pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leis) are determined to convey the exhilaration of first-love listening.” (NewYorker)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through Oct. 16)
NYS / DHK Theater, Lincoln Center/ at various times, $
“City Ballet’s season continues with George Balanchine’s shimmering triptych “Jewels” (Friday, Saturday matinee, Sunday) and encores for new works by the company members Justin Peck, Lauren Lovette and Peter Walker, as well as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Accompanying them is Mr. Peck’s exhilarating “Everywhere We Go” from 2014 (Saturday evening and Wednesday). Tuesday and Thursday’s program honors American composers, with Jerome Robbins’s “Glass Pieces,” referring to Philip Glass; Peter Martins’s “Thou Swell,” a jazzy fling to Richard Rodgers; and Balanchine’s patriotic “Stars and Stripes,” to the music of John Philip Sousa.” (Schaefer-NYT)

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

FUTURE OF STORYTELLING FESTIVAL (LAST DAY)
Future of StoryTelling Playground, 1280 Fifth Ave./ 9AM-4PM, $
“Experience the sensation of flying like a bird over Manhattan, tie scents and sounds to the final moments before President John F. Kennedy’s and Whitney Houston’s deaths, and manipulate the plot of a movie using your phone to influence the protagonist’s decisions. FoST Fest, billed as “the world’s first immersive storytelling festival,” looks to celebrate the ways individuals can now become part of a story. Seventy interactive experiences will take place within the 75,000-square-foot FoST Playground, highlighting such technologies as virtual, augmented and mixed reality; haptic and natural user interfaces; sensors and artificial intelligence. A number of satellite activities will also take place across the city.” (NYT-AroundTown)

PlayFest: Made in New York (through Oct. 19)
Paley Center for Media, 25 W52nd St./
“This series of screenings and panel discussions returns with a focus on television shows filmed in New York City. The coming week’s lineup includes “Younger,” with appearances by the cast members Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff, as well as others including the show’s creator, Darren Star, of “Sex and the City” fame (Monday at 6:30 p.m.). On Thursday, Trevor Noah and his team discuss “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (at 8:30 p.m.). Other events at various times.” (NYT-AroundTown)

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours sell out quickly. Among the options for the coming week are a peek at the Department of Sanitation’s garage and salt shed complex — it has a much more radical and exciting design than you might suspect — at Spring and West Streets in Manhattan (Tuesday at 3 and 3:30 p.m.). Other highlights include “Watching Modernism,” a presentation by the World Monuments Fund about buildings on its watch list, such as Philip Johnson’s New York State Pavilion, designed for the for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Empire State Building).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY’S EVENTS INCLUDE:
The Italian South Village / 2PM, $30
“While many portions of its better known neighbors, Greenwich Village and SoHo, have been protected for decades, the South Village — which is likewise rich in historic, architectural and cultural resources — has until recently had no official protection at all, and a significant portion still does not. This is partly due to the historic resources being somewhat untraditional by conventional standards. Much of this area’s history is defined by tenements and immigrants; by crooked streets and tiny houses which may have been altered, but which still retain their charm and architectural distinction; by speakeasies, jazz clubs, beatnik coffeehouses, and folk music clubs and a significant and formative LGBT past, all from the area’s counter-cultural heyday of the 1920s through the 1960s.

In recent years preservationists and neighborhood activists have sounded the alarm over the destruction of several historic theaters, townhouses and cultural resources. This tour, led by Laurence Frommer, will include a special look at the influence of the Italian-American immigrant community here.”

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
TODAY includes: Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened / 6PM,
also Mon 6:30PM
“In 1981, Stephen Sondheim, Harold Prince, and George Furth embarked on Merrily We Roll Along, a musical based on the 1934 George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart comedy told in reverse: the characters, played by a cast of teenage unknowns, begin as disillusioned adults and end as starry-eyed adolescents. Though the original, much-ballyhooed production was panned by the critics and closed after just 16 performances, Merrily We Roll Along would go on to attain musical theater legend status. This alternately heartbreaking and euphoric film by original cast member Lonny Price features never-before seen footage of Prince and Sondheim at work on the show and revisits many of Price’s fellow actors, all of them united by this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
*Stephen Sondheim in person at October 9 screening only.”

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

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 (all six are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – 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 – 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319

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

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

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 58 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2016.  Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.
NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub / West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
========================================================

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

Selected NYC Events (10/08) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 10/08/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SATURDAY / OCT 08, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

Oktoberfest under the Manhattan Bridge
50 Adams St., Brooklyn./ 3-10PM
“The Dumbo Business Improvement District is throwing down under the Manhattan Bridge with crafts, food and music for this epic Oktoberfest celebration. Enter a pop-up beer hall replete with lederhosen-clad servers delivering brews, pretzels, sausages and more from the Lighthouse. Get ready to gorge on classic German fare, and jam out to polka music by Melina and the Oompahs and Bavarian pop by DJ Holzmeister. Prost!” (TONY)
Not Manhattan’s WestSide, but it is Brooklyn’s WestSide. and it is Oktoberfest.
subway: easy. F train to York St., 1st stop in Bklyn.

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

AZAR LAWRENCE
Dizzy’s Club, Broadway at 60th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $
“Time hasn’t quite stood still for Lawrence, but the extended, fervently voiced John Coltrane-infused solos that garnered the saxophonist attention in the seventies still echo today. Though any number of contemporary saxophone stylists traffic in the Master’s idiom, Lawrence is closer to the source than most, having honed his prodigious chops in the bands of the key Trane associates McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. His quintet this week includes the trumpeter Eddie Henderson and the drummer Billy Hart.” (NewYorker)

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

FUTURE OF STORYTELLING FESTIVAL (through Sunday)
Future of StoryTelling Playground, 1280 Fifth Ave./
“Experience the sensation of flying like a bird over Manhattan, tie scents and sounds to the final moments before President John F. Kennedy’s and Whitney Houston’s deaths, and manipulate the plot of a movie using your phone to influence the protagonist’s decisions. FoST Fest, billed as “the world’s first immersive storytelling festival,” looks to celebrate the ways individuals can now become part of a story. Seventy interactive experiences will take place within the 75,000-square-foot FoST Playground, highlighting such technologies as virtual, augmented and mixed reality; haptic and natural user interfaces; sensors and artificial intelligence. A number of satellite activities will also take place across the city.” (NYT-AroundTown)

PlayFest: Made in New York (through Oct. 19)
Paley Center for Media, 25 W52nd St./
“This series of screenings and panel discussions returns with a focus on television shows filmed in New York City. The coming week’s lineup includes “Younger,” with appearances by the cast members Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff, as well as others including the show’s creator, Darren Star, of “Sex and the City” fame (Monday at 6:30 p.m.). On Thursday, Trevor Noah and his team discuss “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (at 8:30 p.m.). Other events at various times.” (NYT-AroundTown)

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours sell out quickly. Among the options for the coming week are a peek at the Department of Sanitation’s garage and salt shed complex — it has a much more radical and exciting design than you might suspect — at Spring and West Streets in Manhattan (Tuesday at 3 and 3:30 p.m.). Other highlights include “Watching Modernism,” a presentation by the World Monuments Fund about buildings on its watch list, such as Philip Johnson’s New York State Pavilion, designed for the for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Empire State Building).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY’S EVENTS INCLUDE:
WestSideStory:The Evolution of Lincoln Center / 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, $20
Meet at the fountain in the plaza of Lincoln Center at 1:15 PM. The tour will begin promptly at 1:30 PM, rain or shine. (I’ll be there.)

“Discover the evolution of this pioneering cultural complex of the mid-20th Century. Explore its origins as a Robert Moses urban renewal project announced in 1956, through its design and construction by some of our most iconic Modern architects in the turbulent 60s, to its reimagining by Diller, Scofidio and Renfro in this past decade for the New York of the 21st Century.”

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
TODAY includes: Personal Shopper / 3PM
“Kristen Stewart is the medium, in more ways than one, for this sophisticated genre exploration from director Olivier Assayas. As a fashion assistant whose twin brother has died, leaving her bereft and longing for messages from the other side, Stewart is fragile and enigmatic—and nearly always on-screen.”

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

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 (all six are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – 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 – 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319

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

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

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 58 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):

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

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.

One exhibition the NYT likes:
RICHARD SERRA (through Oct.22)
“New works occupying one of Gagosian Gallery’s Chelsea display spaces reveal Mr. Serra to be, at 76, still wrangling sculptural fundamentals into objects and installations of thrilling severity. The space, on West 24th Street, hosts three works made of solid steel slabs as well as a drawing installation.”
Gagosian Gallery, 555 West 24th Street, 212-741-1111, gagosian.com. (Johnson)

One exhibition TimeOutNewYork likes:
Random International (thru Oct.22)
Pace Gallery, 537 W24th St./ 10AM-6PM, FREE
“The the art and design studio behind the hugely popular Rain Room at MoMA in 2013 returns with more examples of digitally-aided legerdemain, including an interactive, full-length “mirror” that blurs your refection.”

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).

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 10/06 and 10/04.
======================================================

This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
==========================================================

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (10/07) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 10/07/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > FRIDAY / OCT 07, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

PlayFest: Made in New York (through Oct. 19)
Paley Center for Media, 25 W52nd St./
“This series of screenings and panel discussions returns with a focus on television shows filmed in New York City. The coming week’s lineup includes “Younger,” with appearances by the cast members Sutton Foster and Hilary Duff, as well as others including the show’s creator, Darren Star, of “Sex and the City” fame (Monday at 6:30 p.m.). On Thursday, Trevor Noah and his team discuss “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (at 8:30 p.m.). Other events at various times.” (NYT-AroundTown)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Tedeschi Trucks Band (also October 8)
Beacon Theatre, Broadway & 74th St./ 8PM, $30+
“Tedeschi Trucks Band will continue their Beacon Theatre tradition of multiple-night residencies for the sixth consecutive year with the greatest number of shows to date. The 12-piece band led by husband and wife Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi have performed at the Beacon Theatre since 2011, and this year’s run has expanded to six shows with special guest openers Amy Ray (9/30), Dave Mason (10/4), and Jorma Kaukonen (10/5). Select weekend nights (10/1, 10/7, 10/8) will feature TTB performing two full sets with no openers.

The return to the Beacon adds to the Grammy Award-winning band’s growing legacy of delivering a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable performances in New York City. Last year, during its sold-out 4-night run, the ensemble debuted numerous new songs, changed up their set lists nightly for fans and played host to brilliant surprise collaborations with guests Jon Batiste, Rosanne Cash, Charles Bradley and David Hidalgo.”

AZAR LAWRENCE
Dizzy’s Club, Broadway at 60th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $
“Time hasn’t quite stood still for Lawrence, but the extended, fervently voiced John Coltrane-infused solos that garnered the saxophonist attention in the seventies still echo today. Though any number of contemporary saxophone stylists traffic in the Master’s idiom, Lawrence is closer to the source than most, having honed his prodigious chops in the bands of the key Trane associates McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. His quintet this week includes the trumpeter Eddie Henderson and the drummer Billy Hart.” (NewYorker)

AMINA CLAUDINE MYERS/ROMAN FILIU QUINTET
Community Church of New York, 40 E35th St./ 8PM,
“The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians presents its first concert of the season, featuring Ms. Myers, a pianist and singer who has recently been drawing deeply from traditional spirituals and gospel songs. (She’ll perform solo, drawing from a grounded yet haunting new album, “Sama Rou: Songs From My Soul.”) Sharing the bill is a quintet led by the Cuban alto saxophonist Roman Filiu.” (Chinen-NYT)

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

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours sell out quickly. Among the options for the coming week are a peek at the Department of Sanitation’s garage and salt shed complex — it has a much more radical and exciting design than you might suspect — at Spring and West Streets in Manhattan (Tuesday at 3 and 3:30 p.m.). Other highlights include “Watching Modernism,” a presentation by the World Monuments Fund about buildings on its watch list, such as Philip Johnson’s New York State Pavilion, designed for the for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Empire State Building).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY’S EVENTS INCLUDE:
New York School of Interior Design / 8:30AM-5:30PM
Interior Design: The Essential Profession
“Interior Design: The Essential Profession,” will be the New York School of Interior Design’s first annual symposium celebrating the present and future, of interior design; a fast-paced, information-packed day of presentations, panels and roundtable discussions about the role of interior design in today’s global environment and its contributions to health, hospitality, and the urban environment.”

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
TONIGHT includes: Personal Shopper / 9PM
Kristen Stewart is the medium, in more ways than one, for this sophisticated genre exploration from director Olivier Assayas. As a fashion assistant whose twin brother has died, leaving her bereft and longing for messages from the other side, Stewart is fragile and enigmatic—and nearly always on-screen.

==============================================================
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 (all six are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – 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 – 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319

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

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

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 58 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2016.  Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.
NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub / 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
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Selected NYC Events (10/06) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 10/06/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > THURSDAY / OCT 06, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

Ifrikya Spirit
Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, 61 W62nd St./ 7:30PM, FREE
Seating is limited, better get there no later than 7PM
“Fronted by a transfixing, gritty vocalist, and grounded by not one but two guimbri (three-stringed, skin-covered basses) plus a drummer, bassist, and keyboard player, the Algerian band Ifrikya Spirit plays with the nimbleness of a jazz ensemble and the earthy passion of a hard-hitting roots group. Inspired by the pulsing rhythms and call-and-response melodies of Algerian diwan music, Ifrikya Spirit stakes its expansive musical tent at the juncture of West African instruments and global sensibilities. Eclectic and elemental, Ifrikya Spirit is “a stand-out with a unique sound at the melting point of new composition and instrumental abundance, with messages of peace and inter-African solidarity, all rooted in the rituals of the diwan” (Algerie Presse Service).”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

PHAROAH SANDERS QUARTET (through Oct. 8)
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 8:30PM +11PM, $40
This spring the tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders was recognized as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. He inhabits that stature with an ecstatic, gruffly spiritual style that coalesced in the 1960s, took full flight in the ’70s and still bears relevance on the current scene.” (NYT-Chinen)

RAVI COLTRANE QUARTET (through Oct. 9)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave S, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM, $
“A tenor and soprano saxophonist with a dry sound and a sinewy, questing style, Mr. Coltrane leads a working band with several sharp-minded younger partners: the pianist David Virelles, the bassist Dezron Douglas and the drummer Johnathan Blake.” (Chinen-NYT)

BONUS DANCE EVENTS:

FALL FOR DANCE (through Oct. 8)
City Center, 131 W55th St./ 8PM, all seats $15
“The best sampler platter of dance in town — and of the year, for that matter — continues with Program 3 on Friday and Saturday, featuring Compagnie Accrorap, a French troupe mixing street dance and acrobatics; the tapper Ayodele Casel in a solo dedicated to unsung female dancers; Hong Kong Ballet with a work by Jorma Elo; and Bangarra Dance Theater from Australia, telling stories of that country’s indigenous peoples (2:05). On Wednesday and Thursday, in Program 4, Jessica Lang presents a work inspired by architecture; Royal Ballet Flanders offers “Fall,” an ode to the season by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents the seminal solo “Cry”; and the Sarasota Ballet performs Frederick Ashton’s “Marguerite and Armand” (2:15).” (Schaefer-NYT)

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through Oct. 16)
NYS / DHK Theater, Lincoln Center/ at various times, $
“City Ballet’s season continues with George Balanchine’s shimmering triptych “Jewels” (Friday, Saturday matinee, Sunday) and encores for new works by the company members Justin Peck, Lauren Lovette and Peter Walker, as well as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Accompanying them is Mr. Peck’s exhilarating “Everywhere We Go” from 2014 (Saturday evening and Wednesday). Tuesday and Thursday’s program honors American composers, with Jerome Robbins’s “Glass Pieces,” referring to Philip Glass; Peter Martins’s “Thou Swell,” a jazzy fling to Richard Rodgers; and Balanchine’s patriotic “Stars and Stripes,” to the music of John Philip Sousa.” (Schaefer-NYT)

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

PlayFest: Made in New York
The Paley Center for Media, 25 W52nd St./ 6:30PM, $50
“Immerse yourself in the world of addictive television at PaleyFest, where TV’s biggest names convene for panel discussions and audience Q&As. Check out panels on Homeland, Quantico, Younger, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and more at this year’s fest.”

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours, like one of the Lowline underground-park site, are already sold out. You can still get into a tour of the New York State Pavilion, designed by Philip Johnson for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Thursday at noon). Other highlights for the coming week include daily architecture boat tours and “The Stories They Tell: Trees of Steel,” a lecture about the architectural history of the World Trade Center site (Monday at noon, National September 11 Memorial & Museum).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY’S EVENTS INCLUDE:
Parsons School of Constructed Environments, Parsons School of Design
A Photographic Search for the Unmeasurable in the Built / 6:00-8:00PM
“Scott Benedict will present on his photographs of iconic and vernacular buildings and elaborate on his exploration of the enigmatic relationship between photography and architecture. Benedict will propose that photographs can more accurately capture the spirit of architecture if they acknowledge the inherently open-endedness of the discipline and consider the viewer.”

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
TONIGHT includes: Neruda / 9PM
Pablo Larraín’s exciting, surprising, and colorful new film is a “Nerudean” portrait of the great Chilean poet’s years of flight and exile, featuring Luis Gnecco, Gael García Bernal as a fictional detective, and a terrific cast.

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Bonus NYC Events – Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite music venues, most 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
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com,
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474

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

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 58 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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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:
‘ROZ CHAST: CARTOON MEMOIRS’ (through Oct. 16)
“This delightful, frequently laugh-out-loud exhibition presents more than 200 works by the brilliant, widely beloved visual humorist Roz Chast, including many images made for The New Yorker over the past four decades as well as some never before published. The anxieties, contradictions and pathos of middle class, metropolitan life have rarely been illustrated with such generous comic élan. Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, 212-534-1672, mcny.org.” (Johnson)

MET BREUER:
‘DIANE ARBUS: IN THE BEGINNING’ (through Nov. 27)
“This show of 100 or so early photographs by Arbus (1923-71), many on view for the first time, has a terrific installation, with work hung on columnlike panels that suggest rows of doors receding into darkness. The pictures themselves, dating between 1956 and 1962, have a grainy, moody texture, and they reveal an Arbus who had already landed on some of her favored themes: childhood, negotiable gender, fringe culture and class. If the show as a whole is more powerful than most of its individual images, there are some wonderful things. And as a forecast of mature work to come — familiar examples are included in a separate gallery — it is utterly magnetic. 945 Madison Avenue, at 75th Street, Manhattan, 212-535-0177, metmuseum.org.” (Cotter)

MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM:
‘HANS MEMLING: PORTRAITURE, PIETY AND A REUNITED ALTARPIECE’ (through January 2017)
“When it comes to jewels, there are Taylor-Burton rocks and discreetly cut heirloom stones. With museum shows, it’s the same. This one, at the Morgan Library, is a minute but invaluable gem. Set in a 20-by-20-by-20-foot gallery known as the Cube, it reunites, for the first time in the United States, dispersed sections of an altarpiece by the 15th-century German-born, Flanders-based Memling and adds some of his exquisite portrait paintings. 225 Madison Avenue, at 36th Street, 212-685-0008, themorgan.org.” (Cotter)

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 these two:
‘CELEBRATING THE ARTS OF JAPAN: THE MARY GRIGGS BURKE COLLECTION’ (through May 2017)
“This lavish collection of 160 objects came to the Met from the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation in early 2015. The Burkes loved Japanese art — all of it — and the exhibition is close to compendious in terms of media, from wood-carved Buddhas to bamboo baskets, with a particular strength in painting, early and late. The quality of the work? Japan thinks highly enough of it to have made the Burke holdings the first Japanese collection from abroad ever to show at Tokyo National Museum. 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.” (Cotter)

‘JERUSALEM 1000–1400: EVERY PEOPLE UNDER HEAVEN’ (through Jan. 8)
“Three major faiths — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — have called Jerusalem their own, and its varying histories as a sacred space, a theater of conflict and a cosmopolitan cultural emporium are reflected in this exhibition modeled along classic Met epic lines: 200 fascinating objects from 60 international collections, with a time frame in the past and context in the present (in the form of short videos in each gallery). If much of the art is small, the effect is not. We see a city otherworldly and monumental, but also one of appetites, personalities and ethnic tensions as real today as they ever were. 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.” (Cotter)

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

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (SUN 11am-1pm PWYW) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015).
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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 10/04 and 10/02.
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This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
=========================================================

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (10/05) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 10/05/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY / OCT 05, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

Tedeschi Trucks Band (also October 7 & 8)
Beacon Theatre, Broadway & 74th St./ 8PM, $30+
“Tedeschi Trucks Band will continue their Beacon Theatre tradition of multiple-night residencies for the sixth consecutive year with the greatest number of shows to date. The 12-piece band led by husband and wife Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi have performed at the Beacon Theatre since 2011, and this year’s run has expanded to six shows with special guest openers Amy Ray (9/30), Dave Mason (10/4), and Jorma Kaukonen (10/5). Select weekend nights (10/1, 10/7, 10/8) will feature TTB performing two full sets with no openers.

The return to the Beacon adds to the Grammy Award-winning band’s growing legacy of delivering a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable performances in New York City. Last year, during its sold-out 4-night run, the ensemble debuted numerous new songs, changed up their set lists nightly for fans and played host to brilliant surprise collaborations with guests Jon Batiste, Rosanne Cash, Charles Bradley and David Hidalgo.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

LEW TABACKIN TRIO (Tuesday and Wednesday)
Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St./Broadway / 7:30PM, 9:30PM, $,
“As a tenor saxophonist, Lew Tabackin combines gut instincts with a broad command of jazz styles; as a flutist, he favors Eastern timbres and scales. He appears with a pair of guests in this brief run: first the trumpeter Randy Brecker, a longtime collaborator (Tuesday), and then his wife, Toshiko Akiyoshi, a celebrated pianist, composer and bandleader.” (Chinen-NYT)

RAVI COLTRANE QUARTET (through Oct. 9)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave S, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM, $
“A tenor and soprano saxophonist with a dry sound and a sinewy, questing style, Mr. Coltrane leads a working band with several sharp-minded younger partners: the pianist David Virelles, the bassist Dezron Douglas and the drummer Johnathan Blake.” (Chinen-NYT)

BONUS DANCE EVENTS:

FALL FOR DANCE (through Oct. 8)
City Center, 131 W55th St./ 8PM, all seats $15
“The best sampler platter of dance in town — and of the year, for that matter — continues with Program 3 on Friday and Saturday, featuring Compagnie Accrorap, a French troupe mixing street dance and acrobatics; the tapper Ayodele Casel in a solo dedicated to unsung female dancers; Hong Kong Ballet with a work by Jorma Elo; and Bangarra Dance Theater from Australia, telling stories of that country’s indigenous peoples (2:05). On Wednesday and Thursday, in Program 4, Jessica Lang presents a work inspired by architecture; Royal Ballet Flanders offers “Fall,” an ode to the season by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents the seminal solo “Cry”; and the Sarasota Ballet performs Frederick Ashton’s “Marguerite and Armand” (2:15).” (Schaefer-NYT)

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through Oct. 16)
NYS / DHK Theater, Lincoln Center/ at various times, $
“City Ballet’s season continues with George Balanchine’s shimmering triptych “Jewels” (Friday, Saturday matinee, Sunday) and encores for new works by the company members Justin Peck, Lauren Lovette and Peter Walker, as well as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Accompanying them is Mr. Peck’s exhilarating “Everywhere We Go” from 2014 (Saturday evening and Wednesday). Tuesday and Thursday’s program honors American composers, with Jerome Robbins’s “Glass Pieces,” referring to Philip Glass; Peter Martins’s “Thou Swell,” a jazzy fling to Richard Rodgers; and Balanchine’s patriotic “Stars and Stripes,” to the music of John Philip Sousa.” (Schaefer-NYT)

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

ALERT:  Open House New York Weekend October 15 and 16, 2016
For two days each October, the annual Open House New York Weekend unlocks the doors of New York’s most important buildings, offering an extraordinary opportunity to experience the city and meet the people who design, build, and preserve New York.
The majority of sites are Open Access and can be visited during the days and hours listed online and in the Event Guide. Some sites require Advanced Reservations. Reservations will open at 11am on Thursday, October 6.

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours, like one of the Lowline underground-park site, are already sold out. You can still get into a tour of the New York State Pavilion, designed by Philip Johnson for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Thursday at noon). Other highlights for the coming week include daily architecture boat tours and “The Stories They Tell: Trees of Steel,” a lecture about the architectural history of the World Trade Center site (Monday at noon, National September 11 Memorial & Museum).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY’S EVENTS INCLUDE:
Austrian Cultural Forum
SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION: COLONNADE PARK BY HEIDRUN HOLZFEIND / 7:00-9:00pm

The Austrian Cultural Forum presents a special screening of Heidrun Holzfeind’s Colonnade Park. The film explores architect Mies van der Rohe’s high rise apartment buildings in Newark and the lives and stories of the people inhabiting it. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Austrian artist Heidrun Holzfeind, architecture historian Mariana Mogilevich and MoMA curator Barry Bergdoll. Reception after the talk.

Austrian Cultural Forum
Architecture Tour: Raimund Abraham / 4:00pm
Architectural historian Kenneth Frampton called the Austrian Cultural Forum, designed by Austrian architect and theorist Raimund Abraham (1933–2010), the most spectacular modern structure built in New York since the Seagram Building and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum. The Austrian Cultural Forum provides visitors the opportunity to tour the architectural landmark building in midtown Manhattan. 11 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022.

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
TONIGHT: The Rehearsal / 9PM
Alison Maclean (Jesus’ Son) returns to her New Zealand filmmaking roots with a multilayered coming-of-age story about a young actor searching for the truth of a character he’s playing onstage and the resulting moral dilemma in his personal life.

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

Bonus NYC Events – Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite 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
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474

Special Mention:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. caffevivaldi.com, 212-691-7538
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprises with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It’s my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.
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 58 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2016.  Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.
NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
=================================================================================

A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – Greenwich Village

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Good Eating places

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

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

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

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

========================================================
“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
No reservations needed.
========================================================
NYCity is the most diverse and interesting place to find a meal anywhere in the world. With more than 24 thousand 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 Winter 2016).
◊ Order before Nov. 30, 2016 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.
=============================================================
This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
======================================================

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Selected NYC Events (10/04) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 10/04/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > TUESDAY / OCT 04, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

RAVI COLTRANE QUARTET (through Oct. 9)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave S, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM, $
“A tenor and soprano saxophonist with a dry sound and a sinewy, questing style, Mr. Coltrane leads a working band with several sharp-minded younger partners: the pianist David Virelles, the bassist Dezron Douglas and the drummer Johnathan Blake.” (Chinen-NYT)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

PHAROAH SANDERS QUARTET (through Oct. 8)
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 8:30PM +11PM, $40
This spring the tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders was recognized as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. He inhabits that stature with an ecstatic, gruffly spiritual style that coalesced in the 1960s, took full flight in the ’70s and still bears relevance on the current scene.” (NYT-Chinen)

Tedeschi Trucks Band (also October 5, 7 & 8)
Beacon Theatre, Broadway & 74th St./ 8PM, $30+
“Tedeschi Trucks Band will continue their Beacon Theatre tradition of multiple-night residencies for the sixth consecutive year with the greatest number of shows to date. The 12-piece band led by husband and wife Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi have performed at the Beacon Theatre since 2011, and this year’s run has expanded to six shows with special guest openers Amy Ray (9/30), Dave Mason (10/4), and Jorma Kaukonen (10/5). Select weekend nights (10/1, 10/7, 10/8) will feature TTB performing two full sets with no openers.

The return to the Beacon adds to the Grammy Award-winning band’s growing legacy of delivering a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable performances in New York City. Last year, during its sold-out 4-night run, the ensemble debuted numerous new songs, changed up their set lists nightly for fans and played host to brilliant surprise collaborations with guests Jon Batiste, Rosanne Cash, Charles Bradley and David Hidalgo.”

BONUS DANCE EVENTS:

FALL FOR DANCE (through Oct. 8)
City Center, 131 W55th St./ 8PM, all seats $15
“The best sampler platter of dance in town — and of the year, for that matter — continues with Program 3 on Friday and Saturday, featuring Compagnie Accrorap, a French troupe mixing street dance and acrobatics; the tapper Ayodele Casel in a solo dedicated to unsung female dancers; Hong Kong Ballet with a work by Jorma Elo; and Bangarra Dance Theater from Australia, telling stories of that country’s indigenous peoples (2:05). On Wednesday and Thursday, in Program 4, Jessica Lang presents a work inspired by architecture; Royal Ballet Flanders offers “Fall,” an ode to the season by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents the seminal solo “Cry”; and the Sarasota Ballet performs Frederick Ashton’s “Marguerite and Armand” (2:15).” (Schaefer-NYT)

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through Oct. 16)
NYS / DHK Theater, Lincoln Center/ at various times, $
“City Ballet’s season continues with George Balanchine’s shimmering triptych “Jewels” (Friday, Saturday matinee, Sunday) and encores for new works by the company members Justin Peck, Lauren Lovette and Peter Walker, as well as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Accompanying them is Mr. Peck’s exhilarating “Everywhere We Go” from 2014 (Saturday evening and Wednesday). Tuesday and Thursday’s program honors American composers, with Jerome Robbins’s “Glass Pieces,” referring to Philip Glass; Peter Martins’s “Thou Swell,” a jazzy fling to Richard Rodgers; and Balanchine’s patriotic “Stars and Stripes,” to the music of John Philip Sousa.” (Schaefer-NYT)

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

FRENCH COMICS FRAMED
Society of Illustrators, 128 E. 63rd St./
“This month-long festival and talk series highlights the varied works of Francophone graphic novelists. More than fifty French graphic novels are currently on display at Cooper Union’s Fourth Avenue Colonnade, for the first time in the U.S., tracing the history of the medium. In this week’s talk, at the Society of Illustrators, the twin brothers Asaf and Tomer Hanuka discuss the contrasting storytelling styles they brought to “The Divine,” their 2015 graphic novel, in which supernatural twin children lead a coup in a war-torn Asian country.” (NewYorker)

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours, like one of the Lowline underground-park site, are already sold out. You can still get into a tour of the New York State Pavilion, designed by Philip Johnson for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Thursday at noon). Other highlights for the coming week include daily architecture boat tours and “The Stories They Tell: Trees of Steel,” a lecture about the architectural history of the World Trade Center site (Monday at noon, National September 11 Memorial & Museum).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY’S EVENTS INCLUDE:
Central Park Conservancy /11:00am-12:30pm
Architecture and Ornament in the Heart of Central Park
On this limited-run tour, you’ll explore structural and landscape architectures that were fundamental guiding elements in the design and execution of Central Park. With stops at Strawberry Fields, Cherry Hill, Bow Bridge, the Lake’s Boat Landings, the Mall, and Bethesda Terrace, this tour highlights symbolic and artistic features that may be easily overlooked even by the daily Park goer.

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
TONIGHT: Toni Erdmann / 8:45PM
“An audacious twist on the screwball comedy, in which the twosome is an aging-hippie prankster father and his corporate-ladder-climbing daughter, Toni Erdmann delivers art and entertainment in equal measure and charmed just about everyone who saw it at the Cannes Film Festival this year.”

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

Bonus NYC Events – Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite 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
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474

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

=======================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 58 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):

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

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)

mm

Museum of Modern Art:

‘From the Collection: 1960-1969’ (through March 2017)
“MoMA shakes up its sanctum sanctorum, installing half of its permanent collection galleries with works chosen by 17 curators from a single decade: the tumultuous 1960s. The limited time frame is balanced by unprecedented breadth and variety. As never before, the presentation mixes together objects and artworks from all six of the museum’s curatorial departments. The blend is alternately stimulating and bewildering, revelatory and infuriating: yet another symptom of the museum’s limited curatorial mind-set. 212-708-9400, moma.org.” (Smith)

 Whitney Museum of American Art:

‘Human Interest: Portraits From the Whitney’s Collection’ (through Feb. 12)
“A year ago, the Whitney inaugurated its new downtown home with a permanent collection showcase called “America Is Hard to See.” Its even more immediately engaging successor, devoted entirely to portraiture, is now on view and might well have been subtitled “Americans Are Strange to Look At,” which, in the 250 images here, we sure are: funny-strange, beautiful-strange, crazy-strange, dangerous-strange, inscrutable-strange. The work is arranged by theme and spread over two floors. There are magnetic images everywhere. 99 Gansevoort Street, 212-570-3600, whitney.org.” (Cotter)

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right sidebar dated 10/02 and 09/30.
=======================================================

This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Train and Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
==========================================================

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Selected NYC Events (10/03) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square/ Theater District)

Posted on 10/03/2016 by GregD

Today’s Fab5 NYC Events > MONDAY / OCT 03, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

Natalie Douglas “Freedom Songs 2016 – Songs of Justice & Joy”
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 7PM, $30
“Freedom Songs 2016” celebrates the struggle for equality for all – regardless of color, religion, sexual orientation, and gender by artists like Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, Pete Seeger, Dr. Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln, Lena Horne, Helen Reddy, and more. As we approach Election Day 2016, come hear these enduring songs of freedom (including “Blackbird,” “Now!,” “Mississippi Goddam,” “Freedom Day,” & “I Am Woman”). Natalie, musical director Mark Hartman & the band will turn their considerable talents to explore the place where principle, passion, rhythm, melody, harmony, history and courage meet to change the world.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of Popular Music
St. Ann’s Warehouse, 45 water St.DUMBO/ 7:30PM, $56
“A Fabergé radical—beautiful, ridiculous and full of hidden tricks—the sublimely freakish Taylor Mac pilots audiences through fantastical journeys, guided only by the compass of his magnetic individuality. In the culmination of a project that has been in the works for five years, the performer surveys the past 250 years of American music, first in eight three-hour installments and then, on October 8, as a 24-hour marathon.” (TONY)

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

AMNH Presents | Frontiers Lecture: Mapping the Heavens
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ 7:30PM, $15
“The cosmos are now known to be expanding at an accelerating pace, propelled by dark energy and structured by dark matter. Join Yale astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan as she explains the science behind these essential ideas and provides an understanding of how radical scientific theories gain acceptance.”

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours, like one of the Lowline underground-park site, are already sold out. You can still get into a tour of the New York State Pavilion, designed by Philip Johnson for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Thursday at noon). Other highlights for the coming week include daily architecture boat tours and “The Stories They Tell: Trees of Steel,” a lecture about the architectural history of the World Trade Center site (Monday at noon, National September 11 Memorial & Museum).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY:
National September 11 Memorial & Museum / 12PM
The Stories They Tell: Trees of Steel
Every Monday in October, 9/11 Memorial staff will present a short talk about the architectural history of the World Trade Center site as exemplified by the tridents, iconic forked beams that withstood the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11. These talks will take place in the Museum Auditorium and are free with Museum admission.

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
09/30/2016 The 54th New York Film Festival
10/01/2016 Gimme Danger
10/13/2016 Pablo Larraín’s Jackie
10/15/2016 New York Film Festival Closing Night – Lost City of Z

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

Bonus NYC Events – Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite music venues, most 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
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com,
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474

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

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 58 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2016.  Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.
NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub + 3 Good Eating places

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

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

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

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

On nights when no local team is playing, it’s a fine place to sip some drafts and listen to a great old time jukebox (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.
==================================================================================

3 Good Eating Places

It’s not difficult finding 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:

Patzeria Perfect Pizza – 231 W46 St. (Btw 7th/8th ave)
Perfect name for a pizza joint. On a street filled with Broadway theaters, this is a real hole in the wall, but don’t let the dive look scare you away. You can never go wrong with a slice of NYCity pizza, and this one is a classic thin crust. Only a few seats here, but pizza was made to eat standing up.

Shake Shack – 691 8th Ave. (Btw 43rd/44th st)
Danny Meyer has revolutionized the high quality burger in this town. Now he has a branch on the West Side that was desperately needed, with a bit less of the insane lines that you find at the Madison Sq. Park location. Worth the wait.

Xi’an Famous Foods – 24 W45th St. (Btw 5th/6th ave)
Try to avoid long lunch lines. Order lamb hand ripped noodles and warm your insides at one of the tables in the back. You’ll return, just remember that even mild is pretty spicy.
==============================================================
“3 Good Eating Places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places, and essays on my favorite 18 Premier Pubs 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 2016).
◊ Order before Sept. 30, 2016 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.
==============================================================

This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station.
===========================================================

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

Selected NYC Events (10/02) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 10/02/2016 by GregD

Today’s Top 10 NYC Events > SUNDAY / OCT 02, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

Nonstop Metropolis: A New York City Atlas
Queens Museum, Flushing Meadow Park/ 2-5PM, $8
“Celebrate the launch of Rebecca Solnit and Joshua Jelly-Schapiro’s long-awaited Nonstop Metropolis: A New York City Atlas, the culminating volume in a trilogy of atlases, which conveys innumerable unbound experiences of New York City through twenty-six imaginative maps and informative essays. Bringing together the insights of dozens of experts—from linguists to music historians, ethnographers, urbanists, and environmental journalists—amplified by cartographers, artists, and photographers, it explores all five boroughs of New York City and parts of nearby New Jersey. We are invited to travel through Manhattan’s playgrounds, from polyglot Queens to many-faceted Brooklyn, and from the resilient Bronx to the mystical kung fu hip-hop mecca of Staten Island.”
subway: #7 from times square (about 40 minutes)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Hello – An Adele Tribute featuring the Evergreen Experience
Cafe Wha?,115 MacDougal St./ 7:30PM, $15
“You should see this show because, DUH seeing an actual Adele show is too GD expensive! This one is $15! And instead of dealing with huge crowds at Madison Square Garden, get cozy at Greenwich Village’s Cafe Wha? – a legendary nightclub that helped start the careers of performers such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

Taking the stage to celebrate Queen Adele are NYC performers Ashley Menard (Carnegie Hall, The Apollo), Elysse Yulo (The Femme Fends, How To Grow Up), and more!” (spoilednyc.com)

JOHN SCOFIELD (LAST DAY)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St./ 8PM, +10:30PM, $20-$35
“For his latest project, “Country for Old Men,” the guitarist didn’t exactly run down to Nashville and start cutting duets with the likes of Kenny Chesney. What he did do was transform some favorite country songs into jazz excursions for a crack ensemble featuring longtime collaborators, including the celebrated electric bassist Steve Swallow and the keyboardist Larry Goldings. The result is a clever genre mashup; it’s not every day that you hear Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” transformed into a stirring jazz-waltz jam.” (NewYorker)

HENRY THREADGILL’S ZOOID (LAST DAY)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Avenue South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $30
“Mr. Threadgill recently won a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize for music, on the strength of his assuredly spiky 2015 album, “In for a Penny, In for a Pound.” He’ll be at the Village Vanguard this week with the same band featured on the album: Zooid, a blazingly intuitive chamber-improv unit with Liberty Ellman on guitar, Jose Davila on tuba, Christopher Hoffman on cello and Elliot Kavee on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

BONUS DANCE EVENTS:

FALL FOR DANCE (through Oct. 8)
City Center, 131 W55th St./ 8PM, all seats $15
“The best sampler platter of dance in town — and of the year, for that matter — continues with Program 3 on Friday and Saturday, featuring Compagnie Accrorap, a French troupe mixing street dance and acrobatics; the tapper Ayodele Casel in a solo dedicated to unsung female dancers; Hong Kong Ballet with a work by Jorma Elo; and Bangarra Dance Theater from Australia, telling stories of that country’s indigenous peoples (2:05). On Wednesday and Thursday, in Program 4, Jessica Lang presents a work inspired by architecture; Royal Ballet Flanders offers “Fall,” an ode to the season by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents the seminal solo “Cry”; and the Sarasota Ballet performs Frederick Ashton’s “Marguerite and Armand” (2:15).” (Schaefer-NYT)

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through Oct. 16)
NYS / DHK Theater, Lincoln Center/ at various times, $
“City Ballet’s season continues with George Balanchine’s shimmering triptych “Jewels” (Friday, Saturday matinee, Sunday) and encores for new works by the company members Justin Peck, Lauren Lovette and Peter Walker, as well as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Accompanying them is Mr. Peck’s exhilarating “Everywhere We Go” from 2014 (Saturday evening and Wednesday). Tuesday and Thursday’s program honors American composers, with Jerome Robbins’s “Glass Pieces,” referring to Philip Glass; Peter Martins’s “Thou Swell,” a jazzy fling to Richard Rodgers; and Balanchine’s patriotic “Stars and Stripes,” to the music of John Philip Sousa.” (Schaefer-NYT)

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

Entertaining Science: Do Babies Get the Blues?
Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia St./ 6PM, $20
Roald Hoffman, Dave Soldier, hosts
Joseph Isler, scientist; Simona Premazzi, piano; Tessa Souter, jazz vocals

“What’s it like to be a baby? Thomas Nagel famously asked “What is it like to be a bat?”, pondering what consciousness, the subjective experience of the world, would be like in animals. It’s nearly as difficult to imagine the subjective life of a baby.

Columbia University’s Joseph Isler will discuss what’s known about the infant mind, and present tantalizing recent work in quantifying consciousness during infancy. Acclaimed jazz pianist Simona Premazzi, faculty member at downtown’s Church Street School for Music and Art, closes the show with beautiful jazz and blues inspired by lullabies and children’s songs from around the world.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours, like one of the Lowline underground-park site, are already sold out. You can still get into a tour of the New York State Pavilion, designed by Philip Johnson for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Thursday at noon). Other highlights for the coming week include daily architecture boat tours and “The Stories They Tell: Trees of Steel,” a lecture about the architectural history of the World Trade Center site (Monday at noon, National September 11 Memorial & Museum).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY:
South Street Seaport Museum / 3-4PM
Hidden History of the South Street Seaport’s Architecture
Several buildings in the Seaport District are considered to be some the oldest standing structures in Manhattan. From rat pits to a warehouse built by one of the most famous American architects of the 19th century, the buildings of the Seaport have a big story to tell. This is the story of the rise of New York. Take a walk with us and discover the origins of New York’s greatness. Registration required.

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN FILM FESTIVAL (LAST DAY)
Cinépolis Chelsea, 260 W23rd St./ various times, $
“This niche, but informative, festival began on Wednesday and continues through the weekend with a lineup that looks to architecture’s past — “Peter Behrens: A Pioneer in Architecture” (Friday at 9:15 p.m.) and “Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future” (Sunday at 8:30 p.m.) — as well as the present, including a program that explores the homes of contemporary architects, “Where Architects Live” (Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.).”

Oktoberfest New York
Watermark (Pier 15 – 78 South St.)
“Oktoberfest New York aims to capture the spirit of a traditional Oktoberfest in Munich! Live music, German food and beer, face painting, games, and a view of the Brooklyn skyline…not too shabby folks!

Oh, and admission for this event is FREE! Now grab a stein and strap on that pair of lederhosen I KNOW you’ve got laying around.” (spoilednyc.com)

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
09/30/2016 The 54th New York Film Festival
10/01/2016 Gimme Danger
10/13/2016 Pablo Larraín’s Jackie
10/15/2016 New York Film Festival Closing Night – Lost City of Z

Lincoln Center Autumn Crafts Festival (also Oct.08,09)
This festival in its 27th year, will be held rain or shine in Hearst Plaza, Columbus Avenue and 64th Street, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. FREE ADMISSION. 280 juried craft displays, craft demonstrations, live entertainment, and delicious food! craftsatlincoln.org

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

Bonus NYC Events – Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite 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
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474

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

=======================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 58 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):

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

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)

Museum of Modern Art:

‘From the Collection: 1960-1969’ (through March 2017)
“MoMA shakes up its sanctum sanctorum, installing half of its permanent collection galleries with works chosen by 17 curators from a single decade: the tumultuous 1960s. The limited time frame is balanced by unprecedented breadth and variety. As never before, the presentation mixes together objects and artworks from all six of the museum’s curatorial departments. The blend is alternately stimulating and bewildering, revelatory and infuriating: yet another symptom of the museum’s limited curatorial mind-set. 212-708-9400, moma.org.” (Smith)

 Whitney Museum of American Art:

‘Human Interest: Portraits From the Whitney’s Collection’ (through Feb. 12)
“A year ago, the Whitney inaugurated its new downtown home with a permanent collection showcase called “America Is Hard to See.” Its even more immediately engaging successor, devoted entirely to portraiture, is now on view and might well have been subtitled “Americans Are Strange to Look At,” which, in the 250 images here, we sure are: funny-strange, beautiful-strange, crazy-strange, dangerous-strange, inscrutable-strange. The work is arranged by theme and spread over two floors. There are magnetic images everywhere. 99 Gansevoort Street, 212-570-3600, whitney.org.” (Cotter)

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right sidebar dated 09/30 and 09/28.
=======================================================

This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Train and Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
==========================================================

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

Selected NYC Events (10/01) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 10/01/2016 by GregD

Today’s Top 10 NYC Events > SATURDAY / OCT 01, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Oct.”

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

JOHN SCOFIELD (through Oct. 2)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St./ 8PM, +10:30PM, $20-$35
“For his latest project, “Country for Old Men,” the guitarist didn’t exactly run down to Nashville and start cutting duets with the likes of Kenny Chesney. What he did do was transform some favorite country songs into jazz excursions for a crack ensemble featuring longtime collaborators, including the celebrated electric bassist Steve Swallow and the keyboardist Larry Goldings. The result is a clever genre mashup; it’s not every day that you hear Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” transformed into a stirring jazz-waltz jam.” (NewYorker)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

RON CARTER (last day)
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 8:30PM, +11pm, $40
“Carter, the top bassist of his era, has never been shy about training the spotlight on his virtuosic abilities, even when he’s playing with the fully stocked big band that he occasionally leads. Grounded by the imperturbable pulse of this ever-in-demand craftsman (Carter has been heard on more than two thousand recordings), the band swings mightily.” (NewYorker)

A Cappella Along the Hudson
Wagner Park, Battery Park City/ 1-5PM, FREE
“Some of the best college a cappella groups in New York and beyond showcase their pitch perfect harmonies for several hours along the Hudson.’ (DNAINFO.COM)

“Join us for an autumn celebration of intricately woven harmonies along the Hudson River. Many of the finest college a cappella groups in New York and beyond will showcase their pitch-perfect vocal renditions from a diverse variety of musical genres.”

Tedeschi Trucks Band (also October 1, 4, 5, 7 & 8)
Beacon Theatre, Broadway & 74th St./ 8PM, $30+
“Tedeschi Trucks Band will continue their Beacon Theatre tradition of multiple-night residencies for the sixth consecutive year with the greatest number of shows to date. The 12-piece band led by husband and wife Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi have performed at the Beacon Theatre since 2011, and this year’s run has expanded to six shows with special guest openers Amy Ray (9/30), Dave Mason (10/4), and Jorma Kaukonen (10/5). Select weekend nights (10/1, 10/7, 10/8) will feature TTB performing two full sets with no openers.

The return to the Beacon adds to the Grammy Award-winning band’s growing legacy of delivering a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable performances in New York City. Last year, during its sold-out 4-night run, the ensemble debuted numerous new songs, changed up their set lists nightly for fans and played host to brilliant surprise collaborations with guests Jon Batiste, Rosanne Cash, Charles Bradley and David Hidalgo.”

HENRY THREADGILL’S ZOOID (through Oct. 2)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Avenue South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $30
“Mr. Threadgill recently won a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize for music, on the strength of his assuredly spiky 2015 album, “In for a Penny, In for a Pound.” He’ll be at the Village Vanguard this week with the same band featured on the album: Zooid, a blazingly intuitive chamber-improv unit with Liberty Ellman on guitar, Jose Davila on tuba, Christopher Hoffman on cello and Elliot Kavee on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of Popular Music
St. Ann’s Warehouse, 45 water St.DUMBO/ 7:30PM, $56
“A Fabergé radical—beautiful, ridiculous and full of hidden tricks—the sublimely freakish Taylor Mac pilots audiences through fantastical journeys, guided only by the compass of his magnetic individuality. In the culmination of a project that has been in the works for five years, the performer surveys the past 250 years of American music, first in eight three-hour installments and then, on October 8, as a 24-hour marathon.” (TONY)

BONUS DANCE EVENTS:

FALL FOR DANCE (through Oct. 8)
City Center, 131 W55th St./ 8PM, all seats $15
“The best sampler platter of dance in town — and of the year, for that matter — continues with Program 3 on Friday and Saturday, featuring Compagnie Accrorap, a French troupe mixing street dance and acrobatics; the tapper Ayodele Casel in a solo dedicated to unsung female dancers; Hong Kong Ballet with a work by Jorma Elo; and Bangarra Dance Theater from Australia, telling stories of that country’s indigenous peoples (2:05). On Wednesday and Thursday, in Program 4, Jessica Lang presents a work inspired by architecture; Royal Ballet Flanders offers “Fall,” an ode to the season by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents the seminal solo “Cry”; and the Sarasota Ballet performs Frederick Ashton’s “Marguerite and Armand” (2:15).” (Schaefer-NYT)

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through Oct. 16)
NYS / DHK Theater, Lincoln Center/ at various times, $
“City Ballet’s season continues with George Balanchine’s shimmering triptych “Jewels” (Friday, Saturday matinee, Sunday) and encores for new works by the company members Justin Peck, Lauren Lovette and Peter Walker, as well as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Accompanying them is Mr. Peck’s exhilarating “Everywhere We Go” from 2014 (Saturday evening and Wednesday). Tuesday and Thursday’s program honors American composers, with Jerome Robbins’s “Glass Pieces,” referring to Philip Glass; Peter Martins’s “Thou Swell,” a jazzy fling to Richard Rodgers; and Balanchine’s patriotic “Stars and Stripes,” to the music of John Philip Sousa.” (Schaefer-NYT)

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

ARCHTOBER (through Oct. 31)
“Tours, talks, exhibitions — it’s difficult to keep track of all the events going on during New York’s annual monthlong celebration of architecture and design. Each day features a “building of the day,” with a tour. Make reservations early; coveted tours, like one of the Lowline underground-park site, are already sold out. You can still get into a tour of the New York State Pavilion, designed by Philip Johnson for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing, Queens (Thursday at noon). Other highlights for the coming week include daily architecture boat tours and “The Stories They Tell: Trees of Steel,” a lecture about the architectural history of the World Trade Center site (Monday at noon, National September 11 Memorial & Museum).” (NYT-AroundTown)

TODAY: A tour of the architecture of the South Street Seaport begins at the South Street Seaport Museum in Lower Manhattan/ 3PM, $15

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN FILM FESTIVAL (through Sunday)
Cinépolis Chelsea, 260 W23rd St./ various times, $
“This niche, but informative, festival began on Wednesday and continues through the weekend with a lineup that looks to architecture’s past — “Peter Behrens: A Pioneer in Architecture” (Friday at 9:15 p.m.) and “Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future” (Sunday at 8:30 p.m.) — as well as the present, including a program that explores the homes of contemporary architects, “Where Architects Live” (Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.).”

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
09/30/2016 The 54th New York Film Festival
10/01/2016 Gimme Danger
10/13/2016 Pablo Larraín’s Jackie
10/15/2016 New York Film Festival Closing Night – Lost City of Z

Lincoln Center Autumn Crafts Festival (also Sunday and Oct.08,09)
This festival in its 27th year, will be held rain or shine in Hearst Plaza, Columbus Avenue and 64th Street, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. FREE ADMISSION. 280 juried craft displays, craft demonstrations, live entertainment, and delicious food! craftsatlincoln.org

Elsewhere, but these look worth the detours:
GRUB STREET FOOD FESTIVAL
Essex Street at Hester Street / 11AM-5PM,
“This tasting event — put on by New York magazine’s food website, Grub Street — returns to the Hester Street Fair on the Lower East Side with more than 50 vendors. Come with an empty stomach and clear priorities: Among the restaurants taking part are indulgent gems like Melt Bakery, Babu Ji and Red Hook Lobster Pound. A Heineken-sponsored beer garden will broadcast college football (for those so inclined), and live music will be performed throughout the day.”(NYT-AroundTown)

NYC Craft Coffee Festival
Villain, 50 N3rd St. Bklyn/ starts 9AM, $35-$45
“Kicking off this year’s NYC Coffee Week is a Kings County festival of beans, boasting blends from more than twenty different small-batch roasters and independent cafés, including Ithaca’s Gimme! Coffee, Toby’s Estate in Brooklyn and East Harlem’s Uptown Roasters. Coffee samples are unlimited, but another 10 bucks gets you an extra hour of caffeinating. Beyond brews, snack on for-purchase biscuits and scones from Brooklyn Biscuit Company and puffy bites from Doughnut Plant, and kick back to live vocals from local outfits like Ida Blue and DJ Joe Crisp.” (TONY)

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

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

Greenwich Village (all six are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – 178 7th Ave. South, villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592
55 Bar – 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 – 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319

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

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

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.5 million, had a record 58 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2016.  Quality shows draw crowds.
Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just on day of performance.
NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub / Tribeca

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.
OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.
Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
========================================================

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

Selected NYC Events (09/30) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 09/30/2016 by GregD

Today’s Top 10 NYC Events > FRIDAY / SEPT 30, 2016

“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: “Annual NYC Events / Sept.”

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

NEW YORK CITY BALLET (through Oct. 16)
NYS / DHK Theater, Lincoln Center/ at various times, $
“City Ballet’s season continues with George Balanchine’s shimmering triptych “Jewels” (Friday, Saturday matinee, Sunday) and encores for new works by the company members Justin Peck, Lauren Lovette and Peter Walker, as well as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Accompanying them is Mr. Peck’s exhilarating “Everywhere We Go” from 2014 (Saturday evening and Wednesday). Tuesday and Thursday’s program honors American composers, with Jerome Robbins’s “Glass Pieces,” referring to Philip Glass; Peter Martins’s “Thou Swell,” a jazzy fling to Richard Rodgers; and Balanchine’s patriotic “Stars and Stripes,” to the music of John Philip Sousa.” (Schaefer-NYT)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

JOHN SCOFIELD (through Oct. 2)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St./ 8PM, +10:30PM, $20-$35
“For his latest project, “Country for Old Men,” the guitarist didn’t exactly run down to Nashville and start cutting duets with the likes of Kenny Chesney. What he did do was transform some favorite country songs into jazz excursions for a crack ensemble featuring longtime collaborators, including the celebrated electric bassist Steve Swallow and the keyboardist Larry Goldings. The result is a clever genre mashup; it’s not every day that you hear Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” transformed into a stirring jazz-waltz jam.” (NewYorker)

FALL FOR DANCE (through Oct. 8)
City Center, 131 W55th St./ 8PM, all seats $15
“The best sampler platter of dance in town — and of the year, for that matter — continues with Program 3 on Friday and Saturday, featuring Compagnie Accrorap, a French troupe mixing street dance and acrobatics; the tapper Ayodele Casel in a solo dedicated to unsung female dancers; Hong Kong Ballet with a work by Jorma Elo; and Bangarra Dance Theater from Australia, telling stories of that country’s indigenous peoples (2:05). On Wednesday and Thursday, in Program 4, Jessica Lang presents a work inspired by architecture; Royal Ballet Flanders offers “Fall,” an ode to the season by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents the seminal solo “Cry”; and the Sarasota Ballet performs Frederick Ashton’s “Marguerite and Armand” (2:15).” (Schaefer-NYT)

Tedeschi Trucks Band (also October 1, 4, 5, 7 & 8)
Beacon Theatre, Broadway & 74th St./ 8PM, $30+
“Tedeschi Trucks Band will continue their Beacon Theatre tradition of multiple-night residencies for the sixth consecutive year with the greatest number of shows to date. The 12-piece band led by husband and wife Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi have performed at the Beacon Theatre since 2011, and this year’s run has expanded to six shows with special guest openers Amy Ray (9/30), Dave Mason (10/4), and Jorma Kaukonen (10/5). Select weekend nights (10/1, 10/7, 10/8) will feature TTB performing two full sets with no openers.

The return to the Beacon adds to the Grammy Award-winning band’s growing legacy of delivering a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable performances in New York City. Last year, during its sold-out 4-night run, the ensemble debuted numerous new songs, changed up their set lists nightly for fans and played host to brilliant surprise collaborations with guests Jon Batiste, Rosanne Cash, Charles Bradley and David Hidalgo.”

HENRY THREADGILL’S ZOOID (through Oct. 2)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Avenue South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $30
“Mr. Threadgill recently won a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize for music, on the strength of his assuredly spiky 2015 album, “In for a Penny, In for a Pound.” He’ll be at the Village Vanguard this week with the same band featured on the album: Zooid, a blazingly intuitive chamber-improv unit with Liberty Ellman on guitar, Jose Davila on tuba, Christopher Hoffman on cello and Elliot Kavee on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of Popular Music
St. Ann’s Warehouse, 45 water St.DUMBO/ 7:30PM, $56
“A Fabergé radical—beautiful, ridiculous and full of hidden tricks—the sublimely freakish Taylor Mac pilots audiences through fantastical journeys, guided only by the compass of his magnetic individuality. In the culmination of a project that has been in the works for five years, the performer surveys the past 250 years of American music, first in eight three-hour installments and then, on October 8, as a 24-hour marathon.” (TONY)

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

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN FILM FESTIVAL (through Sunday)
Cinépolis Chelsea, 260 W23rd St./ various times, $
“This niche, but informative, festival began on Wednesday and continues through the weekend with a lineup that looks to architecture’s past — “Peter Behrens: A Pioneer in Architecture” (Friday at 9:15 p.m.) and “Eero Saarinen: The Architect Who Saw the Future” (Sunday at 8:30 p.m.) — as well as the present, including a program that explores the homes of contemporary architects, “Where Architects Live” (Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.).”

The 54th New York Film Festival (thru Oct.16)
Alice Tully Hall, various times
“Founded in 1963, as the auteur theory and European cinematic modernism were crashing upon the shores of American film culture, the New York Film Festival continues to introduce audiences to the most exciting, innovative and accomplished works of world cinema. Join us as North America’s second oldest film festival marks its 54th edition with 17 days of exciting world premieres, award winners from Cannes, Berlin and Venice, retrospective screenings, spotlights on emerging filmmakers, panels, galas and much more!”
09/30/2016 The 54th New York Film Festival
10/01/2016 Gimme Danger
10/13/2016 Pablo Larraín’s Jackie
10/15/2016 New York Film Festival Closing Night – Lost City of Z

Free Friday at the Morgan Library & Museum
Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave. (btw 36th/37th st.) / 7PM-9PM
“Check out the new exhibit of works by the French artist Jean Dubuffet, which opens on Friday, or an exhibit of letters and manuscripts from Charlotte Bronte, which opened last week.” dnainfo.com

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

Bonus NYC Events – Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite music venues, most 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
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com,
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd St., bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474

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

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

 Solomon R Guggenheim Museum:
‘BUT A STORM IS BLOWING FROM PARADISE: CONTEMPORARY ART OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA’ (through Oct. 5)
“The third and final of the Guggenheim Museum’s UBS Map Global Art Initiative group exhibitions feels a bit more of a piece than the others, though, like them, it gives the impression of being a museum’s attempt to get global fast by skimming from the top of the international market. It’s worth a visit to see some of the individual pieces, among them a two-part 2010 video by Zineb Sedira titled “Gardiennes d’Image” (“Image Keepers”), a filmed interview with Safia Kouaci, widow of Mohamed Kouaci (1929-96), who was, Ms. Sedira believes, the only Algerian photographer to thoroughly document the country’s war of independence from France. 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th Street, 212-423-3500, guggenheim.org.” (Cotter)

MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK:
‘ROZ CHAST: CARTOON MEMOIRS’ (through Oct. 16)
“This delightful, frequently laugh-out-loud exhibition presents more than 200 works by the brilliant, widely beloved visual humorist Roz Chast, including many images made for The New Yorker over the past four decades as well as some never before published. The anxieties, contradictions and pathos of middle class, metropolitan life have rarely been illustrated with such generous comic élan. Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, 212-534-1672, mcny.org.” (Johnson)

MET BREUER:
‘DIANE ARBUS: IN THE BEGINNING’ (through Nov. 27)
“This show of 100 or so early photographs by Arbus (1923-71), many on view for the first time, has a terrific installation, with work hung on columnlike panels that suggest rows of doors receding into darkness. The pictures themselves, dating between 1956 and 1962, have a grainy, moody texture, and they reveal an Arbus who had already landed on some of her favored themes: childhood, negotiable gender, fringe culture and class. If the show as a whole is more powerful than most of its individual images, there are some wonderful things. And as a forecast of mature work to come — familiar examples are included in a separate gallery — it is utterly magnetic. 945 Madison Avenue, at 75th Street, Manhattan, 212-535-0177, metmuseum.org.” (Cotter)

MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM:
‘HANS MEMLING: PORTRAITURE, PIETY AND A REUNITED ALTARPIECE’ (through January 2017)
“When it comes to jewels, there are Taylor-Burton rocks and discreetly cut heirloom stones. With museum shows, it’s the same. This one, at the Morgan Library, is a minute but invaluable gem. Set in a 20-by-20-by-20-foot gallery known as the Cube, it reunites, for the first time in the United States, dispersed sections of an altarpiece by the 15th-century German-born, Flanders-based Memling and adds some of his exquisite portrait paintings. 225 Madison Avenue, at 36th Street, 212-685-0008, themorgan.org.” (Cotter)

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 these two:
‘CELEBRATING THE ARTS OF JAPAN: THE MARY GRIGGS BURKE COLLECTION’ (through May 2017)
“This lavish collection of 160 objects came to the Met from the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation in early 2015. The Burkes loved Japanese art — all of it — and the exhibition is close to compendious in terms of media, from wood-carved Buddhas to bamboo baskets, with a particular strength in painting, early and late. The quality of the work? Japan thinks highly enough of it to have made the Burke holdings the first Japanese collection from abroad ever to show at Tokyo National Museum. 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.” (Cotter)

‘JERUSALEM 1000–1400: EVERY PEOPLE UNDER HEAVEN’ (through Jan. 8)
“Three major faiths — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — have called Jerusalem their own, and its varying histories as a sacred space, a theater of conflict and a cosmopolitan cultural emporium are reflected in this exhibition modeled along classic Met epic lines: 200 fascinating objects from 60 international collections, with a time frame in the past and context in the present (in the form of short videos in each gallery). If much of the art is small, the effect is not. We see a city otherworldly and monumental, but also one of appetites, personalities and ethnic tensions as real today as they ever were. 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.” (Cotter)

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

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (SUN 11am-1pm PWYW) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015).
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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 09/28 and 09/26.
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This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

OpenTable
Instantly locate restaurants near you with open reservations and then place a reservation right from your iOS device. A great interface and the ability to see a menu from the restaurant you’re interested in makes this my go to restaurant reservation app.

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
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