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

Selected NYC Events (09/19) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square/ Theater District)

Posted on 09/19/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > MONDAY / SEPT 19, 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:

Public Lecture Series with Dan Botkin:
On the Trail of Lewis and Clark
The Explorers Club, 6 E70th St./ 6PM, $25
“What qualities made Lewis and Clark great leaders? They were able to lead a small group of men from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River and back. They maintained peaceful relationships with many Native American tribes. They navigated their way through country that was little mapped, traded for horses so they could cross the Rocky Mountains, built canoes to float down the Columbia, and sent back animals and plants after their first year. Their story has been told many times, but rarely with an attempt to analyze the qualities that made their expedition safe and successful.

Making use of their careful, detailed journals, Daniel B. Botkin followed the entire Lewis and Clark trail, and wrote his own book about how nature in the American West had changed since. Though the impetus for his journey was comparison, the more he read their journals, the more impressed Botkin became with their combination of remarkable abilities.

Posterity has shown the expedition took one of the more difficult routes west. They survived terrible weather, sub-zero winter temperatures, a mighty hailstorm on the Missouri River, scare game along the Pacific Coast, and some unfriendly local Indian tribes in times of hardship.

The characteristics that led to their success — impressive in their breadth of knowledge and depth of understanding — are apropos for The Explorers Club. Lewis and Clark were great leaders of men, careful diplomats and excellent recorders of what they observed, who all the while maintained a deep affection for the nature they passed through.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

It’s all SmartStuff today. Come back tomorrow for music, dance, and the performing arts.

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

WHO’S THE MAN? ALEXANDER HAMILTON V. ROBERT MOSES
Museum of the City of New York, Fifth Avenue at 103rd St./ 6:30PM
sold out, but additional tickets will be available at a standby line the night of the program.
“Anyone who is familiar with the musical “Hamilton” knows how ambitious and stubborn that founding father was. In this talk, his strong will is pitted against that of another haughty New Yorker, the master builder Robert Moses. In a battle of wits, who would come out on top? Daniel Garodnick, a City Council member, will lead a discussion with Joanne Freeman, a professor of history and American studies at Yale University, and Kenneth Jackson, a professor of history and social sciences at Columbia University.” (NYT-AroundTown)

The European Union: A Challenge and an Achievement
Italian Cultural Institute, 686 Park Ave./ 6;30PM, FREE
“While the European states were sinking in totalitarian regimes and preparing for the war, few anti-Fascists confined by the Fascist regime in a remote Mediterranean island wrote the Manifesto envisaging the future European Union. The Manifesto of Ventotene, a document of pragmatic utopia, would become the matrix of a project of cooperation among former enemies, the starting point of a stabilized and democratic Europe. Brexit is a radical turning point in relation to that project and a critical moment for the European Union. The Italian Cultural Institute presents a seminar on Europe’s future after Brexit.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Political Party with Keli Goff:
“The Obama Years in Black and White,”
The Greene Space, 44 Charlton St./ 7PM, $15, includes one drink
“Video after video showing black men, women, and sometimes children being assaulted, shot, and killed by police goes viral. Poverty, failing schools, unemployment, and incarceration continue to disproportionately affect black communities. Black Lives Matter becomes a movement and is quickly met with the dismissive counter that Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter. Is this progress?

As President Barack Obama’s time in the White House draws to a close, host Keli Goff and her guests will discuss how his historic presidency has made an impact on national conversations about race, justice, and inequality from policy matters to pop culture. Then they’ll examine how Hillary Clinton and Donald J. Trump are poised to impact race relations in the future.”

FEAST OF SAN GENNARO (through Sept. 25)
Mulberry Street, from Houston St. to Canal St.
“This annual festival, a tribute to the patron saint of Naples, returns to Little Italy for its 90th edition. Highlights include the traditional cannoli- and meatball-eating contests. (Tony Danza will host the meatball competition.) Events at various times and locations; more information at sangennaro.org.” (NYT-AroundTown)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
Passenger Ships of the Past
Brooklyn Bridge Park, 334 Furman St./ 6PM, FREE
Presented by Conrad Milster, Senior Engineer at the Pratt Institute
“In a time not so long ago, New Yorkers relied on waterborne vessels as a primary means of transportation. Our speaker will take us back in time to the great ships of that era and speak to the present, a time when New York City is again looking to the water as a vital means of transportation.”

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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 “The Obama Years in Black and White, Feast of San Gennaro, new york events, NYC Events, NYC Events Today, On the Trail of Lewis and Clark, Passenger Ships of the Past, The European Union: A Challenge and an Achievement, WHO’S THE MAN? ALEXANDER HAMILTON V. ROBERT MOSES | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/18) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 09/18/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SUNDAY / SEPT 18, 2016

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

BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL
Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St. + other locations/ 10AM-6PM,
This week is a bookworm’s dream come true, with “Bookend” events leading up to the festival on Sunday. The impressive slate of writers includes Jacqueline Woodson (pictured), Salman Rushdie, Phil Klay, Margaret Atwood and Joyce Carol Oates.” (NewsdayWeekend)

“The weeklong celebration of the written word culminates with the flagship, fourteen-stage Brooklyn Book Festival on Sunday, September 18th. Panel discussions and readings fill the day and 300 authors—including authors from nearly 20 countries — read, discuss and sign their books. 300 authors of beloved works of fiction (Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie, Libba Bray, Stephanie Danler, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Joyce Carol Oates, Yoss, Gayle Forman, Jacqueline Woodson, Angela Flournoy, Esmeralda Santiago Karin Slaughter), non-fiction (Thomas Frank, Ed Jong, Jessica Valenti, Ralph Nader, Bruce Schneier, A.O. Scott, Hua Hsu, Rebecca Traister, Margo Jefferson, Pete Hamill, Helen Garner), graphics (Faith Erin Hicks, Phoebe Gloeckner, Chester Brown, Marjorie Liu), poetry (Yusef Kumunyakaa, Ocean Vuong, and Monica Youn) and young adult authors (Cecily von Ziegesar, George O’Connor, Marina Budhos, Daniel José Older, Libba Bray, Jesse Andrews, Anna Breslaw) participate in panels, readings and other creative performances of their work.

Outdoors at the Festival’s famed Literary Marketplace, more than 200 booksellers and publishers create a vibrant literary celebration with books and literary magazines from all over the country. On Festival Day the center of the literary universe is truly Brooklyn!”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO (LAST DAY)
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, btw 105th/106th Sts./
“Though cherubic in appearance, Chestnut—once a young lion of nineteen-nineties jazz—is now a seasoned veteran, and he remains a model of artless swing. His windy way with standards and bop workouts (as heard on his fine new album, “Natural Essence”) underscores a conviction that improvising is nothing if not spontaneously expressed joy.” (NewYorker)

Broadway at the W
W New York Times Square, 1567 Broadway (at 47th Street)/ 7PM, FREE
“Ongoing concert series featuring Broadway stars performing in an intimate space, the Living Room. Performers will entertain with a wide range of music, everything from covers of pop hits to their own original songs. The Living Room will serve special cocktails, such as Wanted Dead or Alive, with Avua Prata cachaca rum, lime, sugar, and simple syrup. The next concert will feature cast members from the musical “Something Rotten”

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

NEW YORK COFFEE FESTIVAL
69th Regiment Armory, 68 Lexington Ave./ $25
“Wake up and smell the coffee — literally — at this three-day festival. Check out latte art demonstrations, visit the Espresso Martini Bar for coffee cocktails, watch performances by finalists in the Coffee Music Project, get some sustenance at the Street Food Market and more. Half the ticket proceeds go toward bringing clean water to coffee-producing countries.” (Newsday Weekend)

Medieval Festival
Fort Tryon Park, Upper Manhattan/ 11:30AM-6PM, FREE
“Couldn’t make it to the Renaissance Fair this year? Or wish you could go again? From 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan will be transformed into a medieval market town.

Experience authentic music, minstrels, magic, dance, jugglers, and jesters. Of course, you’ll also definitely be able to score a huge turkey leg and some mead from the vendors attending. Before the festival ends, you’ll also witness a thrilling joust between four knights on horseback. You don’t have to dress up in medieval garb but isn’t that half the fun? (spoilednyc.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:

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

Morgan Library & Museum:
‘Rembrandt’s First Masterpiece’ (LAST DAY)
“In 1629, after some years of apprenticeship, the young Rembrandt finished what many experts consider his first painting in his resolved and distinctive style. Titled “Judas Returning the Thirty Pieces of Silver,” it is certainly powerful in ways that his great work will be, with its operatic, Verdian largeness of gesture, its sense for light as both specific and cosmic, and its piercing, unembarrassable instinct for human emotion. Now in a British private collection, the picture is visiting New York for the first time, and has been surrounded at the Morgan Library with a wealth of the artist’s prints and drawings. 225 Madison Avenue, at 36th Street, 212-685-0008, themorgan.org.” (Cotter-NYT)

Jewish Museum:
‘Roberto Burle Marx: Brazilian Modernist’ (LAST DAY)
“Working primarily in South America, Roberto Burle Marx, the great Brazilian landscape architect, designed some of the modern world’s most distinctive parks and gardens, from an immense, jazzy tattoo of a promenade on the beachfront of Rio de Janeiro to rooftop plantings in Brasilia, a city carved from jungle. In the process, he became invested, heart and mind, in preserving the Amazonian paradise that surrounded him, fought to halt its devastation and turned his home near Rio into a sanctuary for one of the largest collections of tropical plants anywhere. To appreciate his art fully, you have to go to the gardens themselves, but a visit to the compact Jewish Museum show gives you a full sense of his protean work as designer, painter, sculptor and collector. 1109 Fifth Avenue, at 92nd Street, 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org.” (Cotter-NYT)

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)

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

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

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

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (SUN 11am-1pm PWYW) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015).
==============================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 09/16 and 09/14.
=============================================================

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 Broadway at the W, Brooklyn Book Festival, Cyrus Chestnut Trio, Feast of San Gennaro, Medieval Festival, New York Coffee Festival, new york events, NYC Events, NYC Events Today | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/17) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 09/17/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SATURDAY / SEPT 17, 2016

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

BILL CHARLAP TRIO (through Sept. 25, no Monday)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South/ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $30
“On his unerringly tasteful album “Notes From New York,” Mr. Charlap, a pianist, leads his longtime trio in a stroll through the American songbook. It’s what he does best and a good representation of what’s happening in this engagement, with Mr. Charlap joined as usual by the bassist Peter Washington and the drummer Kenny Washington (no relation).” (Chinen-NYT)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC (LAST DAY)
David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM, $60+
Hometown pride is the theme of the Philharmonic’s coming season. It will also color this installment of the Art of the Score festival, with two landmark New York movies shown with live orchestral accompaniment. “West Side Story,” with music by the Philharmonic’s own Leonard Bernstein conducted by David Newman, will open the festivities on Tuesday, with screenings through Thursday. (Woody Allen’s “Manhattan,” with a typically omnivorous score conducted by Alan Gilbert, will follow on Sept. 16 and 17.)” (da Fonseca-Wollheim-NYT)

Angel Olsen
Webster Hall, 125 E11th St./ 8PM, $20
“As an old soul trapped in the feverishly creative and restless mind of a young artist, Angel Olsen has a lot to say, and it often comes out in a torrent of hot-blooded emotion. The glitzy music videos for the new singles “Intern” and “Shut Up Kiss Me” ooze newfound confidence in a glam rockstar persona, promising the upcoming rough-and-tumble album, My Woman, to be an even more fiery gem than her previous efforts.” (TONY)

DANCES PATRELLE (through Sept.18)
Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, 68th St, btw Lexington/Park Ave. – $45
“For more than 25 years, Francis Patrelle has been telling classic stories through classical dance. His version of “Macbeth,” featuring a quilt of Tchaikovsky music, has been part of the company’s repertory for decades and returns this week with an intimate cast of strong dancers. Shakespeare’s tragedy about the price of political ambition has not been widely adapted for ballet, so this is a rare opportunity to see Lady Macbeth stomp around in toe shoes.” (Schaefer-NYT)
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., also at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Good Eating places

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

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

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

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

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Angel Olsen, Bill Charlap Trio, Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of Popular Music | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/16) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 09/16/2016 by GregD

Today’s Super7 NYC Events > FRIDAY / SEPT 16, 2016

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

This is definitely not Manhattan’s WestSide, but it is Brooklyn’s WestSide.
A special listing for those young German tourists who do old school camera selfies:
PSYCHIC TV
Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N6th St. Bklyn,/ 8PM, $25
“The brainchild of the London singer and performance auteur Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, this seminal nineteen-eighties outfit gradually progressed from anarchic post-punk to more palatable M.T.V.-era house and pop. But it never stopped experimenting with sounds and formats, including then-cutting-edge video art that blended live action, animation, and intricate scans, and a monthly series of live albums that earned it a spot in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for the most albums released in a year. The band has had dozens of members and collaborators; in August, the current lineup, PTV3, released “Alienist,” a spiky acid-house number with psychedelic guitar and downtrodden vocals about psychologists and cults.” (NewYorker)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Susan Werner’s Bull Durham & Other Bull
Feinstein’s/54 Below, 254 W54th St./ 9:30PM, $35+
“Susan Werner makes her Feinstein’s/54 Below debut, performing songs from the soon to be Broadway musical, Bull Durham, material from her new PBS special, The Hayseed Project, as well as songs from her many solo albums. Susan Werner composes skillful songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz, and pop, all delivered with sassy wit and classic Midwestern charm.”

“[Susan Werner is] a triply blessed artist who sings adroitly, plays the piano smartly and, best of all, writes songs of genuine distinction and high craft.” – Chicago Tribune

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC (through Sept. 17)
David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM, $60+
Hometown pride is the theme of the Philharmonic’s coming season. It will also color this installment of the Art of the Score festival, with two landmark New York movies shown with live orchestral accompaniment. “West Side Story,” with music by the Philharmonic’s own Leonard Bernstein conducted by David Newman, will open the festivities on Tuesday, with screenings through Thursday. (Woody Allen’s “Manhattan,” with a typically omnivorous score conducted by Alan Gilbert, will follow on Sept. 16 and 17.)” (da Fonseca-Wollheim-NYT)

CYRUS CHESTNUT TRIO (thru Sept.18)
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, btw 105th/106th Sts./
“Though cherubic in appearance, Chestnut—once a young lion of nineteen-nineties jazz—is now a seasoned veteran, and he remains a model of artless swing. His windy way with standards and bop workouts (as heard on his fine new album, “Natural Essence”) underscores a conviction that improvising is nothing if not spontaneously expressed joy.” (NewYorker)

DANCES PATRELLE (through Sunday)
Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, 68th St, btw Lexington/Park Ave. – $45
“For more than 25 years, Francis Patrelle has been telling classic stories through classical dance. His version of “Macbeth,” featuring a quilt of Tchaikovsky music, has been part of the company’s repertory for decades and returns this week with an intimate cast of strong dancers. Shakespeare’s tragedy about the price of political ambition has not been widely adapted for ballet, so this is a rare opportunity to see Lady Macbeth stomp around in toe shoes.” (Schaefer-NYT)
Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., also at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday

THE COOKERS (also Saturday)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St./ 8:30PM, +11PM, $40
“A bold, questing spirit unites the musicians in this hard-bop collective, which just released a declaratory new album, “The Call of the Wild and Peaceful Heart.” This engagement will feature the band’s full personnel: the trumpeters Eddie Henderson and David Weiss, the saxophonists Billy Harper and Donald Harrison, the pianist George Cables, the bassist Cecil McBee and the drummer Billy Hart.” (Chinen-NYT)

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

Today is all music and performing arts. More smart stuff tomorrow.

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

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

=======================================================================
♦ 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:

‘Dadaglobe Reconstructed’ (through Sept. 18)
“In 1920, the Romanian poet and gadfly Tristan Tzara made plans for a worldwide publication featuring the art of Dada, the convention-busting movement that arose from the senselessness of World War I. The anthology never materialized, but this sparky show, first seen at the Kunsthaus Zürich and accompanied by a landmark catalog, reassembles the drawings, reproductions and wacky head shots that Dadaists like Francis Picabia, Marcel Duchamp and Sophie Taeuber-Arp contributed for it. (There’s also fascinating correspondence and ephemera, plus photographs of knees-up parties; at one, Tzara appears in black tie with the word Dada scrawled across his forehead.) For the Dadaists, art wasn’t a matter of placing discrete objects in museums, but circulating ideas and images across new, international media networks. It is an aim as fresh today as it was a century ago. 212-708-9400, moma.org.” (Farago)

‘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:

‘Stuart Davis: In Full Swing’ (through Sept. 25)
“This restless, zestful Whitney exhibition leaves out the earliest phase of a great American modernist’s career but is still broad enough to be a survey while feeling sufficiently focused to qualify as a thematic study. As you move through the show, you move through time, and change over time is the thread the show follows. Beginning in the 1950s, you see Mr. Davis’s dense compositions, abstract with a realist core, start to untangle. His palette simplifies. His use of words, or script-like arabesques, grows. And more and more he looks to the past and brings it forward, revisiting, reusing and transforming motives from his own art, a pattern he likened to a jazz musician’s improvisations on favorite, unforgettable tunes. 99 Gansevoort Street, at Washington Street, 212-570-3600, whitney.org.” (Cotter)

‘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 09/14 and 09/12.
=======================================================

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 Cyrus Chestnut Trio, DANCES PATRELLE, PSYCHIC TV, Susan Werner's Bull Durham & Other Bull, The Cookers | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/15) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 09/15/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > THURSDAY / SEPT 15, 2016

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

FEAST OF SAN GENNARO (through Sept. 25)
Mulberry Street, from Houston St. to Canal St.
“This annual festival, a tribute to the patron saint of Naples, returns to Little Italy for its 90th edition. Highlights include the traditional cannoli- and meatball-eating contests. (Tony Danza will host the meatball competition.) The celebration will begin on Thursday with a musical performance and a blessing. Additional events at various times and locations; more information at sangennaro.org.” (NYT-AroundTown)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

TONY BENNETT CELEBRATES 90
Radio City Music Hall / 7PM, $84+
Tony Bennett, whose life began in the Jazz Age, has witnessed the birth of rock ’n’ roll, the fall of disco and hip-hop’s fast climb to pop cultural primacy. Yet if the title of his coming book, “Just Getting Started,” is any indication, Mr. Bennett has no intention of slowing down. He will mark his recent 90th birthday with the help of famous friends and heavyweights, including Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga, who will treat audiences to solo, duet and medley performances at Radio City Music Hall. With Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, K.D. Lang, Diana Krall and more.” (Paula Melia-NYT)

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC (through Sept. 17)
David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM, $
Hometown pride is the theme of the Philharmonic’s coming season. It will also color this installment of the Art of the Score festival, with two landmark New York movies shown with live orchestral accompaniment. “West Side Story,” with music by the Philharmonic’s own Leonard Bernstein conducted by David Newman, will open the festivities on Tuesday, with screenings through Thursday. (Woody Allen’s “Manhattan,” with a typically omnivorous score conducted by Alan Gilbert, will follow on Sept. 16 and 17.)” (da Fonseca-Wollheim-NYT)

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

StarTalk Live! with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Co-Host Eugene Mirman
Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway/ 8PM, $37.50+
“Curious about what it takes to bring back those stunning shots of the cosmos? Carolyn Porco is the leader of the imaging science team on the Cassini mission, orbiting Saturn now, and she’ll join comedian Michael Ian Black, musician and actor Sean Lennon, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson for a live edition of StarTalk at the Beacon Theatre.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour (I’ll be there):
(subway:#2,3 express to Grand Army Plaza)
A Cultural History of Rock’n’Roll
Brooklyn Brainery, 190 Underhill Ave. (Bklyn)/ 6:30PM, $10
“Since its official “birth” in 1955, the music called rock has marked itself as an expression of rebellion for generations.

In this class we will be using an anthropological lens to explore the cultural and political history of rock’n’roll as it has been created and experienced in America. We will also take an historic journey through some of the sights and sounds of this influential musical genre.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

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

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))

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 A Cultural History of Rock’n’Roll, Feast of San Gennaro, new york events, New York Philharmonic, NYC Events, NYC Events Today, StarTalk Live! with Neil deGrasse Tyson and Co-Host Eugene Mirman, TONY BENNETT CELEBRATES 90 | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/14) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 09/14/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY / SEPT 14, 2016

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

Karen Oberlin in BAD LOVE: The Randy Newman Songbook
Metropolitan Room, 34 W22nd St./ 7PM, $
“Randy Newman, as a songwriter, is an impassioned social realist in the same vein as (or school of) Yip Harburg mixed with Lorenz Hart… Someone who recognizes the power of songs, with lyrics that can remind us of injustice, the sting of loss and how unkind people can be… And yet in that salad of cruelty Newman tosses large amounts of love, joy and delicious humor. Karen Oberlin, joined by her superb team of Tedd Firth as musical director and pianist and Steve Doyle on bass, explores the many facets of this heartbreaking and hilarious songbook.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

GLEN HANSARD
Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall/ 8PM, $
“The Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, known for his roles in the indie folk band the Frames, which he formed, and the film “Once,” spins narrative songs that unspool as if they had been carefully aged for decades. But Mr. Hansard doesn’t have it all figured out; in fact, he often relies on life’s unpredictability for inspiration. “I would say 99 percent of the time, the song either wakes you up in a dream, or comes to you whilst you’re on a bus or whilst you’re walking,” he recently told The Au Review. “It usually comes when you’ve got nothing to document it.” (Mejia-NYT)

LUSH
Terminal 5, 610 W56th St./ 8PM, $
“That Lush — the brilliant, unsung underdogs of the ethereal pop wave that crashed through Britain in the late 1980s and early ’90s — would never get back together after the suicide of the group’s drummer, Chris Acland, in 1996 was always considered something of a certainty. Until recently, that is. Twenty years after their last studio recording and concerts, three-quarters of the London group (Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson and Phil King) are back together in an unlikely reunion, armed with a new EP released in April, “Blind Spot,” and a legacy still holding strong after all these years. With Tamaryn.” (Mejia-NYT)

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

“Beethoven and Brahms to the Beatles and Billy Joel,”
Time Warner Center / 1PM, FREE
a talk and performance by the Philharmonia Orchestra of New York.
“Why is classical, well, classical?
Join Philharmonia Orchestra of New York (PONY) for a journey through classical music past, present, and future.
Our Maestro Atsushi Yamada presents, Beethoven & Brahms to the Beatles and Billy Joel, a multi-media TED-style talk. Maestro Atsushi Yamada, who was the first Japanese conductor in the history of the New York City Opera, will draw on his own experience in classical music to show the hidden connections between classical and popular music, and how PONY is blurring these genre lines.”

The Occupiers: The Making of the 99 Percent Movement
with Michael A. Gould-Wartofsky, one of the first social scientists on the ground at Occupy Wall Street.
Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave/ 6:30PM, FREE
“This illustrated lecture offers a front-seat view of the action in the streets of New York City during and following Occupy Wall Street.”

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

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

==================================================================================
♦ 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:
X

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 09/12 and 09/10.
======================================================

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged “Beethoven and Brahms to the Beatles and Billy Joel, ”, Glen Hansard, Karen Oberlin in BAD LOVE: The Randy Newman Songbook, LUSH, The Occupiers: The Making of the 99 Percent Movement | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/13) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 09/13/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > TUESDAY / SEPT 13, 2016

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

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Janice Hall ~ Cabaret’s Greatest Hits
Metropolitan Room, 34 W22nd St./ 7PM, $25
Janice Hall–Grand Illusions: The Music of Marlene Dietrich
“Falling in love again . . . Never wanted to . . . What am I to do? . . . Can’t help it . . .”

“That is the memorable lyric from the iconic song that the legendary Marlene Dietrich delivered as the sexy cabaret singer in the 1930 film, The Blue Angel. Now, cabaret audiences who fell head over heels for opera singer Janice Hall’s 2010-2011 solo debut show—Grand Illusions: The Music of Marlene Dietrich—they will get to fall in love all over again (and a new audience can become smitten for the first time) when Hall reprises her Award-winning show at the Metropolitan Room.”

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

Beyond Words: Ecologist Carl Safina Discusses What Animals Think & Feel
The Cooper Union – The Great Hall, 7 E7th St./ 6:30PM, FREE
Carl Safina discusses and signs his latest book in a free, public author talk.

“Beyond Words offers insight into the unique personalities of animals through extraordinary stories of animal joy, grief, jealousy, anger and love. Ultimately an examination of humanity’s place in the world, Safina calls on us to re-evaluate our relationship to the other species around us.

In the book readers witness elephant families navigate the pervasive drought and incidents of poaching in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, see a free-living wolf pack sort out the aftermath of tragedy in Yellowstone National Park, and plunge into an astonishingly peaceful society of killer whales living in the waters of the Pacific Northwest. These animals are treated as the individual characters they are, with distinct personalities and unique roles within social structures not unlike our own.”

The Future of the Supreme Court in the Post-Scalia World
New York Public Library—Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave./ 6:30PM, FREE
“With James D. Zirin, author of “Supremely Partisan–How Raw Politics Tips the Scales in the United States Supreme Court,” and leading litigator in federal and state courts around the nation. This lecture argues that the Court has become increasingly partisan and explains how we arrived at the present situation.”

Hamlet, The Joker, and George R.R. Martin: Radical Nihilism
The Pennsy, 2 Pennsylvania Plaza/ 7PM, $14
“Christopher Nolan, George RR Martin and Shakespeare each invented powerful mouthpieces for an uncomfortable and unavoidable truth — a deep and radical nihilism is at the bottom of all things; our lives are held up by illusions, useful fictions, that we invent, forget we invent, and that end up controlling us.

We can cast them aside, or remake them, at any time — but at what cost? Join me for a class that hops from Westeros to Gotham City to Denmark.” (ThoughtGallery.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

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

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:

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places, and essays on my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods on Manhattan’s WestSide, order a copy of my e-book:
“Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($4.99, available Fall 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.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged and George R.R. Martin: Radical Nihilism, Beyond Words: Ecologist Carl Safina Discusses What Animals Think & Feel, Hamlet, Janice Hall ~ Cabaret's Greatest Hits, New York Philharmonic, The Future of the Supreme Court in the Post-Scalia World, The Joker | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/12) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 09/12/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > MONDAY / SEPT 12, 2016

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

Hamilton and the Election of 1800
NYPL MainBldg. (Schwarzman Building), Wachenheim Trustees Room/ 6:30PM,
“Election season is on the mind – the election of 1800, that is. The two leading visions for the new nation came to a head and the results marked a shift in American history, as Alexander Hamilton’s Federalists went into decline and Thomas Jefferson’s Republicans began their rise. How did the United States arrive at this critical juncture? Join scholars Brian Murphy and Joanne Freeman for a look at how we got there, through an exploration of Hamilton’s vision and legacy, contributions and critics, and ultimately, rise and fall. The conversation will be moderated by Library’s very own Mark Boonshoft.”
Program is FREE, but advance registration is recommended. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance.

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Voices for the Voiceless: Stars for Foster Kids
Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 W45th St./ 7PM, $49+
“Major Broadway and pop stars join forces to raise money for You Gotta Believe, a nonprofit that aims to find permanent homes for teens in foster care. Scheduled performers include Chita Rivera, Rosie Perez, Gloria Gaynor, Megan Hilty, Caroline Rhea, Alec Mapa, Alice Ripley, BD Wong, Charles Busch, Liz Callaway, Ann Hampton Callaway, Orfeh, Adrienne Warren, Anika Larsen, Keala Settle, Richard Kind, Tony Yazbeck and Roz Ryan—though not, alas, Sutton and Hunter Foster.” (TONY)

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

The Presidency: A Return to Dynasty?
The Cooper Union – The Great Hall, 7 E7th St./ 6:30PM, FREE
“This fall The Cooper Union Department of Public Programs offers a free, public ten-session course on the Constitution taught by Prof. Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School on Monday evenings, beginning Sept. 12 and ending Nov. 21. (There will be no class on Oct. 3 or Nov. 7.) Registration is requested.

The course will be based on Prof. Amar’s latest book, The Constitution Today: Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era (Basic Books; September 13, 2016). In it Prof. Amar, a constitutional scholar, considers the biggest and most bitterly contested debates of the last two decades and provides a passionate handbook for thinking constitutionally about today’s headlines.”

Philharmonic Insights at the Atrium
Origins of a New World Voice: NYC in 1893
Atrium 360 David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM,FREE
“To launch the New York Philharmonic’s 175th anniversary season, we explore Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s time in New York and the American influences on his most famous work: Symphony No. 9, From the New World, premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1893. Professor Michael Beckerman, the Philharmonic’s Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence and the author of Dvořák and His World, is joined by a cast of historic characters to uncover the meaning and reception of African-American musical sources at the dawn of the Progressive Era and how they contributed to the development of an American musical voice.”

IRMA BOOM: BOOKMAKER
Bard Graduate Center, 18 W86th St./ 6:30PM, $25
“Bard Graduate Center hosts a talk with Irma Boom, who is widely considered the world’s pre-eminent bookmaker and whose diverse list of collaborators includes Bard, as well as luminaries like the architect Rem Koolhaas and the artist Olafur Eliasson. One of Ms. Boom’s most famous books is an innovative catalogue of the artist Sheila Hicks, whose work was shown at Bard in 2006. Now, Ms. Boom and Bard are back together with the catalogue “Artek and the Aaltos: Creating a Modern World,” made for the exhibition currently on view at the gallery. In this talk about how the book was made, Ms. Boom will speak with Nina Stritzler-Levine, the gallery’s director and the show’s curator.” (NYT-AroundTown)

A Tribute to Tony Bennett
with Mel Haber, a devoted music lover,
Mid-Manhattan Library, 6:30PM, FREE
“Frank Sinatra once said, “For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business.” Through video footage, this illustrated lecture traces the career of Tony Bennett from his first big hit, “Because of You,” recorded in 1951, to a recent TV appearance in 2014 in which he sings “How Do You Keep the Music Playing.” During this presentation, we hear Bennett sing such favorites as his signature song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as such gems as “All the Things You Are,” “Stranger in Paradise,” “The Shadow of Your Smile,” and “It Had to Be You.”

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

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

==================================================================================
♦ 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):

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

Morgan Library & Museum:
‘Rembrandt’s First Masterpiece’ (through Sept. 18)
“In 1629, after some years of apprenticeship, the young Rembrandt finished what many experts consider his first painting in his resolved and distinctive style. Titled “Judas Returning the Thirty Pieces of Silver,” it is certainly powerful in ways that his great work will be, with its operatic, Verdian largeness of gesture, its sense for light as both specific and cosmic, and its piercing, unembarrassable instinct for human emotion. Now in a British private collection, the picture is visiting New York for the first time, and has been surrounded at the Morgan Library with a wealth of the artist’s prints and drawings. 225 Madison Avenue, at 36th Street, 212-685-0008, themorgan.org.” (Cotter-NYT)

Jewish Museum:
‘Roberto Burle Marx: Brazilian Modernist’ (through Sept. 18)
“Working primarily in South America, Roberto Burle Marx, the great Brazilian landscape architect, designed some of the modern world’s most distinctive parks and gardens, from an immense, jazzy tattoo of a promenade on the beachfront of Rio de Janeiro to rooftop plantings in Brasilia, a city carved from jungle. In the process, he became invested, heart and mind, in preserving the Amazonian paradise that surrounded him, fought to halt its devastation and turned his home near Rio into a sanctuary for one of the largest collections of tropical plants anywhere. To appreciate his art fully, you have to go to the gardens themselves, but a visit to the compact Jewish Museum show gives you a full sense of his protean work as designer, painter, sculptor and collector. 1109 Fifth Avenue, at 92nd Street, 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org.” (Cotter-NYT)

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)

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (SUN 11am-1pm PWYW) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015).
==============================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 08/11 and 08/09.
=============================================================

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged A Tribute to Tony Bennett, Hamilton and the Election of 1800, IRMA BOOM: BOOKMAKER, new york events, NYC Events, NYC Events Today, Philharmonic Insights at the Atrium Origins of a New World Voice: NYC in 1893, The Presidency: A Return to Dynasty?, Voices for the Voiceless: Stars for Foster Kids | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/11) + US Tennis Open (Day 14)

Posted on 09/11/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SUNDAY / SEPT 11, 2016

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

Rebirth Brass Band (LAST DAY)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St./ 8PM, +10:30PM, $20-$35
“Whether seen on HBO’s Treme or at their legendary Tuesday night gig at The Maple Leaf, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band is a true New Orleans institution. Formed in 1983 by the Frazier brothers, the band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world. While committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands, they have also extended themselves into the realms of funk and hip-hop to create their signature sound.

“Rebirth can be precise whenever it wants to,” says The New York Times, “but it’s more like a party than a machine. It’s a working model of the New Orleans musical ethos: as long as everybody knows what they’re doing, anyone can cut loose.” In the wake of the sometimes-stringent competition among New Orleans brass bands, Rebirth is the undisputed leader of the pack, and they show no signs of slowing down.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

STEVE TURRE QUINTET (LAST DAY)
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, between 105th and 106th Sts./7, 9, 10:30PM, $40
“When it comes to stylists who double on dissimilar instruments, Turre is assuredly in a class by himself. A trombone virtuoso, he also can blow the stuffings out of seashells. He leads a no-nonsense neobop outfit with the saxophonist Eric Alexander and the living legend drummer Jimmy Cobb, who powers Turre’s new album, “Colors for the Masters.” (NewYorker)

CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT & AARON DIEHL TRIO (LAST DAY)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $35
“It’s inevitable that Salvant and Diehl will eventually go their separate ways, but no one looks forward to their split. In a case of singular talents who bring out their respective bests, Salvant and Diehl (at the helm of his polished trio) read each other like twins, accelerating together when bolting swing is called for and ruminating in tandem when balladry beckons.” (NewYorker)

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

Tribute in Light – 7:30PM
“From dusk tonight until dawn, get a good view of lower Manhattan’s skyline for the 9/11 Tribute in Light. As remembrance for all that was lost during the attacks fifteen years ago, two large lights beam from the ground to the clouds in the place where the twin towers once stood.

The beams of blue light arranged in the shape of the Twin Towers are visible for 60 miles on a clear night. For the best views, head to Washington Square and Union Square parks in Manhattan, Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.” (TONY)

TABLE OF SILENCE
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza/ 8:15AM-8:45AM. FREE
“This annual Sept. 11 commemoration, which began on the 10th anniversary of the attacks and returns for the 15th, features the choreography of Jacqulyn Buglisi and the art of Rossella Vasta. (The title comes from Ms. Vasta’s installation of 100 terra-cotta plates arranged around a banquet table, meant to represent united humanity.) Set at Josie Robertson Plaza in Lincoln Center, the performance is simple: a meditative procession of 100 dancers, all in white, who form circles and create a “peace labyrinth,” a symbol of purity and eternity. The event will be streamed online at tableofsilence.org.” (NYT-AroundTown)

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit,
Washington Square Park vicinity/ 12PM- 6PM, FREE
University Place, starting at East 13th Street and continuing south along the east side of Washington Square Park to West 3rd Street.
“This city tradition feels fresh every spring when artists following in the footsteps of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning set up shop in the park. Hundreds of exhibitors, from NYU students to artists who remember the Village as a creative enclave, display their paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry and woodcraft.” (TONY)

TODAY’S TOP NYC EVENT

U.S. TENNIS OPEN (Day 14)
The U.S. Open concludes its two week run and starts play today at 12 noon at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens (about 45 min. from Times Square). The opening match is the Women’s Doubles Finals, followed at 4 PM by the Men’s Singles Final. It has been a heck of a tournament, and I hope you found time yesterday to watch the Women’s Final – a classic.
subway: #1-2-3 to Times Square; transfer to #7 to Willets Point.

Today’s Top Match:
MEN’S Singles FINAL
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (3) Stan Wawrinka
Mark Preston: A win for Djokovic would mark his 13th major crown, putting him behind only Federer, Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras on the all-time men’s list. Wawrinka is looking to become just the fifth man in the Open era to win two or more Slam singles titles after turning 30. This will be a good one, the sort of heavyweight slugfest that usually has ropes around it. In a furious four, Djokovic is still standing to answer the bell.
Neil Schlecht: Wawrinka has a taste for the big moment: He is 10-0 in his last 10 finals and he memorably summoned his best slugging to beat Nadal and Djokovic to win his two Slam titles (where he’s undefeated). Though just 4-19 against Djokovic and with double the time on court, Stan will prove himself the Man in New York again, and take down the Serb No. 1 in four delicious sets.
Richard Osborn: Don’t be fooled by Stan’s 4-19 mark against the No. 1. His most recent wins over the Serb have come on the Slam stage, including the ‘15 Roland Garros final and the ‘14 Aussie Open quarters, so he won’t be intimidated. The Swiss is zoning at the right time in Queens, where Djokovic has yet to look like his world-beating self. Wawrinka will pull off an upset in four.
E.J. Crawford: Wawrinka has proven a tough out at this year’s Open, fending off a match point against Dan Evans and ousting title contenders Juan Martin del Potro and Kei Nishikori. Judging Djokovic’s form and fitness is nearly impossible considering his peculiar route to the final. So we’ll rely on precedent: The defending champ is burnishing a legacy as the best hard-court performer in men’s tennis history. He adds to that on Sunday. Djokovic in four.
McCarton Ackerman: This match will ultimately come down to fitness. Wawrinka has spent a total of 13 hours and eight minutes on court for his past four matches. Djokovic has spent six hours and 21 minutes. Beating Djokovic is already a daunting physical task given how grueling the rallies are, and Wawrinka will simply run out of steam as the match progresses. Djokovic to win in four sets.
Richard Finn: Djokovic’s trip to the final featured several retirements, a walkover and a very uneven semifinal over Gael Monfils. The world No. 1 started the tournament with questions about his left wrist and had his shoulder worked on during the Monfils match. So does the combination of little match toughness and possible health issues make a difference. It will against Stan the Man, who has fought through by playing high-caliber tennis. Wawrinka in four.
Andrew Eichenholz: Winning six of the last nine Grand Slams is jaw-dropping. It is clear that Djokovic has not been at his best all US Open, but it is hard to see him not bringing close to it in this Slam final. Stan will go for his shots and land many, like he did at the 2014 Australian Open and 2015 French Open, but how can you pick against the best in the sport? Djokovic in five.
Arthur Kapetankis: Djokovic’s bizarre path to the final has only perpetuated the pre-tournament uncertainty surrounding his game and physical condition. Meanwhile, Wawrinka is peaking at the right time, proving his mettle by wearing down del Potro and Nishikori in two quality wins. It’s always difficult to fade Djokovic, no matter the circumstances, but Wawrinka is a proven big-match player and could edge it here. Wawrinka in five.
***
Matt Cronin’s Pick
The 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has beaten Stan Wawrinka 19 times, but in the past couple years, the Swiss has raised his game and has managed to win two titles: the Aussie Open and the French Open. Can Wawrinka win another title, this time under the bright lights at the US Open? Perhaps, but the Serb has done it before, and while his body is a little bit injured, Djokovic hasn’t played long matches,so he is ready to sacrifice whatever he has to to win it once again.

In 2013, Wawrinka decided that he wanted to push hard until he retires. His hard work finally paid off at the 2014 Australian Open. Stan finally did what he had to, upsetting Novak, 9-7, in the fifth. He was not going to back down; he went for his backhand and forehand and returned beautifully. In 2015 French Open final, Wawrinka did not back down for one second and he won in four sets.

With all that said, Djokovic has the right strategy, because he can move faster, he is more consistent, he can run, he can chip, he can get aggressive, he can be patient – he can just focus all the time. Can he slip mentally on occasion? Sure, but for Djokovic, his brain locks in more often than not.

In this one, the Serb will want to find out in the first set whether Wawrinka will go straight at him, or whether he will be patient. Either way, Djokovic wants to move the ball around and be very close to the lines. Stan now loves the big stage and it will be pretty tight, backhand-to-backhand, but this time, Novak will be pleased that he can rip his forehand. Djokovic will win another classic, grabbing a five-setter.
(USOpen.org)
I hesitate to pick against Djokovic, but I like Wawrinka, and his one hand (old school) backhand, in a five set grind.

Today’s tip:
The best, most comprehensive review of the tournament and the current state of tennis can be found at the NYTimes/Sports.
==================================================
Bonus NYC Events – Jazz Clubs:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. Here are my favorite Jazz clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who is playing tonight:

==================================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of 8.5 million, had a record 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 in advance at these top NYC events, even if just on day of performance.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged TABLE OF SILENCE, Tribute in Light | Leave a comment

Selected NYC Events (09/10) + US Tennis Open (Day 13)

Posted on 09/10/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SATURDAY / SEPT 10, 2016

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

Obscura Society New York:
The Wildlife Dioramas of the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ 10:30AM, $30
“Wildlife dioramas first appeared in science museums in the 1800s. In a time when photography was newly invented and travel much more limited, they allowed viewers a detailed glimpse into wild spaces of the natural world that they would likely never be able to visit themselves. Each diorama at the American Museum of Natural History re-creates a real nature scene based on the observations of early 20th-century naturalists in the field and the on-site sketches and photographs of the artists who accompanied them. The dioramas feature taxidermy specimens, three-dimensional foreground elements that add to the scene such as indigenous plants, and a curved background painting that gives the illusion of space and distance.

Join us for a talk and tour on the history and making of the museum’s dioramas with museum artist and diorama expert Tom Doncourt. Trained by a lineage of diorama builders and artists that traces back to Carl Akeley, the originator of the modern diorama building methods, Tom has worked to build new exhibits, sculpt models, and maintain the classic diorama halls for more than 20 years. You’ll discover the unique history and and explore the development of the craft through this rare expert perspective into one of New York City’s most celebrated museums.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

STEVE TURRE QUINTET (thru Sept.11)
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, between 105th and 106th Sts./7, 9, 10:30PM, $40
“When it comes to stylists who double on dissimilar instruments, Turre is assuredly in a class by himself. A trombone virtuoso, he also can blow the stuffings out of seashells. He leads a no-nonsense neobop outfit with the saxophonist Eric Alexander and the living legend drummer Jimmy Cobb, who powers Turre’s new album, “Colors for the Masters.” (NewYorker)

CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT & AARON DIEHL TRIO (thru Sept.11)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $35
“It’s inevitable that Salvant and Diehl will eventually go their separate ways, but no one looks forward to their split. In a case of singular talents who bring out their respective bests, Salvant and Diehl (at the helm of his polished trio) read each other like twins, accelerating together when bolting swing is called for and ruminating in tandem when balladry beckons.” (NewYorker)

Rebirth Brass Band (thru Sept.11)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St./ 8PM, +10:30PM, $20-$35
“Whether seen on HBO’s Treme or at their legendary Tuesday night gig at The Maple Leaf, Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band is a true New Orleans institution. Formed in 1983 by the Frazier brothers, the band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world. While committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands, they have also extended themselves into the realms of funk and hip-hop to create their signature sound.

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

Chelsea “Best Exhibits” Gallery Tour
New York Gallery Tours / 1PM or 3:45PM, $25
“Take a fascinating gallery tour of Chelsea – the world’s center for contemporary art – and see the very latest in painting, sculpture, electronic media & photography. Our guide, who holds a Ph.D. in arts education, helps explain the artwork and leads the group in lively discussion.

The tour takes place rain or shine (the art is all indoors). Meet at 526 W. 26th St. between 10th & 11th Ave. Nearest subways: C- or E-Train to 23rd St. Admission is $25. SPECIAL OFFER: use DISCOUNT code “chelsea29” for $8-off admission! For more info, visit http://www.nygallerytours.com or call 917-250-0052.”

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, (also Sept.11)
Washington Square Park vicinity/ 12PM- 6PM, FREE
University Place, starting at East 13th Street and continuing south along the east side of Washington Square Park to West 3rd Street.
“This city tradition feels fresh every spring when artists following in the footsteps of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning set up shop in the park. Hundreds of exhibitors, from NYU students to artists who remember the Village as a creative enclave, display their paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry and woodcraft.” (TONY)

TODAY’S TOP NYC EVENT

U.S. TENNIS OPEN (Day 13)
The U.S. Open starts play today at 12 noon at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens (about 45 min. from Times Square). The opening match is the Men’s Doubles Finals, followed at 4 PM by the Women’s Singles Final. The tournament finishes tomorrow with the Men’s Singles Final.
subway: #1-2-3 to Times Square; transfer to #7 to Willets Point.

Today’s Top Match:
WOMEN’S Singles FINAL
(2) Angelique Kerber vs. (10) Karolina Pliskova

Mark Preston: Pliskova came away with the win in their last meeting, in the Cincinnati final, but Kerber holds a slim 4-3 edge in their career head-to-heads, and it would seem that the game’s new No. 1 will come out wanting to show that she belongs at the top. Give Pliskova a set, but give Kerber the win. In three, Kerber is the 2016 women’s champion.

Neil Schlecht: Pliskova is on fire. In one month, she has beaten five Top 10 players. She not only looks like she belongs; she acts as though she has been here before. It is tough to bet against someone on that kind of streak, but the feisty and fit Kerber will blunt the Czech’s power, dig in and battle to her second major title in three tough, entertaining sets.

Richard Osborn: When you become the first German in nearly two decades to ascend to No. 1, aligning yourself with the likes of countrywoman and 22-time Slam champ Steffi Graf, you make the most of the opportunity. Sure, Karolina got the best of Angie in their last outing (Cincinnati final), but Kerber will prove too tough a task in claiming her second major. Kerber in three.

E.J. Crawford: Pliskova has earned her place in this title tilt, delivering steady, fearless performances in ousting both Serena and Venus to reach this stage. But Kerber is playing the best ball of any player at this year’s Open, advancing to the final without surrendering a set. She continues that run Saturday. Call if for Kerber in a tough two.

Ashley Marshall: Kerber is the easy choice on both ranking and reputation, but this has all the makings for an upset. Pliskova is serving beautifully and firing well from both wings, and nobody is getting into return games the way she has over the past 12 days. With the hottest hand on tour, Pliskova rolls to a maiden Slam victory in an unexpectedly smooth 6-4, 6-3 win.

McCarton Ackerman: Angelique Kerber is the more in-form player, but Pliskova has nothing to lose, having never reached the second week of a Grand Slam prior to this fortnight. Kerber will struggle as the favorite for the first time in a major final. Pliskova to complete her dream run with a straight-sets win.

Richard Finn: After beating Venus and Serena Williams, you would hope to have won the tournament. But that is not the case for Pliskova, who must now come back and beat the new No. 1 player to hoist the champion’s trophy. Hall of Famer Mats Wilander doesn’t think Pliskova will have a mental letdown, but Kerber is too solid. I go with Mats here. Kerber in two.

Andrew Eichenholz: What a difference a shot could make. Misaki Doi held a match point against Kerber in the first round of the Australian Open and now the German is looking for her second Slam title of 2016. Pliskova is a deserving finalist, becoming one of only three players (Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, the others) to beat both Williams sisters at the same US Open. But expect the German to be too solid all-around, winning her second Slam in straights. Kerber in two.

Arthur Kapetankis: Kerber’s recent 6-3, 6-1 defeat against Pliskova in Cincinnati raises some concerns, but the German was running on fumes after her run to the Olympic final, playing her 11th match in 16 days. Pliskova’s aggressive game plays into the new No. 1’s counter-punching style. Kerber in two.
(USOpen.org)

Pliskova has a big serve, no nerves, and beat both of the Williams sisters. Who has Kerber beat in this Open? I like Pliskova in 3 sets.

==================================================================================
♦ 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 in advance at these top NYC events, even if just on day of performance.

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Obscura Society New York: The Wildlife Dioramas of the American Museum of Natural History | Leave a comment

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub + 3 Good Eating places

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

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SATURDAY / SEPT 17, 2016

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.)

3 Good Eating places

Today’s Super7 NYC Events > FRIDAY / SEPT 16, 2016

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > THURSDAY / SEPT 15, 2016

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

A PremierPub / Tribeca

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

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

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

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY / SEPT 14, 2016

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Chelsea Art Gallery District*

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > TUESDAY / SEPT 13, 2016

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.)

3 Good Eating places

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > MONDAY / SEPT 12, 2016

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SUNDAY / SEPT 11, 2016

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Today’s Sweet6 NYC Events > SATURDAY / SEPT 10, 2016

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

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

Recent Posts

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

Recent Posts

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