Selected Events (07/24) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 07/24/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > SUNDAY / JULY 24, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Joe Lovano Quartet (LAST DAY)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM, $30
“Just over 20 years ago, Mr. Lovano, a saxophonist drawn to garrulous epiphany and tender lyricism, released “Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard,” a superb double album documenting two separate engagements at the club. The more adventurous of the two quartets on the album will reunite there next week, bringing a world of insights; its members are Tom Harrell on trumpet, Anthony Cox on bass and Billy Hart on drums.”(Chinen-NYT)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Harold Mabern Trio (through Sunday)
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, at 106th St./ 7, 9, 10:30PM, $38
“The estimable hard-bop pianist Harold Mabern devoted his most recent album, “Afro Blue,” to the support and celebration of jazz singers. For this weekend run, he pares down to a trio, with Nat Reeves on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

Cyro Baptista
Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St.& Broadway / 7:30PM +9:30PM, $35
“Mr. Baptista, an irrepressibly kinetic percussionist originally from São Paulo, Brazil, leads two distinct projects this weekend, presenting them one after the other each night. His 7:30 p.m. sets will revisit “Vira Loucos,” a 1997 album on which he interprets the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos. (That title, in addition to playing on the composer’s name, could be translated as “Behold the Insanity.”) The 9:30 sets will feature Mr. Baptista’s band Banquet of the Spirits, playing original material as well as tunes by Don Cherry and John Zorn, representing two generations of the jazz avant-garde” (Chinen-NYT)

Elsewhere but this looks so worth the slight detour:
Pat Martino Trio Plus Horns
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $30
The road provided plenty of unexpected twists and turns in Martino’s six-decade musical journey, yet he has emerged a veritable patriarch of jazz guitar, a fleet modernist who’s never forgotten his earthy roots. His customary organ-based trio is expanded here, with the addition of Alex Norris, on trumpet, and Adam Niewood, on tenor saxophone.” (NewYorker)

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

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
Learn to Tango Nights
Stuyvesant Square, 2nd Ave & E16th St./ 6PM, FREE
“It takes two to tango, but you can totally turn up solo at this class. Folks of all ages are welcome to learn this exotic rhythm taught by instructor Esmeralda at Stuyvesant Square Park. After the 45-minute class wraps, you can strut your stuff and practice your new moves until the sun goes down.” (TONY)

More of today’s selected events coming soon.

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

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

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

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

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:

‘Edgar Degas: A Strange New Beauty’ (LAST DAY)
“Among the greats of late 19th-century French painting, Degas remained closest to tradition and its focus on the human body, which may explain why this large but thrillingly intimate show is his first solo at the Modern. It focuses his monotypes — the most seductive of all print mediums — and their modernizing effect on his art, revealing with exceptional clarity a radical merging of subject and process that brought new liveliness to depictions of the body and to art itself. 212-708-9400, moma.org.” (Smith)

‘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)

Museum of Arts and Design:

‘Studio Job: Mad House’ (through Aug. 21)
“Working in the overlap of fine art and design, the Belgium-based Studio Job produces materially opulent tables, chairs, clocks, rugs, wallpaper, stained-glass windows, lamps, decorative objects and sculptures. While exceptionally imaginative and wide-ranging in their historical and sociopolitical references, the works in this lavish, two-floor exhibition are more kitschy than visionary. A gaudy, 12-foot tall sculpture of King Kong climbing to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, would make a fine gift for a Las Vegas casino owner. 2 Columbus Circle, 212-299-7777, madmuseum.org.” (Johnson)

 New-York Historical Society:

‘The Folk Art Collection of Elie and Viola Nadelman’ (through Aug. 21)
“The Nadelmans’ tale, like the best collecting narratives, is a riveting combination of wealth, visionary thought, aesthetic passion and cruel fate. It is recounted in this outstanding exhibition (and catalog) in unprecedented detail. The 250 objects on view sample the immense collection — most of which was purchased by the Society in 1937 — while the great Nadelman wood sculptures tell of the inspiration Elie drew from it. 170 Central Park West, at 77th Street, 212-873-3400, nyhistory.org.” (Smith)

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right sidebar dated 07/16 and 07/14.
=======================================================

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

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

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

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Selected Events (07/23) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 07/23/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > SATURDAY / JULY 23, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

An Evening with Darlene Love
Lincoln Center, Damrosch Park / 7:30pm; FREE
“Darlene Love is one of the biggest names of the girl-group era and ’60s pop music in general: She’s collaborated with Elvis, Sinatra, Sonny and Cher and has survived working with producer Phil Spector. Now, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee returns to New York to celebrate her 75th birthday in the sunshine of Lincoln Center for its annual outdoor summer concert program, Out of Doors.” (TONY)

“Hers was the voice that helped launch a hundred hits during the glory days of the girl-group era, including the No. 1 “He’s a Rebel,” “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love,” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” Recently, she has been on a creative hot streak, featured in the Oscar-winning documentary Twenty Feet from Stardom and releasing last year’s “Introducing Darlene Love” with songs written just for her by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, and other renowned songwriters.

Experience true music royalty at Love’s 75th birthday celebration, where Lincoln Center Out of Doors gives the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee free reign to interpret American popular music as only she can.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Twyla Tharp Dance (LAST DAY)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave./ 2PM+8PM, try the $76 loge seats, they are fine.
“Twyla Tharp, modern dance’s great populist, brings her company back to the Joyce for the first time in over a decade. The broad range of her artistic and cultural interests is on display with a program that includes deconstructed square dancing in “Country Dances” (1976); the busy, complicated and colorful “Brahms Paganini” from 1980, with six dancers elegantly freaking out in preppy pastels; and a new work made to Beethoven’s Opus 130.”(Schaefer-NYT)

Barbara Cook
54 Below, 254 W. 54th St./ 7PM; $100
“Time takes what it must from us all, but the imperishable vocalist Cook toughs it out to give everything she’s got for the glory of song. Heartfelt interpretation may have replaced technical command, but in the hands of this iconic trouper that’s more than enough.” (NewYorker)

“A top Broadway ingenue of the 1950s, Barbara Cook has since emerged as perhaps the greatest living interpreter of the musical-theater repertoire. The Golden Age lives for as long as Cook sings; listen closely to her voice, and you may hear the fabled lullaby of Broadway itself.” (TONY)

Cyro Baptista (through Sunday)
Dizzy’s Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St.& Broadway / 7:30PM +9:30PM, $
“Mr. Baptista, an irrepressibly kinetic percussionist originally from São Paulo, Brazil, leads two distinct projects this weekend, presenting them one after the other each night. His 7:30 p.m. sets will revisit “Vira Loucos,” a 1997 album on which he interprets the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos. (That title, in addition to playing on the composer’s name, could be translated as “Behold the Insanity.”) The 9:30 sets will feature Mr. Baptista’s band Banquet of the Spirits, playing original material as well as tunes by Don Cherry and John Zorn, representing two generations of the jazz avant-garde” (Chinen-NYT)

Elsewhere but this looks worth the slight detour:
Dick Hyman/Ken Peplowski Duo
Jazz at Kitano, 66 Park Ave., at 38th St./ 8PM, +10PM, $32
“Two walking compendiums of jazz—the eighty-nine-year-old pianist Hyman and the younger clarinettist and saxophonist Peplowski—are virtuosos who never forget that mirth isn’t antithetical to sterling musicianship. The two, both New York treasures, have been featured on the soundtracks to various Woody Allen films, naturally.” (NewYorker)

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

OZY Fusion Fest
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, midpark at 70th St./ 10:30AM-9PM; $35
“Part music festival, part TED Talk, part food fair — this event’s debut aims to accomplish a lot. But with a packed schedule lasting from morning to night, there’s plenty of room to give the star-studded lineup room to breathe. Among those making appearance are Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer of “Broad City,” the author Malcolm Gladwell and Will.i.am. The full list is at ozy.com/ozyfest2016.” (NYT-AroundTown)

PLUS (way off the beaten track, but the Louis Armstrong Eternity Band is so good!)
Hot Jazz / Cool Garden Summer Concert Series
Louis Armstrong House Museum 34-56 107th St. btw 34th/37th Aves/ 2PM;
$18, includes free admission to museum
Jazz is served with Satchmo’s favorite dish: red beans ‘n’ rice and sweet tea. David Ostwald leads the Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, which will pay tribute to the legendary trumpeter, composer, and band leader.

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

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

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

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

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

A PremierPub / Midtown West.

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

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

From the outside this place looks a bit drab, and with no windows, a bit mysterious. Midtown tourists walk right by on their way to see “Jersey Boys,” just down the block.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Selected Events (07/22) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 07/22/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > FRIDAY / JULY 22, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Marquis Hill Blacktet (also Saturday)
Ginny’s Supper Club, 310 Lenox Avenue, near 125th St./ 7:30PM +9:30PM, $
“The Way We Play,” the major-label debut by the Chicago trumpeter Marquis Hill, amounts to this band’s official declaration of arrival. With Christopher McBride on alto saxophone, Justin Thomas on vibraphone, Joshua Ramos on bass, and Makaya McCraven on drums, it suggests a sleek update to the Young Lion aesthetics of the 1980s, with tight front-line maneuvers against a strong but supple churn.” (Chinen-NYT)

This is a wonderful club to hear good music and just a few steps from the #2/3 subway.

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner: Unattached! (also July 23,25)
Feinstein’s/54 Below, 254 W54th St./ 9:30PM, $60
“The original stars of the conjoined-twin musical Side Show reunite to perform their first show together in nearly a decade. Both have had substantial careers since their joint 1997 breakthrough, and it will be fascinating to see how Ripley’s edgy presence and rough-edged rock voice interplays with Skinner’s vivacious, Broadway-broad approach.” (TONY)

Harold Mabern Trio (through Sunday)
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, at 106th St./ 7,9,10:30PM, $
“The estimable hard-bop pianist Harold Mabern devoted his most recent album, “Afro Blue,” to the support and celebration of jazz singers. For this weekend run, he pares down to a trio, with Nat Reeves on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

Joe Lovano Quartet (through July 24)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM, $30
“Just over 20 years ago, Mr. Lovano, a saxophonist drawn to garrulous epiphany and tender lyricism, released “Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard,” a superb double album documenting two separate engagements at the club. The more adventurous of the two quartets on the album will reunite there next week, bringing a world of insights; its members are Tom Harrell on trumpet, Anthony Cox on bass and Billy Hart on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

Elsewhere but this looks worth the slight detour:
Dick Hyman/Ken Peplowski Duo (also Saturday)
Jazz at Kitano, 66 Park Ave., at 38th St./ 8PM, +10PM, $32
“Two walking compendiums of jazz—the eighty-nine-year-old pianist Hyman and the younger clarinettist and saxophonist Peplowski—are virtuosos who never forget that mirth isn’t antithetical to sterling musicianship. The two, both New York treasures, have been featured on the soundtracks to various Woody Allen films, naturally.” (NewYorker)

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

Want to go batty?
Evening Bat Walks in Central Park
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ 8PM, $40
“At dusk, bats leave the warm spaces under city roofs to feed on flying insects. Join Bradley Klein, Danielle Gustafson, and other members of the New York City Bat Group for a walk through Central Park. Aided by detectors that amplify the bats’ otherwise inaudible high-frequency chirps, bat-watchers monitor and catalogue the species that call the city home.”

Meet at the Museum entrance on 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Enrollment is limited. if you miss this one, register in advance for July 29.

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

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

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

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

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.

Two exhibitions the NewYorkTimes likes:

 Robert Ryman (through July 31)
“For nearly 60s years, the Minimalist painter Robert Ryman has had few equals when it comes to doing more with less. White has been his primary, if not quite his only, color, the square his typical format. And yet within these seeming limitations a remarkably fecund and resonant body of work has evolved as demonstrated with unusual clarity (and in natural light) by this small but comprehensive exhibition.
Dia: Chelsea, 535 West 22nd Street, 212-989-5566, diaart.org.” (Smith)

Richard Serra (through July 29)
“New works occupying Gagosian Gallery’s two Chelsea display spaces find Mr. Serra, at 76, still wrangling sculptural fundamentals into objects and installations of thrilling severity. At West 21st Street is a single, grand example of his mazes made from immense ribbons of rolled steel; West 24th Street hosts three works made of solid steel slabs as well as a drawing installation. In certain respects, the two exhibitions represent formal opposites. While the maze subordinates material to gravity-defying form, the slabs favor weighty raw material. What the two have in common is their awesomely expansive effects on consciousness.
Gagosian Gallery, 522 West 21st Street, 212-741-1717; and at 555 West 24th Street, Chelsea, 212-741-1111, gagosian.com.” (Johnson)

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 07/20 and 07/18.
======================================================

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

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

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

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Selected Events (07/21) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square/ Theater District)

Posted on 07/21/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > THURSDAY / JULY 21, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Broadway in Bryant Park (Thursdays thru Aug 11)
Bryant Park / 12:30–1:30PM, FREE
“Can’t get a ticket to your favorite Broadway show? You might get lucky in Bryant Park. Catch the best performances on and off Broadway as talented musicians and actors showcase the hits.” (TONY)

Have your picnic lunch in nycity’s best vest pocket park, while listening to cast members of popular musicals perform their hits. I look forward to this wonderful, only in NYCity experience each year.
TODAY: Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables, Fuerza Bruta, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Cirque De Soleil Paramour

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Elsewhere, but this sure looks worth the slight detour:
Jazz in July (Tuesday through Thursday, + July 19-21)
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave./ 8PM, $
“Under the watchful eyes and adroit fingers of the pianist and artistic director Bill Charlap, this venerated festival keeps on swinging. Tributes to Billy Strayhorn, Nat King Cole, and other luminaries highlight the series, which makes nimble use of such mainstream notables as Houston Person, Sandy Stewart, Warren Vache, Anat Cohen, and Carol Sloane.” (NewYorker)

Today’s program is pretty special: “Unforgettable: The Nat King Cole Songbook,” will feature Cole’s brother Freddy Cole and, on tenor saxophone, his longtime associate Houston Person.

Tammy Faye Starlite Is Nico: Underground
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM, FREE
Seating is limited, better get there no later than 7PM
“Tammy Faye Starlite pays magnetic and hilarious tribute to the glacial German singer Nico, whose bored baritone vocals added eerie Continental glamour to the first Velvet Underground album.” (TONY)

Joe Lovano Quartet (through July 24)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM, $30
“Just over 20 years ago, Mr. Lovano, a saxophonist drawn to garrulous epiphany and tender lyricism, released “Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard,” a superb double album documenting two separate engagements at the club. The more adventurous of the two quartets on the album will reunite there next week, bringing a world of insights; its members are Tom Harrell on trumpet, Anthony Cox on bass and Billy Hart on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

PLUS
Kamau
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum /
6-9PM, $15, includes one complimentary drink.
Join us an evening of music, cocktails and dancing, held in the recently renewed Arthur Ross Terrace & Garden. Cocktails and light fare for purchase from Tarallucci e Vino. Held rain or shine. Enjoy the sounds of KAMAU, singer, rapper and producer. He fuses his lifelong musical, cultural, physical and emotional influences…

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

Don’t forget to attend this event:
Flex Your Memory to Master Names and Faces
New York Public Library – Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave./ 6:30PM, FREE
“With Brent Sverdloff, author of “How Could I Forget You! A Creative Way to Remember Names and Faces,” and a practitioner of trained-memory methods.

This illustrated lecture and lively interactive workshop explores techniques for remembering sequential information (e.g., lists, speeches) plus names and faces.”

Rome on the Cusp of the Modern Era: 1849–1870
Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave./ 6:30PM, $15
“Rome was under siege. Giuseppe Garibaldi and his followers rallied to the defense of the newly proclaimed Roman Republic, while a French expeditionary force fought to restore the pope. As the battle raged, the American correspondent Margaret Fuller was present in Rome and chronicled the dramatic events in her letters and dispatches.

Explore this turbulent year and the events that eventually led to Rome becoming the capital of unified Italy with two Pulitzer Prize-winning biographers, David Kertzer, Dupee University Professor of Social Science at Brown University and author of The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara and The Pope and Mussolini, and Megan Marshall, Charles Wesley Emerson College Professor at Emerson College and author of Margaret Fuller: A New American Life.”

The exhibition City of the Soul: Rome and the Romantics will be open at 5:30 pm for program attendees.

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

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

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

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

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

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

A PremierPub + 3 Good Eating places

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Good Eating Places

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

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

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

Xi’an Famous Foods – 24 W45th St. (Btw 5th/6th ave)
Try to avoid long lunch lines. Order lamb hand ripped noodles and warm your insides at one of the tables in the back. You’ll return, just remember that even mild is pretty spicy.
==============================================================
“3 Good Eating Places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places, and essays on my favorite 18 Premier Pubs in 9 Neighborhoods on Manhattan’s WestSide, order a copy of my e-book:
“Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($4.99, available Fall 2016).
◊ Order before Sept. 30, 2016 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.
==============================================================

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

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

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

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Selected Events (07/20) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 07/19/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > WEDNESDAY / JULY 20, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Patti Smith
Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM, FREE
“This free outdoor event is billed as a night of words and music, but with the punk poet Ms. Smith, such a description is practically implied. Although she hasn’t released an album since “Banga” in 2012, she recently published “M Train,” a memoir that places domestic sketches between visits to the graves of writers like Rimbaud and Genet. Don’t be surprised if the works of one or the other are read between songs. With Mariachi Flor de Toloache” (Murray-NYT)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner: Unattached! 
Feinstein’s/54 Below, 254 W54th St./ 9:30PM, $60
“The original stars of the conjoined-twin musical Side Show reunite to perform their first show together in nearly a decade. Both have had substantial careers since their joint 1997 breakthrough, and it will be fascinating to see how Ripley’s edgy presence and rough-edged rock voice interplays with Skinner’s vivacious, Broadway-broad approach.” (TONY)

Joe Lovano Quartet (through July 24)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM, $30
“Just over 20 years ago, Mr. Lovano, a saxophonist drawn to garrulous epiphany and tender lyricism, released “Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard,” a superb double album documenting two separate engagements at the club. The more adventurous of the two quartets on the album will reunite there next week, bringing a world of insights; its members are Tom Harrell on trumpet, Anthony Cox on bass and Billy Hart on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

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

The Hills on Governors Island
Governors Island
“New York has a new view. A ten-acre park on the south end of Governors Island opens this week, after eight years of construction, featuring breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the surrounding skylines of New Jersey, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. On July 20, the Sunrise to Sunset celebration invites attendees to welcome the new attraction, and free ferries run from dawn till dusk.” (NewYorker)

Craft Beer Jam 2016
The Greene Space, 44 Charlton St./ 7PM, $25
“Our annual beer-focused series returns for another season of conversation, consumption and celebration over three Wednesdays in July. Enjoy beer tastings and snacks as host Jimmy Carbone of the internet radio show “Beer Sessions Radio” talks with local experts and brewers as part of the 8th annual NYC July Good Beer Month.”

Series Pass – Attend all three events with our discounted pass for $60.
Individual Tickets – Purchase tickets for individual events below for $25 each.

TONIGHT: Brewing Like It’s 1776
“Raise a glass to the past at this tasting of beers from local breweries looking to the 18th century for inspiration. Expect expert brewers in lively conversation, opportunities to sample authentic early American brews they’ve created exclusively for this one night tasting event, and maybe we’ll even teach you a colonial drinking song (or two).”

Take Your Shoes Off and Party With Questlove
Bryant Park / 7:30-11PM, $50
“Bryant Park is hosting its inaugural Barefoot Ball giving revelers the chance to dance with grass beneath their toes to a set by Questlove and give back to the park.

The event, from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on July 20, is a fundraiser for Bryant Park’s free programming throughout the year. General admission tickets for the event start at $50 (which includes an open beer and wine bar), but for those looking to have a fancier experience, VIP tickets are going for $175, which includes access to a VIP area, an open beer and wine bar, food tickets, and a gift bag.

For those city folk squeamish about soaking up nature through their soles, a pair of flip-flops comes free with a ticket.” (dnainfo)

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

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

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

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

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

 Solomon R Guggenheim Museum:
“Moholy-Nagy: Future Present,”  (through Sept. 7)
“A key innovator in the fields of kinetic sculpture and cameraless photography, Moholy-Nagy (1895–1946) was one of the giants of 20th-century modernism, who pioneered the use of ephemeral materials like plastics. The Hungarian-born artist was an instructor at the legendary Bauhaus in Germany before he eventually moved to Chicago to continue his teaching. This retrospective is his first in 50 years.” (TONY)

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum:
‘Beauty — Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial’ (through Aug. 21)
“This year’s version of the Cooper Hewitt’s always interesting Design Triennial boldly ventures to tackle one of the most controversial topics in today’s visual culture. With more than 250 works by 63 designers from around the world in a jam-packed two-floor show, it’s a mixed bag in terms of quality. But whether or not everything in it qualifies as incontrovertibly beautiful, it offers an exciting opportunity to meditate on two perennially confounding questions: What is beauty? And what is it good for? 2 East 91st Street, 212-849-8400, cooperhewitt.org.” (Ken Johnson-NYT)

Morgan Library & Museum:
‘Dreams in Dust: The Pastels of Lucas Samaras’ (through Aug. 21)
“In the late 1950s, when ambitious painters were obliged to produce big, bold abstractions, Lucas Samaras took up the fragile, intimate medium of pastel. He went on to forge a singular, nearly 60-year career of eccentric invention in painting, sculpture and photography, but he periodically returned to pastel to create small, vibrantly colorful and poetically captivating images. Of the hundreds of pastels Mr. Samaras has made, 48 are in this intensely absorbing exhibition. Dating from 1958-83, they range from offbeat abstractions to hallucinogenic allegories. 225 Madison Avenue, at 36th Street, 212-685-0008, themorgan.org.” (Johnson-NYT)

‘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)

at the very least you will want to see this one:
‘Turner’s Whaling Pictures’ at the Met (thru Aug 7)
“Among the most revered works by the great British painter Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) are those representing the world dissolved by light, steam, fog, smoke, rain, wind and snow. One of his favorite settings for his evocations of elemental chaos was the ocean, where nature regularly overwhelms human challenges to its dominion. In this vein, late in his career, he made the dangerous business of whaling the subject of four stirringly atmospheric and poetically thrilling paintings. They’ve never been shown together until now, in this small, beautiful exhibition that no Turner fan should miss.” (Ken Johnson-NYT)

===========================================================
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 07/18 and 07/16.
=============================================================

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

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

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

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

Selected Events (07/19) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 07/19/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > TUESDAY / JULY 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Reich/Reverberations (also Thursday)
Appel Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St and Broadway/ 8PM, $
“The Lincoln Center Festival’s homage to Steve Reich culminates in three performances highlighting the breadth and depth of his output.

Tuesday’s program, featuring Ensemble Signal and the formidable Jack Quartet, showcases Reich’s serious side, including the Holocaust-themed “Different Trains” and the moving “WTC 9/11.” On Thursday, Ensemble Signal performs the kaleidoscopic “Music for 18 Musicians.” (da Fonseca-Wollheim-NYT)

“The go-to quartet for contemporary music, tying impeccable musicianship to intellectual ferocity and a take-no-prisoners sense of commitment.” —Washington Post on the Jack Quartet

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner: Unattached! (also Wed.)
Feinstein’s/54 Below, 254 W54th St./ 9:30PM, $60
“The original stars of the conjoined-twin musical Side Show reunite to perform their first show together in nearly a decade. Both have had substantial careers since their joint 1997 breakthrough, and it will be fascinating to see how Ripley’s edgy presence and rough-edged rock voice interplays with Skinner’s vivacious, Broadway-broad approach.” (TONY)

Joe Lovano Quartet (through July 24)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM, $30
“Just over 20 years ago, Mr. Lovano, a saxophonist drawn to garrulous epiphany and tender lyricism, released “Quartets: Live at the Village Vanguard,” a superb double album documenting two separate engagements at the club. The more adventurous of the two quartets on the album will reunite there next week, bringing a world of insights; its members are Tom Harrell on trumpet, Anthony Cox on bass and Billy Hart on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

Twyla Tharp Dance (through July 23)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave./ try the $76 loge seats, they are fine.
“Twyla Tharp, modern dance’s great populist, brings her company back to the Joyce for the first time in over a decade. The broad range of her artistic and cultural interests is on display with a program that includes deconstructed square dancing in “Country Dances” (1976); the busy, complicated and colorful “Brahms Paganini” from 1980, with six dancers elegantly freaking out in preppy pastels; and a new work made to Beethoven’s Opus 130.”(Schaefer-NYT)
Mondays through Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m.

Ralph Alessi Baida Quartet
Jazz Standard, 116 E27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $
“The trumpeter Ralph Alessi has done strong, scintillating work in an acoustic quartet format in recent years, and his most recent album, “Quiver,” keeps that momentum going. He plays this one-nighter with the pianist Gary Versace and the bassist Drew Gress, who both play on the album; on drums is the exacting yet unpredictable Dan Weiss.”
(Chinen-NYT)

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

The Myth of Women & Madness: Sylvia Plath & Zelda Fitzgerald
The Strand, 828 Broadway/ 7:30PM, $20, includes one drink.
“The idea that “b*tches be crazy” is not new. Since the dawn of Christianity, women have been construed and constructed as mentally unstable. We’ll examine the origins of these ideas, the lack of protection women had because they were wards of their fathers or husbands, and investigate the lasting implications of this legacy of women and madness.

In this class, we will look closely at women like Zelda Fitzgerald and Sylvia Plath, deconstructing their actual lived experiences and how that may have contributed to their perceived madness. We will also– of course– discuss their husbands F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ted Hughes and how these men factored into the mythologized stories of their respective wives. Topics will include: religion, European precedents, the first biologists and early gynecology.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Magic and Loss: The Internet as Art
New York Public Library – Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave./ 6:30PM, FREE
“With Virginia Heffernan, who writes regularly about digital culture for “The New York Times Magazine.” This illustrated lecture reveals the logic and aesthetics behind the Internet.”

===========================================================
Bonus – 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 – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346
Cornelia Street Cafe – 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319

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

==================================================================================
♦ 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, even if just on day of performance.
=================================================================================

A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – Greenwich Village

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Good Eating places

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

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

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

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

========================================================
“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 Fall 2016).
◊ Order before Sept. 30, 2016 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.
=============================================================
This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

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

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

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

Selected Events (07/18) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 07/18/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > MONDAY / JULY 18, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Twyla Tharp Dance (through July 23)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave./ try the $76 loge seats, they are fine.
“Twyla Tharp, modern dance’s great populist, brings her company back to the Joyce for the first time in over a decade. The broad range of her artistic and cultural interests is on display with a program that includes deconstructed square dancing in “Country Dances” (1976); the busy, complicated and colorful “Brahms Paganini” from 1980, with six dancers elegantly freaking out in preppy pastels; and a new work made to Beethoven’s Opus 130.”(Schaefer-NYT)
Mondays through Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m.

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Lou Donaldson Quartet
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St./ 8PM +10:30PM, $
“At 89, the alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson could be forgiven for coasting on his contributions to hard bop and soul jazz. But if he isn’t the quicksilver force he once was on the horn, he’s no less an entertainer and aphorist, and he has strong support in his quartet.” (Chinen-NYT)

Lesli Margherita: Broad
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 7PM, $30
“Lesli Margherita is not a fan of the small gesture. Having gleefully chewed up Broadway scenery as over-the-top villainesses in Matilda and Dames at Sea, she goes solo with a collection of sexy-tough songs from the ’20s, ’30s and ‘40s.” (TONY)

The Feelies + Beach Fossils
Central Park, SummerStage, at Rumsey Playfield / 6PM, FREE
“North Jersey indie-rock legends the Feelies drew on the Velvet Underground long before the influence became de rigueur, creating wired, bookish rock at a time when the Vampire Weekend kids were but twinkles in their parents’ eyes. Expect to hear old favorites mixed in with tunes from the band’s 2011 comeback LP, Here Before. Blissed-out indie-gone-psych faves Beach Fossils open.” (TONY)

International Keyboard Institute and Festival (through July 31)
Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, 68th St., btw Lexington/Park Ave./8PM, $
For pianists and their fans, for those who love piano music and for everything piano-related, the 18th season of the International Keyboard Institute and Festival will open on Sunday at Hunter College. True to tradition, the festival offers recitals (sometimes two a day) by acclaimed as well as emerging pianists, lectures, master classes and a competition. The founding director, Jerome Rose, will open the series with a recital on Sunday night.” (Anthony Tommasini-NYT)

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

Elsewhere, but books in a beautiful setting, always worth the detour:
Books Beneath the Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge Park, 2 Old Fulton St.at Furman St./ 7PM, FREE
“Emma Straub, author of the recently released novel “Modern Lovers” and a fixture of the Brooklyn literary scene, returns to this summer reading series in which the borough’s small bookstores curate their own talks over the course of six weeks. The coming week’s event, by the store Word, also includes Rumaan Alam, who will discuss his debut work, “Rich and Pretty.” (NYT-AroundTown)

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

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

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

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

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:

‘Edgar Degas: A Strange New Beauty’ (through July 24)
“Among the greats of late 19th-century French painting, Degas remained closest to tradition and its focus on the human body, which may explain why this large but thrillingly intimate show is his first solo at the Modern. It focuses his monotypes — the most seductive of all print mediums — and their modernizing effect on his art, revealing with exceptional clarity a radical merging of subject and process that brought new liveliness to depictions of the body and to art itself. 212-708-9400, moma.org.” (Smith)

‘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)

Museum of Arts and Design:

‘Studio Job: Mad House’ (through Aug. 21)
“Working in the overlap of fine art and design, the Belgium-based Studio Job produces materially opulent tables, chairs, clocks, rugs, wallpaper, stained-glass windows, lamps, decorative objects and sculptures. While exceptionally imaginative and wide-ranging in their historical and sociopolitical references, the works in this lavish, two-floor exhibition are more kitschy than visionary. A gaudy, 12-foot tall sculpture of King Kong climbing to the top of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, would make a fine gift for a Las Vegas casino owner. 2 Columbus Circle, 212-299-7777, madmuseum.org.” (Johnson)

 New-York Historical Society:

‘The Folk Art Collection of Elie and Viola Nadelman’ (through Aug. 21)
“The Nadelmans’ tale, like the best collecting narratives, is a riveting combination of wealth, visionary thought, aesthetic passion and cruel fate. It is recounted in this outstanding exhibition (and catalog) in unprecedented detail. The 250 objects on view sample the immense collection — most of which was purchased by the Society in 1937 — while the great Nadelman wood sculptures tell of the inspiration Elie drew from it. 170 Central Park West, at 77th Street, 212-873-3400, nyhistory.org.” (Smith)

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right sidebar dated 07/16 and 07/14.
=======================================================

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

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

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

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Selected Events (07/17) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 07/17/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > SUNDAY / JULY 17, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Rubin Museum Block Party 2016
Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W17th St./ 1-4PM, FREE
includes free admission to the museum
“Join the Rubin for a celebration inspired by the exhibition Nepalese Seasons: Rain and Ritual. Activities and performances will celebrate Nepal’s festivals, nature, and culture with connections to the art and ideas of the region.” (ThoughtGallery.org)
Art Making
Museum Tours and Gallery Search
Musical and Dance Performances
Refreshments

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

“Summergarden: New Music for New York”
Museum of Modern Art, 11 W53rd St./ Garden opens at 7, Concert begins at 8; FREE
“Members of the New Juilliard Ensemble led by conductor Joel Sachs will perform in MoMA’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden as part of the museum’s Summergarden series on Sunday night. The series, titled “New Music for New York,” will take place over the course of four evenings and will offer “adventurous contemporary” musical selections. Summergarden, established in 1971, seeks to continue the MoMA’s history of presenting jazz and classical music in the Sculpture Garden. Although the exhibition galleries are closed, the Garden Bar will be open and offer a selection of light fare as well as wine, craft beer and cocktails.” (the Observer)
Tonight: Jazz Concert I: Elliot Mason & Creation

International Keyboard Institute and Festival (through July 31)
Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College, 68th St., btw Lexington/Park Ave./8PM, $
For pianists and their fans, for those who love piano music and for everything piano-related, the 18th season of the International Keyboard Institute and Festival will open on Sunday at Hunter College. True to tradition, the festival offers recitals (sometimes two a day) by acclaimed as well as emerging pianists, lectures, master classes and a competition. The founding director, Jerome Rose, will open the series with a recital on Sunday night.” (Anthony Tommasini-NYT)

Summer on the Hudson: Amplified Sundays – DeLeon
Pier I in Riverside Park South, W70th St./ 7PM, FREE
“Enjoy vibrantly-danceable live music accompanied by a spectacular sunset over the Hudson River! Join us every Sunday in July!

DeLeon – indie rock band plays Sephardic folk songs in a modern context. The band is named for 12th century Kabalistic philosopher Moses de León and the great-grandfather of front man Daniel Saks, Giorgio DeLeon.”

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
‘Gabe Liedman Send’
Bell House, 149 Seventh Street, Gowanus, Brooklyn/ 8PM, $
“Mr. Liedman, a writer for “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Inside Amy Schumer,” is a brilliantly funny stand-up and a fantastic storyteller. Here, he’s supported by John Early and Michelle Collins.” (Czajkowski-NYT)

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

Elsewhere, but this looks too tasty to miss and worth the detour:
Grace American Jerk Festival
Roy Wilkins Park, Queens / 12-8PM, $30
“New York’s biggest Caribbean food festival is turning up the heat, showcasing the signature Jamaican cooking style featuring hot and spicy seasonings. Enjoy a jerk cook-off, bites from more than 20 vendors, and plenty of reggae and soca music.” (EpochTimes)

==================================================
Bonus – 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 in advance, even if just on day of performance.
================================================================================

A PremierPub / Tribeca

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Selected Events (07/16) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 07/16/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > SATURDAY / JULY 16, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Louis Armstrong’s Wonderful World
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park/ main stage 1-8PM, FREE
This free daylong affair will celebrate the memory and spirit of Louis Armstrong, who lived in the neighborhood for many years. Along with Kermit Ruffins, a New Orleans trumpeter in the Armstrong mold, its main-stage lineup will feature the tireless R&B sage Dr. John, the funk trio Soulive and the Colombian groove band Folklore Urbano. Among the other offerings are a family area, a food court and assorted events at the Queens Theater and the Queens Museum. For more information, visit armstrongswonderfulworld.com. (Chinen-NYT)

OK, this is not Manhattan’s WestSide, but from Times Square it’s a straight shot out on the #7 subway (30-40 min).

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Reich/Reverberations (also Tuesday and Thursday)
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center/ 8PM, $
“The Lincoln Center Festival’s homage to Steve Reich culminates in three performances highlighting the breadth and depth of his output. On Saturday, the intrepid So Percussion, joined by additional percussionists, singers and a piccolo player, takes on Mr. Reich’s landmark “Drumming” from 1971.

Tuesday’s program, featuring Ensemble Signal and the formidable Jack Quartet, showcases Reich’s serious side, including the Holocaust-themed “Different Trains” and the moving “WTC 9/11.”
On Thursday, Ensemble Signal performs the kaleidoscopic “Music for 18 Musicians.”
8PM, Tuesday,Thursday at the Appel Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St/Broadway

Americana Sounds:
Deer Tick / Margo Price / Anais Mitchell / Breanna Barbara
Hudson River Park, Pier 97, 59th St at the Hudson River/ 2-9PM, FREE
“These artists merge the classic American sounds of acoustic roots and folk traditions into the contemporary rock sound.”

Goran Bregović and His Wedding and Funeral Orchestra
David Geffen Hall (at Lincoln Center)/ 8PM, $30-$60
“Charismatic singer, guitarist and bandleader Goran Bregović, one of the world’s most popular Balkan performers, visits Carnegie Hall with his vivacious band, a seemingly homely folkloric outfit that’s actually every bit as sophisticated and subversive as Astor Piazzolla’s great quintets.” (TONY)

“Performing as a group since 1998, the Wedding and Funeral Orchestra creates a party atmosphere wherever it goes, bringing together Gypsy brass players, Bulgarian vocalists, and conservatory-trained string players. While the music has a serious side—Bregović has said that it arises from “a terrible frontier” where Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Muslims, and Gypsies have coexisted fitfully for centuries—an infectious joy trumps any underlying sorrow.”

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

want to try something different today?
3rd Annual International Conversation Day
Bryant Park, Sixth Ave. and 42nd St./ 3-6PM, FREE
“Visitors to the event will be able to choose from a diverse array of topics for discussion at cafe tables seating from 6-15 people, to share experiences, thoughts, insights, and ideas. Some topics last year shared among the 300+ participants were: “What Makes NYC Great” or “Can We Be Good Without God?” or “Do We Make Our Own Luck?”. Visitors can also announce topics on-the-spot and solicit discussants. This outdoor event is weather contingent.”

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

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

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

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

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.

Two exhibitions the NewYorkTimes likes:

 Robert Ryman (through July 31)
“For nearly 60s years, the Minimalist painter Robert Ryman has had few equals when it comes to doing more with less. White has been his primary, if not quite his only, color, the square his typical format. And yet within these seeming limitations a remarkably fecund and resonant body of work has evolved as demonstrated with unusual clarity (and in natural light) by this small but comprehensive exhibition.
Dia: Chelsea, 535 West 22nd Street, 212-989-5566, diaart.org.” (Smith)

Richard Serra (through July 29)
“New works occupying Gagosian Gallery’s two Chelsea display spaces find Mr. Serra, at 76, still wrangling sculptural fundamentals into objects and installations of thrilling severity. At West 21st Street is a single, grand example of his mazes made from immense ribbons of rolled steel; West 24th Street hosts three works made of solid steel slabs as well as a drawing installation. In certain respects, the two exhibitions represent formal opposites. While the maze subordinates material to gravity-defying form, the slabs favor weighty raw material. What the two have in common is their awesomely expansive effects on consciousness.
Gagosian Gallery, 522 West 21st Street, 212-741-1717; and at 555 West 24th Street, Chelsea, 212-741-1111, gagosian.com.” (Johnson)

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).

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 07/14 and 07/12.
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This week’s fave and FREE NYCity AppS: 
Trip Advisor
An enormous base of NYCity user reviews (2.1 million) provides the widest coverage of hotels (468), restaurants (12,645) and things to do (yes, 3,246). Have a specific question? Then try one of Trip Advisor’s forums. Just remember that with all those reviews you have to try to find the consistency among the comments, and ignore the outliers.

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

Subway Time 
Need to catch your #1,2,3 subway to attend an event? Use the Subway Time app from the MTA to find out when the next train arrives at your station. The MTA also has Bus Time info available on their mobile website.
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Selected Events (07/15) + Today’s Featured Pub (Upper WestSide)

Posted on 07/15/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > FRIDAY / JULY 15, 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 events be sure to check the tab above: “Annual Events / July”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Goran Bregović and His Wedding and Funeral Orchestra (also July16)
David Geffen Hall (at Lincoln Center)/ 8PM, $30-$60
“Charismatic singer, guitarist and bandleader Goran Bregović, one of the world’s most popular Balkan performers, visits Carnegie Hall with his vivacious band, a seemingly homely folkloric outfit that’s actually every bit as sophisticated and subversive as Astor Piazzolla’s great quintets.” (TONY)

“Performing as a group since 1998, the Wedding and Funeral Orchestra creates a party atmosphere wherever it goes, bringing together Gypsy brass players, Bulgarian vocalists, and conservatory-trained string players. While the music has a serious side—Bregović has said that it arises from “a terrible frontier” where Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Muslims, and Gypsies have coexisted fitfully for centuries—an infectious joy trumps any underlying sorrow.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Jimmy Heath Quartet (through July 17)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM +10:30PM, $
“Jimmy Heath, who will turn 90 in the fall, is a tireless saxophonist, composer, educator and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master. He often works at the Village Vanguard with the Heath Brothers, whose pianist, Jeb Patton, and bassist, David Wong, both join him here. On drums is Al Foster, a rhythm magician who recorded with Mr. Heath more than 30 years ago.” (Chinen-NYT)

Elsewhere, but this looks too hot to miss and worth the slight detour:
Chris Potter (through Sunday)
Jazz Standard, 116 East 27th St./ 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $
“Mr. Potter, a tenor saxophonist of sleek harmonic inquiry and superhuman technique, presents two sides of his band-leading personality this weekend. On Friday he’s at the helm of an athletic trio with Ben Street on bass and Billy Hart on drums; on Saturday and Sunday he’ll lead Underground, his plugged-in unit with Craig Taborn on keyboards, Adam Rogers on guitar, Fima Ephron on bass and Dan Weiss on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)

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

Space & Science Festival
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86
“Talks, demos, and events all weekend. Friday hear about the astronauts of NASA’s golden age, the science behind Star Trek, and the upcoming manned mission to Mars.

This year we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of Star Trek. Learn how science fiction has become science fact, and discover the future of space exploration in displays by inspiring innovators and Trek Talks by leading scientists.”

All activities on Pier 86 are free, with the exception of the Starfleet Academy Experience. Activities and presentations in the Museum and Space Shuttle Pavilion are free with Museum and Pavilion admission.

Want to go batty?
Evening Bat Walks in Central Park
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ 8PM, $40
“At dusk, bats leave the warm spaces under city roofs to feed on flying insects. Join Bradley Klein, Danielle Gustafson, and other members of the New York City Bat Group for a walk through Central Park. Aided by detectors that amplify the bats’ otherwise inaudible high-frequency chirps, bat-watchers monitor and catalogue the species that call the city home.”

Meet at the Museum entrance on 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Enrollment is limited. if you miss this one, register in advance for July 22, or July 29, 2016.

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Bonus – 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 in advance, even if just on day of performance.
================================================================================

A PremierPub / Upper West Side

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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