Selected Events (07/04)

Posted on 07/04/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > MONDAY / JULY 04, 2016

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Weather forecast looks super for today – Happy Independence Day!

The New York Times (Around Town for July 1-7) has some good, comprehensive info on what is available today on The Fourth of July:

blog-featured-ImageFederal Hall Celebration – This national monument celebrates America’s birthday with a day of events. Its program includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence, with re-enactors portraying historical figures including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Federal Hall, 26 Wall Street, at Broad Street, 212-825-6990, nps.gov/feha.

50-Gun Salute – The Veterans Corps of Artillery of the State of New York will fire a 50-gun salute in Battery Park at 11 a.m. on Independence Day. The Salute to the Union dates back to July 4, 1794, when the corps honored American independence this way for the first time. Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park, 200 Rector Place, Lower Manhattan, vcasny.org.

Nathan’s 2016 Hot Dog Eating Contest – As Nathan’s celebrates its 100th anniversary, the Hot Dog Eating Contest continues as a New York tradition that has gained worldwide fame on the competitive-eating circuit. The program begins at 10 a.m., with the main event at noon. Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, 1310 Surf Avenue, at Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island, Brooklyn, nathansfamous.com.

Seaport District’s ‘Festival of Independence’ – The Seaport will team up with “Noisey,” the culture and music arm of “Vice,” to produce this two-day festival on the waterfront. Featured performers include Wild Nothing, MenLo-X and Tim and the Space Cadets. Food vendors like Smorgasburg at the Seaport will be on hand to curb your appetite, and Parsons School of Design’s “Impact!” exhibit will operate extended hours on both days. And on July 4, two of the fireworks barges from the Macy’s display are set to be located just off Pier 17. South Street Seaport, Fulton and Front Streets, Lower Manhattan, 212-732-7678, southstreetseaport.com.

Revolutionary New York Tour – Many of the city’s historical treasures are obscured by modern architecture. This tour explores the history of New York’s divided loyalty to Britain and visits places like the spot where the Declaration of Independence was first read to New Yorkers and the burial sites of United States founding figures. The tour meets near the gated entrance to City Hall Park, at the intersection of Broadway and Murray Street. At 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., 888-606-9255 , bigonion.com.

Fourth of July at One World Observatory – Celebrate Independence Day in the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The One World Observatory event features a two-hour open bar and traditional American cookout food. From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., 285 Fulton Street, at West Street, 844-696-1776, oneworldobservatory.com.

Front Row Fireworks –  Touch down at the 34th Street Heliport for a front-row seat to the Macy’s fireworks display. Your ticket gets you a waterfront view, but it does not guarantee a seat. The show starts at 9 p.m. but doors open at 6. (The event’s organizers recommend arriving early if you want to avoid standing.) 499 East 34th Street, at the East River, frontrowfireworks.com.

Also: Festival of Independence
South Street Seaport, One Seaport Plaza, 19 Fulton St./
“The Seaport is humming back to life. East River walkways tucked under the F.D.R. are again rife with bikers, skaters, and stroller shovers routing a bit of waterfront sun into their evening commutes and weekend romps, not to mention adventurous fishermen casting lines over the rail. There are few better spots to view the annual Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks, now in their fortieth year—two barges will be set up just off Pier 17—and this two-day festival of concerts, food, and family activities provides a picturesque backdrop.

Noisey, VICE’s music and culture channel, has picked a stacked lineup of independent artists to perform on Peck Slip across the long weekend, including indie acts like Wild Nothing, Porches, and Public Access T.V. and soul-stirrers like D.R.A.M., Phony Ppl, and MeLo-X. Seaport Smorgasburg will serve food from a spread of venders, and kids can enjoy juggling acts and sing-alongs before the main events. The Seaport Culture District, an arts initiative new to South Street, has invited cultural partners, such as the Parsons School of Design’s IMPACT!, to exhibit creative and design-related demonstrations in the fields of architecture, design, media, and film.” (NewYorker)

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

If that’s not enough info for you, let’s take a look at what Time Out New York has put together for your 4th of July in NYC – very comprehensive:

On Monday, July 4, 2016, NYC will be the best place in America to celebrate Independence Day, with Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks bursting over the city’s skyline. From NYC parks to rooftop bars, we’ve got you covered on where to catch the most spectacular view of the show.

Things to do on 4th of July in NYC

imageWhere to watch the 4th of July fireworks in NYC
Let the American Eagles fly and the red, white and blue bikini tops shine!

For this mother of all pyrotechnic displays, Macy’s will explode more than 40,000 fireworks choreographed to a 25-minute patriotic score over the East River. Stake out a nice spot near the Brooklyn Bridge, and bring your own picnic basket with beverages to toast our country’s birthday.

Best viewing location: Broad Street and/or Old Slip at Water Street, Brooklyn Bridge entry from St. James Place (Pearl Street) & Wagner Place, Montgomery & South Streets: From the north (viewing along the FDR between Manhattan Bridge and Montgomery Street, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Bridge Promenade

The top 4th of July events in NYC
Looking for the best 4th of July events in NYC? Dance, eat, drink at these Independence Day happenings.

The full guide to Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 2016
Everything you need to know about the gut-busting Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, New York

Find the best 4th of July party in NYC
At a 4th of July party in NYC, turn your weekend into an Independence Day celebration with fireworks and festivities

Awesome last-minute things to do on the Fourth of July in NYC
We’re giving you 12 terrific reasons why you should absolutely stay in NYC to celebrate America’s birthday.

Five amazing last-minute day trips for the Fourth of July
Forget to plan ahead this year? Not to worry.

Four patriotic cocktail recipes for the Fourth of July
Celebrate the 4th with festive summertime cocktail recipes from NYC bartenders

The best restaurants open on July 4th in NYC
Celebrate Independence Day at the best restaurants open on July 4th, serving up everything from burgers to lobster rolls

All the fireworks you can watch in New York on July Fourth
We’ve highlighted some underrated firework displays, including where you can watch in boroughs

Celebrate July 4th with $40 tickets to eight Broadway shows
Find out how to get your hands on cheap Broadway tickets this 4th of July
The 10 best patriotic songs for the 4th of July
Celebrate America by spinning this list of the best patriotic songs from Bruce Springsteen to Miley Cyrus

The 10 most patriotic movies ever
Even political cynics will be stirred by these patriotic movies and paeans to American virtue. (USA! USA! USA!)

=====================================================
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.
==============================================================================

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 | Leave a comment

Selected Events (07/03) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 07/03/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > SUNDAY / JULY 03, 2016

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Weather forecast looks super for today and this weekend.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Festival of Independence
South Street Seaport, One Seaport Plaza, 19 Fulton St./
“The Seaport is humming back to life. East River walkways tucked under the F.D.R. are again rife with bikers, skaters, and stroller shovers routing a bit of waterfront sun into their evening commutes and weekend romps, not to mention adventurous fishermen casting lines over the rail. There are few better spots to view the annual Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks, now in their fortieth year—two barges will be set up just off Pier 17—and this two-day festival of concerts, food, and family activities provides a picturesque backdrop.

Noisey, VICE’s music and culture channel, has picked a stacked lineup of independent artists to perform on Peck Slip across the long weekend, including indie acts like Wild Nothing, Porches, and Public Access T.V. and soul-stirrers like D.R.A.M., Phony Ppl, and MeLo-X. Seaport Smorgasburg will serve food from a spread of venders, and kids can enjoy juggling acts and sing-alongs before the main events. The Seaport Culture District, an arts initiative new to South Street, has invited cultural partners, such as the Parsons School of Design’s IMPACT!, to exhibit creative and design-related demonstrations in the fields of architecture, design, media, and film.” (NewYorker)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Summer on the Hudson: Amplified Sundays –
Irka Mateo y la Tirindanga
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!

Irka Mateo y la Tirindanga – a Caribbean whirlwind, delivering songs that celebrate the music, history, and culture of her beloved Caribbean and Latin America. Her songs bring to the world the deep-rooted sounds of this wonderful region of our planet. With an amazing voice and charismatic performances supported by her stellar band La Tirindanga. She fills the dance floors with healing and happy energy, moving the hearts and feet of those in attendance with her joyful celebration of Mestizo music.”

King Sunny Adé / Orlando Julyius and the Afro Soundz
SummerStage 4th of July Weekend
Central Park, Rumsey Playfield/ 2PM, FREE
“New York’s biggest series of outdoor concerts, SummerStage, is back in full force with free shows representing music from near and far. On Sunday, feel prideful for the country’s melting-pot heritage when amazing world music fills Central Park with joyous, infectious beats. Nigeria’s most popular musician King Sunny Adé headlines with his full band, which includes dancers, several guitars and phenomenal drummers, and it’s a great way to kick off the holiday weekend right. Fellow Nigerian Orlando Julius sets the mood with his signature Afropop style, and Philadelphia’s DJ Rich Medina spins between sets.” (TONY)

Rudy Royston ‘303’  (LAST DAY)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM; $30
“Mr. Royston has emerged as a first-tier drummer in recent years, backing the trumpeter Dave Douglas and the guitarist Bill Frisell. Drawing here from his recent debut album, “303,” he leads a smartly distinctive band featuring the trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis, the saxophonist Jon Irabagon, the guitarist Nir Felder, the pianist Sam Harris and two bassists, Yasushi Nakamura and Mimi Jones.” (Chinen-NYT)

Joshua Redman Quartet (LAST DAY)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8PM +10:30PM; $20,$35
“Have twenty-five years really passed since Redman took first place at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition? Now a forty-seven-year-old jazz mainstay, Redman remains connected to fresh musical currents. Putting his recent James Farm collective and trio projects on hold, he reanimates a quartet that includes his longtime associates Aaron Goldberg on piano and Gregory Hutchinson on drums.” (NewYorker)

Elsewhere, but if you love this master of the Hammond Organ, worth the detour:
Dr. Lonnie Smith’s ‘Evolution’ (LAST DAY)
Jazz Standard, 116 E27th St./ 7:30PM +9:30PM; $35
“Dr. Lonnie Smith, the Hammond B-3 organist, has spent the last 50 years moving around within the realm of funky soul-jazz. “Evolution,” his appealing new album, positions him as a wise elder among fierce younger talent like the saxophonist John Ellis and the trumpeter Maurice Brown, who rejoin him here in a group driven by two powerful drummers, Joe Dyson and Johnathan Blake.” (Chinen-NYT)

==================================================
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 (07/02) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 07/02/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > SATURDAY / JULY 02, 2016

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Weather forecast looks super for today and this weekend.
Let’s keep all events in the evening.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Ravi Coltrane With Friends (LAST DAY)
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 8:30PM +11PM; $40
“Coltrane may never fully escape the shadow of his iconic father—he’s currently instrumental in the restoration of the Coltrane home in Dix Hills, Long Island—but his skill as a canny tenor- and soprano-saxophone stylist has carried him far beyond the glory of his name. Augmenting his quartet (on the final three nights) will be the trumpeter Ralph Alessi, the trombonist Robin Eubanks, and Brandee Younger, who, in the manner of Ravi’s mother, Alice, weaves inspired improvisations from the harp.” (NewYorker)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

American Ballet Theater (LAST DAY)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center/ 2PM +8PM; $20-$225
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
“Alexei Ratmansky’s production is a fascinating, important staging—often revelatory. It’s the finest reconstruction I’ve ever seen of a dance work,” said the New York Times at the production’s 2015 ABT premiere. Featuring 400 lavish costumes, more than 200 wigs, and magnificent storybook sets, the beloved story of the beautiful Princess Aurora, the evil sorceress Carabosse, and the awakening kiss of a handsome prince is certain to cast a spell on your heart and imagination.”

Freedom Party NYC 13 Year Anniversary
SummerStage, Central Park, Rumsey Playfield / 7PM; FREE
“The Freedom Party is the longest running, weekly, Friday-night party in NYC history. Winner of Village Voice’s esteemed “Best Dance Party 2015,” Papermag‘s highlycoveted award for “Best Party (People’s Choice)” and runner up in URB Mag’s “Best Party” (nationwide), Freedom was created in 2003 by Herbert Holler, DJ Cosi and Marc Smooth to provide a place for people from all walks of life to dance and be free.

Today, it is a bona fide nightlife institution, with monthly events in both Chicago and Washington, D.C., as well. Playing a tight mix of danceable, soulful hits across all genres of music from the 60s through today, Freedom continues to fill its dance floor each week with fun, beautiful people from all over the globe looking to have an unforgettable, true NYC party experience.”

Rudy Royston ‘303’  (through Sunday)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM; $30
“Mr. Royston has emerged as a first-tier drummer in recent years, backing the trumpeter Dave Douglas and the guitarist Bill Frisell. Drawing here from his recent debut album, “303,” he leads a smartly distinctive band featuring the trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis, the saxophonist Jon Irabagon, the guitarist Nir Felder, the pianist Sam Harris and two bassists, Yasushi Nakamura and Mimi Jones.” (Chinen-NYT)

Joshua Redman Quartet (through Sunday)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8PM +10:30PM; $20,$35
“Have twenty-five years really passed since Redman took first place at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition? Now a forty-seven-year-old jazz mainstay, Redman remains connected to fresh musical currents. Putting his recent James Farm collective and trio projects on hold, he reanimates a quartet that includes his longtime associates Aaron Goldberg on piano and Gregory Hutchinson on drums.” (NewYorker)

Elsewhere, but if you love this master of the Hammond Organ, this is worth the detour:
Dr. Lonnie Smith’s ‘Evolution’ (through Sunday)
Jazz Standard, 116 E27th St./ 7:30PM +9:30PM; $35
“Dr. Lonnie Smith, the Hammond B-3 organist, has spent the last 50 years moving around within the realm of funky soul-jazz. “Evolution,” his appealing new album, positions him as a wise elder among fierce younger talent like the saxophonist John Ellis and the trumpeter Maurice Brown, who rejoin him here in a group driven by two powerful drummers, Joe Dyson and Johnathan Blake.” (Chinen-NYT)

===========================================================
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 check out 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 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 06/30 and 06/28.
=============================================================

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

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

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

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

Selected Events (07/01) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 07/01/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > FRIDAY / JULY 01, 2016

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Weather forecast looks super for today and this weekend.
Let’s keep all events in the evening.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

American Ballet Theater (through July 2)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center/ $20-$225
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
“Alexei Ratmansky’s production is a fascinating, important staging—often revelatory. It’s the finest reconstruction I’ve ever seen of a dance work,” said the New York Times at the production’s 2015 ABT premiere. Featuring 400 lavish costumes, more than 200 wigs, and magnificent storybook sets, the beloved story of the beautiful Princess Aurora, the evil sorceress Carabosse, and the awakening kiss of a handsome prince is certain to cast a spell on your heart and imagination.”
Friday at 7:30PM, Saturday at 2PM and 8PM.

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Canada Day at Joe’s Pub:
New York Rocks the Great Canadian Songbook!
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street/ 7PM +9:30PM, $25
“Songs by such artists as Leonard Cohen, Barenaked Ladies, Neil Young and Men Without Hats—here’s hoping for a little Luba or Gowan!—are likely to be in the air as various artists pay tribute to our friendly neighbors to the north. Janis Siegel, Shannon Conley, Marissa Mulder, P.J. Griffith, Melissa van der Schyff, Alyson Palmer, Shelley McPherson, Tony Salvatore, Jamie Leonhart, Libya Piugh, Amy Cervini, Ophira Eisenberg and the Breithaupt Brothers are on the lineup.” (TONY)

Rudy Royston ‘303’ (through July 3)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $30
“Mr. Royston has emerged as a first-tier drummer in recent years, backing the trumpeter Dave Douglas and the guitarist Bill Frisell. Drawing here from his recent debut album, “303,” he leads a smartly distinctive band featuring the trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis, the saxophonist Jon Irabagon, the guitarist Nir Felder, the pianist Sam Harris and two bassists, Yasushi Nakamura and Mimi Jones.” (Chinen-NYT)

Ravi Coltrane With Friends (through July 2)
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 8:30PM +11PM, $40
“Coltrane may never fully escape the shadow of his iconic father—he’s currently instrumental in the restoration of the Coltrane home in Dix Hills, Long Island—but his skill as a canny tenor- and soprano-saxophone stylist has carried him far beyond the glory of his name. Augmenting his quartet (on the final three nights) will be the trumpeter Ralph Alessi, the trombonist Robin Eubanks, and Brandee Younger, who, in the manner of Ravi’s mother, Alice, weaves inspired improvisations from the harp.” (NewYorker)

Joshua Redman Quartet (through Sunday)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8PM +10:30PM; $20,$35
“Have twenty-five years really passed since Redman took first place at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition? Now a forty-seven-year-old jazz mainstay, Redman remains connected to fresh musical currents. Putting his recent James Farm collective and trio projects on hold, he reanimates a quartet that includes his longtime associates Aaron Goldberg on piano and Gregory Hutchinson on drums.” (NewYorker)

Elsewhere, but if you love this master of the Hammond Organ, this is worth the detour:
Dr. Lonnie Smith’s ‘Evolution’ (through Sunday)
Jazz Standard, 116 E27th St./ 7:30PM +9:30PM, $
“Dr. Lonnie Smith, the Hammond B-3 organist, has spent the last 50 years moving around within the realm of funky soul-jazz. “Evolution,” his appealing new album, positions him as a wise elder among fierce younger talent like the saxophonist John Ellis and the trumpeter Maurice Brown, who rejoin him here in a group driven by two powerful drummers, Joe Dyson and Johnathan Blake.” (Chinen-NYT)

===========================================================
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 (06/30) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 06/30/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > THURSDAY / JUNE 30, 2016

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Ravi Coltrane With Friends (through July 2)
Birdland, 315 W44th St./ 8:30PM +11PM, $40
“Coltrane may never fully escape the shadow of his iconic father—he’s currently instrumental in the restoration of the Coltrane home in Dix Hills, Long Island—but his skill as a canny tenor- and soprano-saxophone stylist has carried him far beyond the glory of his name. Augmenting his quartet (on the final three nights) will be the trumpeter Ralph Alessi, the trombonist Robin Eubanks, and Brandee Younger, who, in the manner of Ravi’s mother, Alice, weaves inspired improvisations from the harp.” (NewYorker)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

France Rocks Festival: Emel Mathlouthi
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center/ 7:30PM, FREE
Seating is limited, better get there no later than 7PM
“Tunisian singer-songwriter Emel Mathlouthi, the latest in a grand line of great divas of the Arab world, brings her gorgeous, intricate sound to Lincoln Center. Her song “Kelmti Horra (My Word is Free)” was adopted by the Arab Spring revolutionaries and soon became an anthem for change throughout the regions. Undeniably rooted in the melismatic Arabic and North African musical traditions, her music moves seamlessly between rock, trip-hop, and electronica.”

Rudy Royston ‘303’ (through July 3)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $30
“Mr. Royston has emerged as a first-tier drummer in recent years, backing the trumpeter Dave Douglas and the guitarist Bill Frisell. Drawing here from his recent debut album, “303,” he leads a smartly distinctive band featuring the trumpeter Nadje Noordhuis, the saxophonist Jon Irabagon, the guitarist Nir Felder, the pianist Sam Harris and two bassists, Yasushi Nakamura and Mimi Jones.” (Chinen-NYT)

American Ballet Theater (through July 2)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center/ $20-$225
tonight: SLEEPING BEAUTY
“Alexei Ratmansky’s production is a fascinating, important staging—often revelatory. It’s the finest reconstruction I’ve ever seen of a dance work,” said the New York Times at the production’s 2015 ABT premiere. Featuring 400 lavish costumes, more than 200 wigs, and magnificent storybook sets, the beloved story of the beautiful Princess Aurora, the evil sorceress Carabosse, and the awakening kiss of a handsome prince is certain to cast a spell on your heart and imagination.”
Friday and Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. performance on Wednesday. Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.

Blue Note Jazz Festival (LAST DAY)
This monthlong event rolls on with a mix of marquee names and crossover fare. Highlights in this final week include the saxophonist Joshua Redman, leading a quartet at the Blue Note (Tuesday through July 3). A full schedule is at bluenotejazzfestival.com. (Nate Chinen-NYT)

TONIGHT: Joshua Redman Quartet
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8PM +10:30PM; $20,$35
“Have twenty-five years really passed since Redman took first place at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition? Now a forty-seven-year-old jazz mainstay, Redman remains connected to fresh musical currents. Putting his recent James Farm collective and trio projects on hold, he reanimates a quartet that includes his longtime associates Aaron Goldberg on piano and Gregory Hutchinson on drums.” (NewYorker)

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

SciCafe Special Event: ZIKA
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ 6PM, FREE
“You’ve heard the warnings: Zika is coming. There are a slew of guidelines for pregnant women, but how should the rest of us prepare for the arrival of this virus? What can science tell us about the Aedes mosquito that spreads Zika? And what steps are being taken to halt mosquito-borne viruses? Join Museum Curator Susan Perkins and a panel of experts as they discuss the latest plan of attack for dealing with this major disease threat.”

Plus One More, Looks Special:

Port Newark Hidden Harbor Tour (6-8PM)
“For an exciting adventure, go behind the scenes of the bustling Port of NY & NJ on our Hidden Harbor Tour® of Port Newark!

Get an insider’s view of the 3rd largest port in the nation, where container ships dock and unload their goods from around the world. See how the working harbor really works and learn about what all those ships and tugs. See giant container terminals, oil docks, dry dock repair and more!

Learn about how floating dry docks work; the history of the Robbins Reef Lighthouse; tug boat yards, the 9/11 Teardrop memorial; the Bayonne Bridge and it’s connection to the panama Canal Expansion project, and more from our expert narrators – plus,the chance to get an epic selfie at sunset with Lady Liberty.

The 2-hour, fully narrated boat tour departs at 6pm sharp. Boarding begins at 5:45pm from Pier 11 Wall Street in Manhattan located on South St. between Wall St. and Gouveneur Ln.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

=======================================================
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 06/28 and 06/26.
=======================================================

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

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

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

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

Selected Events (06/29) + Today’s Featured Pub (Upper WestSide)

Posted on 06/29/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > WEDNESDAY / JUNE 29, 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.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Blue Note Jazz Festival (through June 30)
This monthlong event rolls on with a mix of marquee names and crossover fare. Highlights in this final week include the saxophonist Joshua Redman, leading a quartet at the Blue Note (Tuesday through July 3). A full schedule is at bluenotejazzfestival.com. (Nate Chinen-NYT)

TONIGHT: Joshua Redman Quartet
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8PM +10:30PM; $20,$35
“Have twenty-five years really passed since Redman took first place at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition? Now a forty-seven-year-old jazz mainstay, Redman remains connected to fresh musical currents. Putting his recent James Farm collective and trio projects on hold, he reanimates a quartet that includes his longtime associates Aaron Goldberg on piano and Gregory Hutchinson on drums.” (NewYorker)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

54 Celebrates The Neil Simon Theatre
54 Below, 254 W54th St./ 7PM +9:30PM, $35
“Annie. Company. Bells Are Ringing. Merrily We Roll Along.
Those four musicals, plus many others, made their Broadway debut on West 52nd Street at the historic Alvin Theatre, which opened in 1927. Then, on this date in 1983, the Alvin Theatre was renamed the Neil Simon Theatre, where it went on to house such blockbusters as Hairspray. And what better way to celebrate the Alvin/ Neil Simon Theatre than by coming out to Feinstein’s/54 Below for an evening of songs and stories, performed by the legends themselves who were lucky enough to grace its stage.” (broadwayworld.com)

Etienne Charles: ‘San Jose Suite’
Dizzy’s Club, 60th St. and Broadway / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“Mr. Charles, a Trinidadian trumpeter, has found a strong niche in the mutual exchange between jazz and calypso. His “San Jose Suite” explores connections among three cities with the same name — in California, Costa Rica and Trinidad — with musical partners including the saxophonist Brian Hogans and the pianist Victor Gould.” (Chinen-NYT)

American Ballet Theater (through July 2)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center/ $20-$225
tonight: SLEEPING BEAUTY
“Alexei Ratmansky’s production is a fascinating, important staging—often revelatory. It’s the finest reconstruction I’ve ever seen of a dance work,” said the New York Times at the production’s 2015 ABT premiere. Featuring 400 lavish costumes, more than 200 wigs, and magnificent storybook sets, the beloved story of the beautiful Princess Aurora, the evil sorceress Carabosse, and the awakening kiss of a handsome prince is certain to cast a spell on your heart and imagination.”
Friday and Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. performance on Wednesday. Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.

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

100th Anniversary Commemoration of New York’s 369th Infantry
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd./ 6:30PM, FREE
“To commemorate the 100th anniversary of New York’s 369th Infantry, join us for a documentary film screening of Men of Bronze (1977), a film about the remarkable African-American men who fought in WWI. Directed by Harlem filmmaker William Miles, Men of Bronze is part of our Moving Image & Recorded Sound collection and projected on 16mm with the collaboration of the Library of Performing Arts’ Reserve Film & Video Collection.

Jeffrey T. Sammons, Professor of History at New York University, and John H. Morrow Jr. will lead the post-film discussion. They are the authors of Harlem’s Rattlers and the Great War, which tells the story of the 369th Regiment and the brave African-American soldiers who fought to convince America to live up to its democratic promise during the Great War. A book signing will follow.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Celebrate National Parks! The Naturalist
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ Linder Theater (Enter at 77th Street) / 6:30PM, $15
“Smithsonian Museum of Natural History biologist Darrin Lunde presents the surprising story of our “Conservation President” Theodore Roosevelt and how his lifelong passion for the natural world set the stage for America’s wildlife conservation movement. Drawing on Roosevelt’s diaries and expedition journals along with his own experience as a naturalist, Lunde will discuss Roosevelt’s life and legacy as a champion of scientific inquiry and wilderness.”

==================================================
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.
========================================================
“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 (06/28) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 06/28/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > TUESDAY / JUNE 28, 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.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

“Adventures in Old New York”
The General Society Library, 20 W44th St./ 6:30PM, $10
‘How much do you really know about NYC’s history?
The Bowery Boys celebrate the launch of their new book: Adventures in Old New York, the official companion book to the No. 1 travel podcast that offers an unconventional exploration of Manhattan’s historic neighborhoods, secret spots and colorful characters.

This is a history book unlike any other, a treasure map to an alternative metropolis, telling the remarkable story of ‘old’ New York – the port town, the Revolutionary stronghold, the immigrant sanctuary, the Gilded Age city — using places that exist within it now. The ghosts of old New York still linger along the small streets of downtown, in the marbled exteriors of aging castles, from the stone outcroppings of Manhattan’s highest points to the secrets beneath its oldest parks.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Classical Music
Enjoy Beethoven in the Open Air
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Naumburg Bandshell
“This summer is the 111th year of free concerts at the historic Naumburg Bandshell, which, since its renovation, has become an even more inviting and popular place for outdoor music in Central Park.

The Naumburg Orchestra Concerts series presents Orpheus, the excellent conductor-less orchestra, in a Beethoven program on Tuesday. After the “Coriolan” Overture, the pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii will be soloist in the exciting “Emperor” Concerto. The program ends with Beethoven’s stormy Fifth Symphony. About 1,000 seats are provided, but many more people enjoy the music while sitting on nearby benches and patches of lawn.” (ANTHONY TOMMASINI-NYT)

Blue Note Jazz Festival (through June 30)
This monthlong event rolls on with a mix of marquee names and crossover fare. Highlights in this final week include a trio led by the bassist Avishai Cohen, at the Highline Ballroom (Tuesday); and the saxophonist Joshua Redman, leading a quartet at the Blue Note (Tuesday through July 3). A full schedule is at bluenotejazzfestival.com. (Nate Chinen-NYT)

TONIGHT: Joshua Redman Quartet
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St./ 8PM +10:30PM; $20,$35
“Have twenty-five years really passed since Redman took first place at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition? Now a forty-seven-year-old jazz mainstay, Redman remains connected to fresh musical currents. Putting his recent James Farm collective and trio projects on hold, he reanimates a quartet that includes his longtime associates Aaron Goldberg on piano and Gregory Hutchinson on drums.” (NewYorker)

American Ballet Theater (through July 2)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center/ $20-$225
tonight: SLEEPING BEAUTY
“Alexei Ratmansky’s production is a fascinating, important staging—often revelatory. It’s the finest reconstruction I’ve ever seen of a dance work,” said the New York Times at the production’s 2015 ABT premiere. Featuring 400 lavish costumes, more than 200 wigs, and magnificent storybook sets, the beloved story of the beautiful Princess Aurora, the evil sorceress Carabosse, and the awakening kiss of a handsome prince is certain to cast a spell on your heart and imagination.”
Friday and Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. performance on Wednesday. Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.

Etienne Charles: ‘San Jose Suite’ (also Wednesday)
Dizzy’s Club, 60th St. and Broadway / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $
“Mr. Charles, a Trinidadian trumpeter, has found a strong niche in the mutual exchange between jazz and calypso. His “San Jose Suite” explores connections among three cities with the same name — in California, Costa Rica and Trinidad — with musical partners including the saxophonist Brian Hogans and the pianist Victor Gould.” (Chinen-NYT)

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

Astronomy Live: Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St.; Hayden Planetarium Space Theater / 7PM, $15
“Are we alone in the cosmos? What happened in the early universe? What are dark matter and dark energy? The universe holds many secrets—some of which scientists may be on the verge of uncovering, and others that may remain hidden for a long time to come. Astrophysicists Jackie Faherty and Jana Grcevich of the American Museum of Natural History explore some of the most important unsolved mysteries of astronomy and cosmology, and how scientists seek to solve them.”

=====================================================
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 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 06/26 and 06/24.
======================================================

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 (06/27) + Today’s Featured Pub (WestVillage)

Posted on 06/27/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > MONDAY / JUNE 27, 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.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

American Ballet Theater (through July 2)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center/ $20-$225
tonight: SLEEPING BEAUTY
“Alexei Ratmansky’s production is a fascinating, important staging—often revelatory. It’s the finest reconstruction I’ve ever seen of a dance work,” said the New York Times at the production’s 2015 ABT premiere. Featuring 400 lavish costumes, more than 200 wigs, and magnificent storybook sets, the beloved story of the beautiful Princess Aurora, the evil sorceress Carabosse, and the awakening kiss of a handsome prince is certain to cast a spell on your heart and imagination.”
Friday and Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. performance on Wednesday. Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.,

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Indigo Girls
Central Park SummerStage, Rumsey Playfield, midpark at 70th St./ 6PM, FREE
“The best Indigo Girls songs practically require singalongs, as in the second season of “Transparent,” when three lead characters belted “Closer to Fine” with ecstatic abandon out their car windows. Gleeful profanities, righteous protest anthems and impeccable folk songwriting have carried this duo for 30 years. With Lucy Wainwright Roche.” (Chow-NYT)

Little Shop of Horrors Reunion Concert
54 Below, 254 W54th St./ 7PM +9:30PM, $45+
“Little Shop of Horrors, the stage and screen musical that has circled the globe for over 30 years, consuming audiences with chills, thrills and laughter, arrives at last at Feinstein’s/54Below. One unprecedented evening will bring together performers from the original production through the Broadway revival. Stories will be told, reminiscences will be shared, and songs will be sung, for a dazzling, yet revealing glimpse at the magic behind the magic.” (broadwayworld.com)

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

League of Professional Theater Women: Oral History Project
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, 111 Amsterdam Ave, at 65th St., Lincoln Center/ 6PM, FREE
“This series, which in the past has hosted women like Tyne Daly and Patti LuPone, continues with Carmen de Lavallade, the 85-year-old actress and dancer who performed in works created for her by choreographers like Agnes de Mille; Alvin Ailey; and her husband, the theatrical polymath Geoffrey Holder, who died in 2014. Ms. Lavallade will be interviewed by the dance journalist Deborah Jowitt, a longtime writer for The Village Voice and a contributor to The New York Times.
(NYT – AroundTown)

Dark Territory : The Secret History of Cyber War
with Fred Kaplan, National Security Columnist columnist, Slate, Magazine; Former Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations.
Mid-Manhattan Library / 6:30PM, FREE
“This illustrated lecture tells the untold story of cyber war, exploring the inner corridors of the National Security Agency, top secret units in the Pentagon, military “information warfare” squads, and White House national security debates.”

Modern Mondays: An Evening with Vito Acconci
Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St./ 7PM, $12
“In conjunction with the MoMA PS1 exhibition Vito Acconci: Where We Are Now (Who Are We Anyway?), 1976, MoMA presents a screening of Acconci’s The Red Tapes. This feature-length film, which is part of MoMA’s collection, is a three-part epic that merges video and filmic space, evolving into a complex amalgam of narrative strategies, photographic images, music, and spoken language. A discussion with the artist follows.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

=====================================================
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 / West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Selected Events (06/26) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 06/26/2016 by GregD

Today’s Fab 5 > SUNDAY / JUNE 26, 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.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Robert Glasper w/ Special Guest Taylor McFerrin & more (LAST DAY)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St./ 8PM +10:30PM, $30,$45
“There will be plenty of chances to savor both the virtuosic power and the wide-ranging musical purview of the pianist Glasper during an engagement—following two nights fronting his charging trio—that finds him welcoming such guests as the fellow-pianist Jason Moran and the hip-hop multi-instrumentalist Taylor McFerrin.” (NewYorker)

This event is part of the month long Blue Note Jazz Festival.
See the full schedule at bluenotejazzfestival.com

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Stanley Cowell Quartet (LAST DAY)
Village Vanguard,178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th St./ 8:30PM, +10:30PM, $30
“A pianist of deep authority and resolute purpose — less widely heard now than he was in the 1970s, but still a force — Mr. Cowell made a much-talked-about appearance at the Village Vanguard last year, on the heels of a solo album, “Juneteenth.” He returns next week with his quartet, featuring the alto saxophonist Bruce Williams, the bassist Jay Anderson and the drummer Billy Drummond.” (Chinen-NYT)

Anything But Love, the Musical in Concert
54 Below, 254 W54th St./ 9:30PM, $25-$35
“Come be the first to experience the newest wave of musical theatre writing by Legends Of Tomorrow star Ciara Renée and breakout writer Arianna Taxman. Anything But Love follows the stories of three women trying to navigate the complexities of dating and love, through society’s prescribed paradigms for both. All this while incorporating a score that seamlessly blends tribal chants, folk-rock story-telling, and a contemporary pop sound. Their will be loop pedals, there will be audience (percussion) participation, and you may just leave with a few of your burning questions about love answered.” (broadwayworld.com)

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

Heroes and Heroines: Women in Shakespeare
with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Cush Jumbo, and Michael Witmore
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West/ 5PM, $44
“The New-York Historical Society is proud to be New York State’s venue for the exhibition First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare, which will bring the 1623 original edition of the playwright’s first published collection to the U.S. In recognition of this extraordinary month-long presentation, join us for an evening with special guests as they discuss the influence of Shakespeare and his characters on their own lives.”

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Angela’s Ashes
Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, 18 Bleecker St./7PM, $20
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first publication of Frank McCourt’s memoir masterpiece Angela’s Ashes. This hugely entertaining and moving work won the Pulitzer Prize, became a success all over the world, was made into a feature film, and turned a spotlight on the unique relationship between Ireland and New York.

Please join us as the New York cultural community comes together for an evening of readings, music, memories, and tributes to Frank McCourt from special guests including McCourt’s brothers and artists Malachy and Alphie McCourt, 2016 Tony-Award nominee Gabriel Byrne, American stepdancer and choreographer Jean Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning Irish poet Paul Muldoon, actress Lisa Dwan, Black 47 lead singer Larry Kirwan, composer and songwriter Pierce Turner, comedian and writer Maeve Higgins, former Poet Laureate of US Billy Collins, Irish Repertory Theatre founders Charlotte Moore and Ciaran O’Reilly, and more.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

PLUS:
River to River Festival (LAST DAY)
“This annual event is something of a performance-inspired scavenger hunt around Lower Manhattan, both confusing and delighting unsuspecting passers-by. This week, the witty Dance Heginbotham weaves through a harbor-side business complex; the captivating Eiko Otake continues her multiyear project “A Body in Places” on Governors Island; Okwui Okpokwasili takes inspiration from Nigerian women in the 1920s; the hip-hop dancer Ephrat Asherie collaborates with her jazz pianist brother, Ehud; and Will Rawls, left, nods to Balkan folklore. At various times and locations. lmcc.net/program/river-to-river.” (Schaefer-NYT)

===========================================================
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 check out special exhibitions at that little museum on Fifth Ave., The Metropolitan Museum of Art (open 7 days /week, AND always Pay What You Wish)

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

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (SUN 11am-1pm PWYW) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015).
==============================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 06/24 and 06/22.
=============================================================

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 (06/25) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 06/25/2016 by GregD

Today’s Sweet 6 > SATURDAY / JUNE 25, 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.
(click on links for more complete event info.)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Al Jarreau / Blue Note Jazz Festival
The Town Hall, 123 W43rd St./ 8PM, $45
“Al Jarreau’s unique vocal style is one of the world’s most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically-acclaimed performers of our time with seven Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards and popular accolades worldwide.”

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Lorna Luft Celebrates Pride Week
54 Below, 254 W54th St./ 7PM, $50+
“Liza Minnelli gets the lion’s share of public attention, but Judy Garland’s other singing daughter is a seasoned performer, too, with a voice that sometimes eerily recalls that of her matchless mom. In her return to Feinstein’s/54 Below, she shares favorites from the Great American Songbook.” (TONY)

“After several sold-out Feinstein’s/54 Below engagements, Lorna Luft returns with a brand new show to celebrate Pride Week in NYC! The evening will be a celebration of what it means to be proud. Join Lorna Luft as she sings, tells stories, and focuses on the history behind New York City Pride and what it means to her while also dedicating her show to everyone who has pride in themselves. This is a show for all ages, shapes, and sizes and is a true celebration of who we all are, Lorna- style!”

American Ballet Theater (through July 2) /
tonight: Romeo and Juliet (LAST DAY)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center / 2PM +8PM, $20+
“Kenneth MacMillan’s masterful interpretation of Shakespeare’s enduring romantic tragedy has become one of ABT’s signature productions. Against a sumptuous setting in Renaissance Italy, MacMillan weaves a dance tapestry rich in character nuance and sensuality, and Sergei Prokofiev’s instantly recognizable music underscores the lyric beauty and passion of this beloved ballet’s star-crossed lovers.”

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

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

The tour takes place Sat. June 25 at 1:00 PM, rain or shine (the art is all indoors). Meet at 526 W. 26th St. between 10th & 11th Ave. Nearest subways: C- or E-Train to 23rd St. Admission is $25. SPECIAL OFFER: use DISCOUNT code “chelsea29” for $8-off admission! For more info, visit http://www.nygallerytours.com or call 917-250-0052.”

Governors Island Walk
Governor’s Island / 12PM, $15
“Despite years of history, for most New Yorkers Governors Island might as well have popped out of the ocean when it became open to the general public in 2003. Join Albert and James for a 90-minute walk through this amazing facet of the New York harbor.”
This walk meets at Governors Island, and you’ll receive exact meeting instructions the day before the walk.

Elsewhere, but this sure looks worth the detour:
Screening & Live Event: Citizen Kane
Museum of the Moving Image, Queens, 36-01 35th Ave./ 2PM, $12
“For decades consistently ranked by critics and filmmakers around the world as the greatest movie of all time, Welles’s perversely grandiose portrait of a newspaper tycoon loosely based on William Randolph Hearst is a dazzling work of art that ushered in a new era in virtuosic filmmaking and fragmented cinematic narratives. Grappling with Citizen Kane, Otis Ferguson wrote “its presentation is managed in complex ways and its conclusions are so vague with the shadows of meaning that it is easy to read almost anything into it, including what was actually put there.” The screening will be followed by a signing of The Rhapsodes, the new book by David Bordwell, in the Museum store.”

PLUS:
River to River Festival (through June 26)
“This annual event is something of a performance-inspired scavenger hunt around Lower Manhattan, both confusing and delighting unsuspecting passers-by. This week, the witty Dance Heginbotham weaves through a harbor-side business complex; the captivating Eiko Otake continues her multiyear project “A Body in Places” on Governors Island; Okwui Okpokwasili takes inspiration from Nigerian women in the 1920s; the hip-hop dancer Ephrat Asherie collaborates with her jazz pianist brother, Ehud; and Will Rawls, left, nods to Balkan folklore. At various times and locations. lmcc.net/program/river-to-river.” (Schaefer-NYT)

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