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

Posted on 07/19/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – SUNDAY / JULY 19, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

MoMA Summergarden: New Music for New York
> Julliard Concert II: New Music for String Quartet
Museum of Modern Art, 11 W53rd St. (btw 5/6 ave) / 8PM, FREE
“titled New Music for New York, the series comprises four evenings of adventurous contemporary music, with premieres each night.”
the exhibition galleries are closed during Summergarden. entrance to Summergarden is through the Sculpture Garden gate on West 54 Street between 5/6 avenues.

> Nepal Relief Concert – Friends of Jazzmandu
Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. / 6PM, $25
“A benefit for the victims of the recent Nepalese earthquake brings together a number of fine musicians who have appeared at Jazzmandu, the Kathmandu-based festival.”

> Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, at 106th St. / 7,9, 10:30PM, $,
“Mr. Strickland is a tenor and soprano saxophonist of postbop assurance, but Twi-Life represents an outlet for the millennial soul music in which he also traverses.” (NYT-Chinen)

> Henry Threadgill’s Zooid 
Village Vanguard, 178 7th St S @ 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM; $30 plus one drink
“a superb composer, saxophonist and flautist, Threadgill is a true master musician. With Zooid, he teams up with several other jazz instrumentalists to bring the funk to the Village Vanguard.” (TONY)

> Larry Coryell and the Eleventh House
Blue Note, 131 West Third St. / 8PM +10:30PM, $
“The Eleventh House, led by the trailblazing jazz-rock guitarist Larry Coryell, was one of the gleaming muscle cars of fusion’s first wave. This reunion will feature Mr. Coryell and two other charter members, the trumpeter Randy Brecker and the drummer Alphonse Mouzon.” (NYT- Chinen)

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

> VolleyBall NYC Open
Piers 25 + 26, Hudson River Park (N Mooore St.) / 8AM-6PM, FREE
image-1“Beach volleyball is finally making the trip from Manhattan Beach to the island of Manhattan. The sport that grew up on the West Coast will visit Hudson River Park this weekend — the AVP’s first event in New York City in the 33-year history of the domestic beach volleyball tour.” (NewsDay)

In addition to the world’s best beach volleyball talent, this ultimate beach festival will feature interactive activations, music, food, and more. The event will feature 16 top men’s duos and 16 top women’s duos as they compete for the grand prize of $150,000.

> Bryant Park Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet (July17-Aug02)
Bryant Park Stage, 42nd St. (btw 5/6 ave)  / today 6:30PM, FREE
presented by The Drilling Company with performances on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 – 8:30pm. and Sundays from 2:00 – 4:00pm.
“In The Drilling Company’s production for Bryant Park Shakespeare the play will be set in a modern city which is divided by wealth and class. Directed by David Marantz, it aims to send a clear message about the violence that can result from social division and corporate greed.” (BroadwayWorld)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> The Rubin Block Party
The Rubin Museum of Art, W17th St (btw 6/7ave) / 1-4PM, FREE
image-2“At this all-ages block party celebrating the new exhibit “Becoming Another: The Power of Masks,” everyone gets special free admission to the museum to create their own masks and prayer beads, participate in an outdoor family-friendly yoga session and take tours of the galleries. Check out performances by Ajna Dance and Brooklyn Raga Massive, or get in on the action by coming in elaborate garb for the costume contest.” (TONY)

“The current Rubin exhibition “Becoming Another: The Power of Masks,” has inspired this family block party, which offers Himalayan-themed arts activities, performances and refreshments. There will also be free admission to the museum today, so you can take in the show and contemplate its examination of the human desire for transformation via shamanistic practices, communal rituals and theater.” (seniorplanet.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’s playing tonight:
Greenwich Village:
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. South — 55bar.com / 212-929-9883
Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9 ave) — 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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  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.

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

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

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

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

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

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“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
This covers a wide range of food – the traditional pizza, burgers, & hot dogs; but also food trucks & carts, soup & sandwiches, picnic fixins’, raw bars & lobster rolls, bbq, vegetarian, falafel, ramen, chopped salad & salad bars. No reservations needed. ================================================================================

◊ 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 2015).
◊ Order before Oct. 31, 2015 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.
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Selected Events (07/18) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 07/18/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – SATURDAY / JULY 18, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

> Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life (through Sunday)
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, at 106th St. / 7,9, 10:30PM, $,
“Mr. Strickland is a tenor and soprano saxophonist of postbop assurance, but Twi-Life represents an outlet for the millennial soul music in which he also traverses.” (NYT-Chinen)

> Henry Threadgill’s Zooid 
Village Vanguard, 178 7th St S @ 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM; $30 plus one drink
“a superb composer, saxophonist and flautist, Threadgill is a true master musician. With Zooid, he teams up with several other jazz instrumentalists to bring the funk to the Village Vanguard.” (TONY)

> Larry Coryell and the Eleventh House (through July 19)
Blue Note, 131 West Third St. / 8PM +10:30PM, $
“The Eleventh House, led by the trailblazing jazz-rock guitarist Larry Coryell, was one of the gleaming muscle cars of fusion’s first wave. This reunion will feature Mr. Coryell and two other charter members, the trumpeter Randy Brecker and the drummer Alphonse Mouzon.” (NYT- Chinen)

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

Elsewhere, but looks worth the detour:
> Sunset Summer Salsa featuring Ola Fresca; dance instruction by Rodney Lopez
FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island / 4-7PM, FREE
Rodney Lopez will host free salsa, Cuban and Timba lessons. Ola Fresca will perform Latin, Cuban and salsa music.
if you haven’t trammed over to the new Four Freedoms park, you should, it is a spectacular location.

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

> Bryant Park Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet (July17-Aug02)
Bryant Park Stage, 42nd St. (btw 5/6 ave)  / today 6:30PM, FREE
presented by The Drilling Company with performances on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 – 8:30pm. and Sundays from 2:00 – 4:00pm.
“In The Drilling Company’s production for Bryant Park Shakespeare the play will be set in a modern city which is divided by wealth and class. Directed by David Marantz, it aims to send a clear message about the violence that can result from social division and corporate greed.” (BroadwayWorld)

Elsewhere, but this looks like fun:
Nostalgia Rides
NY Transit Museum, downtown Brooklyn/ 11AM, $50 R/T
The New York Transit Museum will also be kicking off its summer of Nostalgia Rides with a journey to Coney Island on vintage Independent Subway System (IND) R 1-9 cars and Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) D-Type Triplex cars.

images“Join us on the ever popular, boardwalk-bound Coney Island Nostalgia Train! Ride the 1930s R1/9 cars of the Independent Subway System above and below ground for a two-hour jaunt. Then visit Coney Island’s beach-side amusement park, take a dip in the ocean, or stay on the train for additional rides.”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> The City of Water Day Festival
Governor’s Island, Colonel Row / 10AM-4PM, FREE
“City of Water Day is a free, family-oriented, celebration of the world-class potential of the New York andNew Jersey waterfront, and is the region’s biggest harbor festival. Highlights of City of Water Day activities include free boat tours; the riotous Con Edison Cardboard Kayak Race; free rowing, kayaking, and paddle-boarding; and the Waterfront Activity Fair.” Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance – http://www.waterfrontalliance.org/
and the weatherman says it should clear up by noon today.

Here’s what MommyPoppins, a great site for info on activities to enjoy with children, says about City of Water Day:
pioneer.cropped“If you’re not able to go on a boat tour, there are plenty of other FREE activities that don’t require advance reservations. Go kayaking or rowing, try a sailing lesson, or cheer on the competitors in the Cardboard Kayak Race. For landlubbers, there are Waterfront Activity Fairs on Governors Island and in Maxwell Place Park filled with all kinds of things to do, live entertainment and giveaways—in years past, my daughter examined aquatic creatures under a microscope and learned about urban water management. Bonus, there’s a FREE ferry (no reservations required) between the two main locations, so you can enjoy the fun on both banks (though I’ll admit, we’ve always been so busy on Governors Island we’ve never made it over to New Jersey).”

image-1“Anyone who’s spent time in landlocked parts of the country will tell you that a city without water is like…erm, a city without water. The Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance celebrates NYC’s best accessory at Governors Island and Hoboken’s Maxwell Place Park, offering activities that remind us just how good we have it. Get gratis access to a plethora of water-going vessels, including canoes, kayaks and rowboats; or fish, bike or kick back with food and music on dry land. Sign up early to nab a spot on a narrated boat tour of the harbor. Locations vary; visit cityofwaterday.org for details.” (TONY)

Bonus – Music Picks:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are a few of my favorite music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who’s playing tonight:
City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St. joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Metropolitan Room – 34W22ndSt., metropolitan room.com, 212-206-0440
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St. lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd dSt. bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  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:
‘One-Way Ticket: Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series and Other Visions of the Great Movement North’ (through Sept. 7)
imgres“In the early 20th century, tens of thousands of African Americans left the rural South for the industrial North in search of jobs, homes and respect. Officially, this MoMA show is meant to mark the centennial of that immense population shift, though it also marks another anniversary: the first time in two decades that all 60 paintings in Jacob Lawrence’s great “Migration Series,” now divided between New York and Washington, D.C., have been shown together at the museum. Here they are surrounded by period photographs, books and fabulous music in a display as stimulating to the mind and the ear as it is to the eye. 212-708-9400, moma.org.” (Cotter)

Museum of Arts and Design:
‘Richard Estes: Painting New York City’ (through Sept. 20)
images-1“The core of this show is a selection of vivid, Photorealist paintings of urban subjects like glass and chrome storefronts, movie theater marquees, cars and trucks, subways, the Brooklyn Bridge, views from the Staten Island Ferry and idyllic images of Central Park made between 1965 and 2015. The exhibition also includes didactic sections about the craft and technique that go into Mr. Estes painting and prints, but that aspect doesn’t fully deliver what it promises. 2 Columbus Circle, Manhattan, 212-299-7777,madmuseum.org.”(Johnson).
I LOVE THIS ONE.

Whitney Museum of American Art:
‘America Is Hard to See’ (through Sept. 27)
“With high ceilings, soft pine-plank floors and light-flooded windows and terraces, the galleries of the new Renzo Piano-designed Whitney Museum in the meatpacking district are as airy as 19th-century sailmakers’ lofts. Art feels at home in them, and the work in the museum’s top-to-bottom inaugural exhibition is homegrown. Culled from the permanent collection, it mixes bookmarked favorites by Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jasper Johns with objects and artists that the Whitney had all but forgotten or just brought in. As a vision of a larger America, the show is far from comprehensive; as a musing on the history of a particular New York institution over nearly a century, it is very fine, smartly detailed and superbly presented. 99 Gansevoort Street, at Washington Street, 212-570-3600, whitney.org.” (Cotter)

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

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

Posted on 07/17/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – FRIDAY / JULY 17, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

> Kelly Clarkson + Pentatonix + Eric Hutchinson
Radio City Music Hall,1260 6th ave (btw 50/51St) / 7PM, $20–$169.50
American Idol’s season-one winner “has developed into a steadfast agent of anthemic, feminist pop inflected surreptitiously with gospel flair.” (NYT)

> Henry Threadgill’s Zooid (through July 18)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th St S @ 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM; $30 plus one drink
“a superb composer, saxophonist and flautist, Threadgill is a true master musician. With Zooid, he teams up with several other jazz instrumentalists to bring the funk to the Village Vanguard.” (TONY)

> Buscabulla
Santo’s Party House, 96 Lafayette St./ 7PM, $7
“comprised of girlfriend-boyfriend Raquel Berrios and Luis Alfredo Del Valle, Buscabulla draws on their Puerto Rican heritage and couple it to their Brooklyn climes, meaning purred Spanish come-ons paired with electronic-tinged backdrops.” (WSJ)

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

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

> ‘Summer Night’ at the Frick
Frick Collection, 1 E70th St. / 6-9PM, FREE
The Frick Collection will open its doors for free after-hours viewing of the galleries and live music and activities in the garden.

> Come out and Play Festival – Governors Island
Governor’s Island / 11AM, FREE
“The annual two-day fest is back! Play unique games like Marionette Soccer, Bacon Vs. Zombies and Eggonautics.” and the weather is beautiful for an island visit.

> French Restaurant Week  (LAST DAY!)
Various locations and times, prix-fixe meals for $17.89 and $178.90
“Celebrate French Independence Day the American way: by eating. Dine on special prix-fixe dinner menus for $17.89 or $178.90 at more than 40 NYC bistros and brasseries (Mirabelle, Triomphe) as part of Bastille Week. In addition to dining deals, restaurants will also be hosting fetes including a Pétanque tournament sponsored by Tribeca’s Cercle Rouge.” (TONY)
for the full list see: frenchrestaurantweek.com.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> Barb Jungr: Hard Rain – The Songs Of Bob Dylan & Leonard Cohen
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. / 7PM, $25
“one of the best interpreters of Jacques Brel and Bob Dylan anywhere on this angst ridden planet today” (Village Voice, New York) and “one of the best nightclub singers in the world” (Time Out New York).”

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’s playing tonight:
Greenwich Village:
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
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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  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).
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Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk 2 blk W. on 13th St. to 8th Ave.; 1 blk S. on 8th Ave. to Jane St.
Update:

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

 

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Selected Events (07/16) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 07/16/2015 by GregD

Today’s Top 10 – THURSDAY / JULY 16, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

> Barb Jungr: Hard Rain – The Songs Of Bob Dylan & Leonard Cohen
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. / 7PM, $25
“one of the best interpreters of Jacques Brel and Bob Dylan anywhere on this angst ridden planet today” (Village Voice, New York) and “one of the best nightclub singers in the world” (Time Out New York).”

> River and Blues: Valerie June
Robert F Wagner Jr. Park, 20 Battery Place / 7PM, FREE
Valerie-June“her “Organic Moonshine Roots Music” encompasses the musical heritage of her native Tennessee, mixing Appalachian folk, blues, gospel, soul, and country music with stunning originality.” Enjoy a summer evening listening to the blues while the sun sets over the Hudson River.

> Broadway in Bryant Park (weekly through Aug 13)
Bryant Park, 6th ave at 40th St. / 12:30PM, FREE
The best of musicals on and off By roadway showcase their hits.
today: Finding Neverland, CHICAGO, SISTAS: The Musical, MAMMA MIA!
no better way to spend your lunch hour.

> Henry Threadgill’s Zooid (through July 18)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th St S @ 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM; $30 plus one drink
“a superb composer, saxophonist and flautist, Threadgill is a true master musician. With Zooid, he teams up with several other jazz instrumentalists to bring the funk to the Village Vanguard.” (TONY)

> MoMA Nights with Tamar-kali: Psychochamber Ensemble
Museum of Modern Art,  53rd St. (btw 5/6ave) /
Set begins at 6:30PM. Regular Museum admission applies.
Performances take place in the Sculpture Garden
“born and raised in Brooklyn, the vocalist and composer Tamar-kali is a second-generation musician with roots in the coastal Sea Islands of South Carolina. The works she composes and arranges for the Psychochamber Ensemble blend the classical music of her Catholic upbringing with the fire of the hard rock she came to love.”

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

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

>Peter Mendelsund, Tobias Frere-Jones and Abbott Miller
Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway, at 12th St. / 7PM,
“three designers share their stories of jobs gone wrong in a discussion about learning from mistakes. Mr. Mendelsund is a book designer and the author of “What We See When We Read”; Mr. Frere-Jones is a typeface designer; and Mr. Miller is a partner at the design firm Pentagram. Moderating the conversation will be Ellen Lupton, senior curator of contemporary design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.”

> DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Gerald W. Lynch Theater (at John Jay College) / 7PM, $45–$175.
“Ireland’s estimable Druid Theatre Company returns to Lincoln Center Festival to present all four plays of Shakespeare’s Henriad in rep, tracking the English throne from the fall of Richard II to the rise of Henry V.” (TONY)

> French Restaurant Week 
Various locations and times, prix-fixe meals for $17.89 and $178.90
“Celebrate French Independence Day the American way: by eating. Dine on special prix-fixe dinner menus for $17.89 or $178.90 at more than 40 NYC bistros and brasseries (Mirabelle, Triomphe) as part of Bastille Week. In addition to dining deals, restaurants will also be hosting fetes including a Pétanque tournament sponsored by Tribeca’s Cercle Rouge.” (TONY)
for the full list see: frenchrestaurantweek.com.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> Marissa Mulder: Instincts
Metropolitan Room, 34 W22nd St. (btw5/6 ave) / 9:30PM, $20
image“As comfortable singing Tom Waits as she is singing Noël Coward, the winsomely natural Melissa Mulder is one of the cabaret world’s biggest breakout successes of the past five years. Her new set includes songs by Stephen Sondheim and Sara Baraeilles.”

Bonus – Music Picks:

So much fine live music every night in this town. These are a few of my favorite music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who’s playing tonight:
City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St. joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Metropolitan Room – 34W22ndSt., metropolitan room.com, 212-206-0440
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St. lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd dSt. bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  Quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on 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.

This is a current exhibitions that the NYT recommends:

Roger Brown: ‘Political Paintings’ (through July 31)
“Brown (1941 – 1997) was one of the best of the Chicago Imagists who emerged in the 1960s. The paintings here address topics like money, war and terrorism with comical skepticism. “Gulf War” (1991) is a diptych pairing mock-heroic portraits of former President George H. W. Bush and Saddam Hussein. The men loom gigantically over desert landscapes with helicopters buzzing around their heads. It suggests that as makers of war, theses leaders were kindred spirits. DC Moore Gallery, 535 West 22nd Street, dcmooregallery.com, 212-247-2111.” (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 07/14 and 07/12.

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Selected Events (07/15) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 07/15/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8+ – WEDNESDAY / JULY 15, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

> Penn & Teller on Broadway
Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway at 46th St. / 8PM, $47-$147
“It’s been almost 25 years since the great magic-comedy team last brought their deconstructive illusionism to the Great White Way. Now they’re back with more shocking awesomeness.” (TONY)

> Lowdown Hudson Music Fest – The Word, The Wood Brothers
Brookfield Place, Waterfront Plaza, 230 Vesey St./ 6:30-10PM, FREE
The Word is an improvisational rock-gospel supergroup, and The Wood Brothers music combines blues, folk, and roots-music styles. Two different styles that should satisfy everyone.

> Henry Threadgill’s Zooid (through July 18)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th St S @ 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM; $30 plus one drink
“a superb composer, saxophonist and flautist, Threadgill is a true master musician. With Zooid, he teams up with several other jazz instrumentalists to bring the funk to the Village Vanguard.” (TONY)

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

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

My City Book Club:
‘The New York Nobody Knows: Walking 6,000 Miles in the City’
Museum of the City of New York, Fifth Avenue at 103rd St. / 6:30PM, $16
“The sociologist William Helmreich’s book is about four years he spent walking nearly every street in New York’s five boroughs. (He went through nine pairs of shoes, in case you were wondering.) He will discuss it with Ariel Kaminer, a former reporter for The New York Times who is now an editor at BuzzFeed, as well as the relationships between immigrants and gentrifiers and how both are essential to the city’s success.” (NYT)

> Word for Word: Novel Novelists
Bryant Park, 6th Ave, at 42nd St. / 12:30PM, FREE
this monthly storytelling/reading series combines some of New York’s best storytellers, humor writers, memoirists, and character performers.
today’s talk: “Julia Fierro (Cutting Teeth), the founder of the Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop, leads a lively conversation with a group of buzzed-about novelists: Dennis Mahoney (Bell Weather), Sophie McManus (The Unfortunates), Patricia Park (Re Jane) and Erika Swyler (The Book Of Speculation).”

> Ask Me Another: Celebrating 30 Years of SummerStage
SummerStage at Rumsey Playfield, Fifth Avenue/69th St. entrance /7-10PM, FREE
“Ask Me Another is a rambunctious live show from NPR and WNYC that blends brainteasers and local pub trivia with comedy and music. Host Ophira Eisenberg invites guests and listeners alike to stretch their noggins, tickle their funny bones and enjoy witty banter and guitar riffs from the Ask Me Another one-man house band, Jonathan Coulton.”

> French Restaurant Week 
Various locations and times, prix-fixe meals for $17.89 and $178.90
“Celebrate French Independence Day the American way: by eating. Dine on special prix-fixe dinner menus for $17.89 or $178.90 at more than 40 NYC bistros and brasseries (Mirabelle, Triomphe) as part of Bastille Week. In addition to dining deals, restaurants will also be hosting fetes including a Pétanque tournament sponsored by Tribeca’s Cercle Rouge.” (TONY)
for the full list see: frenchrestaurantweek.com.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:
It’s elsewhere, but worth the detour:

> George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
Queensboro Bridge, 41 Rd., 40 Ave. bet. East River,Vernon Blvd.,, 21 St. / 7-9PM, FREE
“Lace up your dancing shoes and come prepared to sweat when one of the most influential figures of funk, George Clinton, takes the stage.” “George Clinton, the one and only Uncle Jam and author of the recent memoir (deep breath) Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard on You? lands the mothership for a night of ass-liberating funk.”
(TONY)

“Recording both as Parliament and Funkadelic, George Clinton revolutionized R&B during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk by adding influences from several late ’60s acid heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Sly Stone. The Parliament/Funkadelic machine ruled black music during the ’70s, capturing over 40 R&B hit singles (including three number ones) and recording three platinum albums. Clinton and many former Parliament/Funkadelic members continued to tour and record throughout the ’80s as the P-Funk All Stars, but the decade’s disdain of everything to do with the ’70s – especially the sound of disco – resulted in critical and commercial neglect for the world’s biggest funk band, one which in part had spawned dance music. The early ’90s saw the rise of funk-inspired rap which re-established the status of Clinton & Co. as one of the most important forces in the recent history of black music. Parliament/Funkadelic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.”

Bonus – Jazz Picks:
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:
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
Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9 ave) — 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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  Quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.
====================================================================================

A PremierPub / Midtown West.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s the kind of place where the noise gets louder and the crowd gets happier as the happy hour goes on. I’m generally a beer guy, but I like to come here with a group of friends. We find a table in the back room near the piano man; we eat, and we drink vodka ‘till it hurts (and it will hurt).

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

Website: http://www.russianvodkaroom.com/
Phone #: 212-307-5835
Hours: 4pm-2am; Fri-Sun closes 4am (that could be trouble)
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day
$4 shots infused vodka (2oz), $5 cosmos; $4 czech draft beer
Music: FR-SU; TU-WE / 7pm-12am
Subway: #1 to 50th St.
Walk 2 blk N. on B’way to 52nd St.; 1 blk W. to RVR
Confusingly, the Russian Samovar is right across the street, on the S. side of 52nd St.
The RVR, your destination, is on the N. side of 52nd St.
Update: music now includes a sax player with a younger, trimmer piano man. “tiny” we miss you.

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

 

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Selected Events (07/14) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 07/14/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – TUESDAY / JULY 14, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

> Sehrang, Iranian Trio
Austrian Cultural Forum New York, 11 East 52nd St./ 7:30PM, FREE
“trio comprised of three young Iranian musicians who share the same vision of making a new sound, which is still rooted in their common culture. From original lyrics to classical Iranian poetry, their music uses and creates poetry, simultaneously, and their songs are very intimate and extremely groovy.”

> Lowdown Hudson Music Fest – O.A.R., Ryan Bingham
Brookfield Place, Waterfront Plaza, 230 Vesey St./ 6:30-10PM, FREE
“O.A.R. have performed their roots-rock and reggae-inflected songs to audiences around the world, including two sold out shows at Madison Square Garden.
Ryan Bingham first captured worldwide attention for his collaboration with producer T Bone Burnett on the soundtrack for the 2009 acclaimed film Crazy Heart, which earned an academy award.”

> Henry Threadgill’s Zooid (through July 18)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th St S @ 11th St./ 8:30PM, 10:30PM; $30 plus one drink
“a superb composer, saxophonist and flautist, Threadgill is a true master musician. With Zooid, he teams up with several other jazz instrumentalists to bring the funk to the Village Vanguard.” (TONY)

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

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

> James Wood
McNally Jackson, 52 Prince St, (btw Lafayette and Mulberry St) / 7PM, FREE
Mr. Wood, a book critic for The New Yorker and author of “How Fiction Works,” discusses his new memoir, “The Nearest Thing to Life.” The book, which incorporates criticism with personal history, is drawn from his 2013 Mandel Lectures for the Humanities.” (NYT)

> Movie Night With Takashi Murakami
IFC Center, 323 6th Ave. / 7PM, $14
“Prolific Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami presents one of his favorite films, Michael Mann’s “Thief.” The 1981 noir features a post-“Godfather” James Caan as a jewel thief, and was a directorial first for Mann, who went on to create blockbuster classics “Heat” and “Miami Vice.” Murakami will remain after the screening to talk about the film.”(dnainfo.com)

> Celebrate Flatiron Chefs.
Madison Square Park, Madison Ave @ 23rd St. / 5:30-8:30PM, $
call (212) 520-7600 to purchase your tickets! Tickets will not be for sale at the door.
11th annual summer celebration, visitors will be treated to gastronomic tastings from renowned Flatiron district chefs from such acclaimed restaurants like ABC Kitchen, A Voce, and Eleven Madison Park.

> French Restaurant Week 
Various locations and times, prix-fixe meals for $17.89 and $178.90
“Celebrate French Independence Day the American way: by eating. Dine on special prix-fixe dinner menus for $17.89 or $178.90 at more than 40 NYC bistros and brasseries (Mirabelle, Triomphe) as part of Bastille Week. In addition to dining deals, restaurants will also be hosting fetes including a Pétanque tournament sponsored by Tribeca’s Cercle Rouge.” (TONY)
for the full list see: frenchrestaurantweek.com.

Bonus – Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are a few of my favorite music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who’s playing tonight:
City Winery – 155 Varick St. / citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St. / joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Metropolitan Room – 34 W22nd St. / metropolitan room.com, 212-206-0440
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St. / lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St. / beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237 W42nd St. / bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  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 Fifth Avenue
(See the New York Times Arts Section for listings of all museum exhibitions,
and also see the expanded reviews of these exhibitions)

Metropolitan Museum of Art:
‘Reimagining Modernism: 1900-1950’ (continuing)
One of the greatest encyclopedic museums in the world fulfills its mission a little more with an ambitious reinstallation of works of early European modernism with their American counterparts for the first time in nearly 30 years. Objects of design and paintings by a few self-taught artists further the integration. It is quite a sight, with interesting rotations and fine-tunings to come. 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org.” (Smith)

‘Fatal Attraction: Piotr Uklanski Photographs’ (through Aug. 16)
A small but succinct survey of the multimedia bad-boy artist’s polymorphous relationship to photography shows him constantly changing scale, film and printing methods while exploring the medium’s ability to startle, seduce and become generic. He appropriates, imitates and pays homage as he goes, regularly invoking his Polish roots. Don’t miss the large photo-banners in the museum’s Great Hall or the massive fiber-sculpture monument to the eye and to insatiable looking. 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org. (Smith)

‘Discovering Japanese Art: American Collectors and the Met’ (through Sept. 27) Highlighting contributions to the Met’s Japanese art holdings by American collectors from the 1880s to the present, this gorgeous show presents more than 200 superb paintings, drawings, prints, scrolls, folding screens, ceramics, lacquer ware and works in other mediums and genres, mostly dating from the fourth century to the late 19th. 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org. (Johnson)

Neue Galerie:
‘Egon Schiele: Portraits’ (through Sept. 07)
zakovsek_1“Of the approximately 125 items in this terrific show, there are only 11 oil paintings, which is a good thing. Except for a large picture of his wife, Edith, in a colorful striped dress, Schiele’s works on canvas are dark and turgid. But his drawings are nimble and nuanced. Working on paper with pencil, charcoal, ink, gouache, watercolor and crayons, he portrayed himself and others with infectious avidity. There’s hardly a single sheet here that doesn’t warrant close looking for its virtuoso draftsmanship and psychological acuity. 1048 Fifth Avenue, at 86th Street, 212-628-6200, neuegalerie.org. “(Johnson)

Guggenheim Museum:
Kandinsky Gallery (through spring 2016)
“A pioneer of abstract art and eminent aesthetic theorist, Vasily Kandinsky (b. 1866, Moscow; d. 1944, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) broke new ground in painting during the first decades of the twentieth century. His seminal treatise Über das Geistige in der Kunst (On the Spiritual in Art), published in Munich in December 1911, lays out his program for developing an art independent from observations of the external world. In this and other texts, as well as his work, Kandinsky advanced abstraction’s potential to be free from nature, a quality of music that he admired. The development of a new subject matter based solely on the artist’s “inner necessity” would occupy him for the rest of his life.”

The Guggenheim collection now contains more than 150 works by this single artist, making it the largest collection of Kandinsky works in the United States.

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum (continuing):
rendering-3The stately doors of the 1902 Andrew Carnegie mansion, home to the Cooper Hewitt, are open again after an overhaul and expansion of the premises. Historic house and modern museum have always made an awkward fit, a standoff between preservation and innovation, and the problem remains, but the renovation has brought a wide-open new gallery space, a cafe and a raft of be-your-own-designer digital enhancements. Best of all, more of the museum’s vast permanent collection is now on view, including an Op Art weaving, miniature spiral staircases, ballistic face masks and a dainty enameled 18th-century version of a Swiss knife. Like design itself, this institution is built on tumult and friction, and you feel it. 2 East 91st Street, at Fifth Avenue, 212-849-8400, cooperhewitt.org. (Cotter)

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

Museum Mile is a section of Fifth Avenue which contains one of the densest displays of culture in the world. Eight museums can be found along this section of Fifth Avenue:

• 105th Street – El Museo del Barrio (closed Sun-Mon)*
• 103rd Street – Museum of the City of New York (open 7 days /week)
•  92nd Street – The Jewish Museum (closed Wed) (Sat FREE) (Thu 5-8 PWYW)
•  91st Street  –  Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (open 7 days /week)
•  89th Street –  National Academy Museum (closed Mon-Tue)
•  88th Street –  Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (closed Thu) (Sat 6-8 PWYW)
•  86th Street –  Neue Galerie New York (closed Tue-Wed) (Fri 6-8 FREE)
Last, but certainly not least, America’s premier museum
•  82nd Street – The Metropolitan Museum of Art (open 7 days /week)*
*always Pay What You Wish (PWYW)

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (SUN 11am-1pm PWYW) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015). ========================================================

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 07/12 and 07/10.
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Selected Events (07/13) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 07/13/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – MONDAY / JULY 13, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

> Captain Black Big Band – Conducted by Orrin Evans
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway (btw 105/106 St.) / 7PM, + 9PM, $9
a big band (a very big band) with attitude. plays funky blues, avant-garde, even swing.

> Julie Klausner
Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St. / 9:30PM, $25+ 2 drink minimum
“bonafide royalty in the comedy podcast world and author Julie Klausner brings her sharp wit, observations on pop culture and singing chops to Joe’s Pub.” (TONY)

> Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (Cabaret)
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. (btw 8/9 ave) / 9:30PM, $25
the witty host attracts broadway stars on their night off, along with up and comers.

> The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
4d3481_7d4ce7faa78d42729eabb2bb8f4a3d22.jpg_srz_p_450_442_75_22_0.50_1.20_0

Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South (btw W11th/Perry St.) / 8:30Pm +10:30PM, $30
a world class big band with 16 members on that small stage, a monday night institution.

 

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

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

> ‘Go Set a Watchman’
Barnes and Noble, 33 E17th St. (btw Broadway/Park Avenue South) / 7PM, FREE
“Harper Lee’s long-lost novel, is almost here. On Monday, Barnes & Noble Union Square will host a celebration of the novelist, with the author Wally Lamb and the actress Leslie Uggams in conversation with the book critic Bill Goldstein.” (NYT)

> Slide Lecture | Vicky Ward discusses her book: “The Liar’s Ball: The Extraordinary Saga of How One Building Broke the World’s Toughest Tycoons”
Mid-Manhattan Library, 5th Ave @ 40th St. / 6:30PM, FREE
“This illustrated lecture explores inside the world of the real Great Gatsby of New York real estate, Harry Macklowe, one of the most notorious wheelers and dealers of the real estate world, and tells the story of the gamblers and thieves who populate his world.”

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> French Restaurant Week 
Various locations and times, prix-fixe meals for $17.89 and $178.90
“Celebrate French Independence Day the American way: by eating. Dine on special prix-fixe dinner menus for $17.89 or $178.90 at more than 40 NYC bistros and brasseries (Mirabelle, Triomphe) as part of Bastille Week. In addition to dining deals, restaurants will also be hosting fetes including a Pétanque tournament sponsored by Tribeca’s Cercle Rouge.” (TONY)
for the full list see: frenchrestaurantweek.com

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’s playing tonight:
Greenwich Village:
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. South — 55bar.com / 212-929-9883
Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9 ave) — 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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  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”
This covers a wide range of food – the traditional pizza, burgers, & hot dogs; but also food trucks & carts, soup & sandwiches, picnic fixins’, raw bars & lobster rolls, bbq, vegetarian, falafel, ramen, chopped salad & salad bars. No reservations needed. ================================================================================

◊ 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 2015).
◊ Order before Oct. 31, 2015 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.
=========================================================

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

Selected Events (07/12) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 07/12/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – SUNDAY / JULY 12, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

> Vision Festival
Matthew Shipp Trio (7:30PM); Telepathic Orchestra (10PM)
Historic Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square S / 6-11PM, $40, $25 seniors
since 1996, the Vision Festival has been a home for exploratory and adventurous jazz.
thrilling pianist Shipp and baritone saxophonist Bluiett leading his fellow saxophonists and the Telepathic Orchestra make a formidable close to the festival.

> Eddie Palmieri Septet
Blue Note, 131 West Third St. / 8PM +10:30PM,
“Mr. Palmieri, a tirelessly charismatic pianist, one of the great bandleaders in salsa and a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, leads one of his regular ensembles, stocked with players like the trumpeter Jonathan Powell, the alto saxophonist Louis Fouché and the conguero Little Johnny Rivero.” (NYT-Chinen)

SummerStage
> Cesária Évora Orchestra / Mayra Andrade / Dino D’Santiago / DJ Lefty
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, mid-Park at 69th St. / 2-7PM, FREE

> The Cast of Phantom Sings Andrew Lloyd Webber
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. / 6PM, $25-$35

> Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton (LAST DAY!)
Avery Fisher Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza / 8PM, $45 (third tier)
“A raucous and unforgettable evening powered by a full orchestra and choir.
—L.A. Weekly

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

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

> DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Gerald W. Lynch Theater (at John Jay College) / 7PM, $45–$175.
“Ireland’s estimable Druid Theatre Company returns to Lincoln Center Festival to present all four plays of Shakespeare’s Henriad in rep, tracking the English throne from the fall of Richard II to the rise of Henry V.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, a real treat for bridge lovers, and enjoy the iconic ferry ride to Staten Island:
> ‘Bascove / Bridges: Transporting the Metropolis’ (closes TODAY!)
003 DSC04450

Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Livingston, Staten Island, / 1-5PM (Thu-Sun), admission by donation.

celebrates the magnificent bridges of New York City with 32 paintings & drawings.
actually, this off the beaten track museum’s permanent collection is also very worthy.

XX

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> Bastille Day Celebration on 60th Street / 12PM – 5PM, FREE (tastings vary in price)
60th Street (btw Fifth/Lexington ave)
Celebrate the storming of the Bastille and France’s Independence Day (July 14) at the French Institute Alliance Française‘s street fair. Can-can dancers, musicians, and chefs will take over three blocks. Enjoy French delicacies and treats from vendors and a wide array of children’s activities.

image

“The Bastille Day on 60th Street festival, celebrating the French Independence Day on July 14, will return with performances by French-American electro-swing band Gingoa, singer Benjamin Swax, plus wine, beer, chocolate and champagne tastings.

More than 40,000 people attended last year’s Bastille Day celebration, according to the French Institute Alliance Française, which is hosting the fete.

New activities this year include the New York City debut of Martinique’s Arpège Choir of 150 students and musicians and free screenings of award-winning French films. Cooking classes for kids will also be offered at the French Institute at 22 E. 60th St.

The festival is free and open to the public but tastings range in price. A detailed listing of the events and ticket prices can also be found on the festival’s website (bastilledayny.com). The festival will go on rain or shine.” (DNAinfo.com)

“Indulge your inner Francophile during this celebration of French national pride. Held on three avenue blocks closed to traffic, the fest boasts tasty treats like crêpes and cheeses, Macaron Café macarons ($2) and baked goods from patisserie Financier, as well as sets by accordion players and other musicians, cultural dances like the cancan, and kiddie-friendly activities such as face painting.” (TONY)

Bonus – Music Picks:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are a few of my favorite music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who’s playing tonight:
City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St. joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Metropolitan Room – 34W22ndSt., metropolitan room.com, 212-206-0440
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St. lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd dSt. bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  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 the expanded reviews of these exhibitions)

Museum of Modern Art:
‘One-Way Ticket: Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series and Other Visions of the Great Movement North’ (through Sept. 7)
imgres“In the early 20th century, tens of thousands of African Americans left the rural South for the industrial North in search of jobs, homes and respect. Officially, this MoMA show is meant to mark the centennial of that immense population shift, though it also marks another anniversary: the first time in two decades that all 60 paintings in Jacob Lawrence’s great “Migration Series,” now divided between New York and Washington, D.C., have been shown together at the museum. Here they are surrounded by period photographs, books and fabulous music in a display as stimulating to the mind and the ear as it is to the eye. 212-708-9400, moma.org.” (Cotter)

Museum of Arts and Design:
‘Richard Estes: Painting New York City’ (through Sept. 20)
images-1“The core of this show is a selection of vivid, Photorealist paintings of urban subjects like glass and chrome storefronts, movie theater marquees, cars and trucks, subways, the Brooklyn Bridge, views from the Staten Island Ferry and idyllic images of Central Park made between 1965 and 2015. The exhibition also includes didactic sections about the craft and technique that go into Mr. Estes painting and prints, but that aspect doesn’t fully deliver what it promises. 2 Columbus Circle, Manhattan, 212-299-7777,madmuseum.org.”(Johnson).
I LOVE THIS ONE.

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

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 07/10 and 07/08.

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

Selected Events (07/11) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square/ Theater District)

Posted on 07/11/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – SATURDAY / JULY 11, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

> Vision Festival
Historic Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square S / 6-11PM, $40, $25 seniors
since 1996, the Vision Festival has been a home for exploratory and adventurous jazz.
good jazz all night with 4 different 1 hour sets. look for trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, in a duo with the pianist Aruán Ortiz from 7:30-8:30PM.

SummerStage
> Vicentico / Ximena Sariñana / No Te Va Gustar
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, mid-Park at 69th St. / 2-7PM, FREE
look especially for “Vicentico who has long been a crucial figure in the history of rock music in Latin America.”

> John Scofield Trio
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. / 8:30PM +11PM,
“balancing languid lyricism with whiplash improvisation, this threesome is a gift to guitar wonks and jazz aficionados alike.” (NewYorker)

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

> Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton (through July 12)
Avery Fisher Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza / 8PM, $45 (third tier)
“A raucous and unforgettable evening powered by a full orchestra and choir.
—L.A. Weekly

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
> Rosie Flores and the Rhythm Rockers
Hill Country BBQ, 345 Adams St. / 9PM, $NO COVER
“Flores, a guitar-toting rockabilly singer from Texas, has long been the darling of the country circuits in L.A. and Austin, where August 31 was declared Rosie Flores Day.”

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

> DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Gerald W. Lynch Theater (at John Jay College) / 7PM, $45–$175.
“Ireland’s estimable Druid Theatre Company returns to Lincoln Center Festival to present all four plays of Shakespeare’s Henriad in rep, tracking the English throne from the fall of Richard II to the rise of Henry V.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, a real treat for bridge lovers, and enjoy the iconic ferry ride to Staten Island:
> ‘Bascove / Bridges: Transporting the Metropolis’ (closes TOMORROW, July 12)
003 DSC04450

Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Livingston, Staten Island, / 1-5PM (Thu-Sun), admission by donation.

celebrates the magnificent bridges of New York City with 32 paintings & drawings.
actually, this off the beaten track museum’s permanent collection is also very worthy.

XX

Bonus – Jazz Picks:
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:
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
Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595
Birdland – 315 W44th St. (btw 8/9 ave) — 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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  Quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.
====================================================================================

A PremierPub + 3 Good Eating places

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 Good Eating places

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

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

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

Xi’an Famous Foods – 24 W45th St. (Btw 5th/6th ave)
Try to avoid long lunch lines. Order lamb hand ripped noodles and warm your insides at one of the tables in the back. You’ll return, just remember that even mild is pretty spicy.
==============================================================

“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
This covers a wide range of food – the traditional pizza, burgers, & hot dogs; but also food trucks & carts, soup & sandwiches, picnic fixins’, raw bars & lobster rolls, bbq, vegetarian / falafel, ramen, chopped salad & salad bars. No reservations needed.
================================================================================

◊ 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 2015).
◊ Order before Oct. 31, 2015 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.
=========================================================

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

Selected Events (07/10) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 07/10/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – FRIDAY / JULY 10, 2015

“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 complete event info)

Music, Dance, Performing Arts

Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
> José Alberto “El Canario” – Latin
Dance Instructor: Carlos König teaches Salsa
Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center, W62nd St (btw Columbus/Amsterdam Ave.) / 6PM, $17
Dance Floor Opens at 6/ Dance Lesson at 6:30/ Live Music at 7:30
“four decades of romantically channeling salsa’s softer side have flown by for this Dominican singer and Latin heavyweight, dubbed “El Canario,” for his exquisite voice and amazing ability to use his highly melodious whistling skills as a solo instrument.”

> Barb Jungr: Hard Rain – The Songs Of Bob Dylan & Leonard Cohen
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. / 7PM, $25
“one of the best interpreters of Jacques Brel and Bob Dylan anywhere on this angst ridden planet today” (Village Voice, New York) and “one of the best nightclub singers in the world” (Time Out New York).”

Vision Festival
> David Murray with his Class Struggle Trio
Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South / 10PM,
tenor saxophonist Murray plays a late set after a full evening of diverse performances

> John Scofield Trio (also Saturday)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. / 8:30PM +11PM,
“balancing languid lyricism with whiplash improvisation, this threesome is a gift to guitar wonks and jazz aficionados alike.” (NewYorker)

> Momix (through Aug 1)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $10+
“Moses Pendleton’s whimsical troupe, a hybrid of modern dance, circus and visual spectacle, celebrates its 35th anniversary with a nearly monthlong run of the new work “Alchemia.”

> Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton (through July 12)
Avery Fisher Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza / 8PM, $45 (third tier)
“A raucous and unforgettable evening powered by a full orchestra and choir.”
—L.A. Weekly

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

> DruidShakespeare: The History Plays
Gerald W. Lynch Theater (at John Jay College) / 7PM, $45–$175.
“Ireland’s estimable Druid Theatre Company returns to Lincoln Center Festival to present all four plays of Shakespeare’s Henriad in rep, tracking the English throne from the fall of Richard II to the rise of Henry V.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, a real treat for bridge lovers, and enjoy the iconic ferry ride to Staten Island:
> ‘Bascove / Bridges: Transporting the Metropolis’ (closes July 12)
003 DSC04450

Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Livingston, Staten Island, / 1-5PM (Thu-Sun), admission by donation.

celebrates the magnificent bridges of New York City with 32 paintings & drawings.
actually, this off the beaten track museum’s permanent collection is also very worthy.

 

Bonus – Music Picks:

So much fine live music every night in this town. These are a few of my favorite music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who’s playing tonight:
City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St. joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Metropolitan Room – 34W22ndSt., metropolitan room.com, 212-206-0440
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St. lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
B.B. King’s Blues Bar – 237W42nd dSt. bbkingblues.com, 212-997-2144
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 56 million visitors last year and is TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2015.  Quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on 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.

This is a current exhibitions that TimeOutNY recommends:

Paul Winstanley (LAST DAY)
Winstanley_Install_21“The work of this London Photorealist sits somewhere on a spectrum between the paintings of Gerhard Richter and those of Robert Bechtle. He depicts subjects that are both pregnant with mystery and suffused with alienated air that keeps the viewer at a psychological remove; nonetheless, his compositions offer considerable visual pleasures. His latest series is based on photos he took of British art schools during summer hiatus, when studios are usually cleaned out. The results evoke the idea of a clean slate, or an empty canvas awaiting the first brushstroke.” (TONY)
Mitchell-Innes & Nash, 534 W 26th St. (btw 10/11 ave) / Tue–Sat 10AM–6PM, FREE

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).

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 07/08 and 07/06.

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