Selected Events (07/09) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 07/09/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – THURSDAY / JULY 09, 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
> Tribute to Octavio Brunetti featuring Pedro Giraudo Tango Orchestra
Dance Instructors: Ana Padron and Diego Blanco teach Tango
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
“great Argentine tango pianist Octavio Brunetti’s sultry sets at last year’s Midsummer Night Swing were the stuff of legend. It was also the brilliant musician’s unexpected swan song—he passed away shortly after the triumphant evening. To honor him, Brunetti’s friend and colleague, the highly versatile bassist, composer, and arranger Pedro Giraudo, will lead the night’s loving tribute.”

> 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).”

> Broadway in Bryant Park (weekly through Aug 13)
Bryant Park, 6th ave at 40th St. / 12PM, FREE
The best of musicals on and off By roadway showcase their hits, plus lots of surprises from other Broadway shows.
today: STOMP, WICKED, It Shoulda Been You, FUERZA BRUTA

> River and Blues: John Hammond
Robert F Wagner Jr. Park, 20 Battery Place / 7PM, FREE
the Grammy Winner & Blues Hall of Fame virtuoso of harmonica and slide guitar provides the music to accompany your picnic.

> 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)

> Beneath the Streets: The Hidden Relics of New York City’s Subway System
NYPL- Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 Fifth Ave. / 6:30PM, FREE
”only a handful of transit workers, daring explorers and graffiti writers have experienced the full scope of the New York subway system. Beneath the Streets reveals this world for the first time with fantastic photographs captured from throughout the tunnels and byways of the subway.”

> 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)

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 8/9ave), 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 / 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 iot 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.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Selected Events (07/08) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 07/08/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8+ – WEDNESDAY / JULY 08, 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
> Gordon Webster Big Band with featured vocalist Brianna Thomas
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
Dance Instructor: Laura Jeffers teaches Lindy Hop
“A bandleader who dances too, brings an indescribable “wow” to the dancefloor. Tonight, playful, fleet-fingered Lindy Hopper Gordon Webster does just that as he fronts a big band including vocalist Brianna Thomas, whose timing and technique enliven the great tunes and ballads of the golden era of jazz.”

> The Stepkids
Madison Square Park, Madison Ave at 23rd St / 7PM, FREE
“a gleeful blend of classic jazz, R&B, funk, 70s pop rock and countless other genres and styles with a uniquely personal brand of modern psychedelic soul.”

> Systema Solar + Compass + Helado Negro
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, mid-Park at 69th St. / 6-10PM, FREE
SummerStage presents 3 acts in association with the Latin Alternative Music Conference – rock out

> 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

> 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)

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

> Posters + Politics: The Art of Activism in New York
The Museum of the City of New York, Fifth Avenue at 103rd St, / 6:30PM, $16
discuss the city’s recent history of political posters, including those for the AIDS crisis and economic inequality. interested in more?  the museum has two related exhibitions: “Activist New York” and “Everything Is Design: The Work of Paul Rand.”

> Word for Word / Corey Taylor with Lou Brutus
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: “in the tradition of the late great George Carlin, NYTimes bestselling author and lead singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour Corey Taylor sounds off in hilarious fashion about the many vagaries of modern life that piss him off.”

> Learn about Raw Chocolate
Voilà’ Chocolat, 221 W79th St./ 7PM, $80
Learn about “virgin” chocolate from chocolate makers Raaka Chocolate, who are leading a workshop at Voilà. Make, decorate and take home six chocolate bars that use Raaka chocolate. While you create your bars, you’ll be treated to Voilà’s frozen hot chocolate.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> 54 Sings Irving Berlin – “There’s No Business Like Show Business”
54 Below, 254 W54th St. / 7PM +9:30PM, $35-$45
“Broadway’s Supper Club, presents an all-star cast of 54 Below favorites for an evening celebrating the work of American Songbook pioneer, Irving Berlin. His catalog of songs spans the musical rainbow from rag to pop standard to Broadway anthem. Hear outstanding renditions of Irving Berlin’s most memorable songs including “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”, “Always”, “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “God Bless America”. The evening will be hosted by the incomparable nightlife diva, Molly Pope.

Featuring: Tony Yazbeck 7pm show only (On The Town, Gypsy, A Chorus Line) Willy Falk (Miss Saigon) Molly Pope (Found) Raissa Katona Bennett (Phantom Of The Opera) Marissa Miller (Wicked) Marissa Mulder (MAC winner) Eric LuJuan Summers (The Wedding Singer, Little Mermaid, Motown) Madeleine Doherty (Gigi, Sister Act) Janelle Robinson (Mary Poppins) Haley Swindal (Duck Dynasty) Jennifer Sheehan (Radio City Christmas Show) Benet Braun, Musical Director with Ritt Henn and Daniel Glass
Arrangements by Jon Weber
Directed by Samuel Moses Jones
Produced by T. Oliver Reid”

Sheehan_Jennifer_89_ret2-e1371150888931-300x253_web

This evening should be like an all star game, with only the best NYCity cabaret performers – a can’t miss event. Almost hidden on that list is cabaret phenom Jennifer Sheehan. Whatever you do, don’t miss her performance.

She will be the brightest star of all.

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)

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 Before Abstraction, 1901–1911 (through spring 2015)
ex_Kandinsky_Landscape-near-Murnau-with-Locomotive_490Early in his career Vasily Kandinsky experimented with printmaking, produced brightly-colored landscapes of the German countryside, and explored recognizable and recurrent motifs. This intimate exhibition drawn from the Guggenheim collection explores the artist’s representational origins.

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 07/06 and 07/04.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 07/07/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – TUESDAY / JULY 07, 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
> Conjunto Sabrosura – 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
Dance Instructor: Gildred Ribot teaches Salsa
“Conjunto Sabrosura cross-pollinates lyrical Cuban son with the explosiveness of old school New York salsa big bands for a sound powered by triple-threat trumpets in the horn section and the Celia Cruz-strength vocals of the band’s youthful lead singer, Mayte Perez.”

> 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)

> The Washington Square Music Festival (last night)
Washington Square Park / 8PM, FREE
with the New York Jazzharmonic, a 17 piece band

> 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

> Momix (through Aug 1)
MOMIX2014Joyce 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.”

xx
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)

> Jimmy Carter: A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety
political-talks-nyc-678x1024Barnes & Noble – Fifth Avenue, 555 Fifth Ave./ 12PM, FREE
at 90 he probably has lots of reflections. get there early to see and hear one of our most popular ex-presidents.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> New York Asian Film Festival (LAST two days)
The Film Society of Lincoln Center, 165 W65th St / various times, $14
Waikiki Brothers / 6:30PM
Yim Soon-rye | 2001 | 35mm | 109 mins
Introduction by Yim Soon-rye
In this modern Korean classic, a failed cover band returns to the lead guitarist’s hometown to try to get a fresh start, but the past, women, booze, and drugs threaten to break them apart.
The Whistleblower / 8:45PM
whistleblowerYim Soon-rye | 2014 | DCP | 113 mins
North American Premiere
Q&A with Yim Soon-rye
The All the President’s Men of bioresearch, this sharply suspenseful powerhouse thriller by Yim Soon-rye (one of Korea’s few female directors) is a based on the true story of one of the biggest scientific frauds of the 21st century.

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 (07/06) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 07/06/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – MONDAY / JULY 06, 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

> Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton (July 6–12)
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

> Momix
MOMIX2014Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave at West 19th St. / 7:30PM, $
“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.”

xx
> Natalie Douglas in “Hello Dolly…The Music of Dolly Parton”
Birdland, 315 W44th St. / 7PM, $30
a celebration of the beloved singer, actor, and songwriter.

> The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
4d3481_7d4ce7faa78d42729eabb2bb8f4a3d22.jpg_srz_p_450_442_75_22_0.50_1.20_0Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South (btw W11th/Perry St.) / 8:30Pm +10:30PM, $30
world class big band with 16 members on that small stage, a monday night institution.

 

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

> Seeing Into the Future: A Visionary New Space Telescope 
seeing-into-the-future_mediumHosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St./ 1PM, free w museum admission
A series of presentations by noted researchers will be followed by a moderated discussion with host Neil deGrasse Tyson, Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium.

> Rubin Museum of Art: Senior Mondays
Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W 17 St. / 11AM-5PM, FREE (for seniors)
This intimate museum of art and artifacts from in and around the Himalayas is free to seniors the first Monday of every month.

> “I Am Charlie Wilson”
0000050549792Barnes and Noble TriBeCa, 97 Warren Street 2nd Floor / 6PM, FREE
Legendary soul and R&B singer Charlie Wilson appears at Barnes & Noble to discuss his memoir “I Am Charlie Wilson.”

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
> Dan Goleman in Conversation with Dan Harris
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave./ 8PM, $30
As the Dalai Lama celebrates his 80th birthday on July 6, join writer Dan Goleman as he discusses his new book, A Force for Good: The Dalai Lama’s Vision for Our World and distills the wisdom and teachings that can help all of us live more giving, psychologically healthy and loving lives.

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 07/04 and 07/02.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Selected Events (07/05) + Today’s Featured Pub (Upper WestSide)

Posted on 07/05/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – SUNDAY / JULY 05, 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

> Tribute to Nat Adderley
Smoke Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway, at 106th St. / 7, 9, 10:30PM, $
“the cornettist, long overshadowed by his brother Julian (Cannonball) Adderley—the vibrant alto saxophonist with whom he collaborated for the majority of his career—was himself a commanding stylist and a composer of distinction.” (NewYorker)
this tribute, features one of his former sidemen, the master drummer Jimmy Cobb.

MoMA Summergarden: New Music for New York
> Juilliard Concert I: New Music for Mixed Ensembles
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.

> Amplified Sundays: Banda Magda
Riverside Park South, Pier i @ 70th St. / 7PM, FREE
5549163fcd4ae“enjoy vibrantly danceable live music accompanied by spectacular sunsets over the Hudson River.“ her style includes samba, french chanson, greek folk tunes, colombian cumbia and afro-peruvian lando – good grief!

xx
> Fred Hersch Trio
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
“a master who plays it his way” New York Times, “a poet of a pianist” New Yorker and “one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation” Downbeat.

> “The Tempest” (LAST DAY) / Shakespeare in the Park
Central Park, Delacorte Theater / 8PM, FREE
actor Sam Waterston, makes his 13th Shakespearean production.
FREE tickets are available via a lottery system. check The Public Theater website.

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:
> James Cotton – 80th Birthday Celebration with his Blues Band
Jazz Standard, 116 E27th St. / 7:30PM, $35
his new Alligator album, Cotton Mouth Man, is a joyous celebration of his life in the blues

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

> Inaugural Exhibition: AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE
Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St. / 10:30AM-6PM, $22.
“it’s finally here! The new improved Whitney home in MePa that’s supposed to finally put to rest the museum’s rep as the also-ran of New York’s major art institutions. As designed by international starchitect Renzo Piano, the building is certainly big, with 63,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.” (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 DSC04450Noble 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 – 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 8/9ave) — 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 / 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.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Selected Events (07/04) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 07/04/2015 by GregD

Today’s Sweet Six – SATURDAY / JULY 04, 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

> Nicholas Payton Trio
Ginny’s Supper Club, 310 Lenox Avenue, near 125th St. / 7:30PM +9:30PM, $
‘their style as a trio suggests a continuum from post-bop through vintage soul into a kind of modern fusion: Black American Music, according to Mr. Payton’s preferred term of art.” (NYT-Chinen)

> Fred Hersch Trio (also Sunday)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
“a master who plays it his way” New York Times, “a poet of a pianist” New Yorker and “one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation” Downbeat.

> Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
> Dr. K’s Motown Revue – Disco/R&B
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
Dance Instructor: Joe Palmer teaches West Coast Swing
“what better way to celebrate the 4th of July than by dancing to one of America’s most loved musical gifts! with upbeat tunes by the greatest greats that forged the Motown sound and a smokin’ band.”

> Ravi Coltrane Quartet
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. / 8:30PM+11PM, $40
“Coltrane lends an inviting balance to his involving improvisations on tenor and soprano saxophones.” (NewYorker)

> “The Tempest” (LAST WEEK, closes July 5) / Shakespeare in the Park
Central Park, Delacorte Theater / 8PM, FREE
actor Sam Waterston, makes his 13th Shakespearean production.
FREE tickets are available via a lottery system. check The Public Theater website.

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

> Inaugural Exhibition: AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE
Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St. / 10:30AM-6PM, $22.
“it’s finally here! The new improved Whitney home in MePa that’s supposed to finally put to rest the museum’s rep as the also-ran of New York’s major art institutions. As designed by international starchitect Renzo Piano, the building is certainly big, with 63,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.” (TONY)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

Fourth of July Fireworks, of course.

new-york-fireworks-east-river

Here are two good sources of info on where to watch Macy’s big show:

The staff at Curbed.com has this very extensive listing of where to watch thefireworks:
“Once again, the annual 4th of July fireworks show will take place on the East River, but this year, the 25-minute Macy’s spectacular will shoot off from two locations, not just one. A double barge will be placed just south of the Brooklyn Bridge, around the same area as last year’s show, and four additional barges will sit between East 23rd and East 42nd Streets, offering prime views to north Brooklyn, Long Island City, and Midtown East. The official viewing locations in lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts are sure to get a little crowded, so if you’re looking for something a little more exclusive, the list below include more than two dozen alternatives, some of which offer food, drink, and other assorted merriment, but prices can run high. To help you plan your fireworks fun, our map offers 37 viewing options, including all of the public access points, plus dozens more, ranging from rooftop bars to small parks to private cruises. If you see something you like, make plans quickly—tickets tend to run out fast.
—Wesley Yiin”

Then there is this new kid on the block – tripexpert.com – who asked their data scientist, who aggregated 16 different lists and crunched the numbers to reveal the top choices.

spoiler alert: they like Brooklyn Bridge Park, South Street Seaport, and Brooklyn Heights Promenade best. DUH!

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 (through Friday July 10 2015)
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).

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 07/02 and 06/30.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 07/03/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – FRIDAY / JULY 03, 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

> Nicholas Payton Trio (also Saturday)
Ginny’s Supper Club, 310 Lenox Avenue, near 125th St. / 7:30PM +9:30PM, $
‘their style as a trio suggests a continuum from post-bop through vintage soul into a kind of modern fusion: Black American Music, according to Mr. Payton’s preferred term of art.” (NYT-Chinen)

> Fred Hersch Trio (through July 5)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
“a master who plays it his way” New York Times, “a poet of a pianist” New Yorker and “one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation” Downbeat.

> Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
> Kahulanui – Hawaiian Swing
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 8
Dance Instructor: Paolo “Pasta” Lanna teaches Balboa & Collegiate Shag
“In the early 20th century, Hawaiian bands started playing jazzed-up versions of beloved traditional songs on Hawaiian instruments. Embracing this custom, Kahulanui (the Big Dance) crafts dance floor-ready tunes on traditional Hawaiian instruments.

This tropical-paradise-meets-big-band sound embraces swing’s brassy grace, the charm of the ukulele and lap steel, and breezy vocal harmonies. Come dressed in your finest tropical vintage. Prizes for the best dressed. Hawaiian-inspired style will be sure to catch the judges’ eyes!”

> Ravi Coltrane Quartet (through July 4)
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. / 8:30PM+11PM, $40
“Coltrane lends an inviting balance to his involving improvisations on tenor and soprano saxophones.” (NewYorker)

> “The Tempest” (LAST WEEK, closes July 5) / Shakespeare in the Park
Central Park, Delacorte Theater / 8PM, FREE
actor Sam Waterston, makes his 13th Shakespearean production.
FREE tickets are available via a lottery system. check The Public Theater website.

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

> Inaugural Exhibition: AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE
Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St. / 10:30AM-6PM, $22.
“it’s finally here! The new improved Whitney home in MePa that’s supposed to finally put to rest the museum’s rep as the also-ran of New York’s major art institutions. As designed by international starchitect Renzo Piano, the building is certainly big, with 63,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, but looks worth the ferry ride to Governor’s Island:
> Funk n ‘Cue
Governors Island Beach Club / 5PM, $35-$125
“The holiday weekend kicks off with the return of this food and music festival on Governors Island, featuring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Food selections include typical barbecue fare, Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and grilled Mexican corn.” (NYT)

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> Independence Day Weekend Open House @ Fraunces Tavern Museum
gw$1 Admission weekend, PLUS

Friday, July 3 – Book Signing & Film Screening
I Say Vote Yes: An Afternoon with William Daniels & 1776′
1pm – 5pm
FREE with $1 Museum admission
Meet actor William Daniels, who played John Adams in 1776, and learn what it was like to portray one of the Founding Fathers in this iconic musical film released in 1972. Daniels will be signing copies of his memoir, Still at Play: My 75 Years in Show Business and Roles America Embraced. Signing at 1pm; screening begins at 2pm. Reservations not required.

Friday, July 3 – Walking Tour
A Toast to History: Independence Eve
8pm – 10:30 (Happy Hour at the Tavern starts at 8pm, tour begins at 9pm)
Led by Jennifer Patton
Cost: $25/General admission; $20/Museum Members
(Ticket price includes a pint of Samuel Fraunces Ale at the Tavern before tour starts)
Created as a condensed version of our traditional July 4th walking tour with a social ‘twist,’ spend the evening of July 3rd strolling the streets of the Financial District with FTM’s very own Director of Education and Public Programs to learn about the City’s rich Revolutionary War history. Whether you are a novice or history buff, you’ll be sure to walk away with a new fact or two to drop while celebrating the 4th with friends and family the next day. Advanced ticket purchase required.

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).
=========================================================
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.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 07/02/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – THURSDAY / JULY 02, 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

> Fred Hersch Trio (through July 5)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
“a master who plays it his way” New York Times, “a poet of a pianist” New Yorker and “one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation” Downbeat.

> Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
> The Loser’s Lounge Disco Party: Thank God It’s Thursday
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 8
Robert Vance teaches Hustle AND Silent Disco at 10

> Junior Brown
City Winery, 155 Varick St. / 8PM, $22-$25
country and western, but you’re liable to hear all styles of American music.

> Ravi Coltrane Quartet (through July 4)
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. / 8:30PM+11PM, $40
“Coltrane lends an inviting balance to his involving improvisations on tenor and soprano saxophones.” (NewYorker)

> “The Tempest” (LAST WEEK, closes July 5) / Shakespeare in the Park
Central Park, Delacorte Theater / 8PM, FREE
actor Sam Waterston, makes his 13th Shakespearean production.
FREE tickets are available via a lottery system. check The Public Theater website.

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

> Inaugural Exhibition: AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE
Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St. / 10:30AM-6PM, $22.
“it’s finally here! The new improved Whitney home in MePa that’s supposed to finally put to rest the museum’s rep as the also-ran of New York’s major art institutions. As designed by international starchitect Renzo Piano, the building is certainly big, with 63,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.” (TONY)

> Woolworth Building Tour
Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway in the Financial District / Times vary, $20-$45
“get a guided of the majestic vaulted ceilings and detailed sculptures of this early 1913 building, which is off-limits to the general public. Known as the “Cathedral of Commerce,” the 792-foot-tall skyscraper was the crowning achievement for five-and-dime king Frank Woolworth.”

Elsewhere, but a real treat for bridge lovers and worth a ferry ride to Staten Island:
> ‘Bascove / Bridges: Transporting the Metropolis’
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.

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)

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 Before Abstraction, 1901–1911 (through spring 2015)
ex_Kandinsky_Landscape-near-Murnau-with-Locomotive_490Early in his career Vasily Kandinsky experimented with printmaking, produced brightly-colored landscapes of the German countryside, and explored recognizable and recurrent motifs. This intimate exhibition drawn from the Guggenheim collection explores the artist’s representational origins.

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 06/30 and 06/28.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 07/01/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – WEDNESDAY / JULY 01, 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
Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses
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 8
New Orleans traditional jazz; Heather Flock teaches Lindy Hop.

> Kat Edmonson
Madison Square Park, Madison Ave at 23rd St / 7PM, FREE
“she has a flair for clever songwriting, intricate arrangements and behind-the-beat jazz vocal phrasing.”

> “The Tempest” (LAST WEEK, closes July 5) / Shakespeare in the Park
Central Park, Delacorte Theater / 8PM, FREE
actor Sam Waterston, makes his 13th Shakespearean production.
FREE tickets are available via a lottery system. check The Public Theater website.

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

> Word for Word / Mary Pilon, The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, & the Scandal Behind the World’s Favorite Board Game.
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 chronicles the secret 80-year history of the famous board game.

> Taste of the Terminal
Grand Central Terminal, Vanderbilt Hall / 11AM-2PM, 4-7PM, FREE
“all aboard the sample train! grand central terminal’s third annual ‘taste of the terminal’ includes free tastings, special offers, and live music every wednesday in vanderbilt hall. this week includes joe coffee, financier patisserie, jacques torres ice cream and more, plus live music by violinist susan keser and latin fusion guitarists inti + the moon.” (SKINT.com)

> Fractal Beauty
Museum of Math, 11 E26th St (btw 5th/Madison) / 4PM + 6:30PM, FREE, rsvp
“what makes these patterns so alluring? Alex Kontorovich, mathematician and accomplished sax and clarinet player, delves into questions at the intersection of geometry, number theory, and chaotic dynamics.”

> Inaugural Exhibition: AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE
Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St. / 10:30AM-6PM, $22.
“it’s finally here! The new improved Whitney home in MePa that’s supposed to finally put to rest the museum’s rep as the also-ran of New York’s major art institutions. As designed by international starchitect Renzo Piano, the building is certainly big, with 63,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.” (TONY)

> Garbage in the City – Part 1.
Museum of the City of New York, 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St. / 6:30PM, FREE
“historian Catherine McNeur considers how the treatment of pigs and cows affected the built environment, real estate interests, immigrants, consumers, and the newspaper industry in Antebellum Manhattan.”

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

Posted on 06/30/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – TUESDAY / JUNE 30, 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
Blue Note Jazz Festival
> Bebel Gilberto
Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 W3rd St. /8PM & 10:30PM, $30 – $45
“Bebel splits her time between Rio de Janeiro and New York City and she exquisitely synthesizes musical influences from both cities in her songs.”

> Avishai Cohen Trio: “From Darkness”
Highline Ballroom, 431 W16th St./ 8PM, $29.50 – $60
“from Darkness sees the Israeli composer, bassist and singer go back to the very core of his musical idiom and activity.”

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

> “The Tempest” (LAST WEEK, closes July 5) / Shakespeare in the Park
Central Park, Delacorte Theater / 8PM, FREE
actor Sam Waterston, makes his 13th Shakespearean production.
FREE tickets are available via a lottery system. check The Public Theater website.

Elsewhere, but looks worth the detour:
> Sondre Lerche
Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N6th St. / 9PM, $30
“with his tuneful guitar pop, pointed lyrics and winning cheekbones, Norwegian songsmith Sondre Lerche has carved out a troubadour’s niche that rivals those of his older idols—among them Elvis Costello, with whom he has toured twice.” (TONY)

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

> Matthew Heineman: “Cartel Land,”
Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 W65th St. / 6:30PM, FREE
his documentary gives viewers an inside look at the fight against Mexican
drug cartels on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
earned Heineman the Directing Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

> Uptown Showdown: Vacation vs. Staycation
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway @ 95th St. / 8PM, $15
Two teams of comics and comic writers face off in a debate competition meant to settle age-old arguments.

> Inaugural Exhibition: AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE
Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort St. / 10:30AM-6PM, $22.
“it’s finally here! The new improved Whitney home in MePa that’s supposed to finally put to rest the museum’s rep as the also-ran of New York’s major art institutions. As designed by international starchitect Renzo Piano, the building is certainly big, with 63,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.” (TONY)

Elsewhere, but for us fireworks fans it’s a detour worth taking:
> Astoria’s Annual Independence Day Fireworks
The Great Lawn at Astoria Park in Astoria / 7:30PM, FREE
the West Point band and fireworks by Grucci get a jump on things.

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)

American Folk Art Museum:
‘When the Curtain Never Comes Down’ (through July 5)
EVB_caro“A sprawling, cacophony of objects, audiotapes, photographs and films is here orchestrated into a curatorial marvel. Strange and wonderful in numerous ways, the show sheds new light on the performance aspects of much outsider art while reminding us how eccentricity is not only basic to creativity but to personal liberty and democracy itself. 2 Lincoln Square, Columbus Avenue at 66th Street, 212-595-9533, folkartmuseum.org.” (Roberta Smith)

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 06/28 and 06/26.

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