Selected Events (06/29) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 06/29/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – MONDAY / JUNE 29, 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.”

> Al Di Meola: Elegant Gypsy & More Electric Tour 2015
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W42nd St. / 8PM, $45
“a bona fide guitar hero and perennial poll-winner, Al Di Meola has been recognized internationally over the past four decades as virtuoso of the highest order.”
==============================================================
> 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.

> 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 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.

> The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Village 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)

> 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)

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.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Selected Events (06/28) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 06/28/2015 by GregD

Today’s Top 10 – SUNDAY / JUNE 28, 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
> Natalie Cole “en español”
The Town Hall, 123 W43rd St. / 8PM, $55 – $125
“multiple Grammy Award winner Natalie Cole revisits her family’s multicultural tradition and introduces a new generation of fans to a collection of Latin music’s most beloved standards.”

> Al Di Meola: Elegant Gypsy & More Electric Tour 2015
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W42nd St. / 8PM, $45
“a bona fide guitar hero and perennial poll-winner, Al Di Meola has been recognized internationally over the past four decades as virtuoso of the highest order.”

> Catalan Sounds On Tour:
Oques Grasses / La iaia / Sílvia Pérez Cruz / DJ Guillamino
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, mid-Park at 69th St. / 2PM-7PM, FREE
Summer Stage presents Catalan rock in many flavors, even a bit of electronica. OLE!
singer / songwriter, Sílvia Pérez Cruz won the Spanish Academy award for her work in the classic film ‘Blancanieves’, one of my all time faves.

> Harold Mabern Trio
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
a soulful hard-bop pianist with his longtime trio, should be good.

> The Royal Ballet 
NYS / DHK Theater (at Lincoln Center) / 6:30PM, $35-$150
“after a decade-long absence, the stellar company comes to town with three enticing programs that take a wide-ranging look at British ballet-makers through the ages.” (NewYorkMag-Rebecca Milzoff)

> “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 if you are a country fan this will be worth the detour:
> FarmBorough Country Music Festival 
Randalls Island Park / 3-10:30PM, hopefully you already have your 3 day pass $225,
or $285 with ferry.
“whatever your preferred country-music varietal, whether it’s slicked-up radio fare or no-nonsense old-school stuff, this fest has plenty to offer.” (TONY)

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

> The History of Pier A / Walking Tour
Meet at the plaza in front of Pier A, 22 Battery Place / 2PM, FREE.
“extending 300 feet into New York Harbor and featuring a 70-foot clock tower, Pier A is New York City’s last remaining historic pier and its latest revival story. the discussion will be led by BPCA Vice President of Real Property Gwen Dawson, who will explain the history of Pier A and tell the story of its recent renovation and reimaging as a public space.” (ClubFreeTime)

> The Del Close Marathon
“a 48-hour improv comedy spectacle with performances by Amy Poehler and others, in Chelsea. Times and locations vary. All access passes are $35.” (NYT-Today)

Elsewhere, but if you like beer, this will be worth the detour:
> A Brief History of Beer
Under St. Marks Theater, 94 St Marks Place, / 6:30PM, $18, with complimentary Sixpoint
“a fringe festival hit, this one hour drinkeractive comedy where the audience travels through time with William Glenn and Trish Parry, all the way back to Ancient Sumeria, through to today, on a mission to save beer from a mysterious nefarious person!”

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 06/26 and 06/24.

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

Selected Events (06/27) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square/ Theater District)

Posted on 06/27/2015 by GregD

Today’s Top 10 – SATURDAY / JUNE 27, 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
> Robert Glasper Trio
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St. / 8PM, +10:30PM, $20+$35
ROBERT-GLASPER-TRIO-566x377“The trio reimagines diverse material by the likes of Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, and Kendrick Lamar, keeping the focus on the leader’s impressively fluid technique while finding its own intuitive groove.” (NewYorker)

> Django Reinhardt Festival
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. / 8:30PM +11PM,
“Dorado Schmitt, a French guitarist with the roguish charisma and pencil-thin mustache required of any Gypsy jazz paragon, is the inexorable star of this 16th annual Django Reinhardt Festival and tour, as in years past./“ (NYT-Chinen)

> Swan Lake  – American Ballet Theatre 2015
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $25-$125
images“set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, this romantic tale of love and forgiveness is often considered the world’s most beloved ballet.”
don’t forget to try the discount ticket window at the David Rubenstein Atrium.

> Harlem Renaissance Opera “Voodoo” by Harry Lawrence Freeman
Miller Theatre, 2960 Broadway @ 116th St. / 7PM, $25
Morningside Opera, Harlem Opera Theater, and The Harlem Chamber Players join forces to present a semi-staged concert production with seven principal singers, a full chorus, and 30-piece orchestra.

> Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
Save the Last Dance for Me: Roomful of Blues Plays the Music of Doc Pomus
Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center / 6PM, $17
Dance Floor Opens at 6/ Dance Lesson at 6:30/ Live Music at 8
“even if you don’t know Doc Pomus by name, you know the songs of one of the most brilliant songwriters of the early rock ‘n’ roll era, including “Lonely Avenue,” “Viva Las Vegas,” “This Magic Moment,” and the iconic “Save the Last Dance for Me.”

> Harold Mabern Trio (also June 28)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
a soulful hard-bop pianist with his longtime trio, should be good.

> The Royal Ballet (also June 28)
NYS / DHK Theater (at Lincoln Center) / 6:30PM, $35-$150
“after a decade-long absence, the stellar company comes to town with three enticing programs that take a wide-ranging look at British ballet-makers through the ages.” (NewYorkMag-Rebecca Milzoff)

Elsewhere, but if you are a country fan this will be worth the detour:
> FarmBorough Country Music Festival (through June 28)
Randalls Island Park / 2PM, $225–$1,000.
“whatever your preferred country-music varietal, whether it’s slicked-up radio fare or no-nonsense old-school stuff, this fest has plenty to offer.” (TONY)

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

> The Del Close Marathon (thru Sunday)
“a 48-hour improv comedy spectacle with performances by Amy Poehler and others, in Chelsea. Times and locations vary. All access passes are $35.” (NYT-Today)

> Center for Italian Modern Art: Closing Weekend Fiesta
Center for Modern Italian Art, 421 Broome St., near Crosby St., 4th FL, SoHo,
11AM – 8PM, FREE, 646-370-3596, italianmodernart.org.

CIMA.FESTA_.02To close out its exhibition of works by Medardo Rosso, the center is open for two days of free programming and on the second day,
Saturday at 3PM, the center’s fellows will lead a guided visit of the Rosso show, and at 6 p.m. there will be a reception with free prosecco and finger foods. (NYT/SpareTimes)

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

Posted on 06/26/2015 by GregD

Today’s Top 10 – FRIDAY / JUNE 26, 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
> Robert Glasper Trio (also June 27)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St. / 8PM, +10:30PM, $20+$35
ROBERT-GLASPER-TRIO-566x377“The trio reimagines diverse material by the likes of Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, and Kendrick Lamar, keeping the focus on the leader’s impressively fluid technique while finding its own intuitive groove.” (NewYorker)

> Harold Mabern Trio (through June 28)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
a soulful hard-bop pianist with his longtime trio, should be good.

> Django Reinhardt Festival (also June 27)
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. / 8:30PM +11PM,
“Dorado Schmitt, a French guitarist with the roguish charisma and pencil-thin mustache required of any Gypsy jazz paragon, is the inexorable star of this 16th annual Django Reinhardt Festival and tour, as in years past./“ (NYT-Chinen)

> Swan Lake (also June 27) – American Ballet Theatre 2015
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $25-$125
images“set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, this romantic tale of love and forgiveness is often considered the world’s most beloved ballet.”
don’t forget to try the discount ticket window at the David Rubenstein Atrium.

> Harlem Renaissance Opera “Voodoo” by Harry Lawrence Freeman (also June 27)
Miller Theatre, 2960 Broadway @ 116th St. / 7PM, $25
Morningside Opera, Harlem Opera Theater, and The Harlem Chamber Players join forces to present a semi-staged concert production with seven principal singers, a full chorus, and 30-piece orchestra.

> Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
Orquesta SCC
Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center / 6PM, $17
Dance Floor Opens at 6/ Dance Lesson at 6:30/ Live Music at 8
AND Silent Disco at 10
“these native New Yorkers take up the Fania torch and show dancers why they are quickly being hailed as the new kings of salsa dura.“

> The Royal Ballet (through June 28)
DHK Theater (at Lincoln Center) / 6:30PM, $35-$150
“after a decade-long absence, the stellar company comes to town with three enticing programs that take a wide-ranging look at British ballet-makers through the ages.” (NewYorkMag-Rebecca Milzoff)

Elsewhere, but if you are a country fan this will be worth the detour:
> FarmBorough Country Music Festival (through June 28)
Randalls Island Park / 2PM, $225–$1,000.
“whatever your preferred country-music varietal, whether it’s slicked-up radio fare or no-nonsense old-school stuff, this fest has plenty to offer.” (TONY)

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

> Alice: 150 Years of Wonderland
Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave./ 6:30PM, FREE
MLM_Calendar_Spring2015“get a curator’s insight into the opening day of a new exhibit celebrating the 150th birthday of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, complete with a rare sighting of Lewis Carroll’s original handwritten manuscript. Morgan Library & Museum.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Have time for only one event today? Do this: 

> Center for Italian Modern Art: Closing Weekend Fiesta (Friday and Saturday)
Center for Modern Italian Art, 421 Broome Street, near Crosby Street, 4th FL, SoHo,
11AM – 8PM, FREE, 646-370-3596, italianmodernart.org.

“Guided tours of the closing Medardo Rosso/Cy Twombly exhibition, live jazz and a wine tasting highlight the free two-day “festa” at the Center for Italian Modern Art (CIMA) in Soho.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

CIMA.FESTA_.02To close out its exhibition of works by Medardo Rosso, the center is open for two days of free programming.
on Friday at 6PM, there will be a wine tasting, followed by a reception courtesy of Eataly. starting at 6:30 p.m., audiences can also take in a jazz concert.
on Saturday at 3PM, the center’s fellows will lead a guided visit of the Rosso show, and at 6 p.m. there will be a reception with free prosecco and finger foods.
(NYT/ST)

The Center for Italian Modern Art (CIMA) is a non-profit organization located in SoHo that promotes Italian modern art through yearly exhibitions, fellowships and public programs. For the closing weekend of our Medardo Rosso/ Cy Twombly exhibition we will host a two day festa (“party” in Italian) including Italian music, drinks and finger food.

Friday, June 26
3-4pm: Guided visit of the Medardo Rosso/Cy Twombly installation led by CIMA Fellows
6pm-6:40pm: Wine tasting led by a special guest sommelier (15 spots available) courtesy of Eataly
6:45pm-8pm: Reception courtesy of Eataly
6:30-8pm: Jazz concert: Laura Campisi duo featuring Tim Clement

Saturday, June 27
11am-noon: Complimentary espresso courtesy of Lavazza
3-4pm: Guided visit of the Medardo Rosso/Cy Twombly installation led by CIMA Fellows
6-8pm: Reception with prosecco courtesy of Nino Franco Prosecco, presented by Terlato Wines, and finger food courtesy of Piada

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.

El Museo del Barrio:
‘Under the Mexican Sky: Gabriel Figueroa, Art and Film’ (CLOSES June 27)
Painting with light is one way to define the cinematographer’s task, and it describes the art of Gabriel Figueroa (1907-1997), who worked with some of the leading international film directors of his time and was a national hero in his native Mexico, the supreme painter-in-light of Mexicanidad. How do you put this particular kind of art across in a museum — art that is as much about time as it is about material, as much about flux as it is about fixity? This show, which mixes Figueroa film clips with paintings and prints by some of Mexico’s greatest artists and in the process utterly transforms El Museo’s interior spaces, gives an enthralling answer. 1230 Fifth Avenue, at 104th Street, East Harlem, 212-831-7272, elmuseo.org. (Cotter)

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 06/24 and 06/22.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on 06/25/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 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
> Robert Glasper Trio (through June 27)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St. / 8PM, +10:30PM, $20+$35
ROBERT-GLASPER-TRIO-566x377“The trio reimagines diverse material by the likes of Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, and Kendrick Lamar, keeping the focus on the leader’s impressively fluid technique while finding its own intuitive groove.” (NewYorker)

> Harold Mabern Trio (through June 28)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
a soulful hard-bop pianist with his longtime trio, should be good.

> Ann Hampton Callaway
54 Below, 254 W54th St., / 7PM, $55-$75
“Ms. Callaway has a phenomenal, multirange voice that has only grown stronger as she has evolved from a lachrymose piano-bar entertainer with a coloratura register into a blues and jazz powerhouse.” (New York Times)

> Swan Lake (through June 27) – American Ballet Theatre 2015
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, $25-$125
“set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, this romantic tale of love and forgiveness is often considered the world’s most beloved ballet.”
don’t forget to try the discount ticket window at the David Rubenstein Atrium.

> Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
Mobile Mondays! Live with Jody Watley featuring SHALAMAR
Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center / 6PM, $17
Dance Floor Opens at 6/ Dance Lesson at 6:30/ Live Music at 8
AND Silent Disco at 10
JODYWATLEY-2014-02-credit-Albert-Sanchez“one of the 80s’ most iconic female singers, Jody Watley got her start as a teenage dancer on Soul Train. Before she wowed audiences with hits like “Looking for a New Love” and “Real Love,” she showcased her distinctive dance moves, style, and voice as a founding member of SHALAMAR.”

> Jaleel Shaw Quartet
Smalls Jazz Club, 183 West 10th St. /
“an alto saxophonist with a robust sound and a soulfully intrepid style.” (NYT)

Elsewhere, but Lucinda is always worth the detour:
> Lucinda Williams – Celebrate Brooklyn
Prospect Park Bandshell, 9th St. & Prospect Park West / 7:30PM, FREE
“the queen of alt-country has a husky voice that keeps taking on more complex, aching facets; she’s also, plain and simple, a guitar-wielding badass, capable of transforming a sprawling Brooklyn park into the back room of a Delta bar.” (NY Mag)

Have time for only one event today? Do this: 

> An Evening with David Crosby
Town Hall, 123 W43rd St. / 8PM, $66

202909a“Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer David Crosby may be best known for his work as part of bands such as The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; but this June and July he’ll perform with only his voice and guitar for a series of intimate solo acoustic tour dates. “This is about the songs. The tale telling,” said Crosby in a statement. “Taking you on a voyage to my world for a moment.” (town hall)

As a member of the iconic folk-rock band The Byrds and Woodstock era-defining group Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby is renowned for vocal harmonies, stellar musicianship and timeless songs. Hopefully, there will be iconic renditions of songs such as “Eight Miles High,” “Turn! Turn! Turn!,” “Guinnevere” and “Wooden Ships.”

“Legendary singer-songwriter and social justice activist David Crosby is a two time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, inducted as a member of both the iconic folk-rock band The Byrds — with whom he first rose to stardom — and the iconic Woodstock era-defining group Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Crosby left The Byrds in 1967 to embark on a lifelong collaboration with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills. Renowned for vocal harmonies, stellar musicianship and timeless songs, Crosby, Stills, & Nash (CSN) have been called “the voice of a generation,” and were GRAMMY-honored in 1969 as Best New Artist. The trio’s self-titled debut album introduced classics including the Crosby-penned tracks “Guinnevere” and “Wooden Ships”—today, it is included on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” (city winery)

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 (06/24) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 06/24/2015 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 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
> Robert Glasper Trio (through June 27)
Blue Note, 131 W3rd St. / 8PM, +10:30PM, $20+$35
ROBERT-GLASPER-TRIO-566x377“The trio reimagines diverse material by the likes of Radiohead, Joni Mitchell, and Kendrick Lamar, keeping the focus on the leader’s impressively fluid technique while finding its own intuitive groove.” (NewYorker)

> Harold Mabern Trio (through June 28)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
a soulful hard-bop pianist with his longtime trio, should be good.

> Jaleel Shaw Quartet (also Thursday)
Smalls Jazz Club, 183 West 10th St. /
“an alto saxophonist with a robust sound and a soulfully intrepid style.” (NYT)

> Nona Hendryx and Mamafunk
Joe’s Pub, at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St. / 7:30PM,
NonaHendryx370x238“Ms. Hendryx, the feisty alto of the trio LaBelle, remains a riveting performer: She belts with all-in passion and has a punk rocker’s aggressive stage presence.” (NYT)

 

> Chris Potter Underground Orchestra
Madison Square Park, Madison Ave at 23rd St / 7PM, FREE
“tenor saxophonist, one of contemporary jazz’s movers and shakers.”

> Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
Jonathan Stout’s All-Star Orchestra, featuring Hilary Alexander
Damrosch Park. Lincoln Center / 6:30PM, $17
Dance Floor Opens at 6/ Dance Lesson at 6:30/ Live Music at 7:30
Swing dance and honor the jazz greats.

> “The Tempest” (thru 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.

> SummerStage / The Kooks
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, at 69th St. / 5PM, $35, may need to stub hub it.
these British rockers’ brisk guitars are joined by Atlas Genius and Joywave.

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 06/22 and 06/20.

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

Selected Events (06/23) + Today’s Featured Pub (Tribeca)

Posted on 06/23/2015 by GregD

Today’s TOP 10 – TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 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
> Cosmic Jibaros
Subrosa, 63 Gansevoort St. / 8PM & 10PM, $15
“band builds from Latin and Caribbean rhythms, Rock guitars and World music influences for a sound that’s both cross-cultural and highly danceable.”

> The Washington Square Music Festival (every Tuesday through July 7)
Washington Square Park / 8PM, FREE
Harp & Chamber Orchestra features an unusual program ranging from a setting of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Mask of Red Death” by André Caplet, to the more familiar Peer Gynt suite by Grieg.

> “Summer Sessions’ / Julia Easterlin
Waterfront Plaza at Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St. / 6:30PM, FREE
“she uses loop technology and her one-of-a-kind voice to create music that draws freely from influences ranging from jazz, to pop, to gospel and soul”

> Kaufman Music’s Winners Showcase
for the International Youth Piano Competition
Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 W67th St. / 2PM, FREE
“winners of a week-long competition perform in this showcase, which features young people from around the world.”

> Fifth Annual Hudson Square Music Series + wine festival
Ballroom Thieves (Full Band) w/ Driftwood
City Winery, 155 Varick St. / 5:30PM, FREE
free concerts in city winery’s courtyard all summer (Tuesday’s thru Aug 25)

> Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing
Jonathan Stout’s All-Star Orchestra, featuring Hilary Alexander
Damrosch Park. Lincoln Center / 6:30PM, $17
Dance Floor Opens at 6/ Dance Lesson at 6:30/ Live Music at 7:30
Swing dance and honor the jazz greats.

> Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave / 8PM, $60-$150
an unlikely duo take some classic jazz standards and make beautiful music.

> “The Tempest” (thru 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.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> River to River Festival’s Night at the Museums
Various locations Downtown (All museums and historical sites are within walking distance from one another!) / 4PM-8PM, FREE
Discover where New York City’s history and culture began through free admission at 15 distinctive museums and cultural institutions in Lower Manhattan.

For a full schedule of this special night of programming, please visit each institution’s website. Participating institutions include the African Burial Ground, Federal Hall, the National September 11 Memorial Museum and many more.
(find in “Connected Places” / http://www.mjhnyc.org/nightatthemuseums/index.html).

I like what Fraunces Tavern Museum will be doing: “Historical musician Linda Russell will fill the Flag Gallery with ballads as instructors from the Tricorne Dance Ensemble teach guests popular social dances from the Colonial Era.”

Visitors of all ages can spend a summer evening immersed in New York City’s history, explore what makes the United States unique, discover new cultures and heritages, take a walking tour of the area, or stop for refreshments, including restaurants offering special “Night at the Museums” discounts.

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 it may be a little too quiet for some. But I think it’s worth searching out if you want a place with good music, food, and especially drinks, away from the maddening crowd.

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

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

Selected Events (06/22) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 06/22/2015 by GregD

Today’s TOP 10 – MONDAY, JUNE 22, 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
> SUPERMAMBO! A Vibes Tribute to Tito Puente
Subrosa, 63 Gansevoort ST. / 8PM & 10PM, $10
“Felipe Fournier is a percussionist and vibes player from Costa Rica who plays with classic Salsa outfit Our Latin Thing and Ruben Blades. His tribute to Tito Puente emphasizes the King of the Timbales’ Mambo years and vibes performance.”

> Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (also June 23)
Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave / 8PM, $60-$150
an unlikely duo take some classic jazz standards and make beautiful music.

> “The Tempest” (thru 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.

> 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.

> 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.

> NYC Dance Week at The Ailey Extension (through June 27)
Ailey Dance, 405 W55th St., at Ninth Avenue / at various times
10 days of free dance classes of all sorts across the city, began on Friday.
Advance registration is required; vouchers, along with the schedule of classes, are available at alvinailey.org/nyc-dance-week-free-class.

Smart Stuff / Other
(Lectures, Discussions, Book Talks, Literary Readings, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)
> America’s Hidden History of Resistance: The Nation at 150
New School, The Auditorium at 66 W12th St. / 7PM, FREE
The year 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of The Nation magazine. The story of The Nation is also the story of our country over the course of US history.
Join a conversation about The Nation’s and the nation’s past, present and future with editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel, and others.

> Prime Minister for Peace: Milan Panic + Bill Press
Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway @ 12th St. / 7PM, FREE
“trace the sometimes controversial, but always fascinating, life of Milan Panic, the first Prime Minister of Yugoslavia.”
the first 200 guests will receive a FREE copy of Prime Minister for Peace!

> The Royal Shakespeare Theater’s “Julius Caesar” (Film)
MIST Harlem, 46 W116th St. / 7PM, $12 (includes glass of wine)
The Royal Shakespeare Theater’s ambitious take on “Julius Caesar” transposes the Roman setting to a fictitious African country rife with intrigue. It is performed by a full cast of black actors.

> 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)

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 06/20 and 06/18.

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

Selected Events (06/21) + Today’s Featured Pub (Upper WestSide)

Posted on 06/21/2015 by GregD

Today’s TOP 10 – SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 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
> Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya
Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 W3rd St. / 8PM +10:30PM, $30 +$45
“blending beguiling South African rhythms with rich Ellingtonian textures, Ekaya reflects the dual identities of its leader.” (NewYorker)

> Make Music New York
Various locations / 9AM-9PM, FREE
NYCity’s public spaces fill with musicians during this daylong, citywide festival.
they claim over 1,200 free concerts across the city, some of them indoors.

“Best bets include Concerto for Buildings for orchestra and 24 percussionists in Soho, an all-accordion version of Terry Riley’s In C in Brooklyn’s Carroll Park, Honk 210Hz’s compositions for Highline traffic patterns, Loop 2.4.3’s army of gongs in Grand Army Plaza, hundreds of tablas on Central Park’s Dairy Lawn, ten straight hours of punk rock just off Staten Island, and a throng of Theremins on Roosevelt Island.” Richard Gehr, VV

> Bang on a Can Marathon
Winter Garden, Brookfield Place, 220 Vesey St / 12PM-10PM, FREE
“An annual destination for lovers of contemporary music, the Bang On a Can Marathon invites the A-listers of innovative sound to perform in its yearly throwdown.

Highlights include the Asphalt Orchestra, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Nels Cline, Corey Dargel, Tomoko Mukaiyama, So Percussion, Bobby Previte, and Third Angle New Music. Stop by for a quick listen or get comfortable and stay for the duration.” (seniorplanet.org)

> Stanley Cowell
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St. / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $30
pianist and composer Cowell makes a rare appearance at the Village Vanguard.

> Sunday Night in Brooklyn with Colin Quinn
Over the Eight, Williamsburg, 594 Union Ave / 8PM, FREE.
“Colin Quinn invites his funniest comic friends to perform and then closes out the show with an hour’s length of new material.” (TONY)

> NYC Dance Week at The Ailey Extension (through June 27)
Ailey Dance, 405 W55th St., at Ninth Avenue / at various times
10 days of free dance classes of all sorts across the city, began on Friday.
Advance registration is required; vouchers, along with the schedule of classes, are available at alvinailey.org/nyc-dance-week-free-class.

> Summer on the Hudson: Let’s Dance!
Pier 1, Riverside Park South / 6PM-9:30PM, FREE
Learn to dance like a pro at these Salsa, Cha-Cha and Bachata lessons and group social dances led by master teachers from the Piel Canela Dance and Music School.

Smart Stuff / Other
(Lectures, Discussions, Book Talks, Literary Readings, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)
> ‘Yoga: A New Dimension’  with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center / 7PM,
celebrate International Day of Yoga against the backdrop of the summer solstice. guests include the famed Indian musician Bappi Lahiri.

> Taste of Jewish Culture Street Fair
Street Fair, 6th Ave & 46th St. / 11AM-6PM, FREE
The Workmen’s Circle’s Taste of Jewish Culture Street Fair is a signature event that brings together thousands of foodies and dozens of purveyors of delicious food for a day of eating, learning, and celebrating.

Elsewhere, but Brooklyn Bridge Park is always worth the detour:
> ‘Song of Myself’ Marathon
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1 / 4PM, FREE
annual reading of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” returns, more than 50 people will take part.

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 (06/20) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 06/20/2015 by GregD

Today’s TOP 10 – SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 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
> Falu’s Bollywood Orchestra
Highline Ballroom, 431 W16th St. / 7PM, $20-$45
“Falu’s Bollywood Orchestra combines the timeless elegance of Bollywood’s golden age music with a modern inventive style to create a musically and visually stunning treat.”

> Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya
Blue Note Jazz Club, 131 W3rd St. / 8PM +10:30PM, $30 +$45
“blending beguiling South African rhythms with rich Ellingtonian textures, Ekaya reflects the dual identities of its leader.” (NewYorker)

Chelsea Music Festival:
> Festival Jazz FINNale – the Tuomo Uusitalo Trio
St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church, 315 W22nd St. / 7:30PM, $68
“Since releasing his award-winning debut album “TRIO” in 2012, Finnish jazz pianist Tuomo Uusitalo is taking NYC jazz scene by storm.”

Ann Hampton Callaway (through June 20 and June 25)
54 Below, 254 W54th St., / 7PM, $55-$75
“Ms. Callaway has a phenomenal, multirange voice that has only grown stronger as she has evolved from a lachrymose piano-bar entertainer with a coloratura register into a blues and jazz powerhouse.” The New York Times

> The World Champion Judah Friedlander
Carolines on Broadway, 1626 Broadway / 7:30PM, $33
“the 30 Rock star brings his World Champion schtick to Carolines for a night of hilariously skewed machismo.” TONY

> Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (through June 23, no Sunday)
Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave / 8PM, $60-$150, tough tkt, may need to stubhub it
an unlikely duo make some beautiful jazz standards music.

Smart Stuff / Other
(Lectures, Discussions, Book Talks, Literary Readings, Classes, Food & Drink, Other)
> Lions, Tigers and Brews 
Central Park Zoo, 5th Ave & 64th St. / 8-11PM, $49-$69
drink craft beer with the animals. unlimited 3oz samples from 100+ craft breweries.

> Ellsworth Kelly (last chance)
Matthew Marks Gallery , 522 W22nd St / 10AM-6PM, FREE
“much of the work is about simplicity, recycling old ideas and Kelly signatures in ways that make it feel astonishingly vital.”

Elsewhere, but these sure look worth the detour:
> Mermaid Parade
“Coney Island’s annual Mermaid Parade, one of the largest art parades in the country, returns to celebrate New York’s creative spirit and seaside rituals with handmade costumes and uninhibited pageantry.

The procession begins at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, then makes its way to West 10th Street and eventually south to the boardwalk.
At 1 p.m., coneyisland.com; FREE.” (NYT/SpareTimes)

> Nolafunk Crawfish and Music Festival
Governors Beach Club, Governors Island / 4PM, $35,
General admission + Crawfish Platter, $55.
hear New Orleans bands Flow Tribe, New Breed Brass Band and Papa Mali, as well as the tribute band James Brown Dance Party.

Have time for only one event today? Do this:

> Festival Jazz FINNale – the Tuomo Uusitalo Trio
St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church, 315 W22nd St. / 7:30PM, $68

maxresdefault“Since releasing his award-winning debut album “TRIO” in 2012, Finnish jazz pianist Tuomo Uusitalo is taking NYC jazz scene by storm. He will be joined by American bassist Myles Sloniker and Finnish drummer sensation Olavi Louhivuori to close the 2015 Festival with original compositions and inspired arrangements.

A tasting menu of wild, foraged Finnish cuisine curated by master Chef Sami Talberg will follow as the 2015 Chelsea Music Festival rings out its celebration of the great musical, artistic and culinary heritage of Finland. Includes Gala Reception and an open bar.”

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.

El Museo del Barrio:
‘Under the Mexican Sky: Gabriel Figueroa, Art and Film’ (through June 27)
Painting with light is one way to define the cinematographer’s task, and it describes the art of Gabriel Figueroa (1907-1997), who worked with some of the leading international film directors of his time and was a national hero in his native Mexico, the supreme painter-in-light of Mexicanidad. How do you put this particular kind of art across in a museum — art that is as much about time as it is about material, as much about flux as it is about fixity? This show, which mixes Figueroa film clips with paintings and prints by some of Mexico’s greatest artists and in the process utterly transforms El Museo’s interior spaces, gives an enthralling answer. 1230 Fifth Avenue, at 104th Street, East Harlem, 212-831-7272, elmuseo.org. (Cotter)

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 06/18 and 06/16.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment