NYCity 1-2-3 : What's Happening / Manhattan's WestSide

Today’s “Fab 5″+1/ Selected NYCity Events –TUESDAY, SEPT. 09, 2014

Rebuilding the World Trade Center
Artist Marcus Robinson spent eight years documenting the work at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. Robinson shot time-lapse footage using thirteen digital cameras to capture the rise of the tallest building in NYC. Rebuilding the World Trade Center (62 mins.) is a story about construction on an epic scale, but above all it focuses on the construction workers, from the site managers to those who dug the building’s foundations and the ironworkers who assembled its steel frames.

The director and workers in the film will sit down for a conversation with New York Times reporter James Glanz, author of City in the Sky: The Rise and Fall of the World Trade Center (2003), following the screening.
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.
6:30PM / $16
212-534-1672 / mcny.org

Laurel Halo
“Laurel Halo is a shape-shifting electronic musician adept at everything from propulsive techno to slow, contemplative ballads in which she sings with an otherworldly coo. Her production style is diverse and hands-on, with an ear for the sounds of vintage and contemporary gear, and her recordings emit an aura of having been considered in great detail. Her 2012 debut album “Quarantine” featured mesmerizing songs with lyrics about alienation and lost love, and then last year’s “Chance of Rain” downplayed words for mysterious rhythms and atmospherics. It’s never quite clear what Ms. Halo will do next, which bodes well for her performance here as part of the series “Synth Nights.” (WSJ)
The Kitchen, 512 W. 19th St. (btw 10/11 ave)
8pm / $15
(212) 255-5793 / thekitchen.org

Book Readings
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand “ Off the Sidelines”
Senator Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, discusses her memoir, “Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World,”
Barnes & Noble in Union Square, at 33 East 17th St.
at 7 p.m / FREE
Priority seating with book purchase begins at 3:00 pm on the 4th floor.
OR
Charles Finch Reading
This mystery novelist, who is known for his Charles Lenox series, will read from his latest, “The Last Enchantments.” The reading will be followed by a discussion of the art of the novel and a Q. and A. (Men are required to wear collared shirts and jackets.)
The National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, at Irving Place
At 8 p.m. / FREE
212-475-3424 / nationalartsclub.org

Karen O (through Friday)
“The beaming, formerly beer-spewing frontwoman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs cleaned herself up extremely well for the Oscars this year; she performed the award-nominated “Moon Song,” from the Spike Jonze movie “Her,” in a gorgeous red dress and with transfixing delicacy.

She celebrates the release of her first solo record, “Crush Songs,” which nods to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ early lo-fi roots and adds downcast folk emphasis, with three nights at the intimate Manderley Bar of the McKittrick Hotel and one at Le Poisson Rouge.” (Anderson-NYT)
Tuesday through Thursday at 11 p.m.,
Manderley Bar, McKittrick Hotel, 530 West 27th Street, Chelsea, mckittrickhotel.com; $35.
Friday at 6:30 p.m.,
Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, near Thompson Street, Greenwich Village, 212-505-3474, lepoissonrouge.com; sold out.

Honey Week 2014 (September 8–14, 2014)
A weeklong, citywide festival celebrating the honeybee, Honey Week 2014 merges the educational, the entertaining, and the downright delicious. From beekeeping classes to honey-themed dinners, apiary tours to honey tastings, cooking classes to kids’ workshops, the festival flits from neighborhood to neighborhood, drawing deep from apicultural traditions and New York City’s cultural traditions alike.

The week culminates in the fourth annual daylong Honey Fest at Rockaway Boardwalk on Saturday, September 13, a free, family-friendly extravaganza featuring art, food, music, kids’ arts and crafts, the Bee Marketplace, and, of course, honey galore!
The full schedule is on the Honey Week site.

Today’s Highlight:
“Let’s Talk Bees” Lecture & Panel Discussion
NYC Beekeepers Association invites former Peace Corps volunteer Ivan K. Landers to sweet-talk about his time in Paraguay amongst the Guarani, followed by a panel discussion about urban swarm catching, pollinator decline, and the problems almond pollinating presents for honeybee health, featuring Landers, former NYPD detective “Tony Bees” Planakis, and Gretchen Heine.
Seafarers & International House
7:00pm – 9:00pm // Free w/ RSVP

All Week:
Honey Happenings at Eataly
Eataly, that mecca of all things culinary from Italy, celebrates NYC Honey Week by highlighting all things bee and honey. This weeklong, store-wide promotion buzzes with varietal honeys, honey-infused craft beers, and special offers of honey-inspired dishes and pairings with cheeses and wines.

Elsewhere, but looks too good to miss:

Steve Reich and Philip Glass (also Wednesday and Thursday)
Part of 2014 Next Wave Festival

In this landmark festival, BAM celebrates the artists of Nonesuch Records, in honor of the influential label’s 50 years. With a shared dedication to connecting artists across genres, BAM and Nonesuch have cultivated the work of artists including Steve Reich, Philip Glass , Laurie Anderson, Kronos Quartet, Stephin Merritt, and Youssou NDOUR, among so many others.

Opening the festival on September 9, iconic artists Steve Reich and Philip Glass take the stage together for the first time in more than 30 years. Glass and Reich are joined by their respective ensembles, as well as Nico Muhly, Timo Andres, Synergy Vocals, and others for a rare three-program retrospective.

Through September 28, BAM is highlighting artists drawn from the label’s back catalogs, including Senegalese singer-songwriter Youssou N’Dour (September 12 & 13), Jeff Tweedy (September 23), Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters (September 27 & 28).
Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House.
7:30 p.m. / Tickets start at $30
bam.org / 718.636.4100

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♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.

♦ NYCity is a big town with many visitors, where quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.
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What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 3 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:
‘Garry Winogrand’ (through Sept. 21)
Mr. Winogrand, who died at 56 in 1984, was the photographer laureate of urban and suburban middle-class life in the United States from the late 1950s through the ’70s and beyond. This ample retrospective focuses on his prime years, when he recorded a newly prosperous America while strolling Manhattan’s avenues and then followed it as it waded into increasingly troubled political waters. The result is a remarkable panorama of an era, with some terrific pictures, and some that Winogrand, who left a mountain of unprocessed film behind, never edited or printed. 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org. (Cotter-NYT)
‘The Pre-Raphaelite Legacy’ (through Oct. 26)
‘Early American Guitars: The Instruments of C.F. Martin’ (through Dec. 7)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, at 82nd St.
(212) 535-7710 / metmuseum.org
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‘Men in Armor: El Greco and Pulzone Face to Face’ (through Oct. 26)
The 400th anniversary celebration of El Greco’s death begins with a stunning clarification of the youthful greatness of his portrait “Vincenzo Anastagi” — a Frick Collection stalwart — that also teaches much about radicalism, fame and painting. This is done simply by pairing it with the obsessively detailed “Jacopo Boncompagni,” a rarely seen portrait by Scipione Pulzone, the now-forgotten artist of the moment in 1570s Rome, where both works were made. (Roberta Smith-NYT)
Frick Collection: 1 East 70th St. (btw 5th/Madison)
212-288-0700, frick.org.
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Kandinsky Before Abstraction, 1901–1911 (through spring 2015)
Early 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.
Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th St.
(212) 423-3500 / guggenheim.org.

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

• 110th Street – Museum for African Art

• 105th Street – El Museo del Barrio

• 103rd Street – Museum of the City of New York

• 92nd Street – The Jewish Museum

• 91st Street – Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

• 89th Street – National Academy Museum

• 88th Street – Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

• 86th Street – Neue Galerie New York

• 83rd Street – Goethe-Institut

Last, but certainly not least, America’s premier museum
• 82nd Street – The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Additionally, though technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 70th St. and the The Morgan Library & Museum on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave. Now plan your own museum crawl. ==========================================================

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar: “NYCity Events: Manhattan’s WestSide” dated 09/07 and 09/05.

Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events –THURSDAY, SEPT. 04, 2014

Duchess
“Lately the most overlooked ensemble format in jazz is the vocal harmony group—you’re more likely to hear a band with three drummers or accordionists than a trio comprised of three singers. This recently organized threesome, Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner and Melissa Stylianou, devises original arrangements of mostly vintage songs, both familiar and offbeat. They understand that swinging music goes hand in hand with an audacious sense of humor.” (Will Friedwald, WSJ)
55 BAR, 55 Christopher St. (btw Sixth/Seventh Avenue)
A prohibition era dive bar with live jazz and blues nightly.
7pm / NO COVER
(212 ) 929-9883 / 55bar.co

Elizabeth Warren and Paul Krugman
“Senator Elizabeth Warren, from Massachusetts, discusses what ails the middle class with the economist and writer Paul Krugman. Janet Gornick, a professor of political science and sociology and the director of the Luxembourg Income Study Center at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, is the moderator.” (NewYorker)
Proshansky Auditorium, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave, at 34th St.
212-817-8215 / gc.cuny.edu
at 7:30 / FREE
(sold out, but a limited number of seats may open up Thur. – this is worth a shot)

Michael Blake Group
“Warmth and invention spills from the saxophonist’s horn on a regular basis. That makes him part of a lineage that begins with tenor maestro Lester Young, to whom Blake’s new Tiddy Boom is dedicated. It’s all about mucho lyricism, oodles of frolic, and the kind of swing you don’t mistake for a second. The band, which features Ben Allison and Frank Kimbrough, knows about the whomp that understatement can provide. All hail Pres! “(Jim Macnie, VillageVoice)
Smalls Jazz Club, 183 West 10th Street, West Village,
9:30 p.m. / $20
smallsjazzclub.com

Cellist Maya Beiser: “Uncovered”
w/music of Led Zeppelin, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Muddy Waters, Nirvana, and AC/DC

Maya Beiser: Uncovered is a collection of startling classic rock tunes, re-imagined and re- contextualized, in stunning performances by Maya Beiser. Her concert at Le Poisson Rouge, with bassist Gyan Riley and drummer Matt Kilmer, follows shortly after the August 26, 2014 release of Uncovered, the album. A”cover tune” can be an homage to the original, but these “uncovers,” in new arrangements by Evan Ziporyn, attempt to do more – to evoke the unprecedented power of the music of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Janis Joplin, Howlin’ Wolf, and AC/DC.

Maya’s performances in Uncovered are incendiary, in line with New York magazine’s assessment that “Beiser is not the sort of musician who zigzags around the planet playing catalog music for polite and sleepy audiences. She throws down the gauntlet in every program.”
(Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. (btw Sullivan/Thompson St.)
subway: #1 to Houston St..
7:30 p.m., $20
http://lepoissonrouge.com / 212-505-fish

Elsewhere, but absolutely worth the detour:

U.S. TENNIS OPEN (Day 11) / TODAY’S PREMIER EVENT
The U.S. Open continues today (11AM) at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens (about 45 min. from Times Square), and runs through Sept. 8. This is the fourth and final tournament which culminates the tennis Grand Slam each year.

The Open consists of five event championships: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, with additional tournaments for seniors and juniors that start the second week.
subway: #1-2-3 to Times Square; transfer to #7 to Mets-Willets Point

Matches to watch today (per Matt Cronin – usopen.org):

TONIGHT – #2Roger Federer vs. #20Gael Monfils
The Swiss has been cruising along in his first four matches, barely breaking a sweat and dominating his rallies. Federer has gone up against more dangerous players early on in previous years, but he usually got through, anyway, and once he reached the quarterfinals, he was raring to go, winning five straight US Open titles from 2004-08.

However, Federer eventually began to ease up, largely because as he grew older he wasn’t quite as fast. He reached two semis here against Novak Djokovic in 2010 and 2011 and fell in both matches 7-5 in the fifth sets. In 2012, he finally fell in a quarter, losing to a high-flying Tomas Berdych. In 2013, a charging Tommy Robredo stunned Federer in the fourth round.

But this has been different in New York, as Federer isn’t hurt or unsettled. That is why Federer should look very comfortable when he enters against Gael Monfils, whom he leads 7-2 in head-to-head matches. Monfils has been playing terrific, but can he win three sets when he’s cracking from way back behind the baseline? Perhaps, given how fast he is, but I doubt it. Federer will mix and match and make sure that he can wait and buy his time until he smokes the balls. He has to take over the net and make sure he can return the numerous serves that Monfils will bomb away. The Frenchman is a heck of a lot of fun to watch, but Federer will win three out of five and reach the semifinals.

#6Tomas Berdych vs. #14Marin Cilic
It was hard to figure out how good Berdych would be during the tournament, as the tall Czech has been up and down this year, and he really hasn’t been spectacular since February. But the solid and strong Berdych has played much better in New York, whacking balls and not being afraid. Berdych is a very big hitter, and the guy has gone deep into Slams before.

This time he will go up against Marin Cilic, a Croatian who once reached a major semifinal at the Australia Open and is more creative these days. Here at the US Open, Cilic showed a lot of heart, overcoming No. 18 Kevin Anderson and No. 26 Gilles Simon. The 25 year old is coached by Goran Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon winner who has helped him to become stronger—both mentally and physically. It has taken a while, but Cilic was willing to attack against the better foes, and he upset Berdych in the third round of Wimbledon this year.

The Czech did smoke the Croatian in the final of Rotterdam in February, so this match should be very close. Both can bomb big serves, and both can own their ferocious forehands and take over the net when they are feeling right. Berdych would love to go far, but Cilic now believes in himself again and will pull off the victory in four sets.
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Johnny Mac teams with younger brother Patrick for a doubles exhibition mid afternoon on court 17. For the real deal, see if former champ Martina Hingis can rekindle old glory in a women’s semifinals doubles match in Armstrong mid afternoon vs the #3 seed. Martina is paired with Flavia Penetta, and they have looked good, so far.

Today’s Tips: Watching the players on the new practice courts is a good way to get a free tennis lesson, and video screens show when your fave player is scheduled to hit. The best review of the tournament and the current state of tennis can be found at the NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com

There are a few places around the grounds open to the public that provide special fan experiences, and a place to beat the heat:
Heineken House – big screen tv’s, quality photo booth op, various sporting challenges, sandwiches & beer available for purchase. Say Hi to my fave Heineken girl – Missy.
American Express Fan Experience – swing analysis, 180 degree photo op, charging lockers. Second level of the lounge is only open to card members, where food and drinks are available for purchase.
Time Warner Cable Studios – photo ops, prizes, charging stations.
Emirates Airlines – big screen TV, light refreshments available for purchase.

If you are a Chase Bank customer:
Chaise Lounge – snacks and light refreshments (requires pre-registration).

And don’t forget to stop by the Chia Pod booth behind court 11 for free samples.

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♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.

♦ NYCity is a big town with many visitors, where quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.
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A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – Greenwich Village

Caffe Vivaldi / 32 Jones Street (btw. Bleecker/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’ ”.

Each 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 wines and lite meals, fairly priced, 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. I should note that 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, NYC 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 S/left on Bleecker to Jones st, 50 yards E/left on Jones st to Caffe V

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“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge (except for certain jazz clubs).

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
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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. $8 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)
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 Sq park. You may have to wait a few minutes, because everything is freshly made, but it’s worth it. Can you believe – an unheard of 26 food rating by Zagat.

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“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”

This covers a wide range of food – the traditional pizza, burgers, & hot dogs; but also food trucks / carts, bbq, soup & sandwiches, picnic fixins’, raw bars & lobster rolls, vegetarian / falafel, ramen, chopped salad & salad bars – – no reservations needed. ================================================================================

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places and descriptions of my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods order a copy of my e-book: “Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($3.99, available Fall 2014).

Order before December 31, 2014 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.

Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events –MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2014

West Indian American Day Carnival
Even in New York City, few events overwhelm the senses more than the West Indian American Day Carnival, the annual celebration of the culture of NYC’s Caribbean community. More than a million spectators turn out in Brooklyn to hear the sounds of reggae and calypso music, taste freshly cooked delicacies and see revelers in elaborate, colorful costumes. It’s a great chance to experience firsthand the City’s trademark diversity—and, of course, to purchase the foods, crafts, books, clothing, art, jewelry and more offered by vendors along the parade route, which officially runs along Eastern Parkway from Schenectady Avenue to Washington Avenue, though in practice goes up to Grand Army Plaza. The parade starts at 11am. (nycgo.com)

Michael Mwenso & Brianna Thomas celebrate 110 years of Fats Waller
Two young vocalists, Michael Mwenso (from Sierra Leone, West Africa) and Brianna Thomas (from Peoria, Ill.), celebrate Thomas “Fats” Waller, the legendary pianist-songwriter-singer-comedian at Dizzy’s. The location is apt because Dizzy Gillespie himself lauded Waller as one of the funniest in jazz. The vocalists will be accompanied by pianist Chris Pattishall, trombonist Josh Holcomb and trumpeter-singer Bria Skonberg.

Then on Thursday, Ms. Skonberg leads her own band, honoring Louis Armstrong’s mega-masterpiece album from 1955, “Satch Plays Fats.” (WSJ)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Broadway at 60th St., 5th Fl.,
7:30 & 9:30pm / $20-$35
(212) 258-9595 / dizzys.jalc.org

New York International Salsa Congress Dance & Music Festival (last day)
“Every Labor Day weekend salseros and salseras from all around the world come to town for the New York International Salsa Congress Dance & Music Festival—and dance cards fill up at a fast and furious pace. The action unfolds at the New York Hilton Midtown, with a full schedule of workshops, performances, competitions, live music (including sets by Bronx conga king Eddie Montalvo and the Jimmy Bosch Orchestra) and DJs spinning tunes well into the early-morning hours.” (nycgo.com)
New York Hilton Midtown, 1335 Sixth Ave. (at W. 53rd St.)
212-586-7000 / nycsalsacongress.com

Molly Ryan “Come Up and See Me Sometime” a Cheeky Tribute to Mae West
Since moving to New York City from Roseville, CA in August of 2003, she has become one of the most sought-after vocalists on the New York jazz scene. She has performed at such prestigious Manhattan venues as the Café Carlyle, The Waldorf Astoria, Birdland, AND Iridium.

She has performed alongside such prominent jazz artists as Randy Reinhart, Jon-Erik Kellso, Bria Skonberg, Dan Barrett, Mark Shane, Rossano Sportiello, as well as with the preeminent 1920s-style orchestra, Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks. Featuring Dan Levinson on clarinet and sax, Dalton Ridenhour on piano, Rob Adkins on bass and Kevin Dorn on drums.
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. (btw 8/9 ave.)
7:00 PM / $25 + $10 food/drink minimum

Elsewhere, but absolutely worth the detour:

U.S. TENNIS OPEN (Day 8) / TODAY’S PREMIER EVENT
The U.S. Open continues today (11AM) at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens (about 45 min. from Times Square), and runs through Sept. 8. This is the fourth and final tournament which culminates the tennis Grand Slam each year. It consists of five event championships: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, with additional tournaments for seniors and juniors.
subway: #1-2-3 to Times Square; transfer to #7 to Mets-Willets Point

When you first arrive check out one of the electronic scoreboards listing matches in progress. Find a match or players that interest you. Head over to their court for some great competitive tennis, because in this tournament even the qualifiers are great players. Sometimes the most competitive, fun matches are on the outer courts.

There is no other major sporting event where you can get so close to world class athletes as at the U.S. Open – on the outer courts, the Grandstand court, or even Louis Armstrong stadium. Courts where you can get a real sense of the pace of the game.

Matches to watch today (per Matt Cronin – usopen.org):
“With Week 1 of this event in the books, the pursuit of tennis’ toughest title today begins in earnest. The job only gets tougher from here.

Jo Wilfried Tsonga vs. Andy Murray
Tsonga is coming off a tremendous performance in Toronto, where crushed first serves and forehands and ran through some of the best names in the game to win the title, overcoming Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov and Roger Federer en route.

On Monday he will face Murray for the 12^th time, with the Scot leading their head to head meetings, 9-2. Until Toronto, Murray had Tsonga’s number, dominating their meetings with his backhand and establishing himself as more consistent from the baseline. Murray has won two Slam titles–the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon – while Tsonga boasts just one final in Melbourne in 2008, so Murray knows better what it takes to advance in majors.

Tsonga’s concentration is an issue, but at his best he can be very tough to top. Murray has been spotty this season, but is playing better recently and is ready to grab another title. As long as he returns well, he will be control all day. Murray will waiver, but he will come through in four sets.

Eugenie Bouchard vs. Ekaterina Makarova
The Canadian Bouchard (see photo) has had an outstanding year at the majors, reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and the final of Wimbledon. Who would have thought coming into 2014 that he would be so good at only 20 years old? She has been quick around the court and solid off both sides, but the difference is that she is now stepping inside the baseline to attack, cracking first serves and putting short balls away. I guess the world found out that she was coming fast.

Bouchard, however, looked tired after Wimbledon, having carried the weight of expectations for the first time. But during this tournament she has been able to forget about all the press and instead focus on the tennis. She has not played great during the first three matches, but she has fought very hard to win two tight contests.

So now Bouchard can take a big breath and really go for it. There are some very tough matches ahead, but at least for now, she should be in control. Her foe in the fourth round, Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova, is underrated and can move her opponents all over the place. Makarova can go toe to toe with just about anyone, but she can get nervous deep in Slams, while Bouchard will not. Bouchard will win in straight sets.

Other Picks
There are a ton of attractive matches on Day 8. No. 5 Milos Raonic faces No. 10 Kei Nishikori in a match that is sure to go three hours at a minimum. It’s a toss-up affair, but Canada’s Raonic will smoke some big serves to gain the edge in the contest. Nishikori is faster but he isn’t as efficient at net. Raonic will win in five.

All of a sudden, No. 3 Stan Wawrinka has begun to play well again. He looked outstanding in winning the 2014 Australian Open but was inconsistent after that. Now he is back and on course, which means that he will out-stroke the determined No. 16 Tommy Robredo in four sets

No. 1 Novak Djokovic is rolling along and feeling strong once again. Sure, No. 22 Philipp Kohlschreiber can be enjoyable to watch, but he cannot push Djokovic. The Serb will win in four sets.

Unseeded Kaia Kanepi is one of the biggest hitters on the women’s tour, but powering through No. 1 Serena Williams is no easy task. Williams wins in straight sets.

Well, what do you know, No. 11 Flavia Pennetta is playing well at the US Open again. The Italian seems to thrive in New York, and Monday she goes up against No. 29 Casey Dellacqua of Australia. The lefty can play some good ball, but Pennetta will win in three.

No. 16 Victoria Azarenka is looking better and better. Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia is playing the best tennis of her life, but she isn’t yet ready to overcome Azarenka, who is rising again and will win this one in straight sets.”

Today’s Tips: Lines to get into the show courts will be long this holiday weekend. Pick a court with matches you are most interested in and stay put. Watching the players on the new practice courts is a good way to get a free tennis lesson, and video screens show when your fave player is scheduled to hit. The best review of the tournament and the current state of tennis can be found at the NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com

Finally, these places around the grounds provide special fan experiences, a place to beat the heat, and are open to the public:
Heineken House – big screen tv’s, quality photo booth op, various sporting challenges, sandwiches & beer available for purchase. Say Hi to my fave Heineken girl – Missy.
American Express Fan Experience – swing analysis, 180 degree photo op, charging lockers. Second level of the lounge is only open to card members, where food and drinks are available for purchase.
Time Warner Cable Studios – photo ops, prizes, charging stations.

And only for Chase Bank customers:
Chaise Lounge – snacks and light refreshments (requires pre-registration).

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♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.

♦ NYCity is a big town with many visitors, where quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.
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WHAT’S ON VIEW: Special Exhibitions @ 3 MUSEUMS (Manhattan’s WestSide)

Museum of Modern Art:
‘Jasper Johns: Regrets’ (through Sept. 1)
‘Robert Heinecken: Object Matter’ (through Sept. 7)
‘A World of Its Own: Photographic Practices in the Studio’ (through Oct. 5)
‘Designing Modern Women 1890-1990’(through Oct. 5)
Here’s what the NYT said about ‘A World of Its Own: Photographic Practices in the Studio’
“This mostly lively if repetitive overview traces the history of photography as the Modern never has — with images taken in the studio rather than out in the world. Its roughly 180 works span 160 years and represent some 90 portraitists, commercial photographers, lovers of still life, darkroom experimenters, Conceptual artists and several generations of postmodernists. Including film and video, it offers much to look at but dwells too much in the past, becoming increasingly blinkered and cautious as it approaches the present. 212-708-9400, moma.org.” (Smith-NYT)
Museum of Modern Art: 11 W 53rd St. (btw 5th /6th Ave.)
(212) 708-9400 / moma.org.

Designing Modern Women 1890-1990:

International Center of Photography: ‘Urbes Mutantes: Latin American Photography 1944-2013’ and ‘Caio Reisewitz’ (through Sept. 7)
It’s a Latin American summer at New York City art museums, with a high number of shows of work from South America and the Caribbean. This institution, as usual one step ahead of the curve, has two. The larger, “Urbes Mutantes: Latin American Photography 1944-2013,” is a roomy survey of some 200 small, mostly black-and-white pictures that fit, with trimming and squeezing, into the genre of “street photography.” The second is a solo devoted to a single artist, the contemporary Brazilian photographer Caio Reisewitz, whose big color images of threatened tropical rain forests offer a lush antidote to urban grit — Manhattan’s included.
International Center of Photography, 1133 Avenue of the Americas, at 43rd Street, 212-857-0000, icp.org. (Cotter-NYT)

Museum of Arts and Design: ‘NYC Makers: The MAD Biennial’ (through Oct. 12) This plunge into the biennial format makes a big, messy splash sampling the visual culture across the city — whether opera set design, art or new technologies. An expansive, invigorating move, it still contains too much that is fun, cute, clutter-making or useless, aimed at those with plenty of disposable income and homes to decorate.
Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle,
212-299-7777, madmuseum.org. (Smith-NYT)

The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya (ongoing)
This exhibition by artist Nathan Sawaya is a critically acclaimed collection of intriguing and inspiring works of art made exclusively from one of the most recognizable toys in the world — LEGO® bricks. The Discovery Times Square exhibit is the world’s biggest and most elaborate display of LEGO® art ever and features brand-new, never-before-seen pieces by Sawaya. This show was named ‘One of CNN’s Ten Global Must-See Exhibitions.’
Discovery Times Square, 226 West 44th St. (btw 7th/8th ave)
866.987.9692 / http://www.discoverytsx.com

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (08/30) and (08/28).