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

Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, JUNE 02, 2014.

Taste of Times Square
Food from more than 40 restaurants will be available for sampling from 5 to 9 p.m. during the annual Taste of Times Square, along 46th Street, between Broadway and Ninth Avenue. Participating restaurants include Toloache, B. Smith’s Restaurant, Buca di Beppo and Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar, Virgil’s Real Barbecue, Le Rivage, Ruth’s Chris SteakHouse, and Brasserie 1605.
Presented by the Times Square Alliance, the event also features entertainment. Tasting tickets are $1 each, with most dishes ranging from $1 to $6; timessquarenyc.org.

Guastavino Vaults New York: Innovation, Structure, and Splendor
Join MIT professor John Ochsendorf for a book signing and slide lecture about the work of the Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company. When the Guastavinos arrived in New York from Spain in the late 19th century, they brought with them an innovative building technique—thin tile structural vaulting—that was lightweight, loadbearing, and incredibly beautiful. These vaults grace some 250 structures in New York City. A MacArthur “genius awardee,” Ochsendorf is the author of Guastavino Vaulting: The Art of Structural Tile (Princeton Architectural Press, 2010).
Museum of the City of New York., 1220 Fifth Avenue, at 103rd St.
at 6:30PM/ $25
212-534-1672 / mcny.org

Morgan James Record Release Show
“EPIC recording artist Morgan James devoted her initial post-Juilliard years to working her way into NYC’s most legendary clubs—and into several prominent roles on Broadway, most recently, Motown: The Musical. Ms. James will bring her powerhouse soul vocals with her ten-piece band to LPR to celebrate the release of HUNTER, her debut studio album on Epic Records. Classic and modern: Horns, full band, lush and funky. She will sing from the new album, including the single “I want you”, and sign CDs after the show.” (FlavorPill)
(Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St. (btw Sullivan/Thompson St. – #1 to Houston))
at 7pm / $20
(212) 505-FISH (3474) / lepoissonrouge.com

Living Colour
“Living Colour’s first major label release, “Vivid,” brought them international acclaim when it was released in 1988, but the members were considered downtown heroes long before that, having emerged from Manhattan’s vibrant “no-wave” punk-funk music scene in 1983. Led by explosive guitarist Vernon Reid, Living Colour released three albums before disbanding in 1995, reforming at a gig at CBGB’s in 2000. Their biggest hit remains their debut single “Cult Of Personality.” (DNA Info)
City Winery, 155 Varick St, Tribeca (btw Vandam/Spring St. – #1 to Houston).
8 p.m. / $35 — $55
(212) 608-0555 / citywinery.com/newyork

TJ & Dave
“The Second City vets are back to dazzle you with their long-form improv
Chicago long-form improvaholics TJ & Dave are back to perform four shows at their old haunt, the Barrow Street Theater. If you haven’t had the privilege of seeing these Second City vets spin an hour-long show from out of thin air, you’re in for a comedic treat. Stephen Colbert even sings their praises. We suggest securing your tickets now, their shows are known to sell out.” (Mindy Bond, Editor-FlavorPill)
Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow St.
At 9pm / $22
(212) 868-4444 / barrowstreettheatre.com
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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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University of Java / Manhattan

Annie Doran making an espresso during a class at the Broome Street training center of Counter Culture Coffee.  (June 1, 2014)

Every Sunday in the NYT Metropolitan section, a photographer offers a new slice of New York. A wonderful slice of life it is – Thanks NewYorkTimes: N.Y. / Region section

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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.

Those 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; we eat, and we drink vodka ‘till it hurts (and it will hurt).

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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 some nights includes a sax player with a younger, trimmer piano man.

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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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Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, JUNE 01, 2014.

The Ultimate Science Street Fair
Drop in at Washington Square Park anytime this Sunday, June 1, for The Ultimate Science Street Fair, our annual free outdoor extravaganza celebrating science! We’ve packed the day with hundreds of hands-on experiences for families and kids of all ages, with big focuses on Space, Weather, and Robots. Working closely with partners like NASA, the Liberty Science Center, NOAA and many, many more, we’ve created interactive experiments and installations, simulators and performances, and lots more designed to delight and inspire your family with a day of science they’ll never forget. For all the details: worldsciencefestival.com/programs
Washington Square Park
10:00am – 6:00pm

Blue Note Jazz Festival
“The fourth Blue Note Jazz Festival kicks off tonight, presenting more than 150 artists in June at more than 15 venues throughout New York City. Highlights include Sérgio Mendes (June 7), Bobby McFerrin and Questlove (June 13) and Aretha Franklin (June 14-15).

The Festival begins with Harlem singer Vivian Sessoms at the Festival HQ — The Blue Note Jazz Club — with two performances (at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.). Also today, The BB King Blues Club & Grill is presenting the Harlem Gospel Choir at 1:30 p.m. and the Belfast Community Gospel Choir at 3 p.m. in early afternoon brunch performances.

This evening at The Blue Note Jazz Club Joe Lovano’s Village Rhythms Band plays sets at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.” (DNA Info)
For the full schedule and individual show pricing check bluenotejazzfestival.com

HOUSING WORKS STREET FAIR AND OTHER EVENTS
(also Monday and Wednesday)
“Books — and the people whose lives revolve around them — are the stars of several events at this SoHo bookstore at 126 Crosby Street, near Houston Street. Thousands of donated books, records and CDs can be scooped up for $1 each at a street fair, a fund-raiser for outreach programs run by Housing Works, on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The book beat continues on Monday at 7 p.m. with a discussion about women and writing with Jill Lepore, Rebecca Mead, Salamishah Tillet and Ruth Franklin. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., cocktails, food and literary thoughts will be served up during Dish, a reading series featuring authors who love to cook and cooks who love to write. The participants include the authors Maureen Petrosky (“The Cocktail Club”); Alyssa Shelasky (“Apron Anxiety: My Messy Affairs in and Out of the Kitchen”); the blogger David Gutowski (“Largehearted Boy”); and Kimberly M. Wetherell, a baker and cocktail maven.

More details: 212-334-3324, housingworksbookstore.org; free, but there is a suggested donation of $5 for Wednesday’s event. A literary feast beckons.” (Anne Mancuso-NYT)
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, (btw Houston/Prince St.)
subway: 1-2-3 to TimesSq; transfer to N/R to Prince St; walk 1 block E, 1 block N

Takashi Murakami (Jellyfish Eyes)
In conjunction with the New York premiere of his first feature film, Jellyfish Eyes at 4PM, renowned Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami will present a collection of his animated works and discuss his signature artistic style. Known for founding the postmodern art movement “Superflat,” which blurs the line between the “high” and “low” arts, as well as for his collaborations with Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, and Louis Vuitton via Marc Jacobs, the work of Murakami is deeply rooted in Japanese popular culture and draws inspiration from classic anime and manga.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center, 70 Lincoln Square #4
212-875-5610 / filmlinc.com/films
6:30pm/FREE – Complimentary tickets will be distributed at the Film Center box office starting one hour prior to this event. There is a limit of one ticket per person.

The Eels
“The Eels have been around for a while, making a name for themselves as one of those iconic movie soundtrack bands, playing reflective, scuzzed out, multi-genred interpretations of alternative rock jams that have shown up in popular films ranging from American Beauty and all three of the Shrek movies, to Holes and Jim Carrey’s Yes Man. Their sound is a recognizable one, yet after releasing 11 albums since their debut in 1996, they can’t be pinned down to one style, phase, or production approach.

Keeping things even more exciting are the weirdo characters frontman Mark Oliver Everett portrays with every album, singing through the perspective of others as a means to share with listeners the lessons people usually have to learn the hard way–until now, that is. Eels’ recent release, The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett, is a character-less, more transparent approach, revisiting mistakes of Everett’s youth while exploring obligation and indebtedness, regret and denial, and ultimately hope as an after-effect of learning from his poor decisions. They just embarked on their North American tour, so be sure to catch them at one of their upcoming performances and enjoy wallowing in Everett’s enlightening, electrifying misery.” (Erin Manning, VillageVoice)
Apollo Theater, 253 W 125th St.
btw Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd (7th Ave) and Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Ave)
800-745-3000 / apollotheater.com
7:30 p.m. / $35-$55
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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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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 – my fave is Ovest on W 27th St., where the aperitivo is like Happy Hour on steroids.

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

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (05/30) and (05/28).

Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2014.

Allen Toussaint
“This singer, pianist, composer and overall elder statesman of New Orleans R&B sings beautifully about the Crescent City over funky, fluid keys. He has collaborated with several rock veterans, including Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton, and is also a vitalizing solo performer. His live rendition of his contemporary pop staple “Summer Nights” is itself a sweet trip to the bayou.” (Anderson-NYT)
City Winery, 155 Varick Street, near Spring Street, South Village,
212-608-0555, citywinery.com;
At 8 p.m. / $35.

The World Science Festival
“Since its launch in 2008, The World Science Festival has been bringing together some of the finest scientific minds in the world with artists and influential thinkers. The aim is to inspire everyone to experience science in a unique and thrilling way. Although many of today’s events are full, you can still register to Meet The Authors at the NYU Kimmel Center.

Top science authors, including Steven Pinker (“How the Mind Works” and “The Blank Slate”), A.J. Jacobs and John Brockman gather to discuss “Real Scenarios That Keep Scientists Up at Night” (11 a.m.), “Books on the Brain” (1:30 p.m.) and “Brave New Word: This Season’s Breakthrough Books in Science.” (DNA Info)
NYU Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square S., Greenwich Village.
4PM / Free.

Yann Tiersen
“Brittany-based, French sensation Yann Tiersen stops in amidst a US trek in support of his recent Mute release, Infinity. Best known in these parts at the man behind the soundtrack for Amélie, the classically trained multi-instrumentalist exudes a punk-rock sensibility. In speaking about his vision, Tiersen has explained, “Let’s play with sound, forget all knowledge and instrumental skills, and just use instinct — the same way punk did.”

For Infinity, which was produced by Tiersen with mixing assistance from Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Wire) and Mute founder Daniel Miller, the musician drew inspiration from the stones and minerals found on Ushant Island, the place he calls home. Noted for creating lush soundscapes, with Infinity, Tiersen covers much ground and experiments with a range of styles and tones.

If you’re up for an aural adventure, then you’ll want to jump aboard one of Tiersen’s two performances at Highline Ballroom.” (Mindy Bond, Editor-Flavorpill)
Highline Ballroom, 431 West 16th Street, Chelsea,
212-414-5994, highlineballroom.com
At 7 p.m. / $30

Sheila E.
“The Sheila E. of the mid-80s continues to linger in the mind as an image of the future. Back then, she dazzled as the perfect mouthpiece for throwaway Prince tunes like “Erotic City,” “A Love Bizarre,” and “The Glamorous Life,” perfectly suited for the robotic exoticism of E.’s post-racial beauty, flimsy (but tuneful) voice, and impeccable Latin drumming. In fact, these slices of metronomic funk draped in chintzy keyboards still sound like transmissions from the yet-to-come, hitting a sweet spot of pop, electro and lite-soul that no subsequent artist has since been able to achieve. Fortunately, Sheila continues to be a phenomenal drummer and bandleader.”  (Winston Groman, VillageVoice)
BB Kings Blues Club and Grill, 237 West 42nd St.,(btw 7^th/8^th Ave)
8:00 p.m. / $42
(212) 997-4144 / bbkingblues.com

BookCon
“John Grisham, Mario Batali, Amy Poehler, Martin Short and Stan Lee are among the dozens of speakers at this interactive literary festival. The events include panel discussions, screenings, podcasts and trivia contests.” (NYT)
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th St. at Eleventh Ave
212-216-2000 / thebookcon.com;  javitscenter.com
From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. / $35
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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 + 3 Good Eating places

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

Jimmy’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.
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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

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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 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 (Betw 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 NYC 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 (Betw 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 none of the insane lines that you find at the Madison Sq. Park location. Plus, it may be the cleanest joint to eat in all of Hell’s Kitchen.

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

That covers a wide range of food – pizza, burgers, food trucks/carts, vegetarian/falafel, ramen, chopped salad & salad bars, hot dogs, bbq, soup & sandwiches, picnic fixins’, raw bars & lobster rolls. 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 (plus 27 casual dining places with free Wi-Fi) order a copy of my e-book: “Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($3.99).
(available Fall 2014)

Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014.

Madison Square Eats (until Sat. May 31)
It’s almost over. Better get there fast.

“A picnic in the park takes on a whole new meaning when more than 30 food vendors occupy Worth Square for this month-long pop-up market. New eats include Southern curry chicken wings from Pig & Khao and rock-shrimp burgers from L&W Oyster Co., while veteran vendors like Roberta’s, Red Hook Lobster Pound and Macaron Parlour will be back with their tried-and-true favorites.” (TONY)
Madison Square Park, 23rd St. to 26th St., btw Fifth and Madison Aves
madisonsquarepark.org / 212-538-1884
urbanspacenyc.com/mad-sq-eats/

Jeff (Tain) Watts Quartet (through Sunday)
“As anyone who savors the early albums of Wynton and Branford Marsalis can attest, Watts—the powerhouse drummer who stoked the rhythmic fires of both brothers’ bands—has never been shy about making his presence known. Watts went on to become one of the most dependable percussionists of his day, eventually making the transition to bandleader. His trim quartet includes the pianist David Budway and the saxophonist Troy Roberts. “ (NewYorker)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village,
212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com;
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. / $25 and $30 cover, with a one-drink minimum.

Clarence Spady
Raised in Scranton Pennsylvania, where he still lives, Clarence Spady is accredited with defining the 1990’s blues scene. Raised by a musical family and encouraged to pursue blues, Spady started touring right out of high school. By the ’90’s, this singer/guitarist decided to head out and tour with a band of his own. Clarence Spady’s skills as a songwriter paired with his solid mastery of guitar transcends typical blues performances, leaving audiences clamoring for more of his unique & intelligent sound.
Terra Blues, 149 Bleeker St,
at 7pm / $10
terrablues.com

JC Sanford Orchestra
“When it comes to contemporary big bands, the composer and arranger Darcy James Argue may garner the most coverage these days, but his avant-leaning Secret Society ensemble is far from the only game in town. The trombonist Sanford leads a forward-thinking jazz orchestra which draws from the worlds of contemporary rock and new music in its boundary-stretching repertoire. A vibrant new album, ‘Views from the Inside,” captures the fifteen-piece ensemble, featuring such exceptional soloists as the trumpeter Taylor Haskins, in all its twenty-first-century glory.” (NewYorker)
Greenwich House Music School, 16 Barrow St.
212-242-4770.

BossaBrasil Festival (also Saturday)
“Drawing a bead on the jazz-influenced singer-songwriter traditions of Brazil, this year’s BossaBrasil Festival features the eclectic samba fusionista Marcos Valle and the bossa nova pioneer Roberto Menescal. Their backing band includes the drummer Renato Massa, the trumpeter Jesse Sadoc, the saxophonist and flutist Jorge Continentino and the bassist Itaguara Brandao.” (Chinen-NYT)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com
At 8:30 and 11 p.m. / $40 cover, with a $10 minimum.
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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.
==============================================================================

What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 4 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

‘Tibet and India: Buddhist Traditions and Transformations’ (through June 8)
‘Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia, 5th to 8th Century’ (through July 27)
The Flowering of Edo Period Painting: Japanese Masterworks from the Feinberg Collection’ (through Sept. 7)
‘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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‘Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes From the Hill Collection’ (through June 15)
“This sensational, beautifully presented show of 33 late-15th- to early-18th-century bronzes reflects a taste for historically important, big-statement examples in exceptional condition. They vividly reflect the Renaissance’s new interest in antiquity and the human form while encouraging concentration on emotional expression, refined details (great hair!), struggling or relaxed figures and varied patinas. Works by the reigning geniuses Giambologna, Susini and the lesser-known Piamontini dominate, further enlivened by a handful of old master and late-20th-century paintings from the Hill collection.”
(Roberta Smith-NYT)
Frick Collection: 1 East 70th St.
212-288-0700 / frick.org.
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Guggenheim Museum: ‘Italian Futurism, 1909-1944: Reconstructing the Universe’ (through Sept. 1)
“This epic, beautifully designed exhibition may be one of the more thorough examinations of modernism’s most obnoxious and conflicted art movement that you are likely to see. Awash in the manifestoes that its members regularly fired off, it follows Futurism through to its end with the death of its founder, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, in 1944. It covers the Futurist obsessions with speed, war, machines and, finally, flight and the aerial views it made possible. And the show highlights relatively unknown figures like the delightful Fortunato Depero and Benedetta Cappa, Marinetti’s wife. 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th Street, 212-423-3500, guggenheim.org.“ (Smith-NYT)
Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th St.
(212) 423-3500 / guggenheim.org.
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‘Degenerate Art: The Attack on Modern Art in Nazi Germany, 1937’ (through June 30)
Neue Galerie, 1048 Fifth Avenue, at 86th St.
212-628-6200 / neuegalerie.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 05/28 and 05/26.

Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014.

Word for Word: Eddie Shapiro & Broadway Guests
Theater journalist and author of “Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater” leads a conversation with Broadway stars in honor of his recent book, which is filled with candid interviews with twenty leading ladies of The Great White Way.

“Word for Word Author” is an outdoor reading series that features bestselling authors, celebrity writers, and expert-panelists sharing anecdotes, answering questions from the audience, and signing copies of their latest books.
Bryant Park Reading Room
located on the 42nd Street side of the park – under the trees – between the back of the NYPL on 5th Avenue & 6th Avenue. Look for the burgundy and white umbrellas.
at 12:30pm / FREE
In case of rain, events are held under a tent at the Reading Room. In case of severe weather, please check bryantpark.org for the indoor location.

The Shape of Jazz to Come: Downtown Jazz in 1959 and Now
In the 1950s and 60s, the Five Spot Café (in two locations on Cooper Square) was a major nexus, not only of top-notch jazz, but also of racial integration and artistic ferment. Leonard Bernstein, James Baldwin and Norman Mailer were all in the mix alongside Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus and John Coltrane. When saxophonist Ornette Coleman and his band played for several weeks in 1959, they disrupted the scene’s social status quo as well as altering the sound of jazz. What is the downtown jazz scene like today – are there any parallels?

Karen Loew of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation will moderate a panel discussion with David Neil Lee, author of The Battle of the Five Spot: Ornette Coleman and the New York Jazz Field; Stacy Dillard, saxophonist and composer; and jazz critic Howard Mandel. A booksigning with Lee follows the discussion.
New School, Theresa Lang Community and Student Center,
Arnhold Hall-55 West 13th Street, Room I202,
at 6:30 pm / FREE, reservations required

moe
“Guitarists Al Schnier and Chuck Garvey wield the articulate lead-guitar tonguework that has always driven moe.’s unflagging improv-rock invention. Arguably, however, it’s percussionist Jim Laughner’s electric MalletKat vibe/marimba spiel that tethers fans’ attention to this quirky backwater spaceship of a quintet a quarter-century into its game. A genre unto itself, moe. plays cosmic Americana at its finest, and their new No Guts, No Glory shows no sign of surrender.” (Richard Gehr-VillageVoice)
Stage 48, 605 W. 48th St.
9:30 p.m. / $35-$150

World Science Festival (through June 1)
“While arts festivals are typically darlings of high-culture institutions, science-related events usually end up sequestered in universities, laboratories or children’s museums. Seeking to elevate science on the cultural pedestal, Brian Greene, the renowned physicist and author, and his wife, Tracy Day, a former journalist and TV producer, co-founded this festival in 2008. The five-day citywide gathering showcases the world of science in unique ways.

Alan Alda, a longtime supporter of the event, has written a play about Albert Einstein, “Dear Albert,” which will be performed by Paul Rudd, Cynthia Nixon, and Francesca Faridany on opening night. At the same time, it engages with serious scientists—participants include Mary-Claire King, the geneticist who discovered the breast-cancer gene BRCA1; John Kovac, who may recently have found further proof of the big bang; and the cosmic-inflation theorists Andrei Linde, Alan Guth, and Paul Steinhardt. Attendees can stargaze from Brooklyn Bridge Park and from the deck of the Intrepid (where, also, beneath the Space Shuttle, “Gravity” will be screened), find out what their ancestors looked like, and discover the chemistry of ancient Scandinavian beer.

The event culminates with an outdoor fair, in Washington Square Park, where the public can view a 3-D printer that will print astronaut supplies when in space, and interact with robots of all shapes and sizes.” (NewYorker)
Various locations
worldsciencefestival.com.

NY Phil Biennial
“The New York Philharmonic launches its inaugural NY Phil Biennial today. It’s an 11-day festival of exciting new music from around the world. Tonight the Gotham Chamber Opera presents the U.S. Premiere of Toshio Hosokawa’s opera based on Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.” Tickets are very expensive tonight (minimum of $500), though seats are available in the $30 to $175 range for Friday, May 30 (show at 8 p.m.).” (DNA Info)
Gerald W. Lynch Theater, at John Jay College, 524 W. 59th St., Columbus Circle.
For the full NY Phil Biennial program and info on the Biennial Pass,
which gets you into all 21 biennial performances for only $95, head to their website.
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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)

‘A World of Its Own: Photographic Practices in the Studio’ (through Oct. 5)
‘Designing Modern Women 1890-1990’(through Oct. 5)
Museum of Modern Art: 11 W 53rd St. (btw 5th /6th Ave.)
(212) 708-9400 / moma.org.

Designing Modern Women 1890-1990:

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‘Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital’ (through June 1)
“If you haven’t quite wrapped your head around the concept of 3-D printing, or haven’t yet had a digital scanner wrap itself around you, now you can do both in this survey of computer-assisted art, architecture and design. The show looks at art made since 2005 and fills nearly three floors, including many irresistible interactive projects. Its ideas may not be entirely new; the Museum of Modern Art’s 2008 exhibition “Design and the Elastic Mind” covered much of the same territory, but there’s something to be said for this more down-to-earth, production-focused exhibition.” (Rosenberg-NYT)
Museum of Arts and Design, Columbus Circle,
212-299-7777,madmuseum.org.

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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

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : … …” dated (05/26) and (05/24).

Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014.

Indie Authors Naked Reading: “After the Rising/Before the Fall” Orna Ross
To kick off ALLi’s presence at Book Expo America, we would like to invite all our friends to a special launch party. Authors Unbound and IndieReader are joining forces for the launch of Indie Authors Naked – a compendium that defines and explores the world of indie publishing. Orna Ross is joined by Hugh Howey and other contriibutors from the book for a special night of readings, with Orna reading from “After the Rising and Before the Fall.”
Entwine Wine Bar, 765 Washington St.
From 7pm EST / FREE
selfpublishingadvice.org

BossaBrasil (through May 31)
“Antônio Carlos Jobim is the composer most closely associated with bossa nova, but other outstanding Brazilian songwriters and performers helped shape the genre. Joining forces here are two accomplished figures, Marcos Valle, the hand behind “Samba de Verão”—best known to U.S. listeners as “So Nice (Summer Samba)” as performed by Walter Wanderley and Astrud Gilberto—and Roberto Menescal, whose “O Barquinho” (“Little Boat”) has become a jazz standard. Accompanied by a handpicked cadre of Brazilian musicians, the duo will perform signature tunes and touch on the work of the Master, Jobim. “ (NewYorker)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com
At 8:30 and 11 p.m. / $40 cover, with a $10 minimum.

Joe Lovano’s Village Rhythms Band (through June 1)
“Though he has hardly made it the crux of his career, the saxophonist Joe Lovano had a formative experience with the Afrobeat king Fela Kuti in the early 1980s, a fact that he commemorates with this band. His lineup includes Liberty Ellman on guitar, Matthew Garrison on bass, Abdou Mboup on percussion and Otis Brown III on drums — and for this engagement, also his wife, the singer Judi Silvano, and the trumpeter Tim Hagans.“ (Chinen-NYT)
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village
212-475-8592, bluenote.net
At 8 and 10:30 p.m.,/ $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum.

The Glass House – Commemorative performance
The Glass House Project is named for the legendary Glass House (Üvegház), the most famous among 76 safe houses established around Budapest by the Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz, where thousands of Jews took refuge and found protection from their persecutors during the Holocaust. It is curated by Jewish music virtuoso Frank London and features a selection of long forgotten songs from Central Europe’s Jewish past. The concert is in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust in Hungary and is an expression of the participating artists’ belief that music has the potential to communicate both the loss and give a sense of the crimes committed, while also teaching about the richness of Jewish culture in historic Hungary and the surrounding countries.

The line-up features a veritable supergroup curated by Grammy Award winning trumpeter, bandleader and composer Frank London of The Klezmatics, bringing together musicians from both sides of the Atlantic
Edward J Safra Hall, Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place
7pm (doors) 7:15pm (concert) / FREE Seating guaranteed only with RSVP.

“Artists, Writers, Thinkers, Dreamers” by James Gulliver Hancock, with Josh Zepps
The Brooklyn-based illustrator provides quirky annotated portraits for 50 famous figures, from Leonardo da Vinci to Coco Chanel. Josh Zepps joins Hancock in conversation.
The powerHouse Arena, 37 Main St., at Water St.
At 7:00pm / FREE
718-666-3049 / powerhousearena.com
not Manhattan’s WestSide, but it is Bklyn’s westside, and this looks worth the detour.
easy to get to. subway:#1 to 14th St.; transfer to F to York; 1st stop in Bklyn
walk towards the river and Water St.; 2 blks S to powerHouse
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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.
==============================================================================

A PremierPub – Tribeca

B-Flat / 277 Church st (Btw Franklin/White)

There 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 1 blk E to Church; 1 blk N to bFlat

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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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Today’s “Fab 5″/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, MAY 26, 2014.

Memorial Day Ceremony@ Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
11:00am / free with museum admission
Join military personnel from all five branches of the armed forces. The event includes a ceremonial wreath laying, a 21-gun salute and the unfurling of a 100-foot-long American flag. No better day to visit the Intrepid.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86, Twelfth Ave., at 46th St
Daily 10am–5pm
Prices vary by exhibit: $24–$31, seniors and students $20–$27, children $12–$24, veterans $17–$24, children under 3 and retired and active military personnel free. 877-957-7447 / 212-245-0072 / intrepidmuseum.org

The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit
This twice-a-year exhibit happens every Memorial Day Weekend and the weekend that follows and every Labor Day Weekend and the weekend that follows that.

The event showcases fine artists and craft artisans from around the New York metropolitan area, the nation and the world. Attendees come from all over and are a cosmopolitan mix, including art lovers, tourists, faculty and students from the area’s many schools and professionals such as interior designers.

The show is a sidewalk show, not a street fair, and has its venue on University Place, starting at East 13th Street and continuing south along the east side of Washington Square Park to West 3rd Street. The southern end of the show encompasses Schwartz Plaza, (aka Bobkin Lane), between NYU’s Shimkin Hall and Bobst Library.

EXHIBIT CATEGORIES
Fine Arts / Graphics • Mixed Media • Oils & Acrylic • Watercolor
Photography • Sculpture • Crafts
Jewelry • Metal Work •Ceramics
Glass Mixed Media • Fiber • Wood
Exhibit Hours: Noon – 6 p.m. every show day
(212) 982-6255 / wsoae.org.

Taj Mahal
“More than 40 years into his storied career, this bluesman brings his Grammy-winning alchemy of gruff wails, searching harmonica and nontraditional tropicalia beats to this serene vintner’s hall. And let’s hope the audience’s response will match the intense reception heard on his superb live disc from 2000, “Shoutin’ in Key.” (Anderson-NYT)
City Winery, 155 Varick Street, near Spring Street, South Village,
212-608-0555, citywinery.com;
At 8 p.m. / $60 to $70.

Frankie Manning Centennial
“This weekend, thousands of dancers from all over the world will converge on New York to remind us precisely who it was that first made us believe that a man could fly. Frankie Manning, who died five years shy of his centennial, was indisputably the most influential swing dancer of all time, a key innovator at the height of the Savoy Ballroom era and the primary inspiration for the revival of the last 20 years. Frankie100 is a wide-ranging celebration blanketing the city from Harlem on down, involving so many events that there doesn’t even seem to be a single website containing them all.” (WSJ)
various venues / frankietrifecta.com / frankie100.com

Audubon’s Aviary: Parts Unknown (Part II of The Complete Flock) (LastDay)
Audubon’s Aviary: The Complete Flock, will continue showcasing masterpieces from the New-York Historical Society collection of John James Audubon’s preparatory watercolors for the sumptuous double-elephant-folio print edition of The Birds of America (1827–38), engraved by Robert Havell Jr.

Parts Unknown will consider Audubon as an established artist-naturalist, a world citizen, and a celebrity in an expanding nation—no longer the young Frenchman who created the “early birds” displayed in the first installment. This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition follows Audubon into uncharted territories—geographic, artistic, and scientific—as he encountered and mapped new species and grappled with the disappearing illusion of America’s infinite wilderness.

It galvanized his awareness about the necessity of conserving species and habitats. Most of the watercolors in Parts Unknown (studies for Havell plates 176-305) depict water birds, many of which are among Audubon’s most spectacular and largest birds, with numerous studies begun during his southeastern explorations and on his Labrador Expedition.
New York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, at 77th St.
(212) 873-3400 / nyhistory.org
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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.
==============================================================================

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 – my fave is Ovest on W 27th St., where the aperitivo is like Happy Hour on steroids.

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

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (05/24) and (05/22).

Today’s “Fab 5”+1/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2014.

Ben Wolfe Quintet Featuring Nicholas Payton (through Sunday)
“As on an elegant, swinging album from last year, “From Here I See,” the bassist Ben Wolfe augments his ensemble with a commanding guest, the trumpeter Nicholas Payton.” (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jalc.org;
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. / $35 to $45 cover, with a $10 minimum

Benny Golson
“While Sonny Rollins deserves much credit, a very good case can be made that Golson, who is eighty-five years old, is the finest tenor saxophonist from the golden age of the nineteen-fifties and sixties who is still actively performing. A notable composer (of the hard-bop standards “I Remember Clifford,” “Stablemates,” and “Whisper Not,” among other songs), Golson has a gorgeous tone, unimpeachable harmonic ingenuity, an inspired melodic gift, and unflagging stamina.” (NewYorker)
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village,
212-475-8592, bluenote.net;
At 8 and 10:30 p.m. / $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum.

Passport to Taiwan
“Come Sunday noon, Union Square will be filled with performances, art exhibits, and plenty of food celebrating Taiwanese-American heritage and culture. Look for goodies like bamboo tamales, shaved ice, oyster omelets, and intestines with noodle. Food-related exhibits include dough figurines and sugar paintings, which showcase the artists’ use of edible materials for creative purposes. A full line up of food vendors and activities can be found on the event’s website.” (VillageVoice)

The Westerlies
“This local brass quartet celebrates the release of its debut CD, which is devoted to the compositions of sometime jazzer (and group mentor) Wayne Horvitz.” (TONY)
Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia St. (btw Bleecker and W 4th Sts.)
212-989-9319 / corneliastreetcafe.com
at 8:30pm / $10 plus $10 minimum

Steve Wilson: Wilsonian’s Grain (through May 25)
“The alto and soprano saxophonist Steve Wilson combines economy and modernity in his playing, as a sideman or a leader. Wilsonian’s Grain, his crisp quartet with Orrin Evans on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Bill Stewart on drums, will be recording this run for his first-ever live album.” (Chinen-NYT)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village,
212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.,/ $25 and $30 cover, with a one-drink minimum

PlusOne
Air Show at Jones Beach State Park, Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, LI.
516-785-1600, airshow.jonesbeach.com
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. / FREE, but parking is $10 OR
take the LIRR from PennStation to Freeport, transfer to bus to the beach.
This is way not Manhattan’s WestSide, but the Blue Angels are back this year and they are joined by the GEICO Skytypers formation flying, and many others – not to be missed.
And the weather forecast for today is superb.

Don’t Forget:
• Opening weekend for ferries to Governors Island. New this year: a $2 round-trip fare … and many new food vendors. • Opening weekend too, at the city’s 14 miles of beaches. Gothamist offers a guide.
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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.
==============================================================================

Fancy Flight – Roosevelt Island

On the southern tip of Roosevelt Island, children and their families let loose their creations at a kite-making workshop on May 18. (May 25, 2014)

Every Sunday in the NYT Metropolitan section, a photographer offers a new slice of New York. A wonderful slice of life it is – Thanks NewYorkTimes: N.Y. / Region section

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A PremierPub – Upper West Side

Dinosaur / 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.

No 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 to Harlem totally worthwhile.

This second incarnation of Dinosaur in Harlem is in an 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 door you are hit with that tantalizing aroma of barbecue coming from the large open kitchen. Reminds me of all 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 Mississippi 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. 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 humongous 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 Hwy, all may open before a table inside the main dining room. Otherwise, try Dinosaur for lunch, or come very late for dinner.

Website: http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/
Phone #: 212-694-1777
Hours: M-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 10:00pm
Subway: #1 to 125th st
Walk 2 blk W on 125th 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.
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