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

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014.

J&R Music Auction
It’s a sad day – the last of music and electronics mega-store J&R’s inventory is hitting the auction block.

“The iconic Park Row retailer, which shuttered last month, is selling off more than $1 million worth of new computers, cameras, TVs, audio equipment and other appliances starting Tuesday, according to an auction notice from ASM Auctioneers.

The two-day sale, which will take place inside J&R’s former 1 Park Row home on May 13 and May 14, will include a host of laptops, visual equipment, home entertainment systems, headphones, video games and other wares from brand-name retailers like Toshiba, Samsung, and Nikon.

Potential customers can peruse the products starting at 9:30 a.m., at J&R’s former store location, with the auction begining at 11:30 a.m.
Only cash or certified checks will be accepted.” (DNA Info)

Bria Skonberg
“If the Nu Hot Jazz movement has produced one indisputable star, it is the dynamic trumpet diva Bria Skonberg, who hasn’t only galvanized the neo-traditional scene, but, lately, moved beyond it. Her new album, “Into Your Own,” comes out Wednesday, with elements of global jazz and singer-songwriter pop, as well as thoughtful interpretations of Stevie Wonder (“Sir Duke” rendered like a New Orleans street parade) and John Lennon (a winsome, wistful “Julia” that tests her ballad-singing chops).

The most memorable result is a blisteringly funky rendition of “Winin’ Boy Blues” that mashes up Jelly Roll Morton and Jimi Hendrix, wailing with a sound that is equal parts trumpet, electronics, and voice. Next Sunday, she leads an all-star New Orleans parade band—dubbed Bria Skonberg’s Brass Kicker—at the second New York Hot Jazz Festival.” (WSJ- Will Friedwald)
Iridium, 1650 Broadway,
(212) 582-2121

“Music Under New York” (annual auditions)
Ever wonder how the buskers end up in the subways?

“Today, dozens of musical acts will compete for a chance to perform before millions.
The site: New York City’s subway stations. About 60 performers will take the stage, for five minutes each, before a panel of judges. (You may watch, too.) This year’s auditions include people playing Aboriginal didgeridoo, traditional Chinese orchestral music, Brazilian jazz, bluegrass and klezmer.

A subway performer turned judge, Cathy Grier, said, “I can tell in 30 seconds if they’ve got it.” She said the key traits in a busker are preparation, openness and, of course, talent.” (NYT – NewYorkToday)
Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Marilyn Maye
“Who else but Marilyn Maye could present such a perfect and personal tribute to Johnny Carson, her longtime friend and benefactor? Departing from 54 Below’s usual Broadway-centric orientation, Ms. Maye (whom Carson introduced as “The Super Singer”) is a 1960s variety show all by herself: She’s not only a singing star and an ace comedian, but she has also the flash and dazzle of the most skillful juggler or tap dancer and her vocal acrobatics (which would be astounding even if she weren’t 86) give you the same thrill as a great trapeze artist.

Her miraculous timing is put to the test in this multimedia presentation, in which she interacts with vintage 1970s “Tonight Show” clips of herself—most movingly as part of a sequence of torch songs that builds to a medley of “Those Were the Days” and, believe it or not, “I Will Survive.” (WSJ-Will Friedwald)

The NY Observer says: “Miss her at your own peril!”
You really need to see this lady perform, she is pretty special.
I saw her at Cabaret Convention in the fall, and she outshone a dozen other performers.
54 Below, 254 W 54th St., btw Broadway and Eighth Ave
at 7pm / $50–$60 plus $25 food or drink minimum
(646) 476-3551 / 866-468-7619 / 54below.com

Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks
“If you haven’t yet checked out the Nighthawks’ new digs, what are you waiting for. “The band (which has just released their second volume of music from HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”) now actually sounds better, audio-wise, and the menu is a vast improvement over the band’s previous venue—overall, it is a step up, to the second floor, rather than a flight down, to the basement.

Although longtime fans are currently referring to the Nighthawks as “The Iguana Troubadours,” they continue to play with the same amazing combination of skin-tight historical authenticity and sheer, relentless energy, plus a tempo that has always characterized Mr. Giordano’s bands.” (WSJ-Will Friedwald)
Iguana, 240 W. 54th St., (Btw 8th/B’way)
8pm-11pm (3 sets) / $15 cover, $20 food/drink minimum
(212) 765-5454 / iguananyc.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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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 – SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2014.

Japan Day
“Returns to Central Park with an afternoon’s worth of events centered around culture, cuisine and the arts of Japan. From 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell, take in performances like jazz music, karate and fashion design; or cheer on the athletes at the Japan Run. For a more leisurely Sunday, check out the activity and food tents, where you can work on your origami or calligraphy or stuff your face with gyoza, miso soup, ramen and other tasty Japanese snacks.” (Gothamist)

Chocolate Tasting
“A chocolate tasting and a discussion about the interconnection of Jewish history and the history of chocolate will be led by Deborah R. Prinz, author of “On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao.” (NYT)
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place, Lower Manhattan,
646-437-4200, mjhnyc.org
At 2:30 p.m. / $18, $15 for students, $12 for members.

Of Montreal
“Of Montreal’s vibey, spirited energy offers a type of rock that plays with electric guitars and tambourines in familiar yet refreshing ways. Hailing from Athens, Georgia, their sound has evolved over the years but still has an unmistakable element, one that is reminiscent simultaneously of vaudeville and the 1970s. The band is a part of the eccentric Elephant 6 Collective — which also claims acts like Circulatory System and Neutral Milk Hotel — and will certainly send the crowd whirling with their animated, nostalgic riffs and loud, amped-up vocals.” (Eleanor Lambert-Village Voice)
Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, near Thompson Street, Greenwich Village, 212-505-3474, lepoissonrouge.com
At 9 p.m., / $25

Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band
“Latin jazz, in its many regional and stylistic forms, has rarely received as much attention as it has in the past few years. This is due in part to the work of the pianist Palmieri, one of the genre’s most influential and indefatigable figures, a ten-time Grammy winner and a 2013 N.E.A. Jazz Master, who has led rhythmically exhilarating, improvisation-infused ensembles for more than five decades. His group is joined for this run by the violinist Alfredo de la Fé, the vibraphonist Joe Locke, and the saxophonists Donald Harrison and Ronnie Cuber.” (NewYorker)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St.
212-475-8592

Manhattan Cocktail Classic (through May 13)
“In recent years, New York City—which, thanks to its mass-transit system, is practically designed with imbibing in mind—has seen an efflorescence of high-end cocktail culture. If you haven’t experienced it, this five-day event offers an opportunity to catch up, double-fisted. It starts with a gala party at the New York Public Library—featuring d.j. turns by Big Boi, Questlove, and AndrewAndrew—and includes mixology classes, distillery tours, and the creation of the World’s Largest Hand-Muddled Caipirinha.” (NewYorker)
manhattancocktailclassic.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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Many Fish, Small Pond – Bronx Zoo

A school of shellcracker fulu (Haplochromis ishmaeli) in the Jonathan L. Cohen Crocodile Pool, part of the “Madagascar” exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. The exit sign in the distance is for the building, not the tank. (May 11, 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 – West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

Sometimes you just need a beer and a burger. If so, Corner Bistro is the place you want. Located just outside the hip Meatpacking district, this corner bar and grill is decidedly unhip, but it’s not uncrowded, especially at night. Seems that everyone knows this place has one of the better burgers in town.

In the maze of streets known as the West Village, where West 4th intersects with West 12th (and West 11th, and West 10th, go figure), you will eventually find Corner Bistro on the corner of West 4th and Jane Street. An unassuming neighborhood tavern, it looks just like dozens of other taverns around town. The bartender tells me that the Corner Bistro will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary next year. The well worn interior tells me that the place itself is much older.

Corner Bistro has outlasted many of those other taverns around town because they know how to keep it simple — just good burgers and beer, fairly priced. The classic bistro Burger is only $6.75, and should be ordered medium rare, which will be plenty rare for most folks. Actually, it will be a juicy, messy delight – make sure you have extra napkins. I like to pull up a stool and sit by the large front window in the afternoon, where I can rest my burger and beer on the shelf, and watch the Villagers walk by.

Corner Bistro seems to attract very different groups of patrons depending on time of day. While it’s crowded with locals in the evening, in the afternoon you hear different foreign languages, and watch groups of euro tourists wander in, led by their guidebooks and smartphones.

For the classic Bistro experience, order your burger with a McSorley’s draft, the dark preferably. This is the same beer that you can get over at the original McSorley’s in the East Village, the pub that claims to be the oldest continually operating bar in NYCity. The only difference is that this McSorley’s ale is served with a smile by the bartenders here. Or you can get a Sierra Nevada, Stella, or Hoegaarden on tap if you want to go upscale a bit. Either way this is a simple, but quality burger and beer experience that is just too rare these days (sorry for the pun).

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Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk 2 blk W. on 13th St. to 8th Ave.; 1 blk S. on 8th Ave. to Jane St.
Update:

===========================================================================================
“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.
===========================================================================================

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014.

Spotlight on Artisanal Products: Baci & Perugina Chocolates
“You could pick up a box of Baci for Mama, or you could take her to this class so she can learn to create her own. Students will learn how to make the infamous chocolate candy as well as a crostata and flourless chocolate cake, with a history lesson on Perugina thrown in for good measure. The class will be taught by Viola Buitoni, a descendant of the company’s founding family and a noted chocoholic. Tickets are $70 and include several Baci-inspired desserts and a glass of Prosecco.” (VillageVoice)
Eataly, 200 Fifth Avenue, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Workout in the Park
“Presented by SELF Magazine, is designed to inspire you to kick-start your your spring fitness routine by bringing all the best exercise classes to one place. Hosted by Bob Harper, a trainer on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” the event will demonstrate both high-energy and more chilled-out exercise options (yoga, pilates), new trends in the field, health, dietary and beauty workshops, and consultations. Harper himself will also do the “ultimate total body-blasting workout.” (DNA info)
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park. Enter at 69th Street and Fifth Avenue,
Tickets are available for $30.

Sustainable Seafood Week NYC (until Sun May 11)
“Ride a wave of eco-friendly celebrations at this blowout supporting local fishermen and chefs. The party kicks off at the Sustainable Seafood Shindig, where chefs like Tom Colicchio (Craft) and Bill Telepan (Telepan) will host exclusive tastings, each teaming with a fisherman and a fellow chef to create sustainable dishes. Luke’s Lobster will host a supper club at its FiDi location, serving lobster potpie and oysters; and throughout the week, participating venues (Colicchio & Sons, the Memaid Inn) will be dishing out responsibly harvested food.” (TONY)
Various locations. sustainableseafoodweeknyc.com/. $65-$135

Ship To Shore: a Sea-to-Table Tasting Cruise
Discover the world between the city and the sea while sailing along New York City’s shoreline. Learn about the secret lives of the fish, birds, plants of New York’s waterways with experts Tim Dillingham, Sean Dixon, Peter Malinowski, Don Riepe and Susan Elbin. Sample oysters, clams, scallops, nuts, berries, beer and wine sourced from within 150 miles of New York City, and inspired by what Manhattan’s earliest residents might have been eating in 1609, when Henry Hudson sailed into town.

Hosted by The American Littoral Society and Field Guide; Seafood Provided by Village Fishmonger NYC and Fishers Island Oyster Farm; Snacks Provided by Good Eggs; Libations courtesy of SingleCut Beersmiths
When: Saturday, May 10th, 2:00pm-5:00pm
Where: Aboard the Cabana, departs from East 23rd Street Skyport Marina, NYC
Early bird prices were $55.00 per person (through Saturday May 3rd); now $75
at shiptoshore.eventbrite.com

Shuckin’ Awesome: A Sustainable Oyster Throwdown
The week’s closing party, Shuckin’ Awesome: A Sustainable Oyster Throwdown will be hosted by SUSHISAMBA West Village. The event, held on the rooftop, will feature raw oyster creations from four acclaimed New York City chefs, an open bar, passed aperitivos and live DJ beats through the evening. Guests along with four special guest judges, including Journalist Bao Ong (New York Times, Travel + Leisure) and TV Personality/Reporter Michelle Park, will have the chance to vote for their favorite.

The official Sustainable Seafood Week ‘wrap’ party and the perfect way to end the weekend!
When: Sunday, May 11th, 6:00pm-8:30pm
Where: Rooftop of SUSHISAMBA West Village, 87 Seventh Avenue South,
Tickets are $65.00 per person at Samba Brands Management

Marilyn Maye
“Who else but Marilyn Maye could present such a perfect and personal tribute to Johnny Carson, her longtime friend and benefactor? Departing from 54 Below’s usual Broadway-centric orientation, Ms. Maye (whom Carson introduced as “The Super Singer”) is a 1960s variety show all by herself: She’s not only a singing star and an ace comedian, but she has also the flash and dazzle of the most skillful juggler or tap dancer and her vocal acrobatics (which would be astounding even if she weren’t 86) give you the same thrill as a great trapeze artist.

Her miraculous timing is put to the test in this multimedia presentation, in which she interacts with vintage 1970s “Tonight Show” clips of herself—most movingly as part of a sequence of torch songs that builds to a medley of “Those Were the Days” and, believe it or not, “I Will Survive.” (WSJ)
54 Below, 254 W 54th St., btw Broadway and Eighth Ave
at 8pm / $40–$65 plus $25 food or drink minimum
(646) 476-3551 / 866-468-7619 / 54below.com

Brad Mehldau Trio
“An unstoppable force on piano since his emergence in the mid-’90s, Brad Mehldau has raised the bar for instrumentalists across the board, collaborating with the likes of Jon Brion, Pat Metheny, Chris Thile and most recently drummer Mark Guiliana on the electronic jazz feast Taming the Dragon (Nonesuch).

At the Village Vanguard (May 6-11) Mehldau returns to the source of it all with his acoustic trio featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. The band’s 2012 Nonesuch efforts Ode and Where Do You Start, focusing on originals and covers respectively, spill over with harmonic invention and interpretive finesse.” (VillageVoice)
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
Joan Osborne with special guests Allison Moorer & Martha Redbone (Sunday)
The 2nd Annual Joan Osborne Mother’s Day Benefit Concert – expanded to two nights this year – will benefit the Somaly Mam Foundation, dedicated to eradicating the trafficking and sexual exploitation of women and girls in Southeast Asia,

Joan Osborne’s eighth studio album, the recently released Love and Hate, is one of the most personally-charged, creatively ambitious efforts of her two-decades-plus recording career. The collection of new studio recordings – with Osborne as a co-writer on every song – is her most intimate record to date and is receiving critical acclaim. The NY Daily News expressed, “She treats love and hate not as distinct forces but as evil allies, conspiring against hapless humans.” RollingStone.com added, “There’s a substance and depth here that is not easily achieved, and I think Osborne is getting more interesting with time.” Osborne co-produced Love and Hate with Jack Petruzzelli (Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright)—with whom she also recorded 2012’s Bring It On Home, which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Blues Album category.
City Winery, 155 Varick St., near Spring St.
212-608-0555, citywinery.com
At 8pm / $45-$65
Saturday is sold out; listed today so you won’t be shut out tomorrow.
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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 (05/08) and (05/06).

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, MAY 09, 2014.

‘Ladies and Gentlemen…the Beatles!’ (last two days)
Fifty years ago The Beatles came to America. On Friday, February 7, 1964, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr arrived from the U.K. at the newly-named John F. Kennedy International Airport. With cameras flashing and reporters jostling, they were whisked into Manhattan amid the screams, shouts and tears of New York area teens, braving the cold for a mere glimpse of the band. Then, that Sunday, the veritable king of the television variety show, Ed Sullivan, introduced them to a captivated American audience of more than 73 million viewers—at the time a television record. And just like that Beatlemania was upon us.

Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles! brings us back to the early ‘60s when rock & roll was re-energized—some say saved—by four lads from Liverpool. The exhibition covers the period from early 1964 through mid-1966—the years Beatlemania ran rampant in America. During this time the band affected nearly every aspect of pop culture, including fashion, art, advertising, media, and, of course, music. On display are many Beatles-related pop culture artifacts from the period, as well as correspondence, instruments, posters, photographs, interviews, interactive displays, and an oral history booth in which visitors can leave their own impressions of The Beatles.
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts:
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, at 65th Street
Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., / FREE
917-275-6975, nypl.org/lpa

Dancing in the Grand Ballrooms: Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra
“Short of hopping into a time machine, this concert might be as close as you can get to visiting the heyday of New York’s swinging hotel dance floors. Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra—the 11-piece ensemble that’s drawn hordes of flapper fanatics to Governors Island’s Jazz Age Lawn Parties—provide ballroom strains from the ’20s through the ’50s. Expect a healthy dose of Cole Porter, as well as tunes made popular by Fred, Ginger and Frank.” (TONY)
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, at 95th St.
At 8PM / $32, members $27, 30 and under $20
212-864-5400 / symphonyspace.org

Mavis Staples
“Ms. Staples, the powerhouse former anchor of the gospel greats the Staple Singers, remains an indefatigable performer and road warrior. Her most recent album, “One True Vine,” benefited from an earthy dose of lo-fi Americana courtesy of its producer, Jeff Tweedy, the Wilco frontman. With Amy Helm. “ (Anderson-NYT)
Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North Sixth Street, Brooklyn,
800-745-3000, musichallofwilliamsburg.com;
At 8 p.m. / $40.

Bilal
“This Philly soul singer’s well-received debut album was followed by several years of toiling in near obscurity—but if his latest release, 2013’s A Love Surreal, is any indication, Bilal is poised to occupy the spotlight once again. He’s a super-tight live performer, so expect to work up a sweat during this gig.” (TONY)
Stage 48, 605 W 48th St. btw Eleventh and Twelfth Aves
At 8PM / $26
212-957-1800 / stage48.com

Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival
This annual gathering, celebrating the many reasons to take the A train, runs through May 10. One high point is the Vijay Iyer trio, at Aaron Davis Hall, on May 9. The pianist, composer, bandleader, and MacArthur Fellow recently released “Mutations,” an album that he recorded with a string quartet. His most satisfying work, however, remains with his bristling trio, featuring the bassist Stephen Crump and the drummer Marcus Gilmore. On their albums “Historicity” and “Accelerando,” Iyer and his colleagues have tackled eclectic material by the likes of M.I.A., Leonard Bernstein, and Duke Ellington.

Another highlight of the festival is the world première, on May 10, of “Afro Latin Jazz Suite,” by Arturo O’Farrill and his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. Commissioned by the Apollo Theatre, it’s an homage to “Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite,” a groundbreaking work composed sixty-five years ago by O’Farrill’s famed father, Chico. The evening, which also celebrates the release of Arturo’s latest album, “The Offense of the Drum,” includes appearances by Rudresh Mahanthappa, DJ Logic, Randy Weston, and many others.” (NewYorker) (harlemjazzshrines.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.
==============================================================================

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

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, MAY 08, 2014.

Brothers in Jazz
“In this season finale for the long-running concert series Highlights in Jazz, the focus is fraternal. Headlining the evening are the Heath Brothers: Jimmy on saxophone and Tootie on drums, with their trustworthy band. Also on the bill are Peter and Will Anderson — saxophonists, clarinetists, identical twins — playing the music of the Dorsey Brothers, with the trombonist Wycliffe Gordon as a featured guest.” (Chinen-NYT)
TriBeCa Performing Arts Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College,
199 Chambers Street, near Greenwich Street,
212-220-1460, tickets.tribecapac.org
At 7:30 p.m. / $45, $40 for students.

Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band (through May 11)
“Latin jazz, in its many regional and stylistic forms, has rarely received as much attention as it has in the past few years. This is due in part to the work of the pianist Palmieri, one of the genre’s most influential and indefatigable figures, a ten-time Grammy winner and a 2013 N.E.A. Jazz Master, who has led rhythmically exhilarating, improvisation-infused ensembles for more than five decades. His group is joined for this run by the violinist Alfredo de la Fé, the vibraphonist Joe Locke, and the saxophonists Donald Harrison and Ronnie Cuber.” (NewYorker)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St.
212-475-8592

E. L. Doctorow
E.L. Doctorow is the award winning author of numerous titles, including “Andrew’s Brain”, new this year for Random House. Internationally known for his unique works of historical fiction, Doctorow currently holds the Lewis and Loretta Glucksman Chair of English and American Letters at NYU.
NYU Bookstore, 726 Broadway
6 p.m. / FREE

Maria Schneider Orchestra
Following a triumphant Jazz at Lincoln Center appearance in March, which included exciting new work, this superb contemporary-minded big band returns. Schneider recently won three Grammys, including one for Best Contemporary Classical Composition, for “Winter Morning Walks,” an atypical collaboration with the classical vocalist Dawn Upshaw. Her jazz orchestra is filled to bursting with sharp section players and exceptional soloists, including the saxophonists Scott Robinson and Rich Perry. “ (NewYorker)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com;
At 8:30 and 11 p.m. / $45 cover, with a $10 minimum.

Hard Talks: Is The Internet Bad For Us
With more and more of our pursuits, from buying shoes to finding love, currently undertaken online, distinct camps of thinkers have emerged to offer their theories of what this computer-mediated communication do to our species.

Moderated by author and communications scholar Liel Leibovitz, Hard Talks is a new series featuring speakers with strongly opposing points of view addressing some of the most probing and provocative questions in intellectual history.
The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., New York, NY
212-423-3200
at 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
This program is free with Pay-What-You-Wish-Admission.
Seating is first-come, first-served.
===============================================================

♦ 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 (04/30) and (04/28).

Today’s “Fab 5”+1/ Selected NYCity Events – WEDNESDAY, MAY 07, 2014.

Beat The Streets Wrestling
Beat the Streets and USA Wrestling present the highly-anticipated Team USA vs. The World All-Stars international wrestling competition at New York’s Times Square. This event features top U.S. competitors against a World All-Star team featuring select wrestlers from across the world. The purpose of this event is to elevate the profile of the great sport of wrestling and to raise funds to support the operation of over 140 youth development wrestling programs in New York City, serving nearly 3,000 student-athletes.

Beat The Streets Wrestling Schedule
4:00 p.m. – Beat the Streets Exhibition Matches
5:30 p.m. – World Class Wrestling: Team USA vs. The World
Times Square at 43rd Street – http://www.btsny.org

The 3rd Annual Village Voice Choice Streets Food Truck Event
Returning for a third voyage on the Intrepid, The Village Voice presents their third annual Choice Streets Food Truck tasting event on May 7, 2014 (rain date May 9) from 7:00 – 11:00 PM. 1,300 ticket holders will be presented with a exclusive tasting passport to gain access to over 20 of some of the city’s favorite and highly sought-after food trucks.

Set amid the backdrop of the New York Landmark — The Intrepid — attendees will feast on Pier 86 and enjoy and evening of fabulous food, complimentary drinks, free tour of the Intrepid ship and an amazing view of New York City. Only guests ages 21 and over admitted.

Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival (through May 9)
“This multi-venue event (started May 4) pays homage to legendary Harlem venues past and present such as Minton’s, Monroe’s Uptown House, Small’s Paradise and the Apollo Theater.

There’ll be jam sessions hosted by Christian Sands and Antonio Hart, discussions of the legacies of Charlie Parker and James Baldwin, big bands led by Cecil Bridgewater, Bobby Sanabria and Arturo O’Farrill, and a free (yes, free) concert by the Vijay Iyer Trio at Aaron Davis Hall (May 9). The Harlem Stage Gatehouse also promises two intriguing nights with pianists Aruán Ortiz and Manuel Valera (May 7) and trumpeter Christian aTunde Adjuah (May 8).” (Village Voice)
A full schedule is at harlemjazzshrines.com.
Harlem Stage Gatehouse, 150 Convent Avenue, at 135th Street, Hamilton Heights
Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. /  $10 in advance

Hillary Gardner with Joe Alterman Jazz Trio
Hillary is one of my fave NYCity jazz singers. But it’s not just me.
This is what Terry Teachout, author of “Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong” and ”Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington” has to say:
“…an absolutely first-class singer. She swings effortlessly without making a big deal of it, and she has a knack for hunting down off-center tunes…Yet she’s just as adept at making something fresh and surprising out of an oft-heard chestnut.”

Tonight she is backed by JoeAlterman – “When listening to Joe Alterman perform, it is obvious that he has studied the history of jazz piano. However, his own style of playing is appealing, challenging and quite satisfying.”—Ramsey Lewis.
Don’t miss this performance in a classic Greenwich Village club.
Caffe Vivaldi, 32 Jones St., just S of BleeckerSt./7th Ave.S intersection
@ 8:30 pm / Never a Cover
1 (212) 691-7538 / caffevivaldi.com
subway: #1 to Christopher St./Sheridan Sq.

Sheila Jordan
“Ms. Jordan, 85, is a highly accomplished and exploratory singer — she was recently anointed a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts — whose approach to jazz skews nearly kaleidoscopic.” (Chinen)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com;
At 8:30 and 11 p.m. / $40 cover, with a $10 minimum.

PLUS ONE
10TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF HAMBURGER AMERICA
HOSTED BY GEORGE MOTZ
Watch the Film While You Taste the Burgers You See on the Screen –
Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick St, NYC
6:30 pm / $45
Ticket link: http://theburgerweek.com/tickets/

Includes:
Pre-party
Screening of Hamburger America, hosted by George Motz
Taste 3 Burgers featured in the film
Q&A with with George
After party
10 years ago, George Motz released the film Hamburger America, which spotlights 8 different American Burger joints with a focus on the story behind their burgers. That film went on to become the Hamburger America book, that in it‘s 2nd printing offers a “state by state guide to 150 great burger joints.”
===============================================================

♦ 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.
==============================================================================

The Week That Was in NYCity
(courtesy NYPost, with the most unique front/back pages anywhere)

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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

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

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
===========================================================================================

3 Good Eating places

It’s not difficult 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.

================================================================================
“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 descriptions of my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods (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 – TUESDAY, MAY 06, 2014.

Innovators: Building Design and Construction
“The Guastavinos were peerless innovators of building design and construction in the early 20th century—who are the Guastavinos of today? Join us for a panel discussion with contemporary visionaries in the fields of architecture and engineering, where new developments driven by 3-D computer printing; prefabrication and modular design; integrated environmental systems; and structural innovation are changing the fabric of 21st-century life.

Jill Lerner, Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) and 2013 President of the AIA New York Chapter, moderates a panel discussion with architects Corie Sharples (SHoP Architecture) and Marianne Kwok (KPF), and engineers Valentine A. Lehr (Lehr Consultants International) and Guy Nordenson (Guy Nordenson Associates).
Presented in conjunction with Palaces for the People and co-sponsored by the AIA New York Chapter.” (ThoughtGallery)
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., New York
at 6:30 pm / $16; $12 seniors and students; free for members
212-534-1672 / 917.492.3395. / http://www.mcny.org

John Hiatt & The Combo: A live Front and Center Taping
John Hiatt, an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter, has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards and has been awarded a variety of other distinctions in the music industry. He remains one of the most respected and influential American singer-songwriters.
The Iridium, 1650 Broadway (51st)
at 8:30 PM – (212) 582-2121 / www.theiridium.com ; http://www.johnhiatt.com
General Admission: $60.00/Preferred Seating: $90.00/Front and Center: $195.00

Brad Mehldau Trio
“An unstoppable force on piano since his emergence in the mid-’90s, Brad Mehldau has raised the bar for instrumentalists across the board, collaborating with the likes of Jon Brion, Pat Metheny, Chris Thile and most recently drummer Mark Guiliana on the electronic jazz feast Taming the Dragon (Nonesuch).

At the Village Vanguard (May 6-11) Mehldau returns to the source of it all with his acoustic trio featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. The band’s 2012 Nonesuch efforts Ode and Where Do You Start, focusing on originals and covers respectively, spill over with harmonic invention and interpretive finesse.” (VillageVoice)
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.

Juilliard415
“As part of Miller Theater’s free Pop-Up Concerts series, this incisive early-music ensemble from the Juilliard School plays chamber works by Handel and Leclair.” (Woolfe-NYT)
Miller Theater, Broadway at 116th Street, Morningside Heights,
212-854-7799, millertheatre.com
At 6 p.m. / FREE

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: “Music of Three Centuries”
“The U.S. première of Zhou Long’s “Tales From the Nine Bells,” a haunting work inspired by sounds from the composer’s Chinese homeland, is a special part of the Society’s next concert, which also features cultivated pieces by three other composers fond of folk music: Brahms (the Sonata No. 2 in E-Flat Major for Clarinet and Piano), Kodály, and Schumann (the Piano Trio No. 3 in G Minor). The distinguished Scandinavian cellist Torleif Thedéen is the special guest, joining such Society regulars as the clarinettist David Shifrin and the pianist Inon Barnatan.” (NewYorker)
Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center,
212-875-5788 / chambermusicsociety.org
at 7:30 / $30 to $62
===============================================================

♦ 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 @ 3 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:
William Kentridge: ‘The Refusal of Time’ (through May 11)
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
————————————————————————————————————————————-

‘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.
—————————————————————————————————————————————-

‘Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Video’ (through May 14)
“Kandinsky in Paris, 1934–1944“ (through Apr. 23, 2014)
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 05/04 and 05/02.

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, MAY 05, 2014.

Coldplay
“Accompanied by all the ammunition of its live show — grandiose lighting, huge vocals, stalwart work ethic — this British pop-rock band manages to deliver both anthemic and maudlin moments. It veers toward downcast synths and piano flutters on “Magic,” the ambling first single from “Ghost Stories,” out on May 19. That track’s whimsical, vaudevillian video is worth viewing. “ (Anderson-NYT)
Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway, at 74th Street,
800-745-3000, beacontheatre.com;
At 9 p.m. / $59.20 to $128.25

‘Ladies and Gentlemen…the Beatles!’ (through May 10)
Fifty years ago The Beatles came to America. On Friday, February 7, 1964, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr arrived from the U.K. at the newly-named John F. Kennedy International Airport. With cameras flashing and reporters jostling, they were whisked into Manhattan amid the screams, shouts and tears of New York area teens, braving the cold for a mere glimpse of the band. Then, that Sunday, the veritable king of the television variety show, Ed Sullivan, introduced them to a captivated American audience of more than 73 million viewers—at the time a television record. And just like that Beatlemania was upon us.

Ladies and Gentlemen…The Beatles! brings us back to the early ‘60s when rock & roll was re-energized—some say saved—by four lads from Liverpool. The exhibition covers the period from early 1964 through mid-1966—the years Beatlemania ran rampant in America. During this time the band affected nearly every aspect of pop culture, including fashion, art, advertising, media, and, of course, music. On display are many Beatles-related pop culture artifacts from the period, as well as correspondence, instruments, posters, photographs, interviews, interactive displays, and an oral history booth in which visitors can leave their own impressions of The Beatles.
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts:
111 Amsterdam Avenue, at 65th Street, Lincoln Center,
Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., / FREE
917-275-6975, nypl.org/lpa

Try to coordinate your Beatles visit with this event @ 6PM:
Bebe Neuwirth
League of Professional Theatre Women: Oral History Project
A conversation with prominent women in theatre, as part of the League’s ongoing series which chronicles and documents the contributions of significant women in theatre.

Today’s program features Bebe Neuwirth, who talks about her life in the theater.
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, Bruno Walter Auditorium (Map and directions)
At 6PM / FREE
The LPA is proud to offer free admission to programs on a first come, first served basis. Admission lines form one hour prior to each program in the lobby of 111 Amsterdam Ave. At that time one ticket is provided per person. Tickets are not available for advance reservation and saving seats is not permitted. General admission seating. Call 212.642.0142 for more detailed information.

Spinning Wheels! Pedal-Powered Trivia
At this event, co-sponsored by Transportation Alternatives, bicyclists can test their knowledge of this form of transportation during the multimedia mix of pop culture questions, songs and film clips.
Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St., near Clinton St., Brooklyn Heights,
718-222-4111, brooklynhistory.org
At 6:30 p.m. / $15, $10 for members.
Subway: #2-3 to Clark St. 1st stop in Bklyn. Walk 3 blocks – you’re there.
Or better yet, get on your CitiBike and ride across the Bklyn Bridge.

Rick Springfield: Magnificent Vibration
Why are we here? What is love? Is there a loch ness monster? Does God send text messages?
These are the kinds of questions Horatio Cotton, aka Bobby, asks in New York Times bestseller Rick Springfield’s debut novel, Magnificent Vibration.;

After stealing a mysterious self-help book called Magnificent Vibration: Discover Your True Purpose from a bookstore, Bobby calls the 1-800 number scrawled inside the front cover, only to discover that he has a direct line to God. This launches Bobby on an unlikely quest, serendipitously accompanied by a breathtakingly sexy and exceedingly sharp travel companion named Alice. Together the pair sets out to find some combination of spiritual and carnal salvation—and possibly save the planet.

Join Springfield at this Barnes & Noble author event in Union Square. Magnificent Vibration is available now for pre-order. On sale May 6.
Barnes & Noble – Union Square, 33 E. 17th St..
at 7:00 pm / FREE
212-253-0810
===============================================================

♦ 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.
==============================================================================

And One With Mustard – Washington Square Park

Stella, a 13-year-old Dachshund, at the Dachshund Friendship Club Spring Fiesta last weekend in Washington Square Park.  (May 4, 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

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

A PremierPub – West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

Sometimes you just need a beer and a burger. If so, Corner Bistro is the place you want. Located just outside the hip Meatpacking district, this corner bar and grill is decidedly unhip, but it’s not uncrowded, especially at night. Seems that everyone knows this place has one of the better burgers in town.

In the maze of streets known as the West Village, where West 4th intersects with West 12th (and West 11th, and West 10th, go figure), you will eventually find Corner Bistro on the corner of West 4th and Jane Street. An unassuming neighborhood tavern, it looks just like dozens of other taverns around town. The bartender tells me that the Corner Bistro will be celebrating it’s 50th anniversary next year. The well worn interior tells me that the place itself is much older.

Corner Bistro has outlasted many of those other taverns around town because they know how to keep it simple — just good burgers and beer, fairly priced. The classic bistro Burger is only $6.75, and should be ordered medium rare, which will be plenty rare for most folks. Actually, it will be a juicy, messy delight – make sure you have extra napkins. I like to pull up a stool and sit by the large front window in the afternoon, where I can rest my burger and beer on the shelf, and watch the Villagers walk by.

Corner Bistro seems to attract very different groups of patrons depending on time of day. While it’s crowded with locals in the evening, in the afternoon you hear different foreign languages, and watch groups of euro tourists wander in, led by their guidebooks and smartphones.

For the classic Bistro experience, order your burger with a McSorley’s draft, the dark preferably. This is the same beer that you can get over at the original McSorley’s in the East Village, the pub that claims to be the oldest continually operating bar in NYCity. The only difference is that this McSorley’s ale is served with a smile by the bartenders here. Or you can get a Sierra Nevada, Stella, or Hoegaarden on tap if you want to go upscale a bit. Either way this is a simple, but quality burger and beer experience that is just too rare these days (sorry for the pun).

=========================================================
Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk 2 blk W. on 13th St. to 8th Ave.; 1 blk S. on 8th Ave. to Jane St.
Update:

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

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
===========================================================================================

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, MAY 04, 2014.

Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival (through May 8)
“This multi-venue event (starting May 4) pays homage to legendary Harlem venues past and present such as Minton’s, Monroe’s Uptown House, Small’s Paradise and the Apollo Theater.

There’ll be jam sessions hosted by Christian Sands and Antonio Hart, discussions of the legacies of Charlie Parker and James Baldwin, big bands led by Cecil Bridgewater, Bobby Sanabria and Arturo O’Farrill, and a free (yes, free) concert by the Vijay Iyer Trio at Aaron Davis Hall (May 9). The Harlem Stage Gatehouse also promises two intriguing nights with pianists Aruán Ortiz and Manuel Valera (May 7) and trumpeter Christian aTunde Adjuah (May 8).” (Village Voice)

Begins on Sunday with a Jazz Vespers service featuring the singer Brianna Thomas at Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 Odell Clark Place, at West 138th St.
A full schedule is at harlemjazzshrines.com.
Sunday at 4 p.m., Abyssinian Baptist Church,  $20.
Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Harlem Stage Gatehouse, 150 Convent Avenue, at 135th Street, Hamilton Heights; $10 in advance

Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band
“A cornerstone of the brass band revival in New Orleans, formed in 1970 and originally organized by the banjoist Danny Barker, the Fairview Baptist Church Brass Band now counts among its members the trumpeter Kevin Louis, the trombonist David Harris and the tuba player Jeffrey Hills. For this special engagement, the band also welcomes one of its many distinguished alumni, the drummer Shannon Powell.“(Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jalc.org
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. / $30 to $45 cover, with a $10 minimum

Limón Dance Company
“Along with two of its founder’s finest and most enduring works—the poetic Chopin piece “Mazurkas” (1958) and the pain-filled “Psalm” (1967)—the company presents “Nocturnes for Ancestors,” a full-company première by Seán Curran, with a live score by the world-music chamber orchestra Manhattan Camerata. Roxane D’Orléans Juste, celebrating her thirtieth year with the troupe, dances a new solo by Dianne McIntyre, “She Who Carries the Sky.” (NewYorker)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave. at West 19th St.
at 2 p.m. / $10 to $59
212-242-0800 / joyce.org

Omar Sosa Quarteto AfroCubano/Melissa Aldana Quartet
“The magnetic Cuban pianist Omar Sosa explores the roots of his culture as if through a kaleidoscope, working with the new band he calls Quarteto AfroCubano, with the saxophonist and flutist Leandro Saint-Hill, the bassist Childo Tomas and the drummer Ernesto Simpson. Sharing the bill during this engagement is Melissa Aldana, an accomplished young Chilean tenor saxophonist, joined by Glenn Zaleski on piano, Pablo Menares on bass and Jochen Rueckert on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village,
212-475-8592, bluenote.net
At 8 and 10:30 p.m. / $35 at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum.

Shen Wei Dance Arts (last day)
“For its six-day run at Judson Memorial Church, the company brings back “Map,” a complex work from 2005, set to Steve Reich’s “The Desert Music.” The dance is divided into seven parts, each characterized by a particular style of movement, from bouncing to rotation of the joints to circular patterns. All are then recombined in the dizzying finale. For this “in the round” performance, the set has been re-configured as a hanging mobile made out of balloons of various shapes and sizes. In addition, Shen Wei performs a new solo, demonstrating the remarkable fluidity and meditative focus of his technique.” (NewYorker)
Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, at Thompson St.
at 7:30 p.m / $25 to $60
866-811-4111 / shenweidancearts.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.

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WHAT’S ON VIEW: Special Exhibitions @ 4 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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‘Capa in Color’ (last day)
“Robert Capa first worked with color in 1938, though he only began shooting regularly in color in 1941. This exhibition includes more than 100 contemporary inkjet prints, a fraction of the roughly 4,200 color transparencies held in the center’s Capa Archive. Sections of the exhibition include photographs of postwar Paris with spectators at the Longchamp racetrack, fashion models, people sitting in cafes. Black and white remained the standard for war photography as well as art during this time, however, and color during Capa’s period was still for commerce, amateurs, leisure — and stories featuring women.”
(Martha Schwendener-NYT)

‘What Is a Photograph?’ (last day)
“This exhibition is supposed to address a good question: What is photography in today’s digital age with its mind-boggling new smorgasbord of ways to create and disseminate machine-made images? It brings together works from the past four decades by 21 artists who have used photography to ponder the nature of photography itself. But it’s a strangely blinkered and backward-looking show. Most of what is on view has more to do with photography’s analog past than with its cybernetic future.” (Ken Johnson-NYT)
International Center of Photography, 1133 Avenue of the Americas, at 43rd St.
212-857-0000, icp.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 (05/02) and (04/30).