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

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

Downtown Literary Festival
“The literary diversity of downtown Manhattan will be reflected in the readings, discussions, screenings and social gatherings that are part of this second annual festival. The presenters include McNally Jackson, 52 Prince Street, between Lafayette and Mulberry Streets, SoHo; Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, near Houston Street, SoHo; and the Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, near Bleecker Street, East Village.

Free events are scheduled at all locations, with children’s activities beginning at 10:30 a.m. at McNally Jackson, and adult events starting at 11 a.m. at the Bowery Poetry Club and at noon at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe.” (NYT)
A schedule is at downtownliteraryfestival.tumblr.com

Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Latin jazz at it’s best
Since its original conception by producer Aaron Levinson in 2000, the Grammy Award Winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra (SHO) has established itself as a standard bearer of contemporary Latin music. Directed by world-renowned pianist, arranger, and producer Oscar Hernández, the thirteen-member all-star ensemble has reintroduced the classic sounds of New York City Salsa to music lovers worldwide. The Grammy award-winning Viva la Tradicón, SHO’s fourth album, is a stunning follow-up to their 2007 Grammy nominated United We Swing, 2004 Grammy award-winning album Across 110th St., and their 2002 debut, Un Gran Día En El Barrio.

The 12-track collection marks the orchestra’s debut album for Concord Picante. Viva la Tradicóntakes up where its three predecessors left off – stirring the pot of mid-20th century influences and keeping the salsa simmering for current and future generations.

Now in its tenth year, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra is one of the most formidable and authentic Latin jazz combos of today. Yet for all of its appeal with contemporary audiences, the group’s success is actually rooted in the past. A lively and energetic affair, Viva la Tradición draws on inspiration from the music’s history and enduring traditions. The collection is comprised largely of original compositions and arrangements of classic salsa tunes by bandleader/founder Oscar Hernandez as well as enlisting the support of veteran composer and arranger Gil Lopez on three of Lopez’s compositions (“Son De Corazon,” “Nuestra Cancion,” and “Regala De Dios).
Highline Ballroom, 431 West 16th St.
at 8pm / $28

‘The Power of Poison’ (through Aug. 10)
“The good and bad uses of poison are covered in this interactive exhibition, which includes animation and a bit of theater. In his review for The New York Times, Edward Rothstein said that this is one of the museum’s “most theatrical exhibitions” and that the curating team has “combined elements with deft curatorial alchemy, touching on every taxonomical category.” (NYT)
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th St.
Daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m./ $22, $17 for students and 60+
212-769-5200, amnh.org

Blind Boy Paxton
Jerron Paxton, a native of California, has taken to beguiling New Yorkers with his “old time music – Appalachian and Cajun and blues – playing guitar, banjo & fiddle”. (NYTIMES) Although only in his 20’s, Paxton handles the music and the stage like a seasoned professional, bringing the audience back to the ’20’s and making them wish they could stay for good.
Terra Blues, 149 Bleeker St.
Blind Boy Paxton @7PM ; followed by The Pioneers @10PM
At 7pm / $10

Columbia Jazz Ensembles featuring the great Bobby Porcelli
Looks like tonight is filled with great Latin Jazz.
New York native Bobby Porcelli is one of Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz’s most accomplished flautists and alto saxophonists. Bobby Porcelli has earned his stellar reputation through years of performing with the biggest names in Latin music. He joined the Tito Rodriguez Orchestra in 1963 and later the Machito Orchestra in 1965. Porcelli began playing with Tito Puente during 1966 and continued on with Puente for over 30 years. He is the only lead alto sax player to have played steadily with the “Big Three” from the Palladium Era (Puente, Machito, and Rodriquez).

An exciting soloist influenced heavily by Charlie Parker and Sonny Still, Porcelli has performed and recorded with Mongo Santamaria, Eddie Palmieri, Chico O’Farrill, Willie Colon, George Benson, Joe Henderson, Cedar Walton, and Bobby Watson. An original member of T.S. Monk’s sextet as well as the Monk on Monk Tentet, Porcelli currently performs with Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.
With ensembles directed by Paul Bollenback, Ole Mathisen and Don Sickler
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
Miller Theatre, 2960 Broadway
At 8:00pm / FREE
212-854-7799

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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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Skyway to Heaven – New Jersey

“At dusk, you can hardly tell that the Pulaski Skyway, the “functionally obsolete” bridge in the Meadowlands, needs a billion-dollar renovation. ” April 13, 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 – 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 – SATURDAY, APR. 12, 2014.

Chaplin at Mutual (1916-1917)
Watch four Charlie Chaplin shorts.

Finding his “movie legs” at Keystone and Essanay, Chaplin signed a contract with the Mutual Film Corp. for 12 shorts which made him the one of the highest paid performers in the world. The stint with Mutual was a major creative burst for the comedian and is represented today with THE COUNT (’16), THE PAWNSHOP (’16), THE IMMIGRANT (’17), and THE ADVENTURER (’17). The Mutual films show Chaplin at the peak of his two-reel form, and from these first years in the film industry Chaplin went on to independence at his own studio where he would create longer and more complex comedies.
Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center
2:30 p.m. / FREE

Pride of Brooklyn Homebrew Festival 2014
The suds face-off returns for its second year, with 25 Kings County home-brewers battling for top honors from judges and the public. Sip through entries (each participant will bring five gallons of their brew), along with pours from local brewery Yonkers, while noshing on pulled-pork sliders from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.
Littlefield, 622 DeGraw St. (between Third and Fourth Aves)
1pm / $25-$55
littlefieldnyc.com
ok. so this is off our track in Gowanus, of all places.
but it is a beer fest, which makes it worth the trek
subway: #1-2-3 to Times Sq, transfer to R to Union St.

Hazmat Modine & SaRon Crenshaw
With dueling harmonicas, a scintillating sousaphone, and the mysterious sheng (the ancient Chinese mouth organ), the band runs the gamut of genres and instrumentation. Most of what they play are originals, but keep an ear out for cover versions of “Slim Gaillard, Jimmy Rogers, Jaybird Coleman, and Irving Berlin.” Lead Wade Schuman will send the audience home humming & stomping after the romping, dynamic and passionately unique experience that is Hazmat Modine.

Charismatic jazz and blues guitarist SaRon Crenshaw works the crowd in the headlining slot. Support comes from Wade Schuman’s brassy, gritty world-blues combo Hazmat Modine, which has collaborated with Natalie Merchant and the Kronos Quartet.
Terra Blues, 149 Bleeker St.
@7PM, followed by the Saron Crenshaw Band @10PM / $15

The Big Cheesy (April 12 – 13)
A grilled cheese extravaganza
“If ever there were a reason to put your diet on hold, it’s this: The Big Cheesy grilled cheese competition. This two-day pop-up resto and culinary throwdown features the gooiest and cheesiest sandwiches around pressed together by the culinary experts at Murray’s Melts, 5oz Factory, Sons of Essex, Meltkraft and more. You’re the judge, so best use your one-hour of sampling wisely at this “homage to fromage.” Added bonus: two Goose Island beers are included in the cost of admission.”
(Flavorpill’s Mindy Bond – she’s good, knows what’s happening)
Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry Street,
Daily, 11am – 7pm / $30

JANE MONHEIT (through April 12)
“The days when her vocal bona fides were questioned are long since past, and Monheit has become a jazz mainstay. On her recent album, “The Heart of the Matter,” she goes where her fancy takes her, mixing the Beatles, Ivan Lins, Randy Newman, and a “Sesame Street” anthem into her repertoire. For this run, she’s fronting the Manhattan School of Music Big Band, featuring musicians from her alma mater.” (NewYorker)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St.
At 8 and 10:30 p.m. / $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum
212-581-3080 / bluenote.net
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♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.

♦ NYCity is a big town with many visitors where quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats in advance, even if just on day of performance.

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What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 3 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

‘The American West in Bronze, 1850-1925’ (LAST DAY)
‘Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris’ (through May 4)
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
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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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‘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 04/10 and 04/08.

Today’s “Fab 5”+1 / Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, APR. 11, 2014.

Today’s “Fab 5”+1 / Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, APR. 10, 2014.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
For the first time ever, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony is heading to Brooklyn!

Excitement is high over a certain East Coast band, which had its first big hit in 1975 and is known to put on quite the stage show, getting long-overdue recognition from the R&R HoF. Ladies and gentlemen, Hall and Oates! Kiss is also on the list of 2014 inductees, as is Nirvana, almost exactly 20 years after the death of lead singer and Kiss fan Kurt Cobain

Cat Stevens, Linda Rondstadt, Peter Gabriel and the E Street Band help round out this year’s class. There’s a tribute to Linda Ronstadt planned, featuring Stevie Nicks, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Carrie Underwood and Sheryl Crow, while Bruce Springsteen is delivering the induction speech for his longtime band.
Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Avenue, at Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn,
At 7 p.m., this may be sold out, but try craigslist, stub hub, ebay, etc
800-745-3000, barclayscenter.com

From Somewear to Everywear:
The Future of Wearable Computing and Augmented Reality
Presented by Steven Feiner, Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University, who will provide an overview of research on wearable computing, with a special emphasis on augmented reality, which interactively overlays computer media on our experience of the physical world.
In conjunction with the exhibition “Coding the Body”, organized by Leah Buechley.
apexart, 291 Church Street,
at 6:30pm / FREE

Johnny Clegg
‘This stirring musician is an artistic force in his native South Africa, where during apartheid he formed an integrated rock band that fused the country’s folkloric musical history with contemporary pop. “Asimbonanga (Mandela),” his plaintive tribute to Nelson Mandela, mixes English verses with Zulu choruses. This rare, three-night stand at City Winery features his son, Jesse, and ties together South Africa’s history in song and dance.” (Anderson-NYT)
City Winery, 155 Varick Street, near Spring Street, South Village,
212-608-0555, citywinery.com
at 8pm / $35 to $50.

Hey Bartender! The Official Beer Book Launch Party
A party featuring tales of intrigue from some of Brooklyn’s best bartenders

“Get to know your neighborhood bartenders at this free soiree that doubles as a book release party for the Brokelyn Beer Book. In addition to a stand-up set by comedian/bartender Kendra Cunningham, the evening features a panel moderated by Rosie Schaap where mixologists tell war stories and share tricks of the trade, and a rap session where you can find out everything you always wanted to know about bartending. You can also pick up a handy dandy Brokelyn Beer Book, which contains coupons for 30 free beers at 30 bars.” (Flavorpill’s Mindy Bond)
The Graham, 151 Meserole Street, Brooklyn,
At 7PM / FREE
This sounds so worth the trip.
Subway: #1-2-3 to 14^th St; transfer to the L to Montrose Ave.; walk 3 short blocks

Cabaret Jazz
For this installment of the Highlights in Jazz concert series, two soft-spoken titans of American songbook interpretation perform in cozy settings. Barbara Carroll, backing herself on piano, will be joined by a regular partner (and Highlights in Jazz MVP), the bassist and singer Jay Leonhart. As for Andy Bey, he’ll work alone, as on his sublime recent album, “The World According to Andy Bey.” (NYT-Chinen)
TriBeCa Performing Arts Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College,
199 Chambers Street, near Greenwich Street
AT 8PM / $45
212-220-1460, tribecapac.org

Chick Corea Solo Piano
“Chick Corea will draw on his long career, plus his new double album, ‘Portraits,’ at Town Hall.

You wouldn’t think there would be that much variety in a solo concert, but the redoubtable pianist has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. If the music on his forthcoming double album, “Portraits,” is any indication, this long-awaited unaccompanied Town Hall recital will find Armando Anthony Corea digging into his rather capacious bag of tricks: His unique takes on the music of Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Stevie Wonder, Bela Barkok and Alexander Scriabin; his deceptively complex “Children’s Songs”; and his spontaneously composed portraits of people and places. Hopefully, the pianist also find the time to essay his own jazz standards, like “Spain” and “Chick’s Tune.” (WSJ)
The Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St.,
At 8PM / $47-$97
(212) 997-1003 / the-townhall-nyc.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)

“Ileana Sonnabend: Ambassador for the New’ (through April 21)
‘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’ (through May 4)
“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?’ (through May 4)
“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 (04/06) and (04/08).

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

Lecture and Performance: Interpreting DOLCE VITA:
An Engagement with Images, Music and Narrative
On the occasion of the presentation of: Dolce Via, Italy in the 1980’s
(Damiani Grafiche, 2013)
A photographic monograph by Charles H. Traub
A reading by distinguished scholar and poet Luigi Ballerini
An original score by pianist and composer Massimo Bianchi
Comments by esteemed critic Max Kozloff

Traub’s images are marked by a candid intimacy that combines humor and spontaneity, making us long for an Italy that once was—or perhaps only existed in our romantic, brightly hued imaginations. In his Dialog of the Street The Photographer and his Muse, Ballerini humorously questions what the foreigner sees versus what was and what is, Italy. Bianchi accompanies with a musical improvisation of the performance that is Italy. Direction by Andrew Landauro, filmmaker and installation artist. Scripting by Ken Lavey, artist/ technologist. In ENGLISH.
Casa Italiana, 24 West 12th Street
At 7:00 PM FREE
(212) 998-8739

David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band
Inspired by the noble jazz pioneers Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and their colleagues, David Ostwald’s Louis Armstrong Eternity Band breathes life and passion into America’s own great art form. Legendary record producer George Avakian describes the band in this way:

“There has never been a band quite like this one. Most groups, past and present, stick to one style. Some current groups attempt to recreate early recordings in their entirety. These guys do neither. Inspired by divergent bands of the 1920s and 30s, you’ll hear them swing a variety of styles in music by a wide range of composers, always true to the joy and heart of the music.”

Now in its 14th year of residency at Birdland, the weekly post-workday engagement is the city’s best musical bargain! Tuba player David Ostwald leads a rotating lineup that features talents such as clarinetist Anat Cohen, trombonist/vocalist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Ehud Asherie, drummer Marion Felder and more!
Birdland, 315 W 44th St,
At 5:30PM / $25
birdlandjazz.com

NEW CUBAN CINEMA: 55 YEARS OF A SHARED DREAM
This event features the screening of three films followed by a conversation between Luciano Castillo, Director of Cuban Film Archives, and Professor Jerry Carlson, Bildner Center Senior Fellow. This event is a collaborative effort by the Bildner Center and the Havana Film Festival and forms part of the Bildner Center’s Cuban Music and Arts Initiative. Films subtitled in English.
Film screened:
El Cowboy
Jesús de Armas|Cuba|1962|Animation|8min
A short animation that satirizes American Western films. Corto de animación que satiriza las películas norteamericanas del oeste.
Now!
Santiago Alvarez|Cuba|1965|Experimental|6min
One of Álvarez’s most famous works, Now! discusses racial discrimination in the USA and includes mixed news photographs and musical clips featuring singer/actress Lena Horne.
Historias de la Revolución
Tomás Gutiérrez Alea | Cuba | 1960 | Fiction | 81min
The first feature film after the Revolution was Gutiérrez Alea’s directorial debut, which reenacts three important episodes of the armed struggle. One of his least-known works, it depicts three stories about the fight against Batista’s dictatorship in 1950s Cuba: “El herido,” “Rebeldes,” and “La batalla de Santa Clara.”
The Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, ROOM:C204
6:00 PM / FREE
gc.cuny.edu/Public

Laura Mvula
British neo-soul singer Laura Mvula grew up singing in an acappella group helmed by her aunt and graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a degree in composition. Working as a teacher at a secondary school and directing the community gospel choirs in her hometown on the side, she also began to compose assured yet exuberant songs on her laptop, influenced by Americans like Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. She soon landed on the RCA label and last year released a vibrant debut in “Sing to the Moon.” Both live and on album, Ms. Mvula has the vocal strength to reach such heights
Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N. Sixth St., Brooklyn
(718) 486-540
subway: #1 to 14th, transfer to L to Bedford (1st stop in Bklyn), short walk to venue
bklyns westside, easy trip. everyone is very high on this lady.

“NYPL BOOKS AT NOON”
The New York Public Library’s weekly series in Astor Hall (the soaring space just inside the main entry) featuring a writer in conversation with a member of the library’s staff, continues withA.E. Hotchner.  Novelist and nonagenarian A.E. Hotchner (O.J. in the Morning, G&T at Night) reads for 30 minutes before answering questions.
New York Public Library, Fifth Ave. at 42nd St.
12PM / FREE
917-275-6975

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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

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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 – TUESDAY, APR. 08, 2014.

Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day
“It’s time again for the day ice cream lovers look forward to all year. From 12pm-8pm, Ben & Jerry’s dishes out free scoops in celebration of their birthday. A tradition dating back to 1979, it’s the company’s way of saying thank you and spreading the peace, love & ice cream. In New York, you can find gratis frosty treats at the stores in Times Square, Macy’s and Rockefeller Center.” (Flavorpill’s Mindy Bond)
12pm – 8pm / FREE
Various New York Locations
I’m headed to the one in Macy’s (4th Fl) on 34th St, just E of 7th Ave. See you there.

The Great Choir: St. John at St. John
The Cathedral Choirs present Bach’s famously dramatic setting of the Passion story.
The St. John Passion features powerful opening and closing choruses, dramatic crowd scenes, and a compelling narrative. The work will be sung from the proscenium of the Great Choir.
Soloists:
Lawrence Jones, Evangelist / Neil Netherly, Christus
Amy Justman, soprano / Kirsten Sollek, contralto
John Tiranno, tenor / Peter Stewart, baritone
Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam, at 112th St.
7:30pm / $25
212-316-7540

Matt Taibbi: “The Divide”
“Former Rolling Stone contributing editor Taibbi (The Great Derangement, Griftopia) is a clear and passionate voice that confronts ideas worth wrestling with. He’ll talk about his new title, which deals with American wealth inequality and our imbalanced judicial system, with writer and artist Molly Crabapple.” (TONY)
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 it is Matt Taibbi.
easy to get to. subway:#1 to 14 th St.; transfer to F to York; 1st stop in Bklyn
walk towards the river and Water St.; 2 blks S to powerHouse

JANE MONHEIT (through April 12)
“The days when her vocal bona fides were questioned are long since past, and Monheit has become a jazz mainstay. On her recent album, “The Heart of the Matter,” she goes where her fancy takes her, mixing the Beatles, Ivan Lins, Randy Newman, and a “Sesame Street” anthem into her repertoire. For this run, she’s fronting the Manhattan School of Music Big Band, featuring musicians from her alma mater.” (NewYorker)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St.
At 8 and 10:30 p.m. / $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum
212-581-3080 / bluenote.net

“Storytelling in the Digital Media Age”
Jeff Gomez, founder of Starlight Entertainment
first annual lecture: The Media and Idea Lab at Columbia University
Columbia University, Butler Library 523
4:30pm

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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.

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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.

WHAT’S ON VIEW: Here’s one gallery exhibition that the NYT art critic really liked:  

‘Re-View: Onnasch Collection’ (through April 12) This show more faithfully simulates the experience of seeing art in a modern art museum than any private gallery exhibition in recent memory. Installed in a sequence of 11 whitewall rooms in a gymnasium-size space, the show’s 57 works dating mainly from the 1950s to the ’80s are from a collection assembled by Reinhard Onnasch, a German art dealer. All of the 27 artists — from the Abstract Expressionist Franz Kline to the Minimalist Richard Serra — will be known to anyone familiar with post-World War II art. Nearly all are represented by choice examples.” (Johnson-NYT) Hauser & Wirth, 511 West 18th Street, 212-790-3900, hauserwirth.com.

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 (04/06) and (04/04).

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

An Evening with Author Junot Diaz
As part of the Writing Lives Series at the Heyman Center for the Humanities, author Junot Díaz will read from his work and discuss his writing. A Q&A will follow.

Junot Díaz was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New Jersey. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Drown; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award; and This Is How You Lose Her, a New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist.

He is the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, PEN/Malamud Award, Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Guggenheim Fellowship, and PEN/O. Henry Award. A graduate of Rutgers College, Díaz is currently the fiction editor at Boston Review and the Rudge and Nancy Allen Professor of Writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Columbia University, HEYMAN CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES
International Affairs Building, Altschul Auditorium
At 7:15pm / FREE

Sky High & the Logic of Luxury (through April 19)
“This exhibition dissects the engineering of the ultraslim, luxury high-rise towers at 432 Park Avenue and 111 West 57th Street, among others, and the market for premium Manhattan real estate that demands them. Also on display are floor plans and simulated views. “ (NYT)
The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place, Lower Manhattan,
Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.,
$5, $2.50 for students and 65+.
212-968-1961, skyscraper.org

John Nemeth w/ The Bo-Keys
Soul man John Nemeth’s new album with the Bo-Keys, `Memphis Grease’, is an aptly-titled 13-track album. It’s slathered with fatback soul and blues done the Memphis way: tight horn lines, whirling organ with John’s soaring voice and wicked harp playing front and center. John honed his harmonica skills while driving trucks, jamming to Junior Wells records on the road. Lead single “Sooner Or Later” is a driving, up-tempo soul number but Nemeth shines on the ballads, too; “If It Ain’t Broke” and “Testify” burn slow, from the gut.

Scott Bomar, who composed the film scores for `Hustle & Flow’ and `Black Snake Moan’ and produced Cyndi Lauper’s `Memphis Blues,’ produced the album. The Bo-Keys are a group of veteran Memphis players that made their names backing the likes of Al Green, O.V. Wright, Rufus Thomas, and the Bar-Kays.
BB Kings Blues Club and Grill, 237 West 42nd St.
8pm./ $20
bbkingblues.com

Cutting Edge Concerts New Music Festival – Imani Winds
Grammy-nominated Imani Winds opens Victoria Bond’s Cutting Edge Concerts New Music Festival with a program of music by Valerie Coleman (who is also flutist of the ensemble).

Along with Da Capo Chamber Players, Imani Winds presents an array of Coleman’s unique compositions which incorporate jazz, Afro-Cuban traditions, and various distinct sonorities found within the African continent, including three world premiers and one New York premiere.

These include Rubispheres for flute, clarinet and piano (a character sketch of the lower east side club scene of Manhattan); The Dawes Roll for soprano and piano (a reconciling of the cultural and historical duality of African-American and Native American families in the Midwest); and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes (a uniting of the sounds of Native American and African cultures). Also on the program is Coleman’s Afro-Cuban Concerto for Wind Quintet and her Portraits of Langston for flute, clarinet, piano and narrator.” (Flavorpill’s Gail Wein)
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway
At 7:30pm / $20

Kate Ascher – The Way to Go: Moving by Sea, Land, and Air
Kate Ascher, author of two previous books, The Works and The Heights, talks about her latest, The Way to Go: Moving by Sea, Land and Air, which explores how we move around the world.

“Is it possible to write a stunning book about infrastructure? Kate Ascher’s books are bliss for engineering-minded adults and children. Using gorgeous graphics and clear, simple, language, Ascher explains the infrastructure and engineering marvels around us. As David Macaulay won over a generation to architecture in the ’70s and ’80s with books like Castle and Underground, Ascher is enticing people to engineering, urban planning, and infrastructure” (Slate)
Barnes & Noble, 82nd & Broadway, 2289 Broadway,
At 7PM / FREE
212-362-8835

Dave Brubeck Festival (through April 13)
“Jazz at Lincoln Center, which has always known its way around a commemoration, presents a weeklong tribute to the pianist Dave Brubeck, who died in 2012. Its centerpiece event, in the Rose Theater from Thursday through April 12 at 8 p.m., is a repertory concert featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

But the other offerings are just as worthy, among them a rare performance of “The Real Ambassadors,” Brubeck’s jazz opera, at the Appel Room next Friday and April 12 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; and an engagement, on Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, featuring Brubeck’s sons Chris (a bassist, bass trombonist and pianist) and Dan (a drummer). “ (Chinen-NYT)
Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jalc.org;
At various times, prices vary.

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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.

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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, wine bars, jazz clubs, 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.

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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 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 – SUNDAY, APR. 06, 2014.

Juan Gabriel
“Now in his sixties, Juan Gabriel still has what it takes to energize a stadium full of people. The Mexican pop singer is a vibrant performer with a personality as massive as his gorgeous, rich voice. He’s sure to brighten up the entirety of Madison Square Garden during the NYC stop of his Volver tour.

As the tour’s name indicates, Gabriel is making his grand return and doing so in full force and with countless excellent tracks to choose from — after all, the prolific artist did release an album nearly every year for three consecutive decades. Though he hasn’t released anything new since 2012, there’s never a bad opportunity to sing along to “Querida,” and that alone is more than enough reason to experience a Juan Gabriel show.” (Brittany Spanos, Village Voice)
Madison Square Garden
7:00 p.m., $65.50-$195.50

Johnny O’Neal – Sundays (ongoing)
“There are two outstanding veteran pianists making welcome appearances in the city on Sunday: At Smalls, Jazz Messenger Johnny O’Neal is, by turns, a two-fisted bebopper, a scruffy balladeer and an adorably comic blues-shouter, who is celebrating the release of “Live at Smalls,” his first album in 10 years.

At Iridium, Herdsman Alan Broadbent, more frequently heard as one of the best vocal accompanists extant (just ask Sir Paul), will show off his remarkable touch, delicate yet virile, and overflowing with harmonic acuity.” (WSJ)
Smalls Jazz Club, 183 West 10th Street, West Village,
From 10 to 11:30 p.m. / $20 cover
smallsjazzclub.com

Chocolate Fest: A Walk-Around Tasting
“Chocoholics will find salvation at this cacao-dusted bash. Expect chocolate-and-cheese combos from Chocolat Moderne and Murray’s Cheese, petite ice cream sandwiches from Penny Lick Ice Cream, and Lambrusco-and-chocolate pairings from Gotham Wines & Liquors and Guittard. More than a dozen vendors will attend, including Hakan Martensson from FIKA Choklad (winner of the 2013 International Chocolate Awards), who will be sampling his signature caramelized quinoa-gianduia bars.” (TONY)
92Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd St
7:30pm / $35
212-415-5500 /92y.org
Not WestSide, but it is chocolate; sounds worth the trip

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
For three decades on the concert stage, the members of the Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet have continually set the standard for expression and virtuosity among guitar ensembles, while perennially redefining themselves in their musical explorations. Popularly known as the LAGQ, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, is recognized as one of America’s premier instrumental ensembles. As one of the most charismatic groups performing today, their critically acclaimed transcriptions of concert masterworks provide a fresh look at the music of the past, while their interpretations of works from the contemporary and world-music realms continually break new ground.
The Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St.
2PM / 212-997-1003, the-townhall-nyc.org

Tom Harrell’s Trip (through April 6)
“Mr. Harrell, a trumpeter, favors a precise but shadowy sort of postbop, sonorous and warm and alert. He leads Tom Harrell’s Trip, a new venture with the saxophonist Mark Turner, the bassist Ugonna Okegwo and the drummer Adam Cruz.” (Chinen-NYT)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village,
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. / $25 and $30 cover, with a one-drink minimum.
212-255-4037, villagevanguard.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.

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What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 3 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

‘Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China’ (last day)
‘The American West in Bronze, 1850-1925’ (ends April 13)
‘Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris’ (through May 4)
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
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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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‘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 04/04 and 04/02.

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

Tartan Day Parade
“The Scottish celebration marks its 16th year in New York City. Come out to see hundreds of pipers, drummers and thousands of marchers generate festive music and fun as they make their way up Sixth Avenue, from 45th to 55th Streets, beginning at 2pm. And take note: the parade is the keystone for an entire week of Scottish events and cultural celebrations.” (nycgo.com)
Visit nyctartanweek.org for more information.

Artexpo New York 2014 (also Sun Apr.6)
The world’s largest fine art marketplace.
For thirty-five years and counting, Artexpo has been changing the way people buy and sell art. Our annual, juried expo brings the biggest publishers, galleries and collectors face to face with hundreds of established and emerging artists. In short, we’re the world’s largest fine art marketplace.

This year, we’ll host over 400+ innovative exhibiting artists, galleries and publishers from across the globe, showcasing exciting original artwork, prints, paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, giclee, lithographs, glass works and more—all under one roof at Pier 94.
Pier 94, 711 12th Ave,
$20 / artexponewyork.com

Africa Now! Festival
“For the second year, the Apollo Theater and the World Music Institute are staging a multiday celebration of contemporary African music. On Saturday, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, reggae and African funk musicians who met in a refugee camp in Guinea, are the headliners. (Their new album, “Libation,” is thoughtful, deft pop fare.)

Among the other musicians on Saturday’s bill are the folksy singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara, from Mali, and the Senegalese acoustic trio Les Frères Guissé, which will also play during a family showcase on Saturday at 1 p.m. “(Stacey Anderson-NYT)
Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, Harlem,
Saturday at 1, 8 and 10 p.m.,/ $10 to $45.
800-745-3000, apollotheater.org

GEORGE COLEMAN
“Smoke, the small club on Broadway between 105th and 106th streets that keeps the Upper West Side safe for hard bop, is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. The space has a long connection to jazz. It opened in what had long been Augie’s Jazz Bar, and the name of the current joint comes, according to the owners, from “Smoke,” the 1995 film by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster.

Auster frequented the original place and based a character in that film on its proprietor. The tenor titan Coleman, who gained valuable experience in the bands of Max Roach and Miles Davis, marks the occasion with his quartet, featuring the pianist Harold Mabern, the bassist John Webber, and the drummer Joe Farnsworth.” (NewYorker)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway, at 106th St.
At 7 and 9 p.m.,/ $40 cover
212-864-6662, smokejazz.com

Havana Film Festival New York (April 3–11)
“The Havana Film Festival New York, in its 15th year, collaborates with Havana’s International Festival of New Latin American Cinema to introduce its audience to prominent and emerging filmmakers from Latin America, the Caribbean and the Latino community in the US.” (nycgo.com)
Visit hffny.com for more information.

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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.

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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).

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

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.

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