Today’s “Fab 5”+1 / Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, APR. 03, 2014.

5th Annual Meatball Slapdown 2014
“This comfort-food cook-off is back for its fifth year. A dozen contenders vie for your votes for the top ball, including Saltie, BrisketTown and Mile End, using Meat Hook cuts. The all-you-can-eat tasting also includes She Wolf bread, desserts from Liddabit Sweets and Brooklyn Brewery beer. Dance off the calories to music by DJ Aperitif.” (TONY)

Proceeds from this tasty affair go towards two youth-driven education programs: Brooklyn Kitchen’s Classrooms in the Kitchen and City Growers.
Brooklyn Brewery, 79 North 11th St., between Berry St and Wythe Ave
at 7:00pm $60
718-486-7422 / brooklynbrewery.com
Event phone: 718-389-2982 / Event website: thebrooklynkitchen.com/learn/classes/meatball-slapdown-14040322801
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Not Manhattan’s WestSide, but it is Brooklyn’s westside, and this is for Meatballs.
Easy to get to. subway: 1-2-3 to 14 th St.; transfer to L to Bedford Ave.; 1^st stop in Bklyn.

Things a Little Bird Told Me: Confessions of the Creative Mind
“From GQ’s “Nerd of the Year” to one of Time’s most influential people in the world, Biz Stone represents different things to different people. But he is known to all as the creative, effervescent, funny, charmingly positive and remarkably savvy co-founder of Twitter-the social media platform that singlehandedly changed the way the world works. Now, Biz tells fascinating, pivotal, and personal stories from his early life and his careers at Google and Twitter, sharing his knowledge about the nature and importance of ingenuity today. In Biz’s world:

-Opportunity can be manufactured
-Great work comes from abandoning a linear way of thinking
-Creativity never runs out
-Asking questions is free
-Empathy is core to personal and global success

In this book, Biz also addresses failure, the value of vulnerability, ambition, and corporate culture. Whether seeking behind-the-scenes stories, advice, or wisdom and principles from one of the most successful businessmen of the new century, Biz Stone’s Things a Little Bird Told Me: Confessions of the Creative Mind,will satisfy every reader.”
(Flavorpill’s Danielle Magee – she’s good, worth following)
Barnes & Noble – Union Square, 33 East 17th St.
at 7pm / FREE
212-253-0810

LOSER’S LOUNGE: LINDA RONSTADT VS. CARLY SIMON
“One of the great things about the Loser’s Lounge is that it allows us to experience glorious live versions of songs that would otherwise disappear into the digital mists. Last year, Linda Ronstadt announced that she would no longer be performing, a result of acquiring Parkinson’s disease. And Carly Simon is famously audience-averse. But the Loser’s leader, Joe McGinty, is calling on his talented stable of singers and musicians to stage a battle between their wonderful catalogues, and asking the audience to pick a “winner.” So what’ll it be: “You’re No Good” or “You’re So Vain”? (NewYorker)

Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St.
At 7pm / $25
(212) 539-8778

News That Stays New: The Future Life of W.B. Yeats
Towards the end of his life, Yeats asked to be buried in Sligo, “when the newspapers have forgotten me.” In fact, few poets have enjoyed such a long afterlife in the news media as W.B. Yeats.

Yeats has become the poet of choice for politicians and presidents on platforms across the globe. From “A terrible beauty is born,” to “Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold,” Yeats’s lines are deeply embedded in our culture. His words continue to question and harangue us, to urge us to greater things and to berate us when we get things wrong.

Geraldine Higgins traces the phenomenon of the quotable Yeats in our multi-media lives and asks what Yeats’s words are being used to tell us or sell us in our contemporary world. Prof. Geraldine Higgins is the Director of Emory University’s Irish Studies Program, having joined the Emory faculty in 1996 after completing a D.Phil. at Trinity College, Oxford and a B.A. in English and History at Trinity College, Dublin.
Glucksman Ireland House NYU, 1 Washington Mews
Free admission to Members of Glucksman Ireland House and to all students/faculty with a valid NYU I.D. card. For non-members: $10 donation at the door for the general event series. In order to ensure a seat at events, please RSVP
at 7PM / 212-998-3950 / ireland.house@nyu.edu

Great Battles of the Civil War: Shiloh
The Bernard and Irene Schwartz Distinguished Speakers Series
FEATURING:
John F. Marszalek, James M. McPherson, Harold Holzer (moderator)
The first momentous battle of the West launched Ulysses S. Grant as a new Union hero—but came perilously close to ending with a Confederate victory. Shiloh also raised the bar on battlefield bloodshed: at the time, April 1862, it was the deadliest encounter of the entire Civil War. Leading Civil War historians discuss every aspect of the two-day battle—from strategies to casualties, miracles to miscalculations.
The Robert H. Smith Auditorium at the New-York Historical Society,
170 Central Park West, at 77TH St.
at 6:30 pm / $34 (members $20)
(212) 873-3400

Uhadi: All-Stars of Johannesburg Jazz (through April 6)
“This group of jazz emissaries from South Africa — including the celebrated singer Sibongile Khumalo, the accomplished trumpeter Feya Faku and the saxophonist McCoy Mrubata, who’ll serve as musical director — comes to commemorate Nelson Mandela and 20 years of democracy in their homeland. “ (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jalc.org
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. / $35 to $45 cover, with a $10 minimum

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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 + 3 Good Eating places 

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

Jimmy’s Corner is right in the heart of Times Square, but you won’t find it on the corner, it’s mid-block. Enter this long narrow bar and you are struck by the walls covered with mostly black-and-white boxing photographs, and memorabilia. Soon enough you learn that “Corner” refers to proprietor Jimmy Glenn’s long career as a corner man for some of boxing greats – Liston, Tyson, even “the greatest”, Ali.

Jimmy’s is a sort of time machine, taking you back to a time and place that no longer exists. All around you Times Square has cleaned up, grown up, assumed a new identity. Jimmy’s probably hasn’t changed a bit since it first opened in 1971. Certainly the bar itself looks original and the prices haven’t changed much either. When I brought a friend, who owns her own bar, she was surprised when she got the small tab for a round of drinks. Figured there must be a mistake, that maybe they forgot to charge for all the drinks.

Times Square today is filled with neon glitz and wandering tourists from Dubuque, but not Jimmy’s. You’ll likely find some old timer’s at the bar nursing their drinks, some younger locals at tables in the back, and maybe a few adventuresome tourists clutching their trusty guidebooks. There’s no food served here because this is just a bar, and sometimes that’s all you need.

On nights when no local team is playing, it’s a fine place to sip some drafts and listen to a great old time jukebox (40s, 50s, R&B, and soul). On sports nights this very narrow bar can get a bit claustrophobic, filled with excited fans watching their team on the TVs. Either way, Jimmy’s is the place to be if you are looking for an old time bar in the new Times Square.
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Website: are you kidding !
(although there is a facebook page with lots of photos –
facebook.com/jimmyscornernyc)
Phone #: 212-221-9510
Hours: 11am – 4 am, except Sunday they open 12 noon
Happy Hour: not necessary, low prices all day, every day
Subway: #1,2,3 to TimesSquare 42nd st
walk 2 blks N on 7th ave to 44th st; ½ blk E to Jimmy’s

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

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

It’s not difficult finding a place to eat in Manhattan.
Finding a good, inexpensive place to eat is a bit harder.
Here are a few of my faves in this neighborhood:

Patzeria Perfect Pizza – 231 W46 st (Betw 7th/8th ave)
Perfect name for a pizza joint. On a street filled with Broadway theaters, this is a real hole in the wall, but don’t let the dive look scare you away. You can never go wrong with a slice of NYC pizza, and this one is a classic thin crust. Only a few seats here, but pizza was made to eat standing up.

Shake Shack – 691 8th ave (Betw 43rd/44th st)
Danny Meyer has revolutionized the high quality burger in this town. Now he has a branch on the West Side that was desperately needed, with none of the insane lines that you find at the Madison Sq. Park location. Plus, it may be the cleanest joint to eat in all of Hell’s Kitchen.

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

That covers a wide range of food – pizza,  burgers,  food trucks/carts,  vegetarian/falafel,  ramen,  chopped salad & salad bars,  hot dogs,  bbq,  soup & sandwiches,  picnic fixins’,  raw bars & lobster rolls. No reservations needed. ================================================================================

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places and 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”+1 / Selected NYCity Events – WEDNESDAY, APR. 02, 2014.

KRAFTWERK
“Even today, more than forty years since its formation, the visionary German electronic quartet (whose name translates as “power plant”) continues to feel futuristic. It is currently performing selections from its catalogue alongside a striking 3-D show that invokes the minimal aesthetic of early screen savers, and the evening comes complete with specialty 3-D glasses for the audience and matching spandex bodysuits for the band.” (NewYorker)
United Palace Theater, 4140 Broadway, at 175th Street, Washington Heights,
subway: head way uptown on the #1
At 7:30 p.m., / may be a tuff ticket – try stubhub, craigslist, etc
800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com

Hot Club of Cowtown
“This trio’s stylistic genesis—as well as title—stems from the realization that the great heritage of strings (guitars and violins) originates mutually with the Manouche gypsies of France and the no-less virtuosic hillbilly pickers and fiddlers of Oklahoma and Texas. Their latest of many albums, “Rendezvous in Rhythm” features a high-energy lineup of standards, rendered in such a way as to honor the legacies of both Django Reinhardt and Bob Wills.

Now together for over 15 years and a dozen albums, the threesome of high-heeled violinist Elana James, guitarist Whit Smith and bassist Jake Erwin showed from the beginning that jazz and country music could exist together on the same page, a highly commendable achievement if ever there was one.” (WSJ)
SubCulture, 45 Bleecker St.,
At 8PM / $25
(212) 533-5470

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

Roy Nathanson & Sotto Voce
“Saxophonist and composer Roy Nathanson, best known for his work with the Lounge Lizards, the Jazz Passengers and now his latest band, Sotto Voce, has distinctly original ideas about what music should be: He’s essentially a jazz musician, but the 10 tracks on his latest album “Complicated Day” (including three ingenious interpretations) seem to exist in every genre at once.

Where most contemporary jazz composers work in a purely instrumental mode, Mr. Nathanson makes surprising use of words, whether spoken, sung, or chanted, in such a way that his pieces are better described as “compositions” rather than “songs.” Driving the whole works is his aggressively absurdist sense of humor, informed in equal parts by Charles Mingus and Spike Jones.” (WSJ)
Joe’s Pub, at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, at Astor Place
at 7PM / $24.50 cover, with a $12 minimum.
(212) 539-8778, joespub.com

Elinor Frey, Early Italian music for solo cello
Described as an “Impeccable cellist” by Montreal’s La Presse, and “A superb cellist” by the Syracuse Post-Standard, Elinor Frey’s recent accolades include the 2009/10 Fulbright Grant to Italy, as well as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research (SSHRC) Canada Graduate Scholarship, and a Canada Council for the Arts grant facilitating her work on Italian baroque and modern unaccompanied cello music.
The Italian Academy, 1161 Amsterdam Avenue
7:00pm / FREE

Arianna Huffington’s Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder
“Arianna Huffington’s personal wakeup call came in the form of a broken cheekbone and a nasty gash over her eye – the result of a fall brought on by exhaustion and lack of sleep. As she found herself going from brain MRI to CAT scan to echocardiogram, to find out if there was any underlying medical problem beyond exhaustion, she found herself wondering, is this really what success feels like?

In Thrive, she has written a passionate call to arms, looking to redefine what it means to be successful in today’s world. As more and more women and men are coming to realize, there is far more to living a truly successful life than just earning a big salary and capturing a corner office. Our relentless pursuit of the two traditional metrics of success — money and power — has led to an epidemic of burnout and stress-related illnesses, and an erosion in the quality of our relationships, family life, and, ironically, our careers.

In being connected to the world 24/7, we’re losing our connection to what truly matters. Our current definition of success is, as Arianna shows, literally killing us. We need a new way forward.” (Flavorpill)
At 7pm / FREE
Priority seating with book purchase. Books are available at the first floor cash registers. Event space opens at 5:00 pm.
Barnes & Noble – Union Square, 33 East 17th Street

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

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 (03/31) and (03/29).

Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – TUESDAY, APR. 01, 2014.

The Commodore’s Heirs:
The Vanderbilt Dynasty and the Birth of the Gilded Age
T.J. Stiles, Columbia graduate and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography The First Tycoon (Vintage, 2010) recounts the birth of the Gilded Age through the story of the Vanderbilt dynasty. “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt rose from New York’s docks to become the richest man in America. Old patrician families scorned him, though he lived in the same dignified fashion as they did. His popular grandchildren emerged as leaders of the social aristocracy, yet they indulged in lavish excess; their legendary parties and vast mansions defined the age.

The themes of an Edith Wharton novel play out over three generations in real-life tales of scandals, séances, suicide, and a bitter trial over the Commodore’s will. Co-sponsored by Victorian Society New York and presented in conjunction with Gilded New York.
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue, at 103rd St
6:30pm / $25
212-534-1672

Lew Tabackin
“At 74, the venerated veteran tenor saxophonist remains one of the most consistently rewarding players in contemporary jazz—he started as disciple of the early Sonny Rollins and continues to refine that sound in ways that are increasingly personal, but, at the same time, never lose sight of how his most important goal is to keep the audience entertained.

Mr. Tabackin has earned his wings playing in big bands (particularly that of his personal and professional partner, pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi ) but also shines with his Sonny-side-up style trio (with bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Mark Taylor ), and he’s even a highly enthralling player when playing completely unaccompanied. Visually too: his habit of bobbing up and down as he plays makes for appropriate choreographic accompaniment to his tenor wizardry.” (WSJ)
Iridium, 1650 Broadway at 51st Street
At 8:30; 10:30PM / $25; $15 food or drink minimum.
(212) 582-2121 / theiridium.com

“The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams” with Ben Bradlee Jr.
“Ted Williams wanted to be an immortal. He arrived in Boston in 1939, a cocky 20-year-old phenom eager to become, in his words, the “greatest hitter who ever lived.” Just two years later, his .406 batting average — a mark that has never again been met — backed up that claim.

In The Kid, Ben Bradlee, Jr., draws on numerous untapped sources to take us inside the clubhouse, the batter’s box, and beyond. He reveals new details about Williams’s feelings of shame over his Mexican heritage, his war service, the rages that fueled his brilliance on the field but severely damaged his private life, and the bizarre family drama that played out after Ted’s death, when his body was cryonically preserved. The Kid is the story of a man as big as his myth, the story of an exceptional, tumultuous and epic American life — an immortal life.” (Flavorpill)
Bergino Baseball Clubhouse, 67 East 11th Street,
At 7PM / FREE

REGINA CARTER
“On her latest album, “Southern Comfort,” the violinist continues the musical investigation into her family roots that informed her 2006 album, “I’ll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey.” The new release employs as a source rural folk tunes that her Alabamian coal-miner grandfather might have heard. Carter and her ensemble rework these simple melodies without losing the heartfelt expressivity of the originals.” (NewYorker)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
At 8:30 and 11 p.m. / $40 cover, with a $10 minimum
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com

Martha Graham Dance Company (through Thursday)
“As if to bring Graham’s heroic sensibility down to human scale, the company has been offering studio showings that provide a more intimate experience of her psychological dramas. Next in this series, titled GrahamDeconstructed, is her voracious “Cave of the Heart,” from 1946, with the intrepid Miki Orihara as Medea.” (Burke-NYT)
Martha Graham Studio Theater, 55 Bethune Street, 11th floor, West Village,
at 7PM / $20.
(212) 229-9200, marthagraham.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.

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This Week in NYCity   (courtesy NYPost, with the best covers anywhere)

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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:

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“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants,  jazz joints, craft beer bars, wine bars, tapas 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 joints),

If you have a fave premier pub or a good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
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Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, MAR. 31, 2014.

The Music of Paul Simon
“There’s always something remarkable at all of Michael Dorf’s celebrity-stocked benefits for music-education programs at Carnegie Hall. So while you nod in appreciation at the thought of Angelique Kidjo, Bettye LaVette, Bob Mould, Josh Ritter and Richard Marx paying their respects to the pint-size bard from Flushing, chew on this: Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers) and Bob Forrest (Thelonious Monster, Celebrity Rehab) are appearing together.” (TONY)
Isaac Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall,
At 8 p.m. / $48 to $160
212-247-7800,carnegiehall.org

Tenement Talks: Gary Shteyngart / Little Failure
“Award-winning author Gary Shteyngart appears tonight to discuss his new memoir, Little Failure, with friend and Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Suketu Mehta. Shteyngart, a Russian born immigrant, stays true to his sharp wit as he shares his hilarious, yet heartrending experiences of transitioning to life in America. Join Shteyngart as he reflects on his feeble attempts to overcome culture clashes and language barriers, as well as reminisces about his first love. If you enjoyed Super Sad True Love Story and Absurdistan, this memoir is sure to be your newest literary obsession.” (Flavorpill)
The Tenement Museum, 103 Orchard Street,
At 6:30PM / FREE
(212) 431-0233 / http://www.tenement.org
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Definitely not the WestSide, but it is GaryS and he is definitely worth the trip.
Subway: #1-2-3 to 14^th St.; transfer to F train / 4 stops to Delancey/Essex
Walk W 2 blks to museum on Orchard St.

Enter the Dragon
Acclaimed as the first Chinese martial arts movie to be produced by a major Hollywood studio and one of the most beloved Kung Fu films of all time, “Enter the Dragon” catapulted Bruce Lee to international superstardom. Shot in 1973 and released six days after Lee’s untimely death, “Enter the Dragon” follows Lee as a martial arts expert turned undercover operative who is tasked with infiltrating a dangerous drug that is cloaked as a martial arts competition. Fast-paced and action-packed, “Enter the Dragon” iconically captured Bruce Lee as the martial arts phenomenon we celebrate today.
Signature Theater Company, 480 W 42nd St.
7:00 pm / $13
212-244-7529

Aruán Ortiz Quartet
“The ambitious young Cuban pianist Aruán Ortiz draws from “Orbiting,” a memorable album from 2012, with several adaptable partners: Rez Abbasi on guitar, Sean Conly on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums. “ (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jalc.org
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. / $30 cover, with a $10 minimum

‘Madama Butterfly’  (Through May 9.)
“This revival of the Metropolitan Opera’s potent, gorgeously colored production of Puccini’s masterwork features the Met debut of the South African soprano Amanda Echalaz as the betrayed Cio-Cio-San. The youthful cast features another debutant, the baritone Scott Hendricks, as Sharpless, as well as the talented tenor Bryan Hymel as the callous Pinkerton and the mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong as the loyal Suzuki.” (Woolfe – NYT)
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center,
At 7:30 p.m. / $27 to $445
(212) 362-6000, metoperafamily.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.

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

‘Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China’ (through April 6)
‘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 03/23 and 03/21.

Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, MAR. 30, 2014.

The Heath Brothers
“Jimmy Heath, a saxophonist and composer, and Albert (Tootie) Heath, a drummer, have been staples of the postbop landscape from the beginning. This group used to include another brother, the great bassist Percy Heath, who died in 2005; its lineup, still sturdy, now includes David Wong on bass and Jeb Patton on piano.” (Chinen-NYT)
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. / $25 and $30 cover, with a one-drink minimum.
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th Street, West Village,
212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com

The Complete Hitchcock: Television
“Good e-e-evening.” So intones Alfred Hitchcock at the opening of his groundbreaking TV series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, a veritable electronic laboratory where the film director could develop new ideas, themes, and talent. The Paley Center presents the twenty telefilms that Hitch directed for the small screen between 1955 and 1962, along with rarely seen interviews, documentaries, and other treats. In New York, this TV retrospective is screening in conjunction with the Film Forum’s The Complete Hitchcock, organized by Bruce Goldstein, February 21 to March 27. For more information go to filmforum.org.

For those who know Hitch only through film, you are in for a treat: the ghoulish “Funeral March” of Gounod; the sardonic opening and closing remarks from the master of suspense himself; and the diabolical twists that the cherubic-looking director created for prime-time family enjoyment, bringing “murder back into the living room—where it belongs.” For those revisiting this work, you will doubly enjoy the black humor on our big screen.
Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52nd Street, Manhattan,
At 1 p.m.,/ $10, $8 for students, $5 for children under 14.
212-621-6800, paleycenter.org

Parsons Dance (and Tuesday through Jan. 26)
“This company’s 30th-anniversary engagement includes a premiere by its artistic director, David Parsons, and his signature work, “Caught,” which features copious strobe lights and one athletic male dancer. Just as hypermasculine is “The Hunt” by Robert Battle, a former company member.” (Burke-NYT)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue, at 19th Street, Chelsea
Sundays at 1 and 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m.,/ $10 to $69.
(212) 242-0800, joyce.org

Freddy Cole Quintet featuring Harry Allen
“Freddy has an impeccable sense of swing…the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive.” – The New York Times

Referred to as a “national treasure” by The Huffington Post, jazz pianist and singer Freddy Cole is a prolific artist of undisputed pedigree. Building his career at the same time as his brother, the iconic Nat King Cole, it was never going to be easy for Cole to establish his own musical identity. However, with 20 albums released in just the last two decades, including the GRAMMY® Award-nominated 2010 album, Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B, Cole has carved out a reputation as an individual and prolific force in the jazz world.
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway,
212-258-9595, jalc.org;
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., / $40 and $45 cover, with a $10 minimum

The 2nd Annual NYC Hot Sauce Expo
“Get your gastroenterologist on speed dial and prepare your taste buds for this year’s NYC Hot Sauce Expo—if you dare! Now that we know sriracha isn’t the be all and end all, take a taste of some less widely known fiery condiments and maybe find a new favorite scrambled egg topping. Vendors with names like Dragon’s Blood Elixir and Defcon should give you an indication of what’s in store; they’re also doing wing eating competitions, bloody mary mix throwdowns and other questionable eating events.” (Gothamist)
Penn Plaza Pavilion, 401 Seventh Avenue,
at 10 a.m /tickets are $10 – $75.

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

New York Panorama

Tough Room – Madison Square Park

“Johnny Marx plays piano in Madison Square Park in Manhattan. Yes, he hauls in the piano every day. And no, he doesn’t move it by himself. (He has a friend with a truck.)”

Every Sunday in the 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 – 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, jazaz 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, MAR. 29, 2014.

New Directors/New Films 2014 (through Sunday)
I have been remiss by not listing this wonderful film fest before today.
Only one weekend left!

See interesting new films and hear the director’s inside take on his film. We saw “Of Horses and Men” earlier in the fest and found the director to be honest and informative during the Q&A. Here’s what Flavorpill had to say about New Directors:

“Discover new works by some of today’s most innovative filmmakers
A long-term cinematic affair between MoMA and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, New Directors/New Films is a place for adventurous moviegoers to discover the most imaginative voices in filmmaking today. Over the course of its 43-year history, the festival has introduced audiences to directors such as Todd Solondz, Christopher Nolan and Pedro Almodóvar.

This year’s slate includes a tidy 27 features and 13 shorts from 29 countries. Of particular note are Gillian Robespierre’s comedy Obvious Child starring Jenny Slate; Richard Ayoade’s The Double based on Dostoevsky’s novella starring Mia Wasikowska and Jesse Eisenberg; and Benjamin Naishtat’s sociological thriller History of Fear. The 12-day fete concludes with the Sundance award-winning documentary about musician Nick Cave, 20,000 Days on Earth.” (Flavorpill)
The Film Society of Lincoln Center
March 19 – 30 / $15
for detailed info see: newdirectors.org

Kathy Mattea
BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, proudly presents two-time Grammy Award-Winner Kathy Mattea

Mattea’s delved even deeper into her Appalachian heritage with Calling Me Home, available from Sugar Hill, co-produced with modern acoustic mastermind Gary Paczosa and featuring liner notes from bestselling author, and Kentucky-born kindred spirit, Barbara Kingsolver. Selections from Kathy’s latest releases, Calling Me Home and Coal, comprise one third of the program, although the bulk of the show features Kathy’s biggest hits, with some older favorites reinterpreted for the acoustic band configuration, and a sprinkling of more eclectic and often requested tunes from her catalog.
Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St
8:00pm / from $35
212-220-1459

USA Memory Championship
Sometimes, remembering details can be a real challenge. Over 70 contestants — ages 12 to 60 — will demonstrate their total recall at this annual competition at the Con Edison Grand Auditorium, 4 Irving Place, at 14th Street, Manhattan. From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; usamemorychampionship.com; free for spectators.

BILL CHARLAP
Although it’s been far too long since he’s released a new album, the pianist, a modern mainstream giant, always has a stockpile of imaginative and meticulously arranged material to draw on. His longtime trio mates—Peter Washington, on bass, and Kenny Washington, on drums—could not be more in synch with Charlap’s manicured swing.”(NewYorker)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St.
212-581-3080

An Evening with Paul Mealor and Cordydd
Welsh choral composer Paul Mealor, Wales’ premier mixed voice choir Co^rdydd, and leading Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr, will join forces in March to present a magical evening of Welsh choral music at one of New York’s best concert venues. Described in the New York Times as ‘one of the most important composers to have emerged in Welsh choral music since William Mathias’, Paul Mealor was catapulted to international attention in 2011 when his motet Ubi Caritas was performed at the Royal Wedding Ceremony of His Royal Highness Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.

He is also the first classical composer to hold both the UK classical and pop chart No 1’s at the same time in December 2011 with Wherever You Are, a piece written for the British Military Wives Choir, and his music has rapidly entered the repertoire of choirs and singers around the world.
Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave
7:30pm / $50
212-247-7800

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 @ 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:

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

‘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
=========================================================

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

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

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : … …” dated (03/21) and (03/19).

O Brother Man: The Life and Art of Lynd Ward. Featuring more than 150 of Lynd Ward’s wood engravings, drawings, and illustrations, this documentary brings to life the creativity of one of the most prolific book illustrators and printmakers in the history of American art and illustrates his mastery of the “novel without words.” New York premiere, with an introduction by the filmmaker.This film is being screened in conjunction with the exhibition, Medium as Muse: Woodcuts and the Modern Book.
The Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Avenue
7:00pm / $18 ; Exhibition-related films are free with museum admission.
212-685-0008

Kronos Quartet and Friends. Since its inception, the Kronos Quartet has combined a spirit of fearless exploration with a commitment to expand the range and context of the string quartet. In the process, Kronos has become one of the most celebrated and influential groups of our time, collaborating with many of the world’s most eclectic composers and performers. Kronos returns to Carnegie Hall with several special guests to celebrate its 40th anniversary, performing commissioned works by favorite composers and collaborators, including a world premiere and Carnegie Hall commission by Terry Riley, a New York premiere by Philip Glass, plus works by Laurie Anderson and others.
Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave
8:00pm / $15-$75
212-247-7800

PAT METHENY. One of the most satisfying ensembles that Metheny has put together, the Unity band is a sleekly modern post-bop group that neatly balances the venerable guitarist’s undulating lines against those of the quicksilver saxophonist Chris Potter and the sharply etched rhythms of the bassist Ben Williams and the drummer Antonio Sanchez. On their most recent album, “Kin,” a new group member steps aboard, Giulio Carmassi, a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist whose contributions add still more layers of textural color. (NewYorker)
Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St.
At 8 p.m. / $55-$95
212-840-2824. / 800-982-2787, the-townhall-nyc.org

Judy Kaye Sings Bernstein & Sondheim (through Saturday)
“Between “Character Man,” Jim Brochu’s celebration of the legendary Broadway character actors (continuing at Urban Stages through April 6) and Judy Kaye’s one-woman offering at 54B, it’s a banner weekend for the funny folk of musical theater.

Ms. Kaye has been a stalwart player, at once tuneful and side-splittingly funny, in what amounts to the Encores! stock company, in such classic shows as “Face The Music,” “Bells are Ringing” and, especially, a few weeks ago as the title character of “Little Me.” As she shows on her solo albums (“Diva by Diva,” “Songs from the Silver Screen”) she’s not only an ace comedienne but also a sultry soprano, who knows well how to put over a number whether she’s going for laughs or playing it straight.” (WSJ)
54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.,
(866) 468-7619

Obscura Society NYC Presents the Lock Picking Party
The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen

“In the age of Anonymous, Snowden and doxing, the art of lock picking is charmingly analog. It requires patience, practice and smarts—every lock is a unique puzzle to be solved. Former competitive picker Schuyler Towne dispenses the tricks (and picks) of the trade at this party hosted by Obscura Society NYC.

The glam affair takes place in the Beaux Arts building of the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, home to the world’s largest collection of antique bank-vault locks. “As fun as lock picking is, to me, the locks themselves are the most beautiful part,” says Towne. “These two inches of brass hold up how we’ve all learned to live together in an ever-smaller world.” Guests are encouraged to throw on their best vintage wear for the occasion, which boasts an open cocktail bar, the Jazz Age sounds of Jason Prover and the Sneak Thievery Orchestra, and a seriously cool party favor: your very own lock-picking kit.” (TONY)
General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen
20 W 44th St., btw Fifth and Sixth Aves
7:00pm / $75
generalsociety.org / 212-921-1767 / atlasobscura.com/events

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 – 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, MAR. 27, 2014.

Jake Shimabukuro
“The Japanese-Hawaiian string virtuoso has achieved something remarkable in his synthesis of a very old instrument and the very new social media; he’s released dozens of CDs, but most people have experienced him as a “viral” phenomenon on YouTube. More than any other contemporary pop instrumentalist (he’s the Chris Botti of the ukulele), Mr. Shimabukuro shows that there is plenty of creativity left in the concept of interpretation.

Because even though a few of his larger format arrangements are somewhat schlocky (his disco-y “En Aranjuez”), none of them can be dismissed as mere “covers.” The best of his solo treatments, which range from Paganini to Chick Corea to “Bohemian Rhapsody” are ingeniously entertaining, achieving what Eddie Peabody and Roy Smeck did for the banjo and the guitar 80 years ago and proving again that YouTube is the new vaudeville.” (WSJ)
Highline Ballroom, 431 West 16th Street, Chelsea,
At 8 p.m./ $27.50 to $55
212-414-5994, highlineballroom.com

Designing + Making: Traditional Skills in the Contemporary Environment
What role do traditional “craft” skills and the handmade play in today’s contemporary landscape of design and production? How much change has occurred, what innovation can be discovered in historic methods, and what traditions no longer apply to today’s and tomorrow’s production? WantedDesign and the Museum of Arts and Design team for this evening conversation with leading US manufacturers and designers to explore case studies in the adaptation of traditional skills to the contemporary environment.
Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle
7:00pm / Free during Pay-What-You-Wish Admission
212-2990-7700

The Art of the Recital: Alessio Bax
The inaugural season of the Art of the Recital series will celebrate this classic art form with programs curated by the performers. In the intimate Rose Studio, these recitals offer a rare opportunity to hear masters perform matchless repertoire in the ultimate setting for chamber music.
Beethoven Sonata in B-flat major for Piano, Op. 106, “Hammerklavier” (1817-18)
Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition for Piano (1886)
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER
Rose Studio, 165 W. 65th Street
10th floor of the Rose Building
7:30PM / $45

Design Talks | A Conversation with Michael Sorkin & James Wines
Michael Sorkin is an architect and urbanist whose practice spans design, criticism, and teaching. He is the principal of Michael Sorkin Studio in New York, a global design practice focused on urbanism and green architecture.

James Wines is founder and president of SITE, a New York-based architectural studio chartered in 1970. Through his multidisciplinary practice, Wines develops site-specific structures that engage information about the environment, including buildings, public spaces, environmental art, landscapes, master plans, interiors, video productions, graphics, and product designs.

Join us for a conversation between National Design Award winners Michael Sorkin and James Wines, as they discuss their work and the state of public space in the urban environment today.
COOPER-HEWITT, NATIONAL DESIGN MUSEUM
The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR, 44 Charlton Street
6:30PM / $15

Freddy Cole Quintet featuring Harry Allen
“A charismatic and urbane vocalist, Mr. Cole treats the standard songbook with easygoing grace. He also plays piano in his quartet, with the guitarist Randy Napoleon, the bassist Elias Bailey and the drummer Curtis Boyd. Next week they welcome Mr. Allen, a tenor saxophonist of mellifluous charm”  (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. / $40 and $45 cover, with a $10 minimum
212-258-9595, jalc.org

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

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 (03/25) and (03/23).

Today’s “Fab 5”+1 / Selected NYCity Events – WEDNESDAY, MAR. 26, 2014.

“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 with Michael Cunningham.  Mr. Cunningham is the author of six novels, including Home at the End of the World, Flesh and Blood and The Hours, which won him the Pulitzer and the PEN/Faulkner Award.
New York Public Library, Fifth Ave. at 42nd St.
12PM / FREE
917-275-6975

Fantastic Old Photos From Art Shay, On Display In NYC For The 1st Time
“Photographer Art Shay has taken photos of just about everyone in his lifetime (and the 92-year-old is still at it)—from JFK and Ali to Cash and Dolly to Leary and some layabouts on Coney Island. The Bronx-raised Shay—who now lives in Chicago, and has become a good friend to Billy Corgan—has captured iconic photographs of many—some of which made it to the cover of LIFE magazine.

You can view his old photos (along with stories in his own words) in the Gothamist archives, and now you see his work off-screen at the Morrison Hotel. Through April 7th the gallery is exhibiting his work for the first time in NYC.”  (Gothamist)
Morrison Hotel Gallery,116 Prince Street, 2nd Floor
+1 212 941 8770 / morrisonhotelgallery.com

BILL CHARLAP
Although it’s been far too long since he’s released a new album, the pianist, a modern mainstream giant, always has a stockpile of imaginative and meticulously arranged material to draw on. His longtime trio mates—Peter Washington, on bass, and Kenny Washington, on drums—could not be more in synch with Charlap’s manicured swing.” (NewYorker)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St.
212-581-3080.

Grouplove
These rambling indie musicians from Los Angeles pack big hooks inside their bright, optimistic folk-rock. Their set last year at the McKittrick Hotel was a breakout moment, a peppy hoedown anchored by the surprisingly earnest shared vocals of the guitarist Christian Zucconi and the keyboardist Hannah Hooper.

Those unfamiliar with them will know their twinkling, enthusiastically shouted single “Tongue Tied” from the 2011 iPod commercial titled “Share the Fun.” (NYT-Anderson)
Terminal 5, 610 West 56th Street, Clinton,
At 7:30 p.m., / $35
800-745-3000, terminal5nyc.com

Wooden Houses of Greenwich Village
A lecture by Elizabeth Finkelstein and Michael Devonshire

“This program was so popular last October that we had to turn people away! We are thrilled to be able to present this encore.

Greenwich Village is celebrated for its beautiful rows of brick and brownstone townhouses. But those who meander through the neighborhood’s winding, historic streets are usually surprised to encounter the occasional wooden house sandwiched between masonry houses and apartment buildings, channeling a bygone era.

How and when did these houses arrive here? Why are there so few? And, perhaps most curiously, how on earth have they survived for so long? Join urban historian Elizabeth Finkelstein and preservation architect Michael Devonshire as they explore the history and mystery surrounding these fascinating wooden relics and discuss the challenges to their preservation.”
Village Community School, 272-278 West 10th Street,
between Washington and Greenwich Streets
6:30 – 8:00 P.M. / Free; reservations required
To register, please call (212) 475-9585 ext. 35 or email.
Please note that space is often limited. Reservations are not confirmed until you receive a response from GVSHP regarding your reservation.
If space becomes an issue, all reservations will be honored up until the start of the program, at which point your seat may be given away to those on the wait list.

“LIVE FROM THE NYPL”
The curator Sarah Lewis discusses her new book, “The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery,” with the actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith and the psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth.
New York Public Library, Fifth Ave. at 42nd St.
At 7PM / $25 General Admission, $15 Seniors
212-930-0855

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

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“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.
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3 Good Eating places 

It’s not difficult to find a place to eat in Manhattan.
Finding a good, inexpensive place to eat is a bit harder.
Here are a few of my faves in this neighborhood:

Fish – 280 Bleecker St (just a bit S. of 7th ave South)
This was an easy pick – the best raw bar special in town. $8 gets you 6 of the freshest oysters or clams + a glass of wine or beer. Don’t know how they can do it, but I tell everyone I know about this place. And it’s located right in the heart of some of the best no cover music in town.

Bleecker Street Pizza – 69 7th ave S (corner of Bleecker)
The place is tiny and not much to look at, but this is one good slice. They like to brag that they have been voted “Best pizza in NY” 3 years in a row by the Food Network. I believe them. I would have voted for them.

Num Pang – 21 E 12th st (btw. University place/5th ave)
This is a Cambodian banh mi sandwich shop that kept me well fed while I was in class nearby recently. It’s cramped, even for NYCity, but usually there is room up the spiral staircase to sit down and eat. In good weather carry your sandwich a few blocks to Union Sq park. You may have to wait a few minutes, because everything is freshly made, but it’s worth it. Can you believe – an unheard of 26 food rating by Zagat.

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

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 Spring 2014)

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

Guo Gan (Erhu) with special Guest Helen Sung Quartet
Guo Gan is an internationally known erhu performer who has propelled the ancient Chinese fiddle into new genres, having shared the stage with Lang Lang, Tan Dun, and Lo’Jo, among others. This concert includes selections from traditional Chinese repertoire, as well as a cross-cultural jazz jam with the Helen Sung Trio.
Give this a chance – some Chinese music is mezmerizing.
Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave, at 57TH St.
at 7:30pm / $36-$40
212-247-7800

Tuesday Talks at Asphalt Green: ‘Classical Music — The Romantics’
The musician and educator Jessica Davy will discuss the significance of orchestras led by composers such as Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky in this talk centered on 19th-century classical music. (NYT)
Asphalt Green Battery Park City, 212 North End Avenue, Lower Manhattan
Noon to 1 p.m.,/$22, $18 for members.
212-298-2980, asphaltgreenbpc.org

Paul Taylor Dance Company (through March 30)
This company’s three-week 60th anniversary season is underway, featuring an extraordinary collection of Mr. Taylor’s prolific output — like “Fibers,” from 1961, and the premiere of “Marathon Cadenzas.” Among the other works are the New York premiere of “American Dreamer” and classics like “Mercuric Tidings” and “Cloven Kingdom.” (Schaefer-NYT)
DHK Theater, Lincoln Center,
Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 and 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7 p.m. / $10 to $160.
212-496-0600, ptdc.org, davidhkochtheater.com

The Allman Brothers Band (also other dates through Mar. 29)
“Like a New York version of the Santa Ana winds, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ residency at the Beacon Theater is a proud annual affair. (Your individual tolerance for guitar solos, however, determines the concurrent bluster.)

Last year they celebrated the 40th anniversary of their Southern rock staple “Brothers and Sisters,” and the set list for this iteration should still skew with according reverence to that album, the first the group recorded after the death of its leader Duane Allman”.(Stacey Anderson-NYT)

If you have been meaning to catch this band, better do it this year. Gregg Allman, the band’s singer, keyboardist, and nominal leader, announced that the group as a whole would stop its regular touring after 2014.
Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway, at 74th St.,
212-465-6500, beacontheatre.com
At 8 p.m. / $50.99 to $150.99.

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 / $15 cover, $20 food/drink minimum
(212) 765-5454 / iguananyc.com

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’ (through April 6)
‘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 03/23 and 03/21.