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

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, MAR. 14, 2014.

‘The Little Prince: A New York Story’ (through April 27)
Written over 70 years ago by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry during a two-year stay in New York, “The Little Prince,” a tale of interplanetary travel, continues to sell more than a million copies each year. In this exhibition, visitors can see the creative process behind the story in notes and sketches from the original manuscript as well as the author’s personal letters and photographs.

A 1974 film adaptation of the book, directed by Stanley Donen and starring Gene Wilder and Bob Fosse, will be screened today.
Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Avenue at 36th St.
Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
$18, $12 for children, 65+ and students, free for members;
FREE on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m.
212-685-0008, themorgan.org

Lorrie Moore
Join the critically acclaimed master of American wit Lorrie Moore and melancholy and author of Birds of America, Self-Help, and Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? presents Bark: Stories, her first new collection in 15 years  as she introduces her first new collection of stories in 15 years.
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway
at 7:30 pm / $25
212-864-1414

Spyro Gyra (through March 16)
“The most recent album by this veteran pop-fusion band is “The Rhinebeck Sessions,” a batch of in-the-studio inventions whipped into a smooth emulsion. The bond between the saxophonist Jay Beckenstein and the keyboardist Tom Schuman remains strong; their rhythm team includes Scott Ambush on bass and Lee Pearson on drums.” (Chinen-NYT)
At 8 and 10:30 p.m./ $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum.
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village,
212-475-8592, bluenote.net

MARIA SCHNEIDER
Jazz at Lincoln Center
“Winter Morning Walks,” an atypical collaboration between the celebrated composer and arranger Schneider and the classical vocalist Dawn Upshaw, recently won three Grammys, including Best Contemporary Classical Composition. Here, Schneider—making her first Jazz at Lincoln Center appearance in more than a decade—leads her modern-jazz orchestra, an impressionistically inclined ensemble of loyal and distinctive soloists.” (NewYorker)
Allen Room, Broadway at 60th St.
212-721-6500

‘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.”
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street,
Daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. / $22, $17 for students and 60+
212-769-5200, amnh.org

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”/ Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, MAR. 13, 2014.

History and Cuisine of St. Joseph’s Day
“The story behind celebrations in Italy and the United States for this saint and husband of Mary will be discussed at 6 p.m. The talk will be led by Joseph V. Scelsa, a scholar and the president of the Italian-American Museum, where the talk will take place.

There will also be demonstrations in making sfingi, the treat served on St. Joseph’s Day, which is on March 19″ (NYT).
Italian-American Museum, 155 Mulberry Street, at Grand Street, Little Italy.
Reservations are required. 212-965-9000;
suggested admission, $10.

JULIAN BARNES
“The English writer Julian Barnes, in a rare New York City appearance, presents a night of readings about music. He’ll read from his own work and that of others, and the pianist Angela Hewitt will perform.” (NewYorker)
(Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St.
at 6PM / $20
212-505-3474.

Tours in Celebration of International Tourist Guide Day
Tourists and native New Yorkers are invited to join one or more of 15 walking tours in four of the five boroughs — Queens is not included — from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., courtesy of the Guides Association of New York City. This is the third year that the group, the local chapter of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations, is offering free tours in the city. Those tours will include stops at Grand Central Terminal, the Little Italy section of the Bronx and the Brooklyn Bridge. Reservations are necessary. A schedule, with meeting locations, is at tinyurl.com/kdteds7. More information: 908-499-3735.

Immigrant, Archbishop, and Politician: John Hughes and the Rise of Irish New York
Explore the life of legendary New Yorker John Hughes (1797-1864) as portrayed in both fact and fiction. A pivotal figure in the history of New York City and its Irish-American experience, Hughes presided as the Catholic archbishop of New York from the Irish Famine immigration until nearly the end of the American Civil War.

First, playwright and author Honor Molloy and New York Times columnist Dan Barry will read excerpts from novelist Peter Quinn’s Banished Children (Overlook TP, 2008) and historian Terry Golway’s Machine Made (Liverwright, 2014), which capture Hughes in his varied roles as prelate, politician and ethnic leader.

After a musical interlude by Mick Moloney, featuring political and popular songs of the period, Quinn and Golway sit down with moderator Jim Quinn for a lively discussion about Hughes and his times.
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave.,
at 6:30 pm / $16; $12 seniors
212-534-1672

Ellie Goulding
Her breakout hit, “Lights,” defined this singer as a dance-ready pop star, though her other efforts can veer toward ruminative, singer-songwriter fare. Her sky-high soprano is a much bigger sensation in her native Britain, where she performed at the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton, though she aimed to change that in 2012 with the release of her album “Halcyon.” (Anderson-NYT)

Now she’s back to warbling, percolating electro: Her “Beating Heart” anchors the soundtrack of the dystopian romance “Divergent.”
the Theater at Madison Square Garden,
866-858-0008, thegarden.com;
At 8 p.m., $29.50 to $45.

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 03/11 and 03/09.

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – WEDNESDAY, MAR. 12, 2014.

“NYPL BOOKS AT NOON”
The New York Public Library recently inaugurated a new 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. Today’s featured writer is Sam Lipsyte who has written five books of fiction including most recently the The Fun Parts.  He is a Guggenheim Fellow and the recipient of the Believer Book Award.
NYPL, Fifth Ave. at 42nd St.
12pm / FREE
917-275-6975

Lorde
“It’s a testament to Lorde that her status as a 17-year-old who came up out of nowhere (in New Zealand) stands as only one of many interesting aspects of her story. Her accomplished music is filled with evocative electronics and a range of vocal moods that leaves her lots of space to explore. Her poise and seeming disinterest in pop’s most empty excesses, too, suggests promise beyond her debut album “Pure Heroine,” released last year.

She reportedly passed up a chance to go on tour with Katy Perry, and she posed for the cover of Rolling Stone in a T-shirt emblazoned with the logo of antic punk band the Cramps. What she does next is an open question..” (WSJ)
Roseland Ballroom, 239 W. 52nd St.,
At 7 p.m./$42.50 to $55
800-745-3000, roselandballroom.com; (212) 247-0200

Wide World of Rum
Fort Defiance barman Zac Overman offers a crash course on the sugarcane spirit. The workshop features a tasting session, mixology tips, palate-cleansing nibbles of crackers, and a 10% discount to shop the wide selection of wines and spirits afterward.
Chelsea Chelsea Wine Vault
75 Ninth Ave, btw 15th and 16th Sts
6:30pm $75
212-462-4244 / chelseawinevault.com

Brian Charette Trio
“The Hammond B-3 organist Brian Charette has a bright new trio album, “Square One,” featuring the guitarist Yotam Silberstein and the drummer Mark Ferber. Its contemporary spin on soul jazz should resonate here.” (Chinen-NYT)
From 9:30 p.m. to midnight, $20 cover.
Smalls Jazz Club, 183 West 10th Street, West Village, smallsjazzclub.com;

Rufus Reid, ‘Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project’
The veteran bassist has spent most of his 70 years serving with the jazz legends of multiple generations—from Dexter Gordon and Stan Getz on downward. At this point in his career, he’s asserting himself more aggressively as a bandleader and especially as a composer, evidenced by his latest and most ambitious work, “Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project.”

Inspired by the sculptures of the celebrated African-American artist, this is a full-length suite for 20-piece orchestra, in which the six movements take the same kind of unique shapes as Catlett’s iconic figures. Mr. Reid’s lovely second movement, “Mother and Child,” is a particularly ingenious sonic interpretation of Catlett’s 1939 work, with soprano Charenee Wade’s wordless lines making it seem even more warm and maternal.
Jazz Standard , 116 E. 27th St.,
(212) 576-2232 /jazzstandard.net
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.,/ $30

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).

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Website: http://www.russianvodkaroom.com/
Phone #: 212-307-5835
Hours: 4pm-2am; Fri-Sun closes 4am (that could be trouble)
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day
$4 shots infused vodka (2oz), $5 cosmos; $4 czech draft beer
Music: FR-SU; TU-WE / 7pm-12am
Subway: #1 to 50th St.
Walk 2 blk N. on B’way to 52nd St.; 1 blk W. to RVR
Confusingly, the Russian Samovar is right across the street, on the  S. side of 52nd St.
The RVR, your destination, is on the N. side of 52nd St.
Update: music some nights includes a sax player with a younger, trimmer piano man.

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

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
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Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – TUESDAY, MAR. 11, 2014.

Tibet House Benefit Concert With Iggy Pop and Patti Smith
“This year’s installment of the annual gala for the Dalai Lama-commissioned educational center features performances by a surprising crop of pacifists: Who knew the punk miscreant Iggy Pop could physically sit still long enough to meditate? He tops a roster that also includes New Order, Robert Randolph, members of the National, Nico Muhly, and the longtime Tibet House advocates Patti Smith and Philip Glass.” (Anderson-NYT)
Isaac Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall,
212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org;
At 7:30 p.m.,/ $35 to $200.

Kevin Mahogany (through Mar 15)
“Kevin Mahogany—an old-school jazz vocal ace with a robust sound and a repertoire that spans standards, blues and classic soul—croons all week in midtown.” (TONY)
Birdland, 315 W 44th St. btw Eighth / Ninth Aves
212-581-3080 / birdlandjazz.com
8:30 and 11pm / $40, plus $10 minimum

The Allman Brothers Band (also Wednesday, +)
“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 Street,
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

NOAH PREMINGER QUARTET
This promising gig casts light on Preminger, a lyrical young tenor saxophonist whose alert work as a leader on three albums has drawn considerable critical attention, and also on his special guest, the veteran pianist Fred Hersch, a dazzling stylist who recently headlined a prestigious two-week engagement at the Village Vanguard. The two artists will complement each other well, since they share a taste for luxuriant balladry and occasional free-form exploration.” (NewYorker)
Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St.
212-576-2232

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:

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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 (03/09) and (03/07).

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

Sicily and Its Sweets with Nick Malgieri
Award-winning pastry chef and author Nick Malgieri (director of the ICE’s baking program) dishes on dessert history in Sicily, one of Europe’s first regions to explore the art of confections. The prechat reception will feature traditional treats from the Italian island, such as buccellato (fig-filled pastries), infasciadedde (Sicilian twisted cookies) and pasticciotti di crema (custard-filled tartlets).
Institute of Culinary Education,50 W 23rd St. btw Fifth and Sixth Aves
6:30pm / $40
iceculinary.com / 800-522-4610
brownpapertickets.com/producer/7199

Nir Felder
“On his impressive debut album, “Golden Age,” this self-assured young guitarist puts himself forward as a strongly melodic composer, in a soundtrackish indie-rock vein. He also shows that he knows what to do with a smartly cohesive band, featuring the pianist Aaron Parks, the bassist Matt Penman and the drummer Nate Smith. (For this show, Orlando le Fleming subs in on bass.) “(Chinen-NYT)
Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, near Thompson Street, Greenwich Village,
212-505-3474, lepoissonrouge.com;
at 10:30 p.m., / $18

Leo Kottke
“This folk singer-songwriter’s earthy voice is a fine accessory, but his real musical thrills lie underneath in his fleet fingerpicking and intricate, jazz-derived hopscotching of polyphony and time signatures. Six acoustic strings become an orchestra in his hands; his last studio album, “Try and Stop Me” in 2004, was refreshingly serene.” (Anderson-NYT)
City Winery, 155 Varick Street, near Spring Street, South Village,
212-608-0555, citywinery.com;
At 8 p.m., / $30 to $45.

Lorde
“It’s a testament to Lorde that her status as a 17-year-old who came up out of nowhere (in New Zealand) stands as only one of many interesting aspects of her story. Her accomplished music is filled with evocative electronics and a range of vocal moods that leaves her lots of space to explore. Her poise and seeming disinterest in pop’s most empty excesses, too, suggests promise beyond her debut album “Pure Heroine,” released last year. She reportedly passed up a chance to go on tour with Katy Perry, and she posed for the cover of Rolling Stone in a T-shirt emblazoned with the logo of antic punk band the Cramps. What she does next is an open question..” (WSJ)
Roseland Ballroom, 239 W. 52nd St.,
At 7 p.m./$42.50 to $55
800-745-3000, roselandballroom.com; (212) 247-0200

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Monday night big bands are a Gotham staple, but this is the one that started it all. Celebrating its 48th year at the club, the orchestra created by late greats Thad Jones and Mel Lewis purrs and roars, featuring fresh charts by Bob Brookmeyer, Jim McNeely, Kenny Werner and other top composers, in addition to its time-honored canon of Jones classics.
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave South, at 11th St
At 8:30 and 10:30 / $25 + 1 drink minimum
212-255-4037 / villagevanguard.com

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

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.
————————————————————————————————————————
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

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

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

3 Good Eating places 

It’s not difficult 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.

================================================================================
“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”/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, MAR. 09, 2014.

Antibalas
“It’s always a party when Antibalas plays. This Brooklyn-based Afrobeat collective—which has collaborated with TV on the Radio, appeared in Broadway’s Fela!, and shared stages with Amy Winehouse and Paul Simon—delivers its patented concoction of funked-up guitar lines, vigorous brass blasts and groovy organ riffs.” (TONY mag)
S.O.B.’s, 200 Varick St. ,at Houston St.
At 9:00pm / $25
212-243-4940 / sobs.com

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Presents The Brooklyn Brass Fest
“Brass continues to reassert itself as the dominant voice in many forms of contemporary music, while reeds and strings battle each other to see who will take second place. Lately, most brass events have stressed world music, marching bands and the avant-garde (as in FONT), but this new festival reaffirms the crucial role that trumpets and trombones play in bebop.

Anticipated highlights of this three-day event include trombonists Steve Turre and Dave Taylor (the latter playing the bass instrument in a solo recital), and trumpet Tom Harrell fronting the ensemble Brass Fantasy in tribute to founder Lester Bowie. There will be brass classes, brass workshops and perhaps even brass-themed refreshments as well” (WSJ)
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Concert Hall,58 Seventh Ave.,
(718) 622-3300
Kumble Theater at LIU Brooklyn,One University Plaza, Brooklyn

The Armory Show 2014
“Our favorite art monster is back again to wreak havoc on the New York art scene. Now in its 16th year, the Armory Show runs four days and is broken into two sections, modern and contemporary. Featuring a dizzying amount of galleries representing 29 countries, this year’s show features a China Symposium and a special section devoted to contemporary art from China curated by Philip Tinari.

The market has also decided to expand and re-brand its Solo Projects section, now referring to it as Armory Presents and allowing participating galleries to present the work
of two artists, rather than just one. Be on the look out for conceptual artist Xu Zhen’s Armory Show contributions. The “chameleon of concept” is this year’s Armory Artist Commission.

Tours are available if you need guidance navigating this show’s massiveness. We also recommend going over the course of a couple of days if you want to cover everything.” (Mindy Bond, Flavorpill)
Piers 92 & 94, 711 12th Ave
12pm-7pm / $40.00
(212) 645-6440 / thearmoryshow.com

Donald Harrison, Ron Carter and Billy Cobham Trio
“Those who remember Cobham as the tsunami-swirling super-drummer of the Mahavishnu Orchestra will be surprised at how sensitive and swinging he becomes when working in tandem with the master bassist Carter and the New Orleans-based alto saxophonist Harrison.

As heard on Harrison’s album “This Is Jazz,” recorded live at this club in 2011, the trio exalts in the freedom that its spare configuration provides.” (NewYorker mag)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St.
At 8 and 10:30 p.m./ $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum
212-475-8592 / bluenote.net

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:

Richard Serra, “New Sculpture” (through March 15)
“In this show, Richard Serra continues along the road that emerged from the hugely successful “Torqued Ellipses” of the 1990s, but also circles back to his earlier oeuvre. Here you have the Serra of the ’60s and ’70s, revised and updated: heavy rectilinear plates and cubes fabricated in steel rather than lead, his signature material in the ’60s.” (Schwendener-NYT) 
Gagosian Gallery, 555 West 24th Street,
 Tue–Sat 10am–6pm / 212-741-1111, gagosian.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 (03/07) and (03/05).

Today’s “Fab 5”+1/ Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, MAR. 08, 2014.

Gelsey Kirkland Ballet
Under the direction of ballerina Gelsey Kirkland and Michael Chernov, the company presents an ambitious mixed program, which highlights Antony Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading pas de deux (reworked by Ms. Kirkland) and Marius Petipa’s Cavalry Halt.
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, 95th St
at 7:30pm / $35–$45
212-864-5400 / symphonyspace.org

ShakesBEER
“To drink or not to drink—is that even a question? Boozing and Bardolatry come together in this pub crawl through four Stone Street establishments, where plainclothes actors spit verses from Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing and more.” (TONY)
meet at Bavaria Bierhaus, 19 South William St
Financial District, Broad St (entrance on Stone St)
at 3:00pm / $40 (includes four drinks)
shakespeareexchange.org

THE CHIEFTAINS
“From their late-fifties work as members of Sean O’Riada’s visionary ensemble, Ceoltoiri Chualann, to the years of collaboration with such big names as Van Morrison, James Galway, and Mick Jagger, these instrumental wizards have long been the leading ambassadors of Ireland’s traditional music. Their current show includes “The Troublemaker’s Jig,” a tribute to Nelson Mandela, composed by the group’s founder and leader, Paddy Moloney.” (NewYorker)
Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St.
212-840-2824.

Nona Hendryx in Transformation: Nona’s Rebirth
“Ms. Hendryx, the feisty alto of Labelle, remains a riveting performer: She belts with all-in passion and has a punk rocker’s aggressive stage presence. At Joe’s Pub, she collaborates with Berklee College’s Electronic Production and Design program for a new multimedia production.” (Anderson – NYT)
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m./ $25
Joe’s Pub, at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street, at Astor Place,
212-967-7555, joespub.com

Bob Mould
“The power of Bob Mould has a way of increasing in inverse proportion to the mass of sound that he commands. He’s monumental with a band at his back, as has been the case in Sugar and Hüsker Dü, but he’s even more immense with only a guitar and his voice. That will be the scenario, more or less, for a pair of nights devoted to his first solo album, 1989’s “Workbook.” Mr. Mould also will play other highpoints from his catalog; bassist Jason Narducy will be on hand to add accents.” (WSJ)
City Winery
155 Varick St.,
(212) 608-0555

NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL: NOW 60 (through Mar 8)
The Newport Jazz Festival, the brilliant brainchild of the promoter George Wein, has had many all-star bands assembled in its name over the years. The Now 60 ensemble is a multigenerational configuration whose oldest member, the trumpeter Randy Brecker, might have been attending the festival decades before the youngest member, the saxophonist and clarinet player Anat Cohen, was even born. Other featured players include the vocalist Karrin Allyson, the pianist Peter Martin, and the guitarist Mark Whitfield.
Jazz Standard.
may not be WestSide, but it is Anat Cohen AND she is always worth the trip.

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

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

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 best burgers in town.

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

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

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

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

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

===========================================================================================
“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants,  jazz 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.
===========================================================================================

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, MAR. 07, 2014.

The Allman Brothers Band (Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday)
“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)
Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway, at 74th Street,
212-465-6500, beacontheatre.com;
At 8 p.m., $50.99 to $150.99.

Cynthia Sayer, ‘The Banjo Show’
Banjo virtuoso Cynthia Sayer first came to our attention in the
company of Woody Allen and Eddy Davis, and like those two cut-ups, she is above all an entertainer who works in a wide range of musical styles. Her current album, “Joyride,” blends New Orleans-style jazz with tango, polka, Hank Williams, Rodgers & Hammerstein and no shortage of admirably goofball vaudeville-style novelties like “Under the Bamboo Tree” and “Man on the Flying Trapeze.” Joining Ms. Sayer will be, among others, two stalwart musicians from the continuing Tuesday night jam sessions at Mona’s, bassist Jared Engel and Dennis Lichtman on clarinet and violin.” (WSJ)
Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette St., (212) 539-8778

BILLY HART QUARTET (through Mar 8)
“This sparkling foursome, bringing together the veteran drummer and three younger players (the pianist Ethan Iverson, of the Bad Plus; the bassist Ben Street; and the accomplished saxophonist Mark Turner), celebrates the release of a new album, “One Is the Other,” which shows that the group is achieving its potential. The band’s original compositions are intriguing, and their take on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Some Enchanted Evening” is a thing of true beauty.” (NewYorker mag)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.com;
At 8:30 and 11 p.m./$40 cover, with a $10 minimum.

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party Goes to the Movies
No, this can’t be considered a true Birdland Cast Party experience—not without some toothless geezer croaking out “My Way”—but rather this is a 10th anniversary victory lap for the gold standard of open mic shows. Unlike an actual cast party, which by nature inevitably features more than a few performers deserving of the hook, everyone on this bill is totally top drawer, including the dynamic Marilyn Maye, virtuoso impressionist and YouTube phenom Christina Bianco, song and dance guy Jeffry Denman, the soulful and sublime Natalie Douglas, and the celebrated Jane Monheit.

As always, the whole works is curated and hosted by Jim Caruso, he with the talent to amuse, along with that remarkably sure-footed musical director Billy Stritch.” (WSJ)
The Appel Room (Formerly the Allen Room)
Broadway at 60th Street,
212-721-6500

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
————————————————————————————————————————————-

‘Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes From the Hill Collection’ (through June 15)
“This sensational, beautifully presented show of 33 late-15th- to early-18th-century bronzes reflects a taste for historically important, big-statement examples in exceptional condition. They vividly reflect the Renaissance’s new interest in antiquity and the human form while encouraging concentration on emotional expression, refined details (great hair!), struggling or relaxed figures and varied patinas. Works by the reigning geniuses Giambologna, Susini and the lesser-known Piamontini dominate, further enlivened by a handful of old master and late-20th-century paintings from the Hill collection.”
(Roberta Smith-NYT)
Frick Collection: 1 East 70th St.
212-288-0700, frick.org.
—————————————————————————————————————————————-

‘Carrie Mae Weems: Three Decades of Photography and Video’ (through May 14)
“Kandinsky in Paris, 1934–1944“ (through Apr. 23, 2014)
Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th St.
(212) 423-3500 / guggenheim.org.

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

• 110th Street – Museum for African Art

• 105th Street – El Museo del Barrio

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

• 92nd Street – The Jewish Museum

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

• 89th Street – National Academy Museum

• 88th Street – Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

• 86th Street – Neue Galerie New York

• 83rd Street – Goethe-Institut

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

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

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar: “NYCity Events: Manhattan’s WestSide” dated 03/03 and 03/05.

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, MAR. 06, 2014.

Highlights in Jazz: ‘Salute to Ken Peplowski’
“When we first heard Ken Peplowski 30 years ago in Benny Goodman’s final reed section, we placed him as a direct continuation of those master clarinetists of the 1940s—like Goodman, Artie Shaw and Buddy DeFranco—with his immaculately clean execution, rapturous tone and sparkling melodicism. On his recent “Live at the Kitano,” with pianist Dick Hyman, every track underscores the duo’s remarkable capacity for interplay.

Thursday’s “Salute” features Mr. Peplowski’s rhythm section of choice, with pianist Derek Smith, bassist Nicki Parrott and drummer-vibraphonist Chuck Redd, as well as his two most belligerently buoyant sparring partners in guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and tenor titan Houston Person.” (WSJ)
Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers St.
At 8 p.m./$45
212-220-1460, tribecapac.org

American Songbook 2014 – Deer Tick
Presented by Lincoln Center
“From Providence, Rhode Island, alt-country–rock crowd-pleaser Deer Tick is driven by guitarist and singer-songwriter John McCauley. Loved by audiences for the thrilling atmosphere it generates live, the band performs an intimate evening including music from the acclaimed new album Negativity, a record of personal storytelling, self-reflection, and redemption in its signature blend of folk, blues, and country rock.” (Mindy Bond, Flavorpill)
Allen Room, Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway
at 8:30pm / $30-$50
212-721-6500

Donald Harrison, Ron Carter and Billy Cobham Trio (through Mar 9)
“Those who remember Cobham as the tsunami-swirling super-drummer of the Mahavishnu Orchestra will be surprised at how sensitive and swinging he becomes when working in tandem with the master bassist Carter and the New Orleans-based alto saxophonist Harrison.

As heard on Harrison’s album “This Is Jazz,” recorded live at this club in 2011, the trio exalts in the freedom that its spare configuration provides.” (NewYorker mag)
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St.
At 8 and 10:30 p.m./ $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum
212-475-8592 / bluenote.net

E. E. CUMMINGS & EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY:
TWENTIETH-CENTURY STARS
The poet Billy Collins, the actress Blair Brown, and the Millay biographer Nancy Milford join Susan Cheever, for a night celebrating her new biography, “E. E. Cummings: A Life.”
Bruno Walter Auditorium, NY Public Library for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center.
At 6pm / No tickets necessary
poetrysociety.org

The Armory Show 2014 (through Mar 9)
“Our favorite art monster is back again to wreak havoc on the New York art scene. Now in its 16th year, the Armory Show runs four days and is broken into two sections, modern and contemporary. Featuring a dizzying amount of galleries representing 29 countries, this year’s show features a China Symposium and a special section devoted to contemporary art from China curated by Philip Tinari.

The market has also decided to expand and re-brand its Solo Projects section, now referring to it as Armory Presents and allowing participating galleries to present the work of two artists, rather than just one. Be on the look out for conceptual artist Xu Zhen’s Armory Show contributions. The “chameleon of concept” is this year’s Armory Artist Commission.

Tours are available if you need guidance navigating this show’s massiveness. We also recommend going over the course of a couple of days if you want to cover everything.” (Mindy Bond, Flavorpill)
Piers 92 & 94, 711 12th Ave
12pm-7pm / $40.00
(212) 645-6440 / thearmoryshow.com

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

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

===========================================================================================
“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 – WEDNESDAY, MAR. 05, 2014.

Jennifer Nettles
“This fittingly sweet Sugarland singer has found just as much success in her country solo career, sliding effortlessly into a duet with Jon Bon Jovi on a twangy version of his band’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” as well as releasing her rock-inflected solo debut, “That Girl,” in January. The album, produced by the formidable Rick Rubin, championed Ms. Nettles’s survivalist spirit with airy, contemporary crossover-pop arrangements.”(Anderson-NYT)
Beacon Theater, 2124 Broadway, at 74th St.
800-745-3000, beacontheatre.com
At 8 p.m. / $44.50 to $74.50

“NYPL BOOKS AT NOON”
The New York Public Library inaugurates a new 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. P. J. O’Rourke, the author of “Parliament of Whores” and “Give War a Chance,” is up first, discussing his latest book, “The Baby Boom.”
NYPL, Fifth Ave. at 42nd St.
12pm / FREE
917-275-6975

Peter Bernstein Quartet (also Thursday)
“The astute hard-bop guitarist Peter Bernstein can always be trusted in a quartet setting, and this one features some of his most trusted partners: the pianist Sam Yahel, the bassist Doug Weiss and the drummer Bill Stewart.”(Chinen-NYT)
Smalls Jazz Club, 183 West 10th Street, West Village
At 9:30 p.m./ $20
smallsjazzclub.com

One-On-One: 826NYC Tenth-Anniversary Chat Spectacular
“To help out its local tutoring programs, literacy organization 826NYC pulls together a benefit in which well-known guests from various disciplines interview each other. The pairs include Ken Burns and Kurt Andersen, John Oliver and Questlove, Masha Gessen and Robyn Hitchcock, and Fred Armisen and the audience. Eugene Mirman and Sarah Vowell host.” (TONY)
Town Hall, 123 W 43rd St. Btw Sixth Ave and Broadway
7:30pm / $40–$50
212-840-2824 / thetownhall.org / 826nyc.org

NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL: NOW 60 (through Mar 8)
The Newport Jazz Festival, the brilliant brainchild of the promoter George Wein, has had many all-star bands assembled in its name over the years. The Now 60 ensemble is a multigenerational configuration whose oldest member, the trumpeter Randy Brecker, might have been attending the festival decades before the youngest member, the saxophonist and clarinet player Anat Cohen, was even born. Other featured players include the vocalist Karrin Allyson, the pianist Peter Martin, and the guitarist Mark Whitfield.
Jazz Standard.
may not be WestSide, but it is Anat Cohen AND she is always worth the trip.

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 MUSEUMS (Manhattan’s WestSide)

‘Walker Evans: American Photographs’ (through Mar. 09)
“In 1938, the Museum of Modern Art mounted its first one-person photography exhibition: “American Photographs,” by Walker Evans. This gripping, 75th-anniversary reprise of that show presents more than 50 images from that body of work. It is accompanied by a reissue of the original catalog, which includes a wonderfully insightful essay by Evans’s friend and supporter Lincoln Kirstein. Together, the show and the book reverberate now in a time when the idea of America is subject to debates as fractious and far-reaching as at any time since the Civil War.” (Johnson-NYT)
Isa Genzken: ‘Retrospective’ (through March 10)
‘Ileana Sonnabend: Ambassador for the New’ (through April 21)
 ‘Designing Modern Women 1890-1990’(through Oct. 5)
Museum of Modern Art: 11 W 53rd St. (btw 5th /6th Ave.)
(212) 708-9400 / moma.org.

Designing Modern Women 1890-1990:

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‘Out of Hand: Materializing the Postdigital’ (through June 1)
“If you haven’t quite wrapped your head around the concept of 3-D printing, or haven’t yet had a digital scanner wrap itself around you, now you can do both in this survey of computer-assisted art, architecture and design. The show looks at art made since 2005 and fills nearly three floors, including many irresistible interactive projects. Its ideas may not be entirely new; the Museum of Modern Art’s 2008 exhibition “Design and the Elastic Mind” covered much of the same territory, but there’s something to be said for this more down-to-earth, production-focused exhibition.” (Rosenberg-NYT)
Museum of Arts and Design, Columbus Circle,
212-299-7777,madmuseum.org.
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The Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya (ongoing)
This exhibition by artist Nathan Sawaya is a critically acclaimed collection of intriguing and inspiring works of art made exclusively from one of the most recognizable toys in the world — LEGO® bricks. The Discovery Times Square exhibit is the world’s biggest and most elaborate display of LEGO® art ever and features brand-new, never-before-seen pieces by Sawaya. This show was named ‘One of CNN’s Ten Global Must-See Exhibitions.’
Discovery Times Square, 226 West 44th St. (btw 7th/8th ave)
866.987.9692 / http://www.discoverytsx.com

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : … …” dated (03/03) and (03/01).