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

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

90th Anniversary George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’:
A Celebration of Paul Whiteman’s Historic 1924 Aeolian Hall Concert
“Much of what you need to know is in the title of this concert, an example of jazz repertory conducted with the truest sense of occasion. You should also know that the agent of this reverie is Vince Giordano, who leads the Nighthawks with period finesse, and that the guest performers will include Ted Rosenthal and Jeb Patton on piano.” (Chinen-NYT)
Town Hall, 123 West 43rd St.
At 8 p.m., $25 to $40.
800-982-2787, the-townhall-nyc.org

Julianna Barwick
Julianna Barwick—a Brooklynite singer and composer who uses effects pedals to loop her voice, piano and other sounds into dense, shimmering clouds of audible color—plays in the wake of her gorgeous 2013 album, Nepenthe, in a venue that should do full justice to her wafting reveries.
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, 113 Remsen St.(btw Clinton and Henry Sts)
a magnificent and unique setting for a concert and only 1 stop from Wall St.on the #2-3
7:00pm $20, advance $15
718-624-7228 / ololc.org

Emanuele Arciuli, Classical and opera
An accomplished, imaginative Italian pianist deeply inspired by Native American cultures, Emanuele Arciuli presents the New York premiere of Martin Bresnick’s Ishi’s Song and Kyle Gann’s Earth-Preserving Chant. Rounding out a bill that would be attractive at twice the price are Haydn’s Variations in F minor, Bartók’s Out of Doors, Liszt’s Hymne à la Nuit and John Adams’s Phrygian Gates.
Italian Academy (at Columbia University)
1161 Amsterdam Ave, between 116th and 118th Sts
7PM / FREE
212-854-2306 / italianacademy.columbia.edu

Royal New Zealand Ballet performs Andrew Simmons’s Of Days
“Dance fans know Ethan Stiefel as the celebrated former American Ballet Theatre principal; dance-movie fans know him as the jerky choreographer who broke Jody’s heart in Center Stage. These days, he’s the artistic director of the world-renowned Royal New Zealand Ballet, which is making its long-awaited NYC debut at the Joyce.

The company will perform Benjamin Millepied’s elegant 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Javier De Frutos’s flamenco-inflected Banderillero and Andrew Simmons’s minimalist Of Days.” (TONY mag )
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave. at 19th St
7:30pm $10–$75
212-242-0800 / joyce.org

Andrea McArdle: Dream Roles
Broadway’s original Annie, Andrea McArdle, returns to 54 Below with an all-new show. This fresh musical outing celebrates the power and magic of performing “that great role.” Lovers and liars, heroes and villains, elegant ladies and outrageous broads, there is nothing that excites the imagination more than watching a classic character come to vivid life on stage.

In Dream Roles, Andrea brings her soaring vocals to some of the theatre’s greatest roles, the roles she’s loved, the roles she’s played and the roles she’s always dreamed of performing. At the same time, Dream Roles showcases the dynamic melodies of Broadway’s musical masters: Sondheim, Herman, Lloyd Webber, Menken and many more. Join Andrea as she pulls back the curtain and turns up the spotlight on her greatest theatrical inspirations… along with a few surprises.
54 Below, 254 W 54th St. between Broadway and Eighth Ave
7:00pm $35–$60 plus $25 minimum
866-468-7619 / 54below.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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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).

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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, and except for certain jazz joints, without a cover charge.

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 – TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 2014

Created Equal The Abolitionists
The first of four screenings and discussions in our Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle series, this movie interweaves historical dramatization with traditional documentary. Following the screening, Prithi Kanakamedala, Project Historian for Brooklyn Abolitionists/In Pursuit of Freedom, and Manisha Sinha, Professor of Afro-American Studies at UMass Amherst, lead the discussion.
Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St., near Clinton St., Brooklyn Heights
The event is free with admission.
At 6:30PM / suggested admission: $10, $6 for students 12 and older and those 62+
718-222-4111, brooklynhistory.org

A Changing Harlem
The shift in the social and economic fabric of Harlem will be illustrated in words and photographs at 6:30 p.m. at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, Elebash Recital Hall, 365 Fifth Avenue, at 34th Street. Camilo José Vergara, a photographer whose most recent book is “Harlem: The Unmaking of a Ghetto,” will lead the discussion. Also taking part: Eric K. Washington, author of “Manhattanville: Old Heart of West Harlem”; Phil Bicker, a senior photo editor at Time; and Sharon Zukin, a sociology professor.
Gotham Center for New York City History
FREE, but attendance is full. standby tickets may be available starting at 5:30 p.m.
I have had good luck with standby at this venue, so if you’re nearby give it a shot.
212-817-8215, tinyurl.com/pltkk3m

Ulysses Owens
“Ulysses Owens Jr. has distinguished himself as a resourceful, exacting young drummer in a nice range of bands, including those led by the bassist Christian McBride. To celebrate the release of his third album, “Onward & Upward,” Mr. Owens leads a sharp group with, among others, Duane Eubanks on trumpet; Michael Dease on trombone; Christian Sands on piano; and Gilad Hekselman on guitar.” (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St and Broadway
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. / $30 cover, with a $10 minimum
212-258-9595, jalc.org

Taste the Museum: The History of Chocolate
In two sessions, Brooklyn cacao stars Michael and Rick Mast will lead a participatory bean-to-bar lecture, drawing on the Hall of Mexico and Central America at the American Museum of Natural History. Learn about the ancient confection through the ages, and taste of six Mast Brothers samples, along with chocolate drinks.
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West, at 79th St
At 6:30 and 7:30PM – just learned it’s SoldOut. maybe Craigs List?
212-769-5100 / amnh.org

CYRILLE AIMÉE 
“The locally based, French-born singer, who is of Dominican descent, was a runner-up in the 2010 Thelonious Monk Vocals Competition and she grabbed the gold two years later in the first Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition. She’s at Birdland celebrating Valentine’s Day all week long.” (NewYorker listings)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
At 8:30 and 11 p.m./ $40, with a $10 minimum.
212-581-3080, birdlandjazz.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:

‘Silla: Korea’s Golden Kingdom’ (through Feb. 23)
“Venetian Glass by Carlo Scarpa, The Venini Co., 1932–1947” (through March 2, 2014)
‘Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China’ (through April 6)
‘The American West in Bronze, 1850-1925’ (ends April 13)
William Kentridge: ‘The Refusal of Time’ (through May 11)
‘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

Neue Galerie: “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 02/09 and 02/07.

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

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (Feb 10+11)
The Westminster Dog Show is one of the longest-running shows of its kind, starting in 1877. A two-day event featuring hundreds of dogs from across the country in several different judging categories, and the claws come out for this intense competition. This prestigious dog show judges canines on categories such as Best in Group, Best of Breed and Best in Show.
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8AM-6PM $27.50
Monday to include hound, toy, non-sporting and herding groups
Tuesday to include sporting, working and terrier groups
Live streaming of all breed judging will be available on westminsterkennelclub.org and on the official 2014 Westminster Show App
The Piers 92/94, 711 12th Ave at 55th Street & West Side Highway

6PM-11PM $40;$55
Gates open at 6 PM for best of breed benching area
Monday to include hound, toy, non-sporting and herding groups (beginning at 8 PM)
Tuesday to include Junior Showmanship, sporting, working, terrier groups and BEST IN SHOW (beginning at 7:30 PM)
Monday night LIVE ON CNBC 8-11 PM; Tuesday night LIVE ON USA 8-11 PM
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Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza,
866-858-0008, thegarden.com

The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built America’s First Subway
This site, NYCity123, advocates using the subway as your best bet to get around town, so this event is a natural.
Author Doug Most discusses a significant development in the transportation of the city’s commuters in his new book, The Race Underground: Boston, New York and the Incredible rivalry that built America’s first subway.
Barnes and Noble, 2289 Broadway at 82nd St.
At 7PM / FREE
212-362-8835

‘Ladies and Gentlemen…the Beatles!’
“Drawn from the Library’s collection, as well as that of the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live and private collectors, this exhibition of more than 400 items examines the cultural, social and musical impact of the band on American life after its first performance here in 1964. Included are clothing, lyric sheets and the re-creation of a teenager’s bedroom filled with Beatles memorabilia.

On Monday at 6 p.m., Robert Santelli, executive director of the Grammy Museum, will discuss the influence of America on the Fab Four before they made their first trip here. Also on hand for the talk: Mark Lewisohn, author of “Tune In: The Beatles All These Years,” the first in a trilogy that was released in October.” (NYT)
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, 111 Amsterdam Ave, at 65th St. Lincoln Center,
Free tickets to the talk will be distributed first come first served, beginning at 5 p.m. The exhibition, on view through May 10, can be seen Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 8 p.m.,
917-275-6975, tinyurl.com/kledtsf

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (through Feb 17)
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 all week, 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

Love Songs
“Celebrating a night of love and new musical theater with best and brightest performers and composers in New York City. The night will feature original songs by Alexander Sage Oyen, Will Buck, Lauren Marcus, Drew Overcash, Zoe Sarnak, and Georgia Stitt.

A portion of the proceeds will go straight to the V-Day Foundation, V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

Featuring: Alex Brightman, Max Crumm, Ariana DeBose, Joanna Howard, Siri Howard, Lauren Marcus, Jessica Mortellaro, Taylor Noble, Krista Pioppi, Max Quinlan, Krysta Rodriguez, Taylor Sorice, Stephanie Turci, and Natalie Weiss.” (CityGuide)
54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.
at 11:30pm / $30-40 cover charge. $25 food & beverage minimum
212- 646-476-3551 / http://www.54below.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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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, 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.

If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.
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Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, FEB. 09, 2014

Sunday at the Met—Venetian Glass by Carlo Scarpa:
The Venini Company, 1932-1947
Artists Carol Bove and Josiah McElheny join Met Curator Nicholas Cullinan to discuss how Carlo Scarpa’s architecture, museological displays, and work in glass continue to influence and inspire artists today.

and while you are here:
This is the last weekend to see vintage football cards that are part of the exhibition of football-related items from the museum’s collection. Also in the display are photographs and a collegiate football sweater dating to the early 1900s.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave, at 82nd Street
At 3PM / Museum Admission $25
212-535-7710

The Beatles Invasion 50-Year Celebration:
See The Fab Four on the Big Screen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
The Ed Sullivan Show
The date February 9, 1964, positively shrieks and screams in the history of rock ‘n’ roll: it was the first official appearance of the Beatles on American television screens, on The Ed Sullivan Show, after which the music scene and pop culture would never be the same. Amidst the tumultuous screaming of the adoring teenage girls, John (“Sorry, Girls, He’s Married”), Paul, George, and Ringo perform “All My Loving,” “Till There Was You,” “She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” Trying their best to capture attention for themselves are Ed’s other guests: magician Fred Kaps; impressionist Frank Gorshin; British singer Tessie O’Shea; comedians Mitzi McCall and Charlie Brill; novelty act Wells and the Four Fays; and cast members from Broadway’s Oliver!, including future-Monkee Davy Jones. No wonder the Fab Four seemed like a bolt of cool lightning. Includes the original commercials. (60 minutes; 1964)

What’s Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A.
Noted documentary filmmakers David and Albert Maysles (Salesman, Grey Gardens) landed the assignment of a lifetime when they were chosen to capture a British rock band about to make their first American television appearance, on The Ed Sullivan Show. The arrival of the Beatles at JFK Airport; their snappy, irreverent repartee as they wait at the Plaza Hotel for their big moment on the air; a trip to a Manhattan nightspot; and highlights from their subsequent D.C. concert are all captured in the raw and spontaneous cinéma vérité Maysles style, an unscripted precursor to their classic film A Hard Day’s Night. Also on hand are Beatles manager Brian Epstein and deejay Murray the K. This was made for Granada Television in England. (Later re-edited and released as The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit). (70 minutes; 1964)
THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA

Apollo Theater Open House
The Apollo Theater celebrates Black History Month with free performances by Nicole Vanessa Ortiz, Apollo Live’s James “Petawane” Burris, Acapella Soul, cast members from Motown: The Musical and other artists.
Apollo Theater, 253 W 125th St. between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd (Seventh Ave) and Frederick Douglass Blvd (Eighth Ave)
At 1PM / FREE
212-531-5305 / apollotheater.org

GERALD CLAYTON
“The progressive but listener-friendly pianist and composer usually appears as the leader of a light-footed trio, but his most recent album, “Life Forum,” features a larger ensemble, complete with horns, singers, and the spoken-word artist Carl Hancock Rux. At the Village Vanguard this week, Clayton expands his basic unit slightly but decisively, adding Logan Richardson on alto saxophone.” (NewYorker listings)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. S., at 11th St.
8:30 and 10:30PM / $25 plus 1 drink minimum
212-255-4037 /

Ron Carter Quartet
“Ron Carter, one of jazz’s most highly regarded bassists, tends to favor polish over power in his small-group work, but that doesn’t mean his bands lack a vital spark. This one shouldn’t, anyway: it features a smartly intuitive pianist, Renee Rosnes, along with the drummer Payton Crossley and the percussionist Rolando Morales-Matos.” (Chinen-NYT)
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village,
At 8 and 10:30 p.m./ $35 tables; $25 bar
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.
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WHAT’S ON VIEW: Special Exhibitions @ 4 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.
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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 Armory Show at 100: Modern Art and Revolution’ (through Feb. 23)
“The Historical Society visits a watershed exhibition in the history of American art (and a significant event in the annals of New York City) with this centennial celebration of the 1913 Armory Show, the controversial survey that introduced New York audiences to the works of such modern artists as Duchamp, Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh. Some of those same pieces return here.” (TONY listings)
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, at 77th St.
(212) 873-3400 / nyhistory.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 (02/07) and (02/05).

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

“I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “Love Me Do”, “Do You Want to Know a Secret”, and all the rest. Today America Celebrates the Beatles
“Exactly 50 years (minus one day) after the Fab Four ignited full-scale Beatlemania with their performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” Town Hall replicates that watershed rock moment with an evening of tribute performances. The large crop of artists includes Al Jardine of the Beach Boys, Fred Schneider of the B-52s and Greg Hawkes of the Cars.

Surely, none of the stage chatter will eclipse Sullivan’s best quip on that fateful night in 1964, delivered sternly to the shrieking teenage girls in his audience: “If you don’t keep quiet, I’m going to send for a barber.” (Stacey Anderson-NYT)
Town Hall, 123 West 43rd St.
At 7:30 p.m./ $52 to $252
800-982-2787, the-townhall-nyc.org

Today is also the first full day of competition in the Winter Olympics:
Paley Center for Media: The Olympic Games
(Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday)
On select days from Saturday through Feb. 23, visitors can watch daytime coverage of the Olympics on the center’s big screen. The free programming — a celebration of the center’s United States Olympic Archive, featuring televised Olympic competitions dating to 1960 — will begin with figure skating on Saturday at noon (and continue on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday).
Paley Center for Media, West 52nd St.
screenings included in admission: $10, $8 for students and 65+
212-621-6800,paleycenter.org

Monk-in-Motion: The Next Face of Jazz
Melissa Aldana
The Monk in Motion series hosts the winner and finalists in last year’s prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. Winner Melissa Aldana, a tenor saxophonist,  leads her Crash Trio on Feb 8, and runner-up Tivon Pennicott performs on Feb 22.
Tribeca Performing Arts Center at the Borough of Manhattan Community College
199 Chambers St. between Greenwich and West Sts
7:30pm $25, seniors and students $15
212-220-1460 / tribecapac.org

Matuto
“These engaging international rockers, known for their lively sets, blend traditional Brazilian music like forró with American jazz and funk. They took that alchemy through West Africa as participants in the State Department’s American Music Abroad diplomacy program and recently released an album, “The Devil and the Diamond.” (Anderson-NYT)
S.O.B.’s, 204 Varick Street, at Houston Street, South Village,
At 8:30 and 10:45 p.m./ $15
212-243-4940, sobs.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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A PremierPub – Upper West Side

Dinosaur /  700 W125th St. @ 12th ave.

Walk only five minutes from the 125th st. station on the #1 line to find this authentic honky-tonk barbecue joint. Some folks think Dinosaur is just a place to eat ribs. Au contraire. With 24 carefully selected taps, this is a place to drink beer, and eat ribs.

No food goes better with American craft ales than American barbecue. Dinosaur may be the best combo of good beer drinking and hearty eating in town, which makes the trip to Harlem totally worthwhile.

This second incarnation of Dinosaur in Harlem is in an old brick warehouse near the Hudson River. Don’t let that run down exterior fool you. Inside it’s a large space with huge, rough wooden columns and unfinished wooden floors and brick walls – just right for a bbq joint. As soon as you open the door you are hit with that tantalizing aroma of barbecue coming from the large open kitchen. Reminds me of all those great rib joints I frequented when stationed in North Carolina all those years ago. If your stomach wasn’t grumbling before, it is now.

Head to the bar, sit down and try to decide on a beer. It’s not an easy decision – a good problem to have. This is a pretty damn good beer list to choose from, one that most beer bars should be jealous of. I love that they feature NY craft beers. You may want to try the four beer sampler, which is always fun, and in this place may be necessary.

The Mississippi blues music playing in the background will get you in the mood for their North Carolina style barbecue, and even when it’s a full house your order shouldn’t take too long. The food is all slow smoked, so it’s already mostly done and ready to go. I always start with an order of their giant, spice rubbed wings, so good they may make you give up Buffalo wings.

Unfortunately, a place this good does not fly under the radar. There can be some humongous waits for a table at dinnertime. So you need a strategy – avoid prime time, and try not to arrive with your entire posse, which will limit your seating options.

A seat at the bar, a small table in the bar area, or in the summer, an outside table, underneath what’s left of the elevated West Side Hwy, all may open before a table inside the main dining room. Otherwise, try Dinosaur for lunch, or come very late for dinner.

Website: http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/
Phone #: 212-694-1777
Hours: M-Th 11:30am-11:00pm; Fr-Sa 11:30am-12:00am;
Su 12:00pm-10:00pm
Happy Hour: 4-7pm every day; $1 off all drinks
Music: Fri / Sat 10:00pm
Subway: #1 to 125th st
Walk 2 blk W on 125th to Dinosaur Bar-B-Q,
just past the elevated highway

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

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 – FRIDAY, FEB. 07, 2014

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

BALANCHINE & ROBBINS: MASTERS AT WORK
Dances at a Gathering
Music by: Frédéric Chopin
Choreography by: Jerome Robbins
The quintessential piano ballet, Dances at a Gathering distills the spectrum of human interaction into the most natural of movements.

Union Jack
Music by: Hershy Kay (Adapted from traditional British music)
Choreography by: George Balanchine
A dazzling display of kilts and clans meets music-hall humor and a fleet of flirtatious sailors in Union Jack, a spectacle of 74 dancers and one beloved donkey
DHK Theater, Lincoln Center, Columbus Avenue at West 64th Street
At 7:30PM / $29 to $159
212-496-0600 / nycballet.com

Nicole Zuraitis
“…Bottom line  – No one can hold a candle to Nicole’s unparalleled musical virtuosity. If you’ve had the privilege of seeing her in action in anyone of NYC top live music venues, you have been tossing and turning since – bewitched by her tell-all lyrics and flawless melodies. You’ve been dripping with anticipation, counting down the days, eagerly trolling her facebook, scrolling through tweets for a release date for this much anticipated CD. From what you’ve heard live in songs like “Secret”, “Try Love”, and “Water Colors”, you know this album is going to dig deep.” (Robin Sokoloff, Loft 227)
Caffe Vivaldi, 32 Jones St,
9:30 pm – 11:00 pm / FREE
1 (212) 691-7538 / caffevivaldi.com

LOSER’S LOUNGE TRIBUTE TO LOU REED (Feb. 6-8.)
“Some people will say that the use of Reed’s “Perfect Day,” from “Transformer”—the1972 album that also included “Walk on the Wild Side”—in a current TV commercial for a violent video game is a witty mixture of lyricism and mayhem, which fits Reed’s special brand of irony. Others will call it an insult to the legacy of the New York rock colossus, who died in October.

Though the Lounge does not shy away from irony, a heartfelt version of “Perfect Day” is likely in this tribute, the Losers’ first deep foray into the Reed catalogue. There will also be songs from the Velvet Underground collaborators John Cale and Nico, and—knowing the fondness of the Losers’ leader, Joe McGinty, for pop quirkiness—from Reed’s early days as a songwriter for the schlocky bargain-bin label Pickwick Records.” (NewYorker mag)
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St.
212-539-8778. 

SHARON JONES
“Jones’s music has always been about persistence and struggle. On her five albums, backed by the Dap-Kings, she has dipped into classic soul and early funk, and conveyed the messages of self-empowerment and social justice that go along with that sound. But her new record, “Give the People What They Want,” has a special dimension. It was originally scheduled for release last summer, but was postponed when Jones was given a diagnosis of cancer. Now, following her treatment, the record is out, and Jones is feeling well enough to tour. Songs on the album like “Retreat!” and “People Don’t Get What They Deserve” were written before her diagnosis, but now they have new impact. (NewYorker mag)
Beacon Theatre, Broadway at 74th St.
212-465-6500

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, 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.

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 – WEDNESDAY, FEB. 05, 2014

PAM TANOWITZ
“A choreographer whose disassembly and reassembly of ballet and Cunningham-influenced modern dance can be thrilling, Tanowitz makes her Joyce Theatre début with two premières. In “Passagen,” the electrifying dancers Melissa Toogood and Maggie Cloud remix recent Tanowitz choreography while the onstage violinist Pauline Kim Harris plays John Zorn. In “Heaven on One’s Head,” a cast of nine takes on the knotty complexity of Conlon Nancarrow’s String Quartets Nos. 1 and 3, played live by the Flux Quartet.” (NewYorker listings)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue, at 19th Street, Chelsea,
at 7:30 p.m./ $10 to $25
212-242-0800, joyce.org

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

New Tech City: Tech, Music and the Brain
“This event, featuring a panel discussion and performances, will explore the connections between music and the brain. Participants include Mary Farbood, an assistant professor of music technology at New York University, who has researched how the brain processes music and how computers can enhance musical creativity; the composer and musician Laurie Anderson; Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s “New Tech City”; and Helga Davis, a vocalist and performance artist who will perform.” (NYT)
the Greene Space, 44 Charlton Street, at Varick Street, SoHo,
At 7 p.m. / $20, which includes a beer or a glass of wine.
866-811-4111, thegreenespace.org

Mike LeDonne’s Groover Quartet
Hammond B3 master Mike LeDonne, who was nominated for Best Keyboard Artist 2012 by the prestigious Jazz Journalists Association, leads a jazz dream team of artists in this long-running house party. “…saxophonist Eric Alexander, guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Joe Farnsworth are joining LeDonne to present their version of what in the trade is called “grits and gravy” jazz. This is groove music that’s fun and good for the soul.” – (Greg Thomas, NY Daily News)
Smoke, 2751 Broadway (btw105/106 St.)
7pm & 9pm two-course dinner prix-fixe available for $29.95 / no music charge
10:30pm $20 minimum (dinner optional) / no music charge
212-864-6662/smokejazz.com

DANCE ON CAMERA 2014
“Among the diverse offerings during the festival’s forty-second iteration are films about the teacher Martha Hill, the music-video choreographer Vincent Paterson, the tap dancer Derick Grant, and the Bharata Natyam veteran Malavika Sarukkai. There’s rare footage of Rudolph Nureyev and of mid-twentieth-century ice-skating spectaculars. Especially notable is “Creative Domain,” a rare glimpse into the rehearsal process of Paul Taylor.” (NewYorker listings)
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Visit filmlinc.com for full schedule.

Amina Figarova Sextet
“The pianist Amina Figarova, born in Azerbaijan and now a New Yorker after spending years in the Netherlands, draws partly here from her most recent album, “Twelve.” Her band features her husband, Bart Platteau, on flute, along with the tenor saxophonist Marc Mommaas, the trumpeter Alex Pope Norris, the bassist Luques Curtis and the drummer Jason Brown.” (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway,
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m./ $30 cover, with a $10 minimum
212-258-9595, jalc.org

‘What’s It All About? Bacharach Re-Imagined’ (through Feb. 16)
“The only thing disingenuous about this hybrid production—equal parts cabaret show, rock concert and off-Broadway musical—is the spurious claim that Burt Bacharach’s classic songs have been “updated” or, worse, some made “relevant” to the contemporary generation. Nothing of the sort.

The arrangements by singer-guitarist Kyle Riabko, who conceived and orchestrated “What’s It All About? Bacharach Re-Imagined” are exciting and novel yet still gloriously tethered to the 1960s: Now the songs sound more like part of the score to “Hair” than “Promises, Promises.” Remarkably, the seven-member cast of singer-dancer-musicians (who are usually performing all three of those actions simultaneously), doesn’t indulge in any star turns, and there are no show-stopping 11 o’clock numbers. As we file out of the theater, the only name on our lips is that of Mr. Bacharach, having just been re-reminded that his songs are every bit as wonderful as we always knew that they were.” (WSJ)
New York Theater Workshop,79 E. fourth St.
At 7PM / $85
(212) 560-5475

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.

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

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 – MONDAY, FEB. 03, 2014

ASTEROIDS: EARTH’S NEAREST NEIGHBORS WITH AMY MAINZER
Asteroids have interacted with Earth in the past and are certain to do so in the future. In this talk, Mainzer will explore the origins and evolution of the smallest bodies in our solar system as well as what has recently been learned about their orbital and physical properties. Recent advances in ground- and space-based astronomy have yielded new estimates of their numbers, orbits, sizes, and compositions. Systems to discover, track, characterize, and predict potential impacts from Earth’s nearest neighbors will be discussed.
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St.,
at 7:30 pm / $15
212-769-5100

Make it a double feature at the museum

‘The Power of Poison’ (through Aug. 10)
The good and bad uses of poison will be covered in this interactive exhibition that 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

Screening | 2 Oscar-Winning Short Films:
On the Bowery / 3rd Ave. El
During this Oscar season, take a retrospective look at past winners and nominees in the categories of documentaries and short subjects.

On the Bowery (1957) Nominee, Best Documentary (Feature) 65 minutes
3rd Ave. El (1955) Nominee, Best Short Subject (One- Reel) 11 minutes
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts,
 
Third Floor Screening Room
at 6:00 pm / FREE

Jazz ‘Fame’
“The quotation marks in the title might seem a tad awkward, but they serve a purpose, since this benefit concert celebrates the jazz legacy of La Guardia High School, of “Fame” movie fame. Among the artists appearing — some, but not all, alumni — are the clarinetists Paquito D’Rivera and Don Byron; the pianists Arturo O’Farrill and Jeremy Manasia; and the bassists Andy Gonzalez and Marcus Miller.” (Chinen-NYT)
La Guardia High School, 100 Amsterdam Avenue, at 65th Street,
At 7:30 p.m./ $35 and $75
212-496-0700, alumniandfriends.org

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
There’s a tradition in many New York City jazz clubs – Monday nights are reserved for big bands. The Village Vanguard, the most storied of clubs, has observed this practice since 1966. The Grammy-winning Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, established by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, is definitely a big band with 4 trumpets, and 4 trombones to accompany 6 reed players. Why not make it your tradition, too.
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Avenue South, just below West 11th St.
At 8:30 and 10:30 pm / $25
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.
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WHAT’S ON VIEW: Special Exhibitions @ 4 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.
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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 Armory Show at 100: Modern Art and Revolution’ (through Feb. 23)
“The Historical Society visits a watershed exhibition in the history of American art (and a significant event in the annals of New York City) with this centennial celebration of the 1913 Armory Show, the controversial survey that introduced New York audiences to the works of such modern artists as Duchamp, Matisse, Picasso, Cézanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh. Some of those same pieces return here.” (TONY listings)
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, at 77th St.
(212) 873-3400 / nyhistory.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 (02/01) and (01/30).