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

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

Cosmologist Max Tegmark
Cosmologist Max Tegmark leads an astonishing journey through past, present and future, and through the physics, astronomy and mathematics that form the foundation of his work He will focus on his hypothesis that our physical reality is a mathematical structure and his theory of the ultimate multiverse.

In a dazzling combination of popular and groundbreaking science, Tegmark not only helps us grasp his often mind-boggling theories, but he also shares with us some surprising triumphs and disappointments that have shaped his life as a scientist.
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St.
at 7:30 pm / $15; $13.50 seniors
212-769-5100

Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express
“Mr. Alexander, an effervescent pianist and one of Jamaica’s proudest musical exports, stamps his native groove with an uptown twist in a group that typically includes two bassists and an impressive clutch of drummers. Sharing the bill is the singer Caterina Zapponi, with a band that includes the eminent Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar and one of his sons, Martin, on bass. “(Nate Chinen-NYT)
Blue Note, 131 West Third Street, Greenwich Village
At 8 and 10:30 p.m./ $35 cover at tables, $20 at the bar, with a $5 minimum.
(212) 475-8592, bluenote.net

New York Jewish Film Festival (January 8–23)
Presented by the Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, this global survey of innovative and provocative movies focusing on the Jewish experience is back in 2014 for its 23rd installment. A number of films presented in years past have gone on to be distributed nationally in theaters and on TV (in fact, Ajami, a tense crime thriller that unfolds on the streets of Jaffa in Israel and was featured in the 2010 festival, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film).

A full schedule is at nyjff.org.
Walter Reade Theater, 165 West 65th St., and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th St.
Tickets are $13, $9 for students and 62+, $8 for members of the Film Society and the Jewish Museum.

Jack O’Brien Reading and Discussion
The Broadway director Jack O’Brien will discuss and read from his memoir “Jack Be Nimble: The Accidental Education of an Unintentional Director,” released last year. His most recent work, “Macbeth,” will end its run on Sunday at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center.

The free event is co-sponsored by the Theater Arts Committee.
National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South
At 8 p.m./ FREE
(212) 475-3424, nationalartsclub.org.
not quite WestSide, but close enough
subway: #1 to 18^th St.
walk: 4 blk W to Park; 2 blk N to 20^th; 1 blk E to venue (15 min).
bonus: stop for hot chocolate @ City Bakery on 18^th St. nr 5^th ave

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. 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 – SUNDAY, JAN. 12, 2014

Nutcracker Rouge (last day)
Company XIV delivers a sexy Nutcracker for adults

“Even the most traditional “Nutcrackers” are treated as a young woman’s coming-of-age story with either a student or company member as the slipper-throwing mice slayer who saves her prince. Company XIV director Austin McCormick’s “Nutcracker Rouge” is no different…EXCEPT there are no mice, kids or snowflakes. They are not missed.

Pretty Marie Claire (Lauren Careless) gets lost in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve and wanders into a Burlesque House. Why not? They like celebrating, especially when performing their “Waltz of the Flowers” – a genuine waltz dressed in violet and danced with big smiles. The dancing, singing and acrobatic feats McCormick integrates has the same effect as opening presents on Christmas morning. His ability as a choreographer/director is so confident and creative that in the first act he sets dances to Tchaikovsky’s original score and adds an accompanying one from a pastiche of Big Band numbers, the Ellington/Strayhorn “Nutcracker”, and bawdy French songs (translations not necessary).

One example being Candy Cane (Courtney Giannone), who performs with and inside her Cyr wheel to the “Russian Dance” and a ballad about being someone’s candy cane. The second act is when he adds extra delicacies of champagne, macaroons, and cake. The other sweet Marie Claire discovers the Sweet Spot. There’s nothing new with sexing up the classics, but “Nutcracker Rouge” is different.” (Patricia Contino, Flavorpill)
Minetta Lane Theatre, 18-22 Minetta Ln, (btw W3rd St/Bleecker), just E of 6th ave
At 8PM / $48-$124
companyxiv.com/productions

Bettye LaVette with Stanley Clarke Trio and the Harlem String Quartet
“Her 2005 comeback album, “I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise,” is a gem of gospel urgency and a cappella rumination. A former touring mate of James Brown and Otis Redding, Ms. LaVette has the steamroller charisma to invigorate the night. “Thankful N’ Thoughtful,” released in 2012, celebrated her 50th anniversary in entertainment. On this evening, she sits in for a genre-spanning jam with the jazzy Stanley Clarke Trio and the Harlem String Quartet.” (Anderson-NYT)
Highline Ballroom, 431 West 16th Street, Chelsea,
At 8 p.m./ $25-$45
(212) 414-5994, highlineballroom.com

NYC PodFest 2014
Capitalizing on the ongoing podcast boom, Jeremy Wein brings together some of the city’s popular shows and hosts for a weekend marathon of recordings. Among those participating: Keith and the Girl, Proudly Resents, New York City Crime Report with Pat Dixon, Tell Your Friends! and many, many more to be announced
Fontana’s, 105 Eldridge St. (BTW Broome and Grand Sts)
AT 3PM / $6-$25
Subway: B/D to Grand St.; F to Delancey St;
212-334-6740 / Nycpodfest.squarespace.com / Fontanasnyc.com

GlobalFest 2014.
“Just how prevalent are the crosscurrent winds of Pan-Global pollination? Consider those 12 romping Romanians known as Fanfare Ciocărlia, the pre-eminent Balkan brass band, who specialize in such brilliant rearrangements as driving interpretations of Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild” and Duke Ellington’s “Caravan.” Then there’s Sergio Mendoza, whose “la Orkestra” plays the customary Cuban-style dance numbers like “Mambo in the Dark” as well as an ingenious Afro-Cuban treatment of the traditional Russian “Ochi Chyornye.”

These are but two of the 12 exceptional ensembles playing Sunday evening at Webster Hall over the course of about five hours. As icing on the cake, there’s the remarkable Bombay Royale, whose music asks the cultural question, “If James Bond were a Hindu, what would * that * theme song sound like?” (WSJ)
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St.
not Manhattan’s WestSide, but you can’t miss this one.
subway:#1-2-3 to 14th St.; transfer to L train to 3rd ave; walk S 3 blocks
at 6PM / $40
(212) 353-1600 / websterhall.com/events, bowerypresents.com

Christian McBride Big Band
“This spit-and-polish outfit, which won a recent Grammy for best large jazz ensemble album, thrives on the robust energies of its namesake bassist-bandleader. It’ll be the first of two weeks with his name on the Village Vanguard marquee; the second, starting Jan. 14, will feature his effervescent trio.” (Chinen-NYT)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Avenue South, at 11th St., West Village,
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m./ $25 to $30 cover, with a one-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.
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What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 4 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

‘Balthus: Cats and Girls — Paintings and Provocations’ (through Jan. 12, 2014)
“Brush Writing in the Arts of Japan” (through Jan. 12, 2014)
‘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)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, at 82nd St.
(212) 535-7710 / metmuseum.org

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‘Chagall: Love, War, and Exile’ (through Feb. 2)
this one is very special – don’t miss it.
Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Avenue, at 92nd St.
(212) 423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org

‘Christopher Wool’ (through Jan. 22, 2014)
“Kandinsky in Paris, 1934–1944“ (through Apr. 23, 2014)

Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th St.
(212) 423-3500 / guggenheim.org.

‘Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Hals: Masterpieces of Dutch Painting From the Mauritshuis’ (through Jan. 19, 2014)
Frick Collection, 1 East 70th St., at Fifth Ave.
everyone wants to see “the girl with the pearl earring”, so admission is by timed tickets.
212-288-0700 / frick.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. ==========================================================

What’s on View: Top Photography Exhibitions
(NYCity / Manhattan’s WestSide)   

Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53rd Street / 212-708-9400
Walker Evans: American Photographs (through Jan. 26, 2014) 

Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) / 212-535-7710
Everyday Ephiphanies: Photography and Daily Life Since 1969  (through Jan. 26, 2014)

ICP 1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street / 212-857-0000
Lewis Hine
The Future of America: Lewis Hine’s New Deal Photographs
JFK November 22, 1963: A Bystander’s View of History
Zoe Strauss: 10 Years
All these exhibitions run from Oct 4, 2013–Jan 19, 2014

American Museum Natural History 
79th St. And Central Park West / (212) 313-7278
Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies (through May 31, 2014)

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar: “NYCity Events: Manhattan’s WestSide” dated 01/10 and 01/08.

Today’s “Fab 5”/ Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 2014

Mystery IPA Contest.
Hopheads Rejoice! This one is for you.
My heart is broken because I won’t be able to make this very special event.

“Fans of spicy, strong beer should head to Williamsburg on Saturday for Mugs Alehouse’s Mystery IPA Contest. Starting at noon, the bar will be pouring brews from 12 American IPAs in a blind taste test for imbibers to cast their impartial vote for favorite. The winning brew gets a place on the tap list for six months; last year that honor went to Greenport Harbor Brewing Company’s “Other Side IPA.” Attendees can sample as much of the suds as they want until 3 p.m. Tickets also include bar snacks and a pint glass to take home; tickets are $30.” (Gothamist)
Mugs Alehouse, 125 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn
this is not Manhattan’s WestSide, but it is Bklyn’s WestSide, and this event is worth the short detour. subway: L train to Bedford Ave (1st stop in Bklyn); walk 3 blocks N to Mugs
12PM / $30
(718) 486-8232 / mugsalehouse.com

Beer & Cassoulet
“Delightful underground bar Jimmy’s No. 43 hosts a weekend full of savory stew with their annual celebration of cassoulet. This southern French dish contains hearty ingredients like meats, sausages and beans, which are slow-cooked in a a flavorful broth. First up, the Beer & Cassoulet ($45) meal on Saturday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., which includes three different versions of the dish (classic, goat and lamb, Kielbasa and chicken) paired with 10 beers and ciders.” (Gothamist)

Threefifty, Classically Trained Guitar Duo

With both steel-string acoustic and electric guitars, classically trained musicians Brett Parnell and Geremy Schulick create hushed, austerely beautiful instrumental soundscapes. Incorporating elements of post-rock, minimalism, and baroque classicism—with a touch of ambient electronics—the duo, returning after performing at last year’s Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, casts a spell that’s both haunting and hypnotic.
BAMcafe, Peter Jay Sharp Building
9pm / FREE

JOHN PIZZARELLI AND JANE MONHEIT (through Sun Jan 12)
John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, was called “Hip with a wink” by Town & Country, “madly creative” by the Los Angeles Times and “the genial genius of the guitar” by The Toronto Star. The jazz guitarist-singer and Oakdale, LI chanteuse team up for what should be a fine evening of music.
Blue Note, 131 W. Third St.,
at 10:30 p.m./$20-$35
212-475-8592, bluenote.net

WINTER JAZZFEST (last day)
“If there are any doubts that present-day jazz is marked by heterogeneity, this annual, multi-venue extravaganza, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary, will dispel them. Dozens of artists descend upon spaces that are often too compact, but what one gives up in comfort one gains in an appreciation of the current scene’s vitality. Among the highlights are appearances by the Burnt Sugar Arkestra, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, the vocalist Gretchen Parlato, the pianist Matthew Shipp, and the guitarist Mary Halverson (who will join Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog); the visionary veteran Henry Threadgill also performs, in a tribute to the late Butch Morris.”
(NewYorker mag)
Various locations / (winterjazzfest.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 / 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, 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, JAN. 10, 2014

Next One’s On Me!: A Reading Celebrating the Paperback Launch of DRINKING WITH MEN

Celebrate the paperback release of Rosie Schaap’s memoir Drinking with Men with bar-themed stories and poems from:

WYN COOPER (Postcards from the Interior, Chaos Is the New Calm)
JEFF GORDINIER (X Saves the World, Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage)
BLAISE ALLYSEN KEARSLEY (The “How I Learned” series)
KATHERINE LANPHER (Leap Year)
JILL MCDONOUGH: (Where You Live, Habeas Corpus)
DAVID WONDRICH (Punch, Imbibe!)

Rosie Schaap has always loved bars. Starting with her misspent youth in the bar car of a regional railroad, where at age fifteen she told commuters’ fortunes in exchange for beer, and continuing today as she slings cocktails at a neighborhood joint in Brooklyn, Schaap has learned her way around both sides of a bar and come to realize how powerful the fellowship among bar patrons can be.

Drinking alongside artists and expats, ironworkers and soccer fanatics, Schaap finds that bars offer of a safe haven, a respite, a place to feel most like herself. In rich, colorful prose, she brings to life these sometimes seedy, but warm and wonderful rooms. Drinking With Men is a love letter to the bars, pubs and taverns that have been Schaap’s refuge, and a celebration of the uniquely civilizing source of community that is bar culture at its best.
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby Street,
212-334-3324

Opening Night of the New York Guitar Festival (through Jan 30)
Touring the world in celebration of his 70^th birthday, legendary classical guitarist Pepe Romero will perform his first and only all-Bach concert in NYC. Bach holds a special place in Romero’s heart as the Chaconne (final movement of the 2nd Partita for Violin by Bach) was among his late father’s favorite classical pieces. Romero played it for his father right before he died 17 years ago and has rarely played it since. Romero’s distinguished career, both as a solo performer and charter member of the “Royal Family of the Guitar,” encompasses some 60 albums, multiple White House invitations, Carnegie Hall concerts, and world premieres by Rodrigo and Moreno Torroba, in addition to receiving a Knighthood by King Juan Carlos I of Spain
Brookfield Place, Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street
AT 8PM / FREE

Under the Radar Festival 2014 (through Jan 19)
This annual festival, produced by the Public Theater, celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2014. It features a variety of new theater from the United States and around the world. With a lineup that includes emerging talents and masters in the field, Under the Radar offers a crash course in independent, experimental theater, created by some of the most dynamic artists working today.
The Public Theater
With performances also at La MaMa, St. Ann’s Warehouse, and Japan Society
Various Performances tonight from 5-10 pm / $20
Better check the Public’e website.
for details: http://www.undertheradarfestival.com/tickets#schedule

Shen Yun Performing Arts (Through Jan 19)
“Heavenly maidens, brave warriors, mischievous monks, and, yes, even a flying pig! China’s 5,000 years of uninterrupted history has yielded an endless treasure trove of legends, myths, and literary classics. These stories come to life in vivid detail through Shen Yun’s awe-inspiring performances.

Let Shen Yun take you on an extraordinary journey spanning from the origins of Chinese civilization through the height of the Tang and Song dynasties all the way to the modern day. It’s a performance that not only entertains, but more broadly, educates and inspires.

Based in New York, Shen Yun has become the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company and a global, cultural sensation, reviving the authentic culture of China that was once almost lost. And now, after enchanting royals in London, performing for packed houses across Asia, and wowing a sold-out audience at Lincoln Center last season, Shen Yun is returning to the Lincoln Center stage with an entirely new program for 2014!” (CityGuide) 
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, DHK Theater, 20 Lincoln Center
At 7:30Pm / $80-$300
212-496-0600 – http://www.shenyunperformingarts.org

Export Nola APAP Showcase feat. Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Stooges Brass Band, Brassaholics and more
For the 6th annual Export NOLA, Backbeat Foundation has curated a showcase featuring some of the most heralded musical acts from New Orleans, certain to warm hearts and loosen hips stiffened by winter’s cold. Export NOLA delivers a heavy dose of Crescent City spice with a blend of power house Funk, Jazz, Brass, Blues and Roots music, Export NOLA is a New Orleans music experience. This year’s line-up includes, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Stooges Brass Band, Brass-A-Holics, Luke Winslow-King, The Iguanas and more.
The Bridge Trio 7 to 7:45
Luke Winslow – King 8 to 8:45
The Iguanas 9 to 9:45
The Stooges Brass Band 10 to 10:45
Big Sam’s Funky Nation 11 to 12:15
Brassaholics 12:30 to 2
The Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd St.
AT 7PM / $25 + $20 food/drink minimum

Home

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 Jan. 26, 2014)
American Modern: Hopper to O’Keefe (through Jan. 26, 2014)
America’s cultural landscape shifted rapidly in the early 20th century. American Modern at the Museum of Modern Art looks at this change via some of the iconic works produced between 1915 and 1950. Artists highlighted include George Bellows, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz and Andrew Wyeth. In organizing the art thematically, American Modern will highlight the connections between the artists’ works.
Museum of Modern Art: 11 W 53rd St. (btw 5th /6th Ave.)
(212) 708-9400 / moma.org.
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‘The Armory Show at 100: Modern Art and Revolution’ (through Feb. 23, 2014)
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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WHAT’S ON VIEW: Top Photography Exhibitions
(NYCity / Manhattan’s WestSide)

  Museum of Modern Art
Walker Evans: American Photographs (through Jan. 26, 2014)
11 West 53rd Street / 212-708-9400

  Metropolitan Museum of Art
Everyday Ephiphanies: Photography and Daily Life Since 1969 
(through January 26, 2014)
1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) / 212-535-7710

  American Museum Natural History 
Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies          
(through May 31, 2014)
79th St. And Central Park West / (212) 313-7278 

   International Center Photography
Lewis Hine
The Future of America: Lewis Hine’s New Deal Photographs
JFK November 22, 1963: A Bystander’s View of History
Zoe Strauss: 10 Years
All these exhibitions run through Jan. 19, 2014
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street / 212-857-0000

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

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : … …” dated (01/08) and (01/06).

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

Author Discussions in Union Square
“For those in search of a quiet post-holiday evening, the Barnes & Noble in Union Square is bringing several larger-than-life individuals to present their latest works this week.

And providing yet another subject and wealth of experience, on Thursday, is Angélique Kidjo — a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and activist. She discusses her memoir “Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music.” (NYT)
Barnes & Noble, 33 East 17th St.,
At 7 p.m./ FREE
(212) 253-0810, barnesandnoble.com

NEIL YOUNG
Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium)
“Young is never idle, but this past year was relatively quiet, by his standards: after 2012, a year in which he released two albums with Crazy Horse (“Americana,” which delivered rough, loud updates of ancient folk standards, and “Psychedelic Pill,” which pulled apart and reconstituted Young’s own hippie dreams) and his long-awaited memoir (“Waging Heavy Peace”), he limited his output in 2013 to one album, the archival set “Live at the Cellar Door,” from 1970. The release offers a fine document of vintage Young, including a rare piano-driven version of “Cinnamon Girl.” He’ll be coming to Carnegie Hall for a solo residency, performing four shows in five nights.” (NewYorker mag)
Carnegie Hall website shows limited availability – better get on it.

FOCUS DANCE
“This annual festival is aimed at arts presenters, but it also allows audiences to catch remounted works that they might have missed. The opening program is a winner. In Vicky Shick’s “Everything You See,” ten vibrantly idiosyncratic dancers spin out a bemusing profusion of solos, duets, and trios, overlapping dances of casual, peculiar detail. Doug Elkins’s “Scott, Queen of Marys” is a brilliant elucidation of the hidden connections between club dance of the nineties and Scottish folk forms.” (NewYorker mag)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue, at 19th St, Chelsea,
AT 8PM / $10 to $39.
(212) 242-0800/ joyce.org

Marilyn Maye With Billy Stritch, ‘Marilyn by Request’ (through Jan. 12)
“Octogenarian Marilyn Maye makes every night a party.

The exuberant Marilyn Maye makes every night into New Year’s Eve. And spending time with Ms. Maye in early January is particularly meaningful; there’s a transformative power to her music that makes her the perfect accompaniment for the start of the new year. When she sings the dreaded “Here’s to Life” (and somehow all octogenarian singers feel they must), it isn’t self-aggrandizing malarkey, but rather a touching and life-affirming hymn of gratitude.” (WSJ)
The Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd St.,
At 7PM / $35
(212) 206-0440 / metropolitanroom.com

Heather Kravas (through Jan. 13)
“Obsessiveness can hold an artist back, but not so with Heather Kravas, who devises riveting situations — and sometimes unnerving images — through compulsive repetition. Cheerleading, Greek folk dance and classical ballet are a few of the systems she deconstructs in her new work, “a quartet,” part of Performance Space 122’s Coil festival.

Her composer here, Dana Wachs (also known as Vorhees), plays live for the four excellent dancers: Oren Barnoy, Cecilia Eliceche, Jennifer Kjos and Liz Santoro.” (Burke-NYT)
the Kitchen, 512 West 19th Street, Chelsea,
at 5 p.m./ $20, $16 for 65+.
(212) 255-5793, Ext. 11, thekitchen.org

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, 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.
===========================================================================================

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 – WEDNESDAY, JAN. 08, 2014

Hollywood and Hitler, 1933-1939
Author Thomas Doherty in conversation with David Denby, The New Yorker

As Europe lurched toward war, the drama in Hollywood played out both on and off screen. Doherty offers a provocative look at how studio heads, writers, and other important players wrestled with difficult business and artistic decisions that arose with the Nazis’ rise to power

Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Against the Odds: American Jews and the Rescue of Europe’s Refugees, 1933-1941. Tour the exhibition at 6 P.M. Pre-registration for the tour is suggested.
Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, 36 Battery Place
at 7PM / $15
646-437-4202 / mjhnyc.org

Lee Billings talks about his book Five Billion Years of Solitude,
with Caleb Scharf
The age-old question of whether we’re alone in the universe – or if other life forms thrive among the stars – gets a brand new examination from science writer Lee Billings through his book, “Five Billion Years of Solitude.”

In this critically-acclaimed volume, Lee charts the history of man’s quest to determine what other Earth-like planets may exist in the universe .
Joining Lee for the evening will be Caleb Scharf, director of the Columbia Astrobiology Center at Columbia University. Caleb is the author of “Gravity’s Engines: The Other Side of Black Holes,” and is the winner of the 2011 Chambliss Astronomical Writing Award as well as a medal from the American Astronomical Society. His blog on Scientific American is called Life, Unbound.



Buy a copy of Five Billion Years of Solitude or a $15 Strand gift card in order to attend this event. All options admit one person.
Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway
At 7PM / in the Strand’s 3rd floor Rare Book Room
212-473-1452 / strandbooks.com

“BLUE NOTE’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY”
“On January 6, 1939, Blue Note Records’ first recording session took place in New York City, with the boogie-woogie piano avatars Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons. Harking back to that day and celebrating the label’s three-quarters of a century, two mesmerizing pianists—Robert Glasper and Jason Moran—take the stage at Town Hall; guests include the saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and the singer-songwriter Bilal. The show is part of the Winter Jazzfest”
Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St. (btw 6^{th Ave} / Broadway)
at 8PM / $27-$47
212-840-2824

Christian McBride Big Band (through Jan. 12)
“This spit-and-polish outfit, which won a recent Grammy for best large jazz ensemble album, thrives on the robust energies of its namesake bassist-bandleader. It’ll be the first of two weeks with his name on the Village Vanguard marquee; the second, starting Jan. 14, will feature his effervescent trio.” (Chinen-NYT)
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Avenue South, at 11th St., West Village,
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m./ $25 to $30 cover, with a one-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. ===============================================================================

Chelsea is the heart of the NYCity contemporary art scene. Home to more than 300 art galleries, the Rubin Museum, the Joyce Theater, and The Kitchen performance spaces, there is no place like it anywhere in the world.

Come here to browse free exhibitions by world-renowned artists and those unknowns waiting to be discovered in an art district that is concentrated between West 18th and West 27th Streets, and 10th and 11th Avenues.

Afterwards stop in the Chelsea Market, stroll on the High Line, or rest up at one of the many cafes and bars and discuss the fine art – my fave is Ovest on W 27th St., where the aperitivo is like Happy Hour on steroids.

WHAT’S ON VIEW: Here are 3 Special Exhibitions in Chelsea Galleries that you may want to see:

Bing Wright (through Jan 18)
Over the years, Wright’s photography has been marked by a focus on surface as metaphor for the photograph itself, with his work achieving a poetical stillness as a result. The photos here, for example, include his color series “Broken Mirror/Evening Sky,” in which the setting sun is seen reflected within the cracks of a shattered mirror, scattering the oranges and violets of dusk to an almost stained-glass effect.
Paula Cooper Gallery 521 W 21st St, (between Tenth and Eleventh Aves)
Tue-Sat 10am-6pm
212-255-1105 / paulacoopergallery.com

“Martin Thompson: Positive/Negative” (through Jan 18)
This self-taught artist and mathematician from New Zealand creates mind-bogglingly intricate felt-tip pen drawings on graph paper that resemble the pixelated results of an Amish quilt mating with an old-school video game such as Pac-Man or Space Invaders.

Each piece is made according to a numerical formula that Thompson follows as he precisely fills in each square. When he makes a mistake, which he sometimes does, he excises the offending part of the composition with a scalpel, replacing it with a Scotch-taped piece of corrected paper that exactly fits over the elided area—creating, in the bargain, a textural effect. Suffering from a mental disorder that makes it difficult for him to interact with people, Thompson views making art as a coping mechanism for dealing with the world.
Ricco/Maresca Gallery, 529 W 20th St, third floor, (btw 10th/11th ave)
Tue–Sat 11am–6pm
212-627-4819 / riccomaresca.com

Richard Serra, “New Sculpture” (until Sat. Jan. 25, 2014)
Gagosian’s double dose of Richard Serra presents dueling sides of the sculptor: the popular artist name checked in a Vampire Weekend song, and the confrontational figure familiar from his earlier career.

The gallery’s West 21st Street location presents the former in fine form, with a single massive work. Curling ribbons of steel, set on edge and towering to ceiling height, nestle together to create Serra’s signature bowing and curving of space. They swallow viewers up in a phenomenological ecstasy one usually associates with, say, walking along a narrow canyon. The metal’s russet color only adds to the sensation of experiencing something more natural than man-made.

The tone, if not the scale, of the work shifts on West 24th Street, with a group of sculptures and nary a bend in sight. Hard-edged steel plates, patinated a carceral gray, get in your way like barricades around a government building. A set of enormous blocks serves as a memorial to the recently deceased sculptor Walter De Maria, a friend of Serra’s. Experiential warmth gives way to cold truths as Serra employs his legendary toughness to challenge not only gravity, but death itself.—(Howard Halle/TONY mag)
Gagosian Gallery, 522 W 21st St, btw 10th/11th Aves
Tue–Sat 10am–6pm
212-741-1717 / 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 (01/06) and (01/04).

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

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

Kobo Presents: Opportunities for Authors, Readers, and Bookstores in the Digital Age
A panel discussion on the plethora of options available to authors and readers today, featuring eBook and self-publishing experts: local author Nathaniel Kressen, Miral Sattar from BiblioCrunch, Mary Cummings from Diversion Books, Oren Berman from Authoright, and moderator Christine Munroe from Kobo. A party to celebrate local independent authors to follow – including a Kobo eReader giveaway and free eBooks!
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, near Houston Street, SoHo,
At 7 p.m./ FREE
(212) 334-3324, housingworksbookstore.org

The Longest Date: Life as a Wife
Hit television show Sex and the City writer/producer Cindy Chupack discusses her humorous new book, The Longest Date: Life as a Wife.
Barnes & Noble, 
1972 Broadway,
At 7
PM / FREE
212-595-6859

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

LEON RUSSELL
Rock and roll’s greatest sideman started out in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while still in his teens, playing piano in night clubs. He went on to join the group of L. A. session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, served as the musical director for Joe Cocker’s “Mad Dogs & Englishmen” tour, and became a solo star in the seventies. Along the way, he wrote standards like “A Song for You,” played piano on Badfinger’s “Day After Day” and other hits, and developed professional friendships with everyone from George Harrison to Willie Nelson.

His long, increasingly white beard became iconic, and, after a period of semi-retirement brought on in part by health issues, Russell reëmerged in 2010 with “The Union,” a duet album with Elton John. Don’t miss him at City Winery: he’s a repository of rock history and one of the few legitimate living legends.
City Winery, 155 Varick St.
At 8PM / $45-$55
212-608-0555.

NEIL YOUNG
Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium)
Young is never idle, but this past year was relatively quiet, by his standards: after 2012, a year in which he released two albums with Crazy Horse (“Americana,” which delivered rough, loud updates of ancient folk standards, and “Psychedelic Pill,” which pulled apart and reconstituted Young’s own hippie dreams) and his long-awaited memoir (“Waging Heavy Peace”), he limited his output in 2013 to one album, the archival set “Live at the Cellar Door,” from 1970. The release offers a fine document of vintage Young, including a rare piano-driven version of “Cinnamon Girl.” He’ll be coming to Carnegie Hall for a solo residency, performing four shows in five nights.
sold out tonight; try his other shows: Jan 7-9-10

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

What’s on View:
Special Exhibitions @ 4 Museum Mile / Fifth Ave. Museums:

‘Balthus: Cats and Girls — Paintings and Provocations’ (through Jan. 12, 2014)
“Brush Writing in the Arts of Japan” (through Jan. 12, 2014)
‘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)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, at 82nd St.
(212) 535-7710 / metmuseum.org

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

‘Chagall: Love, War, and Exile’ (through Feb. 2)
this one is very special – don’t miss it.
Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Avenue, at 92nd St.
(212) 423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org

‘Christopher Wool’ (through Jan. 22, 2014)
“Kandinsky in Paris, 1934–1944“ (through Apr. 23, 2014)

Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th St.
(212) 423-3500 / guggenheim.org.

‘Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Hals: Masterpieces of Dutch Painting From the Mauritshuis’ (through Jan. 19, 2014)
Frick Collection, 1 East 70th St., at Fifth Ave.
everyone wants to see “the girl with the pearl earring”, so admission is by timed tickets.
212-288-0700 / frick.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. ==========================================================

What’s on View: Top Photography Exhibitions
(NYCity / Manhattan’s WestSide)   

Museum of Modern Art 11 West 53rd Street / 212-708-9400
Walker Evans: American Photographs (through Jan. 26, 2014) 

Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) / 212-535-7710
Everyday Ephiphanies: Photography and Daily Life Since 1969  (through Jan. 26, 2014)

ICP 1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street / 212-857-0000
Lewis Hine
The Future of America: Lewis Hine’s New Deal Photographs
JFK November 22, 1963: A Bystander’s View of History
Zoe Strauss: 10 Years
All these exhibitions run from Oct 4, 2013–Jan 19, 2014

American Museum Natural History 
79th St. And Central Park West / (212) 313-7278
Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies (through May 31, 2014)

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

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar: “NYCity Events: Manhattan’s WestSide” dated 01/04 and 01/02.

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

New York Boat Show (last day)
“They say that the two happiest days in a boat owner’s life are the day the craft is bought and the day it’s sold. This annual gathering at the Javits Center gives would-be buyers a chance to extend that initial pleasure, as it presents hundreds of fibreglass wonders, from motor yachts to sailboats. A number of activities are planned, too, including appearances by Captain Dave Carraro, from National Geographic’s series “Wicked Tuna,” and by Jeff Quattrocchi, who calls himself the Swampmaster, who will handle an eight-foot, two-hundred-pound alligator armed with nothing more than his hands and a clip-on microphone.

There will also be an interactive boating simulator, hands-on workshops about engine repair, rope-tying tutorials, fishing seminars, and presentations about financing and insurance.” (NewYorker mag)
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th St.
from noon to 9 p.m./ $15; 15 and younger, free with an adult.
(212) 216-2000, javitscenter.com

Holiday Market / Train Show
 (last day)
The Holiday Shops are just part of the seasonal events in Bryant Park, at Avenue of the Americas and 40th Street. Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (through Jan. 5). While in Bryant Park, strap on a pair of ice skates and give it a whirl on one of Manhattan’s most scenic ice rinks.

In Grand Central Terminal check out the Holiday Train Show (through Feb. 23) which features a 34-foot-long Lionel model train layout. It’s on display at the New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store near the Station Master’s Office. To be honest, this year’s setup is not as good as previous years, but it is FREE and  can be viewed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. see mta.info/mta/museum. Make the trip worthwhile by stopping at the Grand Central Oyster Bar downstairs for their iconic oyster pan roast.

Professional Bull Riders Monster Energy Buck off
“Big bulls and cocksure cowboys return to the Garden this month for three days of “snot-spewing, bone-crushing, adrenaline-soaked performances.” Riders mount their steeds and try to keep their free hand from touching the animal for a hair-raising eight seconds. Your biggest feat will be ponying up the cash for another $9 Miller Light. For a peek at what to expect, check out our coverage of previous events.” (Gothamist)
January 3rd, 4th and 5th // Madison Square Garden // Tickets $25 – $205

ASLAN-SOLLA TANGO QUARTET
“The spirit of Astor Piazzolla, the towering figure of modern Argentine tango, informs but doesn’t overwhelm the originality and jazz-tinged excursions of the bassist Pablo Aslan and the pianist Emilio Solla’s own contemporary tango quartet. Some things never change, though: dancing is encouraged, and pre-performance tango lessons are offered.” (NewYorker mag)
Zinc Bar, 82 W. 3rd St.
212-477-9462

Chris Botti 
“Mr. Botti, whose adult-pop savvy and controlled but brooding trumpet sound have made him a high-gloss global superstar, descends on the Blue Note each year around this time for an extended run. As usual he has a slick but substantial band, and the clout to call on the occasional unbilled celebrity guest. $75 cover at tables, $40 at the bar, with a $5 minimum.” (Chinen-NYT)
Blue Note, 131 West Third St., Greenwich Village
At 8 and 10:30 p.m., $75 cover at tables (sold out), 
$40 at the bar, with a $5 minimum. (sound is fine at these bar seats, vision decent)
212-475-8592, bluenote.net

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

A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating places – 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, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges  – 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 – SATURDAY, JAN. 04, 2014

Museum of the Moving Image: ‘Raze’ Screening (Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday)
“From tireless stunt double to internationally known action star, Zoë Bell puts aside her acrobatics and deadly moves for an intimate conversation and preview screening of her new film, “Raze.”
Presented as a special program of the museum’s Fist and Sword series, four of Ms. Bell’s films will be screened before Tuesday’s event:
—“Whip It” at 1:30 p.m. and “Death Proof” at 4 p.m. on Saturday, and
—“Kill Bill: Vol. 1” at 2:30 p.m. and “Kill Bill: Vol. 2” at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
—“Raze” screening and discussion on Tuesday at 7 p.m.,” (NYT)
35th Avenue at 37th Street, Astoria, Queens,
$15, $9 for members.
(718) 784-0077, movingimage.us

Target First Saturday / BROOKLYN MUSEUM
“Art on the edge” is the theme of 2014’s principal Target First Saturday, the Brooklyn Museum’s popular free monthly program. The arty, edgy offerings include a screening of Iraqi music documentary Heavy Metal in Baghdad (8pm), global grooves by Dendê and Band (5pm), MC Nitty Scott’s socially conscious hip-hop (9pm) and a discussion called “What You Don’t Know Could Fill a Museum: Art, AIDS, Activism and the Institution” (7pm).

Make use of gratis and discounted gallery access to check out current exhibits, including the sweeping 166-year survey, “WAR/PHOTOGRAPHY: Images of Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath” (free) and style-focused show “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk” ($10).” (TONY mag)
Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy
Prospect Heights
Brooklyn
,, at Washington Ave
First Saturday of every month 5–11pm free.
Normally suggested donation $12, seniors and students $8, children under 12 free.
subway: #2, 3 to Eastern Pkwy–Brooklyn Museum
718-638-5000 / brooklynmuseum.org

Darlene Love 
“Her lovelorn “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is a holiday rock showstopper for the ages; her annual year-end festivities are a New York institution. Truly, Ms. Love, Phil Spector’s former protégée, has been an indelible voice in pop from the 1960s onward, and has reaped extra rewards lately — the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted her in 2011 and the documentary “20 Feet From Stardom,” released this year, followed her rise reverently.” (Anderson-NYT)
B. B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42nd St
Her Friday Dec. 20 show sold out early – get your tickets now.
bbkingblues.com, (800) 745-3000

JEFF DANIELS
These days, it’s no great leap for a Hollywood fixture of a certain age to jump on a cabaret stage and croon standards, but Daniels provides a twist: he writes his own satiric and wistful songs and accompanies himself on guitar. As he reminds us about multitasking celebrities in one of his barbed opuses: “If William Shatner Can, I Can Too.”
(NewYorker mag)
54 Below, 254 W. 54th St.
at 8pm and 11pm / $40-$50 (8pm sold out)
646-476-3551. / 54below.com

Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm dates and check 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 Jan. 26, 2014)
American Modern: Hopper to O’Keefe (through Jan. 26, 2014)
America’s cultural landscape shifted rapidly in the early 20th century. American Modern at the Museum of Modern Art looks at this change via some of the iconic works produced between 1915 and 1950. Artists highlighted include George Bellows, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz and Andrew Wyeth. In organizing the art thematically, American Modern will highlight the connections between the artists’ works.
Museum of Modern Art: 11 W 53rd St. (btw 5th /6th Ave.)
(212) 708-9400 / moma.org.
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‘The Armory Show at 100: Modern Art and Revolution’ (through Feb. 23, 2014)
New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, at 77th St.
(212) 873-3400 / nyhistory.org.

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New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: Al Hirschfeld Exhibition
(last day)
“The Line King’s Library,” a display of work by Al Hirschfeld, whose specialty was theatrical caricatures, includes rare works as well as those familiar to theatergoers and readers of various publications, including The New York Times. The exhibition also includes video interviews with Mr. Hirschfeld, who died in 2003 at 99, and works by some of his contemporaries.”
NY Public Library for the Performing Arts, at Lincoln Center
111 Amsterdam Ave and 65th St.
Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m.,
(917) 275-6975, nypl.org/events/exhibitions/line-kings-library.

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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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WHAT’S ON VIEW: Top Photography Exhibitions
(NYCity / Manhattan’s WestSide)

  Museum of Modern Art
Walker Evans: American Photographs (through Jan. 26, 2014)
New Photography 2013 (through Jan. 6, 2014)
11 West 53rd Street / 212-708-9400

  Metropolitan Museum of Art
Julia Margaret Cameron (through Jan. 5, 2014)
Everyday Ephiphanies: Photography and Daily Life Since 1969 
(through January 26, 2014)
1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) / 212-535-7710

  American Museum Natural History 
Picturing Science: Museum Scientists and Imaging Technologies          
(through May 31, 2014)
79th St. And Central Park West / (212) 313-7278 

   International Center Photography
Lewis Hine
The Future of America: Lewis Hine’s New Deal Photographs
JFK November 22, 1963: A Bystander’s View of History
Zoe Strauss: 10 Years
All these exhibitions run through Jan. 19, 2014
1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street / 212-857-0000

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : … …” dated (01/02) and (12/31).