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

Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – SUNDAY, NOV. 24, 2013

Rhythmic Circus (through Sun. Dec 1)
The nationwide tour of “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now,” performed by the 11 members of this Minneapolis troupe, has landed in New York. The percussive extravaganza features tap dancing, beat boxing and live music ranging from salsa to funk. There is a starry-eyed storyline, involving a private investigator and “a unique group of colorful souls on a mission to change the world with song and dance.”
New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd St.
at noon and 5 p.m./ $14 to $38.
(646) 223-3010, newvictory.org

WFMU Record Fair
Live bands, amazing films, and
a gigantic room filled with wall-to-wall records and collectibles
Records lovers unite this weekend at WFMU’s massive three-day dig fest at the Metropolitan Pavilion. Forced to cancel last year due to Sandy, this year promises to be a return to form. Goers can expect 30,000 square feet brimming with LPs, CDs, DVDs and artwork for browsing and buying. Among the dealers you’ll find Mystery Train Records, Kayrock, Norton Records, Play It Louder Music, and many, many, more. In addition, Blowfly, Jeffrey Lewis and The Rain, Liquor Store, and more are slated to perform, and a number of films including Miss Pussycat and Quintron’s The Mystery of Old Bathbath, Andrew Bird: Fever Year, and BANANAZZZ, are screening. Music lovers of all denominations are sure to find something that catches their ear at this fest that is also a fundraiser for the radio station.” (Mindy Bond, Flavorpill)
Metropolitan Pavilion, 125W18th St.
10am – 7pm /  $7.00
wfmu.org/recfair/

NYC Craft Beer Festival–Winter Harvest
Throw back pints at the cold-weather edition of this seasonal beer extravaganza. Sample more than 150 winter brews, including Ommegang’s Take the Black stout, Southern Tier’s 2Xmas and Sixpoint’s Global Warmer. Booze experts Jonathan Pogash (a cocktail consultant) and Jared Rouben (Moody Tongue Brewery) will lead seminars on how to make beer cocktails and fruit-and-spice-infused ales. To help sop up all the beer, purchase bites from mobile vendors like Morris Grilled Cheese (Gouda-and-bacon sandwich, $8.50), El Paso Tacos (Baja fish tacos, $7.50) and Carl’s Steaks (cheese-steak sandwich, $8.50).
Lexington Avenue Armory, 68 Lexington Ave, at 26th St
OK, this is not Manhattan’s WestSide, but it is a craft beer fest – enough said.
At 4PM / $55-$135
nyccraftbeerfest.com/tix

Trombone for Lovers: A 78th Birthday Concert and Benefit for Roswell Rudd*
“The trombonist Roswell Rudd, who made his name in the avant-garde stir of the 1960s and has rumbled around contentedly since, has a new album, “Trombone for Lovers,” chock-full of refurbished old pop standards. It’s also full of guests, including those found here: the trumpeter Steven Bernstein; the guitarists Gary Lucas and Rolf Sturm; the keyboardist John Medeski; the singers Bob Dorough, Fay Victor and Heather Masse; and the NYC Labor Chorus. “ (Chinen-NYT)
Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St., near Thompson St.
At 3 p.m./ $30
505-3474, lepoissonrouge.com

Jane Monheit 
“Once dismissed in some circles as a chanteuse manqué, Ms. Monheit has evolved into an excellent interpreter of the standard songbook — and a fine jazz singer besides, especially when applying the pristine sensuality of her voice to songs of cozy reverie. She appears with her working band, featuring Michael Kanan on piano, Neal Miner on bass and Rick Montalbano, her husband, on drums.” (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 (which are good seats),
(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.
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A PremierPub + 3 Good Eating places / 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  – 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 – SATURDAY, NOV. 23, 2013

BALLET HISPANICO
The company’s annual appearance at the Apollo Theatre has become a tradition, the most festive way to see the troupe. This third year sees the début of “Umbral,” a Día de los Muertos-inspired dance by the Mexican-born choreographer Edgar Zendejas, and “Hogar,” a première by the artistic director, Eduardo Vilaro, with live Gypsy-esque music by Ljova and the Kontraband. “Sobrerísimo,” Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s recent showcase for six sexy guys in hats, completes the lively program. (NewYorker mag)
Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, Harlem,
At 7:30 p.m. / $28 to $58.
745-3000, apollotheater.org

Cyrille Aimée
“A jazz singer of unforced cosmopolitanism — born in France, of French and Dominican parentage — Ms. Aimée has proved her salt under stress, finishing in the finals of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition a few years back, and winning the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition last year. She appears as usual with the Surreal Band, a working cohort trained to support the natural spring in her style.” (Chinen- NYT)
Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, Clinton,
At 8:30 and 11 p.m., $40, with a $10 minimum
581-3080, birdlandjazz.com

POLISH AMERICAN FOLK DANCE COMPANY
The Brooklyn-based folk ensemble celebrates a quarter century with a night of mazurkas, polkas, trojaks, and polonaises accompanied by its own musical ensemble. These joyful dances, full of energetic kicks, gliding steps, and virtuosic embellishments, are performed by women in little red boots and voluminous peasant skirts.
N.Y.U. SKIRBALL CENTER
566 LaGuardia Pl.,
At 7PM / $30
212-998-4941 / skirballcenter.org/

Jim Hall: Modern Jazz Guitar*
“The poet laureate of jazz guitar is at eighty-two years old still playing with heartbreakingly succinct phrasing, melodic wit, and effortless swing. The gorgeous touch and same chiselled finesse that enlivened his classic work with, among others, Bill Evans, Art Farmer, Paul Desmond, and Sony Rollins, and which has made him a hero to guitar deities like Bill Frisell and Pat Metheney, has only intensified. Hall and his trio will be joined by guest guitarists, John Abercrombie and Peter Bernstein, making the evening a veritable feast for six-string devotees.” (NewYorker mag)
Allen Room,  Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
at 9:30 p.m. / $55 to $75
(212) 721-6500, jalc.org

Music From Pakistan: Sachal Jazz Ensemble & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis
“Sachal Jazz Ensemble, from Pakistan, has earned international attention for interpreting familiar themes, notably “Take Five,” with a palette that includes tabla, sitar, sarod and violin. For this pair of concerts the group melds with Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, in an eagerly cross-cultural experiment. “ (Chinen-NYT)
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
At 8 p.m./ $30 to $120
721-6500, jalc.org

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
(through Jan. 4, 2014)
“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.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m.,
until 8 on Mondays and Thursdays
(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
XL: 19NewAcquisitions in Photography (through Dec. 31)
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 (11/21) and (11/19).

Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, NOV. 22, 2013

Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band* (through Sunday)
“Bobby Sanabria, a drummer whose passion for Afro-Latin jazz is rivaled only by his knowledge of it, leads his big band in a celebration of Puerto Rican Heritage Month. The band’s lineup includes Orestes Abrantes and Matthew Gonzalez on hand percussion; Chris Washburne on bass trombone and tuba; and Hiram Remon and Charenee Wade on vocals.” $40 and $45 cover, with a $10 minimum; $20 for students.” (Chinen-NYT)
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m./ $40 and $45 cover, with a $10 minimum;
(212) 258-9595, jalc.org

CABINET OF WONDERS
“The singer-songwriter Wesley Stace (who made his début in 1988 with “It Happened One Night,” recording and performing under the name John Wesley Harding, until this past September) is also a novelist with three large and intense books to his credit. With his signature variety show, which is syndicated nationally on NPR, he sleekly combines his two interests. The evenings mix song, comedy, and literature into some of the finest nights of entertainment this city has to offer. Ted Allen, Bill Janowitz, Beth Lisick, Eugene Mirman, Rick Moody, Nina Persson, Jim White, and others join him.” (NewYorker mag)
City Winery, 155 Varick St.
At 8PM / $25-$35
212-608-0555

Chris Potter’s Underground Orchestra* (Friday and Saturday)
“Chris Potter, the most commandingly skilled saxophonist of his generation, has developed a rugged kind of jazz-rock aesthetic with Underground, a band with Craig Taborn on keyboards, Fima Ephron on electric bass and Adam Rogers on guitar. Here he more than doubles the group’s size, with a roster that includes the vibraphonist Steve Nelson, the bassist Scott Colley and the violinists Mark Feldman and Joyce Hammann.” (Chinen-NYT)
Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th Street and Broadway,
Friday at 9:30 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m./ $45 to $75; tickets are limited
(212) 721-6500, jalc.org

MATT MARANTZ AND SAM HARRIS
“Jazz has been springing forth from Texas since at least the nineteen-twenties; upholding that proud regional tradition are the tenor saxophonist Marantz and the pianist Harris, two assertive Dallas-raised players whose co-led quartet will grace the Rubin Museum of Art’s gloriously unamplified stage. The C.V.s of both maturing musicians are already impressive: Marantz has played with Herbie Hancock and performed at the White House, while Harris has been heard with the trumpet sensation Ambrose Akinmusire.” (NewYorker mag)
Rubin Museum of Art,150 W. 17th St.
at 7PM / $29
212-620-5000 / rmanyc.org

AN EVENING WITH NEIL GAIMAN AND AMANDA PALMER 
(Friday and Saturday)
The award-winning author, whose graphic novels have earned him recognition as a master of sci-fi and fantasy, and the audacious singer-songwriter (formerly half of the punk-cabaret rock duo the Dresden Dolls), who raised a spectacular amount of money on Kickstarter to fund her album “Theatre Is Evil,” have spent many evenings together—they are married, after all.

What the social-media power couple do at home is their business (and sometimes not—they have three million Twitter followers between the two of them), but it is known that their time onstage includes singing, storytelling, and interaction with the audience. They’ve presented these “intimate nights” before: In 2011, shortly after getting hitched, the couple toured the West Coast together for six shows, and they recently released a recording of those gatherings as a three-disk CD set. This is the first time they’re doing it in New York City.
Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St.
At 8PM / $30-$42.50
800-982-2787
Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm dates and check 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.
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Website: are you kidding !
(although there is a facebook page with lots of photos –
facebook.com/jimmyscornernyc)
Phone #: 212-221-9510
Hours: 11am – 4 am, except Sunday they open 12 noon
Happy Hour: not necessary, low prices all day, every day
Subway: #1,2,3 to TimesSquare 42nd st
walk 2 blks N on 7th ave to 44th st; ½ blk E to Jimmy’s

===========================================================================================
“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.
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3 Good Eating places 

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

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

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

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

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

There are other casual dining options in this neighborhood that provide good food, especially as alternatives to overpriced hotel breakfasts, and most importantly,
have free Wi-FI:

>Pret a Manger @ 11 W 42nd st (Betw 5th/6th)
Subway: #1/2/3 to 42nd st / times square

>Potbelly @ 30 Rockefeller Plaza (Betw 49/48 st)
Subway: #1 to 50th st

>Pret a Manger @ 1200 6th ave (Betw 47/48)
Subway: #1 to 50th st

◊ For a few more PremierPubs and Good Eating places see previous Featured Neighborhoods in the right sidebar.

◊ 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 Winter 2013)

Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – THURSDAY, NOV. 21, 2013

Holiday Markets
More than 150 vendors are selling their goods in Union Square Park, bordered by Park Avenue South, Broadway and 14th Streets, through Christmas Eve. Hours: weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; urbanspacenyc.com. (through Dec 24)

The Holiday Shops are just part of the seasonal events in Bryant Park, at Avenue of the Americas and 40th Street, through Jan. 5. Hours: weekdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (through Jan. 5)

In Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal, the 14th annual Holiday Fair offers 76 stalls of goods through Christmas Eve. Hours: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. These shops have some nice stuff. Try to shop before noon and avoid the lunch time worker bee crowds. (through Dec 24)

While in GrandCentral 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 and not worth a special trip to GCT. 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.

Cello Works by Britten and Ligeti
Fall programming focuses on the versatile and prolific composer, Benjamin Britten, in honor of his 100th birthday. Celebrated favorites and rarely performed works of Britten’s repertory will be presented.
Program:
Benjamin Britten Suite for Cello No. 1 Op.72
György Ligeti Sonata for Solo Cello
Augusta Read Thomas Spring Song
Luciano Berio Sequenza VIb
Jacques Hétu Opus 11b
Jennifer Higdon Suite
With: Matt Haimovitz, cello
Trinity Church, Trinity Pl. bet. Cedar & Rector Sts.
at 1:00 PM / FREE, donations accepted
this is a beautiful setting, and a quality performance of Britten’s work
1-212-602-0800

Richard S. Grossman on “Wrong: Nine Economic Policy Disasters and What We Can Learn From Them”
Lunch and Learn Series
In recent years, the world has been rocked by major economic crises, most notably the devastating collapse of Lehman Brothers. It was the largest bankruptcy in American history, and it triggered the breathtakingly destructive sub-prime disaster. What sparks vast economic calamities? Why do our economic policy makers fail to protect us from such upheavals?

Economist Richard S. Grossman addresses these questions, shining a light on the poor thinking behind nine of the worst economic policy mistakes of the past 200 years. Grossman tells the story behind each misconceived economic move, explaining why the policy was adopted, how it was implemented, and its short and long-term consequences.
Talk will be followed by Q&A and book signing. Feel free to bring your lunch.
MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE, 48 Wall Street
At 12:30PM / $5
212.908.4110

Nancy Harms
“This Minneapolis-born jazz singer continues to grow as an artist, quixotically, by restricting her emotional and musical range: She concentrates on the tiniest, most intimate space and completely pulls you into it. She doesn’t sound anything like either Blossom Dearie or Julie London, but like those late icons, she engages the listener by seeming to put her whole soul completely forward and yet, somehow, hold something back at the same time.

Her second album, “Dreams In Apartments” is one of my most played this year, especially for her arresting interpretation of “Never Let Me Go,” a classic song that is, rare even among standards, almost impossible to be overdone. On “While We’re Young,” Ms. Harms achieves the near-impossible of making an Alec Wilder song sound optimistic. She’s the kind of singer who, after hearing her just once, you’ll never want to let her go.” (WSJ)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St.,
6PM / $25
(212) 581-3080

Mark Morris Dance Group (through Nov. 23)
Landmark piece, justly revived.
It’s difficult to describe Morris’s evening-length L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato; it’s ­really more about getting the ecstatic shivers as you watch. In short, it’s the kind of dance piece that offers something new with every viewing, and happily, though Morris made it way back in his wunderkind days, the White Light Festival has brought it back. — (R.M. NY mag)
D. H. K. Theater, 

Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm dates and check 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:

Raqib Shaw, “Paradise Lost” (until Sat. Dec 21)
East meets West in the work of this London artist, who originally hails from India, and whose sumptuous, jewel-and-enamel inlaid paintings and intricately detailed sculptures combine numerous traditions and canons—including Indian miniatures and textiles, Old Master painting, Orientalism and Surrealism. His works might be best described as visions of paradise being invaded by the forces of hell. It’s a strange mix that plays upon our notions of exoticism while sending them up. For his debut at Pace, the artist fills all three of the gallery’s Chelsea locations.
Pace Gallery 508 W 25th St. btw Tenth and Eleventh Aves
Tue–Sat 10am–6pm
212-255-4044 / thepacegallery.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.

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (11/19) and (11/17).

Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20, 2013

KEKUHI AND KAUMAKAIWA KANAKA’OLE
“The ongoing world-music series “Live@365” brings the celebrated Hawaiian mother-and-daughter duo to play together for the first time in New York City. Coming from a musical lineage that spans seven generations steeped in traditional hula, the pair perform original songs that are deeply rooted in their family’s and the islands’ traditions. Kekuhi is the granddaughter of the noted Hawaiian cultural activist Edith Kanaka’ole, and she was singing and playing the ukulele long before it became a hipster fashion accessory. Kaumakaiwa, for her part, has a voice that swings from rasp to clear, bell-like tones with sincerity, boldness, and beauty.” (NewYorker mag)
Elebash Recital Hall, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave., at 34th St.
at 7PM / $20
liveat365.org.

Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples, the powerhouse former anchor of the gospel greats the Staple Singers, enjoyed an earthy dose of lo-fi Americana on her 2010 album, “You Are Not Alone,” courtesy of its producer, the Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. They reunited this year for “One True Vine,” a more sparsely instrumented outing with plenty of room for her soul to soar.” (Anderson-NYT)
City Winery, 155 Varick Street, near Spring Street, South Village,
At 8 p.m. / $55 to $65.
(212) 608-0555, citywinery.com

Oboe and Piano Works by Chopin, Poulenc and Mozart
Program:
MOZART Sonata in F major
DINOS CONSTANTINIDES Transformations
POULENC Sonata, Op. 185
CHOPIN Variations on a Theme by Rossini
With: Spyros Kontos, Oboe; and Irina Morozova, Piano

Spyros Kontos, a native of Corfu, Greece, graduated from the “Nakas” Conservatory in Athens with the highest degree and distinction and continued his oboe studies with Thomas Indermühle at the State Music College of Karlsruhe (Germany) and Maurice Bourgue at the Conservatoire of Geneva (Switzerland). In 1997 he was appointed principal oboist of the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Athens. He collaborates as principal with various orchestras, appears regularly as soloist and in recital, and has made recordings for radio and television in most European countries.
Kaufman Music Center, Goodman Recital Hall, 129 W. 67th St.
At 8:00PM / FREE
1-212-501-3330

DOC NYC (November 14 through 21)
Real life, made realer. The definitive documentary festival in New York.
“Too many highlights to name, but check out Michel Gondry’s animated (literally, like cartoons) conversations with Noam Chomsky in Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? and Sini Anderson’s inspiring portrait of the riot-grrrl heroine Kathleen Hanna in The Punk Singer. Errol Morris takes on Donald Rumsfeld in the gala opening, The Unknown Known ..at the IFC Center. —(David Edelstein, NY mag)
IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave.,at 3rd St.
212-924-7771 / details at docnyc.net.

Eli Degibri Quartet (Wednesday and Thursday)
“A tenor saxophonist of vision and self-assurance, Eli Degibri has worked increasingly often in his native Israel, sometimes in his capacity as a cultural ambassador; bookings like these aren’t as common as they used to be for him. He has assembled the excellent team of Omer Avital on bass, Obed Calvaire on drums and on piano, either Aaron Goldberg (on Wednesday) or Gary Versace (on Thursday).” . (Chinen-NYT)
Smalls Jazz Club, 183 West 10th Street, West Village,
From 9:30 p.m. to midnight, $20 cover
(212) 252-5091, smallsjazzclub.com

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 – West Village

Corner Bistro  /  331 W. 4th St.

Sometimes you just need a beer and a burger. If so, Corner Bistro is the place you want. Located just outside the hip Meatpacking district, this corner bar and grill is decidedly unhip, but it’s not uncrowded, especially at night. Seems that everyone knows this place has one of the better burgers in town.

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

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

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

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

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

===========================================================================================
“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 – TUESDAY, NOV. 19, 2013

Shanghai Ballet: The Butterfly Lovers
For more than three decades, the Shanghai Ballet has been dazzling audiences around the world with its unique repertoire of folk-infused Chinese ballet and classical Western masterworks. The Butterfly Lovers is a poignant love story that dates to the Tang Dynasty. The Butterfly Lovers, often considered the Chinese equivalent to Romeo & Juliet, is an audience favorite and features elegant choreography, graceful dancers, magnificent costumes, and a touching story of love and loss.

Since its founding, many young dancers of the company have won total of 27 medals in various international dance competitions, and they also achieved good results in nationwide competitions.

The Shanghai Ballet is active in cooperation and cultural exchange with the artists and companies both abroad and at home. The company not only tours nationwide but also has visited many countries and regions, including Japan, Korea, France, Canada, Indonesia, New Zealand, Spain, Singapore and Australia to name a few.
BMCC TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER,  199 Chambers St
At 7:30PM / $25-$35
212-220-1459 / Website

David Sedaris (Tuesday and Wednesday)
Fans will have two opportunities to see and hear the writer and humorist whose latest book, “Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls,” was released in the spring. He will appear on Tuesday with the actress and writer Lena Dunham (“Girls”) and on Wednesday in a solo performance.
Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium
At 8 p.m. / $39.50 to $65.
(212) 247-7800, carnegiehall.org

KANYE WEST
“The hip-hop giant’s tours are always major events, and not always for the right reasons. This one, to support his acclaimed album “Yeezus” (his darkest and most strident release yet), has already been marked by equipment snafus, cancellations, controversy regarding his use of Confederate-flag imagery on his clothing, and a brief break during which he turned the tabloid world on its ear by renting out a baseball stadium to propose to Kim Kardashian. Expect the unexpected. “ (NewYorker mag)
Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Avenue, at Flatbush Avenue
At 7:30PM / $49.50 to $199.50.
(917) 618-6700 / barclayscenter.com

Thalia Book Club: Anjelica Huston, A Story Lately Told:
Coming of Age in Ireland, London and New York
The Academy Award-winning actress and director reads from and discusses her new memoir with Michael Mayer (Smash; Spring Awakening). She recounts her enchanted childhood on an Irish estate, where her father entertained friends like Carson McCullers and Brando, and her years as a model and actress living at the Chelsea Hotel in the 1970s.
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway
At 7:30PM / $45,  A copy of A Story Lately Told is included in the ticket price.
212-864-5400 / Website

Jane Monheit (through Nov. 24)
“Once dismissed in some circles as a chanteuse manqué, Ms. Monheit has evolved into an excellent interpreter of the standard songbook — and a fine jazz singer besides, especially when applying the pristine sensuality of her voice to songs of cozy reverie. She appears with her working band, featuring Michael Kanan on piano, Neal Miner on bass and Rick Montalbano, her husband, on drums.” (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

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

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

“Legends of the Dead Ball Era” (1900-1919) (through Dec. 1)
“Eighteenth Century Pastels” (through Dec. 29)
“Julia Margaret Cameron” (through Jan. 5, 2014)
“Medieval Treasures From Hildesheim” (through Jan. 5, 2014)
“Interwoven Globe: The Worldwide Textile Trade, 1500-1800″ (through Jan. 5, 2014)
‘Balthus: Cats and Girls — Paintings and Provocations’ (through Jan. 12, 2014)
“Brush Writing in the Arts of Japan” (through Jan. 12, 2014)
“Venetian Glass by Carlo Scarpa, The Venini Co., 1932–1947” (through March 2, 2014)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, at 82nd St.
(212) 535-7710 / metmuseum.org

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Special Mention: Metropolitan’s northern branch at the Cloisters
Janet Cardiff / The Forty Part Motet (through Dec 8)
The Forty Part Motet (2001), a sound installation by Janet Cardiff, is the first presentation of contemporary art at The Cloisters. Regarded as the artist’s masterwork, and consisting of forty high-fidelity speakers positioned on stands in a large oval configuration throughout the Fuentidueña Chapel, the fourteen-minute work, with a three-minute spoken interlude, continuously plays an eleven-minute reworking of the forty-part motet Spem in alium numquam habui (1556?/1573?) by Tudor composer Thomas Tallis.

Visitors are encouraged to walk among the loudspeakers and hear the individual unaccompanied voices—bass, baritone, alto, tenor, and child soprano—one part per speaker—as well as the polyphonic choral effect of the combined singers in an immersive experience. The Forty Part Motet is most often presented in a neutral gallery setting, but in this case the setting is the Cloisters’ Fuentidueña Chapel, which features the late twelfth-century apse from the church of San Martín at Fuentidueña, near Segovia, Spain, on permanent loan from the Spanish Government. Set within a churchlike gallery space, and with superb acoustics, it has for more than fifty years proved a fine venue for concerts of early music.
Worth the trip to far northern Manhattan.
subway: #1 to 59th St., transfer and “take the A train” to 190th St.,
walk about ½ mile N to the Cloisters.
This is a beautiful location, esp. in the fall, overlooking the Hudson Palisades.
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‘Robert Motherwell: Early Collages’ (through Jan. 5, 2014)
‘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.
admission is by timed tickets.
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
XL: 19NewAcquisitions in Photography (through Dec. 31)
Walker Evans: American Photographs (through Jan. 26, 2014) 

Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) / 212-535-7710
Julia Margaret Cameron (through Jan. 5, 2014)
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 11/17 and 11/15.

Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – MONDAY, NOV. 18, 2013

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
A popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland every Monday night. For the past nine years, it’s been the spot to mix and mingle with Manhattan show folk and their fans.

The buoyant, sharp and charming Broadway impresario Jim Caruso hosts a combination open-mic, networking event and party, where some nights you may hear the biggest stars on Broadway relax on their night off by performing their favorite songs in an informal setting. Always fun.
Birdland – 315 West 44th St (btw 8th/9th ave)
9:30 pm / $20 (includes a drink if you sit at the bar, which are not bad seats)
(212) 581-3080 / birdlandjazz.com

SHEILA JORDAN
In 1962, the innovative but unknown vocalist appeared on an album by the visionary jazz composer George Russell, singing a bluesy and disquieting version of “You Are My Sunshine” which shook all who heard it. She hasn’t stopped surprising us since, and she celebrates her eighty-fifth birthday with a longtime collaborator, the luminous pianist Steve Kuhn.
Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd St.
At 8 and 10:30 p.m./ $25 cover at tables, $15 at the bar, with a $5 minimum
212-475-8592 / bluenote.net

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

Andrea Marcovicci’s 65th Birthday Celebration
WOW! Two birthday celebrations on one night, and both ladies admit their age – way more forthcoming than I am on that subject.

 “The programming at Joe’s Pub never ceases to be unpredictable, even when it’s unpredictably traditional—I haven’t seen a major old-school cabaret headliner diva there since the 1990s, when the late and much-missed Mary Cleere Haran held court at the old Joe’s.

Ms. Marcovicci is the master of small spaces, but there’s no doubt she’ll transform the larger house at Joe’s into the most personal and intimate venue imaginable. She has the unique gift of making everyone in the house feel essential to the performance. It’s all about that personal connection, and the quality of her voice (which, admittedly, isn’t much to shout about) or her material (which is) are of secondary importance. Besides, where else are you going to hear Herman Hupfeld’s 1931 “When Yuba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba,” containing the immortal couplet, “He’s not a greenhorn, he blows a mean horn”? (WSJ)
Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St.
At 7 and 9 PM / $20 – $50
(212) 539-8778

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 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 – SUNDAY, NOV. 17, 2013.

Bernstein-Goldings-Stewart*
Peter Bernstein, a crisp and soulful guitarist, has a longstanding rapport with his partners here, the pianist and organist Larry Goldings and the drummer Bill Stewart. As on “Live at Smalls,” a smart album released last year, their objective will be a personalized take on the organ combo tradition. $25, with a one-drink minimum. (Chinen-NYT)
Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Avenue South, at 11th St.
At 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., $25, with a one-drink minimum.
(212) 255-4037, villagevanguard.com

“A BED AND A CHAIR: A NEW YORK LOVE AFFAIR”
Wynton Marsalis has been delving into the theatrical world of late (notably his stewardship of the new Broadway hit “After Midnight”), and this production, created in collaboration with New York City Center, finds him leading the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a number of vocalists, including Bernadette Peters, Cyrille Aimee, Norm Lewis, and Jeremy Jordan, in a program of specially arranged classics by Stephen Sondheim, celebrating a city that has fed the creativity of both the Broadway genius and the jazz icon.” (NewYorker mag)
City Center, 131 W. 55th St.
At 7PM / $30-$175
212-581-1212.

Garth Fagan Dance
In his weeklong season at the Joyce, Garth Fagan presents work that spans decades, including the 1983 classic “Easter Freeway Processional,” set to music by Philip Glass, and the premiere of “No Evidence of Failure,” a study of contemporary women. Another new work comes from Norwood Pennewell, whose “Gin” (as in cotton, not spirits) takes nine dancers through four distinct soundscapes.” (Schaefer-NYT)
Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue, at 19th Street, Chelsea,
at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m., /$10 to $59.
(212) 242-0800, joyce.org

BALLET IN CINEMA / “LE CORSAIRE” FROM THE BOLSHOI
This HD broadcast, recorded last spring, is the next best thing to travelling to Moscow. The Bolshoi’s “Corsaire” is Alexei Ratmansky and Yuri Burlaka’s 2007 staging, based on the 1899 production. The sprightly Svetlana Lunkina dances the role of Medora, a spunky Greek girl sold to a pasha—the ballet is anything but politically correct—with Ruslan Skvortsov as her dashing lover, Conrad.
Big Cinemas

Mavis Staples (Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday)
Mavis Staples, the powerhouse former anchor of the gospel greats the Staple Singers, enjoyed an earthy dose of lo-fi Americana on her 2010 album, “You Are Not Alone,” courtesy of its producer, the Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. They reunited this year for “One True Vine,” a more sparsely instrumented outing with plenty of room for her soul to soar.” (Anderson-NYT)
City Winery, 155 Varick Street, near Spring Street, South Village,
At 8 p.m. / $55 to $65.
(212) 608-0555, citywinery.com

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

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
(through Jan. 4, 2014)
“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.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m.,
until 8 on Mondays and Thursdays
(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
XL: 19NewAcquisitions in Photography (through Dec. 31)
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

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

For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : … …” dated (11/15) and (11/13).

Today’s “Fab 5” / Selected NYCity Events – SATURDAY, NOV. 16, 2013

Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall was founded in 1961 to promote traditional New Orleans jazz in all its authenticity. Legendary players like George Lewis, Sweet Emma Barrett and Kid Thomas Valentine, all rooted in the formative years jazz, were its original stars. That generation is long gone now, yet the hall is still in business and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band continues to tour the world.

Therein lies a paradox: how does an institution based on an early 20th century musical culture prosper in the 21st? When asked that question on the occasion of the Hall’s 50th anniversary, Creative Director Ben Jaffe had a ready answer: “This anniversary is about the next fifty years.”
Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th St.
At 8 p.m./ $35 and $50
212-531-5300  / apollotheater.org, ticketmaster.com

Caffe Vivaldi Presents Rana Farhan
Iranian artist Rana Farhan sings in a cool bluesy style that transcends time and erases all borders, wowing listeners worldwide. In her Harlem studio, together with Guitarist Steven Toub, Rana Farhan produces songs that marry the lyrics of the 13th century mystic poet Rumi and other classics with American elements of Blues and Jazz. The result is a rich and delicious blend that leaves the imagination longing for more, especially for young musicians in Iran who see Rana as an icon.

“Persian poetry gets the blues. An intoxicating and utterly fresh musical combination.”  – – – -Emily Esfahani Smith- Wall Street Journal
Renee Weiler Concert Hall, 46 Barrow Street
2nd Floor, Greenwich House Music School
@ 8:00 pm  / $30

Anoushka Shankar*
“This Indian pop-classical sitar composer inherited much talent from her father, the sitar master Ravi Shankar, who died last year. On her newly released seventh album, “Traces of You,” Ms. Shankar sings elegantly about divergent paths, pays tribute to her dad and folds more family members into the delicate spell. Her half-sister, the jazz-pop starlet Norah Jones, sings on the stunningly beautiful title single.” (Anderson-NYT)
N.Y.U. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 La Guardia Place, at Washington Square South
At 8 p.m. / $40 to $150
811-4111, nyuskirball.org

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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A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – 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  – 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, NOV. 15, 2013

Grand Central Terminal’s Holiday Fair (through Dec. 24) For Grand Central Terminal’s 14th annual Holiday Fair, its Vanderbilt Hall hosts 76 stalls that offer a mix of clothing, accessories, toys, bed and body products, home décor, prints, pet goods and seasonal ornaments.

This centennial edition has 21 new vendors and 56 local ones. Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Grand Central Terminal, (212) 532-4900, grandcentralterminal.com.

Aaron Neville
“The Grammy-winning soul and R&B singer Aaron Neville yearned to make a doo-wop album for 30 years, yet he was turned down by record labels despite his celebrated career. He finally released the passion project, titled “My True Story,” this year. Don Was and Keith Richards helped produce the pleasant, unhurried outing. Mr. Neville brings a five-piece band to re-enact it and his decades of R&B and soul hits.” (Anderson-NYT)
TriBeCa Performing Arts Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers Street, near Greenwich St.
At 8 p.m./ $45 to $65.
(212) 220-1460, tribecapac.org

Mariza
If you’ve never listened to fado, then you’re missing out on one of the hottest musical trends of the last 200 years. Fado represents the first major contribution to international music from the Portuguese-speaking world—it’s what flamenco is to Spain and tango is to Argentina.

Only 39, the blonde-haired, close-cropped siren Mariza is regarded as the leading figure in 21st-century fado, and her New York appearances are frustratingly infrequent. She has a big voice and a haunting tone, which is even more distinctive when draped across the backdrop of the guitars and percussion she works with. You don’t need to speak Portuguese or even habla español to be overwhelmed by her amazing sound, which is fully as sensual as it is spiritual. (WSJ-Will Friedwald)
Carnegie Hall, 57th Street & Seventh Avenue,
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
at 8 PM / $18-$115
247-7800 / carnegiehall.org

A 70TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO JONI MITCHELL
“Hannah Reimann, a classically trained New York City pianist, who is also an actress and a rocker, has formed a seven-piece group to mark the Canadian songsmith’s birthday. They’ll be taking on Mitchell’s songs from the late sixties and early seventies, and Reimann is a determined and uncanny performer of Mitchell’s canon—earlier this year, she performed the 1971 album “Blue” at the Bitter End.” (NewYorker mag)
Littlefield, 622 Degraw St., (btw Third and Fourth Aves., Brooklyn)
At 8PM / $15-$20
718-855-3388 / littlefieldnyc.com
subway:#2-3 express to atlantic ave; walk S on 4th ave to degraw (12 minutes)

Lincoln Center Presents: White Light Festival – Beautiful Africa
Is it my destiny to grow toward the unknown? Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traoré, last seen in Peter Sellars’s Desdemona, poses this question on her acclaimed new album, Beautiful Africa. Singing in Bambara, French, and English, Traoré brings to life her beloved homeland in the midst of political uncertainty, celebrating the strength of the human spirit and a hope that prevails.
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, 60th St. and Broadway,
At 7:30/$25, $45, $60
(212) 258-9595, jalc.org

Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm dates and check 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:

Karl Wirsum* (through Nov. 16)
“In the 1960s when he was a member of the Chicago imagist group the Hairy Who, Karl Wirsum made graphically bristling paintings resembling banners for an underground freak show. His eye-popping and mind-bending first exhibition of new paintings and drawings in New York since 1988 finds him still rambunctiously animated.” (Johnson-NYT)
Derek Eller Gallery, 615 West 27th St. (W of 11th ave.)
(212) 206-6411, derekeller.com

Raqib Shaw, “Paradise Lost” (until Sat Dec 21)
East meets West in the work of this London artist, who originally hails from India, and whose sumptuous, jewel-and-enamel inlaid paintings and intricately detailed sculptures combine numerous traditions and canons—including Indian miniatures and textiles, Old Master painting, Orientalism and Surrealism. His works might be best described as visions of paradise being invaded by the forces of hell. It’s a strange mix that plays upon our notions of exoticism while sending them up. For his debut at Pace, the artist fills all three of the gallery’s Chelsea locations.
Pace Gallery 508 W 25th St. btw Tenth and Eleventh Aves
Tue–Sat 10am–6pm
212-255-4044 / thepacegallery.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.

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in the right Sidebar: “Selected Events + Special Exhibitions : Manhattan’s WestSide” dated (11/07) and (11/05).