NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/28) + U.S. Tennis Open (Day 3)

Posted on 08/28/2019 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/ AUGUST 28, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Andy Statman with Brooklyn Raga Massive
Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St./ 7PM, $30
“Indian classical, Jewish, and American roots music come together at the Rubin. Catch a live performance by klezmer revivalist Andy Statman and raga renaissance vanguard the Brooklyn Raga Massive. Together they’ll experiment with the “rich traditions of improvisation and spiritual yearning that animate Indian classical” traditions.” (ThoughtGallery)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Hannah Epperson / Line Gøttsche
>> JOHNATHAN BLAKE AND PENTAD
>> Pangea Jazz Festival
>>  The Miracle Of The Little Prince
>> Kindred Wayfarers: A Tribute to William Cullen Bryant & Walt Whitman
>> Eastern Philosophy and Relationships: The Interplay of Yin & Yang

Today’s Top Event: US Tennis Open Day 3

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

Hannah Epperson / Line Gøttsche
Joe’s Pub / 9:30PM, $15
“American-Canadian violinist/singer Hannah Epperson’s breadth as a collaborative and compositional powerhouse stems from an eclectic experiential and educational background: from learning Appalachian folk tunes and lore with a cowgirl in Utah to traveling as an improvisational accompanist through Scandinavia; from touring her solo project by sailboat with permaculturists in the Gulf Islands to accompanying Flamenco dancers in Spain; and from receiving an Honours Degree in Human Geography at UBC to representing Canada at World Championships for Ultimate Frisbee in 2015 and 2017.”

JOHNATHAN BLAKE AND PENTAD (Aug. 27-28)
at the Jazz Gallery / 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; $
“Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain. He recorded his most recent album, the impressive double disc “Trion,” over a couple nights last year at the Jazz Gallery. He returns to that club on Tuesday and Wednesday with Pentad, a new ensemble featuring some of New York’s finest young musicians. As you might have guessed, Trion was a trio, and Pentad is a quintet; it features Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone, David Virelles on piano, Joel Ross on vibraphone and Dezron Douglas on bass.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Pangea Jazz Festival (Aug. 27-31)
Pangea, 178 Second Ave. /
“The eclectic nature of the current jazz scene renders attempts at strictly defining it a fool’s errand, and the loopy lineup of this downtown festival only makes its borders that much fuzzier. The event’s final days feature such between-the-cracks artists as the Brazilian tap dancer Felipe Galganni, the off-center piano trio the Theory Conspiracy, and the Jazz Bastards, a cheeky sextet whose members haven’t forgotten that jazz and levity aren’t mutually exclusive.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Screening and Q&A: Marjoleine Boonstra (Writer/Director) The Miracle Of The Little Prince Moderated by Susannah Greenblatt (Words Without Borders)
Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St./ 8PM, $15
“Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince can be read in a staggering 375 languages, more than any book other (except the Bible). Dutch filmmaker Marjoleine Boonstra traveled the world talking to people who have translated it into different languages, to see what this beautiful work has meant to them. Her resulting documentary, The Miracle of the Little Prince, will be on view at Film Forum for a week, and Boonstra will do a Q&A on opening night. The conversation will be moderated by filmmaker and translator Susannah Greenblatt and is presented by Words Without Borders.” (gothamist.com)

Kindred Wayfarers: A Tribute to William Cullen Bryant & Walt Whitman
Bryant Park/Bryant Park Reading Room
Between 40th & 42nd Sts. and Fifth and Sixth Aves./ 7PM, FREE
“Kindred Wayfarers: William Cullen Bryant and Walt Whitman, will explore the life, work and friendship of the two celebrated, 19th-century poets. The panel will feature poets and scholars from the Friends of Cedarmere, the historic estate of William Cullen Bryant, the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association, and other institutions.’ (untappedcities.com)

Eastern Philosophy and Relationships: The Interplay of Yin & Yang
The Assemblage—NoMad, 114 E. 25th St./ 7PM, $15
“How much do you know about Yin and Yang? The tenets are believed to have originated in Yoruba culture more than 20,000 years ago. Taoist healing and meditation arts practitioner Darryl Aiken-Afam leads a Think Olio session into making use of Yin, Yang, and the philosophy of the Five Elements today. Shift away from western conditioning and find tools for better navigating relationships through a presentation of ancient Chinese Taoist concepts.” (ThoughtGallery)

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

Today’s Top Event

US Tennis Open Day 3 (thru Sept.8)

The U.S. Open begins play today @ 11AM at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens (about 45 min. from Times Square.) This tournament, which serves up the world’s best tennis players right in our backyard, is celebrating its 21st year at Arthur Ashe Stadium and is the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year.
subway: @ Times Square take #7 to Willets Point.

Today’s tips: Arrive Early. Security screening may cause delays to enter. Best not to bring a bag. A fine comprehensive review of the tournament and the current state of tennis can be found at the NYTimes/Sports.

Early in the tournament forget the Big House (Arthur Ashe Stadium), which is a pretty poor place to watch tennis unless you have a ton of money for courtside seats. Get a grounds pass and once inside check out one of the electronic scoreboards listing matches in progress. Find a match or players that interest you. Head over to their court for some great tennis, because in this tournament even the qualifiers are great players.There is no other major sporting event where you can get so close to world class athletes as at the U.S. Open – especially on the outer field courts and the Grandstand court. These are courts where you can get a real sense of the pace of the game.

Today’s Featured Match: E. Svitolina (UKR) [5] vs.V. Williams (USA)

“Second-round play headlines Day Three of the 2019 US Open, as men’s top seed Novak Djokovic and six-time US Open women’s champ Serena Williams lead an all-star lineup into action here at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Three more former US Open champs—Roger Federer, Venus Williams, and Stan Wawrinka—also see action on Wednesday, along with a host of leading crown contenders that includes Ashleigh Barty, Daniil Medvedev, Elina Svitolina, Kei Nishikori, Madison Keys, and Karolina Pliskova. All told, it’s a particularly deep pool of talent that promises to drench the day in excitement.”

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

Continuing Events

Trio da Paz & Friends with Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen, and Claudio Roditi (Aug.21-Sep.01)
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
“Keeping an unprecedented streak alive for the 12th consecutive year, Trio da Paz comes to Dizzy’s Club for a two-week summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Duduka da Fonseca, Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. With their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations, and dazzling rhythms, this group redefines Brazilian jazz. Reserve your seats quickly to make sure you don’t miss out on this high-demand annual tradition!”

GD: I made sure to catch their first set on Wednesday night. An evening with this group, especially with Maucha, is like a trip to Rio. Trust me on this.

2019 Summer HD Festival

The 11th Summer HD Festival features ten thrilling performances from the Met’s Live in HD series of cinema transmissions—plus a special pre-festival screening of Stanley Donen’s enchanting Funny Face, featuring songs by George and Ira Gershwin, a co-presentation with Film at Lincoln Center. The free showings run from August 23 through September 2, with approximately 3,000 seats set up in front of the opera house each night, as well as additional standing room around Lincoln Center Plaza.

for tonight’s screening go here.

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/28 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, SummerStage Central Park

==========================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. BUT quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.
============================================================

Bonus Live Music  – NYC Jazz Clubs:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. My favorite Jazz Clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide, feature top talent every night of the week.
Hit the Hot Link and check out who is playing tonight:

Greenwich Village:
(4 are underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. So., villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037 (1st 8:30)
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592 (1st set 8pm)
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883 (1st 7pm)
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346 (1st 8)
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346 (1st set 7:30pm)
The Stone at The New School – 55 w13 St. (btw 6/5 ave) – thestonenyc.com (8:30PM)

Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595 (1st set 7:30pm)
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave) — birdlandjazz.com / 212-581-3080 (1st 8:30pm)
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. — smokejazz.com/ 212-864-6662 (7pm)
Jazz Standard – 116 E27 St. (btw Park/Lex) – jazzstandard.com – (1st set 7:30)

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

In Memoriam:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. — caffevivaldi.com / 212-691-7538 (1st 7pm)
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprised with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It was my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.
Alas, Caffe V is no more, another victim of a rapacious NYC landlord. Owner Ishrat fought the good fight and Caffe V will be sorely missed.
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319
And more recently we have lost Cornelia Street Cafe. After 41 years, it too became another victim of an unreasonable rent increase.

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

 

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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/27) + U.S. Tennis Open (Day 2)

Posted on 08/27/2019 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > TUESDAY/ AUGUST 27, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Shoshana Bean (Aug. 27, 29-31)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $75+
“Best known to theater audiences for replacing Idina Menzel as Elpheba in Wicked and, more recently, starring as Jenna in Waitress the big-voiced Bean dips into the Broadway catalog in her Feinstein’s/54 Below debut. Although she has diversified into pop in her four studio albums, this concert is devoted exclusively to musical-theater songs from roles she has played onstage, would like to play onstage or knows she will never play onstage.” (TONY)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> JOHNATHAN BLAKE AND PENTAD
>> Pangea Jazz Festival
>> The Lineup with Susie Mosher
>> mmm
>> Alejandro Escovedo Duo
>> A Founding Martyr: Dr. Joseph Warren and the Early American Revolution

Today’s Top Event: US Tennis Open Day 2

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

JOHNATHAN BLAKE AND PENTAD (Aug. 27-28)
at the Jazz Gallery / 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; $
“Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain. He recorded his most recent album, the impressive double disc “Trion,” over a couple nights last year at the Jazz Gallery. He returns to that club on Tuesday and Wednesday with Pentad, a new ensemble featuring some of New York’s finest young musicians. As you might have guessed, Trion was a trio, and Pentad is a quintet; it features Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone, David Virelles on piano, Joel Ross on vibraphone and Dezron Douglas on bass.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Pangea Jazz Festival (Aug. 27-31)
Pangea, 178 Second Ave. /
“The eclectic nature of the current jazz scene renders attempts at strictly defining it a fool’s errand, and the loopy lineup of this downtown festival only makes its borders that much fuzzier. The event’s final days feature such between-the-cracks artists as the Brazilian tap dancer Felipe Galganni, the off-center piano trio the Theory Conspiracy, and the Jazz Bastards, a cheeky sextet whose members haven’t forgotten that jazz and levity aren’t mutually exclusive.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

The Lineup with Susie Mosher
Birdland / 9:30PM, $25
“Mosher is one of those talents you need to see to believe: warm, funny, biting, ferociously committed. In her weekly series at the downstairs Birdland Theater, she invites a gaggle of performers from Broadway and beyond to show their talents. Guests at the August 27 edition include Klea Blackhurst, Scott Coulter, Stacy Sullivan, Jessica Hendy, Elizabeth Ward Land, Dave Hill, Blaine Krauss, Tiffany Abban, Natasha Nemergut and guest musical director John Boswell.” (TONY)

Alejandro Escovedo Duo
@ Iridium / 8PM, $45-$55
“Punk and roots rock vet Alejandro Escovedo plays his first of two consecutive nights at Iridium; tonight’s an “intimate duo set” and Tuesday is a full-band set.” (brooklyvegan)

More coming soon.

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Elsewhere but this looks worth the detour:

A Founding Martyr: Dr. Joseph Warren and the Early American Revolution
Learn about an overlooked Brooklyn patriot
Brooklyn Historical Society / 6:30PM, $10
“Celebrating the anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn during the Revolutionary War (Aug. 27, 1776), the Brooklyn Historical Society will hold a talk about Joseph Warren, a doctor and Son of Liberty who was a part of the early rebellion with Samuel Adams.”

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

Today’s Top Event

US Tennis Open Day 2 (thru Sept.8)

The U.S. Open begins play today @ 11AM at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens (about 45 min. from Times Square.) This tournament, which serves up the world’s best tennis players right in our backyard, is celebrating its 21st year at Arthur Ashe Stadium and is the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year.
subway: @ Times Square take #7 to Willets Point.

Today’s tips: Arrive Early. Security screening may cause delays to enter. Best not to bring a bag. A fine comprehensive review of the tournament and the current state of tennis can be found at the NYTimes/Sports.

Early in the tournament forget the Big House (Arthur Ashe Stadium), which is a pretty poor place to watch tennis unless you have a ton of money for courtside seats. Get a grounds pass and once inside check out one of the electronic scoreboards listing matches in progress. Find a match or players that interest you. Head over to their court for some great tennis, because in this tournament even the qualifiers are great players.There is no other major sporting event where you can get so close to world class athletes as at the U.S. Open – especially on the outer field courts and the Grandstand court. These are courts where you can get a real sense of the pace of the game.

Today’s Featured Match: Simona Halep vs. Nicole Gibbs

“Round one continues on Day Two of the 2019 US Open, as defending US Open women’s champion Naomi Osaka and men’s second seed Rafael Nadal lead a host of top talents into action. Sharing court tine with those two today will be former US Open champions Sloane Stephens, Marin Cilic, and Svetlana Kuznetsova, along with 2019 Wimbledon women’s titlist Simona Halep. Add in surging stars Bianca Andreescu, Coco Gauff, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Belinda Bencic, and Flushing fan favorites Gael Monfils, Nick Kyrgios, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki and John Isner, and you’re looking at a lineup of luminaries that begs for a bigger marquee.”

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

Continuing Events

Trio da Paz & Friends with Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen, and Claudio Roditi (Aug.21-Sep.01)
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
“Keeping an unprecedented streak alive for the 12th consecutive year, Trio da Paz comes to Dizzy’s Club for a two-week summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Duduka da Fonseca, Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. With their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations, and dazzling rhythms, this group redefines Brazilian jazz. Reserve your seats quickly to make sure you don’t miss out on this high-demand annual tradition!”

GD: I made sure to catch their first set on Wednesday night. An evening with this group, especially with Maucha, is like a trip to Rio. Trust me on this.

2019 Summer HD Festival

The 11th Summer HD Festival features ten thrilling performances from the Met’s Live in HD series of cinema transmissions—plus a special pre-festival screening of Stanley Donen’s enchanting Funny Face, featuring songs by George and Ira Gershwin, a co-presentation with Film at Lincoln Center. The free showings run from August 23 through September 2, with approximately 3,000 seats set up in front of the opera house each night, as well as additional standing room around Lincoln Center Plaza.

for tonight’s screening go here.

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/26-27 Ben Harper & Trombone Shorty, The Rooftop at Pier 17
8/27 Lenny Kravitz, Radio City Music Hall
8/28 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, SummerStage Central Park

==========================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. BUT quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.

=====================================================
Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/26) + US Tennis Open (Day 1)

Posted on 08/26/2019 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > MONDAY/ AUGUST 26, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Milton Suggs Quintet
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40-$30
“The questing spirit of the sixties carried into the 1970 album “That Healin’ Feelin’: The United States of Mind Phase I,” the first of a trilogy by the pianist, composer—and, for this project, lyricist—Horace Silver. Here, the vocalist Milton Suggs takes on the series’ funky vibe of love, peace, and mindfulness, presumably with all contemporary irony left at the door. If he avoids Silver’s more didactic ruminations on, say, diet and exercise, the positive message and incessant groove of the music will win out.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Mauricio Martinez: De México To Broadway
>> Klea Blackhurst: One of the Girls
>> Alejandro Escovedo Duo
>> The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
>> Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
>> Monday Night Magic

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

Mauricio Martinez: De México To Broadway
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $40+
“The Mexican star of stage and small screen, who made his Broadway debut in On Your Feet! two years ago, returns to F/54 with a survey of his career to date, which has included two Latin pop albums as well as leading roles in shows including Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, Saturday Night Fever and The Last Five Years. He is joined by guest stars Laura Osnes and Barrie Kealoha.” (TONY)

Klea Blackhurst: One of the Girls
Birdland / 7PM, $30
“The boisterous, trumpet-voiced Blackhurst pulls the stops out in a tribute to the songs of master Broadway tunesmith Jerry Herman, and especially to the powerful female figures he helped create in such shows as Mame, La Cage Aux Folles and Hello, Dolly!” (TONY)

Alejandro Escovedo Duo
@ Iridium / 8PM, $45-$55
“Punk and roots rock vet Alejandro Escovedo plays his first of two consecutive nights at Iridium; tonight’s an “intimate duo set” and Tuesday is a full-band set.” (brooklyvegan)

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South (btw W11th/Perry St.) / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $35
“World class big band with 16 members on that small stage, a monday night institution.
“Almost exactly half a century ago, the trumpeter-composer-arranger Thad Jones and the drummer Mel Lewis began their Monday-night big band residency at the Village Vanguard, establishing what became a hallowed tradition.” (NYT)

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (Cabaret)
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. (btw 8/9 ave) / 9:30PM, $25-$30
“The witty host attracts broadway stars on their night off, along with up and comers.”
“Part cabaret, part piano bar and part social set, Cast Party offers a chance to hear rising and established talents step up to the microphone (backed by the slap and tickle of Steve Doyle on bass and Billy Stritch at the ivories, plus the bang of Daniel Glass on drums). The waggish Caruso presides as host.” (TONY)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Monday Night Magic
Players Theatre, West Village / 8PM, $42.50
“For more than two decades,, this proudly old-school series has offered a different lineup of professional magicians every week: opening acts, a headliner and a host, plus two or three close-up magicians to wow the audience at intermission. Housed for the past seven years at the unprepossessing Players Theatre, it is an heir to the vaudeville tradition.

Many of the acts incorporate comedic elements, and audience participation is common. (If you have young children, bring them; they make especially adorable assistants.) Shows cost just $37.50 in advance and typically last well over two hours, so you get a lot of value and variety for your magic dollar. In contrast to some fancier magic shows, this one feels like comfort food: an all-you-can eat buffet to which you’re encouraged to return until you’re as stuffed as a hat full of rabbits.” (TONY)

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

Today’s Top Event

US Tennis Open Day 1 (thru Sept.8)

The U.S. Open begins play today @ 11AM at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens (about 45 min. from Times Square.) This tournament, which serves up the world’s best tennis players right in our backyard, is celebrating its 21st year at Arthur Ashe Stadium and is the fourth and final Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year.
subway: @ Times Square take #7 to Willets Point.

Today’s tips: Arrive Early. Security screening may cause delays to enter. Best not to bring a bag. A fine comprehensive review of the tournament and the current state of tennis can be found at the NYTimes/Sports.

Early in the tournament forget the Big House (Arthur Ashe Stadium), which is a pretty poor place to watch tennis unless you have a ton of money for courtside seats. Get a grounds pass and once inside check out one of the electronic scoreboards listing matches in progress. Find a match or players that interest you. Head over to their court for some great tennis, because in this tournament even the qualifiers are great players.There is no other major sporting event where you can get so close to world class athletes as at the U.S. Open – especially on the outer field courts and the Grandstand court. These are courts where you can get a real sense of the pace of the game.

Today’s Featured Match: Serena Williams v Maria Sharapova

“The spectacular Day One lineup includes eight former US Open champions, including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Samantha Stosur, and Angelique Kerber. The fact that two of those former champs will square off on Flushing’s first day only serves to raise the temperature on an already-sizzling slate. Add in French Open champ Ashleigh Barty, women’s No. 3 seed Karolina Pliskova, 2017 US Open runner-up Madison Keys, former men’s Flushing finalist Kei Nishikori, and rocketing Russian star Daniil Medvedev, and you’ve got a lineup that suggests one thing: You should probably get familiar with the edge of your seat.”

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

Continuing Events

Trio da Paz & Friends with Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen, and Claudio Roditi (Aug.21-Sep.01)
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
“Keeping an unprecedented streak alive for the 12th consecutive year, Trio da Paz comes to Dizzy’s Club for a two-week summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Duduka da Fonseca, Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. With their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations, and dazzling rhythms, this group redefines Brazilian jazz. Reserve your seats quickly to make sure you don’t miss out on this high-demand annual tradition!”

GD: I made sure to catch their first set on Wednesday night. An evening with this group, especially with Maucha, is like a trip to Rio. Trust me on this.

2019 Summer HD Festival

The 11th Summer HD Festival features ten thrilling performances from the Met’s Live in HD series of cinema transmissions—plus a special pre-festival screening of Stanley Donen’s enchanting Funny Face, featuring songs by George and Ira Gershwin, a co-presentation with Film at Lincoln Center. The free showings run from August 23 through September 2, with approximately 3,000 seats set up in front of the opera house each night, as well as additional standing room around Lincoln Center Plaza.

for tonight’s screening go here.

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/26-27 Ben Harper & Trombone Shorty, The Rooftop at Pier 17
8/27 Lenny Kravitz, Radio City Music Hall
8/28 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, SummerStage Central Park

==========================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. BUT quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.

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

Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/25) + Today’s Featured Pub (WestVillage)

Posted on 08/25/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > SUNDAY/ AUGUST 25, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Eddie Palmieri (Aug.20-25)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.”

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

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> LIAONING BALLET
>> Carole J. Bufford
>> DANILO PÉREZ GLOBAL MESSENGERS
>> Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward
>> ANDREW CYRILLE QUARTET
>> Jazz Age Lawn Party
>> Green-Wood Commemorates The Battle of Brooklyn

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

LIAONING BALLET
at the NYS Theater. Lincoln Center/ 7 p.m.; $38+
“Formed in 1980, this company from China presents two programs: “Hua Mulan” (on Friday and Saturday night) and “The Chinese and Western Ballet Gala” (on Saturday afternoon and Sunday). In “Mulan,” the dancers use contemporary ballet to illustrate the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, a female warrior who chose to enlist in the army in place of her elderly father. The gala showcase highlights excerpts from several of Liaoning’s classical repertory and original pieces.” (NYT-Gia Kourlas)

Carole J. Bufford
Birdland / 5:30PM, $30
“Bufford is one of jazz cabaret’s brightest rising stars, with a distinctive bluesy voice and a flair for the theatrical. In this set she serves up a “boogie woogie, blues and hot jazz jamboree,” joined by Arthur Migliazza on the piano.” (TONY)

DANILO PÉREZ GLOBAL MESSENGERS (Aug. 23-25)
at Jazz Standard / 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; $35
“Pérez is an esteemed pianist known for his own music — unifying the sound of his Panamanian homeland with contemporary American post-bop, as well as West African influences — and for his role in Wayne Shorter’s longstanding quartet, with which Pérez has won two Grammys. But in recent years he’s also become renowned for his education and advocacy work, including establishing a major jazz festival in Panama and founding the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Pérez performs here with Global Messengers, a newly assembled group that seeks common ground across nationalities and traditions; it features Farayi Malek on vocals, Vasilis Kostas on laouto (a Greek stringed instrument), Layth Al-Rubaye on violin, Naseem Alatrash on cello and Tareq Rantisi on percussion.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward (Aug.21-25)
Irish Repertory Theatre / 7PM, $45-$50
“The Noël Coward touch was always a light one. His music scampers like a mouse; his lyrics bounce like balloons. In his plays, even suffering has an upward tendency. But when his work is excerpted and performed by others, that glancing quality can turn coy and saccharine, as it sometimes does in Barry Day’s two-handed cabaret Love, Noël.

Reading from Coward’s letters and covering nearly two dozen songs, cabaret stars Steve Ross and KT Sullivan pay Coward tribute. Sometimes Ross, the longtime king of café cabaret, is his own tuxedoed self, and sometimes he’s pretending to be Coward; an amused-seeming Sullivan takes on all the women. (She does a great, gloomy Marlene Dietrich.)” (TONY)

ANDREW CYRILLE QUARTET (through Aug. 25)
at the Village Vanguard / 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.; $35
“In recent years, this 79-year-old drummer and avant-garde luminary has become a frequent presence at the Vanguard. That makes him one of the most eminent and experimental musicians to appear regularly at the storied club. Through Sunday he will be here with a quartet featuring the guitarist Bill Frisell, the pianist David Virelles and the bassist Ben Street.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Jazz Age Lawn Party (Aug.24-25)
Do the Charleston at the Jazz Age Lawn Party
Governors Island / 12-6PM, $45-$175
“Now in its 14th year, this two-day gathering on Governors Island gives guests a chance to party in Prohibition Era-inspired fashion. Food trucks will be selling grub but picnicking is allowed (outside alcohol is prohibited). Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra are back as the featured performers, and Roaring ’20s-style dance lessons will be offered. Show off what you learned in dance contests held daily.” (amNY)

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Green-Wood Commemorates The Battle of Brooklyn
Witness Revolutionary War history reenacted
Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th St., Brooklyn / 11AM-2PM, FREE
“Head to Green-Wood Cemetery for a day of re-enactment, parades, cannon fire and more to remember the Battle of Brooklyn (1776) that took part on the land the cemetery now owns. In the morning, there will be a chance to meet the soldiers and their horses, and at 12:30 p.m., the parade and battle march begin. It all wraps up with a commemoration ceremony.”

Continuing Events

Trio da Paz & Friends with Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen, and Claudio Roditi (Aug.21-Sep.01)
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
“Keeping an unprecedented streak alive for the 12th consecutive year, Trio da Paz comes to Dizzy’s Club for a two-week summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Duduka da Fonseca, Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. With their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations, and dazzling rhythms, this group redefines Brazilian jazz. Reserve your seats quickly to make sure you don’t miss out on this high-demand annual tradition!”

GD: I made sure to catch their first set on Wednesday night. An evening with this group, especially with Maucha, is like a trip to Rio. Trust me on this.

2019 Summer HD Festival

The 11th Summer HD Festival features ten thrilling performances from the Met’s Live in HD series of cinema transmissions—plus a special pre-festival screening of Stanley Donen’s enchanting Funny Face, featuring songs by George and Ira Gershwin, a co-presentation with Film at Lincoln Center. The free showings run from August 23 through September 2, with approximately 3,000 seats set up in front of the opera house each night, as well as additional standing room around Lincoln Center Plaza.

for tonight’s screening go here.

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/24 The Marshall Tucker Band, Sony Hall
8/26-27 Ben Harper & Trombone Shorty, The Rooftop at Pier 17
8/27 Lenny Kravitz, Radio City Music Hall
8/28 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, SummerStage Central Park

==========================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. Quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.

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

A PremierPub / West Village

Corner Bistro / 331 W. 4th St.

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

kac_120405_phude_corner_bistro_bar_1000-600x450In 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 celebrated it’s 55th anniversary last 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 $9.75, and should be ordered medium rare, which will be plenty rare for most folks. Actually, it will be a juicy, messy delight – make sure you have extra napkins. I like to pull up a stool and sit by the large front window in the afternoon, where I can rest my burger and beer on the shelf, and watch the Villagers walk by.

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

For the classic Bistro experience, order your burger with a McSorley’s draft, the dark preferably. This is the same beer that you can get over at the original McSorley’s in the East Village, the pub that claims to be the oldest continually operating bar in NYCity. The only difference is that this McSorley’s ale is served with a smile by the bartenders here. Or you can get a Sierra Nevada, Stella, or Hoegaarden on tap if you want to go upscale a bit. Either way this is a simple, but quality burger and beer experience that is just too rare these days (sorry for the pun).
=========================================================
Website: cornerbistrony.com
Phone #: 212-242-9502
Hours: 11:30am-4am Mon-Sat; 12pm-4am Sun
Happy Hour: NO
Music: Juke Box
Subway: #1/2/3 to 14th St. (S end of platform)
Walk: 1 blk W. on 13th St. to 8th Ave.; 1 blk S. on 8th Ave. to Jane St.
Update:
==============================================================
“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge (except for certain jazz clubs).

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

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

Bonus Live Music  – NYC Jazz Clubs:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. My favorite Jazz Clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide, feature top talent every night of the week.
Hit the Hot Link and check out who is playing tonight:

Greenwich Village:
(4 are underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. So., villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037 (1st 8:30)
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592 (1st set 8pm)
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883 (1st 7pm)
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346 (1st 8)
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346 (1st set 7:30pm)
The Stone at The New School – 55 w13 St. (btw 6/5 ave) – thestonenyc.com (8:30PM)

Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595 (1st set 7:30pm)
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave) — birdlandjazz.com / 212-581-3080 (1st 8:30pm)
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. — smokejazz.com/ 212-864-6662 (7pm)
Jazz Standard – 116 E27 St. (btw Park/Lex) – jazzstandard.com – (1st set 7:30)

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

In Memoriam:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. — caffevivaldi.com / 212-691-7538 (1st 7pm)
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprised with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It was my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.
Alas, Caffe V is no more, another victim of a rapacious NYC landlord. Owner Ishrat fought the good fight and Caffe V will be sorely missed.
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319
And more recently we have lost Cornelia Street Cafe. After 41 years, it too became another victim of an unreasonable rent increase.

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

 

 

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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/24) + GallerySpecialExhibits: Chelsea

Posted on 08/24/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > SATURDAY/ AUGUST 24, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward (Aug.21-25)
Irish Repertory Theatre / 7PM, $45-$50
“The Noël Coward touch was always a light one. His music scampers like a mouse; his lyrics bounce like balloons. In his plays, even suffering has an upward tendency. But when his work is excerpted and performed by others, that glancing quality can turn coy and saccharine, as it sometimes does in Barry Day’s two-handed cabaret Love, Noël.

Reading from Coward’s letters and covering nearly two dozen songs, cabaret stars Steve Ross and KT Sullivan pay Coward tribute. Sometimes Ross, the longtime king of café cabaret, is his own tuxedoed self, and sometimes he’s pretending to be Coward; an amused-seeming Sullivan takes on all the women. (She does a great, gloomy Marlene Dietrich.)” (TONY)

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

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> DANILO PÉREZ GLOBAL MESSENGERS
>> Eddie Palmieri
>> Emerging Music Festival
>> ANDREW CYRILLE QUARTET
>> Blues BBQ festival
>> Jazz Age Lawn Party
>> The Rise and Fall of the Vanderbilt Mansions Along Fifth Avenue Tour: An Aristocratic History

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

DANILO PÉREZ GLOBAL MESSENGERS (Aug. 23-25)
at Jazz Standard / 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; $35
“Pérez is an esteemed pianist known for his own music — unifying the sound of his Panamanian homeland with contemporary American post-bop, as well as West African influences — and for his role in Wayne Shorter’s longstanding quartet, with which Pérez has won two Grammys. But in recent years he’s also become renowned for his education and advocacy work, including establishing a major jazz festival in Panama and founding the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Pérez performs here with Global Messengers, a newly assembled group that seeks common ground across nationalities and traditions; it features Farayi Malek on vocals, Vasilis Kostas on laouto (a Greek stringed instrument), Layth Al-Rubaye on violin, Naseem Alatrash on cello and Tareq Rantisi on percussion.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Eddie Palmieri (Aug.20-25)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.”

Emerging Music Festival (Aug.23-24)
Dance to NYC’s best new artists
Bryant Park / 6PM, FREE
“The Emerging Music Festival gives eight up-and-coming artists a shot on the big stage. The eclectic mix of musicians — including singer-songwriter Celisse Henderson; the “psychedelic soul” Ghost Funk Orchestra; and Sammy Rae & The Friends, fronted by bandleader Samantha Bowers — will bring the party to the park. There will be music to get you dancing, but bring a blanket to best enjoy the show. In between sets, you can play gigantic lawn games or hit up the local vendors for a drink.” (thrillist.com)

ANDREW CYRILLE QUARTET (through Aug. 25)
at the Village Vanguard / 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.; $35
“In recent years, this 79-year-old drummer and avant-garde luminary has become a frequent presence at the Vanguard. That makes him one of the most eminent and experimental musicians to appear regularly at the storied club. Through Sunday he will be here with a quartet featuring the guitarist Bill Frisell, the pianist David Virelles and the bassist Ben Street.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Blues BBQ festival
Pair your blues with some BBQ
Hudson River Park, Pier 97 / 2PM, Free to enter; food and drink available for purchase
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Blues BBQ festival — they’ve been bringing together blues musicians and pitmasters since before your office’s summer intern was born. Dinosaur BBQ, Blue Smoke, and Mighty Quinn’s will serve up their best meats, and Brooklyn’s own Sixpoint will be pouring some seasonal brews. Eat some ribs, sip your beer, and see the Harlem Gospel Choir, AJ Ghent, and Karl Denson add to the heat and smoke of the afternoon.” (thrillist.com)

Jazz Age Lawn Party (Aug.24-25)
Do the Charleston at the Jazz Age Lawn Party
Governors Island / 12-6PM, $45-$175
“Now in its 14th year, this two-day gathering on Governors Island gives guests a chance to party in Prohibition Era-inspired fashion. Food trucks will be selling grub but picnicking is allowed (outside alcohol is prohibited). Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra are back as the featured performers, and Roaring ’20s-style dance lessons will be offered. Show off what you learned in dance contests held daily.” (amNY)

The Rise and Fall of the Vanderbilt Mansions Along Fifth Avenue Tour: An Aristocratic History
The Municipal Art Society of New York / 11AM, $30
WITH JASON STEIN
“Rediscover the Vanderbilt mansions of Manhattan and how they all fell from grace. Get insight into the Gilded Age and how one wealthy family struggled to maintain an extravagant lifestyle.” (ThoughtGallery)

Continuing Events

Trio da Paz & Friends with Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen, and Claudio Roditi (Aug.21-Sep.01)
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
“Keeping an unprecedented streak alive for the 12th consecutive year, Trio da Paz comes to Dizzy’s Club for a two-week summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Duduka da Fonseca, Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. With their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations, and dazzling rhythms, this group redefines Brazilian jazz. Reserve your seats quickly to make sure you don’t miss out on this high-demand annual tradition!”

GD: I made sure to catch their first set on Wednesday night. An evening with this group, especially with Maucha, is like a trip to Rio. Trust me on this.

JAZZ IN TIMES SQUARE
Concert Series / Curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Thursdays from 5-7pm, from June to September
Broadway Plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets

“Give your Thursday night a new rhythm as you head to the train or wait for a colleague to join you for dinner. Jazz at Lincoln Center brings New York City’s hottest young jazz bands to the plaza, creating the feeling of an intimate club amidst the lights and sounds of Times Square.”

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/24 The Marshall Tucker Band, Sony Hall
8/26-27 Ben Harper & Trombone Shorty, The Rooftop at Pier 17
8/27 Lenny Kravitz, Radio City Music Hall
8/28 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, SummerStage Central Park

=============================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. Quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.

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

Chelsea Art Gallery District*

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.

Here is one exhibition the New Yorker likes:

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

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.

*Now plan your own gallery crawl, but better plan your visits for Tuesday through Saturday; most galleries are closed Sunday and Monday.

TIP: After your gallery tour, stop in Ovest at 513W27th St. for Aperitivo Italiano (Happy Hour on steroids). Discuss all the great art you have viewed over a drink and a very tasty selection of FREE appetizers (M-F, 5-8pm). OR try this NYT recommendation: “When you’re done, adjourn to the newly renovated Bottino , the Chelsea art world’s unofficial canteen on 10th Avenue (btw 24/25 St.) “

=======================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 08/22 and 08/20.
=====================================================

Bonus NYC Music Venues:
So much fine live music every night in this town. These are my favorite non jazz music venues on Manhattan’s WestSide. Check out who’s playing tonight:

City Winery – 155 Varick St., citywinery.com, 212-608-0555
Joe’s Pub @ Public Theater – 425 Lafayette St., joespub.com, 212-967-7555
Beacon Theatre – 2124 Broadway @ 74th St., beacontheatre.com, 212-465-6500
Town Hall – 123 W43rd St., thetownhall.org, 212-997-6661
Le Poisson Rouge – 158 Bleecker St., lepoissonrouge.com, 212-505-3474
and one more, not quite WestSide
Bowery Ballroom – 6 Delancey St. boweryballroom.com

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

In Memoriam:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. caffevivaldi.com, 212-691-7538
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprises with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It’s my favorite spot for an evening of listening discovery and enjoyment.
Alas, Caffe V is no more, another victim of a rapacious NYC landlord. Owner Ishrat fought the good fight and Caffe V will be sorely missed.

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/23) + Today’s Featured Pub (Midtown West)

Posted on 08/23/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > FRIDAY/ AUGUST 23, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Eddie Palmieri (Aug.20-25)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.”

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

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Emerging Music Festival
>> ANDREW CYRILLE QUARTET
>> 54 Sings Broadway’s Greatest Hits!
>> MATANA ROBERTS
>> Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward
>> Michael Feinstein: I Happen to Like New York
>> YARDY x RAGGA NYC x CONNEK Celebrate J’ouvert

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

Emerging Music Festival (Aug.23-24)
Dance to NYC’s best new artists
Bryant Park / 6PM, FREE
“The Emerging Music Festival gives eight up-and-coming artists a shot on the big stage. The eclectic mix of musicians — including singer-songwriter Celisse Henderson; the “psychedelic soul” Ghost Funk Orchestra; and Sammy Rae & The Friends, fronted by bandleader Samantha Bowers — will bring the party to the park. There will be music to get you dancing, but bring a blanket to best enjoy the show. In between sets, you can play gigantic lawn games or hit up the local vendors for a drink.” (thrillist.com)

ANDREW CYRILLE QUARTET (through Aug. 25)
at the Village Vanguard / 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.; $35
“In recent years, this 79-year-old drummer and avant-garde luminary has become a frequent presence at the Vanguard. That makes him one of the most eminent and experimental musicians to appear regularly at the storied club. Through Sunday he will be here with a quartet featuring the guitarist Bill Frisell, the pianist David Virelles and the bassist Ben Street.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

54 Sings Broadway’s Greatest Hits!
54 Below / 9:30PM, $40+
“Broadway by the Year impresario Scott Siegel curates this monthly concert series, in which Broadway stars sing some of the Great White Way’s best-loved tunes.” (TONY)

MATANA ROBERTS (Aug. 21-24)
at the Stone / 8:30 p.m.; $20
“This alto saxophonist and multimedia artist has a deep, integrative way of pulling audiences into her head space, and into her explorations of American history and culture. Her shows often involve some mix of storytelling, free improvising and audience participation. This coming week at the Stone, for four days in a row, she will team up with a different duet partner each night; in this format, it’s likely (though not guaranteed) that she will largely stick to saxophone. She will perform with the drummer Gerald Cleaver on Wednesday, the guitarist Ava Mendoza on Thursday, the guitarist Liberty Ellman on Aug. 23, and the pianist Vijay Iyer on Aug. 24.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward (Aug.21-25)
Irish Repertory Theatre / 7PM, $45-$50
“The Noël Coward touch was always a light one. His music scampers like a mouse; his lyrics bounce like balloons. In his plays, even suffering has an upward tendency. But when his work is excerpted and performed by others, that glancing quality can turn coy and saccharine, as it sometimes does in Barry Day’s two-handed cabaret Love, Noël.

Reading from Coward’s letters and covering nearly two dozen songs, cabaret stars Steve Ross and KT Sullivan pay Coward tribute. Sometimes Ross, the longtime king of café cabaret, is his own tuxedoed self, and sometimes he’s pretending to be Coward; an amused-seeming Sullivan takes on all the women. (She does a great, gloomy Marlene Dietrich.)” (TONY)

Michael Feinstein: I Happen to Like New York (Aug.20-23)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $85+
“Michael Feinstein, the best friend of the Great American Songbook, concludes his “I Happen to Like New York” residency (at his own club) by sharing the stage with two other vocalists. Melissa Manchester, a sturdy stylist who has morphed from pop songstress to cabaret chanteuse, is featured first, followed by the nineteen-year-old Jackie Evancho, who, a decade ago, grabbed the nation by its ears on “America’s Got Talent.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

MOFAD @ Night:
YARDY x RAGGA NYC x CONNEK Celebrate J’ouvert
Museum of Food and Drink, 62 Bayard St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn / 7PM, $30
“J’ouvert, which began as a street party during Carnival in post-emancipation Caribbean, has become an integral part of Caribbean diaspora communities in Brooklyn and beyond. Yardy NYC, RAGGA NYC, and CONNEK have teamed up to bring a slice of J’ouvert to MOFAD, celebrating Afro-Caribbean food and culture at the intersection of tourism, gender, queerness, and the economic landscape of agriculture and cuisine in Jamaica, NYC, and beyond.

The evening will feature food and drinks by Yardy NYC, music curated by the RAGGA NYC, and a panel discussion moderated by food writer Korsha Wilson, featuring DeVonn Francis (Yardy NYC Founder), Christopher Udemezue (RAGGA NYC Founder, CONNEK Co-founder) and Chantel Chaday Emmanuel (CONNEK Co-founder, joining us from Kingston, Jamaica).”

Continuing Events

Trio da Paz & Friends with Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen, and Claudio Roditi (Aug.21-Sep.01)
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
“Keeping an unprecedented streak alive for the 12th consecutive year, Trio da Paz comes to Dizzy’s Club for a two-week summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Duduka da Fonseca, Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. With their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations, and dazzling rhythms, this group redefines Brazilian jazz. Reserve your seats quickly to make sure you don’t miss out on this high-demand annual tradition!”

GD: I made sure to catch their first set on Wednesday night. An evening with this group, especially with Maucha, is like a trip to Rio. Trust me on this.

JAZZ IN TIMES SQUARE
Concert Series / Curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Thursdays from 5-7pm, from June to September
Broadway Plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets

“Give your Thursday night a new rhythm as you head to the train or wait for a colleague to join you for dinner. Jazz at Lincoln Center brings New York City’s hottest young jazz bands to the plaza, creating the feeling of an intimate club amidst the lights and sounds of Times Square.”

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/24 The Marshall Tucker Band, Sony Hall
8/26-27 Ben Harper & Trombone Shorty, The Rooftop at Pier 17
8/27 Lenny Kravitz, Radio City Music Hall
8/28 King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, SummerStage Central Park

==========================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. BUT quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.

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

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.
(Alas, no more. After 10 years, “Jersey Boys” finally closed, now it’s “Mean Girls.”)

lThose 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 near the piano man; we eat, and we drink vodka ‘till it hurts (and it will hurt).
=======================================================
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 now includes a younger, trimmer piano man. “Tiny” we miss you.

==================================================================================
“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge (except for certain jazz clubs).
If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.

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

Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

 

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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/22) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s 5th Avenue

Posted on 08/22/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > THURSDAY/ AUGUST 22, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Michael Feinstein: I Happen to Like New York (Aug.20-23)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $85+
“Michael Feinstein, the best friend of the Great American Songbook, concludes his “I Happen to Like New York” residency (at his own club) by sharing the stage with two other vocalists. Melissa Manchester, a sturdy stylist who has morphed from pop songstress to cabaret chanteuse, is featured first, followed by the nineteen-year-old Jackie Evancho, who, a decade ago, grabbed the nation by its ears on “America’s Got Talent.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

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

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Twilight in the Garden: Sonic Experience-Gamelan Dharma Swara
>> Beto Jamaica
>> MATANA ROBERTS
>> Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward
>> Eddie Palmieri
>> Soul Train Tribute concert and film screening
>> Peter and Will Anderson: Songbook Summit—The Andersons Play Ellington & Armstrong

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

Twilight in the Garden: Sonic Experience-Gamelan Dharma Swara
Wave Hill, Aquatic Garden / 7PM, $12
“Gamelan Dharma Swara have been described by The New York Times as “an ambitious and powerful ensemble who plays gamelan as a living language.” Now entering its thirtieth year, the 25-person ensemble will present an evening of works spanning centuries, exploring the many facets of the Balinese performing arts.”

Beto Jamaica
Atrium, Lincoln Center / 7:30PM, FREE, but get there early for a seat
“Alberto “Beto” Jamaica is one of the leading vallenato and cumbia players in Colombia. Since winning the prestigious Professional Leyenda Vallenata Festival competition in 2006, he has become known as the king of Columbian Vallenato. Experience his vibrant, accordion-driven mix of cumbia, paseo, and porro at this not-to-be-missed show at the Atrium.”

MATANA ROBERTS (Aug. 21-24)
at the Stone / 8:30 p.m.; $20
“This alto saxophonist and multimedia artist has a deep, integrative way of pulling audiences into her head space, and into her explorations of American history and culture. Her shows often involve some mix of storytelling, free improvising and audience participation. This coming week at the Stone, for four days in a row, she will team up with a different duet partner each night; in this format, it’s likely (though not guaranteed) that she will largely stick to saxophone. She will perform with the drummer Gerald Cleaver on Wednesday, the guitarist Ava Mendoza on Thursday, the guitarist Liberty Ellman on Aug. 23, and the pianist Vijay Iyer on Aug. 24.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward (Aug.21-25)
Irish Repertory Theatre / 7PM, $45-$50
“The Noël Coward touch was always a light one. His music scampers like a mouse; his lyrics bounce like balloons. In his plays, even suffering has an upward tendency. But when his work is excerpted and performed by others, that glancing quality can turn coy and saccharine, as it sometimes does in Barry Day’s two-handed cabaret Love, Noël.

Reading from Coward’s letters and covering nearly two dozen songs, cabaret stars Steve Ross and KT Sullivan pay Coward tribute. Sometimes Ross, the longtime king of café cabaret, is his own tuxedoed self, and sometimes he’s pretending to be Coward; an amused-seeming Sullivan takes on all the women. (She does a great, gloomy Marlene Dietrich.)” (TONY)

Eddie Palmieri (Aug.20-25)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.”

Soul Train Tribute concert and film screening
Marcus Garvey Park / 6PM, FREE, with RSVP
“ImageNation Cinema Foundation is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the longest Soul Train line at its concert and dance party Thursday. Once the train line is done, there will be a live musical tribute to Aretha Franklin and a film screening of “Amazing Grace.”. (amNY)

Peter and Will Anderson: Songbook Summit—The Andersons Play Ellington & Armstrong (Aug.21-22)
Symphony Space / 5:30PM, +8PM, $35
“Twin-brother saxophone players Peter and Will Anderson, masters of vintage jazz styles ranging from swing to hardbop, flip through four chapters of the Great American Songbook in this Symphony Space residency, devoting a week apiece to Duke Ellington (August 13–15) and Louis Armstrong (August 21–23). They are joined by vocalist Molly Ryan and musicians including bassist Vince Giordano.” (TONY)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

More smart stuff coming soon.

Continuing Events

Trio da Paz & Friends with Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen, and Claudio Roditi (Aug.21-Sep.01)
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
“Keeping an unprecedented streak alive for the 12th consecutive year, Trio da Paz comes to Dizzy’s Club for a two-week summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Duduka da Fonseca, Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. With their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations, and dazzling rhythms, this group redefines Brazilian jazz. Reserve your seats quickly to make sure you don’t miss out on this high-demand annual tradition!”

GD: I made sure to catch their first set on Wednesday night. An evening with this group, especially with Maucha, is like a trip to Rio. Trust me on this.

JAZZ IN TIMES SQUARE
Concert Series / Curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Thursdays from 5-7pm, from June to September
Broadway Plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets

“Give your Thursday night a new rhythm as you head to the train or wait for a colleague to join you for dinner. Jazz at Lincoln Center brings New York City’s hottest young jazz bands to the plaza, creating the feeling of an intimate club amidst the lights and sounds of Times Square.”

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/21 Tame Impala, Madison Square Garden

==========================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. BUT quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.

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

WHAT’S ON VIEW
These are My Fave Special Exhibitions @ MUSEUMS / Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue
(See the New York Times Arts Section for listings of all museum exhibitions,
and also see the expanded reviews of these exhibitions)

Jewish Museum

‘SCENES FROM THE COLLECTION’

“After a surgical renovation to its grand pile on Fifth Avenue, the Jewish Museum has reopened its third-floor galleries with a rethought and refreshed display of its permanent collection, which intermingles modern and contemporary art, by Jews and gentiles alike — Mark Rothko, Lee Krasner, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, and the excellent young Nigerian draftswoman Ruby Onyinyechi Amanze — with 4,000 years of Judaica. The works are shown in a nimble, non-chronological suite of galleries, and some of its century-spanning juxtapositions are bracing; others feel reductive, even dilletantish. But always, the Jewish Museum conceives of art and religion as interlocking elements of a story of civilization, commendably open to new influences and new interpretations.” (Farago) 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org

Museum of the City of New York

NY AT ITS CORE (ongoing)
“Ten years in the making, New York at Its Core tells the compelling story of New York’s rise from a striving Dutch village to today’s “Capital of the World.” The exhibition captures the human energy that drove New York to become a city like no other and a subject of fascination the world over. Entertaining, inspiring, important, and at times bemusing, New York City “big personalities,” including Alexander Hamilton, Walt Whitman, Boss Tweed, Emma Goldman, JP Morgan, Fiorello La Guardia, Jane Jacobs, Jay-Z, and dozens more, parade through the exhibition. Visitors will also learn the stories of lesser-known New York personalities, like Lenape chieftain Penhawitz and Italian immigrant Susie Rocco. Even animals like the horse, the pig, the beaver, and the oyster, which played pivotal roles in the economy and daily life of New York, get their moment in the historical spotlight. Occupying the entire first floor in three interactive galleries (Port City, 1609-1898, World City, 1898-2012, and Future City Lab) New York at Its Core is shaped by four themes: money, density, diversity, and creativity. Together, they provide a lens for examining the character of the city, and underlie the modern global metropolis we know today. mcny.org” (NYCity Guide)

and you should be sure to check out these special exhibitions at that little museum on Fifth Ave., The Metropolitan Museum of Art
(open 7 days /week, AND always Pay What You Wish for NewYorkers)

“In Praise of Painting” (thru Oct.4, 2020)

“How great are the Met’s holdings in the Dutch golden age? Very. This long-term installation rings the lower level of the Lehman Wing with scores of lesser-known gems from the mid-seventeenth century, many of them rarely on view before, amid masterworks by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and Ruisdael. The period, vivified here, began in 1648, when the end of the Eighty Years’ War with Spain brought a boom in wealth and morale, expressed by genre paintings that exalt the national ideal of gezelligheid—social warmth, comfort, belonging. A key figure was Gerard ter Borch, who had travelled widely and worked at the court of Philip IV, in company with Velázquez. Ter Borch’s lustrous, ineffably witty domestic scenes inspired a generation of masters, notably Vermeer, whose genius rather eclipsed his elder’s. The pictures often star ter Borch’s younger sister Gesina, preening in satins or enigmatically musing. Herself a painter, she is cutely funny-looking—pointy nose, weak chin—and desperately lovable. There’s much to be said for a world with such a family in it.”

===========================================================
Museum Mile is a section of Fifth Avenue which contains one of the densest displays of culture in the world. Eight museums can be found along this section of Fifth Avenue:
• 105th Street – El Museo del Barrio (closed Sun-Mon)*
• 103rd Street – Museum of the City of New York (open 7 days /week)
•  92nd Street – The Jewish Museum (closed Wed) (Sat FREE) (Thu 5-8 PWYW)
•  91st Street  –  Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (open 7 days /week)
•  89th Street –  National Academy Museum (closed Mon-Tue)
•  88th Street –  Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (closed Thu) (Sat 6-8 PWYW)
•  86th Street –  Neue Galerie New York (closed Tue-Wed) (Fri 6-8 FREE)
Last, but certainly not least, America’s premier museum
•  82nd Street – The Metropolitan Museum of Art (open 7 days /week)*
*always Pay What You Wish (PWYW) for NewYorkers

Although technically not part of the Museum Mile, the Frick Collection (closed Mon) (Wed 2-6pm PWYW; First Friday each month (exc Jan+Sep) 6-9pm FREE) on the corner of 70th St. and Fifth Avenue and the The Morgan Library & Museum (closed Mon) (Fri 7-9 FREE) on Madison Ave and 37th St are also located near Fifth Ave.
Now plan your own museum crawl (info on hours & admission updated June 2, 2015).
==============================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 08/20 and 08/18.
============================================================

Bonus Live Music  – NYC Jazz Clubs:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. My favorite Jazz Clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide, feature top talent every night of the week.
Hit the Hot Link and check out who is playing tonight:

Greenwich Village:
(4 are underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. So., villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037 (1st 8:30)
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592 (1st set 8pm)
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883 (1st 7pm)
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346 (1st 8)
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346 (1st set 7:30pm)
The Stone at The New School – 55 w13 St. (btw 6/5 ave) – thestonenyc.com (8:30PM)

Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595 (1st set 7:30pm)
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave) — birdlandjazz.com / 212-581-3080 (1st 8:30pm)
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. — smokejazz.com/ 212-864-6662 (7pm)
Jazz Standard – 116 E27 St. (btw Park/Lex) – jazzstandard.com – (1st set 7:30)

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

In Memoriam:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. — caffevivaldi.com / 212-691-7538 (1st 7pm)
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprised with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It was my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.
Alas, Caffe V is no more, another victim of a rapacious NYC landlord. Owner Ishrat fought the good fight and Caffe V will be sorely missed.
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319
And more recently we have lost Cornelia Street Cafe. After 41 years, it too became another victim of an unreasonable rent increase.

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/21) + Today’s Featured Pub (Greenwich Village)

Posted on 08/21/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > WEDNESDAY/ AUGUST 21, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Trio da Paz & Friends with Maucha Adnet, Harry Allen, and Claudio Roditi (Aug.21-Sep.01)
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $40
“Keeping an unprecedented streak alive for the 12th consecutive year, Trio da Paz comes to Dizzy’s Club for a two-week summer residency. Formed in 1990 by three of Brazil’s most in-demand master musicians, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, and Duduka da Fonseca, Trio da Paz updates the infectious spirit of jazz-oriented Brazilian music. With their harmonically adventurous interactions, daring improvisations, and dazzling rhythms, this group redefines Brazilian jazz. Reserve your seats quickly to make sure you don’t miss out on this high-demand annual tradition!”

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

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward
>> Eddie Palmieri
>> WENDY WHELAN
>> Peter and Will Anderson: Songbook Summit—The Andersons Play Ellington & Armstrong
>> Mark Knopfler
>> Adrian Belew
>> Armies of Deliverance: A New History of the Civil War

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël Coward (Aug.21-25)
Irish Repertory Theatre / 3PM, +8PM, $45-$50
“The Noël Coward touch was always a light one. His music scampers like a mouse; his lyrics bounce like balloons. In his plays, even suffering has an upward tendency. But when his work is excerpted and performed by others, that glancing quality can turn coy and saccharine, as it sometimes does in Barry Day’s two-handed cabaret Love, Noël.

Reading from Coward’s letters and covering nearly two dozen songs, cabaret stars Steve Ross and KT Sullivan pay Coward tribute. Sometimes Ross, the longtime king of café cabaret, is his own tuxedoed self, and sometimes he’s pretending to be Coward; an amused-seeming Sullivan takes on all the women. (She does a great, gloomy Marlene Dietrich.)” (TONY)

Eddie Palmieri (Aug.20-25)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.”

WENDY WHELAN
at Rumsey Playfield / 8 p.m.; FREE
“In the 2016 documentary “Restless Creature,” which followed Whelan, a beloved ballerina, as she struggled through injury near the start of her retirement, she wonders, “Knowing how much I can work in the future is a question that will have to be answered.” Now we know, and the answer is a lot. Recently appointed associate artistic director of New York City Ballet and fresh off a premiere at Jacob’s Pillow, Whelan comes to the free outdoor SummerStage series to perform an excerpt from a work in progress by the choreographer Francesca Harper. She is proceeded by the spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph and followed by a screening of “Restless Creature.” (NYT-Brian Schaefer)

Peter and Will Anderson: Songbook Summit—The Andersons Play Ellington & Armstrong (Aug.21-22)
Symphony Space / 5:30PM, +8PM, $35
“Twin-brother saxophone players Peter and Will Anderson, masters of vintage jazz styles ranging from swing to hardbop, flip through four chapters of the Great American Songbook in this Symphony Space residency, devoting a week apiece to Duke Ellington (August 13–15) and Louis Armstrong (August 21–23). They are joined by vocalist Molly Ryan and musicians including bassist Vince Giordano.” (TONY)

Mark Knopfler (Aug.20-21)
@ Beacon Theatre / 8PM, $180+
“Former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler recently released Down the Road Wherever that’s very much in the spirit of his old band. He plays his first of two nights at Beacon tonight, and recent setlists show he’s been splitting things between solo and Straits songs pretty evenly.” (brooklyn vegan)

Adrian Belew (Aug.18-21)
@ Iridium / 8PM, $55+
‘Adrian Belew sang on a handful of classic King Crimson albums, from Discipline to Thrak and beyond, and he has also lent his guitar skills to David Bowie, Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, Nine Inch Nails, and plenty of others. He’s in the midst of a run at the Iridium that goes through Wednesday.” (brooklynvegan.com)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Armies of Deliverance: A New History of the Civil War
Bryant Park/Bryant Park Reading Room
Between 40th & 42nd Sts. and Fifth and Sixth Aves./ 7PM, FREE
“UVA history professor Elizabeth R. Varon presents her new book, Armies of Deliverance: A New History of the Civil War, which provides a fresh interpretation of the war and the Union crusade to free the South.” (ThoughtGallery.org)

Continuing Events

coming soon

JAZZ IN TIMES SQUARE
Concert Series / Curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Thursdays from 5-7pm, from June to September
Broadway Plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets

“Give your Thursday night a new rhythm as you head to the train or wait for a colleague to join you for dinner. Jazz at Lincoln Center brings New York City’s hottest young jazz bands to the plaza, creating the feeling of an intimate club amidst the lights and sounds of Times Square.”

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/21 Tame Impala, Madison Square Garden

==========================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. BUT quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.

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

A PremierPub and 3 Good Eating Places – Greenwich Village

Caffe Vivaldi / 32 Jones Street (btw. Bleecker St./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’. ”

maxresdefaultEach 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 fairly priced wines,  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. 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, NYCity will have lost a piece of it’s soul.

CAFFE VIVALDI HAS CLOSED, VERY SAD.
I HAVE LEFT THIS REVIEW ON MY SITE AS A KIND OF MEMORIAL.
As reported in the “Gothamist”:
“Caffe Vivaldi, one of the last bohemian bastions of the West Village, is set to close this weekend. During its 35 years on Jones Street, the casual cafe won the hearts of locals and celebs alike, including Oscar Isaac, Bette Midler, and Al Pacino.

Despite that friendly communal atmosphere, the owners ultimately struggled to survive under their notorious vulture landlord Steve Croman, who they say waged a harassment campaign against the restaurant, and eventually tripled their rent.”
==============================================================
“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge.

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 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. $9 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 St.)
The place is tiny and not much to look at, but this is one good slice. They like to brag that they have been voted “Best pizza in NY” 3 years in a row by the Food Network. I believe them. I would have voted for them.

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

========================================================
“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
No reservations needed.
========================================================
NYCity is the most diverse and interesting place to find a meal anywhere in the world. With more than 24,000 eating establishments you might welcome some advice.

◊ For all my picks of 54 Good Eating places, and essays on my favorite 18 PremierPubs in 9 Neighborhoods on Manhattan’s WestSide, order a copy of my e-book:
“Eating and Drinking on NYCity’s WestSide” ($4.99, available WINTER 2020).
◊ Order before FEB. 28, 2020 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.

=====================================================
Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
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NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/20) + Museum Special Exhibitions: Manhattan’s WestSide

Posted on 08/20/2019 by GregD

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > TUESDAY/ AUGUST 20, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

NELS CLINE 4
at Le Poisson Rouge / 8 p.m.; $30
“Nels Cline and Julian Lage are two omnivorous guitar players with ideas about linking the jazz tradition with American rock and folk. But they go about it differently: Cline is a pedals whiz, using electronics and effects to multiply the possibilities of his ax, whereas Lage sticks to a relatively traditional style, dazzling you more directly. In the Nels Cline 4, they lean toward the latter approach — despite the name at the top of the marquee, and even though the group’s angular original music has Cline’s identity written all over it. The band is rounded out by the bassist Jorge Roeder and the drummer Tom Rainey.” (NYT-GIOVANNI RUSSONELLO)

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

6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Eddie Palmieri
>> Mark Knopfler
>> Luisito Quintero’s 3rd Element
>> The Lineup with Susie Mosher
>> Adrian Belew
>> Michael Feinstein: I Happen to Like New York

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

Eddie Palmieri (Aug.20-25)
Blue Note / 8PM, +10:30PM, $30-$45
“Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.”

Mark Knopfler (Aug.20-21)
@ Beacon Theatre / 8PM, $180+
“Former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler recently released Down the Road Wherever that’s very much in the spirit of his old band. He plays his first of two nights at Beacon tonight, and recent setlists show he’s been splitting things between solo and Straits songs pretty evenly.” (brooklyn vegan)

Luisito Quintero’s 3rd Element
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“[Luisito Quintero] has never been afraid to push the boundaries of his music, melding popular idioms with Afro-Venezuelan and Afro-Cuban ones, incorporating it all into a variety of percussion instruments: timbales, congas, bongos, drum set, the West African djembe and dundun, and a wide variety of other percussion instruments.” – LatinJazzNet

Tonight he leads his versatile 3rd Element group, nominated for a Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy Award, for a night of rhythm and melody at Dizzy’s Club.”

The Lineup with Susie Mosher
Birdland / 9:30PM, $25
“Mosher is one of those talents you need to see to believe: warm, funny, biting, ferociously committed. In her weekly series at the downstairs Birdland Theater, she invites a gaggle of performers from Broadway and beyond to show their talents. Guests at the August 20 edition include Aisha De Haas, AmyLynn, Carly Ozard, Nicole Zuraitis, Thana Alexa, Julia Adamy, Emily Braden, Eric Poindexter, Tara Martinez, Gianmarco Soresi, John Miller and guest musical director Billy Stritch.” (TONY)

Adrian Belew (Aug.18-21)
@ Iridium / 8PM, $55+
‘Adrian Belew sang on a handful of classic King Crimson albums, from Discipline to Thrak and beyond, and he has also lent his guitar skills to David Bowie, Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, Nine Inch Nails, and plenty of others. He’s in the midst of a run at the Iridium that goes through Wednesday.” (brooklynvegan.com)

Michael Feinstein: I Happen to Like New York (Aug.7-23)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $85+
“The popular and polished standard-bearer of American song returns to the club that bears his name for a three-week run devoted to tunes that celebrate New York City; the set includes a salute to the masterfully ebullient singer-pianist Bobby Short, who defined the champagne wing of cabaret in his four-decade run at the Café Carlyle. Feinstein is joined by special guests Melissa Manchester (August 15–20) and Jackie Evancho (August 21–23).” (TONY)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

More Smart Stuff coming soon.

Continuing Events

coming soon

JAZZ IN TIMES SQUARE
Concert Series / Curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Thursdays from 5-7pm, from June to September
Broadway Plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets

“Give your Thursday night a new rhythm as you head to the train or wait for a colleague to join you for dinner. Jazz at Lincoln Center brings New York City’s hottest young jazz bands to the plaza, creating the feeling of an intimate club amidst the lights and sounds of Times Square.”

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/21 Tame Impala, Madison Square Garden

==========================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. BUT quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.
===============================================================================

WHAT’S ON VIEW
My Fave Special Exhibitions – MUSEUMS / Manhattan’s WestSide
(See the New York Times Arts Section for listings of all museums,
and also to see their expanded reviews of exhibitions)

‘T. REX: THE ULTIMATE PREDATOR’
American Museum of Natural History (through Aug. 9, 2020).
“Everyone’s favorite 18,000-pound prehistoric killer gets the star treatment in this eye-opening exhibition, which presents the latest scientific research on T. rex and also introduces many other tyrannosaurs, some discovered only this century in China and Mongolia. T. rex evolved mainly during the Cretaceous Period to have keen eyes, spindly arms and massive conical teeth, which could bear down on prey with the force of a U-Haul truck; the dinosaur could even swallow whole bones, as affirmed here by a kid-friendly display of fossilized excrement. The show mixes 66-million-year-old teeth with the latest 3-D prints of dino bones, and also presents new models of T. rex as a baby, a juvenile and a full-grown annihilator. Turns out this most savage beast was covered with — believe it! — a soft coat of beige or white feathers.” (Farago-NYT)

——————————————————————————————–

‘2019 WHITNEY BIENNIAL’
at the Whitney Museum of American Art (through Sept. 22).
“Given the political tensions that have sent spasms through the nation over the past two years, you might have expected — hoped — that this year’s biennial would be one big, sharp Occupy-style yawp. It isn’t. Politics are present but, with a few notable exceptions, murmured, coded, stitched into the weave of fastidiously form-conscious, labor-intensive work. As a result, the exhibition, organized by two young Whitney curators, Rujeko Hockley and Jane Panetta, gives the initial impression of being a well-groomed group show rather than a statement of resistance. But once you start looking closely, the impression changes artist by artist, piece by piece — there’s quiet agitation in the air.” (NYT-Cotter)

————————————————————————————————

‘AUSCHWITZ. NOT LONG AGO. NOT FAR AWAY’
at the Museum of Jewish Heritage (through Jan. 3).
“Killing as a communal business, made widely lucrative by the Third Reich, permeates this traveling exhibition about the largest German death camp, Auschwitz, whose yawning gatehouse, with its converging rail tracks, has become emblematic of the Holocaust. Well timed, during a worldwide surge of anti-Semitism, the harrowing installation strives, successfully, for fresh relevance. The exhibition illuminates the topography of evil, the deliberate designing of a hell on earth by fanatical racists and compliant architects and provisioners, while also highlighting the strenuous struggle for survival in a place where, as Primo Levi learned, “there is no why.” (NYT-Ralph Blumenthal)

————————————————————————————————–

‘LIFE: SIX WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS’
at the New-York Historical Society (through Oct. 6).
“In the three-decade-plus golden age of Life magazine, only six of its full-time photographers were women. On the face of it, this exhibition at the historical society is half an excuse to air some gorgeous, previously unpublished silver prints, half a broad hint about how much talent we’ve lost to discrimination over the years. But cheery photo essays, produced by professional women, about other women hesitating to join the work force make a subtler point: that the actual mechanics of discrimination tend to be more complicated than they appear from a distance.” (NYT-Will Heinrich)

================================================================================
For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Posts in right Sidebar dated 08/18 and 08/16.

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

Bonus: Nifty 9 – Best Cabarets / Piano Bars NYCity
These are my favorite places for an after dinner night on the town – music and drinks.
Hit the Hot Link and check out what’s happening tonight:

Feinstein’s/54 Below – 254 W 54th St.

The Green Room 42 – 570 Tenth Ave.

Don’t Tell Mama – 343 W 46th St.

The Rum House, in the Hotel Edison – 228 W. 47th St.

Laurie Beechman Theatre – 407 W 42nd St.

Marie’s Crisis – 59 Grove St.

The Duplex – 61 Christopher St.

Sid Gold’s Request Room – 165 W 26th St.

Cafe Carlyle, in the Carlyle Hotel – 35 E. 76th St.
This is the only one not located on Manhattan’s WestSide, and it ain’t cheap, but it has some of the finest singers.

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NYC Events,”Only the Best” (08/19) + Today’s Featured Pub (Times Square / Theater District)

Posted on 08/19/2019 by GregD

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > MONDAY/ AUGUST 19, 2019

“We search the internet everyday looking for the very best of What’s Happening, primarily on Manhattan’s WestSide, so that you don’t have to.” We make it as easy as 1-2-3.

For future NYC Events, check the tab above:  “August NYC Events”
It’s the most comprehensive list of top events this month that you will find anywhere.
Carefully curated from “Only the Best” NYC event info on the the web, it’s a simply superb resource that will help you plan your NYC visit all over town, all through the month.
OR to make your own after dinner plans TONIGHT, see the tab above;  “LiveMusic.”

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

Have time for only one NYC Event today? Do This:

Miyavi
No sleep till Tokyo.
Sony Hall / 8PM, $40
“Although his stage presence nowadays is less Dark Crystal crashes the Palace of Versailles, the “Samurai guitarist” Miyavi still has an electric onstage persona and puts on an incredible show. Well known in Japan since the early aughts for his unique, lightning-fast guitar-slapping style, he’s worth seeing, even if you don’t know Japanese.” (vulture.com)

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

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Adrian Belew
>> Broadway Noir
>> Michael Feinstein: I Happen to Like New York
>> The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
>> Jim Caruso’s Cast Party
>> Supersonic: The Design and Lifestyle of Concorde
>> Reel Talks | The Man Who Made the Movies: The Meteoric Rise and Tragic Fall of William Fox

You may want to look at previous days posts for events that continue through today.

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

Music, Dance, Performing Art

Adrian Belew (Aug.18-21)
@ Iridium / 8PM, $55+
‘Adrian Belew sang on a handful of classic King Crimson albums, from Discipline to Thrak and beyond, and he has also lent his guitar skills to David Bowie, Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, Nine Inch Nails, and plenty of others. He’s in the midst of a run at the Iridium that goes through Wednesday.” (brooklynvegan.com)

Broadway Noir
Minton’s Playhouse, 206 W. 118th St./ 7:30PM, +9PM, $15
“Watch some of the greatest musical numbers of Broadway as they are performed by artists Alexia Sielo, Genesis Collado, Barbara Douglas, Vanisha Gould and Nya, with music director Cynthia Meng, to honor women of African, Latin, and Asian descent who have paved the way for future generations of women of color in musical theater.” (amNY)

Michael Feinstein: I Happen to Like New York (Aug.7-23)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $85+
“The popular and polished standard-bearer of American song returns to the club that bears his name for a three-week run devoted to tunes that celebrate New York City; the set includes a salute to the masterfully ebullient singer-pianist Bobby Short, who defined the champagne wing of cabaret in his four-decade run at the Café Carlyle. Feinstein is joined by special guests Melissa Manchester (August 15–20) and Jackie Evancho (August 21–23).” (TONY)

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
Village Vanguard, 178 7th Ave. South (btw W11th/Perry St.) / 8:30PM +10:30PM, $35
“World class big band with 16 members on that small stage, a monday night institution.
“Almost exactly half a century ago, the trumpeter-composer-arranger Thad Jones and the drummer Mel Lewis began their Monday-night big band residency at the Village Vanguard, establishing what became a hallowed tradition.” (NYT)

Jim Caruso’s Cast Party (Cabaret)
Birdland, 315 West 44th St. (btw 8/9 ave) / 9:30PM, $30
the witty host attracts broadway stars on their night off, along with up and comers.
“Part cabaret, part piano bar and part social set, Cast Party offers a chance to hear rising and established talents step up to the microphone (backed by the slap and tickle of Steve Doyle on bass and Billy Stritch at the ivories, plus the bang of Daniel Glass on drums). The waggish Caruso presides as host.” (TONY)

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

Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Supersonic: The Design and Lifestyle of Concorde
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2 E. 91st St./ 7PM, $8-$15
“Join Lawrence Azerrad, Grammy Award-winning author of Supersonic, and Debbie Millman, National Design Award-winning host of Design Matters, for an evening of conversation on the ingenuity and enduring creative legacy of Concorde, the world’s first—and so far only—luxury supersonic airliner.

Supersonic explores the history, design, technology, and lifestyle of Concorde, the 1960s aircraft that could cross the Atlantic in under three hours. Yet, more than the time-bending capabilities of the aircraft itself, Supersonic celebrates the creative optimism and determination that made Concorde’s vision possible. Concorde commissioned notable designers including Sir Terence Conran, Roger Excoffon, Raymond Loewy, and Andrée Putman to create objects and spaces that enhanced the in-flight experience at every touchpoint.

In the tradition of Concorde, guests will receive a limited-edition gift box of Concorde memorabilia created specifically for this event, produced by Neenah Paper and Azerrad’s studio LADdesign.”

Reel Talks | The Man Who Made the Movies: The Meteoric Rise and Tragic Fall of William Fox
Bryant Park/Bryant Park Reading Room,
Between 40th & 42nd Sts. and Fifth and Sixth Aves./ 12:30PM, FREE
Talks on movies, the culture of cinema, and filmmaking
Hosted by Scott Adlerberg, Resident Film Expert

Continuing Events

coming soon

JAZZ IN TIMES SQUARE
Concert Series / Curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Thursdays from 5-7pm, from June to September
Broadway Plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets

“Give your Thursday night a new rhythm as you head to the train or wait for a colleague to join you for dinner. Jazz at Lincoln Center brings New York City’s hottest young jazz bands to the plaza, creating the feeling of an intimate club amidst the lights and sounds of Times Square.”

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

8/19 The Binky Griptite Orchestra, Union Pool
8/21 Tame Impala, Madison Square Garden

=============================================================================
♦ Before making final plans, we suggest you call the venue to confirm ticket availability, plus dates and times, as schedules are subject to change.
♦ NYCity, with a population of  8.6 million, had a record 65 million visitors last year and was TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Top U.S. Destination for 2019 – the ninth consecutive year. Quality shows draw crowds. Try to reserve seats for these top NYC events in advance, even if just earlier on the day of performance.
========================================================================

A PremierPub

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

IMG_2083Jimmy’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 just 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 wonderful old time jukebox, with a great selection of  40s & 50s R&B and soul. On sports nights this very narrow bar can get a bit claustrophobic, filled with excited fans watching their team on the TVs. Either way, Jimmy’s is the place to be if you are looking for an old time bar in the new Times Square.
————————————————————————————————————————
Website: are you kidding !
(although there is a facebook page with lots of photos –
facebook.com/jimmyscornernyc)
Phone #: 212-221-9510
Hours: 11am – 4 am, except Sunday they open 12 noon
Happy Hour: not necessary, low prices all day, every day
Subway: #1,2,3 to TimesSquare 42nd st
walk 2 blks N on 7th ave to 44th st; ½ blk E to Jimmy’s

================================================================================
“Pub” is used in it’s broadest sense – bars, bar/restaurants, jazz clubs, wine bars, tapas bars, craft beer bars, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and of course, pubs – just about anyplace you can get a drink without a cover charge (except for certain jazz clubs).
If you have a fave premier pub or good eating place on Manhattan’s WestSide let us all know about it – leave a comment.

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

Bonus Live Music  – NYC Jazz Clubs:
Many consider NYCity the Jazz capital of the world. My favorite Jazz Clubs, all on Manhattan’s WestSide, feature top talent every night of the week.
Hit the Hot Link and check out who is playing tonight:

Greenwich Village:
(4 are underground, classic jazz joints. all 6 are within walking distance of each other):
Village Vanguard – UG, 178 7th Ave. So., villagevanguard.com, 212-255-4037 (1st 8:30)
Blue Note – 131 W3rd St. nr 6th ave. bluenotejazz.com, 212-475-8592 (1st set 8pm)
55 Bar – basement @55 Christopher St. nr 7th ave.S. 55bar.com, 212-929-9883 (1st 7pm)
Mezzrow – basement @ 163 W10th St. nr 7th Ave. mezzrow.com,646-476-4346 (1st 8)
Smalls – basement @ 183 W10th St. smallslive.com, 646-476-4346 (1st set 7:30pm)
The Stone at The New School – 55 w13 St. (btw 6/5 ave) – thestonenyc.com (8:30PM)

Outside Greenwich Village:
Dizzy’s Club – Broadway @ 60th St. — jazz.org/dizzys / 212-258-9595 (1st set 7:30pm)
Birdland – 315 W44th St.(btw 8/9ave) — birdlandjazz.com / 212-581-3080 (1st 8:30pm)
Smoke Jazz Club – 2751 Broadway nr.106th St. — smokejazz.com/ 212-864-6662 (7pm)
Jazz Standard – 116 E27 St. (btw Park/Lex) – jazzstandard.com – (1st set 7:30)

For a comprehensive list of the best places to hear All Types of Live Music in Manhattan see the tab above “LiveMusic.”

In Memoriam:
Caffe Vivaldi – 32 Jones St. nr Bleecker St. — caffevivaldi.com / 212-691-7538 (1st 7pm)
a classic, old jazz club in the Village, Caffe V often surprised with a wonderfully eclectic lineup. It was my favorite spot for an evening of listening enjoyment and discovery.
Alas, Caffe V is no more, another victim of a rapacious NYC landlord. Owner Ishrat fought the good fight and Caffe V will be sorely missed.
Cornelia Street Cafe – UG, 29 Cornelia St. corneliastreetcafe.com, 212-989-9319
And more recently we have lost Cornelia Street Cafe. After 41 years, it too became another victim of an unreasonable rent increase.

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

NYT Theater Reviews – Our theater critics on the plays and musicals currently open in New York City.

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

NYCity Vacation Travel Guide Video (Expedia):

 

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