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

Today’s Super 7 NYC Events > SUNDAY/ JULY 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:  “July 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.”

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

Kirk Franklin
Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway / 8PM, $35+
“When Kirk Franklin burst into mainstream gospel music, in the mid-nineties, he was more often clad in casual wear than in choir robes. Messages of the sacred, adorned in the aesthetics of the secular, became a hallmark—of his music and of his persona—that continues to endear him to younger generations. In recent years, his work with Kanye West and Chance the Rapper (not to mention his Milly Rock) has reaffirmed the durability of his influence in both the church and pop culture, highlighting the often thin line between the two. At the Beacon Theatre, on July 28, he gets support from a stylistic heir, Koryn Hawthorne, whose rise in the gospel world has been defined by her worldly approach to music, funnelled through the creative imagination of pop and R. & B.” (Briana Younger, NewYorker)

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6 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> George Coleman Quintet
>> Meshell Ndegeocello
>> Catherine Russell
>> Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz
>> New York City Poetry Festival
>> Films meet vinyl in ‘Back to the Futurist’

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

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Music, Dance, Performing Art

George Coleman Quintet (July25-28)
Jazz Standard / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35
“Few bands currently active can provide as concentrated a dose of jazz history, spirit, insight and camaraderie as a group led by tenor saxophonist George Coleman.” (TONY)

Meshell Ndegeocello (July25-28)
Blue Note / 8PM, 10:30PM, $30-$45
“Singer, songwriter and bassist Ndegeocello is endowed with an undeniable charm that enables her to sing about almost any topic—including such heavy subject matter as politics and race—and make it sound as intimate as pillow talk.” (TONY)

Catherine Russell
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, 9:30PM; $50 ($35 on Sunday)
“Grammy Award winner Catherine Russell has been one of the most widely recognized jazz vocalists since the release of her debut album in 2006. Her 2017 album, Harlem on My Mind, was nominated for the 2017 Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy Award, and in April 2019 she released another anticipated recording. Russell’s experience extends far beyond releasing her acclaimed albums as a solo artist; she has also worked with Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, and Levon Helm.”

Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz (LAST DAY)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $70+
“The stars of the original Off Broadway production of The Last Five Years, having gone on to major Broadway careers, reunite for a nightclub set. Scott is a blond bombshell with a paradoxical flair for understatement, a reticent power that reached its apex in her 2010 Broadway showcase, Everyday Rapture; Butz has an unlikely but winning combination of everyday guyness and star magnetism. In addition to The Last Five Years, the two have also shared the stage in Rent and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and both are highly accomplished nightclub performers, so this should be a doozy. Todd Almond is the musical director.” (TONY)

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

New York City Poetry Festival (July 27-28)
Be a poet (even if you didn’t know it)
Governors Island / 11AM-7PM, FREE
“Headlined by the likes of Robert Pinsky and Chen Chen, the New York City Poetry Festival will feature over 250 poets reading in the shade of Governors Island’s Colonel’s Row. Expect art, music, small presses hawking their wares, and inspiring, emotional performances. There will be an open mic, too, so come prepared with your very best couplets. Sign-up starts first thing in the morning, so get there early if you’ve got a poem the whole world has to hear.” (Thrillist)

Films meet vinyl in ‘Back to the Futurist’ (July 28)
The Lofts at Prince: 177 Prince St./ 6PM, $10
The Secret Speak-easy events at the Museum of Interesting Things (held on a mostly monthly basis) serve as an opportunity to dive into popular culture. This month it’s the “Back to the Futurist” program, featuring projected 16-mm films and songs played off vinyl records with a theme focused on how movies and music of the past envisioned how the future would be.” (amNY)

Continuing Events

“Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival will run from July 10 through August 10, 2019. Harnessing Mozart’s innovative spirit as its inspiration, this edition will feature groundbreaking, multidisciplinary, international productions and acclaimed artists from a variety of genres, introducing the audience to emerging creative voices, commissions and premieres.  The program will include performances from Mark Morris Dance Company, a panel discussion on Mozart’s Magic Flute, a screening of the film The Great Buster: A Celebration, and much more. For a full festival lineup, visit the Mostly Mozart Festival event page.” (nyc-arts.org)

NYC Restaurant Week 2019: Start making your reservations.

“The more than three-week-long promotion featuring two-course lunches ($26) and three-course dinners ($42) at some of the city’s best restaurants is back for its summer edition starting July 22. This time around, the celebration features prix-fixe meals at more than 380 eateries, with deals through Aug. 16.

You can find links to menus and the restaurants involved here, but check out our picks for some of the most enticing deals below.” (amNY)

JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film (Last Day)
Japan Society, 333 East 47th St./ various times, $15 individual films
“From July 19 – 28, the Japan Society will present JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. Premiering 26 features and 16 short films, the festival offers a deep dive into one of the world’s most vital film cultures with a diverse selection across its Feature Slate, Classics: Rediscoveries and Restorations, Documentary Focus, Experimental Spotlight and Shorts Showcase sections. This year’s lineup features 19 first-time filmmakers and 14 female directors (the most in the festival’s history), including 10 International Premieres, 16 North American Premieres, 4 U.S. Premieres, 4 East Coast Premieres and 6 New York Premieres. In addition, over 20 guest filmmakers and talent from Japan will join the festival to participate in post-screening Q&As and parties.”
(NYC-ARTS.ORG)

GregD: This is the Best of Contemporary Japanese Cinema – some films already sold out.

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COMING SOON (WFUV)

7/28 Sheryl Crow, The Rooftop at Pier 17
7/29 Black Pumas, Mercury Lounge
7/30 The Wallflowers, City Winery
7/31 NPR’s Turning The Table live: The Motherlode, Lincoln Center Out Of Doors
7/31 Joan Osborne and special guests, City Winery

♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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.

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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’. ”

Each night Ishrat, the long time proprietor and impresario, carefully curates and schedules an eclectic series of musicians. You can often see him at his table in the corner, hard at work reviewing music videos and listening to cd demos on his laptop, scouting out future bookings. Musicians come from all over to play and sing in a club in Greenwich Village. Some are local New Yorkers, others are just passing through, in town for a few days.

There is a small bar, seating maybe 10. It’s close to the stage and I find it’s a perfect spot to sip a glass of red wine while listening to the music. The room itself has the performance area at one end and a cozy fireplace at the other. The performance area here is small, dominated by a large black Yamaha Grand piano. Tables are bunched together and most people at the tables are eating lite meals or sampling the wonderful desserts.

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

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

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

Fish – 280 Bleecker St. (just a bit S. of 7th ave South)
This was an easy pick – the best raw bar special in town. $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.

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“3 Good Eating places” focuses on a quick bite, what I call “Fine Fast Food – NYCity Style”
No reservations needed.
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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 FALL 2019).
◊ Order before NOV. 30, 2019 and receive a bonus – 27 of my favorite casual dining places with free Wi-Fi.

Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > THURSDAY/ JULY 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:  “July 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.”

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

INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE
at the David Rubenstein Atrium / 7:30 p.m.; FREE
“This ensemble’s free concerts at Mostly Mozart are always worth hearing, and this one is particularly so for the chance to hear music by some of the most potent, powerful female composers around. Ashley Fure is represented by “Something to Hunt,” a miniature masterpiece; Bergrun Snaebjornsdottir, by her “Esoteric Mass”; and Anna Thorvaldsdottir, by two works, “Illumine” and “Sequences.” Seating is first come first served.” (NYT-David Allen)

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7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> Kurt Vile
>> Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz
>> Meshell Ndegeocello
>> ADAM RUDOLPH
>> AL BLACKSTONE
>> John Pizzarelli
>> Oysters 101: The Secrets NYC’s Bivalves Harbor

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

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Music, Dance, Performing Art

Kurt Vile
Rumsey Playfield, Mid-Central Park / 6PM, $45
“This happily-on-the-nose billing puts Kurt Vile alongside a group that paved the way for him, the sludgy indie-rock pioneers in Dinosaur Jr. Both Vile and J Mascis, Dinosaur Jr.’s frontman, are shrugging drawlers with a lot of love for the un-self-conscious freedom and unloosed guitars of ’70s classic rock. Arrive early to hear Cate Le Bon, a Welsh singer and guitarist whose new album, “Reward,” is an eerie, electronic-acoustic document laden with tube amps and synthesizers and Le Bon’s distant yet vulnerable vocals.” (NYT-Giovanni Russonello)

Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz (thru July 28)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 7PM, $70+
“The stars of the original Off Broadway production of The Last Five Years, having gone on to major Broadway careers, reunite for a nightclub set. Scott is a blond bombshell with a paradoxical flair for understatement, a reticent power that reached its apex in her 2010 Broadway showcase, Everyday Rapture; Butz has an unlikely but winning combination of everyday guyness and star magnetism. In addition to The Last Five Years, the two have also shared the stage in Rent and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and both are highly accomplished nightclub performers, so this should be a doozy. Todd Almond is the musical director.” (TONY)

Meshell Ndegeocello (July25-28)
Blue Note / 8PM, 10:30PM, $30-$45
“Singer, songwriter and bassist Ndegeocello is endowed with an undeniable charm that enables her to sing about almost any topic—including such heavy subject matter as politics and race—and make it sound as intimate as pillow talk.” (TONY)

ADAM RUDOLPH (July 23-27)
at the Stone / 8:30 p.m.; $20
“Rudolph is a master convener, as well as a talented percussionist. His five-day residency at the Stone will welcome a big family of collaborators. It will begin with a duet performance mixing Rudolph’s hand drumming with James Dellatacoma’s electronic processing. On Wednesday and Thursday he will present an octet performing his “Sonic Mandala,” in which Rudolph and his counterparts feed into a circular exchange of sound. On July 26 and 27, he and the masterful drummer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey will play a series of duets.” (NYT-Giovanni Russonello)

AL BLACKSTONE  (through Aug. 4).
at the Joyce Theater / 7 p.m.; $50+
“Dance as long-form narrative storytelling tends to be the domain of ballet and Broadway, but Blackstone brings it to the contemporary dance stage in his Joyce debut, “Freddie Falls in Love.” Blackstone, known for his choreography in “So You Think You Can Dance,” infuses his work with humor, theatrical flair and sharp technique — a combo that has earned him many fans. Here, his wordless tale about two people losing and finding love proves an entertaining journey, thanks to his brisk staging and charming performances by the Broadway alumni Melanie Moore and Matt Doyle, as well as a stellar ensemble.” (NYT)

John Pizzarelli  (July 23-27)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St./ 8:30PM, +11PM, $40-$50
“John Pizzarelli, a gifted guitarist and a genial singer with an encyclopedic repertoire, could easily present a rewarding evening of musical charm all by himself, but when he’s determined to kick up some serious dust he calls upon his Swing 7, a horn-laden mini big band that fully indulges his passion for unadorned mainstream jazz. Fortified by the razor-sharp outfit behind him, this monarch of contemporary cabaret replaces Sondheim with Ellington to satisfying effect.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Elsewhere, but this looks worth the detour:

Oysters 101: The Secrets NYC’s Bivalves Harbor
Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St./ 6:30PM, $10
“From feeding happy hour hordes and filtering New Yorkers’ sewage, to protecting the shore from intensifying storms and educating nascent scientists, oysters shell out countless benefits to Gotham’s culinary, historical, and environmental landscapes. Join us as we examine the bivalves’ pivotal place in the story of New York, beginning with Lenape cultivation and continuing to today’s ambitious plans to build artificial oyster reefs.”

Continuing Events

“Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival will run from July 10 through August 10, 2019. Harnessing Mozart’s innovative spirit as its inspiration, this edition will feature groundbreaking, multidisciplinary, international productions and acclaimed artists from a variety of genres, introducing the audience to emerging creative voices, commissions and premieres.  The program will include performances from Mark Morris Dance Company, a panel discussion on Mozart’s Magic Flute, a screening of the film The Great Buster: A Celebration, and much more. For a full festival lineup, visit the Mostly Mozart Festival event page.” (nyc-arts.org)

NYC Restaurant Week 2019: Start making your reservations.

“The more than three-week-long promotion featuring two-course lunches ($26) and three-course dinners ($42) at some of the city’s best restaurants is back for its summer edition starting July 22. This time around, the celebration features prix-fixe meals at more than 380 eateries, with deals through Aug. 16.

You can find links to menus and the restaurants involved here, but check out our picks for some of the most enticing deals below.” (amNY)

JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film
Japan Society, 333 East 47th St./ various times, $15 individual films
“From July 19 – 28, the Japan Society will present JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. Premiering 26 features and 16 short films, the festival offers a deep dive into one of the world’s most vital film cultures with a diverse selection across its Feature Slate, Classics: Rediscoveries and Restorations, Documentary Focus, Experimental Spotlight and Shorts Showcase sections. This year’s lineup features 19 first-time filmmakers and 14 female directors (the most in the festival’s history), including 10 International Premieres, 16 North American Premieres, 4 U.S. Premieres, 4 East Coast Premieres and 6 New York Premieres. In addition, over 20 guest filmmakers and talent from Japan will join the festival to participate in post-screening Q&As and parties.”
(NYC-ARTS.ORG)

GregD: This is the Best of Contemporary Japanese Cinema – some films already sold out.

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

COMING SOON (WFUV)

mmm

♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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.
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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.) “

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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see recent posts in right sidebar dated 07/23 and 07/21.
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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.

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Today’s Elite 8 NYC Events > TUESDAY/ JULY 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:  “July 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:

John Pizzarelli  (July 23-27)
Birdland, 315 W. 44th St./ 8:30PM, +11PM, $40-$50
“John Pizzarelli, a gifted guitarist and a genial singer with an encyclopedic repertoire, could easily present a rewarding evening of musical charm all by himself, but when he’s determined to kick up some serious dust he calls upon his Swing 7, a horn-laden mini big band that fully indulges his passion for unadorned mainstream jazz. Fortified by the razor-sharp outfit behind him, this monarch of contemporary cabaret replaces Sondheim with Ellington to satisfying effect.” (Steve Futterman, NewYorker)

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

7 OTHER TOP NYC EVENTS TODAY (see below for full listing)
>> A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
>> CONNIE HAN TRIO
>> Charles Busch: Native New Yorker
>> Adrian Cox Presents Profoundly Blue
>> The Lineup with Susie Mosher
>> Victor Wooten
>> Author Talk: The Revolution of ’28

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

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Music, Dance, Performing Art

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (July 23-24)
at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse / 10 p.m.; $
“This ever-popular Mostly Mozart series, which serves complementary wine during its performances, gets going with the excellent young cellist Kian Soltani, who will be accompanied by the pianist Julio Elizalde. They take an eclectic approach to the hourlong genre of concert, with music by Chopin, Schumann, David Popper, Reza Vali and Soltani himself. The next night, Wednesday, the pianist Michael Brown takes a different, more thematic approach, with sets of variations by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and his own work.” (NYT-David Allen)

CONNIE HAN TRIO
at Jazz Standard /7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; $30
“Han is a 23-year-old pianist and conservatory dropout with an impressive stockpile of jazz history at her disposal. On “Crime Zone,” released last year, she reaches back into the glory years of post-bop, when Wayne Shorter was subtly expanding the modal style developed by Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and the pianist Cedar Walton was putting fresh twists into its rhythmic alignments. She will bring her book of hard-swinging, rhythmically astute original tunes to the Standard with the bassist Ivan Taylor and the drummer Bill Wysaske.” (NYT-Giovanni Russonello)

Charles Busch: Native New Yorker (July 23-24)
Feinstein’s/54 Below / 8PM, $45+
“Ever since 1984’s Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Charles Busch has been working toward the title of First Lady of the American Stage, delivering hilariously nuanced portraits of defiant yet vulnerable women, in the style of the great film stars of the 1940s. In his return to Feinstein’s/54 Below, he sets drag aside to continue his side career as a cabaret chanteur. This latest collection is devoted to pop and Broadway music from his formative professional years, including songs by the Jim Croce, Rupert Holmes, Michel Legrand and Stephen Sondheim.” (TONY)

Adrian Cox Presents Profoundly Blue
A Tribute to Edmond Hall
Dizzy’s Club / 7:30PM, +9:30PM, $35

“London’s most charismatic reedsman.” – TimeOut

“Adrian Cox is an extraordinary musician with a deep love for the New Orleans clarinet tradition. In Profoundly Blue, Cox celebrates the great hot jazz music of Louisiana-born clarinetist Edmond Hall. Cox and his regular group of Joe Webb, Simon Read, and Gethin Jones will play a number of hits and lesser-known tunes from Hall’s influential career, including music that he recorded with Charlie Christian, Louis Armstrong, Teddy Wilson, Eddie Condon, and Meade Lux Lewis.”

The Lineup with Susie Mosher
Birdland Theater/ 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 July 23 edition include Ryann Redmond, Blaine Miller, Amir Gollan, Sean Patrick Murtagh, Jenna Leigh Green, Matthew Taylor, Daniel LeClaire, the Ladybugs and the Skivvies.” (TONY)

Victor Wooten (July 22-24)
Blue Note / 8PM,10:30PM, $30-$45
“Best known as the longtime bassist of Bela Fleck’s Flecktones, Wooten’s turned up in various capacities in the city the past several years, including alongside Chick Corea for the keyboard pioneer’s 75th birthday celebration. Expect to be awed as he leads a funky quartet.” (TONY)

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Smart Stuff / Other NYC EventS

Author Talk: The Revolution of ’28
New York Public Library—Grand Central Library
135 E. 46th St./ 6PM, FREE
“Author Robert Chiles explores the career of New York governor and 1928 Democratic presidential nominee Alfred E. Smith, peering into Smith’s work and uncovers a distinctive strain of American progressivism that resonated among urban, ethnic, working-class Americans in the early twentieth century. Chiles charts the rise of that idiomatic progressivism during Smith’s early years as a state legislator through his time as governor of the Empire State in the 1920s, before proceeding to a revisionist narrative of the 1928 presidential campaign, exploring the ways in which Smith’s gubernatorial progressivism was presented to a national audience.”

Continuing Events

“Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival will run from July 10 through August 10, 2019. Harnessing Mozart’s innovative spirit as its inspiration, this edition will feature groundbreaking, multidisciplinary, international productions and acclaimed artists from a variety of genres, introducing the audience to emerging creative voices, commissions and premieres.  The program will include performances from Mark Morris Dance Company, a panel discussion on Mozart’s Magic Flute, a screening of the film The Great Buster: A Celebration, and much more. For a full festival lineup, visit the Mostly Mozart Festival event page.” (nyc-arts.org)

NYC Restaurant Week 2019: Start making your reservations.

“The more than three-week-long promotion featuring two-course lunches ($26) and three-course dinners ($42) at some of the city’s best restaurants is back for its summer edition starting July 22. This time around, the celebration features prix-fixe meals at more than 380 eateries, with deals through Aug. 16.

You can find links to menus and the restaurants involved here, but check out our picks for some of the most enticing deals below.” (amNY)

JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film
Japan Society, 333 East 47th St./ various times, $15 individual films
“From July 19 – 28, the Japan Society will present JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film. Premiering 26 features and 16 short films, the festival offers a deep dive into one of the world’s most vital film cultures with a diverse selection across its Feature Slate, Classics: Rediscoveries and Restorations, Documentary Focus, Experimental Spotlight and Shorts Showcase sections. This year’s lineup features 19 first-time filmmakers and 14 female directors (the most in the festival’s history), including 10 International Premieres, 16 North American Premieres, 4 U.S. Premieres, 4 East Coast Premieres and 6 New York Premieres. In addition, over 20 guest filmmakers and talent from Japan will join the festival to participate in post-screening Q&As and parties.”
(NYC-ARTS.ORG)

GregD: This is the Best of Contemporary Japanese Cinema – some films already sold out.

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COMING SOON (WFUV)

7/23 Taj Mahal, City Winery
7/24 Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Blondie, Forest Hills Stadium
7/24 Steve Miller Band & Marty Stuart, Rooftop at Pier 17
7/24 Caroline Rose, Rocks Off Concert Cruises

♦ 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 2018 – awesome! 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.
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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)

‘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.” (Peter Schjeldahl, NewYorker)

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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).
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For other selected Museum and Gallery Special Exhibitions see Recent Posts in right Sidebar dated 07/21 and 07/19.
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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.

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