NYC LIFE INSIDERS GUIDE: Farewell Jimmy, Live Shows, Healing, Now Streaming
Fans left flowers outside the door of Neary’s restaurant.
On Oct. 1st, NYC lost an iconic restauranteur, Jimmy Neary, who became as famous as some of his celebrity clientele. One of his many fans remembers him. Join Valerie Smaldone today at a virtual event she is hosting, How to Heal The World And Ourselves. Our Broadway Babe has some great streaming finds. And we are so excited to have several live shows to highlight today – music, cabaret, and theater.
Everyone’s Favorite Restauranteur, The Iconic Jimmy Neary
Jimmy came to the U.S. from Sligo, Ireland in 1954, starting as a porter at the New York Athletic Club. He opened Neary’s restaurant on East 57th Street on St. Patrick’s Day in 1967. It quickly became known as the best Irish restaurant in the city. He worked virtually every day and on October 1, after working on September 30 passed away in his sleep at age 91. Joanne Davis, one of Jimmy’s many fans remembers him today. Read the tribute.
Broadway Babe: Now Streaming
Chita Rivera, Chorus Line Outakes, Raquel Welch, and a Jerry Herman Salute are this week’s pick from our Broadway Babe, Randie Levine Miller. And you’ll love Randie’s sidebars, with the inside scoop on shows and show biz people. Read on.
Two Great Shows at Don’t Tell Mama
Don’t Tell Mama is one of our favorite spots featuring cabaret shows, a restaurant and piano bar. Here are two show to add to your calendar.
Amy Beth Williams
Hanson and 2-Time Bistro Award Winner, Amy Beth Williams, will reprise her show, A Thousand Beautiful Things, this fall at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street. The wide-ranging repertoire features music from Ahrens and Flaherty, Rufus Wainwright, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Annie Lennox, Leslie Bricusse, and more. Four more performances on Oct 24th at 4PM, November 3rd at 7PM and November 18th at 7PM. Get tickets.
Andrea Bell Wolff
Andrea Bell Wolff’comes to Don’t Tell Mama in November and December! During lockdown, “petite powerhouse” Andrea Bell Wolff stumbled on her diary from 1970, chronicling her true-life year as the teeniest showgirl in Sin City, performing in Breck Wall’s legendary show, Bottoms Up! Show dates are Nov. 15th at 7PM, Nov. 21st at 3PM and Dec. 1st at 8PM. Get tickets.
Two Performances. Ever Young – a Play
Head to EAG Guild Hall on E. 29th Street for a play that’s just perfect for Tomatoes. And two of our favorite mother and daughter duos are in it – Ariana Johns, and Evangelina Johns. It’s a one-act play that takes place in 1922 in Palm Beach with society maidens. Reservations: phoebereservations@gmail.com
Oct. 21. Garden of Alla at the Cutting Room
“Romy Nordlinger is brilliant in the role of Alla Nazimova. A beautifully honest portrayal of a talented woman who was a true trailblazer for the LGBTQ community. This is a show that should have a long life in the theatre. An outstanding production.”
– Broadway World
A multimedia solo show about one of broadway’s biggest stars, silent film legend and trailblazing LGBTQ+ iconoclast Alla Nazimova. Written & erformed by Romy Nordlinger, directed by Lorca Peress. www.gardenofalla.com
October 21st, 2021 at 7:30pm (6:00 doors + live jazz cocktail hour)
The Cutting Room (44 E 32nd St., New York, NY 10016).
General admission tickets are $15-$20 (+ $20 food/drink minimum).
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
The EverYoung play by Alice Gerstenberg is FREE! On 10/27. On 11/3 it is just $10 cash at the door.
Thank-you for the promo, Cheryl. Grateful mother/daughter Johns team.