For all of the times we’ve either gone to the Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival at City Winery or to the new bar area, we’ve NEVER made a reservation for a show inside the main venue.  We know the venue is huge from cutting through the wine cask room/cellar and looking in the windows.  This is one place where they don’t have to cram you in like sardines.  We booked the VIP area, which is a raised balcony on the left side of the stage.  The tables are more spaced out.  And there is a choice between a standard table or a bar height table.  I might add this is a stunning venue. It is well designed and tastefully executed.  Really, there are no bad tables unless you get stuck by a beam. There are huge supporting beams throughout, as the ceiling is in the 20′ range.

My Dad was in town for the weekend and we wanted to see music, preferably jazz.  Something with some space and where we could choose our seats.  Not possible for jazz.  We have been to entirely too many really tight spaces and it kind of ruins the fun.  So we checked out what was happening at City Winery, a place we call ‘adult’ for grown-ups who aren’t into beer slinging atmospheres.

The show was at 8m and they open the doors as early as 6pm for dinner service.  Food is not served during the show, so they recommend arriving early if planning to eat.  How civilized!  So we ordered some light fare.  My Dad had pecan crusted halibut, I had a seasonal mushroom flatbread pizza, and Steve had a cheese plate.  We enjoyed carafes of their tap Pinot Noir, which wasn’t bad at $11 a glass.  Although my head hurt this morning.

Lucky for us, Yael Naim was playing.  Who’s that, you ask?  Her big breakout hit song is called ‘New Soul’ and it is featured in Apple’s Macbook Air ad campaign.  Check out the video for New Soul…http://youtu.be/XgEfYGzojcA and if that doesn’t ring a bell, check out the ad…http://youtu.be/gGX9YrBIsTo!

She is pretty freaking fantastic. What a great show. If you can get a chance, see her. She is Israeli and does have an album of ballads in Hebrew.  She makes a joke about it and performs one.  It is probably the prettiest song you’ll ever hear in Hebrew.  She also sings a song in French, as she started her career in Paris.  She’s got a powerful voice and she’s very current sounding like Feist.  Her string guy has a crazy looking electronic cello that is something to see and hear.

We had a great experience at City Winery and will surely book more shows.  Space, good food, good wine, good music.  What more could you ask for?  It’s also close to home.  Shame on us for not doing this sooner.

http://www.citywinery.com/
http://www.yaelweb.com/
155 Varick Street – Tribeca