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Food, drink, music to tempt trip to Manhattan mueseum

By The TimesLedger

Starry Nights continues this fall at the American Museum of Natural History’s Rose Center for Earth and Space on the first Friday of every month. Visitors to Starry Nights, which is free with suggested museum admission, enjoy live music, genuine tapas, and beverages in the spectacular setting beneath the Hayden Planetarium sphere.

The John Benitez Quintet is October’s featured performance. The quintet includes Miguel Zenon, Luis Perdomo, Dafnis Prieto, and Luisito Quintero.

Grammy award-winning bassist John Benitez, born in Rio Piedreas, Puerto Rico, started playing gospel music in church at age 13. After moving to New York in 1993, he studied with the legendary acoustic bassist, Ron Carter, at the City College of New York. He has played with some of the finest jazz and Latin musicians, including Tito Puente, Michele Camilo, Dave Valentin, Wynton Marsalis, and many others. Benitez’s CD ,“Descarga In New York: John Benitez Trio,” released in 2001, is a blend of musical colors and textures from the Americas and the Caribbean. He has been called the Latin jazz bassist of the future.

The Rose Center is open until 8:45 p.m. on Friday evenings. The Museum’s suggested admission price of $12 for adults, $9 for students and seniors, and $7 for children covers entry to the Museum and to Starry Nights. Admission to the Museum and the Space Show — The Search for Life: Are We Alone? — is $21 for adults, $15.50 for students and seniors, and $12.50 for children. For general information, call 212-769-5100. Advance tickets for the Space Show can be purchased by calling 212-769-5200 or visiting www.amnh.org.