EVENTS WEDNESDAY 2/20 Around Town America’s Coin Banks encourages saving ...

Around Town

America's Coin Banks encourages saving w/exhibit of over 70 unusual & antique coin banks; Museum of American Financial History, 28 B'way (Exchange Pl.), 212-908-4695; 10-4, $2 [repeats Thurs.-Sat. & Tues., through 3/6].

Beer & Oyster Festival Rare & local oysters paired w/Brooklyn Brewery beers in a glamorous locale; the Oyster Bar at the Plaza Hotel, 58th St. (5th Ave.), 212-546-5200; call for times & price.

Christmas in July Cody Camps of Freedom offers two free weeks of summer camp to kids age 8-15 who lost a parent in the Sept. 11 attacks, incl. transportation, meals, etc.; 800-399-4436 or www.codycamps.com for more info.

mediabistro.com's Dinner & Dis(course) Celebrate the Chinese New Year w/an evening of food & conversation w/media professionals; register at www.ersvp.com/reply/nydinner.

Ten Free Trees Join the National Arbor Day Foundation before the end of Feb. and they will mail you 10 blue spruces; send $10 to the National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE, 68410.

Family

Cendrillion One-woman's Caribbean version of Cinderella; Children's Museum of Manhattan, Tisch Bldg., 212 W. 83rd St. (B'way), 212-721-1234; 1:30 & 3, call for price [repeats Thurs. & Fri. at 1:30 & 3].

Extreme Choices 3-D Laser show exposes kids to dangers of smoking; Liberty Science Center in NJ, 201-200-1000 for info; $3-$3.50 [repeats daily, through 6/02].

Get Your All-American Smile Free dental examinations plus mouthguards for 9-14 year-olds who play sports; NYU College of Dentistry, 345 E. 24th St., 9th fl. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-998-9651; 10-7.

"Jerry & Brian Pinkney" Exhibit of illustrations by father & son; Children's Museum of Manhattan, Tisch Bldg., 212 W. 83rd St. (B'way), 212-721-1224; call for times & prices [through 4/19].

JPMorgan Chase Sports & Arts in Schools Festival Kids ages 6-15 invited to participate in over 40 activities incl. rock climbing, basketball, gymnastics, bowling, dance & canoeing; 888-STAY-326 x159 for locations throughout Manhattan & Bklyn; 10:30-3:30, free, tkts. req. [repeats Thurs.]

Peanut Pathways Learn the history of peanuts, then make your own peanut butter; Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. (betw. St. Marks Ave. & Prospect Pl.), 718-735-440; 11, $4.

Film/Video

Half-Past Autumn: The Life & Works of Gordon Parks In the spirit of Black History Month, museum celebrates accomplishments of photographer, artist, composer, writer & director; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; 12:15, $6, $4 st./s.c. [repeats Thurs.-Sun. & Tues., through 2/31].

New Icelandic Film Festival screens music doc. Pop I Reykjavik (Pop in Reykjavik) w/more than 20 bands, concert footage & backstage interviews?English subtitles; Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. (37th St.), 212-879-9779; 6:30, $8.

"The Short Century: Films from Africa" In conjunction w/P.S.1's same-titled exhibit, movies by African filmmakers screen at MoMA, 11 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-708-9400; call for sched., free w/adm. [through Fri.].

"Star Theater" Retro film series shows The Optimists (1973) starring Peter Sellers; Den of Cin, Two Boots, 44 Ave. A (betw. 3rd & 4th Sts.), 212-714-3575; 7, $5 incl. 1 drink.

Lectures

Treating Fibroids Without Surgery Discussion on how to treat tumors affecting 25% of all women (which can cause infertility); Beth Israel Medical Center, 311 1st Ave. (18th St.), 212-420-4247; 6, call for price.

Readings

Smells Like Boog City Celebrate Kurt Cobain's 35th birthday w/reading by Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, an interview w/Cobain biographer Charles Cross & lots of live music; see this week's "Since When?" or more info; Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3055; 8:30, $10-$12.

Unjust Enrichment Linda Holmes discusses her books (4,000 Bowls of Rice) on American soldiers who built Burma Railway & worked for Japanese companies as POWs during WWII; National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park S. (20th St.), 212-475-3424; 8, free.

Workshops

Hypnosis as a Healing Tool (or just an awesome way to break the ice). Part of the "Health & Wellness" series at McBurney YMCA, 215 W. 23rd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-741-9210; 7, $20.

Learn English for Free at NY Public Library branches; 212-221-7676 or www.nypl.org for locations & times [through 3/21].

THURSDAY 2/21

Around Town

BiRequest Social discussion group for bisexuals, w/dinner to follow; New York Spaces, 131W. 72nd St. (betw. B'way & Columbus Ave.), 212-714-7714; 6-8, $5.

Family

"Untold Stories: All Paths to Freedom" In honor of Black History Month, Brooklyn Children's Museum hosts slew of activities for families?call for sched.; Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. (betw. St. Marks Ave. & Prospect Pl.), 718-735-4574; call for times & price.

Winter Preschool Play Toys, games, stories & songs for children six months to four years; the Regatta Community Room, 21 South End Ave. (W. Thames St.), 212-267-9700 x348; 10-12 p.m., free [repeats 2/28].

Film/Video

Kali's Vibe Spike Lee's script supervisor, Shari Carpenter, screens her romantic comedy about lesbian who finds love w/a man; BAM, 30 Lafayette Ave. (Ashland Pl.), 718-832-3052; 4:30, 6:30 & 9:10, $9, $6 s.c.

"Meet the Makers" Filmmaker Charles Lane pres. & discusses A Place in Time & Sidewalk Stories; Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (5th Ave.), 212-621-0618; 6, free.

Lectures

"Brown Bag Lunch Lectures" Series on modern art asks, "But Is It Art?"; MoMA's Art Consortium Aud., 1 E. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & Madison Aves.), 212-708-9781; 12:30, $5.

Career Advice for People Over 50 Learn "How to Assess & Market Your Skills" at JCC, 334 Amsterdam Ave. (betw. 75th & 76th Sts.), 646-505-5708; 7, $12.

Comparing Notes w/Leonard Lopate WNYC host talks w/"Cartoonists at Work" Jacques Pepin & Lidia Bastianich at 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 8, $22.

How Effective is US Policy Toward Israel? Noam Chomsky, Lewis Lapham (editor of Harper's) & others weigh in at the New School, Tishman Aud., 66 W. 12th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-229-5488; 7, $5.

Queenmaker: A Novel of King David's Queen India Edgehill's new book is kind of a Mists of Avalon take on the Bible; Barnes & Noble, 240 E. 86th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 212-794-1962; 7, free.

Retired U.S. Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy Highest ranking woman in history of U.S. Army talks about her 32-year career, as part of "Wondering About Women" series at 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 8:15, $22.

Readings

Stupid White Men Michael Moore nails all but one at Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th St. (betw. B'way & Amsterdam Ave.), 212-501-3330; 7.

Workshops

Gotham Writers' Free Children's Book Writing Workshop today at the Rockefeller Center Barnes & Noble, 48th St. (5th Ave.), 212-974-8377 for time.

FRIDAY 2/22

Family

The Ten Star All-Star Summer Basketball Camp Boys & girls ages 10-19 eligible to apply, camp is by invitation only, past celebs incl. Michael Jordon & Antawn Jamison; 704-568-6801 for free brochure [through 4/15].

Film/Video

Arab & Iranian Film Festival Documentaries, features & shorts screen over the next three days?www.alwan.org for sched.; NYU Cantor Film Center, #200, 36 E. 8th St. (betw. B'way & University Pl.), 212-691-4267; 6 & 8, $8, $5 st./s.c. [through Sun.].

Umberto D. New print from director that brought us Bicycle Thief; Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (Varick St.), 212-727-8110; 1, 2:45, 4:30, 6:15, 8. 9:45, $9 [repeats daily, through 2/28].

Lectures

Challenging the Color Line Marking W.E.B. DuBois' 134th birthday w/panel discussion, "Confronting Issues of Race & Class in the Era of Global Capital"; New School, Tishman Aud., 66 W. 12th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-229-5488 for times & prices.

Collecting in Today's Art Market Panel discussion moderated by Times reporter Carol Vogel in conjunction w/"The Art Show" at 7th Regiment Armory, Park Ave. (67th St.), 212-940-8925; 4:30, $25.

Readings

Belladonna Any allusion to Stevie Nicks (or the poisonous "nightshade" flower for that matter) always gets a listing monthly reading w/Jocelyn Saidenberg & Norma Cole; Bluestockings, 172 Allen St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-777-6028; 7, free.

SATURDAY 2/23

Around Town

Help w/Income Tax Elderly & low-income individuals & families can get free tax preparation, bring social security card, last year's returns, W-2 forms & current forms; Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 240 E. 31st St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 212-689-1595, call for appt.; 12:30-4:30 [repeats Sun. 1-4, through 5/14].

Family

Broadway Kids Sing America Young talents sing popular & patriotic songs; Children's Museum of Manhattan, Tisch Bldg., 212 W. 83rd St. (B'way), 212-721-1234; 1:30 & 3, $3-$6 [repeats Sun.].

Family Art Project Make a bird's nest out of recycled & natural materials; Wave Hill, 675 W. 252nd St. (Independence Ave.), Bronx, 718-549-3200, 1-4, free [repeats Sun.].

Family Day welcomes authors/illustrators from Jump at the Sun for an afternoon of readings & art demonstrations; Museum for African Art, 593 B'way (betw. Prince & Houston Sts.), 212-966-1313; 4-6, call for price.

On the Look Out Fun w/telescopes; Sony Wonder Technology Lab, 550 Madison Ave. (55th St.), RSVP 212-883-7858; 2-5, $8 [repeats Sun.].

Peter Rabbit Tales come to life w/hand puppets & live music; Puppet Playhouse at Mazur Theater, 555 E. 90th St. (betw. York & East End Aves.), 212-369-8890 x159; 10:30 & 12 p.m., $7 [repeats Sun.].

The Ransom of Red Chief Play taken from O. Henry short; Vital Theater Co., 432 W. 42nd St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 212-592-4508; 11 & 1, $10 [repeats Sun., through 3/17].

"Saturdays Alive!" This week, "Wonderful Wire" workshop (12:30, $6) & Danny Golden & Company's Irish dance (3, $6); Arts Connection, 120 W. 46th St. (betw. 6th Ave. & B'way), 212-302-7433.

Velveteen Rabbit Musical recommended for kids 3-10, creative workshop precedes performance; Hitchcock-Rockefeller Aud., YWCA, 610 Lexington Ave. (53rd St.) 212-866-5170; 1, $15 [repeats Sun., through 4/14].

Words in Motion Workshop Six-week program for high school students teaches them the art of DJ-ing, writing & spoken word; Studio Museum of Harlem, 144 W. 125th St. (betw. Lenox Ave. & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.), RSVP 212-864-4500, ext.264; 3-6, call for price.

Film/Video

"Bit" Fundraising screening for b&w, 15 min. short about bug bites, drinking & drug habits. Two other Brooklyn filmmakers show their shorts too?$1 beers; Video Beam, 347 Grand St. (betw. Havemeyer St. & Marcy Ave.), no phone, 9 & 12 a.m., $3

"Cinema of Shadows: The Hollywood Film Noir" Thirty-one films screened in 16mm format, today, 1949 film Knock on Any Door based on novel by Willard Motley; YWCA, 610 Lexington Ave. (53rd St.), 212-735-9717; 4:30, $7 [repeats Sun.].

Creatively Speaking: Visions of Independent Filmmakers Sixteen short films from Latin America & the U.S. screen over the next 48 hours. Film critic Elvis Mitchell leads discussions?call for sched.; Aaron Davis Hall, City College, W. 135th St. (Convent Ave.), 212-650-7100; 2, 5:30 & 8, $8 [through Sun.].

"New York, New York: Films Selected by the NY Film Critics Circle" Six-week series showcasing films handpicked by prestigious critics, begins today w/Andy Warhol's Empire, introduced by David Sterritt (The Christian Science Monitor); American Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. (36th St.), Astoria, 718-784-0077; 1, $8.50, $5.50 st./s.c. [continues Sun., through 3/31].

Satan's Sadists 1969 flick about bikes & babes screens as part of "Troma Team Screening Series"; Tobacco Road, 355 W. 41st St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-947-1188, 3, $5.

Readings

Stanley Kunitz Pulitzer/National Book Award-winning poet reads today at DIA Center for the Arts, 548 W. 22nd St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-989-5566; 4.

Smash Nova's Saturday Joyfest No, it's not the new Oasis album, it's a weekly open mic at Baggot Inn, 82 W. 3rd St. (betw. Thompson & Sullivan Sts.), 212-499-4517; 3:30.

SUNDAY 2/24

Around Town

Dyke Knitting Circle Open to all levels?learn new stitches & techniques; Bluestockings Women's Bookstore, 172 Allen St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-777-6028; 6, free.

Fast & Fabulous Cycling Club NY's lesbian & gay bike club; www.fastnfab.org or 212-567-7160 for meeting place; 9 a.m.

Psychic Fair Astrology & tarot at Maui Tacos, 330 5th Ave. (33rd St.), 12-7.

Russian Winterfest Authentic Russian games like sack racing & wall-on-wall fistfights (!), costumes, acrobats, eating contests, weight-lifting, dumplings & shish kebabs in Prospect Park; 5th St. (Prospect Park W.), 718-232-4272; 12-6 [repeats Sun.].

Veg-Out Potluck dinner for lesbian, gay & transgender vegetarians, bring something vegan; Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. (7th Ave.), 212-802-8655; 5-7, $5.

Family

Discovery Workshops Today, "Plants 'Round the World" w/emphasis on desert & tropical plants from Africa; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave. (Eastern Pkwy.), 718-623-7200; 1-3, $3, $1.50 st./s.c.

A Poppy Seed Purim Jewish musical comedy; Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th St. (betw. B'way & Amsterdam Ave.), 212-501-3330; 11 a.m., $12.

"Sunday Science Spectaculars!" Monthly series for kids ages 6-11 gives them a chance to explore "We Must Have Weather: Meteorology" & play weatherperson; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-996-1100; 10 a.m.-12 p.m., $35/adult, $20 child.

Film/Video

Negation & Consumption Program of short works by local film & videomakers incl. "The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal"; Ocularis at Galapagos, 70 N. 6th St. (betw. Wythe & Kent Aves.), Williamsburg, 718-388-8713; 8:30, $6-$10.

Lectures

Tired of Being Sick? Sick of Being Tired? Health workshop on strengthening your immune system w/nutritionist & herbalist Kathryn Welsh at Bluestockings, 172 Allen St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-777-6028; 4, free.

Readings

KGB Fiction Night continues w/Carter Scholz (Radiance) & Martin Roper (Gone); 85 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 212-505-3360; 7, free.

Unorganized Reading No time limit, no list, no bullshit except what gets spewed on stage; ABC No Rio, 156 Rivington St. (betw. Suffolk & Clinton Sts.), 718-638-2927; 3.

MONDAY 2/25

Around Town

Friendly French Conversation Group Read & discuss literature weekly, no English allowed; Magic Carpet, 54 Carmine St. (Bedford St.), 914-803-0654; 7:30-9:30, free.

Shredd: An Evening of Sweat Two-hour cardio workout w/live DJ & after-party to benefit NY Times Neediest Cases Fund; Printing House Fitness & Racquet Club, 421 Hudson St. (Leroy St.), 212-243-7600 x256; 6-8, $30.

Family

Kids Week at the Intrepid Educational activities, explorations & games; Intrepid-Sea-Air-Space Museum, W. 46th St. (12th Ave.), 212-245-0072; .12-3, free w/adm. [repeats daily, through 2/22].

Film/Video

"Cult Movie Mondays" screens Ali G (8 & 12:30 a.m.), Bling Bling (9) & Inn It (11); Luxx, 256 Grand St. (betw. Driggs & Roebling Sts.), Williamsburg, 718-599-1000; free.

"Mondo Mondays" Retro film series screens John Huston's version of Herman Melville's Moby Dick (1956) plus "world's only Siamese twin murder mystery musical"; Den of Cin, Two Boots, 44 Ave. A (betw. 3rd & 4th Sts.), 212-714-3575; 8, $5 incl. 1 drink.

"Movie Love: A Trib. to Pauline Kael" Series honoring The New Yorker's late film critic feat. her favorite films introduced by her favorite people. Today, Loving introduced by New York Press film critic Armond White at 6:50; BAM, 30 Lafayette Ave. (Ashland Pl.), 718-636-4100; 4:30, 6:50 & 9:10, $9 [through March] .

TUESDAY 2/26

Around Town

Showroom Seven Sample Sale Designer sportswear & accessories, labels like E.vil, Ghost & many more at wholesale & below; 498 7th Ave., 24th fl. (betw. 37th & 38th Sts.), 212-643-4810; 10-7 [daily except Sun., through 3/1].

Family

14th St. Y Youth Baseball League Instruction for boys & girls ages 5-11, registration due by Feb. 28; 212-780-0800 x229; call to apply.

Film/Video

"The Artistry of Leontyne Price" series celebrates 75th birthday of renowned soprano; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; 2, $6, $4 st./s.c. [repeats Weds. & Thurs. at 2, through 2/28].

Dinner & a Movie Weekly screenings followed by family-style dinner & discussion in French. This week, Les Amants Du Pont-Neuf (Lovers on the Bridge)?English subtitles, BYOB!; Columbia University's La Maison Française, 116th St., 2nd fl. (B'way), 212-854-4482; 6:30, call for price.

"The First Decade: Video from the EAI Archives" Retrospective of 60 videos from the archives of Electronic Arts Intermix, begins today; Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-708-9400; 2, 4 & 6, free w/adm. [through 3/17].

"Good & Evil: Popular Cinematic Images of Jesus" Series screens commercial flicks which delve into American religious ideas, incl. The King of Kings; Location One, 26 Greene St. (betw. Canal & Grand Sts.), 212-334-3347; 8, $5 [repeats 2/27 & 2/28].

Rod Sterling: The Twilight Zone & Beyond Retrospective continues at Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; call for sched., $6, $4 st./s.c. [repeats Thurs.-Sun., through 4/21].

Van Gogh examines French painter during his last years; French Institute, Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St. (betw. Madison & Park Aves.), 212-355-6160; 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 & 9, $8.

Lectures

Celestial Highlights Learn about stars & constellations that'll be in the night sky during March; American Museum of Natural History, Hayden Planetarium, 79th St. (Central Park W.), 212-535-2922; 6:30, $10-$8 st./s.c.

Detained: The U.S. Power to Terrorize Legal Immigrants Barnard forum w/lawyers & activists on government's new rights to indefinitely detain non-U.S. citizens; Barnard Hall, 117th St. (B'way), 212-854-2037; 7.

Humor in Modern Writing Ben Greenman (The New Yorker, McSweeney's), Sarah Vowell (This American Life) & Todd Hanson & Carol Kolb (The Onion) field questions (and no doubt pitches) from the bright-eyed & bushy tailed at NYU's Bobst Library, 10th fl., 70 Washington Square South (LaGuardia Pl.), 212-998-2596; 7, call for price.

Mario Vargas Llosa Popular Peruvian author lectures on "Literature & Life" at the Americas Society, 680 Park Ave. (68th St.), 212-722-4448; 6, $25, $5 st./s.c.

The Pursuit of Justice for East Timor Activist Filomena Barros dos Reis talks about promoting women's/human rights in her country at Judson Church, 55 Washington Sq. South (4th St.), 718-596-7668 for times & prices.

Readings

Servants of the Map Author/National Book Award-winner Andrea Barrett (Ship Fever, Voyage of the Narwal) reads from her latest at Three Lives & Co., 154 W. 10th St. (Waverly Pl.), 212-741-2069; 7, free.

Too Many Men Jewish/Australian author Lily Brett's latest about young woman who takes her father back to revisit the concentration camps of WWII; Goethe Institut, 1014 5th Ave. (82nd St.), 212-439-8700; 6:30, free.