EVENTS WEDNESDAY 5/8 Around Town 15th Anniversary Benefit Gala Host ...

Around Town

15th Anniversary Benefit Gala Host Mary Stuart Masterson & the Rainforest Alliance honor environmental achievements of 2002 Green Globe Award winners incl. Anheuser-Busch Companies; Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 E. 42nd St. (betw. Lexington & Park Aves.), 212-499-0599; call for times & prices.

Wednesday Night Skate NY recreational skate group visits Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge & more; meet at Union Sq. N. (17th St.), 212-696-7247; 8, free.

Family

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].

Stories & Songs Music & songs for children w/the Daddy Os, Lou Gallo & Brady Rymer; Battery Park City Parks Conservancy Community Room, 21 South End Ave. (W. Thames St.), RSVP 212-267-9700 x348; 9:45-12:45, $8.50, $35/four sessions.

Film/Video

Cinewomen NY: Looking with New Eyes Filmmakers Relah Eckstein, Abiola Abrams & Jadina Lilien pres. comical & theatrical works, w/reception at 6 p.m.; Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (2nd St.), 212-505-5181; 7, $8.

Family Secrets Story about typical family that falls apart?w/English subtitles; Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. (37th St.), 212-879-9779; 6:30, $8.

"Sautet & Chabrol: Two Worlds Apart" series screens 1970's Les choses de la vie (The Things of Life); French Institute's Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St. (betw. Madison & Park Aves.), 212-355-6160; 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 & 9.

"Star Theater" celebrates the Beatles the entire month of May, or at least every Wednesday. Today, The Beatles Live in Tokyo screens at Den of Cin, Two Boots, 44 Ave. A (betw. 3rd & 4th Sts.), 212-714-3575; 7, $5 incl. 1 drink.

Third Annual Television Documentary Festival focuses on films related to 9/11; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; call for sched., $10 [through 5/16].

Tribeca Film Festival Co-founded by Robert De Niro & Jane Rosenthal, this downtown celebration debuts 1300 features, docs., shorts & directorial-debuts, plus family-orientated programs; 866-941-FEST or www.tribecafilmfestival.org for sched. [through 5/12].

"True Life: I'm Coming Out" Filmmaker Lucia Engstrom's portrait about being gay incl. a soccer player, Texas teenager & a Mormon; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; 6:30, free w/mus. adm.

Lectures

Stars, Constellations & Legends Look beyond the dirt & disappointment of day-to-day living to man's most popular muse: the heavens! Hear myths & legends from different cultures & learn to locate & identify the brightest stars of the season; American Museum of Natural History, Central Park W. (79th St.), 212-769-5200, 6:30, call for price [through 5/9].

Vipassana Meditation Kiran Bedi speaks about this "non-sectarian" practice; Interfaith Center, 40 E. 30th St. (betw. Park & Madison Aves.), 718-358-7403; 6:30, free.

Readings

Food for Thought Weekly readings by actors w/light sandwich lunch?very literary, darling. Today, Noel Coward's Fumed Oak; National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park S. (20th St.) 212-475-3424; 1, $35.

Former Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz reads & discusses the poetry of Anna Akhmatova; CUNY Grad Center, 365 5th Ave. (34th St.), 212-817-2005; 6:30, $5.

Rick Moody Author of three novels (incl. The Ice Storm) is interviewed by Susan Minot about his most recent effort, a memoir responsible for the worst book party in ages, called The Black Veil; Humanities & Social Sciences Library, 5th Ave. (42nd St.), 212-930-0855; 6:30, $10.

Edna O'Brien reads from her latest novel, In the Forest, today at New York's Filthy MacNasty's; Rocky Sullivan's, 129 Lexington Ave. (betw. 28th & 29th Sts.), 212-725-3871; 8, free.

Workshops

Health Issues Anonymous Twelve-step program for those living w/a health concern; St. Luke's-Roosevelt Center, 324 W. 108th St. #205 (betw. B'way & Riverside Dr.), 212-362-7214; 5:30-7.

THURSDAY 5/9

Around Town

Blood Drive Giving blood saves lives! Goddard Riverside Community Center, through the New York Blood Center, sponsors blood drive via mobile van unit; 593 Columbus Ave. (88th St.), 212-873-6600 x233; 9:30-3, free.

First Annual "Women Who Care" Awards Luncheon United Cerebral Palsy of New York honors women who give resources, time & talents to enrich the lives of those affected by Cerebral Palsy; the Regent Wall St. Ballroom, Wall St. (William St.), 212-683-6700 x205; 11:30-1:30, $300.

Wall Street Walking Tour Downtown Alliance & Delta Airlines pres. 90-min. tour of downtown's rich history & architecture, no gory Ground Zero stop!; U.S. Customs House, 1 Bowling Green, 212-606-4064; 12-1:30, free [repeats Sat.].

Film/Video

East of Eden Movie version of Steinbeck's novel starring James Dean screens as part of the "John Steinbeck Centennial in New York"; CUNY Grad Center, 365 5th Ave. (34th St.), 212-817-2005; 7, $5.

"New York Filmmakers/New York Films" honors Richard Protovin, the man who founded NYU's Film Animation Program w/screening of Flamingo Boogies and Lost Cityscapes; Donnell Library Media Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0609; 6, free.

Lectures

Asian Religions: A Different Reality Today, "Shinto and the Religions of Japan" at NY Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th St. (Central Park W.), 212-563-5904; 6:30, $35.

Jules Feiffer Famous cartoonist/author offers advice for adults looking to break into the children's literature racket; Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St., 2nd fl. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-221-7676; 6, free.

New School University's International Center for Migration, Ethnicity & Citizenship starts its conference on "Religion and Immigrant Incorporation in New York" today at 65 5th Ave. (betw. 13th & 14th Sts.), 212-229-5399; call for times & prices [through Sat.].

Readings

Reverberations Series highlighting "poetry in translation" feat. work by Mexican women this evening at the Humanities & Social Sciences Library, 5th Ave. (42nd St.), 212-930-0855; 7, call for price.

Weekly Open Mic Poetry & jam session at Julia de Burgos Cultural Center, 1680 Lexington Ave. (betw. 106th & 107th Sts.), 212-831-4333; 7 p.m.-12 a.m., $5.

FRIDAY 5/10

Around Town

Fit for the Cure Show your support by getting support! Join Wacoal & DKNY in the fight against breast cancer at bra fitting?it's free for you & Lord & Taylor donates $1 from each fitting to Susan G. Komen Foundation; Lord & Taylor, 424 5th Ave. (39th St.), www.fitforthe cure.com; 11-5, free.

Health Screenings Free monthly glaucoma, vision, blood pressure & blood glucose screenings for senior citizens & disabled Medicare beneficiaries at Empire Medicare Services, 800 2nd Ave. (betw. 42nd & 43rd Sts.), 800-442-8430; 1-3.

Muay Thai Boxing Professional/amateur bouts all night incl. Keith Nesbitt vs. Stephen Miles for the World Kickboxing Association's U.S. junior middle weight title?kick ass!; the Church Street Boxing Gym, 25 Park Pl. (betw. Church St. & B'way), 212-571-1333; 7:30, $30-$45.

New York City Business Expo Eighth-annual festival celebrates downtown business w/displays from local restaurants & shops, food, arts & crafts & jewelry; Fulton St. (betw. B'way & Gold St.), 212-809-4900; 11-6, free.

Family

Gone Fishing Experience the catch & release fishing technique at Wagner Park; Battery Park City, West Side Hwy. (Battery Pl.), 212-267-9700; 11:30-1:30, free [through 5/31].

The Gong Show Yorkie the clown & other special guests pres. zany evening w/special prize giveaways; the Little Theatre, West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd St. (betw. Central Park W. & B'way), 212-875-4221; 7, $10, $5 st./s.c.

"Power & Propaganda" MOMA's "Friday Night at the Movies" series continues w/Orson Welles' 1941 classic Citizen Kane, followed by power & propaganda discussion?plus free pizza & soda; Arts Consortium Bldg., 1 E. 53rd St. (betw. Madison & 5th Aves.), 212-708-9828; 5:30-8, free.

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 Jordan & Antawn Jamison; 704-568-6801 for free brochure [through 7/15].

Film/Video

"Labor Goes to the Movies" Monthly program finishes its run w/screening of Sergei Eisenstein's film examining factory workers, Strike; Center for Worker Education, 99 Hudson St., 6th fl. (Leonard St.), 6, $2 contrib.

Life and Debt Brooklyn-born Stephanie Black's doc. on the "new world order" in Jamaica, w/live reggae music & q&a, closes out the "Brooklyn Docs" series; Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Pkwy. (Washington Ave.), 718-638-5000; 6, free.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell on Me Debut screening of doc. chronicling life of r&b performer; American Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. (36th St.), Astoria, 718-784-0077; 7, $8.50.

Readings

Eggwolf Readings series feat. Sam Hillmer & Franke Vogl tonight at the Read Cafe & Bookstore; 158 Bedford Ave. (betw. N 8th & N. 9th Sts.), Williamsburg, 718-599-3032; 8, free.

"Lambs to the Slaughter" Series offers "select" new writers chance to air their work publicly; KGB, 85 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 212-505-3360; 7, free.

Only in New York, Kids, or India, apparently. Story of Mona Ahmed, a eunuch in New Delhi, told through Mona's emails & some b&w photographs is a "celebration of the life of a true member of the third sex"; the Indo Center, 530 W. 25th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-462-4221; 7, $10.

Workshops

Calling All "Yoga Mamas" Pre-natal yoga classes continue today (what could be more fulfilling than downward dog in your third trimester?); Practice Yoga, 140 W. 83rd St. (betw. Amsterdam & Columbus Aves.), 212-724-4884; call for times & prices.

SATURDAY 5/11

Around Town

Brooklyn Pig-Fest Traditional North Carolina barbecue feat. "slow & low" pig cooking technique, Guss' pickles, hand-rolled pretzels & of course beer!; Brooklyn Brewery, 79 N. 11th St. (Wythe Ave.), Williamsburg, 212-965-5640; 1-4, $75.

Rare, Used, Out-of-Print Book Fair in all categories & genres?also magazines, photos & sheet music; Tip Top Shoe Bldg., 155 W. 72nd St. 4th fl. (B'way), 212-579-0689; 10-2, free.

Second Annual Romania Day Festival Ziua USA pres. typical Romanian celebration feat. authentic foods, crafts, antiques & merchandise; Water St. (betw. Fulton & Wall Sts.), 212-809-4900; 11-6, free.

Spring Fair West Side Montessori School pres. annual fair feat. rides incl. Space Walk & Tunnel Maze, face painting, spin art, crafts, international food buffet, live entertainment & second-hand sale; W. 92nd St. (betw. West End Ave. & Riverside Dr.), 212-662-8000; 11-5, free.

Family

Film Factory Series begins w/Outrageous Nature theme feat. 1925's silent classic Lost World w/live accompaniment by the Alloy Orchestra; Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space, 2537 B'way (95th St.), 212-864-5400; 11, $9.

Sketch Schermerhorn Row Celebrate preservation week by learning the history of Schermerhorn Row & other Seaport streets, then make your own architectural masterpiece; aboard the Peking, Pier 16, South Street Seaport Museum, 209 Water St. (Fulton St.), 212-748-8758; 1-4, $5 materials & $3 contrib.

Colors More or Less Learn how to add & subtract colors, paint a Mother's or Father's Day card & try on different tinted glasses at Sony Wonder Lab, 550 Madison Ave. (56th St.), 212-883-8100; 2-5, $5 [repeats Sun.].

Family Photo Day FIT's photography club takes b&w 8x10s of your family, friends or other group; Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, 62 Mott St. (betw. Canal & Bayard Sts.), RSVP 212-619-4785; 11-4, $5.

Hans Christian Andersen Storytellers David Elyha shares tales from Norway incl. "The Giant with No Heart"; Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. (betw. 37th & 38th Sts.), 212-879-9779; 11:30, free.

The House at Pooh Corner Family Folk & Fairy series pres. A.A. Milne's treasured tale w/Eeyore, Tigger & Roo, too!; Tribeca Performing Arts Center at Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers St. (betw. West Side Hwy. & Greenwich St.), 212-220-1460; 1:30, $14, $9 child.

Lenny Suib Puppet Playhouse Ventriloquist Winnie Blake pres. puppet pals Baby & Dottie Lee in "Puppets on Parade"; Mazur Theater, 555 E. 90th St. (betw. York & East End Aves.), 212-369-8890 x159; 10:30 a.m. & 12 p.m., $7 [repeats Sun.].

Ninth Annual Arts & Science Fair feat. science & art projects, food, entertainment, raffle, tag sale & annual fundraiser; the Children's Workshop School, 610 E. 12th St. (betw. Aves. B & C), 212-614-9531; 11-4, free.

Film/Video

"Cinemaniacs" Two-day doc. series feat. Cinemania (2) & The Last Voyage (4:30); American Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. (36th St.), Astoria, 718-784-0077; $8.50, $5.50 st./s.c. [through Sun.].

Dino De Laurentiis: The Italian Years & Beyond Repertory film program screens 14 movies; BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave. (Ashland Pl.), 718-636-4100; call for sched., $9 [through 5/19].

"Grand Illusions: Classic French Cinema" Fourteen-week series highlights cinematic greats like Clèment, Truffaut, Godard & Melville. Today, double feature: Jacques Demy's Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (2) & Angès Varda's Jacquot de Nantes (3:45); Symphony Space, 2537 B'way (95th St.), 212-864-5400; call for sched., $9, $8 s.c. [repeats Sun., through 7/21].

People's Video Nights Movies, popcorn & soda is what they promise, along w/a showing of Missing, based on Ed Horman's attempt to find his missing son in South America; International Action Center, 39 W. 14th St., #206 (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-633-6646; 7, free.

Lectures

After September 11th: Images from Ground Zero Okay, okay, we're as sick of it as you are, but this appears different & even possibly interesting?Joel Meyerowitz, the only photographer allowed by the city to have unrestricted 24-hour access to the site pres. a slide lecture tonight at NYU's Tishman Aud., 40 Washington Sq. S. (MacDougal St.), 212-998-2100; 7, call for price.

Holistic Approaches to Cancer Care Today, "Whole Food, Whole Life" cooking class; Wellness Center, Riverside Church, 122nd St. (Claremont Ave.), 212-316-7436; 10 a.m., free.

Workshops

Poetry Workshop w/Mary Jo Salter Get some tips from the Vice President of the Poetry Society of America, the Emily Dickinson lecturer at Mount Holyoke College, author of four books of poems (the most recent published by Knopf) & the co-editor of The Norton Anthology of Poetry?which are all the same person; New School, 66 W. 12th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-254-9628 for complete info.

World Famous DJs to Teach Their Craft Free to the Public That should be a short lesson; 600 B'way (Houston St.), 917-545-7823 or 347-351-4170 call for times [through 5/16].

SUNDAY 5/12

Around Town

Grand Opening Street Festival Celebrate Mother's Day & spring w/17th Police Precinct Community Council at 11th-annual fair feat. foods, crafts, jewelry, antiques & more; 3rd Ave. (betw. 42nd & 57th Sts.), 212-809-4900; 11-6, free.

Mother's Day Cruise on the Hudson You have to really love your mom to spend all day w/her on a boat! The brave will board the Pride of the Hudson & travel to Storm King outdoor sculpture gardens; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 8 a.m.-7 p.m., $95 incl. brunch & transportation.

Mother's Day Tea Celebrate w/three-course afternoon tea served in 19th-century garden?followed by tour of house; Merchant's House Museum, 29 E. 4th St. (betw. Bowery & Lafayette St.), 212-777-1089; seatings at 1:30 & 3, $40 per couple.

Family

Children's Galleries for Jewish Culture Chelsea museum feat. two exhibits: "From Tent to Temple" & "From Home to Home" for children seven & over?no strollers admitted; 515 W. 20th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-924-4500; 2-5, $5.

Kids 'n Comedy It's no "Showtime at the Apollo," but this may get your rising star, ages 9-15, there; Gotham Comedy Club, 34 W. 22nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-877-6115; 4, $15 & 1 drink min.

Film/Video

Chinatown Roman Polanski's 1974 adaptation of 1940s film noir; Ocularis at Galapagos, 70 N. 6th St. (betw. Wythe & Kent Aves.), Williamsburg, 718-388-8713; 7 & 9:30, $6.

The Great American Comedy Film Forum's largest festival, which screens classic comedies, continues today?call for sched.; 209 W. Houston St. (Varick St.), 212-727-8110; call for times, $9.75 [repeats Mon.].

Readings

KGB Sunday Fiction Series Binnie Kirshenbaum (Hester Among the Ruins) & Lauren Grodstein (The Best of Animals) read at KGB, 85 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 212-505-3360; 7, free.

MONDAY 5/13

Around Town

Coping with a Brain Tumor The Brain Tumor Foundation provides support group for patients to express concerns & share experiences; 1350 6th Ave., #200 (55th St.), 212-265-2401; 4-5:30.

Fourth-Annual Hiphop History Month Leave your own mark on the hiphop world at open tables night?bring your own needle; the 5 Spot, 459 Myrtle Ave. (betw. Washington & Waverly Aves.), Clinton Hill, Bklyn., 718-852-0202; 9, free.

Friendly French Conversation Group Intermediate & advanced-level speakers meet & discuss recently read works incl. Beaumarchais' Le Mariage de Figaro; Magic Carpet Restaurant, 54 Carmine St. (Bedford St.), 914-803-0654; 7:30-9:30, free.

Sixth-Annual Celebrity Bike Auction World T.E.A.M. Sports auctions off bikes of stars incl. Britney Spears, Yoko Ono & Tom Brokaw?proceeds benefit Face of America 2002 bicycle ride to honor victims of September 11th; the Lighthouse, Chelsea Piers, Pier 61 (betw. 17th & 23rd Sts.), www.worldteamsports.org; 7-10 p.m., free.

Film/Video

"Mondo Mondays" Retro film series feat. 1977 animation clash of good vs. evil, Wizards; Den of Cin, Two Boots, 44 Ave. A (betw. 3rd & 4th Sts.), 212-714-3575; 8, $5 incl. 1 drink.

Women Watch Porn Excerpts from 30 movies, strung together by Toys in Babeland activist, Laura Weide, promotes female sexuality/masturbation among straight, gay, bi & transgender folks; Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (2nd St.), 212-505-5181; 8, $15 [repeats Tues.].

Readings

Our Paris: Sketches from Memory Edmund White appears for discussion & signing of his ode to Paris, illustrated by White's late lover, architect Hubert Sorin, who recently died of AIDS; Three Lives & Co., 154 W. 10th St. (Waverly Pl.), 212-741-2069; 7, free.

Workshops

Treating Herpes Nutritionally Sponsored by New York HELP; Church of Advent Hope, 111 E. 87th St. (betw. Park & Lexington Aves.), 212-628-9154; 7:30, $5 contrib.

TUESDAY 5/14

Around Town

Free Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screenings New York Presbyterian Hospital's Dept. of Dermatology pres. free screenings for all; Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Herbert Irving Pavilion, 161 Fort Washington Ave., 12th fl. (165th St.) & Columbia-Presbyterian/Eastside, 16 E. 60th St., 3rd fl. (Madison Ave.), 800-227-2345; 2:30-6:30, free.

Pure Country NYC Weekly country dance & music night w/line dance lessons from Rona Kaye; Jack Rose, 771 8th Ave. (47th St.), 212-247-7518; 6:30, $13.

Reverend Billy Speaks His Mind Libertarian Book Club's Anarchist Forum pres. Billy's political theater pieces incl. "The Birds Are on Fire"; Brecht Forum, 122 W. 27th St., 10th fl. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-979-8353; 7:30, contrib.

Social Network Soiree: Discussion, Champagne, Experiment Eyebeam pres. panel addressing social dynamics that drive trends, gossip, crazes & power struggles?guests chat, mingle & drink champagne; 540 W. 21st St. (betw. 10th & 11th St.), RSVP 212-592-8908; 6:30, $8 contrib.

Lectures

Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon & director Oliver Parker discuss The Importance of Being Earnest, soon to be at a theater near you (Miramax). Oscar; Cooper Union's Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St. (3rd Ave.), 888-NYT-1870; 6:30, $25.

Michelangelo Signorile New York Press columnist expounds on the topic, "GLBT Politics in George W. Bush's Post-9/11 America"; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-620-7310; 7, free.

Readings

Poetic Vibes' $500 Poetry Slam Poet virgins & more experienced artists share their "deepest thoughts" tonight at Jimmy's Uptown, 2207 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (betw. 130th & 131st Sts.), 212-491-4000; 8, $10.

Profiles in Courage for Our Time Caroline Kennedy stops by Union Sq. Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. B'way & Park Ave. S.), 212-253-0810; 7, free.

Think of England: A Novel Alice Elliot Dark (In the Gloaming, Naked to the Waist) appears for a reading, q&a & signing at Astor Pl. Barnes & Noble, 4 Astor Pl. (betw. Lafayette St. & B'way), 212-420-1322; 7:30, free.