WEDNESDAY 12/17 WEDNESDAY 12/17 Around Town Big Apple ...

Around Town

Big Apple Circus: Carnivale Big Top meets Cirque du Soleil in this multi-cultural, multi-dimensional, world-class performance feat. masquerade balls, puppets, confetti & floats; Damrosch Park Bandshell, W. 62nd St. (betw. B'way & Amsterdam Ave.), 212-875-5108; 6:30, $18-$72 [repeats Thurs. at 6:30, Sat. & Sun. at 12:30 & 4:30, Tues. at 2, through 1/11].

Holiday Train Show Take a break from grown-up holiday stress & stare w/childlike awe at festive model trains zipping through a mini-NYC landscape; NY Transit Museum, Gallery Annex, Grand Central Terminal, 42nd St. (Park Ave. S.), 212-878-0106; 8-8, free [repeats Thurs., Fri., Mon. & Tues. 8-8, Sat. & Sun. 10-6, through 1/19].

Holiday Show Extravaganza Girlsalon & Robin Cloud host a night of comedy, music, dance & performance art by some of NYC's talented queer artists; Meow Mix, 269 E. Houston St. (Suffolk St.), 212-254-0688; 9, $5.

New York Cares Coat Drive Volunteers man the 34th street entrance of Penn Station, for the 15th year, accepting winter coats, jackets & parkas for needy adults & children, so clean out your closet & help those less fortunate than yourself; Penn Station, 34th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-598-5800, www.nycares.org; 7:30-9:30, free [repeats daily, through 12/31].

Storytelling The African Folk Heritage Circle & the New York Story Exchange swap multi-cultural holiday stories; South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St. (betw. South & Front Sts.), 212-748-8735; 7, $3 sugg. don.

Yippie X-mas Zany speakers bureau provides an evening of holiday joy feat. speakers, poetry, a silent auction and "special surprises"?proceeds go to the National Aids Brigade; Knitting Factory Tap Bar, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-529-3026; 8, $25.

Film/Video

"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" Series screens the best from the man in black in four programs. Today, see selections from his variety series, The Johnny Cash Show (1969-1971), feat. guests incl. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell & June Carter Cash; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; 2, $10, $8 st./s.c. [repeats Thurs. at 2 & 6, Fri.-Sun. & Tues. at 2, through 12/28].

Volcanoes of the Deep Sea Ed Harris narrates director Stephen Low's IMAX doc., exploring erupting hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean & the animals that manage to survive 12,000-feet down; LeFrak Theater, American Museum of Natural History, 77th St. (betw. Columbus Ave. & Central Park W.), 212-769-5200; 10:30, 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30, $19, $14 st./s.c., $11 child. [repeats Thurs.-Tues., through 7/1].

Lectures

Hayden Herrera explores the "artistic beginnings, experiments & growth" of artist Arshile Gorky; Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave. (75th St.), 877-WHITNEY; 7, $8, $6 st./s.c.

"There Was Once a World": Restoring a Vanished Past Professor Yaffa Eliach discusses plans for the construction of an "open-air Shtetl Museum" in honor of the "small Jewish towns of Eastern Europe lost forever in the Holocaust"; Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 5th Ave. (34th St.), 212-817-8215; www.gc.cuny.edu; 6:15.

"Visually Sound: Perspectives on Jazz Photography" Panel of New York-based jazz photo-journalists discuss "how & why they document the music"?feat. John Abbott, Enid Farber, Norm Harris, R. Andrew Lepley & Gene Martin; New School Jazz Performance Space, 55 W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-533-9495; 6.

Readings

Another Day in Paradise: International Humanitarian Writers Tell Their Stories Editor Carol Bergman & "several contributors" appear; Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Houston & Prince Sts.), 212-334-3324; 7, free.

Erika Meitner is the lucky winner of a free listing this week due to the slow holiday schedule, even though her book, Inventory at the All-Night Drugstore, came w/the following codicil: "If this book were music, it might be labeled 'urban alternative' and shelved near the work of songwriters like Suzanne Vega and Tracy Chapman"; Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery (betw. Bleecker & Houston Sts.), 212-614-0505; 5.

Slam Night where some non-profit that fosters "young poets" gets a $10,000 grant?hopefully they won't also charge you admission. (Hey, what do you want? It's all activists & foreigners this time of year); Nuyorican Poets CafÈ, 236 E. 3rd St. (betw. Aves. B & C), 212-505-8183; 7.

Terra Incognita, an International Journal in English, celebrates the release of its fourth issue with a "fiesta/reading"; Cornelia St. Cafe, 29 Cornelia St. (6th Ave.), 212-989-9318; 6, $6.

Workshops

Creativity Workshop: the Modern "Socratic Method" Dr. Win Wenger shows you how to use "modern & self-Socratic methods" to "facilitate your own & others problems-solving abilities beyond one's normal expectations"; Mid-Manhattan Library, 455 5th Ave. (40th St.), 212-289-8856; 6:45, free.

Emotional Preparations for the Actor Jim Bonney takes actors "step by step" through "unique exercises" designed to "remove blocks & mannerisms & uncover fears about the actor's feelings"; Drama Book Shop, Inc., 250 W. 40th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-944-0595; 6, $15.

THURSDAY 12/18

Around Town

"Paul Winter's 24th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration" Russia's Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble, Paul Winter Consort & mbira master Chris Berry combine African & Russian traditions, celebrating the winter solstice w/music, theater & dance; Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave. (112th St.), 212-662-2133; 7:30, $29-$69 [repeats Fri. at 7:30, Sat. at 2 & 7:30].

Film/Video

The Elusive Butterfly Petr Skala's 2002 documentary about Czech soprano Jarmila Novotna (1907-1994); Czech Center New York, 1109 Madison Ave. (83rd St.), 212-288-0830; 7.

Give My Regards To Hollywood "Cinematic Takes on Great Broadway Musicals" series pres. 16mm-screening of Milos Forman's Hair (1979); Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0618; 2:30, free.

Lectures

Branden W. Joseph lectures on the work of artist Robert Whitman; Dia:Chelsea, 548 W. 22nd St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-989-5566; www.diaart.org; 6:30, $6, $3 st./s.c.

"Living w/Herpes: the Mind-Body Approach" Dr. Wayne Diamond speaks about herbal formulas for herpes treatment; Source of Life Conference Center, 352 7th Ave., 16th fl. (betw. 29th & 30th Sts.), 212-628-9154; 7:30, $5 sugg. don.

Reel Pieces Screening of film Thirteen followed by discussion w/actor Holly Hunter & Dr. Annette Insdorf; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 7:15, $25.

Readings

Epistle to Dippy "Readings with music and visuals in celebration of the oddest, funniest, saddest, wittiest, and best of all worst letters" curated by Anne Marie Healy...soo (hey, we can't work it in EVERY entry) any relation to Jeff? How the hell is he doin' these days, anyway?; Low, 81 Washington St. (betw. Front & York Sts.), DUMBO, 718-222-1569; 7.

Poetry Slam/Holiday Semi-Formal Gala Check back w/us in January; Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery (betw. Bleecker & Houston Sts.), 212-614-0505; 7:30, $5.

Workshops

Wood Basics Seminar Home re-modelers become "more familiar w/wood flooring" & learn how to "expand their hardwood flooring design horizons"; Verrazano Flooring, 217 25th St. (betw. 4th & 5th Sts.), 718-369-WOOD; www.verrazanoflooring.com; 6:30.

FRIDAY 12/19

Around Town

Metro Tour Service History & landmark specialist Mauricio Lorence leads three-hour tour around the ethnic communities & institutions of Brooklyn Heights, Ft. Greene & Clinton Hill; Marriott Hotel Brooklyn, 333 Adams St. (betw. Pearl & Willoughby Sts.), Bklyn; 2-5, $25 [repeats Sat. & Sun.].

"Sorrento Cheese Christmas in Little Italy" Bill Boggs hosts Little Italy Merchants Assoc.'s festival feat. food, decorative lights, carolers & tonight, tenor Dominic Mantuano performs at tree lighting ceremony (6:30)?Saturday, see Grand Marshal DJ Skribble lead the Christmas parade (2); Mulberry St.(betw. Canal & Hester Sts.), 212-764-6330; 6:30, free [repeats Sat. at 2 & Sun. at 1].

Swing Mania Gals in retro skirts get their swing on?remember dressing the part is half the battle; Jack Rose, 771 8th Ave. (47th St.), 212-592-3909; 9, $15 incl. lessons.

Wildlife Works' Fashion Show Live African music, dance performances, yoga demos & a fashion show of eco-freindly t-shirts & clothes made in Kenya; Avalon, 470 W. 20th St. (6th Ave.), 212-343-3920; 10, $20, $15 adv.

Film/Video

Better Off Dead than living w/out you?learn the international language of love all over again w/Cusack, Booger, the paperboy from hell & crazy Asian Howard Cosell; Landmark Sunshine Cinema, 143 E. Houston St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-330-8182; 12 a.m., $10 [repeats Sun.].

The Butterfly French film for the whole family?subtitled, but w/simple enough dialogue for kids 8 & up; Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St. (betw. 5th Ave. & University Pl.), 212-924-3363; call for times, $10.

"Toons Gone Wild!" Screening of rare 16mm cartoons. Today, see the 50s & 60s animated TV commercials that warped our fragile consumerist minds; Pioneer Theater, 155 E. 3rd St. (Ave. A), 212-254-3300; 10, $9.

SATURDAY 12/20

Around Town

Breakfast with Santa First make the kiddies sit through breakfast, then do arts & crafts, then, when the anticipation has them nuts, Mr. Big comes in?followed by a calming movement class; McBurney YMCA, 125 W. 14th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-741-9210; 9 & 10, $3 per child.

Casino Night Celebrate the Festival of Lights Vegas-style w/$25 in chips, a raffle ticket & free drink?plus candle-lighting by Rabbi Jonathan Glass; Synagogue for the Arts, 49 White St. (betw. Church St. & B'way), 212-966-7141; 7, $60, $50 adv.

Christmas Bird Count Bundle up to count all the birds of Prospect Park at 104th-annual count, helping out the Audubon Society; Prospect Park Audubon Center, Park Dr. (Ocean Ave.), Bklyn, 718-287-3400; 8, 12 & 3, free.

"La Superette" Sixth-annual celebration feat. live music, performances, installations, refreshments & sale of original functional art from over 90 artisans incl. housewares, toys & fashion; Participant Inc., 95 Rivington St. (betw. Ludlow & Orchard Sts.), 212-343-7300; 1-10, free.

Lasagne Tasting Benefit Event Special Lasagne recipes added to menu this weekend?part of proceeds benefit the ALS Assoc.; F. Illi Ponte, 39 Deprosses St. (West Side Hwy.), (212) 226-4621; [repeats Sun.].

New York City Record & CD Collectors Expo "Knowledgeable dealers" pres. large selection of new, used, rare & collectible records & CDs at great prices?plus, the first 100 customers get a free CD; Holiday Inn, 440 W. 57th St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 973-773-6067; 10-4, $6.

Red Cross Book & Toy Drive to benefit children affected by homelessness, disaster & 9/11?bring new, unwrapped books or toys for ages infant-11 yrs. old?visit www.nyredcross.org for the many other participating locations across the city; FAO Schwarz, 767 Fifth Ave. (betw. 59th & 58th Sts.), 212-644-9400; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. [repeats Sun.].

"The Secret Maestro & His Holiday Surprise" Better than the Rockettes, this holiday show has tales, "piano puzzlers," Mozart string quintet, the Young People's Chorus of New York & clips from classic films incl. A Night at the Opera & The Great Waltz; Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St. (B'way), 212-721-6500; 11:30 & 2, $16, $9 child.

Winter Solstice Ritual Get festive, grab your altar objects & drums, then spend the longest night of the year celebrating the "rhythms of nature"?also, bring a candle & holder; Sufi Books, 227 W. B'way (betw. Franklin & White Sts.), 212-334-5212; 7:30, $20.

You Are Free to Do As We Tell You Celebration on the tenth anniversary of Bill Hicks' death feat. live performances by Zero Boy & Ivan the Horrible?plus others via satellite; Collective Unconscious, 145 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-254-5277; 8.

Film/Video

Crimes and Misdemeanors 1989 Woody Allen hit, also starring Alan Alda & Anjelica Huston; MOMA's Gramercy Theater, 127 E. 23rd St. (betw. Lexington & Park Aves.), 212-777-4900; 3:30, $6.

Judy Garland Retrospective The little girl w/a big voice returns in 1939's Babes in Arms (2 p.m.) & The Wizard of Oz (4, repeats Sun. at 4:30)?plus, Sunday see Strike Up the Band (2); American Museum of the Moving Image, 35 Ave. (36 St.), Astoria, 718-784-0077; free w/adm.

Nowhere in Africa The Oscar winner feat. a family leaving Nazi Germany for Kenya; MOMA's Gramercy Theater, 127 E. 23rd St. (betw. Lexington & Park Aves.), 212-777-4900; 2:45, $6.

Tumbleweeds & The Searchers The former is silent & goes on at 7, the latter is awesome, stars John Wayne & goes on at 9; the Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Ave. (betw. Union & President Sts.), Park Slope, 718-857-4816; $8 per flick.

Readings

Book Launch for all those bibliophiles desperate for a fix this month (p.s. books should be read alone, and only talked about while intoxicated & in the company of dear friends), Daniel Blaufuks reads from Collected Short Stories; Printed Matter, 535 W. 22nd St. (10th Ave.), 212-925-0325; 5-7.

Olive Juice Music & Boog City Holiday Party where "13 musical acts reinterpret A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector" w/proceeds benefiting domestic violence prevention fund; Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery (betw. Bleecker & Houston Sts.), 212-614-0505; 9, $7.

Workshops

Beginning Dumbek Rami Elaaser teaches the "basic sounds of dumbek & some traditional middle eastern rhythms"; Tribal Soundz, 340 E. 6th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-673-5992; 12, $15.

"Cultural Collaboration" All-day event w/various activities incl. "master classes" in trumpet, saxophone & African woodcarving, a panel discussion on "art as a tool for social change," a storytelling workshop & a "multi-media theater presentation"; Teacher's College, W. 120th St. (B'way), 917-312-9696; 1-8, $20.

Family Workshop explores the relationship between architecture & "magical transformation"; Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St. (betw. Clinton & Henry Sts.), Brooklyn Heights, 718-222-4111; www.brooklynhistory.org; 11, $6, $4 child.

Men's Workshop: Outsider, Misfit or Just Plain Excluded? Share your experience "as a member of the gay community at large" & discuss how "internalized homophobia affects your relationship w/& within the gay community"; Identity House, 39 W. 14th St. #205 (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-243-8181; www.identityhouse.org; 11.

SUNDAY 12/21

Around Town

Candlelight Carol Festival Brighten the darkened church w/candle light, while five choirs fill the halls with song?just try to resist feeling all peace on earth & ho ho hoverwhelmed by it!; Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Dr. (betw. 120th & 122nd Sts.), 212-870-6784; 3:30 & 6, $15, $10 st./s.c.

Holiday Fashion Brunch feat. "glam wear from Centricity, one of our favorite boutiques in the neighborhood"; Marion's, 354 Bowery (betw. 3rd & 4th Sts.), 212-475-7621; 12 & 1:30, call for price.

Sing-a-song Groove to childrens classics, enjoy free snacks & maybe hook up a play-date at this monthly event; Living Room, 154 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-533-7235; 2, $7, $3 child.

Yule Fest Slide on some clogs & head downtown for tasty malörts brännvin & glasses of glögg at the Swedish holiday fair, Julmarknad, feat. gingerbread house competition, stalls of traditional foods, live music & a classic smorgasbord at Good World Bar & Grill; Orchard St.(betw. Division & Canal Sts.), 212-925-9975; 10-8:30, free.

Film/Video

"Open Zone" Enjoy short?12 min. or less?experimental & fiction works, documentaries & animations from local video & film makers at this quarterly open forum screening; Ocularis at Galapagos, 70 N. 6th St. (betw. Wythe & Kent Aves.), Williamsburg, 718-388-8713; 7, $6.

Workshops

Nia: Joy of Movement Louise Martin invites you to "explore your highest self" using a series of "simple moves & free expression based on the martial, dance & healing arts"; Joyous Life Center, 119 W. 23rd St. #700 (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), res. req. 212-352-9910; 2, $18, $15 adv.

MONDAY 12/22

Around Town

Children's Chanukah Party We're talking about a dreidel on stilts, bee's wax candle-making, potato latke eating, dreidel spining & song singing y'all! Any other night suvganiot are just jelly donuts & "Rock of Ages" is just a killer Def Leppard track; Synagogue for the Arts, 49 White St. (betw. Church St. & B'way), 212-966-7141; 4, $10 child.

Gowanus Vaudeville Tryout Dust of the old comedy routine, get out the banjo & come try out for a spot in this upcoming Vaudvillian extravaganza; the Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 4th Ave. (betw. Union & President Sts.), Park Slope, 718-857-4816; 6:30.

Guinness World Record Caroling Attempt Help break the record for the world's largest carol service, singing holiday classics incl. "Silent Night" & "Joy to the World"?plus, the cafe offers fuel w/a $20 prix-fixe dinner & a pint of Guiness (5:30-9:30); St. Bartholomew's Church, 109 E. 50th St. (Park Ave.), 212-378-0222; 6, free.

Film/Video

Experimental Christmas Shorts incl. a DA Pennebaker short feat. Sammy Davis Jr. & RFK; BAM Rose Cinema, 30 Lafayette Ave. (Ashland Pl.), Ft. Greene, 718-636-4100; 7, $10, $7 st., $6 s.c.

Readings

Embedded: Weapons of Mass Deception: How the Media Failed to Cover the War in Iraq Author Danny Schechter reads; Half King, 505 W. 23rd St. (10th Ave.), 212-462-4300; 7, free.

TUESDAY 12/23

Around Town

Light of Latkes Hanukah Party Heeb & The Village Temple host annual bash feat. live music, all you can eat latkes & nosh?plus one free drink from the cash bar; Manhattan Penthouse, 80 5th Ave. (betw. 13th & 14th), 212-674-2340 x300; 7, $20.

Tuesday Night Trivia Be proud that you're a geek?you could help your team win $10-$25 bar tabs by answering some pretty wacky & obscure questions; Baggot Inn, 82 W. 3rd St. (betw. Sullivan & Thompson Sts.), 212-477-0622; 7:30, 2 drink min.

Film/Video

Christmas With the Lettermans Museum screens the 1984 special feat. Dave & his "family"; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; 12:30 p.m., free w/adm.

"Petits Bijoux: Overlooked & Under-Seen French Gems" Ciné-club's series screens overlooked works by major filmmakers. Today, Renoir's Directions d'acteurs par Jean Renoir (1968) & Rivette's Jean Renoir le Patron (1966)?B&W documentary-type flicks; Florence Gould Hall, French Institute, 55 E. 59th St. (betw. Madison & Park Aves.), 212-355-6160; call for times, $8, $6 st.

Workshops

Hanukkah Arts & Crafts Kiddies learn to make lamps, dreydels & "temple models"; Children's Galleries for Jewish Culture, 515 W. 20th St. 4E (10th Ave.), 212-924-4500; 2-5, $5.