City Week: September 17 - September 23

a selective listing of recommended cultural and community events

compiled by allen houston friday, september 17 russian revolution-poet alex galper introduces battleship potemkin, considered one of the world's most influential films. the sergei eisenstein film commemorates the uprising aboard a battleship, one of the pivotal events of the russian revolution of 1905. rubin museum of art, 150 w. 17th st., 212-620-5000; 9:30 p.m., free with $7 bar minimum. saturday, september 18 new pop artist-asia society presents yoshitomo nara: nobody's fool, an exhibition of the iconic japanese pop artist and his relationship to rock and punk music. more than 100 works, including drawings, paintings, sculptures and installation, are on display. asia society, 725 park ave., 212-288-6400; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., $10.

dance the night away-the new york swing dance society will host its first dance of the fall at st. jean the baptiste church. an hour-long dance lesson for beginners will take place at 7 p.m., followed by a night of dancing. st. jean the baptiste church, 184. e. 76th st., 212-696-9737; 8 p.m.-12 a.m., $15.

latin caribbean sound-son de madre, a group that mixes the latin caribbean tradition with a modern feel, kicks off the 35th season of the carnegie hall neighbohood concert series. the group brings their combination of salsa, boleros and funk music. el museo del barrio, 120 5th ave., 212-831-7272; 4 p.m., free. monday, september 20 dystopian author-margaret atwood, author of the handmaid's tale, returns to the poetry corner to read from the year of the flood, her most recent novel of speculative fiction. 92nd street y, lexington avenue and 92nd street, 212-415-5500; 8 p.m., $27.

tree inspiration-arboreal presents a striking variety of paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptures that use trees as both a subject and for artistic material. four artists portray the forest as an aesthetic inspiration, as well as a metaphor for larger environmental issues. the arsenal gallery in central park, 5th avenue and 64th street, www.nycgovparks.org; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., free. tuesday, september 21 famous fashionistas-relive new york's history through the ever-evolving styles of its most famous fashionable females. notorious and notable collects wardrobes and accessories from upper crust royalty to its most famous burlesque dancer. museum of the city of new york, 1220 5th ave., 212-534-1672; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $10. wednesday, september 22 animal drawing-the american museum of natural history invites aspiring artists of all levels to participate in a museum art class in animal drawing. for eight consecutive wednesdays, participants will sketch from world-class dioramas and displays such as the tyrannosaurus rex. american museum of natural history, central park west at west 79th street, www.amnh.org/programs; 7-9 p.m., $160 (materials not included). thursday, september 23 visionary light-heat waves in a swamp: the paintings of charles burfield compiles more than 100 watercolors, drawings and oils on canvas, capturing the nature-lover's expressionistic view of light and the environment that surrounded him. whitney museum of american art, 945 madison ave., 212-570-3600; 11 a.m.-6 pm, $18.