EVENTS WEDNESDAY 12/4 Around Town "Discover the G" ...

Around Town

"Discover the G" Reconnect w/the train that links Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, Williamsburg & Greenpoint?and then, on weekends & late nights, anyway, goes all the way to Forest Hills. Tamara Gubernat hands out postcards reflecting each neighborhood's charms; Nassau Ave., www.discovertheg.com; 5:30, free [repeats Thurs. at Greenpoint Ave.].

Fete De Noel Bryant Park becomes a winter wonderland feat. arts & crafts from Ellis Island Immigration Museum, the American Museum of Natural History & over 80 local artists?plus holiday music, readings & family entertainment (Sat. & Sun.); Bryant Park, 6th Ave. (betw. 40th & 42nd Sts.), 212-472-1522; 11-7:30, free [repeats Thurs.-Sat., Mon. & Tues. at 11-7:30, Sun. 12-6].

Fourth-Annual Holiday Light Show Haagen-Dazs transforms Grand Central into winter wonderland w/six video-projection, 3-D art displays feat. swirling snowflakes & dancing scarves by artists & designers incl. Leo Villareal, Mumbleboy & KDLAB; Grand Central Terminal, 42nd St. (Park Ave.); 11 a.m., free [through 12/31].

Garment Center Holiday Bargain Shopping Trip Michael Kaback, a 35-year garment center pro, pres. his sixth-annual showroom & warehouse tour feat. bargain prices often below wholesale?bring cash; meet at Golda Meier Statue, 1411 B'way (W. 39th St.), 212-370-4214; 12, $15 [repeats Fri. & Mon. at 10, Tues. at 2:30].

Grand Central Holiday Train Show Explore a detailed miniature world feat. underground & elevated subways of yesteryear & today, an upstate suburban commuter village, bridges, hills & Greg Ruth's festive mural; Transit Museum Gallery, Grand Central Terminal, 42nd St. (Park Ave.), 212-878-0106; 8-8, free [repeats Thurs.-Fri., Mon. & Tues. 8-8, Sat. & Sun. 10-6, through 1/11].

Suzi Roher Sample Sale Now's your chance to jump on the trend wagon & purchase Roher's custom-made leather belts at discounts of 25-65 percent; Item Showroom, 383 5th Ave., 6th fl. (betw. 35th & 36th Sts.), 212-741-5459; 10-4, free.

Family

Prospect Park's Kate Wollman Rink has reopened for months of outdoor skating, glide over well-maintained & freshly polished ice?fun for the whole family!; Prospect Park, Ocean Ave. entrance, 718-287-6431?call for rink hours & other info; $4, $2 s.c./child.

Film/Video

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls New 35 mm Panavision print of Russ Meyer's over-the-top boobfest about girls seeking fame in Hollywood & finding only sex, drugs & sleaze; Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (Varick St.), 212-727-8110; 1, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30 & 9:40, $9.75 [through Thurs.].

"Directors from the Edge" This week, series feat. movies from Ireland: Falcons, Cold Fever & Angels of the Universe; Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. (betw. 37th & 38th Sts.), 212-779-3587; call for sched., $8 [through 12/18].

The Kid Stays in the Picture Nanette Burnstein directs candid doc. on ex-Paramount Studios head, Robert Evans; Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (betw. Columbus Ave. & Central Park W.), 212-601-1000; 7:30 & 9:30, $9 [repeats Thurs.].

Power and Terror: Noam Chomsky in Our Times John Junkerman's Oscar-nominated doc., focusing on several lengthy interviews & public talks given last spring, continues its run at Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (Varick St.), 212-727-8110; 1:10, 4:45, 8:10 & 10, $9.75 [repeats daily].

"A Tribute to Walt Disney and His Studio" Two-part series feat. "The Live-Action Feature Film" portion on Weds. & celebrates "The Animated Feature Film" every Thurs. in Dec. Today, The Adventures of Huck Finn proceeded by eight minute, 16 mm animated short "Susie the Little Blue Coupe"; Donnell Library Center Aud., 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0609; 2:30, free [through 12/26].

Lectures

Breakfast Forum NYC Deputy Mayor Mark Shaw & others discuss the city's severe budget constraints projected over the next few years & compare the existing fiscal emergency to the crisis of 1975; Newman Conference Center, 151 E. 25th St. (betw. Lexington & 3rd Aves.), 212-843-8294; 8 a.m., free.

The Hidden Life of Garbage, movie screening, plus speakers discuss the impact of Mayor Bloomberg's decision to end recycling of plastics & glass; CUNY Grad Center, 365 5th Ave., #5414 (34th St.), 212-592-4184; 6:45, $5.

"A Place in the Sun: Art in Provence" Travel writer David Doty takes you on a journey through the magic of Provence discussing its art, history & culture?followed by a Provencal wine & food tasting; French Institute Alliance Francaise, 22 E. 60th St. (betw. 5th & Madison Aves.), 212-355-6100; 6:30, $12.

"Publishing Experts Debate Best Books & Bestsellers" Gayle Feldman gives results after comparing the "best books lists" of the last 25 years w/the "bestsellers lists" at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, 116th St. (B'way), 212-854-1912; 6-8, free.

"Twenty Years of The McLaughlin Group" John McLaughlin & his cohorts examine their role in defining political issues over 20 years & their influence on subsequent political shows; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (5th Ave.), 212-621-6600; 6:30, $15.

Readings

"It's Not Your Father's Animal Farm" John Reed & his update of Orwell, Snowball's Chance, at Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Houston & Lafayette Sts.), 212-334-3324; 7, free.

Pratt Profs Jim Elledge (The Chapters of Coming Forth by Day & Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Myths from the Arapaho to the Zuni) and Thad Ziolkowski (On a Wave) read at Memorial Hall, Pratt Institute, 200 Willoughby Ave. (Hall St.), Bklyn, 718-399-4356; 7.

Workshops

Health Issues Anonymous 12-step group for those living w/health concerns; St. Luke's, Roosevelt Center, Rm. 205, 324 W. 108th St. (betw. B'way & Riverside Dr.), 212-362-7214; 5:30-7, free.

THURSDAY 12/5

Around Town

Holiday Lights at Battery Park City Parks Gather for beautiful Christmas tree & Chanukah menorah lighting ceremony feat. seasonal music from the Battery Park Synagogue Children's Choir & the Roches, holiday treats, hot cider, hot chocolate & a visit from Santa?bring a new unwrapped gift for underprivileged children & teens; South Cove, Battery Park City, W. Thames St. (West St.), 212-267-9700; 5:45, free.

J. Lindeberg Sample Sale feat. up to 80 percent off retail prices on rock 'n' roll flares, logo belts, leather & suede jackets & suits, buttondown shirts, golfwear, denim & knits for men & women?both cash & cards welcome; 584 B'way, #406 (betw. Houston & Prince Sts.), 212-625-8600; 11-7, free [repeats Fri. 11-7, Sat. 11-6, Sun. 12-6].

New York City College of Technology's 8th-Annual Live & Silent Auction Enjoy live entertainment & gourmet buffet while auctioneer Prof. Michael Lomonaco auctions off domestic & foreign trips, handmade jewelry, instructional classes, sports memorabilia & subscriptions; Janet Lefler Dining Room, 300 Jay St., 2nd fl. (Tillary St.), Brooklyn Heights, 718-260-5025; 6-9, $20.

Rally For Affordable Housing Join Housing First! & call on Mayor Mike to find affordable homes for all New Yorkers?so we don't all have to move to Queens!; City Hall Park, B'way (Murray St.), www.housingfirst.net; 12, free.

Film/Video

"The Flying Jacobs Family" Series devoted to both the art & family life of avant-garde filmmaker Ken Jacobs, his son Azazel Jacobs, daughter Nisi Jacobs & painter Flo Jacobs, ends tonight w/Aza's work-in-progress, Nobody Needs to Know; Donnell Library Center Aud., 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0609; 6, free.

Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival Now in its 26th year, showcase incl. works from nearly 20 countries incl. Tibet, China, Mexico & South Asia. Tonight, T-Shirt Travels doc. traces second-hand clothes from the Western world to Africa, followed by discussion w/director Shantha Bloeman; JCC, 334 Amsterdam Ave. (betw. 75th & 76th Sts.), 646-505-5708; 7:30, call for prices [through 12/19].

"Positif Champions: 50 Years of Cinema" Retrospective film series honors 500 issues of the French film journal Positif; MOMA at the Gramercy Theatre, 127 E. 23rd St. (betw. Park & Lexington Aves.), 212-777-4900; call for sched., $12, $8.50 st./s.c. [screens just about daily, through 1/31].

"A Tribute to Walt Disney and His Studio" Second half of two-part series celebrates "The Animated Feature Film" w/Fantasia 2000 (starring Steve Martin & Bette Midler), proceeded by nine minute, 16 mm animated short, "The Old Mill"; Donnell Library Center Aud., 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0609; 2:30, free [through 12/26].

Lectures

"How to Look at Art" Do you ever feel intimidated when you are visiting a museum or gallery (like you don't know what the hell you are looking at & aren't quite sure it should be called art)? If yes, here is help?editor & publisher of ARTnews, Milton Esterow, discusses everything from changes in taste to the international art market; the New-York Historical Society, 2 W. 77th St. (Central Park W.), 212-873-3400; 6:30, $6, $4 st./s.c.

"Masaharu Morimoto: Iron Chef & Seafood Master" Chef Morimoto talks about his passion for seafood & shares some of the secrets of his art (forget Nobu!); Japan Society, 333 E. 47th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-752-3015; 6:30, $8.

Readings

The Little Red School House opens its doors to Adam Gopnik, A.M. Homes, Diane McWhorter & Eduardo Machado; 40 Charlton St. (6th Ave.), 212-477-5316; call for time, $20.

Paulie Marshall & the New Generation Series Up-and-coming African-American authors David Anthony Durham (Walk Through Darkness), Tayari Jones (Leaving Atlanta) & Christine Lincoln (Sap Rising) at NYU's Vanderbilt Hall, 40 Washington Sq. S. (betw. 6th Ave. & MacDougal St.), 212-998-8816; 7, free.

Ismail Merchant Call him?one half of the film team that keeps E.M. Forster in tea & biscuits! Today Mr. Ivory's other half talks about his new autobiography, My Passage From India; Lincoln Triangle Barnes & Noble, 1972 B'way (66th St.), 212-595-6859; 7, free.

The Weeping Buddha Heather Dune McAdam celebrates publication of her first novel, a mystery, by Johnny Temple's Akashic Books; CB's Gallery, 313 Bowery (Bleecker St.), 212-677-0455; 6:30.

Workshops

Islam: The Public & Private Spheres Three-day public conference where both the speakers & the audience explore the spectrum of Islamic societies worldwide & the varying understandings those societies have on the boundary between private & public & other related issues; New School University, Tishman Aud., 66 W. 12th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212- 229-2488?for session topics & times, $30/entire conference, $7/session [through Sat.].

FRIDAY 12/6

Around Town

Coat Drive Spread holiday cheer by donating a wearable adult or children's overcoat, jacket or parka to MTA LIRR & New York Cares 14th-annual clothing drive for the needy; Penn Station escalators, 34th St. entrance (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-598-5800, www.nycares.org; 7:30-9:30, free & so generous.

15th-Annual Holiday Bazaar Lenox Hill Neighborhood House hosts luxury bazaar of holiday gifts & decorations to benefit Lenox Hill Children's Programs; Sotheby's, 1334 York Ave. (E. 72nd St.), 212-744-5022 x1355; 10-5, free [repeats Sat.].

Psychology Discussion Group Discuss gay life in depth w/other men & women; Lesbian & Gay Community Services Center, 208 W. 13th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-228-5153; 8, $5.

Saké Trail Dinner Join saké importer Chris Pearce for sushi & saké reception, followed by tasting of 11 premium Japanese sakés served w/a six-course meal prepared by executive chef Haruo Ohbu; Inagiku, Waldorf-Astoria, 111 E. 49th St. (betw. Park & Lexington Aves.), 212-355-0440; 6:30, $100.

Film/Video

"Altman's 70s" Over the next two weeks, 14 films incl. well-known musical/political epic Nashville & newly restored print of Brewster McCloud, starring Shelley Duvall in her debut role, screen at Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (Varick St.), 212-727-8110; call for times & prices [through 12/19].

Love Goggles Romantic comedy from 2000 starring rappers Q-Tip & Sticky Fingaz, screens at Imagenation Digital Soul Cinema, 135 W. 118th St. (betw. 7th & Lenox Aves.), 866-841-9135 x7482; 7 & 9:30, $7.

Sinatra Amidst the Pyramids Debut screening of Sept. 27, 1979 benefit concert held in Egypt, performed outside among the Sphinx & pyramids, incl. songs "My Way" & "New York, New York"; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6800; 7, $10, $8 st./s.c., $5 child. under 13 [repeats Sat., Sun. & Tues. at 2:30, through 2/2].

Lectures

"Fragments of Falling" For all you architecture buffs out there, Ben van Berkel (of Van Berkel & Bos Architectuurbureau & UN Studio), talks about his recent projects incl. live/work apt. building in Hilversum & a masterplan for Arnhem central; McGraw-Hill Aud., 1221 6th Ave. (betw. 48th & 49th Sts.), 212-980-3767; 6:30, $10.

Jonathan Schwartz Star of weekend radio on WNYC, Schwartz talks about his career as a journalist, author, raconteur & noted Sinatra aficionado; the New School, 66 W. 12th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-229-5682; 11 a.m., free.

SATURDAY 12/7

Around Town

The ARChive of Contemporary Music's Winter Record & CD Sale Nation's largest popular music collection hosts holiday sale feat. new CDs & tapes, collectible & signed LPs, Christmas records, psychedelic posters, books & videos; ARChive, 54 White St. (betw. Church St. & B'way), 212-226-6967; 11-6, free [repeats Sun.-Tues.].

Second-Annual Harlem Renaissance Farmers Market Harlem Renaissance Economic Development Corp. pres. flowers, handcrafted soaps & local farm-fresh produce (plus music to shop by); Lenox Ave. & Malcolm X. Blvd. (betw. 111th & 112th Sts.), 212-932-2141; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., free [through 12/20].

West-Park Church's 2nd-Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Bazaar Great place to stock up on unique handcrafted gifts & delicious baked goods; West-Park Presbyterian Church, 165 W. 86th St. (Amsterdam Ave.), 212-362-4890; 12-5, free.

Family

Beauty and the Beast Musical composed by Mark McGee & Brenda Bell presented by Literally Alive for children ages 3-10?hands-on interactive creative workshop held prior to each show; YWCA, Hitchcock-Rockefeller Aud., 610 Lexington Ave. (53rd St.), 212-866-5170; 1, $15 show, $5 workshop [through Sun.].

Readings

Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy Jane Leavy reads & signs copies of this biography today at Brooklyn Baseball Gallery, 1904 Surf Ave. (W. 17th St.), 718-449-8497; 1:30.

A True Story Based on Lies Mexico City represents when Jennifer Clement, Orange Prize & Faulkner Award finalist, comes to town to read at La Palapa, 77 St. Mark's Pl. (1st Ave.), 212-777-2537; 3, free.

SUNDAY 12/8

Around Town

Annual Toy Drive Bring new unwrapped toys to Raven's toy box! They'll be donated to local charities that give underprivileged children Christmas presents & what's nicer than that?; Raven, 194 Ave. A (14th St.), 212-529-4712; call for specifics.

Big Brother is Watching "Surveillance Camera Outdoor Walking Tours" reveal the frightening abundance of cameras that monitor public spaces. This week: watching gentrification rapidly remold Chelsea; meet on NE corner of 14th St. (8th Ave.), 212-561-0106; 2, free.

Cow Parade's Final Auction Join Parks & the Historic House Museums at silent auction feat. 40 original fiberglass "Cow Parade" bovines, followed by live auction of four most popular cows?plus enjoy holiday boutiques, live country music, hot cocoa, tasty snacks & children's farm craft activities incl. butter churning; Union Square Park, 18th St. (betw. B'way & Park Ave.), 212-360-8249; 10-4, free.

Family Disco Dance We are family!? Let mom & dad show you how to do the Locomotion, the bump & the hustle?plus snacks for wee ones & full bar for the elders; Jack Rose, 771 8th Ave. (47th St.), 212-586-7425; 5, $12.

"Fashion for Compassion" Sale Quality furs & women's & children's clothing & accessories from designer labels incl. Armani, Donna Karan, Galliano & Prada at bargain prices?proceeds benefit the JBFCS Child Development Center; Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services, 120 W. 57th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-582-9100 x4738; 11-4, $5.

1st-Annual CCBA Table Tennis Championship Far from frat house beer-pong matches, these dudes have street cred! Watch 200 table tennis masters?many of them current & former Olympians?battle, in five divisions, for cash prizes & awards; Chinese Community Center, 62 Mott St., 5th fl. (betw. Bayard & Canal Sts.), 212-226-6280; 9-7, free.

Riverside Church's Annual Christmas Pageant Traditional celebration feat. Christmas music performances by the Riverside Children's Choir, the Riverside Singers & Cherub Choir, under the direction of Denise Weber; the Riverside Church Nave, 490 Riverside Dr. (betw. 120th & 122nd Sts.), 212-870-6722; 10:45 a.m., free.

Film/Video

African Diaspora Film Festival 2002 More than 50 foreign, indie, classic & urban films depicting "the global Black experience," screen during 10th anniversary festival. Tonight, "Jazz Program" double feature: Wild Women Don't Have the Blues & musical portrait, Remember Marvin Gaye, which traces Motown singer's life "when he was trying to find peace within himself"; Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (2nd St.), 212-864-1760, www.NYADFF.org; 2:55, $6-$25 [through 12/15].

"Directed by Martin Scorsese" Comprehensive two-month retrospective incl. every feature, doc., short & commercial this American filmmaker shot. Series continues w/top-notch gangster flick, Goodfellas starring Robert De Niro & Joe Pesci (2 p.m.) & 1937's The Age of Innocence starring Michelle Pfeiffer (4); American Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. (36th St.), Astoria, 718-784-0077; $8.50 [through 12/29].

"Silent Slapstick 101" Series ends its run w/Harold Lloyd's last silent film, Speedy. Shot in NYC during 1927, this comedy incl. shots of Coney Island, Yankee Stadium & feat. guest appearance by Babe Ruth; Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Plaza, Flatbush Ave. (Eastern Pkwy.), 718-230-1222; 2, free.

Velocity Movie traces lives of three businessmen as they fall in love w/NYC all over again, as part of 18th-annual "Works & Process" series at Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave. (89th St.), 212-423-3587; 8, $18, $12 st./s.c. [repeats Mon.].

Lectures

"A Hero of Our Own: The Story of Varian Fry" Sheila Isenberg tells the story of one man responsible for saving more than 1000 refugees from Hitler, incl. Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp & many others; Martin Luther King, Jr. High School, 65th St. (Amsterdam Ave.), 212-273-5304; 1, $3.

"Not Looking the Other Way the Older We Get: The Next 30 Years" Khoren Arisian, who is celebrating his 70th B-day, sheds some light on the wonders of the later years of our lives; NY Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th St. (Central Park. W.), 212-874-5210; 11:30 a.m., free.

Readings

Teen Angst? NAAH! NYPress' own Ned Vizzini at the Living Room, 84 Stanton St. (Allen St.), 212-533-7235; 5, free.

MONDAY 12/9

Around Town

The Hetrick-Martin Institute's 16th-Annual Emery Awards Honorary event chairman Hilary Swank pres. awards to those who help address the needs of gay youth incl. honoree Diane Sawyer at ceremony w/cocktails, dinner, dancing & DJ John Bartlett; Estate, 6th Ave. (20th St.), 212-674-2400 x219; call for times & prices.

New York City Chapter of Alzheimer's Association pres. "Community Services Available to Caregivers" educational meeting feat. speakers Randi K. Schwartz & Phyllis Ettinger; 360 Lexington Ave., 5th fl. (betw. 40th & 41st Sts.), 212-983-0700, res. req.; 6, free.

Film/Video

"Mondo Mondays" series screens Ingrid Bergman's adaptation of classic novella thriller, Turn of the Screw; Den of Cin, Two Boots, 44 Ave. A (betw. 3rd & 4th Sts.), 212-254-0800; 8, $5.

Lectures

"Michael Cunningham & Philip Glass in Conversation About The Hours" Novelist talks about upcoming movie adaptation w/man who wrote the score; Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. Park Ave. & B'way), 212-253-0810; 7, free.

Curtain Call w/Hairspray Composer/Lyricist Mark Shaiman Find out what products he uses today at Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (Central Park W. & Columbus Ave.), 212-601-1000; 7:30, $15.

Look Back at Acker Panelists Richard Hell, Ann Rower, Douglas Martin, Lynne Tillman & David Salle discuss "proto-riot girl" in conjunction w/release of Grove Press' Essential Acker: The Selected Writings of Kathy Acker; Housing Works Used Book Store Cafe, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Prince & Houston Sts.), 212-334-3324; 7, free.

Readings

Dear Editor: A History of "Poetry" in Letters Dramatization of correspondence & poems from Poetry magazine's first 50 years (1912-62); 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 8, $16.

"Saturn Series" Ted Mathys plus open mic hosted by William Duke & Sue Polo; 213 2nd Ave. (13th St.), Bill@poetrycentral.com; 7:30, $3, 1 drink min.

TUESDAY 12/10

Around Town

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

Tuesday Night Trivia It's probably not as much fun as Family Feud, but prizes do incl. $10-$25 bar tabs; Baggot Inn, 82 W. 3rd St. (betw. Thompson & Sullivan Sts.), 212-477-0622; 7:30, free.

Winter Wine Festival Cocktail party followed by tasting of wines from France, Italy, Chile, Australia & Israel led by reputed Sommelier Michael J. Simkin?proceeds benefit Beit Rabban day school; Congregation Shearith Israel, 2 W. 70th St. (Central Park W.), RSVP 212-595-1386; 7:30, $180.

Lectures

"Chaos Day 2002" Peter Lamborn Wilson, who is "known" for his radio show "The Moorish Orthodox Radio Crusade" & book Escape From the Nineteenth Century, gives annual address. This year's theme: "Spiritual Anarchism" at the Libertarian Book Club/Anarchist Forum, 339 Lafayette St. (betw. 4th & Great Jones Sts.), 212-979-8353; 7:30, don.

The Victorian Society in America offers a free, illustrated lecture entitled, "The Advent of Christmas Cards in Victorian America: Women Designers & the Prang Competition" at Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (5th Ave.), 212-886-3742; 6.

Readings

James Purdy, of whom the quotable Mrs. Parker wrote, "Those who read him are his for life," appears at Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Houston & Lafayette Sts.), 212-334-3324; 7, free.