WEDNESDAY 12/10 WEDNESDAY 12/10 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].

Korean Food Festival Chefs Yim Gi Ho & Choi Yun Ja showcase the best of their native cuisine offering a daily lunchtime buffet of more than 100 dishes?expect some kimchee; United Nations, 46th St. (1st Ave.), res. req. 212-963-1234; 11:30-2:30, $22.50 [repeats Thurs. & Fri.].

Film/Video

Cave in the Snow Film about & fundraiser for the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery; Union Sq. Theater, 100 E. 17th St. (Park Ave. S.), 212-505-0700; 7:30, call for prices.

Featuring...Prokofiev & his Contemporaries Celebrate the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, Russia's founding w/Russian film screenings. Today, Parts II & III of Ivan the Terrible (Eisenstein, 1944), plus a Serebryakov short; Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0618; 2:30, free.

"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].

The Last Samurai Special screening of Tom Cruise's latest, in conjunction w/museum's new online exhibition?followed by Pinewood Dialogue w/the drama's award-winning production designer, Lilly Kilvert (Legends of the Fall); American Museum of the Moving Image, 35 Ave. (36 St.), Astoria, 718-784-4520; 7, $18.

Railroad of Hope Ning Ying's 2002 documentary, depicting journeys of peasant migrant farmers in China?discussion w/the filmmaker follows; Asia Society, 725 Park Ave. (70th St.), 212-517-ASIA; 6:30, $10, $5 st.

Lectures

The Day the Rabbi Went to Jail: Abuse in the Rabbinate Rabbis can be child molestors too! Panelists, Gary Rosenblatt, Rabbi Yosef Blau, Arthur Magida & Dr. Michelle Friedman, address the issue of abuse among Jewish clergy & how it can be prevented; Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (betw. Columbus Ave. & Central Park W.), 212-601-1000; 7:30, $15.

Direct From the Trenches: War Journalists from WWII to Iraq "Cross-generational" conversation explores the "ethics of reporting from the battlefield"?feat. Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Max Desfor, Times correspondent Judith Miller & Professor Michael Norman; Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place (betw. 1st Pl. & B'way), 212-945-0039, www.mjhnyc.org; 7, don.

The Great Books of Modern Jewish Fiction Professor Jeremy Dauber examines author S. An-ski's "Yiddish theater masterpiece" the Dybbuk; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 7:30, $20.

Homo Orientals: Francois Boucher & China Katie Scott explores the vision of art collector Boucher & his "celebration of luxury & trade"; the Frick Collection, 1 E. 70th St. (betw. Madison & 5th Aves.), 212-288-0700, www.frick.org; 6.

Readings

The Folks at The Evasion-English Dictionary dare you to feel comfortable making conversation at their book release party tonight; Zinc Bar, 90 W. Houston St. (LaGuardia Pl.), 212-477-8337; 7.

Surviving: International Day of Human Rights "In his memoir, Still Surviving, Texan Nanon Williams tells the story of being convicted of murder at seventeen and sentenced to death"; Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Houston & Prince Sts.), 212-334-3324; 7.

Tainted Legacy: 9-11 And The Ruin Of Human Rights William Schulz discusses & signs; Astor Place Barnes & Noble, 4 Astor Pl. (betw. B'way & Lafayette St.), 212-420-1322; 7:30, free.

They Might Be Giants finally figure out this material ain't for adults...sooo they decide to torture children w/their new tome, Bed, Bed, Bed; Union Square Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. B'way & Park Ave. S.), 212-253-0810; 7.

Workshops

The Art of Receiving & Giving Women learn how to lead more "fulfilled, easy, graceful lives"; Life Works, 55 5th Ave. (betw. 12th & 13th Sts.), 212-741-8787; 7:30.

Unorthodox Chant & Voice Akim Ndlovu leads "exploration of self generated sound & the gutteral voice" using human beat box?plus, "various African & Asian chants"; Tribal Soundz, 340 E. 6th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-673-5992; 7, $15.

THURSDAY 12/11

Around Town

Artworks Annual Holiday Pottery Sale Students engage in the hawking of jewelry, sculpture & functional pottery to benefit Y classes; West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd St. (Central Park W.), 212-875-4124; call for times [through 12/13].

B'nai Brith Open Meeting High-Powered Howard hosts evening feat. mentalist, comedian, trivia contest & dairy buffet; American Federation of Musicians, Local 802, 322 W. 48th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), RSVP 718-423-8480; 6:30, $15.

Gifts For Special Children Project pres. 17th-annual awards ceremony, honoring Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham & the Children's Hope Foundation, among others, for their work supporting victims of HIV/AIDS; New York City College of Technology, 300 Jay St. (Hudson St.), Bklyn, 718-260-5837, 718-260-5630; 1.

Holiday Lighting Central Park Conservancy invites families to decorate a 12-ft tree, drink cocoa & eat Krispy Kreme donuts; Dana Discovery Center, 36 W. 110th St. (betw. 5th & Lenox Aves), 212-860-1370; 4, free.

Film/Video

Boris Barnet Retrospective Series continues w/Alenka, the legendary Soviet filmmaker's 1961 film about migration to Kazakhstan?plus, Monday see Bountiful Summer; BAM Rose Cinema, 30 Lafayette Ave. (Ashland Pl.), Ft. Greene, 718-636-4100; 7:20 & 9:10, $10, $7 st., $6 s.c.

Cannibal! The Musical Digital video festival screens director Trey Parker's 1996 musical, about real life cannibal Alferd Packer, that only the South Park co-creator could have written?in English & Japanese!; VideoTheatre, NYC, 85 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 212-868-4444, www.videotheatrenyc.com; 7:30, free.

Glenn Close talks about stuff, after screening of her 2001 romantic drama, Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her, directed by Rodrigo GarcÌa; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 7:15, $25.

An Evening of Russian Animation Works of Starevich & Alexeieff pres. & discussed by filmmaker & scholar Irina Margolina; Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0618; 6, free.

Featuring...Give My Regards To Hollywood "Cinematic Takes on Great Broadway Musicals" series pres. 16mm-screening of Norman Jamison's Fiddler on the Roof (1968), starring Topol; Donnell Library Center, 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0618; 2:30, free.

Melvin Goes to Dinner Bob Odenkirk's 2003 dramedy, about an intense, accidental meal w/near strangers?based on the critically acclaimed play, Phyro-Giants!; Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (2nd St.), 212-505-5181; 9:30, $8, $5 st./s.c.

Mexican Film on the Life of Frida Kahlo Frida, Naturaleza Viva (1985), in Spanish w/English subtitles, screens; Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Ave. (92nd St.), 212-423-3200; 6:30, $12, $10 st./s.c.

Mr. Deeds Be it Heathers, unpaid merchandise or Johnny Depp, as far as we're concerned, whatever Winona touches turns to gold?why should this Sandler flick be any different?; Sony Wonder Technology Lab, 550 Madison Ave. (56th St.), 212-833-8100; 6, free.

Lectures

The End of Cooperation: the Economic Costs of American Unilaterism Economist Jeff Madrick addresses the problems arising from America's recent disregard for the opinions of the rest of the world community; New School University, 66 W. 12th St. #407 (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-229-5488; 6.

Synthia Saint James Artist, illustrator & author talks about the art of book illustration; Barnard College, B'way (117th St.), 212-854-4789; 5.

Nation Building in Afghanistan Hey, whatever happened to Afghanistan? Barnett Rubin assesses the "first year of reconstruction aid & the implications for state failure"; NYU Vernon Center, 58 W. 10th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-992-9091; 1, free.

New York City: A View of the Future Author Irwin Fruchtman pres. slide lecture about "major proposals for the growth of NYC"; Science Industry Business Library, 188 Madison Ave. (34th St.), 212-592-7000; 5:30, free.

Pass the Mic! In the spirit of "old time church gatherings & new age poetry slams" Tavis Smiley, Michael Eric Dyson & Cornel West pres. evening of "thought provoking, interactive talks & discussions" on topics ranging from leadership to religion; Beacon Theater, 2124 B'way (74th St.), 212-333-7171, www.ticketmaster.com; 7, $50-$60.

Remembering Cedric Price Barbara Jakobson, Stanley Mathews, Robin Middleton, Herbert Muschamp, Bernard Tschumi & Michael Webb remember the life & work of the renowned British architect; Municipal Art Society's Urban Center, 457 Madison Ave. (betw. 50th & 51st Sts.), RSVP 212-980-3767; 6:30, $10.

Ned Rorem Composer celebrates his 80th birthday discussing his life & work w/Renaud Machart & Tom Bishop; NYU Maison Francaise, 16 Washington Mews (University Pl.), 212-998-8750; 7:30.

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.

Gillian McCain (Please Kill Me), Jo Ann Wasserman, Brenda Coultas & David Cameron read; Teachers and Writers Collaborative, 5 Union Sq. W. (University Pl.), 212-691-6590; 7.

Post Road Magazine hosts reading w/NYPress alum & one-time David Letterman guest...Jonathan Ames!; KGB, 85 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd Ave. & Bowery), 212-505-3360; 7:30, free.

Robert Sabuda, Pop-Up Book Creator, Illustrator & "Paper Engineer," signs Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; MOMA Design Store, 81 Spring St. (Crosby St.), 646-613-1367; 6-8.

Workshops

War, Religion & Spectacles of Suffering Do we need war to make us feel important? Day-long workshop examines issues of war in today's society?feat. Susie Linfield, Mazyar Lotfalian, Roxanne Varzi & Barbie Zelizer; NYU's Casa Italiana, 24 W. 12th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), res. req. 212-998-3759; 10, free.

FRIDAY 12/12

Around Town

Aortus Comedian Chris Finnegan hosts rock & roll holiday fundraiser feat. music by Dufus?plus, giveaways by the Coen Bros., Matador Records & ROIR; Union Pool, 484 Union Ave. (Stillman St.), Williamsburg, 212-352-0255; 7, $25, $20 adv.

Artist Slide Night All artists are invited to share slides of their work & anyone can show up & observe; Pete's Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St. (betw. Frost & Richardson Sts.), Williamsburg, 212-714-5423 sign-up; 7.

Designer Trunk Show Up & coming designers offer original jewelry, handbags & clothing at great prices for one-stop holiday bliss; Soho Grand Hotel, 310 W. B'way (betw. Canal & Grand Sts.), 212-679-2719; 10-5, free.

High Line Party Friends of the High Line host dance party at brand new Chelsea Club, feat. open bar, to save the abandoned elevated rail structure from demolition?followed by Larry T's Outsider Electronic Music Festival; Crobar, 530 W. 28th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-631-9188, www.the highline.org; 8, $75-$150.

Kevin Powell's 3rd Annual Party/Clothing Drive Donate winter clothing to Safe Horizon's Streetwork Project & get free admission to a dance party. Please RSVP; Lush Lounge, 110 Duane St. (betw. Broadway & Church St.), 718-399-0695; 8.

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, music, decorative lights, carolers & tons of people?plus today, celebrity judges annouce holiday decoration winners (6:30); Mulberry St.(betw. Canal & Hester Sts.), 212-764-6330; 1, free [repeats Sat. & Sun., through 12/21].

Tango Nights Boost your sex appeal by learning to tango from the best, then dance the night away to live music?dinner available; La Belle Epoque, 827 B'way (betw. 12th & 13th Sts.), 212-254-6436; 8-2:30, $12.

Film/Video

AKA Opening Duncan Roy's new film about a disaffected youth running from the disinfected booth that is his classist English society; Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St. (betw. 5th Ave. & University Pl.), 212-924-3363; call for times & prices.

Benefit Screening for the Filmmakers' Coop Watch indie films, meet the makers, support the arts & in general, be nicer to your kids; Millennium, 66 E. 4th St. (betw. Bowery & 2nd Ave.), 212-673-0090; 8, $10 don.

"Toons Gone Wild!" Screening of rare 16mm cartoons. Today, see WWII animations, feat. your favorite characters fighting facism & boosting morale?followed by ToonTalk; Pioneer Theater, 155 E. 3rd St. (Ave. A), 212-254-3300; 10, $9.

Versus Ryuhei Kitamura's 2000 thriller about mobsters who repeatedly dispose of bodies in a forest, only to have them rise from the dead Altered Beast-style; Landmark Sunshine Cinema, 143 E. Houston St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-330-8182; 12 a.m., $10 [repeats Sat.].

"Von Sternberg" Two-week retrospective of legendary Hollywood director, Jon von Sternberg (1894-1969), screens 18 films, beginning w/new 35mm-print of b&w Marlene Deitrich drama Shanghai Express (1932); Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (betw. Varick St. & 6th Ave.), 212-727-8110; 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 & 9:30, $10 [repeats Sat.].

Workshops

Yoga Teacher Training & Certification Program: Open House & Seminar There's always a need for more Yoga teachers!?Now you can learn how to become one w/"visuals of training classes," background materials & "program FAQs"; Integral Yoga Institute, 227 W. 13th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-929-0586; 2.

SATURDAY 12/13

Around Town

City Hunt Holiday Adventure Holiday themed scavenger hunt through & around Rockefeller Center to benefit City Harvest?bring a non-perishable food product & get $5 off!; NYC's Official Visitor Info Center, 810 7th Ave. (53rd St.), 917-217-5875; 2, $20, $15 child. 7-15.

Holiday Family Fair & Fair Trade Shopping Christmas trees, wreaths, ornament "creations," oragami/craft making, and children's bazaar plus Global Women's Exchange: "exquisite handcrafted works of art on sale in support of female artisans in 14 developing countries (pottery, jewelry, embroidered tablecloths, woodcarvings, and unique toys); Jan Hus Playhouse, 351 E. 74th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-560-2241; 10-4, free.

Music For Medicine Gala concert & dinner feat. all Russian program incl. St. Petersburg's Kirov Orchestra?proceeds benefit the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction; Carnegie Hall, 157 W. 57th St. (7th Ave.), 212-263-6656, tkts 212-247-7800; 7:30, $36-$140, $1000 incl. dinner.

Music Memorabilia Show & Non-Fiction Book Fair Spend the day browsing music incl. over 10,000 LPs, 45s, 78s & CDs, from jazz to classical, disco to spoken word, from the 1800s to the 1980s & rare, out-of-print, used & antique books?also photographs, posters, sheet music, magazines, books & calendars. Rare Christmas music too, perfect for decking the halls!; Tip Top Shoe Bldg., 155 W. 72nd St., 4th fl. (B'way), 212-579-0689; 10-2, free.

Scanlan Glass Open House Local glass artists share work, demo blowing techniques?no giggling!?& offer up items at great prices. Bring cash!; Scanlan Glass, 103 14th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), Bklyn, 718-369-3645; 11-4, free [repeats Sun.].

West Park Holiday Fair Holiday fair feat. yummy baked treats & unique hand crafted potential gift items; West-Park Presbyterian Church, Amsterdam Ave. (86th St.), 212-362-4890; 11-5.

Film/Video

African Diaspora Film Festival Eclectic mix of over 60 foreign, independent, urban & classic films that depict the global Black experience; Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (2nd St.), 212-505-5181; call for times & info [through 12/24].

Francis Ford Coppola Retrospective finishes this weekend w/The Godfather Part III (1 p.m.), followed by Jack (1996) at 4:15 & 2001's Apocolypse Now Redux (6:30, repeats Sun.)?plus, Sunday see Bram Stoker's Dracula (1:30) & The Rainmaker (4); American Museum of the Moving Image, 35 Ave. (36 St.), Astoria, 718-784-0077; free w/adm.

Living, Eating and the Dead Program incl. Baghdad in No Particular Order by Paul Chan; MOMA's Gramercy Theater, 127 E. 23rd St. (betw. Lexington & Park Aves.), 212-777-4900; 3.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (NR) Not rated? Cause it's for kids or...hmm?"Have you ever seen what a sleighbell can do to a woman's face, Rudolph? Have you? This you should see." Or something. See how it glows on an HD screen; Sony Wonder Technology Lab, 550 Madison Ave. (56th St.), 212-833-8100; 1:30 & 4:30, free.

Lectures

Nanette Carter Artist speaks about her work & assesses how African-Native American artists "syncretize their present identity w/that of their ethnic ancestry"; Rush Arts, 526 W. 26th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-802-4681; 4, free.

"Master Sculptor & Master Singer" Professor Hugh MacDonald explores the connection between Wagner & Berlioz, particularly as seen in the compostitions Benvenuto Cellini & Die Meistersinger; Liederkranz Foundation, 6 E. 87th St. (betw. 5th & Madison Aves.), 212-749-4561; www.wagnersocietyny.org; 10:30 a.m., $10.

Workshops

Women's Workshop: the Lesbian Lifestyle Explore what makes it so "unique, special, rewarding & sometimes even challenging"; Identity House, 39 W. 14th St. #205 (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), RSVP 212-243-8181; 2, $10 sugg. don.

SUNDAY 12/14

Around Town

Annual Chanukah Sale, Art Talk & Tour of the Landmark Sanctuary "Load up on great holiday gifts for kids, grownups, bubbes & zaydehs"; Eldridge Street Project, 12 Eldridge St. (betw. Canal & Division Sts.), 212-219-0888; 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Candlelight Carol Service A traditional service w/choir, harpist, &, of course, a dramatic reading of "A Visit from St. Nicholas"; Chelsea Community Church, 346 W. 20th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-886-5463; 6.

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; 3 p.m., free.

Come Happy Leave Hungry Rev. Billy & the church of stop shopping continue to battle consumerism by baptizing hundreds of converts & kicking Santa in the ass?bring a homemade present for the city's largest gift exchange; St. Marks in the Bowery, 2nd Ave. at E. 10th St. , 917-825-3562; 8, $10.

Military Mailbag Start giving early! Donate unwrapped presents to Toys for Tots, then make festive cards for the forces over-seas?decorating materials provided; Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, Pier 86 W. 46th St. (12th Ave.), 212-245-0072; 10-5, $14, $10 vets./reservists/st./s.c., $7 child. 6-11, $2 child. 2-5, active duty/child. 0-2 free [repeats Tues., through 12/14].

Monitor Street Fire Benefit Musical & literary performances by Thurston Moore, John S. Hall, Gordon Gana & Rebecca Moore?Unpleasant Event Schedule to benefit Todd Colby & the families affected by the fire; Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery (betw. Bleecker & Houston Sts.), 212-614-0505; 8, don.

Nayikas Benefit Reception Wine & hors d'oeuvres reception feat. the Consul General of India, a silent auction & DJ to benefit Nayikas Dance Theatre Company; Cue Art Foundation, 511 W. 25th (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-206-3583; 6, $50.

104th-Annual Christmas Bird Count Birdwatchers walk the entire 843 acres of park to count bird numbers & species?last year, 60 species were identified. Official tally is at 12:30; Central Park Reservoir, 85th St. (5th Ave.), 311, www.nyc.gov/parks; 8 a.m., free.

"Save A Child's Heart" Heart foundation pres. concert feat. groovy 80s soul duo, Ashford & Simpson?proceeds benefit children in need of cardiac care in delveloping countries; B.B. King Blues Club, 237 W. 42nd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-997-4144; 4, $375.

Film/Video

Blue Velvet David Lynch's accessible 1986 classic; Cinema Classics, 332 E. 11th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-677-1027; 7, $6 [repeats Mon. & Tues. at 8].

"Flaneurs of Lower Manhattan" Screenings of avant-garde shorts from 1950's NYC collaborators, Joseph Cornell & Rudy Bruckhardt, incl. Mulberry Street (1957), The Aviary (1955) & Nymphlight (1957); Ocularis at Galapagos, 70 N. 6th St. (betw. Wythe & Kent Aves.), Williamsburg, 718-388-8713; 7, $6.

Lectures

Frederic Brenner Photographer discusses his work on the Jewish Diaspora; Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Pkwy. (Washington Ave.), Bklyn, 718-501-6330; 3, $6, $3 st./s.c.

"Can the Geneva Peace Accord Give Hope to a Final Peace Between Israelis & Palestinians" Speaker Guy Ben-Dror addresses the continuing struggle in the region & shares his hopes for the future; Community Bldg. 7, 330 W. 27th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 718-743-6640; 2:30, don.

The Jewish Catalog: 30th Anniversary Panelists discuss the history of Judaism from a theoretical & practical perspective?feat. Richard Siegel & Rabbis Michael & Sharon Strassfeld; Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th St. (5th Ave.), res. req. 917-606-8200; 3, $10.

"Lost in America: A Journey Wth My Father" Dr. Sherwin Nuland recounts the "travels & discoveries" he shared w/his dad; Council Senior Center, 241 W. 72nd St. (betw. Amsterdam & West End Aves.), 212-273-5304; 1, $3.

Navajo Code Talkers: the Code That Couldn't Be Broken Sam Billison & Shawn Termin discuss how the "Navajo language helped win" WWII; Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place (betw. 1st Pl. & B'way), 212-945-0039, www.mjhnyc.org; 2:30, don.

"World Politics, the Great Transformation" Ralph Buultjens speaks about dangerous Bush policies & their reprecussions on the rest of the world; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 7:30, $25.

Readings

Fall Hearthside Readings make Sundays sound sooo cozy...if they served cocktails. Heated cocktails. Today, Tom Brown & The Tracker; Wave Hill, 675 W. 252nd St. (Independence Ave.), Bronx, 718-549-3200; 2, free.

Russian Authors Series (Programs in Russian) Satirist Arkady Arkanov, like Doctor Zhivago, once practiced medicine; Brooklyn Public Library, Grand Army Pl., Flatbush Ave. (Prospect Park W.), Park Slope, 718-230-2100; 2, free.

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; www.jcllcm.com; 2-5, $5.

Increase Your Personal Effectiveness Gain a better understanding of "yourself & your behavior" in order to "provide insights into the behaviors of others"; Joyous Life Center, 119 W. 23rd St. #700 (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), RSVP 212-352-9910; 5:30, $36.

MONDAY 12/15

Around Town

Great Joy! Mathew Broderick, Richard Kind, Eartha Kitt & other Broadway favorites give as holiday concert to benefit The Actors Fund. Call for ticket prices; New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-221-7300 x133; 7.

Tree Trimming Party Too cheap to get your own or morally against harvesting conifers? Decorate Micky's tree instead. Bring an ornament & get a free beer?otherwise they're $3; Micky's Blue Room, 171 Ave. C (betw. 10th & 11th Sts.), 212-375-0723; 8.

West Park Holiday Fair Third-annual fair feat. homemade baked goods & handcrafted gifts incl. painted silk scarves, small paintings & quilts; West Park Presbyterian Church, 165 W. 86th St. (Amsterdam Ave.), 212-981-8951; 11.

Film/Video

The Big Chill More than a kick-ass soundtrack! Dave Karger (Entertainment Weekly), w/guest Glenn Close, hosts "Monday Night with Oscar" screening of Lawrence Kasden's classic 1983 dramedy, about college friends reuniting at a funeral; Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Ames Theater, 111 E. 59th St. (betw. Park & Lexington Aves.), 888-778-7575; 7:30, $5, $3 st.

A Holiday Celebration from Broadway Matthew Broderick, Edie Falco, Eartha Kitt, Patti LuPone, Bebe Neuwirth, Rosie Perez, Phylicia Rashad, Stanley Tucci & dozens more perform for the Actors' Fund of America; New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.); 7, $50-$1,000.

Monday Night Shorts Weekly screenings showcase shorts from independent filmmakers. This week, David Gold's The Con Man, JJ Goldberger's Stone Mansion & Tamika Lamison's Hope; Freight Restaurant, Chelsea Market, 410 W. 16th St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 212-242-6555; 8, free.

To Live with Terror: The Unsolved Attacks in Buenos Aries Exploration of anti-Semetic attacks in Argentina?early screening followed by discussion & reception; Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (betw. Columbus Ave. & Central Park W.), 212-601-1000; 7:30 & 9, $9-$15.

Lectures

The Actor's Art: Conversations w/Contemporary American Stage Performers Discussion w/actress Cherry Jones offers insight into "75 years of acting in the American theater"?moderated by Richard Davison & Jackson Bryer; Drama Book Shop, Inc., 250 W. 40th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), RSVP 212-944-0595; 5:30.

Ideas Cafe Psychologist & identity theorist Esther Perel leads discussion about the Ground Zero memorial; Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (betw. Columbus Ave. & Central Park W.), 212-601-1000; 8:15, $15.

Sexuality Series: What is Small Anyway? At long last, small penised men have a place to turn?learn about the "myths," "realities" & available resources while sharing trials & tribulations with other small-penised peers; LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-620-7310; 7, $10.

Sweatshop, USA Panel discussion offers "historical & contemporary perspectives on the role of the sweatshop in global migration & economics"; Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 5th Ave. (34th St.), 212-817-8215; www.gc.cuny.edu; 6:30.

"Who Owns the Media: Profit & Public Interest" Is Clear Channel an unstoppable monster threatening to devour all independent media??the Nation's John Nichols debates the role of media monopolies with the Economist's W. Kenneth Ferrer; Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia University, 2920 B'way (betw. 114th & 115th Sts.), 212-209-5400; 6:30, free.

Readings

Hell's Bells Holiday Linda St. John (Even Dogs Go Home To Die), earns a listing for the AC/DC allusion?now, about those heated cocktails...; Atlantic Theater Co., 336 W. 20th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-239-6200; 7.

Outlaws on the Run Julian Rubinstein reads from Ballad of the Whiskey Robber, "the true story of Attila Ambrus: grave digger, Transylvanian animal pelt smuggler, professional hockey goalie, serial bank robber, and modern folk hero"; Junno's, 64 Downing St. (betw. Varick St. & 6th Ave.), 212-627-7995; 7:30, free.

Donna Tartt Author of The Secrect History (w/a countenance to match her name) reads from latest, The Little Friend; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 8.

Workshops

Kabbalah Meditation: Opening Ourselves to Deeper Dimensions of Reality Rabbi DovBer Pinson leads evening of "deep inner exploration" using Kabbalistic meditation to "redirect one's focus" & "forge a connection between the self & the Divine"; Sufi Books, 227 W. B'way (betw. Franklin & White Sts.), 212-334-5212; www.sufibooks.com; 7, $10.

TUESDAY 12/16

Around Town

Hospice and the Caring Friends Program Everyone's welcome to meeting of the Hemlock Society of New York feat. speaker Jamie Houk, they support dying-with-dignity?just be careful what you eat...; Unitarian Church of All Souls, E. 80th St. (Lexington Ave.); 6.

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

Aviv Documentary about Israeli singer, Aviv Geffen, who refuses to serve in the army & speaks for the Israeli youth who adore him?discussion follows early screening; Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (betw. Columbus Ave. & Central Park W.), 212-601-1000; 7:30 & 9:30, $9.

Freeze Me Digital video festival screens director Takashi Ishii's 2000 thriller, about a violent rape & the resulting revenge?Japanese w/English subtitles; VideoTheatre, NYC, 85 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 917-991-7632; 7:30, $5, $3 st.

"Petits Bijoux: Overlooked & Under-Seen French Gems" Ciné-club's series screens overlooked works by major filmmakers. Today, Verneuil's Peur Sur la Ville (Fear Over the City, 1975), the action packed story of a cop (Jean-Paul Belmodo, the French Clint Eastwood) hunting a serial killer?French w/English subtitles; Florence Gould Hall, French Institute, 55 E. 59th St. (betw. Madison & Park Aves.), 212-355-6160; call for times, $8, $6 st.

Lectures

Downtown New York Music in the 1900s-2000s Performers, promoters & producers "reflect on their careers & what it means to make independent music" in NYC?feat. Abby Ehmann, Kid Congo Powers, Theo Kogan, Larry Tee, Jack Terricloth & Paul Wallfisch; New School's Wollman Hall, 65 W. 11th St. (5th Ave.), 212-229-5488; 8, $10.

Workshops

Breathing & Relaxaton for Better Health Learn simple Yogic breathing & stretches to "improve your health & quality of life"; DOROT Headquarters, 171 W. 85th St. (Amsterdam Ave.), 212-769-2850; www.dorotusa.org; 10:45, $5 sugg. don.