EVENTS WEDNESDAY 12/12 Around Town Annual 19th Century Holiday Party ...

Around Town

Annual 19th Century Holiday Party Merchant's House Museum goes all Jane Austen on you w/decorations, candlelight tours, food & "kissing balls"?benefits families of firefighters from local ladder; 29 E. 4th St. (Lafayette St.), 212-777-1089; 6-8, $20.

Christmas Toy Drive Drop off a plaything for NYPD & FDNY kids at vintage clothing store Resurrection & receive 15% off purchase; 217 Mott St. (betw. Prince & Spring Sts.), 212-625-1374; 11-7 [through 12/24].

Christmas Toy Drive Bring unwrapped toys for distribution by sisters of the Church of Immaculate Conception; Raven, 194 Ave. A (betw. 12th & 13th Sts.), 212-529-4712; call for times.

Garment-Center-Holiday-Bargain-Shopping-Walking-Tour Whew! The mark-downs continue; meet at 1411 B'way (W. 39th St.), 212-370-4212; call for times, $15 [through 12/21].

Israeli Folk-Dance Wednesdays draw over 100 participants each week. Lessons start early for beginners?more advanced dancers stop by later to chat & boogie; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 6:45-8, call for price [through 12/26].

It's Ice Skating Time In Prospect Park Strap 'em on & head down to Kate Wollman Ice Skating Center, Prospect Park (Parkside & Ocean Aves.), Bklyn, 718-287-6431; call for times, $2-$4.

Muse Awards Luncheon & awards ceremony by NY Women In Film & Television w/editor Dede Allen (Wonder Boys, Henry & June, recent issues of the Post), Phylicia Rashad (Clair Huxtable from The Cosby Show), Meryl Poster (Miramax), Liv Ullmann, Cynthia Nixon & more; NY Hilton Hotel, 1335 6th Ave. (54th St.), 212-679-0870; 11:30, $200.

Benefits

"Always in Our Hearts" Artists respond to Sept. 11, 10% of sales go to Robin Hood Relief Fund; Woodward Gallery, 476 Broome St., 5th fl. (Wooster St.), 212-966-3411; 11-6, free [repeats Thurs.-Sat. & Tues. 11-6, through 1/26].

Y.Nagasaki Documentary photographer shows hundreds of images of Sept. 11th, proceeds go to FDNY Ladder 3 Assistance Fund; Tenri Cultural Institute, 43A W. 13th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-645-2800; 12-6, free [repeats Thurs., Fri., Mon. & Tues. 12-6, Sat. 12-5, through 1/12].

Family

Big Top Doo-Wop Big Apple Circus is in town, feat. Grandma the Clown, trapeze artists, horse acrobatics, brilliant dogs, juggling & more; Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center, 212-721-6500 for times; $12-$52 [repeats daily, through 1/6].

Earth Celebrations Puppet & Costume Workshop Learn to make puppets, lanterns & more for a winter pageant; Earth Celebrations, 638 E. 6th St. (betw. Aves. B& C), 212-777-7969; 12:30-4:30, free [repeats Sat.].

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].

My Eight Days of Hanukkah Book-making workshop in the Klutz Book Factory; Children's Museum of Manhattan, Tisch Bldg., 212 W. 83rd St. (B'way), 212-721-1234; 2,3 & 4, $6 [repeats Thurs. & Fri.].

Film/Video

Annie screens as part of "Happy Endings" series; St. Agnes Library, 444 Amsterdam Ave. (81st St.), 212-877-4380; 2, free.

"Brazil on Screen" Film series highlights tv & film of Brazil in conjunction w/"Brazil: Body & Soul" exhibition, continues today at Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave. (89th St.), 212-423-3500; 7, $6, $5 st./s.c. [repeats Fri., through 1/11].

"Special Holiday Program...Transformations" 16mm films "Ellis Island" & "Cage/Cunningham" screen at Donnell Library Center Aud., 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0609; 2:30, free.

Utvandrarna Jan Troell's diptych based on writings of Vilhelm Moberg screens as part of "Scandinavian Beauties" series at Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. (betw. 37th & 38th Sts.), 212-779-3587; 6 & 8:30, $8.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Gene Wilder stars in classic Mel Stuart flick; Void, 16 Mercer St. (Howard St.), 212-941-6492; 7:30, free.

Lectures

Civil Obedience: Media Censorship & Self Censorship During Wartime A discussion w/John MacArthur (Harper's Magazine), Kurt Andersen (Inside, Spy) Hafez Al-Mirazi (Al Jazeera), John Podhoretz (New York Post, Weekly Standard); Tishman Aud., New School, 66 W. 12th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), RSVP 212-229-5353; 7, free.

Friends, Family & Neighbors Irish photographer Oistin MacBride (BBC, CBS, LA Times) speaks & shares images for his visual memoir of the last 20 years in Northern Ireland; Rocky Sullivan's, 129 Lexington Ave. (betw. 28th & 29th Sts.), 212-725-3871; 8, free.

Offsite Design Lecture Series Strategist Cordy Swope (Continuum & Toyota) speaks; Fun, 130 Madison St. (betw. Pike & Market Sts.), 212-964-0303; 6, free.

Readings

Homotext New gay literature curated by Pamela Booker; Dixon Place, 309 E. 26th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-532-1546; 7:30, $5.

Schmooze For Jewish Lesbians plus fiction & poetry discussion; 212-580-0099 x269 for location; 7, free.

Workshops

Israel Through Literature Class discusses Natan Zach's The Poetic Rebellion as presented in English & Yiddish; Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (betw. Columbus & Central Park W.), 212-601-1000; 8:30, $8.

THURSDAY 12/13

Benefits

Miracle on 15th St. Bring a new unwrapped toy to benefit the Children's Hope Foundation & see performances by drag queen Joey Arias & the cast of Christmas with The Crawfords at, of all places, a gym. Hosted by Susan Sarandon, Todd Oldham & lesser celebrities; David Barton Gym, 552 6th Ave. (15th St.), 212-334-0001; 9-1, contrib.

Family

A Child's Christmas in Wales Musical performance by Willow Cabin Theatre Co. based on Dylan Thomas short story; ArcLight Theater, 152 W. 71st St. (betw. Amsterdam & Columbus Aves.), 212-886-1889; 7:30, $15 [repeats Fri., Sat. & Sun., through 12/22].

Children's Holiday Party Make Scandinavian ornaments, dress up in costumes & sing songs; Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. (betw. 37th & 38th Sts.), 212-847-9734, res. req.; 4, $5

Lighting of the Dana Discovery Center Instead of a tree, a bldg. will be lit as a giant gingerbread house in Arts Opera-Promotion's first NYC installation, w/ornament-making & Boys Choir of Harlem; Dana Discovery Center & Lenox Ave. Playground in Central Park, 5th Ave. (110th St.), 212-310-6636; 4:30, lighting at 6:30, free.

Film/Video

"Brooklyn Docs" New monthly series screens Brother Born Again; Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Pkwy. (Washington Ave.), 718-638-5000; 6:30, $9, $6 adv.

"Documentary Fortnight" continues w/Switzerland's Remote Sensing, about woman working in the sex industry; Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-708-9400; 2:30, $12, $8.50 st./s.c. [through 12/16].

"Global Visions: Disruptive Directors of British Television" showcases early works by now-acclaimed directors Ken Russel, Ken Loach, others; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; 6, $6, $4 st./s.c., $3 child. under 13 [repeats Fri. at 7, Sat. & Sun. at 2, through 1/20].

"Old-School Kung Fu Fest 2001" returns after a one-year hiatus w/everything Hong Kong has to offer, incl. Crippled Avengers, starring a blind man, a deaf-mute, a legless man, an armless man & an idiot; Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St. (betw. 5th Ave. & University Pl.), 212-924-3364; 10, call for price [through 12/15].

"Special Holiday Program...Transformations" 16mm avant-garde film "I Was a Male Yvonne De Carlo" screens at Donnell Library Center Aud., 20 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-0609; 2:30, free.

Lectures

"Freedom From Fear" Lecture series continues today at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center, 322 8th Ave. (26th St.), 212-924-6706; 7-9, $12.

Readings

Wordsmiths Tonight Elissa Schappell (Vanity Fair, Tin House), Amanda Davis (short story collection Circling The Drain) & Elizabeth Gaffney (The Paris Review); Halcyon, 227 Smith St. (betw. Butler & Douglass Sts.), Bklyn, 718-260-9299; call for times & prices.

Workshops

Christmas Cookie Workshop Aunt Midge been buggin' you for quality time? Knock some off (& call it her present) at New School Culinary Arts, 127 W. 24th St. (6th Ave.), 212-255-4141; 9-12:30, $100.

FRIDAY 12/14

Around Town

Christmas In Little Italy Streets will be blocked off w/music, holiday tents, special restaurant deals & little Bobby DeNiro!; Mulberry St. (betw. Canal & Broome Sts.) & Hester & Grand Sts. (betw. Mott & Baxter Sts.), 212-764-6330; 11-10 [through Sun.].

Holiday Book Sale today & tomorrow, bargain prices on over 40,000 titles w/proceeds benefiting Poets House, 72 Spring St. (betw. Lafayette & Crosby Sts.), 212-431-7920; call for times.

Benefits

Vital Signs Part of "Art Mob a Capella Concerts" series incl. American Sacred Harp-style songs from the past, carols & contemporary music, proceeds go to Sept. 11th funds; Lance Fung Gallery; 537 B'way (betw. Spring & Prince Sts.), 212-724-6296; 8, contrib. [repeats Sat. & Sun. in different venues, check www.artmob.org].

Family

Everything About School (Almost) Original musical performed by kids 8-18 w/songs & skits; TADA! Theater, 120 W. 28th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-627-1732 x60; 7, $6-$15 [repeats Sat. & Sun. at 2 & 4, through 12/28].

The Flaming Idiots Acrobatics, gadgets, juggling & silliness; New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-239-6200; call for times, $10-$30 [repeats Sat. & Sun., through 1/13].

Hawk Watch Look for migrating raptor birds w/park rangers, binoculars provided; Henry Luce Nature Observatory at Belvedere Castle, Central Park (midpark at 79th St.), 212-772-0210; 10-4, free [repeats Sat.-Tues.].

Read for 2002 Participate in a global reading celebration for 33 1/3 minutes; Scholastic Store, 557 B'way (betw. Prince & Spring Sts.), 212-343-6166; 12, free.

Yertle the Turtle & Miss Spider's Tea Party Mini-musical performed by the Children's Theatre Co.; 53 E. 11th St. (betw. University & B'way), 212-330-9309 x6; 2 & 6:30, $12 [repeats Sat. & Sun., through 12/30].

Film/Video

"1950s New York: Reflections from the Screen" Series focusing on post-WWII films, running in conjunction w/current exhibition, concludes today at the New-York Historical Society, 2 W. 77th St. (Central Park W.), 212-873-3400 x0; call for sched., $3.

Alternative Views Shorts offering insight on the Middle East & Afghanistan; Great Hall at Cooper Union, 7 E. 7th St. (3rd Ave.), 212-353-4155; 8:30, free.

"Critic's Choice: Donald Richie on Japanese Film" continues w/1959's b&w Snow Flurry about one woman's struggle w/life, love & her illegitimate son; Japan Society, 333 E. 47th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-752-3015; 6:30, $9.

"Documentary Fortnight" screens Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey, doc. about black Nobel Peace Prize winner, Bunche, is narrated by Sidney Poitier; Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-708-9400; 3, $12, $8.50 st./s.c. [through 12/16].

Flicker Film Festival showcases local filmmakers' shorts made entirely from one 50-foot roll of Super 8; Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. Church St. & B'way), 212-219-3006; 7, $5.

Heavy Metal Parking Lot: 15th Anniversary Tour Brilliant Judas Priest rockumentary from '86 by Jeff Krulik & John Heyn screens at Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-708-9400; 8:15, $12, $8.50 st./s.c.

Military Myths exposes army life, performances by Division X & Welfare Poets follow; Changing America, 235 W. 23rd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-228-0450; 7, $2 contrib.

"Old-School Kung Fu Fest 2001" continues w/Mar's Villa; Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St. (betw. 5th Ave. & University Pl.), 212-924-3364; 11:30, call for price [through Sat.].

Open Screening for 8mm, 16mm & videos up to 20 min.?shorts screened on first-come-first-served basis; Millennium, 66 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd Ave. & the Bowery), 212-673-0090; sign-up at 7, contrib.

Lectures

Christo & Jeanne-Claude Husband & wife artists make a living wrapping suckers?national monuments in white sheets?see what they have to say for themselves (yes, they're French); Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave. (82nd St.), RSVP 212-570-3949; 6, $30.

Red Feminism: American Communism & The Making Of Women's Liberation Learn about 30s/post-WWII movement which anticipated & set tone for 60s & 70s explosion; Brecht Forum, 122 W. 27th St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-242-4201; 7:30, $6.

Readings

Fiction Live Stories from The New Yorker pages (which has a notoriously bad fiction selection) will be read by Jon Stewart, John Turturro & others?proceeds benefit the NY Shakespeare Festival; Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (betw. 4th St. & Astor Pl.), 212-239-6200; 7:30, $12.

The Oral History Book Project Release Party Book by & about homeless people w/AIDS plus NYC AIDS Housing Network's holiday art auction; 55 Washington Sq. S. (Thompson St.), 718-802-9540; call for times & prices.

SATURDAY 12/15

Around Town

Brooklyn Museum Of Art holiday auction kicks off w/hors d' oeuvres & cocktails in newly-restored Beaux Arts Court followed by dinner & dancing w/proceeds benefiting museum's educational programs; Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Pkwy. (Washington Ave.), Bklyn, 718-789-2493; 7, $125.

Chelsea Holiday House Tour Tour 19th-century neighborhood, homes & galleries to benefit P.S. 11; call 212-496-4520 for meeting place; 2 & 3, $40.

Free Dog Food Distributed plus optional "Pet Photos w/Santa" (for $10 donation) sponsored by the Center for Animal Care & Control at South St. Seaport Mall, 212-442-2073 for directions & times.

Saturday Evenings At The Guggenheim Private tour of "Brazil" exhibition & Norman Rockwell collection followed by wine & mingling (people have met their spouses there); 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 5:45, $25.

Shabbat Traditional morning service in Hebrew & English serving gay & lesbian community; Beth Simchat Torah, 57 Bethune St. (betw. Washington St. & West Side Hwy.), 212-929-9498; 10.

Winter Night, Hot Lights Brooklyn's Dyker Heights, an otherwise unremarkable area betw. Bensonhurst & Bay Ridge, becomes a friggin' bonanza of holiday lights tonight. Finish the whole thing off w/dinner at an "Italian karaoke restaurant," although keep in mind that real Italians are too busy eating to sing at dinner; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 7-11, $90.

Benefits

Holiday Housewarming Shopping Day fresh art Gallery offers cider & doughnuts, paintings, crafts, baskets & more made by New York artists w/special needs, proceeds support fresh art's social service & community programs; fresh art Gallery, 135 W. 4th St. (Washington Sq. S.), 212-254-9156; 1-7, free.

Family

Act it Out! The Art of Body Language Guided walk through museum before public arrives; Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-708-9805; 9-10:30, $5 per family.

Classic Christmas Films Three animated Hans Christian Andersen tales?Hans the Clopper, The Tinderbox & The Ice Queen (w/collage by the real Queen of Denmark); Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave. (betw. 37th & 38th Sts.), 212-879-9779, 3, $5-$8 [repeats Sun.].

The Games We Played Inspector Collector leads tour of historical American toys, ends w/game-making workshop; the New-York Historical Society, 2 W. 77th St. (Central Park W.), 212-873-3400; 11, free.

Holiday Pixel Greetings Get your digital photo taken for a nifty holiday card; Sony Wonder Technology Lab, 56th St. (Madison Ave.), RSVP 212-833-4698; 2-5, $5 [repeats Sun.].

The Little Mermaid Musical w/pre-show workshop; YWCA, Hitchcock-Rockefeller Aud., 610 Lexington Ave. (53rd St.), 212-866-5170; 1, $15 & $5 workshop fee [through 12/30].

1000 Paper Cranes Workshop See Keith Haring triptych & 30-foot peace tree covered in cranes, make cards, candle holders & some cranes of your own; Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave. (112th St.), 212-932-7347, 10 a.m., $5.

Paper Trail Learn how to make your own paper, but don't eat it!; Brooklyn Children's Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. (betw. St. Marks Ave. & Prospect Pl.), 718-735-4402, 10:30-12, $4 [repeats Sun.].

Satonge! Music Sekouba Kandia Kouyate sings about the history of family & community; Museum for African Art, 593 B'way (betw. Prince & Houston Sts.), 212-966-1313; 4, free.

Season's Greetings Make your own pop-up holiday cards w/winter wonders; Kerlin Learning Center, Wave Hill, 675 W. 252nd St. (Independence Ave.), Bronx, 718-549-3200, 1-4, free.

The Snowmaiden Play about the coming of spring; Vital Theater Co., 432 W. 42nd St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 212-592-4508; 1, $10 [repeats Sun. 11 & 1, through 12/30].

Film/Video

"Not-So-Silent Saturdays" Bi-monthly program spreads holiday cheer w/showing of Babes in Toyland; Pioneer Theater, 155 E. 3rd St. (Ave. A), 212-254-3300; 1, call for price.

"Old-School Kung Fu Fest 2001" concludes today w/Martial Arts of Shaolin, Jet Li in non-stop action; Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St. (betw. 5th Ave. & University Pl.), 212-924-3364; 11:30, call for price.

Reds Renowned editor Dede Allen (Wonder Boys, Henry & June, recent issues of the Post) hosts "Master Class: The Art of Film Editing" series, today, 1981 flick screens starring Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton & Jack Nicholson; American Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. (36th St.), Astoria, 718-784-0077; 1, $8.50, $5.50 st./s.c. [repeats Sun.].

The Woman by the Sea is a "dance on film about a woman's journey & struggle from physical being into spiritual consciousness"?movie screens in conjunction w/"Requiem" exhibit of photographs; Movement Salon, 190 3rd Ave. (17th St.), 718-802-9874; 6:30.

SUNDAY 12/16

Around Town

Annual Candlelight Carol Festival today at the beautiful Riverside Church Nave, 490 Riverside Dr. (betw. 120th. & 122nd Sts.), 212-870-6784; 3:30 & 6:00, $15, $10 st./s.c.

Dignity New York Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendered Catholics...listen up! Liturgies today at St. John's in the Village Episcopal Church, 218 W. 11th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-243-6192; 7:30.

God's Love We Deliver Volunteer every third Sunday of the month to prepare food for those living w/AIDS or HIV; Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (Central Park W. & Columbus Ave.), 212-601-1000; 11-2.

Have-Your-Photo-Taken-With-Angry-Drunken-Santa And unlike in department stores, you can drink while you wait at Detour, 349 E. 13th St. (1st Ave.), 212-533-6212; 6.

Benefits

Batoto Yetu Dancers Benefit Harlem-based West African dancers, puppeeters & drummers pres. Angolan folk tale dances, headlined by Isabella Rossellini, Ali McGraw & Heidi Klum; Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 68th St. (betw. Park & Lexington Aves.), 212-772-4448; 4, $35-$125.

Build This World Together Chanukah Concert feat. Jewish folk singer Debbie Friedman, to benefit WTC funds; Congregation Rodelph Sholom, 7 W. 83rd St. (Park Ave.), 212-836-1387; 2, $36.

Family

Aesop's Fables Brave mice, determined turtles & lazy rabbits star in puppet show; the Town School, 540 E. 76th St. (betw. York & East End Aves.), 212-369-8890 x159; 11, 12:30 & 2; $7.

Mighty Curious Improv Troupe suggest stories & make up games, ages 7-12; Gotham City Improv Theater, 158 W. 23rd St., 2nd fl. (7th Ave.), 212-665-3386; 2, $5.

What's Up Doc? "Reel to Real," monthly series feat. cartoons Rabbit of Seville, Long-Haired Hare & more, brings audience participation & Metropolitan Opera singers to Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St. (B'way), 212-875-5570; 11:30 & 2, $16, $8 child.

Film/Video

B-52 Hartmut Bitomsky's doc. on 450,000-pound fighting machine; Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (Varick St.), 212-727-8110; call for times, $9 [through 12/18].

Lenny Editor Alan Heim (All That Jazz, Hair) hosts "Master Class: The Art of Film Editing" series, today 1974 flick w/Dustin Hoffman screens; American Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. (36th St.), Astoria, 718-784-4520; 2, $16.

"Spanish Cinema Now" Program continues w/Strangers to Themselves (5), Buñuel & King Solomon's Table (7) & Madness of Love (9:15); Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St. (B'way), RSVP 212-875-5600; $9, $4.50 s.c. [through 12/27].

Lectures

The O'Reilly Factor Bill O'Reilly in conversation w/Leonard Lopate of WNYC's excellent "New York & Company"; 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 7:30, $22.

Readings

Spoken Word Fake feat. new works on deception is read by members of the (sweet Jesus no!) Williamsburg Writers' Collective; Blu Lounge, 197 N. 8th St. (Driggs Ave.), Williamsburg, 718-349-6302; 6, free.

Zinc Bar Reading Series w/Jamie Manrique (My Night w/Frederico Garcia Lorca) & poet Jorge Clar; Zinc Bar, 90 Houston St. (betw. LaGuardia & Thompson Sts.), 212-533-9317; 6:30, $4.

MONDAY 12/17

Benefits

Ports, Pears, Stiltons & Blues Taste & learn about ports w/chef Maryann Terillo, gift bag incl.?half the profits go to the Windows of Hope Fund; Jarnac, 328 W. 12th St. (Greenwich Ave.), 212-924-3413; 7-9, $35-45.

Varla-la-la-la Yuletide Extravanganza Lovechild of Ethel Merman & Ernest Borgnine, Varla Jean Merman (a.k.a. Jeffery T. Roberson) pres. the Harlem Boys Choir & other performers to benefit God's Love We Deliver; Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-840-2824; 8, $25-$75.

Film/Video

"Cult Movie Nights" screens Pee Wee's Big Adventure w/our favorite truck driver, Large Marge (10:30), plus must-see The Jerk w/Steve Martin (8 p.m. & 1:30 a.m.); Luxx, 256 Grand St. (betw. Driggs & Roebling Sts.), Williamsburg, 718-599-1000; free.

"Film & Discussion Series" continues w/The Chosen, based on Chaim Potek's novel set in Brooklyn during 1940s; discussion w/Rabbi Daniel Brenner follows screening; Museum of Jewish Heritage, 18 First Pl. (Battery Pl.), 212-968-1800; 6:30, $7, $5 st./s.c.

"Mondo Mondays" Weekly retro film screenings continue w/Akira Kurosawa's first color flick, Dodes'ka-Den, about slums of Tokyo; Den of Cin, Two Boots, 44 Ave. A (betw. 3rd & 4th Sts.), 212-714-3575; 8, $5 incl. 1 drink.

Videos from the Southern Front: Recent Works from Argentina Selected works from the South about the South; Ocularis at Galapagos, 70 N. 6th St. (betw. Wythe & Kent Aves.), Williamsburg, 718-388-8713; 8:30, $6.

Readings/Open Mic

Sophisticated Mondays B&B Liquor-sponsored spoken-word w/32 poets a night & weekly prizes, concludes tonight; Lola, 30 W. 22nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-221-7611 x308; 7-9.

TUESDAY 12/18

Benefits

Bid for Hope Auction Live & silent auction & raffle of works by Missoni, Ron Arad, Richard Hutten & Pascal Tarabay to raise funds for children's art programs related to WTC; Felissimo Design House, 10 W. 56th St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-247-5656 x125; 6:30, $20, applied toward purchases.

Film/Video

"Ciné Hommage to Jeanne Moreau" Truffaut's trib. to Hitchcock, La mariée était en noir (The Bride Wore Black), starring the inimitable Moreau, ends series at French Institute's Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St. (betw. Madison & Park Aves.), 212-355-6160; 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9, $8.

"The Frank Sinatra Show: Happy Holidays w/Bing & Frank" New print screens at Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600; 12:30 & 3:30, $6, $4 st./s.c. [through 1/6].

"A Wonderful Town: New York in Film" Series celebrating New York City screens Auntie Mame (2:30) & Trick (6); Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-708-9400; $12, $8.50 st./s.c. [through 12/21].

Lectures

Celestial Highlights Learn what stars & constellations will be visible this winter, plus see a meteor shower & eclipse; Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History, Kaufmann Theater, 79th St. (Central Park W.), 212-769-5200; 6:30, $10.

Die Frau Ohne Schatten Interview w/conductor Christian Thielemann & sopranos Deborah Voigt & Gabriele Schnaut on Metropolitan Opera's new production; Kaplan Penthouse, Rose Building, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, B'way, 10th fl. (65th St.), 212-769-7028; 6:15, $15.

Readings/Open Mic

Slam/Open Mic w/Nathan P. at Nuyorican Poets Cafe, 236 E. 3rd St. (betw. Aves. B & C), 212-505-8183; 9, $5.

Workshops

Pain Clinic feat. representatives of Chiropractic method, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method & Biofeedback; Workman's Circle, 45 E. 33rd St. (Park Ave.), RSVP 212-869-9477; 2-4, free.