Calendar

DANCE

FLAMENCO FLAIR The Joyce SoHo presents a performance by the flamenco dancer Nélida Tirado, a Bronx native who trained in the classical style in Spain. Ms. Tirado dances the world premiere of "Delirio," a work commissioned by Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, an arts organization. The program features an appearance by a guest male artist and musical accompaniment by an ensemble of seven musicians who play original compositions. Tomorrow through Sunday, 8 p.m., Joyce SoHo, 155 Mercer St., between Houston and Prince streets, 212-431-9233, $25 general, $22 students and seniors.

GRASS BETWEEN THE TOES Dance Out!, a series of free outdoor dance performances in parks throughout the five boroughs, kicks off tonight with three companies in East River Park. A dancer and choreographer, Michael Schumacher, partners with surrounding elements such as trees and statues in "Dans le Jardin," which is set to live music played by a cellist and composer, Alex Waterman. Choreographer Dominique Boivin's "Transports Exceptionnels" incorporates a five-ton mechanical excavator, and João Pereira dos Santos performs "Contiga," an acrobatic solo dance by the Portuguese choreographer Rui Horta. Tonight, 7 p.m., East River Park, FDR Drive, between Montgomery Street and East 12th Street, series runs through Sunday, times and locations vary, free. For complete information, go to cityparksfoundation.org.

FAMILY

MERRY MARIONETTES A puppeteer, Dan Butterworth, perform with his hand-carved marionettes at Brower Park as part of the Brooklyn Children's Museum's On-the-Go series. "Carnaval del Mundo," or "Carnival of the World," is a wordless production that encourages audience members of all ages to fully engage their imaginations. Mr. Butterworth has been a puppeteer for more than 20 years, and drew inspiration for his latest show from his travels throughout Asia, Mexico, Canada, Alaska, and America. Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Brower Park, between Brooklyn and Kingston avenues, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, 718-735-4400, free.

COOL CONFECTION Ice cream lovers of all ages can enjoy "I Scream for Ice Cream," a program at Van Cortlandt Park that teaches the history of the dessert dating back to the 18th century. Visitors can taste generous samplings of Thomas Jefferson's favorite treat. Reservations are recommended. Today, 2 p.m., Van Cortlandt Park, Van Cortlandt Mansion and Museum, 246th Street at Broadway, the Bronx, 212-543-3344, $10.

FESTIVALS

UPTOWN BOOK FAIR The Harlem Book Fair this year celebrates 10 years of bringing great reads and best-selling authors uptown with three days of festivities including panel discussions hosted by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Topics range from DIY digital publishing and marketing to the literary legacy of the author James Baldwin. An outdoor festival Saturday features a host of book vendors and activities geared toward young and adult readers. Fair runs Friday through Sunday, times and locations vary; festival on Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., West 135th Street, between Lenox Avenue and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, 212-348-1681, free. For complete information, go to qbr.org.

FILM

DESTINY FULFILLED Flora Gomes's musical "Nha Fala — My Voice, My Life, My Destiny" has a screening as part of the Films on the Green series. In it, a young girl living in Cape Verde yearns to sing as her neighbors do — music accompanies everyday happenings from breakups to government elections — but is forbidden by a family curse that promises death to any girl who dares to croon. When Vita meets and falls in love with a musician, her will is tested. The program, which includes samplings of barbecue cuisine during and after the screening, is presented by the Cultural Services department of the French Embassy and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Friday, sunset (about 8:30 p.m.), Morningside Park, 110th Street at Morningside Avenue, 212-439-1453, free.

ZEITGEIST FILMS A series at the Museum of Modern Art, Zeitgeist: The Films of Our Time, celebrates two decades of movies from the film distributor founded in 1988. The program features 20 movies in all, with works by directors including Todd Haynes, Guy Maddin, and Agnes Varda, whose "Les Glaneurs et la Gleneuse" (2001), or "The Gleaners and I," is part of this week's lineup. The documentary provides an investigation of the margins of French society. Ms. Varda meets people whose work and lives are largely invisible to the mainstream. (In French with English subtitles.) Saturday, 6 p.m., and Monday, 5:30 p.m., series through Wednesday, July 23, dates and times vary, MoMA, Roy and Niuta Titus Theatre 2, 11 W. 53rd St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-708-9847, $10 general, $8 seniors, $6 students. For complete information, go to moma.org.

DISCO MUSICAL The IFC Center hosts a midnight sing-along screening of "Xanadu" (1980). Audiences are invited to join in on the campy tunes from the film's soundtrack, which features songs by Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra. Ms. Newton-John plays Kira, a muse of the Greek god Zeus, who visits Earth disguised in '80s gear to inspire a lonely artist, played by Michael Beck, who dreams of fame. Before the film, moviegoers are given lyric sheets and a grab bag with props. Friday-Saturday, midnight, IFC Center, 323 Sixth Ave. at West 3rd Street, 212-924-7771, $13.50 general, $10.50 members.

GALLERY-GOING

BRIGHT SUMMER David Findlay Jr. Fine Art presents "Summerset," an exhibit of works by 19th- and 20th-century painters and sculptors, whose pieces reflect the theme of summertime. Many of the artworks have bright, color-drenched palettes or depict warm-weather scenes. Through Saturday, August 23, David Findlay Jr. Fine Art, 41 E. 57th St., Ste. 1120, at Madison Avenue, 212-486-7660, free.

ABOVE AND BEYOND The Jenkins Johnson Gallery presents "Beyond Representation," an exhibit that explores the contemporary meaning of realism in fine art. Some of the show's featured artists, such as Julia Fullerton-Batten, employ a hyperrealistic style, while others, such as Julian Opie, play with graphic design imagery. Through Monday, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Jenkins Johnson Gallery, 521 W. 26th St., 5th floor, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-629-4255, free.

BLOCK PARTY The New Museum hosts Block Party 2008, a daylong festival of art-related activities and performances that celebrate the museum's Lower East Side neighborhood. On the program are workshops focusing on local art, architecture, and culture; a performance by the Bowery Poetry Club Poets, and concerts by a postmodern dance company, Vangeline Theater, and a group that combines elements of burlesque, vaudeville, and the circus, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. The celebration includes a tour of the New Museum's exhibit "2008 Altoids Award," which features works by the recipients of the titular prize, given biennially to four artists selected by a panel of their peers. Saturday, noon-7 p.m., Sara D. Roosevelt Park, Forsyth Street, between East Houston and Delancey streets, 212-219-1222, free.

MUSIC

PIANO MAN The Village Vanguard hosts the jazz pianist Cecil Taylor, who is accompanied each night this week by the British drummer Tony Oxley. At his most recent solo appearance at the JVC Jazz Festival, Mr. Taylor's sound "seemed inspired by Ornette Coleman's definition of free jazz," Will Friedwald wrote in the June 23 New York Sun. Mr. Oxley, who has worked and performed with Mr. Taylor for the past 20 years, has also lent his percussive talents to jazz musicians such as Stan Getz, Bill Evans, and Joe Henderson. Through Sunday, doors open at 8 p.m., show 9 p.m., Village Vanguard, 178 Seventh Ave. at 11th Street, 212-255-4037, $35.

BLAST OF BLUEGRASS The Grammy Award-winning bluegrass musician Jerry Douglas performs with his band at the Prospect Park Bandshell as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn! series. They are joined on the bill by the Holmes Brothers, who mix strains of gospel with roadhouse rock and blues. Mr. Douglas has also made appearances on albums by artists such as James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Ray Charles, and was recently named the artist-in-residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., Prospect Park, Prospect Park Bandshell, Ocean Avenue, between Parkside Avenue and Lincoln Road, 646-221-5608, free.

READINGS

THE SHOCK DOCTORS A writer for the Nation and the Guardian, Naomi Klein, discusses her most recent book, "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism" (Metropolitan). Ms. Klein examines the ways in which "shock doctors," a select group of global leaders, influence how people across cultures view and digest breaking news. Historically, according to the author, while societies were reeling from natural disasters, war, financial upheaval, or other unsettling events, politicians and corporate leaders colluded to implement self-serving policies that would never have passed otherwise. The practice is still thriving today, Ms. Klein argues. Tonight, 7 p.m., Barnes and Noble Union Square, 33 E. 17th St., 4th floor, between Broadway and Park Avenue South, 212-253-0810, free.

SHAKESPEARE CONDENSED Freebird Books hosts a book crawl along Red Hook's historic waterfront. A founder of the theater troupe the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Jess Winfield, leads the crawl, performing 31 condensed plays and reading passages from his debut novel, "My Name Is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare" (Twelve). The tour starts aboard the free Ikea ferry, continues with stops at local taverns such as B61 and Rocky Sullivan's, and ends at the bookstore. Saturday, meet at 2 p.m., Pier 11, Ikea water taxi to Brooklyn, Wall Street at South Street. For complete information on the water taxi service, go to nywatertaxi.com.

TALKS

BATTER UP Baseball is a multilayered sport marked not just by heart-wrenching victories and losses and century-old rivalries, but also multimillion-dollar deals and contracts. Today, fans can get an inside look at the backroom negotations that drive a typical front office at "The Economics of Baseball," a symposium presented by New York University's Stern School of Business. Panels led by experts in the field — from statistics crunchers at ESPN to sports journalists — explore a range of topics, including "All-Star Games, Super Bowls, Playoffs and the Regular Season: Effects of Sporting Events on City Coffers." and "Baseball as a Road to God." Today, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., NYU, Stern School of Business, Henry Kaufman Management Center, 44 W. 4th St., room 2-60, between Mercer Street and LaGuardia Place, 212-998-0452, $50 general, $20 students.

THEATER

PITCH-PERFECT In the comedy "Perfect Harmony," a high school a cappella group, the Acafellas, must compete for the national championship title against their school's female counterparts, the Ladies in Red, at Acapalooza. As the groups battle to win nationals, they discover the high-stakes world of secondary-school singing. The director of the play, Andrew Grosso, wrote the script with several members of the New York-based theater company the Essentials. Mr. Grosso is the company's artistic director. Through Thursday, July 24, Monday-Tuesday, 7 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday, 8 p.m., Theatre Row, Harold Clurman Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St., between Ninth and Tenth avenues, 212-279-4200, $18.

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