Calendar

EXHIBITS

QUILTING TIME The Queens Central Library Gallery presents "Voices in Cloth," an exhibit of story quilts and other soft sculptures by the artists Faith Ringgold, Linda Freeman, and Grace Matthews. The exhibit, geared toward youngsters, focuses on how quilts and decorative arts have been used to express personal and social narratives, exploring themes such as familial love and the importance of honoring one's ancestors. During gallery hours, young visitors can follow a guided discussion of the show and participate in related studio activities. Through Sunday, September 14, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m., Queens Central Library Gallery, 89-11 Merrick Blvd. at 89th Avenue, Jamaica, Queens, 718-990-8665, free.

FAMILY

HOW THE LEOPARD GOT HIS SKIN TheatreworksUSA presents "African Folk Tales," a series of stories inspired by Anansi the Spider, a mythical character of West African origin, and other traditional figures, at the Slattery Playground in the Bronx. Morals and lessons coincide with dance, mime performances, and drumming, as performers expound upon "How the Zebra Got His Stripes," "The Possum and the Snake," and "Why Monkeys Live in Trees." TheatreworksUSA is a nonprofit drama program specializing in traveling educational productions. Today, 10:30 a.m., Slattery Playground, 183rd Street, between Ryer and Valentine avenues, Tremont, Bronx, 212-647-1100, free.

FILM

BACK TO BERLIN Film Forum presents director Julian Schnabel's "Lou Reed's Berlin" (2007) during a weeklong limited engagement. The documentary depicts the legendary musician during a live five-day series of performances, which took place in 2006, of his 1973 album, "Berlin," a commercial failure and arguably the most depressing of Mr. Reed's albums. Interlaced are scenes, filmed by Mr. Schnabel's wife, Lola, that tell the story of the beautiful Caroline (played by French actress Emmanuelle Seigner), a self-destructive woman with many lovers. Since its debut, the film has been screened at the San Sebastian, Venice, and Toronto film festivals. Tonight through Tuesday, August 5, screening times vary, Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. at Varick Street, 212-727-8110, $11 general, $6 members and children. For complete information, go to filmforum.org.

LIZARD LOUNGE As part of its annual Outdoor Cinema festival, the Socrates Sculpture Park screens Bong Joon-ho's "The Host" (2006), a South Korean blockbuster about a mutated lizard that emerges from a polluted river to destroy everything in its path. The plot centers on a dysfunctional family who come together when young Hyun-seo is dragged into the river by the monster. Subtle political commentary saturates the film, beginning with the opening scene, in which an American pathologist orders a Korean assistant to dump formaldehyde into a water source that eventually leads into the river; a fabricated virus scare; scenes of military compounds, and the shooting of a poisonous "Agent Yellow" against the creature. The film was inspired by an incident in 2000, when a mortician working with the American military dumped a large amount of formaldehyde down the drain, resulting in public outrage. The screening is preceded at 7 p.m. by performances by local musicians. Wednesday, 8:13 p.m., Socrates Sculpture Park, Vernon Boulevard, at Broadway, Long Island City, Queens, 718-956-1819, free.

GALLERY-GOING

DREAMING OF UTOPIA A few years ago, artist Lisa Krivacka happened upon a postcard of Disneyland from 1961, advertising a futuristic house that was meant to reflect a vision of what design — and life — would look like in 1986. It was off base in retrospect, but it piqued Ms. Krivacka's interest in the contemporary American trend toward concepts such as "green living." "Almost Utopia," at the Frederieke Taylor Gallery, draws inspiration from postcards, design books, and found snapshots of the 1960s and '70s. Through Friday, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Frederieke Taylor Gallery, 535 W. 22nd St., 6th floor, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 646-230-0992, free.

WORLD NEWS An Indian-born artist, Tallur L.N., highlights the complexity and dark humor that lurk in the junctures between globalization and traditional rural cultures. Thirteen works make up "Antimatter," a solo show of his mixed-media artworks at Arario Gallery. The artist addresses issues such as the convergence between a shrinking food supply and increasing worldwide press coverage. He plans to donate his earnings from this exhibit toward a fund to build a health care facility in his birthplace, the small village of Tallur in southern India, for which he is named. Through Saturday, August 2, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Arario Gallery, 521 W. 25th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-206-2760, free.

JAZZ

A MASTER OF THE IVORIES The 92nd Street Y presents "Jazz Piano Master Class," a performance by pianist Bill Charlap, as part of the organization's Jazz in July series. The program includes songs such as "A Foggy Day" by George Gershwin; "Monk's Mood," by Thelonious Monk, and "My One and Only Love," by Robert Mellin and Guy Wood. Mr. Charlap is a former member of the Phil Woods Quintet, and has performed with the likes of Benny Carter and Tony Bennett; he is accompanied by bassist Sean Smith and pianist Ted Rosenthal. Tonight, 8:15 p.m., 92nd Street Y, Kaufmann Concert Hall, 1395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street. 212-415-5500, $20.

MUSIC

CELEBRATING MOZART Lincoln Center celebrates the opening night of its Mostly Mozart Festival tomorrow with a performance by the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra. Conducted by Louis Langrée and featuring vocal performances by alto Anna Larsson and tenor Paul Groves, the Orchestra performs Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550, and the chamber version of Gustav Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde." Originally from France, Mr. Langrée has been the musical director of the Mostly Mozart Festival since 2002. Tomorrow, 8 p.m., Avery Fisher Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, Columbus Avenue at 65th Street, 212-721-6500, $35-$85.

READINGS

TRYING TO RIGHT A LIFE A writer on cocktails and books, Jonathan Miles, reads from his first novel, "Dear American Airlines" (Houghton Mifflin) at Freebird Books in Brooklyn. When Bennie Ford, a middle-aged New Yorker, is delayed at O'Hare Airport in Chicago on his way to the wedding of his estranged gay daughter in Los Angeles, he begins a letter to the airline's customer center — requesting a refund. The letter soon turns into an epic lament on a life wasted, lost opportunities, and mounting guilt and regret, touching on problems including his tiny apartment, which he shares with his disabled mother and her caretaker; his unsatisfying career; his languishing dream to write poetry, and his troubled childhood. If only he could get to the wedding in time, though, he might have a chance to redeem himself. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Freebird Books, 123 Columbia St. at Kane Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn, 718-643-8484, free.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.