ART

ART ON LOCATION

The Chelsea Art Museum displays the first New York retrospective of the work of conceptual and environmental artist Agnes Denes.The exhibit, Projects for Public Spaces, includes proposal drawings, sculpture, photographs, and documentation of public works created by Ms. Denes from 1968 to the present. For her 1982 work “Wheatfield: A Confrontation,” the artist planted and harvested 2 acres of wheat in a Battery Park landfill. In the mid-1990s, she built an earth pyramid in Finland and planted 11,000 trees there, intended to last 400 years and become the first manmade virgin forest. Ms. Denes, who has completed commissions in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East, will give a talk titled “Art for the Third Millennium: Creating a New World View” (Thursday, October 7, 6 p.m.). Reception: Tomorrow, 6 p.m. Exhibit: Through Saturday, November 6, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, noon–6 p.m., Thursday, noon–8 p.m., Chelsea Art Museum, 556 W. 22nd St. at Eleventh Avenue, 212-255-0719, $5 general, $2 seniors and students, free for children under 12, pay-what-you-wish Thursdays after 6 p.m.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

The five contributors to the photography exhibit Women of Mexico, which closes this weekend, examine Mexican life from the 1930s (represented by vintage work by Lola Alvarez Bravo) through the present (represented by new work by Marcela Taboada). Bravo photographed Frida Kahlo resting pensively, and several of Graciela Iturbe’s 1980s photographs capture children glancing warily at the camera. Through Saturday, tomorrow–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Throckmorton Fine Art, 145 E. 57th St., between Third and Lexington avenues, third floor, 212-223-1059, free.

BENEFITS

PRESTO PLAYS

Six new plays are written, cast, rehearsed, and performed today in the 24 Hour Plays on Broadway benefit. The process began at 10 p.m. last night when the six volunteer writers each started composing a 10-minute play.This morning the directors arrive to read the plays and choose their casts. The actors, including Billy Crudup, Sam Rockwell, Brooke Shields, and John C. Reilly,rehearse for just 12 hours. Tonight’s performances benefit Working Playground, Inc., which creates arts programs for New York City public schools. Two students from one of Working Playground’s partnered schools will also perform a short excerpt from an original play titled, “Why Should I Vote? A Living History.” Tonight, 8 p.m., American Airlines Theater, 227 W. 42nd St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-868-4444, $125 general, $250 V.I.P. tickets.

CARING GALA

Care for the Homeless celebrates its 20th anniversary with a gala benefit. The group’s founding president, Bruce Vladeck, receives the Founder’s Award at the reception. Care for the Homeless arranges health care for homeless people. Tomorrow, 6–8 p.m., The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Pier 61 and the Hudson River, 212-366-4459, $100–$1,000.

BOOKS

HARD-KNOCK LIFE

Writers including Allan Gurganus, A.M. Homes, Gary Indiana, Eileen Myles, and Dale Peck read from “Notice” (Serpent’s Tail), a new, posthumously published novel by Heather Lewis. The story is of a hard-living young woman who encounters trouble even when she tries to escape her sex-and-drugs-fueled past. Tomorrow, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, between Houston and Bleecker streets, 212-614-0505, free.

PARTY GIRLS

Andrea Barnet reads from “All-Night Party” (Workman), her nonfiction book about eight women who cavorted in GreenwichVillage and Harlem between 1913 and 1930. Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble Astor Place, 4 Astor Place at Broadway, 212-420-1322, free.

THE INSIDER

Young-adult author S. E. Hinton,best known for the 1967 greaser classic “The Outsiders,” reads from her new novel, “Hawkes Harbor” (Tor).The story, though it was written for adults, traces familiar themes, as a rebel is caught up in circumstances that force him to find deep reserves of bravery. Thursday, 7 p.m., Borders Books Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle at 60th Street, 212-823-9775, free.

FILM

OSCAR OVATION An Academy Award winner for Best Actor, Cliff Robertson, attends a screening of “Charly,” the 1968 film that won him the award.The drama tells the story of a retarded man who is treated with a scientific experiment intended to make him a genius, and the emotional fallout of its success. The screening, which is hosted by Kathleen Carroll, is part of the Monday Nights with Oscar series. Tonight, 7 p.m. doors open, 7:30 p.m. screening, The Lighthouse Academy Theater, 111 E. 59th St., between Park and Lexington avenues, 888-778-7575, $5 general, $3 students and members, reservations strongly recommended.

FOOD & DRINK

QUICK FIXINGS

Chef Jacques Pépin discusses his book “Fast Food My Way” (Hougton Mifflin) with food writer David Rosengarten and serves up tips for preparing simple meals. The talk is sponsored by the French Institute Alliance Française and is followed by a book sale and signing. Tonight, 7 p.m., Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St., between Madison and Park avenues, 212-355-6160 for information, 212-307-4100 for tickets, $18 general, $12 members.

MUSIC

JAZZ BOX OFFICE

The Jazz at Lincoln Center box office opens today, in advance of the October opening of the group’s new home at the Time Warner Center. Season highlights include an evening with Cassandra Wilson (Friday, October 22, 8 p.m.); “Jazz in Motion,” a dance and music blend which includes new works by JALC artistic director Wynton Marsalis (Wednesday, November 3–Friday, November 5, 8 p.m.), and an Afro-Latin jazz performance by Arturo O’Farrill and his orchestra with a focus on the genre’s best vocalists (January 28 and 29, 2005, 8 p.m.). Box office: Opens today, Broadway and 60th Street. See www.jalc.org for full schedule and more information.

GRACEFUL GATHERING

The cast of “Will and Grace,” Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes, signs their new album “Will and Grace: Let the Music Out” and their book “Fabulously Uncensored” (Time). Wednesday, noon–2 p.m., Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 E. 17th St. at Broadway, 212-253-0810, free.

READING

STEVEN HEAVEN

A group reading with the two-thirds correct title “Writers Named Steve” features an editor at Frommer’s, Stephen Bassman, the author of “Beautiful Somewhere Else” (Carroll & Graf), Stephen Policoff, and playwright Ed “Steve” Valentine. Thursday, 7 p.m., KGB Bar, 85 E. 4th St. at Second Avenue, 212-505-3360, free.

BRITISH BENEFIT

A “Big Voices” fundraiser for the Royal Shakespeare Company features actors Patrick Stewart, Sinead Cusack, Stephen Campbell Moore, and others reading the verse of the bard. British poet Felix Dennis, whose 2002 book “A Glass Half Full” (Hutchinson) was a surprise best seller in England, reads from his own work. Monday, September 20, 7:15 cocktails, 8 p.m. reading, Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway at 36th Street, 800-494-8497, $200.

TALKS

CORRUPTION CONCERN

A public forum addresses municipal corruption, theft, embezzlement, extortion, forgery, nepotism, and other betrayals of public trust. Panelists include the city’s commissioner of investigation, Rose Gill Hearn,Village Voice writer Tom Robbins, and a history professor at Cooper Union, Fred Siegel.A former Parks & Recreation commissioner, Henry Stern, moderates the discussion and the audience Q &A that follows. The event is the first of three public forums tackling problems facing New York City. Tonight, 6:30–8 p.m., Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., between 103rd and 104th streets, 212-564-4441, $10 general, $6 museum members, free for subscribers to free New York Civic newsletter list@nycivic.org, reservations required.

PRESIDENTIAL POLICY

The founder of the American Prospect and a columnist for Business Week, Robert Kuttner,debates presidential economic policy with the chief economist of the Small Business Survival Committee, Raymond Keating. The topic is “Jobs, Growth, and Confidence: Which Candidate Has the Winning Economic Policy?”A reception follows. Tomorrow, 6:15 p.m., CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave. at 34th Street, 646-452-9995, free, reservations requested.

MAKING NEW YORK GREATER

Michael Miscione discusses 19th-century urban planner Andrew Haswell Green, whose greatest legacy was the 1898 consolidation of Greater New York. Mr. Miscione, a television producer, also screens a portion of his documentary “The City of Greater New York: the Story of Consolidation” at the event, which is sponsored by the Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America. Tomorrow, 6 p.m., Donnell Library Auditorium, 20 W. 53rd St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-886-3742, free.

THEATER

FALLEN HEROES

Robert Marese’s new play “The Fallen 9/11” tells the story of two men who experience the events of September 11, 2001: an injured Manhattan lawyer and a veteran NYFD firefighter. Retired New York firefighter, actor, and producer Robert Guida is assisting the production as a liaison to the NYFD. All profits from the production will be donated to the UFA’s Widows’ and Children’s Fund. Opens: Thursday, 8 p.m. Runs: Thursday through Saturday, October 2, Thursday–Saturday, 8 p.m., The Producers Club, 358 W. 44th St., between Eighth and Ninth avenues, 212-352-3101, $25 general, $15 students.

FAREWELL, KIKI AND HERB

The last-ever New York performance of the musical comedy pair “Kiki and Herb,” played by Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman, takes place this weekend.The downtown duo travel to Carnegie Hall for the reprise of their boozy cover performances of Eminem, Joy Division, Kate Bush, and Britney Spears. The new show, “Kiki & Herb Will Die For You,” is a musical retrospective of their career highlights, interspersed with plenty of storytelling. Sunday, September 19, 7:30 p.m. doors open, 8 p.m. performance, Carnegie Hall, 154 W. 57th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-247-7800, $29–$85.

DESIGN

MEN OF MYSTERY

An exhibit of international movie posters focuses on American films made during the 1960s and 1970s. “Rebels, Rockers, and Renegades” includes the Polish poster for Robert Altman’s “Nashville,” above at left, and the Japanese poster for “Easy Rider,” above at right. Posters from “M*A*S*H,””The Last Picture Show,” and “Mean Streets,” and other New Wave works by pioneer directors such as Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Terence Malick, and Peter Bogdanovich, are also included. The films and their advertisements offered a new kind of rebel-hero created during the period that many consider the high point of American film. Through Sunday, November 7, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, noon-6 p.m., Posteritati, 239 Centre St., between Broome and Grand streets, 212-226-2207, 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.