ART

OPEN MIC
Paolo Arao’s paintings and drawings in his first solo exhibit, “Make Them Love You,” depict microphones stretching toward unseen (or nonexistent) speakers. Seen alone, they resemble characters huddling together, bowing their heads, or searching longingly for a voice. Through Saturday, November 13, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Jeff Bailey Gallery, 511 W. 25th St. at Tenth Avenue, no. 808, 212-989-0156, free.

IMAGES FROM ISRAEL
“The Fourth Dimension” is an exhibit of 14 large-scale color photographs by Israeli artist Barry Frydlender. Mr. Frydlender creates digital composites of various photographs of the same location taken over time. He captures flooded streets, a gathering of men in an East Jerusalem cafe, and barefooted children playing soccer in Sinai. Through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Andrea Meislin Gallery, 526 W. 26th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, #214, 212-627-2552, free.

BENEFITS

PARTY TIME
The American Museum of Natural History’s Family Party benefit includes live animals, art projects, science experiments, and a special area just for toddlers. The event’s co-chairwomen include Tory Burch, Whitney Fairchild, Kathryn Hearst, Liz Lange, and Nicole Miller. Tomorrow, 5-7:30 p.m., American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-496-3495, $150 general, $75 children.

MAGIC AND MEDICINE
The Stars & Magic Gala celebrates KiDS of NYU’s campaign to enhance NYU’s pediatric medical programs. The evening honors Dr. Howard Ginsburg, who has served the NYU Medical Center Department of Surgery for 25 years. Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m. cocktails, 7:30 p.m. dinner, The Pierre, Fifth Avenue at 61st Street, 212-404-3683, $500, $1,000, and $2,500.

BOOKS

CITY SCENES
Novelist Colson Whitehead gives a lecture based on his nonfiction book “The Colossus of New York” (Doubleday).The book is a portrait of the city composed of vignettes, memories, and meditations. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Cooper Union, Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St. at Third Avenue, 212-353-4195, free.

EPIC OF URUK
The translator of the newly released edition of “Gilgamesh” (Free Press), Stephen Mitchell, discusses his work with the oldest book in the world, inscribed on stone tablets and found in fragments. “Gilgamesh,” which dates from 1,000 years before the Bible, describes the journey of the king of the city of Uruk in present-day Iraq. Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble Upper West Side, 2289 Broadway at 82nd Street, 212-362-8835, free.

CARTOONS

ONE-PANEL DISCUSSION
A cartoonist for The New Yorker, David Sipress, talks with his colleagues Roz Chast and Arnie Levin about their approaches to humor. The talk is part of the series “Conversations with Cartoonists,” organized by Victoria Roberts. Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., Marquee, 356 Bowery, between Great Jones and East 4th streets, 212-219-0736 for information, 212-352-3101 for tickets, $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

FAMILY

TRIPLE TREAT
The newest Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre piece is “Three.” The show brings together the traditional fairytales “The Three Little Pigs,” “The Three Bears,” and “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” The puppet show is intended for children ages 3 and up. Opens: Saturday, 1 p.m. Runs: Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m. and noon, Saturday, 1 p.m., Central Park, Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, West 79th Street and West Drive, 212-988-9093, $6 general, $5 children, reservations required.

FILM

FLORIDIAN FOLLIES
The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan screens two films that revisit the 2000 presidential election as it played out in Florida. Aviva Kempner’s 2003 short “Today I Vote for My Joey” follows a group of elderly Jewish voters who discover that that their intended ballots for Joe Lieberman as vice president have instead gone to Pat Buchanan. The film is followed by Laurel Greenberg’s “Trouble in Paradise,” which centers on five Floridians who become deeply involved in politics – by volunteering, running for office, and even suing the state – after the 2000 election. The screenings are followed by a Q &A with the directors. Saturday, 8-10 p.m., Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave. at 76th Street, 646-505-5708, $10 general, $7 members.

FOOD & DRINK

CHAMPAGNE AND CAVIAR
A caviar tasting includes a history of the sturgeon, a seminar on the basics of harvesting, and a cooking demonstration. The centerpiece of the session is a tasting of Beluga, Ossetra, Sevruga, and American caviar, with accompanying Champagne and vodka. Tonight, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Petrossian Restaurant, 182 W. 58th St. at Seventh Avenue, 212-767-1043, $300.

AVOCADO APPRECIATION
Chef Scott Campbell hosts a discussion and demonstration celebrating the beginning of the peak Mexican avocado season. Wayne Brachman presents his recipe for avocado bread and culinary historian Alexandra Leaf discusses the history of the famous fruit. Tomorrow, 5-6 p.m., @SQC, 270 Columbus Ave., between 72nd and 73rd streets, 212-579-0100, free.

MUSIC

FAST TIMES
Indie pop-rockers Samsara play tunes from their new EP, “Fast Too Slow.” Guilty-pleasure television watchers may recognize lead singer Paris Hampton’s voice from the theme song to “The Anna Nicole Smith Show.” Tonight, 10:30 p.m., Pianos, 158 Ludlow St. at Stanton Street, 212-505-3733, $8.

PERCUSSION PEOPLE
Japanese marimbist Mika Yoshida performs contemporary percussion music, including pieces by John Wyre, Russell Hartenberger, and Bill Douglas, who join her in the unusual concert. The program includes the world premieres of William Duckworth’s “Writing on Water” and Mr. Hartenberger’s “Telisi Odyssey.” Mr. Wyre’s “Breeze” was composed as he listened to the On tario woodland sounds on the morning of September 11, 2001, just before he received a call to turn on his television. Tomorrow, 8 p.m., Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, 154 W. 57th St. at Seventh Avenue, 212-247-7800, $35 general, $15 seniors and students.

POETRY

HEARING POETRY
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the American Poetry Archives, housed at the Poetry Center at San Francisco State University, poet Myung Mi Kim plays a range of recordings to demonstrate how poets have used sound as compositional elements in their work. Poet and painter Basil King plays and discusses selections from the Poetry Center’s 1969 recording of New York poet Paul Blackburn. Tonight, 7 p.m., Poets House, 72 Spring St., between Lafayette and Crosby streets, second floor, 212-431-7920, $7 general, free for members.

READINGS

REJECTS UNITE
The Rejection Show, which organizes readings of material that television shows and magazines have rejected, celebrates its first event in a new location. Participants include Scott Dikkers and Todd Hanson, presenting video clips from their rejection “The Onion” television pilot, and Todd Rosenberg, who shows a cartoon that details his own experiences with television cancellation. Cartoonists J.B. Handelsman and Eric Lewis present their rejected New Yorker cartoons. Tomorrow, 8 p.m., P.S. 122, 150 First Ave. at 9th Street, 212-477-5288, $7.

TALKS

SIMPLE GIFTS
A panel discusses the history and current state of Jewish philanthropy. Tomorrow, 6 p.m., Center for Jewish History, 15 W. 16th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 917-606-8200, $10 general, $8 seniors and students.

‘DAILY’ NIGHT
Jon Stewart joins “The Daily Show” correspondents Samantha Bee, Rob Corddry, and Ed Helms and writer/producer David Javerbaum for a private reading and conversation about “America (The Book)” (Warner Books). The event is free for members of the Young Lions, a group of under-40 donors who contribute more than $300 a year to the library. Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m. reception, 8 p.m. reading and discussion, New York Public Library, Celeste Bartos Forum, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, 212-930-0887 for membership information.

THEATER

CHALK IT UP
Enid Bagnold’s play “The Chalk Garden,” which was staged on Broadway in 1955, is revived off-Broadway with a cast headed by Jacqueline Brookes. The drama centers on a teenager’s relationship with her grandmother. Opens: Tonight, 7 p.m. Runs: Tonight through Sunday, October 31,Tuesday-Saturday, 7 p.m., Sunday, 3 p.m., Center Stage Theater, 48 W. 21st St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-472-1789, $10.

THE MIND OF PARIS
The magician Ago portrays publicity-hungry socialite Paris Hilton in Doug Field ‘s play, “I Love Paris,” which was recently extend ed in its run at Blue Heron Arts Center. The play follows “Paris” as she prepares to audition for the fifth co-host seat of the ABC daytime television talk show “The View.” Paris’s musings include topics such as “The real causes of World War II” and “Split Ends: The Environmental Impact.” Mondays through December 13, 8 p.m., Blue Heron Arts Center, 123 E. 24th St. at Park Avenue South, 212-868-4444, $20.

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.