ART

TIMES SQUARE MEMORIES Kodak estimates that nearly 100 million pictures are taken of Times Square each year. The exhibit “At the Crossroads of Desire” celebrates Times Square’s centennial with a selection of photographs from throughout its history. Photographs by Rudy Burckhardt, Weegee, Robert Frank, and William Klein are included. The show is organized chronologically within six themes: building and planning, “signs of the times,” the crowd, entertainment, fantasy and desire, and “making news.” Through March 26, Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, noon-5 p.m., AXA Gallery, Equitable Tower atrium lobby, 787 Seventh Ave. at 51st Street, 212-554-4818, free.

IOWA FOCUS Vintage prints from Nancy Rexroth’s “Iowa” series of photographs are on display through Saturday at Robert Mann Gallery. Between 1970 and 1976, Ms. Rexroth used a plastic child’s camera to create scenes that evoked memories of her Midwestern childhood. Despite the series’ title, most of the photographs were taken in rural Ohio. Through Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Robert Mann Gallery, 210 Eleventh Ave., between 24th and 25th streets, 212-989-7600, free.

BOOKS

TELL-TALE HEART A former Manhattan prosecutor, Linda Fairstein, reads from her latest thriller, “Entombed” (Scribner). The novel’s heroine discovers a skeleton behind the wall in the basement of a brownstone that was once the home of – who else? – Edgar Allan Poe. Tonight, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street, 212-595-6859, free.

WHAT WOULD BUDDHA DO? Charlotte Kasl discusses her self-help book “If the Buddha Got Stuck” (Penguin), which advises readers stuck in a spiritual rut to follow the Buddha’s advice, as extrapolated by the author. Ms. Kasl’s previous books are “If the Buddha Dated” and “If the Buddha Married.” Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Barnes & Noble Astor Place, 4 Astor Place at Broadway, 212-420-1322, free.

CANNED SOUP The co-creator of the enormously popular “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series, Jack Canfield, discusses his new book, “The Success Principles” (HarperResource). In it, Mr. Canfield explains how to get ahead using a mere 64 useful rules. Tomorrow, 7-9 p.m., Unity Church of Practical Christianity, 213 W. 58th St., between Seventh Avenue and Broadway, 212-582-1300, free.

COMMUNITY

WEST CHELSEA REZONING Manhattan Community Board No. 4 is hosting a public hearing on the New York City Department of City Planning’s proposal to rezone the West Chelsea neighborhood that surrounds the High Line. The proposed rezoning would facilitate the retention of the High Line for future reuse as a public space. It would also allow greater densities and a greater mix of uses than what is now allowed in areas of Chelsea west of and along Tenth Avenue, below 30th Street. Thursday, 6-10 p.m., Hudson Guild Fulton Center, 119 Ninth Ave., between 17th and 18th streets, 212-736-4536.

DANCE

WATER WORK The Avodah Dance Ensemble presents “Mayim,” a meditation on the healing qualities of water choreographed by the group’s new artistic director, Julie Gayer. As part of the program, Rabbi Norman Cohen speaks about the symbolism of water in the Jewish tradition. Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religions, 1 W. 4th St., between Broadway and Mercer streets, 212-477-1368, $12 general, $8 seniors and students, photo identification required for entrance.

BROOKLYN BEACON Yanira Castro + Company performs its new site-specific program “Beacon” at the Brooklyn Lyceum, a former bathhouse. The contemporary piece explores the “darkness, confusion, and chaos” that result from catastrophe. Set to original music by Dan Siegler, “Beacon” features muscular bursts of dance accompanied by recitations from Aechylus’s “The Libation Bearers.” Each of the three Sunday performances are followed by a question-and-answer session. “Beacon” is produced by the Dance Theater Workshop. Friday through Sunday, January 23, Fridays and Saturdays, 7 and 9 p.m., Sundays, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 Fourth Ave., between President and Union streets, Park Slope, Brooklyn, 212-924-0077, $20.

DEBATE

HAMILTONIAN SPIRIT Alumni from the law schools of Columbia University and the University of Virginia take the viewpoints of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, respectively, in a debate on which man had the greatest impact on modern America. The exhibit on Hamilton at the New-York Historical Society will be open for viewing before and during the debate. Thursday, 6:30 p.m., New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, between 76th and 77th streets, 212-873-3400, $10 general, $5 members, seniors, students.

FAMILY

HIP-HOP HOORAY More than 200 live frogs are on display in the exhibit “Frogs: A Chorus of Colors,” which closes this Sunday. More than 25 species are featured, from the less than 1-inch-long golden mantella to the giant African bullfrog. The “dart poison frog vivarium” houses 75 venemous frogs. Through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m. daily, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200 for reservations, $19 general, $14 seniors and students, $11 children. Note: Entrance to the exhibit is timed and tickets price also includes entrance into the museum.

DEEP-SEA SLEEP A family sleepover invites parents and children ages 6 to 12 to tour the New York Aquarium after regular visiting hours have ended. Then they snuggle up in sleeping bags by the “Explore the Shore” exhibit. In the morning, they’ll wake up to a behind-the-scenes tour and a chance to help feed the fish. (There’s breakfast for humans, too.) Friday, 7 p.m.-10 a.m., New York Aquarium, West 8th Street and Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-265-3448, $145 general, $130 members, registration required.

FILM

ENGAGING TALK Filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet discusses his work after a screening of his latest film, “A Very Long Engagement.” The World War I romance reunites him with Audrey Tatou, the star of his popular 2001 film “Amelie.” The American Museum of the Moving Image is screening his other three French language feature films as well: the 1991 surreal black comedy “Delicatessen” (Thursday, 7 p.m.) and the 1995 dark fairytale “The City of Lost Children” (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.), both in new prints, and the quirky “Amelie” (Sunday, 6:30 p.m.).Talk: Tomorrow, 7 p.m., 718-784-4520 ext. 256, $18 general, $12 members. All screenings: American Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Avenue at 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, 718-784-0077, $10 general, $7.50 seniors and students, free for members.

MUSIC

VIOLIN VOICE Jazz violinist Regina Carter performs with her band, which includes bassist Chris Lightcap, drummer Alvester Garnett, percussionist Mayra Casales, and pianist Xavier Davis.For her last recording, “Paganini: After a Dream,” Ms. Carter performed classical pieces and excerpts from movie scores on Paganini’s famous Guarneri violin. Tomorrow through Saturday, tomorrow and Thursday, 8 and 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 8 and 10 p.m. and midnight, Sweet Rhythm, 88 Seventh Avenue South, between Bleecker and Christopher streets, 212-255-2626, $30 Wednesday and Thursday, $35 Friday and Saturday, $10 minimum all shows.

MUSICAL KAFKA Soprano Dawn Upshaw and violinist Geoff Nuttall perform Gyorgy Kurtag’s “Kafka Fragments,” a collection of 39 songs constructed of texts from Franz Kafka’s letters and diaries. Peter Sellars directs a new staging of the program. Monday, Wednesday, January 12, and Thursday, January 13, 8:30 p.m., Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, 212-247-7800, $38-$52.

TALKS

ISLAND LIVING A roundtable discussion on Staten Island history takes place in the new Greenbelt Nature Center. The borough’s official historian, Dick Dickenson, moderates the free-flowing discussion, which is open to anyone with an interest in local lore. The “Historian’s Roundtable” program is presented by the Staten Island Institute of Arts & Sciences. Thursday, 7 p.m., Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave., at La Tourette Park between Brielle Avenue and Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, 718-727-1135 ext. 21 for information, 718-351-3450 for required reservations, free.

ART IMITATING LIFE Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Steve Earle and Oscar winning director Jonathan Demme converse about their work, with special attention to the subject of how politics and current events influence artistic expression. Friday, January 14, 7 p.m., the New York Public Library, Celeste Bartos Forum, 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, 212-930-0855, $10 general, $7 members.

THEATER

SOUL FOOD ON STAGE “The Collard Green: Contributions by Cornbread Divas” tells the stories of black women writers through dance, song, and “theatrical ritual.” The John Montgomery Theatre and Cracked Plate production is presented by the Horse Trade Theatre Group. Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m., Kraine Theatre, 85 E. 4th St. at Second Avenue, 212-868-4444, $15. TOP 10 TUNES Alec Duffy’s new musical theater piece, “The Top Ten People of the Millennium Sing Their Favorite Schubert Lieder,” puts Einstein, Copernicus, Galileo, and other “top 10” figures together in a salon like setting. The characters chat about civilization, try to build friendships, and sing haunting songs by Schubert. Thursday, January 13, through Sunday, January 30, Wednesday-Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 3 p.m., Bank Street Theater, 155 Bank St., between West and Washington streets, 212-868-4444, $15.

WORKSHOPS

TO THE LETTER The editor of the lettering journal Alphabet, Christopher Calderhead, presents a lecture and workshop on calligraphy in the East and West. Mr. Calderhead and an East Asian scribe will discuss the role of tools and script in text-based art. At a workshop the next day, the basic components of Eastern and Western writing styles will be taught. Items from the Rubin Museum of Art’s collection of Himalayan art are available to inspire the inscription process. Talk: Friday, 7 p.m. Workshop: Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-620-5000 ext.344, $15 talk only, $95 talk and workshop, not including materials. See www.rmanyc.org for more information.

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