ANTIQUES

OLDIES BUT GOODIES The four-day American Antiques Show features 47 dealers offering 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century folk art and Americana, including quilts, furniture, samplers, weathervanes, paintings, and vintage photographs. The show opens with a gala preview, at which interior designer Alexa Hampton will be honored for her recent selection as the designer for the new official guest house for former presidents in Washington, D.C. The show raises funds for the American Folk Art Museum. Gala: Wednesday, 5-9 p.m., $750 for 5 p.m. entrance, $350 for 6:30 p.m. entrance, $250 for 7:30 p.m. entrance. Show: Thursday and Friday noon-8 p.m., Saturday, noon-7 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m., Time Warner Center, entrance at West 60th Street and Columbus Circle, North Tower, seventh floor, 212-977-7170 ext. 319, $15 admission includes catalog and two-for-one admission to American Folk Art Museum.

ART

OTHER VIEWS The new exhibit “Viewpoints: Chinese Photography Today” features six artists: Chi Peng, He Yunchang, Hong Lei, Song Dong, Weng Fen, and Zhang Huan. Many of the photographs in “Viewpoints” focus on staged scenes or document past performance art. Mr. Hong, for example, uses himself as a model for a vampire like character in “Sakyamuni – After the Song Dynasty ‘Sakyamuni Coming Out of the Mountains’ by Liang Kai.” In Mr. Zhang’s “Seeds of Hamburg” performance, which is represented by 12 photographs, the artist covered himself in birdseed and entered a cage into which 28 doves were released. “Viewpoints” is a response to the popular touring exhibit “Between Past and Future-New Photography and Video from China,” which was shown in New York at the International Center of Photography and the Asia Society and Muse um last summer. Through Saturday, February 19, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Chambers Fine Art, 210 Eleventh Ave. at 25th Street, fourth floor, 212-414-1169, free.

MONUMENTAL PAINTINGS An exhibit of recent works by Charles Garabedian includes the artist’s two largest paintings to date. The exhibit, which originated in September at the Venice, Calif., gallery L.A. Louver, and closes in New York this weekend, also includes a series of smaller works on paper. Through Saturday, tomorrow-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Betty Cuningham Gallery, 541 W. 25th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-242-2772, free.

BENEFITS

DAY AT THE BEACH City Harvest presents a benefit luncheon with Arthur Agatston, the author of “The South Beach Diet” (Rodale). The women’s magazine More sponsors the event, which is co-chaired by Carol Atkinson, Joy Ingham, Emilia Saint-Amand, and Topsy Taylor. The menu, of course, complies with the South Beach Diet. Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. registration, noon-2 p.m. luncheon, the Pierre, Fifth Avenue and 61st Street, 212-874-5457, $300 and $500.

PARTY FOR A GOOD CAUSE A cocktail party benefits the children’s psychiatric inpatient unit at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Thalassa Restaurant, 179 Franklin St., between Greenwich and Hudson streets, 212-604-2409, $100.

BOOKS

SPIN CYCLE Spin magazine editor Dave Itzkoff reads from “Lads” (Villard), his memoir about working at the men’s magazines Details and Maxim. Terry Iacuzzo, a practicing psychic, reads from her book “Small Mediums at Large: A True Tale of a Family of Psychics” (Putnam). Tomorrow, 7 p.m., KGB Bar, 85 E. 4th St. at Second Avenue, 212-505-3360, free.

COMEDY

DELIVERANCE Amber Tozer hosts the fourth installment of the comedy series “Stand and Deliver.” Performers include “Best Week Ever” commentator Christian Finnegan, “The Rejection Show” host Jon Friedman, and comedian Jen Kirwin. Tomorrow, 8 p.m. doors open, 9 p.m. show, Southpaw, 125 Fifth Ave., between St. Johns Place and Sterling Place, Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718230-0236, free.

RIOTOUS RED CARPET It’s movie awards season, which means that Joan Rivers takes her place on the red carpet. (This year she’ll give her fashion critiques for the TV Guide Channel cameras, since Star Jones Reynolds has taken over at E!.) After last night’s Golden Globe Awards, Ms. Rivers returns to New York to sharpen her claws with a series of stand-up shows at Fez, which in the past have been a good deal darker than her televised appearances. Wednesdays, January 19 through February 23, 7:30 p.m. doors open, Fez Under Time Cafe, 380 Lafayette St. at Great Jones Street, 212-523-2680, $25.

DANCE

SOUTHERN INSPIRATION Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet performs “Before the Blues,” a dance based on archival field recordings from the antebellum South. The score includes music by a founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock, Bernice Johnson Reagon, and narrative recordings by Danny Glover. The program also includes the Indian-inspired “Who Dressed You Like a Foreigner?” Tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m., NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South, 212-992-8484, $20-$40.

FILM

SCANDINAVIAN SCREENS Academy Award contenders for the Best Foreign Language Film nomination from four Nordic countries will screen at Scandinavia House. (The Academy will announce the five nominees, chosen out of 51 countries’ submissions, on Tuesday, January 25.) Up first is Finland’s entry, “Producing Adults,” about a fertility clinician’s desire for children and her boyfriend’s equally passionate interest in speed skating (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.). Denmark’s “The Five Obstructions,” in which Lars von Trier asked his mentor, J0rgen Leth, to remake a 1967 short film, won plaudits from the American alternative press last year (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.). In “Cold Light,” the Icelandic landscape plays a prominent role (Friday, 6:30 p.m.), and Sweden’s “As It Is in Heaven” follows a renowned conductor who moves back to his hometown and becomes involved with the church choir (Friday, 8:30 p.m.). All screenings: Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., between 37th and 38th streets, 212-847-9746 for members, nonmembers must purchase tickets at Scandinavia House, $8 general, $6 members, all films are screened with English subtitles.

FOOD & DRINK

MOVIE MEALS Suba’s “Dinner and a Movie” series pairs a Spanish tasting menu created by chef Alex Urena with screenings of musicals in the restaurant’s Skylight Room. Tonight, the musical melodrama “Moulin Rouge” is on the menu. Tonight, 7:30 and 8 p.m. seatings, 8:30 p.m. screening, Suba, 109 Ludlow St., between Rivington and Delancey streets, 212-982-5714, $29.

CAVIAR DREAMS 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, and Sevruga caviar, with accompanying Champagne and vodka. Petrossian’s executive chef, Michael Lipp, conducts a cooking demonstration on how to use caviar in the kitchen. Tomorrow, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Petrossian Restaurant, 182 W. 58th St. at Seventh Avenue, 212-767-1041, $290.

W IS FOR WINE Paper magazine presents a wine tasting with Mark Oldman, the author of “Oldman’s Guide to Outsmarting Wine” (Penguin). Appetizers from Icon Restaurants are also passed. Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., W New York, the Court, Cherry Bar, 130 E. 39th St. at Lexington Avenue, 888-718-4764 for reservations, free.

MUSIC

TRIBE TRIBUTE The Bohemian Chocolate Cafe’s All Star Jazz Band performs an homage to the 1990s hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Tonight, 11 p.m., Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. at Astor Place, 212-539-8778, $15 general, women free until 11:30 p.m.

ITALIAN APPETIZERS Members of the Chelsea Opera, a new company, perform excerpts from Pietro Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana,” a tragic love story that takes place in a Sicilian village. Friday, 6 p.m., Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo, 24 W. 12th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-998-8730, free.

HOME-COOKED MUSIC The next installment of the “Live from Home” acoustic music series, curated by Tracks magazine’s editor, Alan Light, features Martha Wainwright (Rufus’s sister), Livingston Taylor, and Willy Mason. Proceeds go to Housing Works’ program for homeless people living with HIV and AIDS. Friday, 7 p.m. doors open, 7:30 p.m. show, Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St., between Houston and Prince streets, 212-334-3324, $20.

READINGS

WHAT THEY LEARNED College roommates Tom Perrotta and Mark Dow reunite at the Happy Ending reading series, at which participants are each required to take one public risk. Mr. Perrotta is the author of the novel “Little Children” (St. Martin’s) and Mr. Dow wrote “American Gulag” (University of California), a look inside American immigration prisons. Kimya Dawson, formerly of the Moldy Peaches, provides tunes. Proceeds from the evening will go to tsunami relief efforts. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. doors open, 8 p.m. reading, Happy Ending, 302 Broome St. at Forsyth Street, 212-334-9676, $5 minimum donation.

STORIES

SHARING SECRETS The Moth invites storytellers to share “Bedroom Stories from the Family Chamber of Secrets” at its next event. Participants include Jonathan Ames (who has gotten a head start by publishing a book called “My Less Than Secret Life”), comedy writer Patt y Marx, actress Tamara Reynolds, and novelist Meg Wolitzer. Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m. doors open, 7:30 p.m. stories, Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery, between Spring and Rivington streets, 212-868-4444, $20. Reservations for a table for four: 212-742-0551, $140 general, $135 members.

TALKS

LOLLIPOP GUILD Architect Raymond Gomez discusses the work of Edward Durell Stone, who designed the “lollipop” building at 2 Columbus Circle that some want to tear down and others want to name as a landmark. Stone’s son, Hicks, joins in the illustrated talk, offering his reflections on the former family residence on East 64th Street, which was sheathed in a decorative concrete grille. Stone also designed the original Museum of Modern Art, completed in 1939.The talk is sponsored by Landmark West, an organization that works to preserve historic buildings on the Upper West Side and is currently spearheading efforts to save 2 Columbus Circle. Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m., Makor, 35 W. 67th St., between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, 212-415-5500, $15.

ALL OR NOTHING Songwriter Jack Lawrence discusses his new book, “They All Sang My Songs” (Barricade), with a jazz critic for The New York Sun, Will Friedwald. Mr. Lawrence, a Brooklyn native, penned songs including “All Or Nothing at All,” for Frank Sinatra, “Beyond the Sea,” made famous by Bobby Darin, and “Tenderly,” which launched the career of Rosemary Clooney. Wednesday, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street, 212-595-6859, free.

‘SIDEWAYS’ STORIES Director Alexander Payne and his writing partner Jim Taylor discuss their work with a writer for The New Yorker, Adam Gopnik. Mr. Payne and Mr. Taylor work together on a single computer to write their scripts, a process which has so far garnered them critical acclaim for “Citizen Ruth” (1996),”Election” (1999), “About Schmidt” (1999), and “Sideways” (2004). The talk is part of the “Great Collaborations” series. Up next is a conversation with Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke (Monday, February 28, 8 p.m.). Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., Museum of Modern Art, Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 1, 11 W. 53rd St. at Fifth Avenue, 212-708-9400, free with museum admission, $20 general, $16 seniors, $12 students, free for members and children under 16.

DOWNTOWN ARCHITECTURE The Alliance for Downtown New York is hosting a lecture series, with each event taking place at a landmark downtown building. The first talk is at the Collector’s Office of the U.S. Custom House, which is rarely open to the public. Paul Goldberger speaks on the struggle to create and build on the 16 acres where the World Trade Center stood. Mr. Goldberger is the author of “Up From Zero: Architecture, Politics and the Rebuilding of New York” (Random House), as well as an architecture critic for The New Yorker. Thursday, 6 p.m. refreshments, 7 p.m. talk, U.S. Custom House Rotunda, One Bowling Green, 212-835-2789, free, reservations required.

THEATER

PRETTY, PRETTY PEGGY LEE James Matthews stars in “What a Lovely Way to Burn: Confessions of a Peggy Lee Fan.” Proceeds go to the Gay Gotham Chorus. Wednesdays, January 19 and January 26, 9:30 p.m., the Hideaway Room at Helen’s, 169 Eighth Ave., between 18th and 19th streets, 212-206-0609, $10 admission, $15 minimum.

CAPTIVATING DRAMA Composer John King’s experimental electronic opera “La Belle Captive” uses text by French writer Alain Robbe-Grillet and poems by women imprisoned during Argentina’s 1970s military dictatorship to explore the relationship between captor and captive. Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m., the Kitchen, 512 W. 19th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-255-5793 ext. 11, $15.

SHE’S GOT THE BLUES A new production of Geraldine Hughes’s “Belfast Blues” arrives in New York with two larger-than-off-Broadway names attached: Anjelica Huston is a producer, and Carol Kane is named as a “contributing director.” Ms. Hughes portrays 24 characters in the story of her Irish adolescence during the 1970s and 1980s. Opens: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Runs: Tuesday-Friday, 8 p.m., Saturday, 4 and 8 p.m., Sunday, 4 p.m., the Culture Project, 45 Bleecker St., between Mott and Mulberry streets, 212-253-9983 for information, 212-307-4100 for tickets, $45 general, $20 students one hour before curtain.

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