ART

INSIDE HISTORY Brian McKee photographed abandoned buildings in India for his series “Urbanus.” Mr. McKee used only natural light to capture the desolate scenes. The series is the third in his “Detritus” trilogy; the first two installments focused on reconstructed buildings in Uzbekistan and the ruins of modern buildings in Afghanistan. Through Saturday, April 2, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mitchell-Innes & Nash, 1018 Madison Ave., between 78th and 79th streets, 212-744-7400, free.

BIG-SKY BOROUGH Brooklyn painter Derek Buckner’s New York cityscapes are on view at the George Billis Gallery. Many paintings capture views of Manhattan across Red Hook’s industrial rooftops. Through Saturday, April 2, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., George Billis Gallery, 511 W. 25th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-645-2621, free.

BENEFIT

HAMPTONS HIGHLIGHTS Composer Sheldon Harnick, novelist Louis Begley, artist Cindy Sherman, and philanthropist Marshall Rose receive lifetime achievement awards presented by Guild Hall’s Academy of the Arts. East Hampton actress Angela LaGreca emcees the gala evening, which honors people who have contributed to cultural life on Long Island’s East End. Tonight, 6:30 p.m. cocktails, 7:30 p.m. dinner, Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 631-324-0806, $600-$1,500.

BOOKS

SKY GUY Chang-rae Lee reads from his novel “Aloft” (Riverhead), about a divorced Long Island man who finds refuge from family trouble by piloting a small plane. Tonight, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street, 212-595-6859, free.

MANHATTAN MURDER MYSTERY Kinky Friedman reads from his novel “Ten Little New Yorkers” (Simon and Schuster), a murder mystery in which Manhattan men are the victims. Tonight, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Chelsea, 675 Sixth Ave. at 21st Street, 212-727-1227, free.

COMEDY

FUNNY FEMALES “So Laugh a Little” is an evening celebrating Jewish women comedians, with performances by Judy Gold, Wendy Liebman, Jackie Hoffman, and Rain Pryor, among others. Excerpts from Joan Micklin Silver’s new documentary “Only Faster” will be screened; the film tells the story of pioneering comedians Fanny Brice, Judy Holliday, Madeline Kahn, Molly Picon, Gilda Radner, and Sophie Tucker. The evening begins with a reception featuring “noshes and schnapps.” Proceeds go to the Jewish Women’s Archive, a nonprofit historic-preservation organization. Tonight, 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. performance, Copacabana, 560 W. 34th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 617-232-2258, $250 and up.

DANCE

GLOW MOTION A performance series by Nayikas Dance Theater, an Indian Odissi company, kicks off with a gala premiere and dinner. Scheduled guests include Mira Nair, Ismail Merchant, Salman Rushdie, and Padma Lakshmi. The multimedia program, “Glow,” uses dance, comic book images, and film. Gala: Tomorrow, 7 p.m., $175 for dinner and performance, $160 dinner and performance on another day, $150 dinner only. Performances: Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m., Saturday, 3 p.m., Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-620-5000 ext. 344, $25 general, $18 seniors and students.

FOOD & DRINK

INTERNATIONAL SWEETS Culinary historian Alexandra Leaf moderates a discussion and tasting focusing on chocolate from America, Austria, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Britain, and Venezuela. Chocolate experts give their input, and everyone who attends gets to taste. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street, 212-415-5500, $45.

MUSIC

IRISH CREAM OF THE CROP The Irish Chamber Orchestra performs the American premiere of “Triptych,” a sequence of poems by Seamus Heaney recited over a string arrangement by John Kinsella. The program also includes “The Last Rose of Summer,” “The Minstrel Boy,” and Irish favorites by Thomas Moore. Tomorrow, 8 p.m., Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, 212-247-7800, $30-$60.

TEMPTING TOPS Two of the most successful male Motown ensembles, the Temptations and the Four Tops, perform at the Apollo Theater this weekend. Saturday and Sunday, 8 p.m., Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-307-7171, $37, $57, and $67.

READING

SYLVIA AND MARGARET As a cheeky tribute to Women’s History Month, the “Lit Lite” reading series presents Jack Ferver of “Strangers with Candy” reading portions of Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar.” The evening’s host, “Sweetie,” reads from Judy Blume’s novel “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Tomorrow, 9 p.m., Elmo Lounge, Seventh Avenue at 20th Street, $5.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

THERE ONCE WAS … A limerick slam this weekend is open to men from Nantucket and anyone else who wants to show off their rhyming skills. Contestants should bring 20 limericks – at least a few of them should be written by the competitor himself. Thursday, 6:30 p.m. registration, 7:15 p.m.-10 p.m., Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery at 1st Street, 212-614-0505, $10.

TALKS

WHARTON’S NEW YORK The president of Edith Wharton Restoration at the Mount, Stephanie Copeland, lectures about Wharton’s ties to New York. The talk takes place at the 136th annual meeting of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. A reception follows. Tomorrow, 5 p.m., New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 122 E. 58th St., between Lex 1135 723 1296 733ington and Park avenues, 212-755-8532 ext. 21, free.

SECURE OR IN CRISIS? Economist and writer Paul Krugman debates the Cato Institute’s Michael Tanner on “Social Security: Is It Really a Crisis?” Writer Joshua Micah Marshall, who maintains www.talkingpointsmemo.com, moderates the talk. Tomorrow, 7-8:30 p.m., New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th St. at Central Park West, 212-874-5210 ext. 144, free but donations accepted. Note: Seating is limited and no reservations are taken so early arrival is suggested.

THEATER

MESSRS. BOSSMEN Holly Golden’s fast paced contemporary version of the Italian comedy “Servant of Two Masters” finds the hungry servant Truffalino taking on two jobs in order to fill his belly. To keep both jobs, he must keep his bosses away from each other, which naturally proves a difficult task. The play is a Play Practice Theater Company and THiS Theatre Company joint production. Through Saturday, March 26, Wednesday-Sunday, 8 p.m., P.S. 122 Downstairs, 150 First Ave. at 9th Street, 212-477-5288, $15.

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.