BENEFITS

FRUIT FESTIVAL Senator Clinton is the guest of honor at the New-York Historical Society’s Strawberry Festival luncheon. The annual event also celebrates two new exhibits, “First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image” and “Eleanor Roosevelt and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: First Ladies of New York and the Nation.” Today, noon-2:30 p.m., New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77th Street, 212-873-3400 ext. 271, $300 and up.

CAR STARS Gruppo Ferrari Maserati sponsors a gala preview of the 2005 International Auto Show. The evening features a private preview of the auto show, dinner, an aerial acrobatics performance, a Maserati auction conducted by Sotheby’s auctioneer Jamie Niven, and a private show of new and vintage Ferraris. The event is a benefit for the East Side House Settlement, which provides family services in the South Bronx. Wednesday, 6 p.m. cocktails, 8:30 p.m. dinner, 9:30 p.m. live auction, Jacob Javits Center, Eleventh Avenue at 35th Street, 718-292-7392, $150 cocktails only, $1,000 dinner.

BOOKS

HOMECOMING Rinker Buck’s book “Shane Comes Home” (William Morrow) follows the story of the first American death of the Iraq War. Lieutenant Shane Childers, a veteran of the Gulf War, was killed on March 21, 2003, just two days after war was declared. Mr. Buck reads from the book on the second anniversary of Childers’s death. Tonight, 7 p.m., Half King, 505 W. 23rd St. at 10th Avenue, 212-462-4300, free.

ART AND EXPECTATION Brooklyn writer Jonathan Lethem reads from “The Disappointment Artist” (Doubleday), his new collection of personal essays and cultural criticism. Tomorrow, 6 p.m., Coliseum Books, 11 W. 42nd St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-803-5890, free.

COMEDY

GOLDEN GIRL Comedian Judy Gold performs her new show, “G-d Doesn’t Pay Rent Here,” at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Tonight, 8 p.m., Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, 307 W. 26th St. at Eighth Avenue, 212-366-9176, $5.

ROLLINS UNZIPPED Iron-jawed storyteller Henry Rollins performs his spoken word show “Caught in the Zipper.” Mr. Rollins has spent the past year performing in Afghanistan, Iraq, and American college towns. Tomorrow through Saturday, April 2, days vary, 8 p.m., Zipper Theatre, 336 W. 37th St., between Eighth and Ninth avenues, 212-239-6200, $35. Note: Each day at noon, ticket prices for that evening’s performance increase to $40.

DANCE

WOUNDED MOVES Dzul Dance performs its spring program, “Rooted.” It features the premiere of “From a Wounded Heart,” in which dancers are accompanied by Colombian singer Lucia Pulido. Thursday and Friday, 9 p.m., Saturday 8 p.m., Merce Cunningham Studio, 55 Bethune St. at Washington Street, 212-255-8240, $20 general, $15 seniors and students.

MUSIC

MOZART ON GOOD FRIDAY The National Chorale performs Mozart’s “Requiem.” Also on the program: Haydn’s “Paukenmesse.” Friday, 8 p.m., Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall, Columbus Avenue and 65th Street, 212-875-5030, $27-$97.

READING

WILLIAMS MENAGERIE Actor Richard Thomas reads from “The Selected Letters of Tennessee Williams: Vol. II: 1945-1957” at a tribute to Tennessee Williams titled “Blanche and Beyond.” The reading features letters that Williams wrote to family, friends, lovers, and fellow artists during the period that he wrote “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Mr. Thomas currently stars in “Democracy” on Broadway. The reading kicks off the 35th anniversary season of the “Writers in Performance” series. Tonight, 8 p.m., Manhattan Theatre Club, City Center, 131 W. 55th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-399-3030, $17.50.

STORIES

TALES OF THE CITY The Moth presents an evening of “New York Stories,” featuring graduates of the community outreach program “Stories on Stage.” Humorist Andy Borowitz emcees the evening, which also includes author Ted Conover and John Ventimiglia of “The Sopranos.” Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. doors open, 7:30 p.m. performance, Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery, between Rivington and Spring streets, 212-868-4444, $20.

TALKS

GRANDIVA GUYS Writer and radio host Frank DeCaro moderates a talk with members of the all-male comedic ballet troupe Les Ballets Grandiva. Panelists include the company’s founder and artistic director, Victor Trevino; choreographer Peter Anastos; ballet master Paul Boos, and dancer Ian Archer-Watters. “Real Men Don’t Wear Tutus. Or Do They?” is sponsored by Out Professionals. Les Ballets Grandiva will perform in April at Symphony Space. Tonight, 7 p.m., GLBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St. at Seventh Avenue, 212-462-9255, $10 general, $7 Out Professionals members.

PREP TALK Author Curtis Sittenfeld talks about her debut novel, “Prep” (Random House), with writer Jennifer Egan as part of the “author2author” series of conversations between writers. Eleni Gage wrote in The New York Sun that “Prep” is “an unflinching look at how even high school experiences that are perfectly fine … can feel like four years in Purgatory.” Tomorrow, 7 p.m., Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St., between Houston and Prince streets, 212-334-3324, free, used book donations encouraged.

GLOBAL VISION Jeffrey Sachs discusses his analysis of poverty and the global economy, the basis of his book “The End of Poverty” (Penguin). Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m., Cooper Union Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St. at Third Avenue, 212-353-4195, free.

THEATER

LOVE AND THE DEVIL “Faust in Love” is the second installment in Target Margin Theater’s three-year attempt to adapt Goethe’s “Faust.” The artistic director of Target Margin, David Herskovits, directs. Opens: Wednesday, 8 p.m. Runs: Through Saturday, April 30, Wednesday-Friday, 8 p.m., Saturday, 4 and 8 p.m., Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster St., between Spring and Broome streets, 212-358-3657, $20. Note: Additional performances take place at 7 p.m. on Mondays, March 21 and April 11-25.

IVES LEAGUE Lee Blessing’s “Going to St. Ives” is the final production in Primary Stages’ 20th anniversary season. The two-person drama, which is currently in previews, follows the mother of a sub-Saharan African dictator. Maria Mileaf directs. Opens: Tuesday, March 29, 7 p.m. Runs: Through Sunday, April 24,Tuesday, 7 p.m., Wednesday-Friday, 8 p.m., Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m., Sunday, 3 p.m., 59E59 Theaters, 59th Street between Madison and Park avenues, 212-840-9705 for information, 212-279-4200 for tickets, $55. Note: Additional matinees take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, April 13 and April 20. The 8 p.m. performances are cancelled on those days.

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.