ART

THE EFFECT OF SUNLIGHT The Brooklyn Museum of Art presents the opening of “Landscapes From the Age of Impressionism,” an exhibit of about 40 paintings that includes many of the finest examples of mid- and late-19th-century French and American landscape painting in the museum’s collection. The work of artists Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Frederick Childe Hassam, and John Singer Sargent, among others, is featured in this broad survey. Monet is represented by several important works including “The Doge’s Palace in Venice” (1908) and “Houses of Parliament, Effect of Sunlight” (1903). Having moved beyond the studio to paint en plein air, the Frenchman positioned himself before his subject for hours over a series of days — depicting the same motif in changing light. Soon, Monet was remarkably depicting light itself. Through Sunday, May 13, Wednesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., BMA, 200 Eastern Pkwy. at Washington Avenue, 718-399-8440, $8 general suggested donation, $4 students and seniors, free for members and children under 12.

BOOKS

FROM THE HANDS OF A WRITER The annual Greenwich Village Antiquarian Book Fair was founded in 1979 as a fundraising benefit for Public School 3, an alternative elementary school serving 500 city students. Now, 70 East Coast dealers offer their rare and collectible wares, including maps, prints, paper memorabilia, in addition to books. Friday through Sunday, Friday, 6–10 p.m., Saturday, noon–6 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m., P.S. 3, 490 Hudson St., between Christopher and Grove streets, 212-925-3910, $12 on Friday for three-day pass, $6 on Saturday for two-day pass, $4 on Sunday.

DANCE

DANCE IN A BOX “Plum House (A Cartoon)” is a work choreographed by Vicky Shick: Five dancers are housed in a cabin-like structure, struggling in tight quarters and creating a clutter of manic activity. Featured dancers include Laurel Dugan, Diane Madden, and Juliette Mapp. The world premiere dance program features costumes by designer Eileen Fisher. Tonight through Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Dance Theater Workshop, 219 W. 19th St., between Seventh and Eighth avenues, 212-924-0077, $20 general, $12 members.

FAMILY

BANG THE DRUM The Ethos Percussion Group presents “Bing! Bang! Boom!,” a demonstration of how percussion music is created whenever anything is shaken, struck, or scraped to produce a sound. Instruments from Africa, Brazil, India, the Middle East, and America are sampled. Today, 2 and 3 p.m., Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, 212-721-1234, $9 children and adults, $6 seniors.

FILM

WORDS ON A SCREEN The repertory film program at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Rose Cinemas, BAMcinématek, presents “Graham Greene Noir,” a program that focuses on screen adaptations of the writer’s works that were made in the 1940s, including “Ministry of Fear” (1944), “This Gun for Hire” (1942), “Brighton Rock” (1947), and “The Third Man” (1949). The program opens with “Ministry of Fear,” about a man who stumbles upon an espionage plot in World War II London while trying to overcome his wife’s death. The film was directed by Fritz Lang, and featured actors include Ray Milland, Marjorie Reynolds, and Carl Esmond. Tomorrow, 4:30, 6:50, and 9:15 p.m., BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave., between St. Felix Street and Ashland Place, 718-636-4100, $10 general, $7 students, seniors, and members.

FOOD & DRINK

UNDER THE SEA The American Southern Seafood Dinner at the James Beard House features chef Tom Condron from Zink American Kitchen in Charlotte, N.C. Dishes include Carolina white shrimp hush puppies with melted leeks and creole tomato rémoulade, Alaskan wild salmon chips with chipotle cream and pickled red onions, and Maryland blue crab fritters with cream cheese and sambal syrup. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., James Beard Foundation House, 167 W. 12th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-627-2308, $155 general, $125 members.

MUSIC

OUT OF OBSCURITY Pianist Freddie Redd found his greatest success when he wrote the music for Jack Gelber’s off-Broadway play “The Connection” in 1960. Mr. Redd mounts a comeback with his quartet and alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson. The performance also features an interview with Mr. Redd, hosted by a disc jockey on WGBH, Steve Schwartz. Tonight, 8 p.m., Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th St., between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, 212-501-3330, $30 in advance, $35 at the doors.

QUIET MELODIES The Chamber Music Series at the Y presents a performance by pianist Peter Serkin, along with Jaime Laredo, Steven Tenenbom, and Sharon Robins. Pieces include Luigi Dallapiccola’s “Tartiniana Seconda for Violin and Piano,” and Mozart’s “Quartet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major.” Tonight and tomorrow, 8 p.m., 92nd Street Y, 395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street, 212-415-5500, $40.

ARE YOU GOING MY WAY? The Contemporary Music Division of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Miller Theater of Columbia University present a production of Olga Neuwirth’s “Lost Highway,” based on the David Lynch film of the same name, about a saxophonist who is suspected of his wife’s murder, and transforms into a young mechanic to lead a new life. The director of the musical opera is Timothy Weiss. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Columbia University, Miller Theater, 116th Street and Broadway, 212-854-7799, $35.

POETRY

IN LOVE WITH LANGUAGE One of the greatest English poets of the 20th century, W.H. Auden, was born 100 years ago. A centennial birthday celebration is presented by the Poetry Society of America and the Cooper Union. Featured readers include Nicholas Jenkins, James Fenton, and Adam Gopnik. Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m., the Cooper Union, the Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St. at Third Avenue, 212-353-4195, free.

TALKS

LOTS AND LOTS OF TIM GUNN The Aperture Foundation and the Parsons School of Design at New School University present “Behind the Faces of Fashion,” a panel discussion presented as part of the “Confounding Expectations: Photography in Context” series. The discussion focuses on fashion photography today, paying particular attention to the ways that fashion photography and art collide. The discussion is moderated by the chair of fashion design at Parsons, and a member of the show “Project Runway,” Tim Gunn, who joins Liz Claiborne, Inc. as chief creative officer next month. Panelists include photographer Inez Van Lamsweerde; a writer and critic, Vince Aletti, and the founder of Box Studios, Pascal Dangin. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., the New School, 66 W. 12th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-229-5353, free.

SCULPTURE

FROM WOOD TO ART The late sculptor Albert Hoffman received a formal education that lasted only until the eighth grade, when it was cut short by the Great Depression. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Hoffman returned to the East Coast, settling in Atlantic City, where he began carving wooden reliefs, many of them inspired by stories of Jewish folklore that his father told him during his childhood. Selections from “Albert Hoffman, Sculptor of Wood” include “Dragon” (c. 1978), top, “Jersey Devil” (1972), above left, and “Artemis” (1976), above right. Through Saturday, March 3, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Andrew Edlin Gallery, 529 W. 20th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 6th floor, 212-206-9723, free.

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