BOOKS

SOUTHERN STATES Actress Sarah Thyre reads from her memoir “Dark at the Roots” (Perseus) about growing up in the South in the 1970s. When she was born, her father nicknamed her the “family liar” for no particular reason, and Ms. Thyre spent her childhood adopting different flamboyant personalities. Tonight, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 4 Astor Place at Broadway 212-420-1322, free.

DEEP IN ONE’S CUPS “Dry Man hattan: Prohibition in New York City” (Harvard University Press) by an associate dean at the Bard High School Early College, Michael Lerner, is a comparison of the utopian visions that lawmakers had in the early 20th century about cracking down on alcohol consumption, and similar visions that lawmakers have today. Mr. Lerner reads from and signs his book. Tonight, 7 p.m., South Street Sea port Museum, Melville Gallery, 213 Water St., between Fulton and Beek man streets, 212-748-8568, $5 do nation suggested.

DANCE

OLD AND NEW Miro Magloire’s New Chamber Ballet dances a program of ballets set to music by Italian composers from the Baroque to the contemporary eras, during “Italian Evening.” Musical selections include the work of composers such as Arcangelo Corelli, Luigi Dallapiccola, and Luciano Berio, who died in 2003 and was noted for his experimental music. Christin Hanna, Damien Johnson, Elizabeth Brown, and Denise Small are among featured dancers. The performance features live musical accompaniment. Tomorrow and Saturday, 8:30 p.m., City Center Studio 4, fourth floor, 130 W. 56th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-868-4444, $20 general, $10 students and seniors.

MUSIC

GREAT PERFORMERS Lincoln Center presents pianist Murray Perahia, who performs works by Beethoven, Bach, Schumann, and Chopin in his only New York City recital of the season. Mr. Perahia’s program includes Schumann’s “Fantasiestücke, Op. 12” and Chopin’s Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52. — works that range from the heights of Baroque style to the heart of Romanticism. Sunday, 3 p.m., Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, between Broadway and 65th Street, 212-721-6500, $26–$51.

AN EASTER CHORALE As part of the ongoing Metropolitan Museum Concert series, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra performs a program of Bach’s Easter Cantatas, in the orchestra’s last museum appearance of the season. The program includes Bach’s Cantata No. 42 (“Then the Same Sabbath at Evening”) and Cantata No. 134 (“The Heart That Truly Knows Jesus”). Tenor Benjamin Sosland and bass baritone Richard Lalli are featured soloists. Friday, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Temple of Dendur in the Sackler Wing, 1000 Fifth Ave. at 82nd Street, 212-570-3949, $60.

PAINTINGS

DOWNTOWN HERO “Four Decades: An Intimate Look at a Career in Painting” is a retrospective of works by Ben Schonzeit. Mr. Schonzeit was a pioneer of the 1960s SoHo arts scene in New York and is viewed as one of the leaders of the American Photorealist movement of the 1970s. He has experimented with numerous artistic techniques and mediums, from airbrushing and oil on canvas, to printmaking. Selections from the retrospective include “Gold Summer Boy” (2002) above.. Tonight through Saturday, April 21, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Gerald Peters Gallery, 24 E. 78th St., between Fifth and Madison avenues, 212-628-9760, free.

TALKS

A LITTLE FLIGHT MUSIC The Central Park Zoo hosts a lecture about nature’s music, given by the author of “The Singing Life of Birds: The Art and Science of Listening to Birdsong,” scientist Donald Kroodsma. Mr. Kroodsma has spent more than 30 years listening to and analyzing the songs of birds. The talk is presented by the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Animal Enrichment Program. Wine and cheese are served, and a book signing follows. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Central Park Zoo, Gallery, between 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, 212-861-6030, $20 general, $15 for WCS members. For more information, go to centralparkzoo.com.

INNER-CITY DISCUSSIONS Brooklyn College’s Diversity Lecture Series presents a two-part discussion with a University professor of sociology at Harvard University, William Julius Wilson. In the first session, Mr. Wilson discusses his book “There Goes the Neighborhood: Racial, Ethnic, and Class Tensions in Four Chicago Neighborhoods and Their Meaning for America” (Knopf). During the second session, Mr. Wilson discusses his research on issues affecting inner-city black males. Today, 10:50 a.m.–12:05 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m., Brooklyn College, first session, Woody Tanger Auditorium, second session, Student Center State Lounge, fifth floor, 2900 Bedford Ave. at Campus Road, Brooklyn, 718-951-4128, free. RSVP to Tfussell@brooklyncuny.edu.

NOT A DROP TO DRINK The Cooper Union hosts a panel discussion on World Water Day, which raises awareness on how global trends such as population growth are affecting the world’s water supplies and how “green” building practices can make a difference. Panelists include a senior vice president for General Electric Water, Jeff Fulgham, and a sustainable-design expert at Gensler Architecture Firm, Rives Taylor. The founder and chief executive officer of the consulting firm GreenOrder, Andrew Shapiro, is moderator of the event. Today, noon-1:30 p.m., the Cooper Union, the Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St. at Third Avenue, 212-353-4220, free.

RESTORING THE CHAPEL New York University holds a public lecture with South African artist Louis de Wet, about his experiences restoring Wenlock Abbey, a medieval church in Shropshire, England, which he bought in 1983. The lectures centers on de Wet’s art in the context of his efforts to restore the centuries-old abbey. Tonight, 6 p.m., NYU, Silver Center for Arts and Science, Jurow Lecture Hall, first floor, 100 Washington Square East at Washington Place, 212-998-6880, free.

THE IMPORTANCE OF STOWE In conjunction with the exhibit “New York Divided: Slavery and the Civil War,” the New-York Historical So ciety presents a discussion with the chairman of the African American Studies Department at Harvard University, Henry Louis Gates Jr. and a writer and co-founder of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Stanley Crouch The two men discuss the modern impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Tonight, 6:30 p.m., 170 Central Park West at 77th Street, 212-868-4444 $15 general, $10 students, seniors and educators, $8 members.

THE DEPTHS OF THE CITY ARCHIVES The Arts, Culture & Fun at Manhattan Recreation Centers series presents “Secrets of the Mu nicipal Archives” with the city records commissioner, Brian An dersson. He is considered to be the custodian of millions of deeds, in dentures, census surveys, records of city actions, papers of city officials maps, prints, and photographs lo cated in the city’s Municipal Archives. Mr. Andersson discusses how the public can use the records department for ancestral history and other types of research. Tonight 7 p.m., Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, 1 Clarkson St. at Seventh Av enue South, 212-242-5228, free.

WRITING

FACING THE BLANK PAGE The au thor of “By Cunning & Craft: Sound Advice and Practical Wisdom for Fiction Writers” (Writer’s Digest) Peter Selgin, shares his tricks of the trade for fiction writing during a workshop. Participants are en couraged to complete a short writ ing exercise designed to help them craft characters. The workshop is presented by Gotham Writers Workshop. Tonight, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street, 212-595 6859, free.

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