ART

GOT TO HAVE FAITH The Greenberg Van Doren Gallery presents the opening of “True Faith,” a summer group exhibit of works by 13 artists from the New York metropolitan area. Paul Brainard is curator of the show. Although the images in the exhibit appear to be arbitrarily chosen, all are united by a direct relationship to the touch of the hand, whether figurative works or highly abstract. Featured artists include Barry Ratoff, Franklin Evans, and Gina Magid. Among the highlights is Jeff Konigsberg’s “Connect” (2006), a pencil-andink drawing which vividly explores the intersection of architecture and landscape through the accumulated lines that have become a signature for the artist. Through Friday, August 17, Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Greenberg Van Doren, 730 Fifth Ave. at 57th Street, 212-445-0444, free.

FILM

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE The Museum of the Moving Image and Partnerships for Parks presents Outdoor Cinema 2007, its annual festival of international film, music, dance, and food. Roy Rowland’s “5,000 Fingers of Dr. T” (1953), with a screenplay by Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, is this week’s selection. The inventive musical fantasy follows a young boy whose dreams and nightmares are provoked by his fear of an overbearing piano teacher. Hors d’oeuvres are catered by Serena Bass, whose menus include unique British fare such as sweet potato cakes and rum glazed swordfish. Tomorrow, sunset, Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd. at Broadway, Long Island City, Queens, 718- 956-1819, free.

COMMERCIAL LOVE The Museum of the Moving Image presents “Uneasy Riders: American Film in the Nixon Years, 1970–1974,” a cinematic series that highlights the rarely seen gems produced by the film industry during a period marked by a turbulent presidency and the unrest of the Vietnam war. Among the screenings is Irvin Kershner’s “Loving” (1970), which tells the tale of a commercial artist trying to keep up appearances while juggling an unsatisfying job, a failing marriage, and a troubled affair. Featured actors include George Segal and Eva Marie Saint. Saturday, 4:30 p.m., through Sunday, September 2, dates and times vary, Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Avenue at 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, 718–784–0077, $10 general, $7.50 students and seniors. $5 children under age 18, free for members. For complete information, go to movingimage. us.

CATHERINE THE GREAT The Film Society of Lincoln Center presents a screening of “Repulsion” (1965), which is featured as part of its “Summer Chills: Four by Roman Polanski” series. The nail-biter features French actress Catherine Deneuve cast as an isolated young virgin who is both repelled by and drawn to the idea of sex. During a weekend alone in a shared London apartment, she becomes a victim of her own paranoid fears. The black-and-white film is considered to constitute one third of the exiled director’s “apartment trilogy.” Tomorrow, 6:15 p.m., Lincoln Center, Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St., between Broadway and Amsterdam avenues, 212-496-3809, $11 general, $7 students and FSLC members.

MUSIC

MASTERS AT WORK Lincoln Center kicks off its Mostly Mozart Festival with “What Makes It Great?” a concert featuring the St. Lawrence String Quartet. The chamber music ensemble performs Beethoven’s “Grosse Fuge, Op. 133.” Conductor Rob Kapilow leads commentary about the German composer’s piece, written after he suffered permanent hearing loss. Although the condition made it difficult to perceive or appreciate music — even leading him to contemplate suicide — he continued to write what are widely considered masterworks. Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Lincoln Center, Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St., between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, 212-496-3809, $30.

I’LL TAKE YOU THERE The summer-long River to River festival features a host of events held in downtown Manhattan. Tomorrow, soul singer Mavis Staples performs classics, “freedom songs” of the Civil Rights movement, and selections from her well-reviewed new album “We’ll Never Turn Back.” A Chicagonative, Ms. Stapleshadher start in the music industry as part of a family gospel quartet, the Staples Singers. The group was signed to Memphis-based Stax Records in 1968, and the tale of their climb to pop chart success is among the highlights of a PBS Great Performances program airing tomorrow night titled,”Respect Yourself:The Stax Records Story.” Tomorrow, 7 p.m., Rockefeller Park, at north end of Battery Park City, corner of River Terrace and Warren Street, 212-945-0505, free.

POETRY

LITERARY GIANTS Poets Amiri Baraka and Sonia Sanchez give a poetry reading in Central Park as part of the SummerStage series presented by the City Parks Foundation. Mr. Baraka, born LeRoi Jones, is one of the founders of the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s. Ms. Sanchez, who also emerged on the literary scene as part of the Black Arts movement, reads from among her acclaimed works, including “Shake Loose My Skin” (Beacon) and “Like the Singing Coming off the Drums.” (Beacon) Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Central Park SummerStage, Rumsey Playfield, enter on 69th Street at Fifth Avenue on the east side, or 72nd Street at Central Park West on the west side, 212 360-2756, free.

READINGS

WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS The author of “The Septembers of Shiraz” HarperCollins), Dalia Sofer, discusses her novel in conversation with her editor at HarperCollins, Lee Boudreaux. The talk is featured as part of the “Author/Editor” series at McNally Robinson bookstore, which brings the pairs together to expound on the process of creation and offer insights into a book’s deeper themes. The Iranian Ms. Sofer’s book tells the story of a man wrongly imprisoned by the Ayatollah’s government in the wake of the Revolution, and its effects on his family in Iran and New York. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., McNally Robinson Booksellers, 52 Prince St., between Lafayette and Mulberry streets, 212-274-1160, free.

MAMA’S BOY A political reporter for the 24-hours news channel NY1,Dominic Carter, reads from his memoir “No Momma’s Boy: How I Let Go of My Past and Embraced theFuture”(IUniverse).Afteryears ofkeepingsecretthedetailsofadifficult childhood marked by horrific abuse at the hands of his mother, Mr. Carter learned of the extent of her mental illnesses through state psychiatric records. In writing the book, the author makes an effort to seek understanding and part with the shame of long-held family secrets. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble, 2289 Broadway at 82nd Street, 212-362-8835, free.

TALKS

DELI MEET The Museum of the City of New York hosts “Jewish Cuisine and the Evolution of the Jewish Deli,” a discussion of how this neighborhood staple helped to shape the character of New York City. Featured panelists debate whether the role of the Jewish delicatessen has changed or evolved in recent years. Among the participants is an owner of Russ & Daughters on East Houston Street, Mark Federman, a food critic and author, Mimi Sheraton, the proprietor of the Second Avenue Deli, Jack Lebewohl, and the owner of Katz’s Delicatessen, Allan Dell. Food critic Matthew Goodman is moderator of the talk. Tonight, 6:30 p.m., Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. at 103 Street, 212-534-1672, $9.

VIDEO

ASIA ON FILM “Condensation: Five Video Works by Chen Chieh-jen” is the first American exhibit for this Taiwanese artist. His short films examine the emotional toll that society, politics, and history has exacted on the Taiwanese community. A video still from “Factory” (2003), is above. Through Sunday, Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Asia Society, 725 Park Ave., between 70th and 71st streets, 212-517-2742, $10 general, $7 seniors, $5 students.

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