BENEFITS

ON THE BLOCK Members of the Fire Department of New York set the extinguishers aside for an evening, putting themselves up for auction to benefit the Uniformed Firefighters Association Thomas Elsasser Fund, which raises money for families affected by the deaths of off-duty firefighters. The fund was created in 1992 in honor of Elsasser, a 20-year fireman killed in 1990. Participants are encouraged to bid on an outing; subsequent dates are sponsored through donations. Drink specials throughout the event include $5 Cosmos and “appletinis.” Tonight, 7 p.m., Turtle Bay Grill & Lounge, 987 Second Ave., between 52nd and 53rd streets, 212-223-4224, $10.

DESIGN

ROYAL BLOOM “Watercolors From the Highgrove Florilegium,” an exhibit of botanical paintings inspired by a garden of HRH the Prince of Wales, is on view at the Gallery of the New York School of Interior Design. A group of 48 international artists created 75 watercolors from the varieties of plants, fruits, and vegetables growing in the 15-acre Highgrove garden. The show is organized according to botanical classification and marks the first public display of these works. “Florilegium” is the Latin term for a collection of pictures of plants in a specific garden; it is a practice that unites two of the Prince Charles’s chief passions — horticulture and painting. Highlights include Jenny Phillips’s “Magnolia Grandiflora” (2007), near right, and Jessica Tcherepnine’s “Beta vulgaris ‘Boltardy'” (2007), far right, a rendering on paper of crimson beets. Through Saturday, April 12, Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., the Gallery of the New York School of Interior Design, 161 E. 69th St., between Lexington and Third avenues, 212-472-1500, free.

YOUR WORLD UP CLOSE The Pratt Manhattan Gallery at the campus of the Pratt Institute presents “My World,” an exhibit of works by seven British designers. The pieces reflect what the designers perceive as our desire for a stamp of personal identity in the things that populate our lives. Designers include Peter Tragg, Danny Brown, and Neutral, the brainchild of Christian Grou and Tapio Snellman. Through Saturday, February 23, Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Pratt Manhattan Gallery, 144 W. 14th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-647-7778, free.

FILM

BETRAYAL ON THE BEACH Director Hong Sang-Soo’s wicked comedy of manners, “Woman on the Beach” (2006), screens this weekend at Film Forum. The movie follows a trio of 30-somethings who gather for a weekend at the beach during the off-season. Things quickly go wrong when a slumping filmmaker, played by Kim Seung-woo, falls for his pal’s girlfriend, played by Ko Hyun-joung. (In Korean with English subtitles.) Through Tuesday, January 22, 1:15, 3:45, 6:45, and 9:15 p.m., Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-727-8110, $10.50 general, $5.50 seniors weekdays before 5 p.m., $5.50 children.

MUSEUMS

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND “Infinite Island: Contemporary Caribbean Art,” an exhibit of more than 80 works features contributions from 45 artists who represent the vibrant nature of this culture. The art explores Caribbean societies through video, photography, print and drawings, sculpture, and installation. Through Sunday, January 27, Wednesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., until 11 p.m. on first Saturdays, Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy. at Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, 718-638-5000, $8 general, $4 students and seniors, free for children under 12.

MUSIC

UNTIL THE END OF TIME As part of Juilliard’s ChamberFest series, students perform Olivier Messiaen’s “Quatuor Pour La Fin du Temps” (“Quartet for the End of Time”). The piece was written in 1940, while Messiaen was a prisoner of war. The composer wrote parts for clarinet, violin, and cello for three fellow prisoners who were also musicians. The ChamberFest program features more than 80 musicians in ensemble-style settings, conducted by Juilliard faculty. Tonight, 8 p.m., Juilliard School, Paul Hall, 60 Lincoln Center Plaza, between Columbus Avenue and 64th Street, 212-769-7406, free.

BLACK MAGIC WOMAN The Gotham Chamber Opera and the Morgan Library & Museum present “Scenes of Gypsy Life,” a cautionary tale set to music of the Romantic period. In it, tenor Garrett Sorensen plays a wholesome farm boy who is seduced by a sultry Gypsy woman. He abandons provincial life and joins her clan soon after. Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave., between 36th and 37th streets, 212-685-0008, ext. 560, $35–$45.

PAINTINGS

ON THE PLAYGROUND Khalif Kelly makes his New York debut with his first solo exhibit, “Recess.” Mr. Kelly counts artist Jacob Lawrence and the animator and film producer George Pal among his influences, and his brightly colored figures bear that out. The images on view recall the artist’s early childhood interactions with youngsters his own age and the rituals that make those experiences memorable — if a bit awkward. Selections include “Initiation” (2007), left. Through Sunday, February 10, Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Thierry Goldberg Projects, 5 Rivington St., between Chrystie Street and the Bowery, 212-967-2260, free.

PHOTOGRAPHY

ANOTHER GIRL ON THE IRT Photographer Jaishri Abichandani immigrated to Queens from India when she was 14. Her latest exhibit, “Reconciliations,” speaks directly to her migration experience. Ms. Abichandani creates collages from photographs of boroughs and cityscapes. Through Sunday, March 23, Wednesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, noon–5 p.m., Queens Museum of Art, New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Grand Central Parkway and Roosevelt Avenue, 718-592-9700, $5 general, $2.50 seniors, free for children.

FEVER FOR THE FERVOR “Rejoicing in Tsfat and Meron: Capturing the Fervor: Photography by Win Robins,” an exhibit at the Yeshiva University Museum, features 11-by-17-inch images of Hasidic men captured in various states of spiritual release, whether dancing, entranced, or deep in prayer. Through Sunday, February 24, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Center for Jewish History, Yeshiva University Museum, 15 W. 16th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-294-8330, $8 general, $6 seniors and students, free for members, children under 5, and Yeshiva University faculty, staff, and students.

THEATER

GOOD PUPPET GONE BAD The Italian theater company Teatro Del Carretto makes its American debut with an adaptation of “Pinocchio” geared to adults. In this version, based on the text by Italian author Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio (a carved, wooden puppet) comes to life, matures into manhood, and faces a world full of danger. The play is performed in Italian. Featured actors include Giandomenico Cupaiuolo and Elsa Bossi. Tonight, 7:30 p.m., through Sunday, January 27, dates vary, LaMaMa E.T.C., 74A E. 4th St., between Second Avenue and the Bowery, 212-475-7710, $20 general, $15 students and seniors.

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.