A WEST SIDE STORY Amanda Vaill reads from “Somewhere: The Life of Jerome Robbins” (Broadway), about the Manhattan-born son of Russian Jewish immigrants who went on to create definitive ballets for both theater and dance. Ms. Vaill was given access to the numerous journals of the late choreographer, who was a prolific diarist. Tonight, 6 p.m., Corner Bookstore, 1313 Madison Ave. at 93rd Street, 212-831-3554, free.

THE THIN WOMAN Lauren Greenfield discusses “Thin” (Chronicle), her volume of photographs, interviews, and journal entries of 20 girls and women who suffer from eating disorders. The reading also coincides with the release on DVD of an HBO documentary of the same name. Tonight, 7 p.m., McNally Robinson Booksellers, 52 Prince St., between Mulberry and Lafayette streets, 212-274-1160, free.

AMERICA THROUGH RUSSIAN EYES Cabinet Magazine and Housing Works present a discussion of a new translation of Ilf and Petrov’s “American Road Trip” (Princeton Architectural Press and Cabinet Magazine), a 1936 travelogue written by two Soviet comic novelists. Panelists include the book’s editor, Erika Wolf, and Russian artists Natasha and Valera Cherkashin. Sina Najafi moderates the event. Tonight, 7 p.m., Housing Works Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby St., between Houston and Prince streets, 212-334-3324, free, donated books encouraged.

HONORING WRITERS The Koret International Jewish Book Awards honor the best in contemporary Jewish writing. Rebecca Goldstein, Rochel Berman, and Howard Schwartz are this year’s honorees. Jonathan Levi moderates the reading. Tonight, 8:15 p.m., 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street, 212-415-5500, $10.

A TEMPLE OF ART An art historian, Victoria Newhouse, gives a talk in celebration of “Towards a New Museum” (Monticelli), an expanded publication of her book about the proper function of museum spaces built in the 1980s and 1990s. Tomorrow, 7 p.m., 192 Books, 192 Tenth Ave. at 21st Street, 212-255-4022, free.