Friday, March 22
MUSIC: R.J. Gordon Birthday Bash
The Bushwick DIY venue's regular acts (Bueno, Ovlov, Celestial Shore and Zula) celebrate house engineer R.J. Gordon, who will be performing as a member of slacker-rock group Baked.
Big Snow Buffalo Lodge, 89 Varet Street, Brooklyn. 8 p.m. $5
TALK: The History of Ha!
Veteran comedy writer David Misch ("Saturday Night Live," The Muppets Take Manhattan), performs excerpts from his history Funny: the Book.
92Y Tribeca, 200 Hudson Street. 12 p.m. $21
LIT: I Would Die 4 U
Author, journalist and critic Touré is celebrating the release of his latest book I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became an Icon, honoring the man, the musician, the Artist and the enigma known as Prince. And what better way to celebrate Prince than with a dance party DJ'd by Ali Shaheed Muhammad of a Tribe Called Quest? Better yet, it's all for a good cause -- all proceeds from tonight's Housing Works shindig will go to fight homelessness and assist in HIV and AIDS prevention and research.
Housing Works Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby St. 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., $5 General admission $26.76 Admission plus book
Saturday, March 23
MUSIC: Jacco Gardner
If you missed the Dutch baroque-pop multi-instrumentalist's last New York visit, here's your chance to catch him in performance. With kraut-psych-rockers MMOSS.
Mercury Lounge, 217 East Houston Street. 7:30 p.m. $10. 21+
OTHER: Freetown Produce Festival
This weekend-long festival celebrates Louisiana music and cuisine, with classes, performances and meals.
Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia Street, Brooklyn. Check here for full listing of events and prices.
Sunday, March 24
MUSIC: Generations of the Beat
The second of two nights celebrating the history of jazz drumming features Andrew Cyrille's duet with Oliver Lake as well as Billy Hart's tribute to Elvin Jones.
Drom, 85 Avenue A, (212) 777-1157. 7 p.m. $20 for a two-day pass for Saturday and Sunday.
WORDS: Design for Living
Miles Champion, William Fuller, and Joe Luna read their poetry.
Parade Ground, 187 East Broadway. 7:30 p.m. Free
PERFORMANCE: Marilyn is Dead: A Dark Burlesque Show with Amanda Lepore
NYC nightlife fixture and transsexual icon Amanda Lepore is hosting a seductive night of stripteases, cocktails and 'performance noir' about the death of Marilyn Monroe at the Living Theater. Burlesque performers Ana Evans, Delysia Lachatte and Raquel Reed join Lepore, who owes much to Ms. Monroe, and a special guest soon to be announced. The festivities will also feature a Marilyn Monroe look-alike contest and tarot card readings. Old Hollywood tragedy and fortune telling? What more can you want from a Saturday night?
Living Theater, 21 Clinton Street. 10 p.m., $20
Monday, March 25
FILM: Heaven's Gate
Michael Cimino's 1980 Western was long synonymous with film-industry failure but has recently been re-evaluated by some critics, who praise well-choreographed scenes of roller-skating and battle. Kris Kristofferson plays a Harvard-educated marshal caught up in a love triangle on the Wyoming frontier.
Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street. 216 minutes, DCP. 8 p.m. $12.50.
Tuesday, March 26
MUSIC: Ratking
Led by teenage rapper Wiki, Ratking purveys a gritty sound molded by their New York upbringing. With noise-rapper Cities Aviv.
Glasslands Gallery, 289 Kent Avenue. 8:30 p.m. $10. 21+
FILM: PUNKING OUT
The New York Public Library screens three rare CBGB-era shorts, featuring performances by the Ramones, the Dead Boys and Richard Hell and the Voidoids in addition to footage of scenesters like Patti Astor and Anya Phillips.
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza. 6 p.m. Free
Wednesday, March 27
TALK: Intro to the NY Art World
Lydia Kutko (of Lydia Barry Kutko Art Advisory), Asya Geisberg (of Asya Geisberg Gallery) and Marco Antonini (of NURTUREart) join artist Lyn-Kee-Chow to share their understanding of the local art scene.
3rd Ward, 195 Morgan Avenue, Brooklyn, (718) 715-4961. 7 p.m. Free