(Various Locations) The third edition of the internationally acclaimed biennial of new visual art performance, will showcase new work by more than 150 of the world’s most exciting contemporary artists. Over its three week-run, Performa 09’s innovative program will break down the boundaries between visual art, music, dance, poetry, fashion, architecture, film, television, radio, graphic design, and the culinary arts, presenting over 110 events in collaboration with a consortium of more than 80 of the city’s leading arts institutions, 40 curators from around the world, and a network of public and private venues throughout the city. Event Website

(Here, 145 6th Ave, New York, NY 10013) An uprooted lily goes on a quest to wed a human bride and destroy The God of Nostalgia. Genre squishing Taylor Mac and a company of 40+ unravel our national pastime of melancholy remembrances. The Lily's Revenge is a 5 part extravaganza featuring live music, wild costumes, vaudevillian theatrics, macabre entr'actes, a million sequins, and a few flowers. Event Website

(La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 74A East 4th St, New York, NY 10003) The La MaMa gallery is reopening after a 2 year renovation. Singer-songwriter and performance artist Justin Bond and New Yorker theater critic Hilton Als curate “Cold Water” at LaMaMa La Galleria, a unique exhibition of works by artists who are also performers rooted in the East Village, downtown, CBGB’s, La MaMa scene, including: Kate Bornstein, Theo Kogan, Caden Manson, Thurston Moore, Jemma Nelson, Lady Rizo, Tilda Swinton, Chris Tanner, Leslie Thornton, Darryl Turner and Rufus Wainwright. Opening Reception: November 7 from 6 - 9pm Event Website

(BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217) (Check website for performances) The Next Wave Festival returns for its 27th season with an unparalleled line-up of contemporary performance, artist talks, literature, film, and visual art. Dedicated to presenting emerging artists at the forefront of their disciplines alongside modern masters who continue to innovate, this year's Next Wave is packed with adventurous art for adventurous audiences. Event Website

(Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036) The revival of the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical premiered last summer at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Event Website

(Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave at 75th St, New York, NY 10021) Holzer’s pioneering approach to language as a carrier of content, and her use of nontraditional media and public settings as vehicles for that content, make her one of the most interesting and significant artists working today. Event Website

(Henry Miller Theatre, 124 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, 212-239-6200) (8PM) Get ready to PUT ON A HAPPY FACE! Birdie returns in an all new production of the classic Tony Award®-winning musical smash BYE BYE BIRDIE. The exuberant rock 'n' roll smash hit gets hips swinging again for the first time in almost 50 years. Previews Sept 10th opens Oct. 15th ($91.50 +) Event Website

(Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128) (See website schedule) Kandinsky is a central figure in the history of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. His works not only represent a part of the core and essence of the collection, but also helped to inspire the creation of the building. In 1929, Solomon R. Guggenheim began collecting Kandinsky’s canvases under the advisement of artist Hilla Rebay. ($18) Event Website

(Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave at 75th St, New York, NY 10021) (See website schedule) Although Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) has long been celebrated as a central figure in twentieth-century art, the abstract works she created throughout her career have remained overlooked by critics and the public in favor of her representational subjects. The exhibition includes more than 130 paintings, drawings, watercolors, and sculptures by O'Keeffe as well as selected examples of Alfred Stieglitz’s famous photographic portrait series of O’Keeffe. ($18) Event Website

(Bryant Park, 25 West 40th St, New York, NY 10018) (Sun - Thurs 8am - 10pm; Fri - Sat 8am - 12am) NYC's only FREE ADMISSION Ice Skating Rink. Catch skating performances, live music, ticket giveaways and kids activities. The Pond is one of NYC's most treasured winter destinations. Enjoy a day of skating, share a romantic evening under the stars, celebrate the holidays at a company bash, or join one of the many events and ice activities this season! (FREE) Event Website

(Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238) Who Shot Rock & Roll is the first major museum exhibition on rock and roll to put photographers in the foreground, acknowledging their creative and collaborative role in the history of rock music. From its earliest days, rock and roll was captured in photographs that personalized, and frequently eroticized, the musicians, creating a visual identity for the genre. The photographers were handmaidens to the rock-and-roll revolution, and their images communicate the social and cultural transformations that rock has fostered since the1950s. The exhibition is in six sections: rare and revealing images taken behind the scenes; tender snapshots of young musicians at the beginnings of their careers; exhilarating photographs of live performances that display the energy, passion, style, and sex appeal of the band on stage; powerful images of the crowds and fans that are often evocative of historic paintings; portraits revealing the soul and creativity, rather than the surface and celebrity, of the musicians; and conceptual images and album covers highlighting the collaborative efforts between the image makers and the musicians. Event Website

(Tyler Rollins Fine Art, 529 West 20th St, New York, NY 10011) Considered to be one of Singapore’s preeminent contemporary artists, Ong has been noted for his large scale, figurative charcoal works on paper since his first solo exhibitions in the 1980s. During the past year, he became fascinated with the Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic that recounts the exploits of Rama and his dutiful wife, Sita. Ong has brought his own unique viewpoint to this classic story. Inspired by the Ramayana’s characters and its dramatic themes of love, combat, and heroic adventure, he has created new narratives that are informed by his sensitivity as a gay man to the way gender roles play out in contemporary relationships. Event Website

(Madame Tussauds, 234 West 42nd St btwn 7 & 8th Aves, Times Square, New York, NY 10036) Madame Tussauds is offering a history lesson alongside its wax figurines this month: Beginning on Martin Luther King Day, visitors can participate in a special scavenger hunt, with clues based on African-American icons (like Malcolm X and Rose Parks) whose likenesses are in the wax museum. The clues can be downloaded from the website. ($22.40 - $35) (212-512-9600) Event Website

(The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10128) The quintessential modernist, Man Ray recast the concept of artistic identity, working as a painter, photographer, sculptor, printmaker, filmmaker, poet, and essayist. He perpetually tinkered with material at hand, putting to ingenious use the practical skills learned in a variety of jobs, from advertising to mapmaking to engraving. Event Website

(City Ice Pavilion, 47-32 32nd Place, Long Island City, NY, NY 11101) Whether you’re lacing up skates for the first time, or you’re an experienced skater, you will love ice skating at the City Ice Pavilion, New York’s only roof-top skating facility. There's also ice hockey, figure skating and skating lessons. Santa will be there every Saturday & Sunday until Christmas, and he's bringing his skates! ($5 - $8, $6 skate rental) Event Website

(North end of Central Park near 110th St & Lenox Ave) Get caught up in the joy of the winter season by gliding across Lasker Rink with two oval rinks: one for high school hockey teams and one for all ages. ($6.25 (children under 12 $3.50); skate rental $5.50) Event Website

(Central Park South, 59th St & 6th Ave) Wollman Rink is a popular skating choice and is apt to be crowded during peak times (especially weekends). ($10.25 ($5 children) wkdays; $14.75 wknds ($5.75 children); skate rentals $6.25) Event Website

(Museum of Arts & Design, 2 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019) Slash: Paper Under the Knife takes the pulse of the international art world's renewed interest in paper as a creative medium and source of artistic inspiration, examining the remarkably diverse use of paper in a range of art forms. Slash is the third exhibition in MAD's Materials and Process series, which examines the renaissance of traditional handcraft materials and techniques in contemporary art and design. The exhibition surveys unusual paper treatments, including works that are burned, torn, cut by lasers, and shredded. A section of the exhibition will focus on artists who modify books to transform them into sculpture, while another will highlight the use of cut paper for film and video animations. Selected artists will be commissioned to create site-specific or site-referential works, and others will be invited to create work onsite in MAD's three artist studios that will subsequently be installed in the exhibition. ($15/Thur 6-9pm by donation) Event Website

(FIT, 27th St & 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001) The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) presents the first exhibition to explore how the "philosophy of beauty" is allied to the craft of dressmaking. Each of the 75 looks on display was chosen to exemplify the relationship between technical ingenuity and artistic excellence. Curator Patricia Mears has focused on approximately 25 American fashion designers, ranging from the obscure, such as Jessie Franklin Turner, whose work dates from the late 1910s, to rising stars of the present day, such as the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte. Other designers featured include Adrian, Bonnie Cashin, Maria Cornejo, James Galanos, Halston, Elizabeth Hawes, Charles James, Charles Kleibacker, Claire McCardell, Norman Norell, Rick Owens, Ralph Rucci, Isabel Toledo, Pauline Trigère, Valentina, Yeohlee, and Jean Yu. (FREE) Event Website

(Rockefeller Center, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, 5th to 7th Aves, 47 to 51st Sts, New York, NY 10111) The most famous city rink of them all. ($9.50+, skate rental $8) Event Website

Tuesdays at 7pm, 3rd St & Prospect Park West; Wednesdays at 6:45pm, 236 West 73rd St; Saturdays at 9:15am, 236 West 73rd St Event Website

(LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th St, New York, NY 10011) The world's oldest and largest not-profit agency dedicated to serving LGBT senior citizens. Activities include Daytime Discussion, Art Studio, 75+, Support Group, Scrabble & Bridge and Women's and Men's activities. Event Website

(Corio, 337 West Broadway, New York, NY 10003) (8:00pm) Last Call at the Starliner Lounge, a new and entirely original burlesque noir musical featuring live music, murder, mystery, camp and, last but never least, a bevy of twirling tassels- in the tradition of the five lesbian brothers. The once-underground, once-illegal show formally takes the top floor of Soho’s burlesque landmark. ($15) (212-966-3901) info@corionyc.com Event Website

(LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th St, New York, NY 10011) (6:30 PM) NYC's oldest and largest butch/femme social and support group. BFS is committed to providing social education, emotional support, and entertainment to the much ignored butch/femme community. Since 1989, we've strived for fair representation of every ethnicity, all age groups, and all social and occupational backgrounds. BFS has a strict non-exclusionary policy. Monthly Open Meeting for femme and butch lesbians. Varying Topics. ($2) (212-388-2736) bfsnyc@aol.com Event Website

(ihi (The Institute for Human Identity), 322 Eighth Avenue, Suite 802 at 26th Street, New York, NY 10001) (7PM) A ground-breaking new support program of workshops and counseling for LGBTQ parents and prospective parents.While LGBTQ persons now more freely contemplate marriage and family life, they still face more difficult challenges than their straight counterparts. The Family Q workshops alert the participants to the emotional issues they and their children will face and gives them the insights and tools needed for productive family building. Family Q also provides follow-up counseling for workshop participants who would like more support in working through some of the emotional complexities that LGBTQ parents must deal with. Third Wednesday thru May (FREE) Event Website

(LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th St, New York, NY 10011) (6:30 - 8:00 PM) Open Monthly meeting for butch and femme lesbians. (2.00 (more if/less if)) (212-388-2736) bfsnyc@aol.com Event Website

(Ripley Grier Studios, 939 8th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Buzzer 307, New York, NY 10019) (Tu 8pm; We 8:30pm) Greg Ryzio brings same sex ballroom dancing to Hells Kitchen. Learn classic Ballroom and spicy Latin dances with your partner or on your own. Classes are open to anyone looking to learn in a comfortable and friendly environment. Come join in on the fun! ($20) (917.692.8732) justdancenyc@hotmail.com Event Website