(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

(Abrons Arts Center at Henry Street Settlement, 466 Grand St, New York, NY 10002) Featuring a four-piece orchestra with original score, Sandwich is a playful, provocative & horrific musical that examines the art of eating and the blind act of consumption during the festive holiday season. Full of sing-a-long fun, Sandwich is a compendium of oddities to stuff in your stocking. Event Website

(Various Locations, Queens) The 5th Framing AIDS 2009, Queens’ Annual Observance of World AIDS Day Through the Arts presents an Art Exhibition, Film Screenings, Panel Discusions, and Online Multimedia Projects. Closing Event on Sunday, December 20, 5 - 7pm will feature the New-media performances and an Artists Talk with participant guest artists, community AIDS activists, and representatives from AIDS Center of Queens County, ACQC. Event Website

(The Kirk @ Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd St, New York, NY 10036) SANTA CLAUS IS COMING OUT, a theatrical mock-u-mentary, is about the worldwide scandal surrounding the outing of Santa Claus. Writer-performer Jeffrey Solomon traces the intensely personal struggle of the great holiday icon, as he tries to reconcile his love relationship with Italian toy maker Giovanni Geppetto with his passion for giving to the world's children. The show features more than a dozen iconic characters. Among them are Sidney Green, the 'little Jew who saved Christmas;' seven year-old Gary, who asks Santa for a Sparkle Dream Princess doll; Mary Ellen, who evokes a 21st century Anita Bryant; Rudolph, elves, and many others. ($46.25) Event Website

(Performance Space 122, 150 First Ave., (at 9th St.), New York, NY 10009) (7:30pm) Two iconoclastic downtown performers entertain, tantalize, beguile, and finally threaten to break the elbows of our Aristotelian/Stanislavskian conceptions of contemporary American theatre and identity as we safely understand them in a new play by Sibyl Kempson. In other words: Mike Iveson, with his demonic arrangements of the indigenous music of their native New Jersey, joins Kempson in a rapturous and obsessive melodrama of consciousness. Part cabaret fiasco, part aesthetic holocaust, their dual dueling performance pits them in a life-or-death struggle for the right to devour the soul of the play. ($20, $15 (students, seniors)) Event Website

(Union Square Park, Broadway to 4th Ave, East 14th St to East 17th St) Unique gifts await shoppers at every turn as they peruse the more than 100 gift boutiques at the popular Holiday Market at Union Square, now in its 13th year. The Market's wares include imported and handmade holiday ornaments and decorations, antique prints, fine art, toys for kids of all ages, gourmet foods, drinks, baked goods, handcrafted jewelry and leather, golf accessories, candles, bath oils, cashmere, French linens, pet accessories, clothing and apparel for all ages. Event Website

(Ohio Theater, 66 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012) (8:00PM) Inspired by true events, She Like Girls, follows the story of Kia Clark, a black teen, as she struggles with brutal self-discovery in the face of a non-accepting, insular community where falling outside of the norm is difficult and dangerous. When Kia’s relationship with Marisol Feliciano moves from friendship to something more, the absence of understanding and respect in their volatile urban environment create ripples of vehement hate. Chisa Hutchinson's She Like Girls is the story of two inner-city high school girls who fall in love and dare to challenge their world by choosing freedom over silence. ($25) ((212) 352-3101) 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

(Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011) (Tu-Sa 11am-6pm Th-Sa11am- 8pm closed Su&Mo) Like all major artists, Chen Cheng-hsiung has been the subject of a good deal of writing. Critics and historians have traced his career, his development into a thoroughly mature Abstract painter, and the stages by which he has moved on from one kind of Abstraction to another, showing that he has never been content to stay where he was, but has constantly moved forward to explore new ground ($8 adults, $4 students and seniors, free for members and visitors 16 and under)

(45 Bleecker St Theatre, 45 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012, 212-260-8250) A night of comedy, music and burlesque, told by the gals who learned to smoke at Hebrew School, got drunk at their Bat-Mitzvahs and would rather have more schtuppa than the chupah. These badass chosen chicks boldly dare to deconstruct years of tradition, expectations and guilt in a fast-paced vaudeville extravaganza, complete with kick lines, punch lines and a rendition of "L'chaim" with a fist in the mouth. This ain't yo' mama's "Fiddler". A stellar line up of comedians, musicians, spoken word artists and burlesque performers. Event Website

(Lincoln Center, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023) From the moment the lights dim, you're transported to a mysterious world of magic and wonder. A rousing snowstorm sends a blizzard of snowflakes dancing across the stage, while tantalizing delicacies prance about with international flair. You'll meet marching toy soldiers, little Marie, and the valiant Nutcracker who saves her from the nightmarish Mouse King all in a show The New York Times calls "a glowing fantasy." ($20+) Event Website

(Actors' Playhouse Theatre, 100 7th Ave. South, New York, NY 10014) (Fridays @ 8pm, Saturdays @ 3pm/8pm & Sundays @ 5pm) “The title alone is brilliant!” - Kathy Griffin It’s time for the annual holiday production for a struggling gay theatre company in West Hollywood. Jim, the pot-smoking straight tech guy, offends M&M, the eclectic playwright, causing him to walk out and take his script with him. Now the crazy and drama-addicted team has just a few weeks to produce the “gayest Christmas pageant ever.” This holiday camp-fest is a fast-paced comedy packed with hilarious dialog and over-the-top characters. ($45) 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

(Fifth Ave from 34th St to Central Park) The only window shopping we wait all year for the chance to slow walk the velvet roped lines and oooh and ahhh the lastest in glitz, glam and santa shazam! See what Bergdorf, Bloomindale's, Bendel, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Saks, Barneys and others have tripped over themselves to wow you with.

(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

(303 Bond, 303 Bond St, Brooklyn, NY 11231) Company XIV presents revivals of their seductive and sensual adult shows, Le Serpent Rouge and The Judgment of Paris, and the world premiere of their family holiday show Snow White. In the sensual and sumptuous Le Serpent Rouge, Company XIV enacts the story of Adam, Eve and the fall of man as only Austin McCormick and his multi-talented troupe can; humorous, heartbreaking and extravagantly decadent. Inspired by the Greek myth “The Judgment of Paris,” Company XIV tells an epic story of lust, love, and tragedy, illustrating the events that lead to Paris' fateful decision to award Aphrodite the golden apple in exchange for Helen of Troy. Company XIV's version of Snow White is a baroque infused show for all ages inspired by the Brothers' Grimm version of the fairy tale. Event Website

(Grand Central Station, 101 East 42nd, New York, NY 10017) Celebrate the holiday season with the New York Transit Museum's annual Holiday Train Show. On a two-level 34-foot long layout, Lionel trains travel through a miniature Manhattan to the North Pole. A new Long Island Rail Road train joins Metro-North, New York Central, and Pennsylvania Railroad cars on the elevated track, while New York City Transit's R-27 subway cars run below. Vintage Lionel trains from the Museum's collection are also on view. (FREE) Event Website

(Leslie/Lohman Gallery, 26 Wooster St, New York, NY 10013) (12noon to 6pm) Nearly 100 works from our permanent that have never or rarely been exhibited. Also on exhibition: * Sculpture by Kirk Vaughn-Robinson, The Naked Visage The POrtraiture of Michail Tsakountis (Free) (212-431-2609) scott@leslielohman.org 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

(Bobst Library at New York University, 70 Washington Square South) Coming 10 years after artist and educator Robert Blanchon’s death of AIDS, the first New York exhibition of his works, writing and ephemera will be spotlighted at the Tracey/Barry Gallery of the Fales Library & Special Collections. The Gallery is on the Third Floor of the Bobst Library at New York University. At turns playful, brave, probing, and profound, the exhibition marks the transfer of major holding of Blanchon’s estate into the publicly accessible archives of the Fales Library at New York University. It also concludes a multi-year collaboration between the artist’s estate and the nonprofit advocacy organization Visual AIDS to collect and present the work of the late photo-based conceptual artist. 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

(Located in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, nearest the Parkside/Ocean Ave entrance or the Lincoln Road/Ocean Aven entrance, btwn the Lake & the Concert Grove) Wollman Rink offers fun for all, providing 26,600 square feet of ice. It also serves as home ice for local amateur men’s and women’s hockey teams. Special events include: Jan 23rd Show Tunes Skate: Free your inner Broadway star and have a blast. Jan 31st Michael Jackson Skate: We want to "Rock With You" so "Beat It" to Wollman Rink and get your groove on with the songs from the King of Pop. ($5; Children (ages 14 & under); Seniors: $3; Skate Rental: $6.50) 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

(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

(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

(MoMA, 11 West 53 St, New York, NY 10019) This major career retrospective on Tim Burton, consisting of a gallery exhibition and a film series, considers Burton's career as a director, producer, writer, and concept artist for live-action and animated films, along with his work as a fiction writer, photographer and illustrator. Following the current of his visual imagination from early childhood drawings through his mature work, the exhibition presents artwork generated during the conception and production of his films, and highlights a number of unrealized projects and never-before-seen pieces, as well as student art, his earliest non-professional films, and examples of his work as a storyteller and graphic artist for non-film projects. Event Website

(Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011) (open Tu - Sa 11am to 6pm Th 11am to 8pm closed Su) Miotte’s artistic influences include performance, choreography, jazz music and Ballet, and of these his most seminal influence is Ballet. In London in 1948 he did set design and saw the work of Balanchine, the Diaghilev Ballet and Margot Fonteyn. Being exposed to this variety of art was of profound inspiration to him. Dance is the universal language of non-verbal communication, evident through performance. Miotte would experiment with gesture through painting and hone lyrical movement in his own art. ($8, $4)

(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

(CBST, 296 9th Ave, at 28th St, New York, NY 10001) (7pm) Event Website

(LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th St, New York, NY 10011) (7:30 - 10pm) Educational, recreational, and social opportunities within the framework of Modern Western square dancing for the gay and lesbian community. Event Website

(Rififi, 332 E. 11th St, Between 1st and 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10003) (11pm) The Only Free, Gay AND Lesbian Friday night dance party in NYC. The night at Rififi features hot Go-Gos, the best DJs, crazy drink specials and NO cover charge. (Free)

(Natural Gourmet Institute, 48 W. 21st St, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10011) (6:30pm) Friday Night Dinner at The Natural Gourmet has become a culinary magnet for savvy New Yorkers and visitors alike. Savor a delicious and unique experience when Chef Instructors and students of our Chef’s Training Program pour their expertise and enthusiasm into a three-course vegetarian dinner that is both innovative and beautifully presented. ($40) Event Website

(Natural Gourmet Institute, 48 W. 21st St, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10011) (6:30pm) Friday Night Dinner at The Natural Gourmet has become a culinary magnet for savvy New Yorkers and visitors alike. Savor a delicious and unique experience when Chef Instructors and students of our Chef’s Training Program pour their expertise and enthusiasm into a three-course vegetarian dinner that is both innovative and beautifully presented. ($40) Event Website