Monday
► Screening with Director: "The Return: Young and Jewish in Today’s Poland"
Where: Central Queens Y, 67-09 108th St., Forest Hills
When: 12:30 p.m.
Description: Before World War II, Poland’s 3.5 million Jews made the country the epicenter of the Jewish world. Today roughly 20,000 Jews live there, but the numbers keep growing as some young Poles are discovering their Jewish roots they knew nothing about and struggle to build their new identity. In his documentary "The Return," filmmaker Adam Zucker focuses on four young women who are learning about their Jewish heritage. The film also highlights the revival of interest in Jewish culture among non-Jews. The suggested donation is $8.
► “From Here to Eternity” Screening
Where: Sunnyside Branch Library, 43-06 Greenpoint Ave.
When: 3 to 5 p.m.
Catch a free screening of this 1953 classic love story at the library, as part of its weekly “Classic Movie Mondays” series.
► Celebrate Winter in Forest Hills
Where: 71st Road, between Austin Street and Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills
When: 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Kick off the holidays during the neighborhood’s first Celebrate Winter event. The festival will include family-friendly activities, live music, raffles, giveaways from local businesses and a holiday lighting ceremony. Kids will also get a chance to take a selfie in a photo booth with the Forest Hills reindeer.
► Downtown Brooklyn Tree Lighting Ceremony with Brooklyn Nets and Big Apple Circus
Where: MetroTech Commons, in front of 2 MetroTech Center.
When: 5 p.m.
Join Brooklyn Nets players Thaddeus Young and Chris McCollough, Borough President Eric Adams and FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro for the 26th annual lighting of a 54-foot high Christmas tree at MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn. The event will also feature performances by Brooklyn Youth Chorus and the Big Apple Circus. The event is free and open to the public.
► Winter’s Eve
Where: Lincoln Square, Tree Lighting in Dante Park at West 63rd St. and Broadway
When: 5:30 p.m.
Kick off the holidays with a tree lighting, ice sculptures, live music throughout the neighborhood and tons of food from favorite local restaurants.
► Mary-Louise Parker Chats About Her New Memoir
Where: Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St., Brooklyn Heights
When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Description: Actress Mary-Louise Parker, known for her lead role in the TV series “Weeds,” will talk about her new memoir, “Dear Mr. You” with poet Kevin Young. Tickets are $5 for non-members.
Tuesday
► A Christmas Carol
Where: Jefferson Market Library, 425 Sixth Ave., Greenwich Village
When: 3:30 p.m.
The Traveling Lantern Theatre Company will present the classic holiday tale “A Christmas Carol” for children ages 3 and up.
► South Street Seaport Annual Tree Lighting
Where: 19 Fulton St.
When: 6:00 p.m.
Come out and enjoy the lighting of the Christmas tree at the South Street Seaport. The free celebration includes live music performances by acappella group the Mistletones, gospel youth group Livre’, singer-songwriter Connell Cruise, the Mariners’ Temple Baptist Church choir, American Idol winner Nick Fradiani — a special appearance by Santa.
► First Night of Soup Kitchen 2015 at Open Source Gallery
Where: Open Source Gallery, 306 17th St., South Slope
When: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Open Source Gallery kicks off its annual soup kitchen on Dec. 1. The event runs through Dec. 31. Volunteers sign up to serve a free nightly dinner at the gallery to anyone who shows up. Meals can be any kind of food, and each one must incorporate an artistic element such as a musical performance or a decoration for the gallery.
Wednesday
► Event Name Bryant Park Boot Camp
Where: Fifth Avenue Terrace in front of the public Library in Bryant Park
When: 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Crunches planks and push-ups will get your blood pumping on this chill winter morning and geared up for the daily grind. Bryant Park Boot Camp is held every Wednesday morning.
► About Women: Conversations Between A Writer and a Painter
Where: The French Institute Alliance Française’s Le Skyroom, 22 E. 60th st., Upper East Side
When: 12:30 p.m.
FIAF’s lunch and talk event will feature artist Françoise Gilot, who is also an author and was one of Picasso’s muses, and best-selling author Lisa Alther, who hails from the South, will discuss their experiences as women, from their impulse to create to driving their careers.
► Bike mechanics workshop
Where: Recycle-a-Bicycle, 5th Street & 46th Avenue, Long Island City
When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Get your hands dirty and learn basics of taking care of your bike, free of charge. Beginners are welcome.
► Artists’ Reception at Site:Brooklyn Gallery
Where: Site:Brooklyn, 165 Seventh St., Gowanus
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Curated by Kimberly Marrero, “Transforming: Street Objects from Your Street to Main Street” features photographs that “challenge the limitations of one’s perspective by reimagining seemingly banal street objects into outdoor sculptures.”
► “Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli” Book Talk with author Ted Merwin
Where: The Museum at Eldridge Street, 12 Eldridge St.
When: 6:30 p.m.
Author Ted Mervin will talk about his book, “Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli,” which traces the rise of the fall of Jewish delis from its start in the Lower East Side to its decline in the decades after World War II. Marvin will also sign copies of his book, which will be available for sale. The event is free, but the museum requests interested visitors to RSVP.
► Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting
Where: Rockefeller Center, 45 Rockefeller Plaza between Fifth and Sixth avenues
When: 7 p.m.
Like the druids of old, help chase away the darkest days of the year with the glittering, beseeching lights of New York’s greatest tree.
Thursday
► When Free Speech and Democracy Conflict: A talk on campaign finance in the age of Citizens United
Where: The New School’s Kellen Auditorium at 66 Fifth Ave., Greenwich Village
When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Hosted by the New School’s capitalism studies program, Jonathan Soros, the CEO of a private investment firm and the co-founder of an advocacy organization geared at reducing the power of money in politics, will talk money and politics with New School history professor Jeremy Varon, politics professor Deva Woodly and Adam Davidson of the National Public Radio show "Planet Money." The conversation will focus on campaign finance in light of the Supreme Court case Citizens United, which weakened regulations on corporate donations to political candidates. Soros previously clerked for a Court of Appeals judge. The talk will be followed by a reception and the event is free, but online RSVPs are required.
► Art in DUMBO First Thursday Gallery Walk
Where: Galleries throughout DUMBO
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Stroll through DUMBO’s galleries as they stay open late each first Thursday of the month. Check out a variety of free open studio events, live performances, and receptions, and enjoy the waterfront view while walking from gallery to gallery.
These listings were compiled by DNAinfo New York reporters Camille Bautista, Lisha Arino, Shaye Weaver, Danielle Tcholakian, Noah Hurowitz, Jeanmarie Evelly, Irene Plagianos, Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, Nikhita Venugopal, Gwynne Hogan and Leslie Albrecht.
