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THEATER

Take in two productions by legendary wordsmith Harold Pinter, The Collection and A Kind of Alaska. The Collection, a riveting one-act play, tells the story of two couples and their bizarre interactions. A Kind of Alaska focuses on the plight of a woman who has been asleep for 29 years--and her reluctance to accept the passage of time once she awakens (through Dec. 12, Classic Stage Company, $65).

Elf, starring Sebastian Arcelus as the lovable, goofy Buddy, is an easy-to-digest holiday treat (Al Hirschfeld Theatre).

Catch The Language Archive, about a linguist who can't save his marriage with words (ends Dec. 19).

See what all the fuss is about in A Little Night Music at the Walter Kerr Theatre (through January).

 

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MUSIC

Catch a grown-up twist on an old children's classic--the New York Pops perform Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas in concert form. The family event is narrated by Brian Stokes Mitchell and features Mitchell Kilby, Elena Zahlmann and Izzy Hanson-Johnston (2 p.m. Saturday, Stern Auditorium).

Pop phenom Ben Folds will perform with English novelist Nick Hornby (Dec. 14, Beacon Theatre).

See the multitalented Meredith Monk perform at Le Poisson Rouge (7:30 p.m. Sunday).

Hear the annual "Cathedral Candlelight Concert" at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (5:30 p.m. Sunday).

 

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TALKS

Have you ever wondered what really goes on in a great artist's studio? This is your chance to find out. Casey Neistat, who appeared with his brother on the HBO series The Neistat Brothers, will lead a tour of his studio in downtown Manhattan and screen some of his recent works (7 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, call the Whitney at 212-570-7746).

Andrew Goffman jokes about his addiction to pornography in "The Accidental Pervert" (Sat. Players Theatre).

Mary Catherine Bateson (Margaret Mead's daughter) reads from Composing a Further Life (Wednesday, NYPL).

Escape from the holiday stress at "LMAO" at HA! Comedy Club ($50, Friday-Sunday).

 

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DANCE

A combination of dance and horror movies? Sounds just crazy enough to work. Jack Ferver's newest production, Rumble Ghost, fuses dance, horror movies and the craziness of the human psyche. Starring Benjamin Asriel, Reid Bartelme, Christian Coulson, Carlye Eckert, Michelle Mola and Breanna O'Mara (opens Wednesday, 8 p.m., Performance Space 122).

The Yorkville Nutcracker is back for its 15th year (Thursday, the Kaye Playhouse).

See a dance marathon featuring Aretha Aoki, Ginger Cox and James C. Martin (noon, Friday, 92nd Street Y).

The Mark Morris Dance Group returns for another rendezvous onstage (opens Friday, BAM)

 

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FOOD

Nicholas Morgenstern, previously of General Green in Brooklyn, opened his newest culinary endeavor, Goat Town, just last week in the East Village. Miss the opening-week crowds to check out the American fare, made from locally grown produce--some even on the restaurant's own premises. (511 East Fifth St., 212-687-3641)

Try Bar Basque and enjoy Hawaiian-born chef Yuhi Fujinaga's tasty tapas (839 Sixth Avenue).

Lowcountry, a new Southern comfort-food spot, boasts grits, gravy and bourbon. We're sold (142 West 10th Street).

Chef Shea Gallante serves up high-end Italian eats at the newly opened Ciano (45 East 22nd Street).