WEDNESDAY December 9
Mr. Purple, the new venue at the Hotel Indigo on the Lower East Side, is opening tonight, and they’re having a party. Celebrate with other purple people eater(s) over light bites, cocktails, haiku and photo booths. The haiku part sounds especially intriguing. Hotel Indigo LES, 180 Orchard Street, 15th Floor, 9 p.m., invite only
THURSDAY December 10
Female creators are learning to be their own muses. And today, New York Women in Film and Television celebrates luminaries like Gabourey Sidibe, Blythe Danner, Patricia Clarkson, Sarah Barnett, Victoria Alonso and Lizz Winstead at their annual luncheon. Hilton New York, Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor, 11:30 a.m., $165
FRIDAY December 11
Get out your flower crown; it’s time for the New York Botanical Garden Winter Wonderland Ball. The black and white ball is one of the most gorgeous nights of the gala season, and it’s a chance to see some beautiful foliage, and beautiful people, even in the dead of winter. (And I’m on the benefit committee, so, you know, come! We will hang out and check out their holiday train show in party wear.)
New York Botanical Garden, 7:30 p.m.-midnight, $500
SATURDAY December 12
O.K., you need to buy a present for your arty friends and you cannot go out and purchase them something from the Gagosian Gallery. Well, unless you are an exceptionally generous billionaire, in which case we’d like to be your friend, too. But the rest of us can make our way over to the Holiday Book Fair, where some extremely gift-able holiday books will be available at 10 to 40 percent off. You’ll find works featuring some spectacular artists like Bruce Davidson, James Karales, William Klein, Jessica Lange and Jungjin Lee, among many more. Catalogues and signed publications are also going to be available for sale. And if all of that only whets your appetite for photography, the gallery is showing an exhibit by Ms. Lee entitled “Unnamed Road/Everglades.” The work is focused on her travels through Israel and the Everglades in Florida. There will also be donuts to munch on throughout the day, and hot cider. Just make sure not to spill. Howard Greenberg Gallery, 41 West 57th Street, Suite 1406, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., free
SUNDAY December 13
There’s probably no store in Manhattan more fun to visit right now than STORY. Their motto: “Point of view of a Magazine / Changes like a Gallery / Sells things like a Store.” I have no idea what the “Point of view of a magazine” line means, because, that really seems like it would depend on the magazine (the point of view of Garden & Gun seems different from the point of view of The New Yorker), but I do know that you find fantastic things pretty much every time you go in there. Their inventory changes to represent a new theme every month or two, so you’ll want to check it out regularly. Today, they’re hosting a Sip n’ Shop with Tielor McBride, the founder of the Brooklyn-based leather goods company TM1985. Their messenger bags and weekend bag are especially fantastic (and they’re all American-made). You’ll have a chance to sip coffee from Afineur with Mr. McBride, and also find some other great gifts for people on your nice list. STORY, 144 10th Avenue, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., free
MONDAY December 14
Enjoy VH1’s Behind the Music? Cool, now you can learn what’s behind classical music. Tonight Rob Kapilow, a conductor, composer and NPR music commentator, will be talking about Schumann’s struggle with Beethoven’s influence, and how it helped lead to his “Piano Quintet.” The piece will also be performed in its entirety. Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street, 7:30 p.m., $45
TUESDAY December 15
Are you ready for the war on Christmas? Lady Parts Justice is. Tonight they’re hosting Lady Parts Justice Joins the War on Christmas: A Comedy Benefit. They’ll be led by The Daily Show’s Lizz Winstead and joined by Leah Bonnema, Frank Conniff, Alex English, Joyelle Johnson, Sharron Paul and Rae Sanni. Brooklyn Music School, 126 St. Felix Street, 7:30-9:30 p.m., $25
WEDNESDAY December 16
Everyone should have access to a library. That’s why Library For All is helping create a digital library for people in developing nations. Party with them at Join Us in the Cloud tonight, where you can dance, drink and support a good cause.
Hueb, 717 Madison Avenue, 8-11 p.m., $105.99
