pussycat lounge, 96 Greenwich St., 212-349-4800: Feb. 11-Gary Lucas & his band Gods and Monsters play a benefit for a NYC based charity for AIDS victims, 11:45 p.m., $10.
ramakrishnananda center, 96 Ave. B., 646-436-7010: Sat.-Festival of the Holy Names, live meditative music and chanting as an expression of spiritual devotion, 4 p.m., call ahead.
skirball center for the performing arts, 566 Laguardia Place, 212-992-8484: Feb. 12-13-The 20th Annual Lunar New Year Festival, Chinese dance, music and Peking Opera, featuring the Chinese Folk Dance Co., Sat., 2 & 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $22-$32.
swedish institute, 226 W. 26th St., 212-924-5900, ext. 34: Feb. 7-Open House, Dean Jeffrey C. Yuen offers an introduction to classical Chinese acupuncture, 6:30 p.m., free.
theater for the new city, 155 First Ave., 212-254-1109: Feb. 7-“Love ‘N’ Courage,” benefit for the Theater’s emerging playwright’s program, includes dinner and dancing, doors open at 6:45 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., $100 per person; Through Feb. 13-Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, “30th Annual Dance Concert & Pow Wow,” Feb. 4-5 & 11-12, 8 p.m., Feb. 6 & 13, 2 & 5 p.m., $10, call for tickets and more information.
tribeca/downtown gallery association, various locations, 212-925-9424: Feb. 9-“Second Wednesday Night,” where most prominent fine art galleries in the downtown area stay open until 8 p.m. instead of 6, allowing those who would not normally be able to visit galleries to attend, call for more information.
Neighborhood Hot Spots & Organizations:
collective unconscious, 279 Church St., 212-254-5277.
the kitchen, 512 W. 19th St., 212-255-5793.
lower manhattan cultural council, 120 Broadway, 212-219-9401.
salmagundi club, 47 Fifth Ave., 212-255-7740.
watson adventures, various locations, 212-726-1529: Scavenger hunts around the city.
