The Dwell Guide to Events in Your City

Wednesday, February 13

Does darkroom expertise mean you're a dinosaur? The Aperture Foundation gathers a group of curators and artists to discuss photography’s changing nature in our digital age. The New School, 66 W. 12th St.; (212) 229-5488; www.aperture.org/store/events.aspx

Pinch yourself: The Tibet House Benefit Concert pairs composer Philip Glass with Sufjan Stevens, Tom Verlaine, Ray Davies, and Band of Horses. 7:30 p.m.; Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Ave.; (212) 247-7800; www.carnegiehall.org

Thursday, February 14

Lighting designer Claude Engle believes that lighting is integral to architecture. Tonight, he discusses designs for The World Trade Center, The Louvre, The Reichstag, and other projects from his 40-year career. 6:30-8 p.m.; The Cooper Union, The Great Hall, 7 E. 7th St. between Third and Fourth Aves.; (212) 353-4100; www.cooper.edu

Friday, February 15

Brazilian designers Fernando and Humberto Campana curated the Cooper-Hewitt’s new exhibit of 16th-20th century objects from the permanent collection. Through September 28. 2 East 91st St.; (212) 849-8400; www.cooperhewitt.org

The editors of Large Parks, a collection of essays on urban parks by landscape architects and academics, are joined by contributers Ken Smith, James Corner and Linda Pollak. The Architectural League of New York, The Urban Center, 457 Madison Ave.;  (212) 753-1722; www.archleague.org

Saturday, February 16

There’s certainly no shortage of soul at The Pathmark Gospel Choir Competition today. World Financial Center, 220 Vesey St.; (212) 945-2600; http://web.mac.com

The Directors Guild of America holds a screening of films nominated for the 2007 Academy Award in the categories of Best Animated Shorts and Best Live Action Short. The Directors Guild of America 110 West 57 St.; (888) 778-7575; www.dga.org. Tomorrow, February 17, The MoMA follows up with the nominees for 2007's Best Documentary Short. 11 W. 53rd St.; (212) 708-9400; www.moma.org

Architects around the world have brought their influence to China’s growing cities. This panel of professors and Chinese architects discusses what a more reciprocal relationship might look like. 12:30-4 p.m.; Wood Auditorium, Avery Hall, 1172 Amsterdam Ave.; (212) 854-9543; www.arch.columbia.edu

Monday, February 18

Gwendolyn Wright, presents her book USA: Modern Architectures in History, then joins a debate on American architectural history with five of Columbia’s architecture professors. 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Wood Auditorium, Avery Hall, 1172 Amsterdam Ave.; (212) 854-9543; www.arch.columbia.edu

Tuesday, February 19

Judith Gura, author of the recently published Sourcebook of Scandinavian Furniture: Designs for the 21st Century talks about current trends emerging from the region and their roots in mid-century design. 6:30-8 p.m.; Scandinavia House 58 Park Ave. at 38th St.; (212) 847-9740; www.scandinaviahouse.org

• 
• 
•