The Dwell Guide to Events in Your City

Wednesday, April 9

Francine Segan, author of Movie Menus, takes you on a tour of her favorite foodie film scenes, including the dinner party in The Age of Innocence, the Animal House food fight, and others. 92nd Street Y, 395 Lexington Ave.; (212) 415-5500; www.92y.org

The African Film Festival screens over 40 films from 22 countries from now through May 26. www.africanfilmny.org/aff_fest.html

Thursday, April 10

As part of Pratt’s lecture series on historic preservation, Dr. Michelle Berenfeld of the World Monuments Fund gives a talk titled Global Warming and World Cultural Heritage. 6 p.m.; The Pratt Institute, 144 W. 14th St.; (212) 647-7199; www.pratt.edu/school_of_architecture

Kenneth Frampton, author of the ubiquitous Modern Architecture textbook, talks about his new book Architecture in the Age of Globalization. 6-8 p.m.; Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place; 212-683-0023; www.aiany.org

Experimental musicians provide the scores for several silent films, including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916), Man with a Movie Camera (1929), and Phantom of the Opera (1925). Through April 13. Monkey Town, 58 N. 3rd St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; (718) 384-1369; www.monkeytownhq.com/april2008.html

Friday, April 11

Philip Roth celebrates his birthday, with fellow writers Jonathan Lethem, Ben Taylor, Ross Miller, Judith Thurman and others on hand to toast the prolific American author’s 75 years and astounding body of work. (RSVP: rothtribute@columbia.edu) Columbia University, Miller Theater, 2960 Broadway (at 116th St.); www.loa.org/article.jsp?art=454

Berlin-based architect Frank Barkow’s recent commissions have taken him near (Stuttgart, Germany) and far (Seoul, Korea). Tonight, he talks about his current designs, as well as his research into digitally created material, such as CNC-cut concrete and laser cutting. 7 p.m.; The Urban Center, 457 Madison Ave.; www.archleague.org

Despite projects ongoing in France, England, Poland, Italy and Austria, architect Philippe Rahm finds time to discuss his new work with New Yorkers. 7 p.m.; The Wollman Auditorium, The Cooper Union Engineering Building, 51 Astor Placep; (212) 849-8400; www.cooperhewitt.org

Saturday, April 12

Last Chance: Galerie Patrick Seguin closes its retrospective of 20th century French decorator Jean Royere. Sonnabend Gallery, 536 W. 22nd St.; (212) 627-1018; www.artnet.com

Monday, April 14

Last Chance: Bid goodbye to Alexander Calder’s wire sculptures and mobiles created between the 1920s and late 1940s, before the artist turned to larger, public works. The Museum of Modern Art, 11 W. 53rd St.; (212) 708-9400; www.moma.org

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