ON THE TOWNS: Encore for The Great Gatsby Party; yasiin bey (nee Mos Def) Takes Several Bows Before He Takes His Leave; Film Society of London Center Parties Like It's 1991; in a Smashing Affair, New York City Takes on Sweden; Gelsey Kirkland Ballet Has Its 1st Crack at 'The Nutcracker' ...

Jules Minshin, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly in a scene from "On the Town." The film will be screened at the 25th Anniversary celebration of Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center. Archive photo.

CAN you believe it, the artist formerly known as Mos Def is really retiring from music? Thankfully, much other music continues at the Apollo Theater and other places, including Capitale. There the ‘20s roar back with The Great Gatsby Party 2.0.

Meanwhile, the Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrates a milestone with toasts, cheap tix and revisits “On The Town.” No doubt, the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet will be on point with its first production of “The Nutcracker” ...

1-7 December

LIFESTYLE. DANCING. MUSIC. FOOD. 9 p.m. 2 and 3 Dec. The Great Gatsby Party 2016. Back by popular demand, the party inspired by the decadence described in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel of the same name returns. The Roaring Twenties reimagined for two nights. Women in flapper dresses; men in top hats. Aerialists. Flowing Champagne.Capitale, 130 Bowery St. New York. http://www.bit.ly/2hbr8No

FILM. 2-22 Dec. Life is a Dream: The Films of Raul Ruiz. The Film Society of Lincoln Center presents Part 1 of it two-part retrospective of the great Chilean director's work. Includes his feature debut, "Three Sad Tigers," works from the 1970s and 1980s, including "The Hypothesis of the Stolen Painting, as well as from the '90s, including "Three Lives and Only One Death." Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St. New York. http://www.filmlinc.org/series/life-is-a-dream-the-films-of-raul-ruiz-part-1/

MUSIC. THEATER. 8 p.m. 5 Dec. A Man of No ImportanceIn concert. The second installment of the Anne L. Bernstein Concert Series. From the Terrence McNally play about an Irish-Catholic bus driver with a secret who is empowered by the words of Oscar Wilde. Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Music by Stephen Flaherty. Directed by Jack Cummings III. Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center. New York. http://www.transportgroup.org/man-no-importance-concert

TELEVISION. 8 p.m. 5 Dec. Showtime at the Apollo. The two-hour program hosted by Steve Harvey airs on FOX. It is billed as a "reimagining of a classic talent showcase series" and will feature elements of the Apollo's famed Amateur Night competition. Special guests.

8-14 December

FILM. 7p.m., 9:30 p.m. 8 Dec. 25th Anniversary of the Walter Reade Theater. The Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrates the December 1991 opening of its screening venue with two screenings that represent the society's mission. "On the Town," (7p.m.) from Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, was the very first film screened at Walter Reade. John Casssavetes' "Shadows" (9:30 p.m.) has the distinction of being the director's first film as well as being a part of Walter Reade's inaugural series, "Great Beginnings: First Films by Great Directors." The free screenings will be preceded by a Prosecco toast and introductions. Also a part of the celebration are 1991 ticket prices for a couple of film festivals. Walter Reade Theater, 165 W. 65th St. New York. http://www.filmlinc.org/series/25th-anniversary-walter-reade-theater/

DANCE. 8-18 Dec. The Nutcracker. The Gelsey Kirkland Ballet's production of the holiday classic features original choreography by co-artistic director Michael Chernov. The 70-member ensemble of thos GKB debut production will be comprised of graduates and trainees of the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet.GK Arts Center, 29 Jay St. Brooklyn, NY. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2666504

"The First Noel: A Musical" returns to the Apollo Theater for a second year. Photo courtesy of the Classical Theatre of Harlem.

THEATER. DANCE. 10-18 Dec. The First Noel: A Musical. The Apollo Theater presents the Classical Theatre of Harlem production, which tells the story of three generations of a Harlem family and how they deal with tragedy. Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III. Original book, music and lyrics by Lelund Durond Thompson and Jason Michael Webb. Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125 St. New York. http://www.apollotheater.org/firstnoel/

LIFESTYLE. SPORTS. 6 p.m. 11 Dec. NYC vs SWE. The New York City takes on Sweden in a Holiday Ping Pong Party Tournament. It is co-presented by Marcus Samuelsson, the owner of Streetbird. Proceeds from the tournament go to Mission North, a non profit dedicated to making it possible for youth in underserved areas to participate in organized sports. Streetbird, 2149 Frederick Douglas Blvd. New York. http:// www.keyflow.com/events/35936/new-york/socialight-entertainment/nyc-x-swe

ART. CULTURE. 6:30 p.m. 13 Dec. Tibet House US 30th Anniversary Dinner Party and Benefit Auction. Fifteen one-of-a-kind items to be auctioned by Christie’s auctioneer, Jennifer Wright. Honorary chair committee includes Philip Glass, Martin Scorsese, Uma Thurman and Jann Wenner. Tibet House US, 22 W. 15th St. New York. http:// www.bit.ly/2g2fowS

15-21 December

yasiin bey says goodbye to America with four concerts with friends. Photo from yasiin bey Facebook page.

MUSIC. 8 p.m., 8:30 p.m. 21 and 22 Dec.; 31 Dec.-2 Jan. 2017. yasiin bey & friends. The artist formerly known as Mos Def will perform his last four concerts in the United States before his retirement from the music business. He is expected to perform songs from different albums at each concert and welcome special guests. Following these U.S. performances, he will journey to Africa to focus on his arts, culture and lifestyle collective, A Country called Earth (ACCE). Among his new pursuits is to be painting, some of which will be displayed anonymously at both the Apollo Theater and The Kennedy Center. Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125 St., New York. The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., NW, on the bank of the Potomac River. Washington, D.C.
http://www.apollotheater.org/event/yasiin-bey/
http:// www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/MRHFN

22 December and beyond

Jalal Maghout's "Suleima" is an animation documentary in which one Syrian woman speaks for many. It will be screened on 15 Jan 2017 and is part of the Whitney's "Dreamlands: Immersive Cinema and Art, 1905–2016" exhibit. Image courtesy of Whitney Museum of American Art.

ART. EXTENDED through 9 Jan 2017. Carmen Herrera: Lines of Sight. Encompasses the 30-year period between 1948 and 1978 when the abstract artist was honing her style. The first NYC museum exhibit of her oeuvre in nearly 20 years, it features three-dimensional treatments, works on paper and paintings. Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort. New York. The exhibit moves to the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus Ohio on 4 Feb. (through 16 April). http://www.bit.ly/2ciWyfl

ART. Through 5 Feb. 2017. Dreamlands: Immersive Cinema and Art, 1905–2016. The title takes its name from science fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft’s alternate fictional dimension. It features the work of artists spanning a century, illustrating the numerous techniques they have used to deconstruct conventional modes of cinema to re-imagine the moving image. Includes a film series. Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort. New York. http://www.bit.ly/2e5XMgK