ART

STRANGE TALES
Tony de los Reyes applies oil alkyd resin to wood panels to create the pieces in his new exhibit “The Strange Tale of Near and Far.” His depictions of stormy oceans, old-fashioned ships, and floral bouquets are reminiscent of Dutch Delftware and toile fabrics. Reception: Friday, 6-8 p.m. Exhibit: Friday through Saturday, October 30, Tuesday-Saturday, 10-6 p.m., DCKT Contemporary, 527 W. 24th St., between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, 212-741-9955, free.

BENEFITS

CHARITY CHAMPS
Boxers duke it out for charity in the center of the New York Hilton ballroom at the FIST Fights for New York gala. Attendees, including Jake LaMotta, Carlos Ortiz, and announcer Michael “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” Buffer, will be treated to a smashing dinner, knockout entertainment, and a bout of professional boxing. Gerry Cooney’s Fighters Initiative for Support and Training provides treatment and counseling to boxers as they transition from the ring to other careers. Thursday, 6 p.m. cocktails, 7:30 p.m. dinner, 9 p.m. boxing, New York Hilton, 1335 Sixth Ave at 54th Street, 212-675-4133, $500.

BOOKS

BUILT ON THEIR BACKS
James Oliver Horton and Lois Horton discuss their book “Slavery and the Making of America” (Oxford University), the companion volume to a four-part PBS series that will air in February. Friday, 7-9 p.m., South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St., between South and Front streets, 212-748-8735, $5 suggested donation.

FAMILY

HERB BLURB
Horticulturalist Cynthia Reed teaches a herbology class that shows children ages 7 and older (and their parents) how to make dream pillows, charm bags, and lotions with herbs. Saturdays, October 9 and 23, November 13 and 20, and December 4, 1-2 338 948 439 958p.m., Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St. at Dahlia Avenue, Flushing, Queens, 718-886-3800, $10 each class, $5 members, registration not required.

FESTIVAL

COUNT’S BLESSINGS
The Basie Centennial weekend celebrates the 100th anniversary of Count Basie’s birth. The festival’s centerpiece is an old-style big-band dance featuring Frank Foster’s Swing Plus Band. Alumni of the Count Basie Orchestra, including Clark Taylor, Frank Foster, and Irene Raid, perform together at the dance event (Saturday, 8 p.m.-2 a.m., Roone Arledge Auditorium, $49 general, $30 seniors and students). A panel discussion titled “Remembering Basie” precedes the ball (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., room C555). The Basie weekend also includes several workshops in the Lindy Hop (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., $15 and $35). All events: Columbia University, Alfred Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway, between 114th and 115th streets, 212-677-1476. See www.basie100.com for full schedule.

FILM

LATE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
The Pioneer Theater screens scary movies all month long in anticipation of Halloween. This weekend’s highlight is a late-night screening of George Romero’s 1968 cult hit “Night of the Living Dead.” Friday, midnight, Two Boots Pioneer Theater, 155 E. 3rd St. at Avenue A, 212-591-0434, $9 general, $6.50 members.

MUSIC

BROOKLYN TUNES
BAMcafe opens its fall season with a performance by the Eastern jazz trio Raga Roni. The group includes master tabla player Badal Roy, bassist Ed Schuller, and clarinetist Perry Robinson (Friday). The next day, So Percussion keeps the beat with its drumming (Saturday). Both performances: 9 p.m., Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Ave., between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street, Brooklyn, 718-636-4100, free admission, $10 food and drink minimum.

NATURE

FALL IN FLIGHT
The Birds of Autumn weekend celebrates the feathered side of fall with bird walks (Saturday-Monday, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.), a show-and-tell hawk and owl session (Saturday-Monday, 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.), workshops on attracting birds to home gardens (Saturday-Monday, 1:30 p.m.), and screenings of “Pale Male,” a documentary about a red-tailed hawk that made its home on Fifth Avenue (Saturday-Monday, various times). A family event offers the chance for children ages 8 and up to build bird-feeders (Sunday and Monday, 2:30 p.m., $6 materials fee). All events: New York Botani 1028 1201 1100 1211cal Garden, Daffodil Hill, Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road, Bronx, 718-817-8777, most activities free with admission, $13 general, $11 seniors and students, $5 children ages 2 to 12, free for children under 2. See www.nybg.org for full schedule.

THEATER

SERVICE ON STAGE
“The Women Who Served” retells the stories of eight women from the Gospels, including Mary Magdalene and the woman at the well, in monologues. The Blackfriars Repertory Theatre, which produces the play, is run by the Dominican Friars. The play’s author, Peter John Cameron,is a Dominican priest. Friday through Sunday, October 31, Fridays, 8 p.m., Saturdays, October 9, 23, and 30, 8 p.m., Sundays, 3 p.m., ArcLight Theatre, 152 W. 71st St., between Columbus and Amsterdam avenues, 212-744-2080 ext. 146 for information, 877-840-0457 for tickets, $45 general, $25 seniors, students, and priests.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.