Your Week Untapped: Best Events for December 10-16

Our curated events picks for this week: Latke sizzle at 92Y, ‘How Much Do I Owe You?’ opening by No Longer Empty, Building to Impress: NY skyscrapers lecture at NYPL, MAS Chinatown tour and more.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10: Menorah Lighting in Gramercy Park. Celebrate Hanukkah with the Brotherhood Synagogue with traditional songs. Refreshments will follow in the Community Room. 5:30pm at Gramercy Park. FREE.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11:  92Y presents Latke Sizzle. Celebrate the fourth night of Hanukkah with culinary expert and “Top Chef” judge, Gail Simmons, as she shares her personal connection with Jewish cooking through a conversation with James Beard Foundation’s Mitchell Davis and a cooking demonstration of our favorite sizzling holiday treat. Then, indulge your inner foodie with international samplings of latkes paired with tasty vodkas. Gail will be signing copies of her new memoir Talking With My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater. 8:15pm at Buttenweiser Hall, Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street. $29. Buy tickets here.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12:  ‘How Much Do I Owe You?‘ by No Longer Empty opening party.  For this exhibit,  No Longer Empty  commissioned 26 artists from 15 countries to create site-specific artwork in  a “personal and conversational exploration into the new iterations of currency, value and exchange at this time of financial flux, growing debt and job insecurity.” See our exclusive photos of the abandoned Manhattan Bank and read our preview of the exhibition. 7-9pm at The Clock Tower, 29-27 41st Avenue, Long Island City, Queens. FREE.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13: Building to Impress: New York Skyscrapers and the People who Commissioned Them – Seth Gopin at NYPL. The development of the skyscraper is an American story. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centures, these great edifices have defined both New York City and American architecture. Less often discussed are the patrons and architects of these great buildings. This lecture explores the story of the fascinating people who were the forces behind nine iconic New York buildings – Flatiron, Metropolitan Life, Woolworth, Chrysler, Empire State, Seagram’s, AT&T, Conde Nast, and Hearst buildings. It is a fascinating tale of corporate America and people with great egos and immense power and wealth, as well as architects concerned with beauty and cutting-edge technology. 1:15-2:30pm at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, South Court Auditorium, 42nd Street & 5th Ave. FREE.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14:  The Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America  presents  Così Faran Tutti  (or They’ll All Do It), the world premier of a new opera by  Jonathan Dawe.  Seductive sisters, brazen soldiers, a meddling maid, and a self-proclaimed master of the science of love provide the power play of COSÃŒ FARAN TUTTI ~ or They’ll All Do It! What really happened in the days leading up to Mozart’s and da Ponte’s  Così fan tutte? What yearnings, what disguises, and what passions?  With hilarious twists and sexy turns, Jonathan Dawe’s new opera premieres at The Italian Academy, December 2012 and celebrates multiple permutations of love by pulling the covers off the seemingly random combinations of desire to which all are subject. Dec. 13, 14 & 15. 8pm at The Italian Academy, 1161 Amsterdam Ave. (at 118th Street). $40 / $20 for students. Buy tickets  here.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15: The Skint Presents: The Winterland Romp. Call it Christmas in a New Orleans cathouse, circa 1932. Because you’ve been very, very good this year, we’re stuffing your stockings to bursting at the Winterland Romp at Littlefield on December 15th at 8pm. Dance to sweaty old jazz from cult favorites The Hot Sardines, coo at the sugarplums of burlesque performers, and pay into your last truly epic hangover of 2012 with our holiday punch drink special. Then pop by the Winterland photo booth to capture your twinkling eyes, merry dimples, rosy cheeks and cherry nose that would make Saint Nick proud. 8pm-1am at Littlefield, 622 Degraw Street, Brooklyn. $15 in advance / $18 day of. Buy tickets here.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16: DEC. 15th and 16th the top pastry chefs of NYC will show their support for DUMBO’s Almondine Bakery by offering their delicious goodies during a two-day pop-up at the bakery’s location! The neighborhood’s favorite bakery has not re-opened since Hurricane Sandy. All the funds from the pop-up will go straight to rebuilding Almondine. So come out and do your part – eat some treats! All day at Almondine Bakery, 85 Water Street, Brooklyn. Prices range.

Also on Sunday: MAS tour of Chinatown: Culture & Change. Uncover the history of one of New York City’s oldest, most bustling neighborhoods with educator and guide Michael Robison of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA). Visit sites like Heinrich Doyer’s brewery from the 1700’s, the once hip locale of Collect Park Pond, a Chinese eatery that catered to the needs of Chinatown’s turn-of-the-century “bachelor society,” the oldest existing row house in Manhattan, and much more. See for your own eyes how Chinatown has transformed from its origins as the Native American village of Werpoes Hill in 1600 to one of the fastest growing immigrant communities in New York City. 1pm. Meeting location provided at tickets are purchased. $20 / $15 members. Buy tickets here.