"Won't you please come out for some fun tomorrow night? Highlights to include kaleidoscopes, overhead projectors, and blind-folded dancing!" This enticing message came yesterday from iheartphotograph's Laurel Ptak [DART May 21], now Aperture Foundation's Educational Program Manager.

Tonight's Spotlight Series event offers an evening with Jason Fulford and Leanne Shapton, co-founders of J&L Books, a small non-profit press. In addition to blind-folded dancing (who knew?), there will be live performances by noted photographers, artists, writers, and designers, all set against a backdrop of kaliedoscopes, film, live music, and more. The Variety Show features photographers Michael Smelling and David La Spina; artists Amy O'Neill and Serge Onnen; writer and co-founder of Dexter Sinister, David Reinfurt; and Lesley Martin, publisher of Aperture's book program, who will make the introductions. Free and open to the public. Tuesday, December 2, starting at 6:30 at the Aperture Gallery. 547 West 27th Street, 4th floor, between 10th & 11th Avenues. 212.505.5555.

Left: One of powerHouse Book's fun events (photo: Peggy Roalf). Right: One of Aperture Foundation's fun events (photo: Elliot Black).

As Gio Del Brenna, a photographer from Milan recently wrote on election night, from L.A., "at this historic moment, art and ideas are important more than ever." And as the economy worsens, arts organizaitons are working even harder to give their visitors more. A case in point is the Whitney Museum of American Art. Along with admission on a pay-what-you-wish basis on Friday evenings, visitors enjoy live performances starting at 7pm. This week's installment features artist Lize Mogel, who uses the familiar graphic language of maps to reveal social and political forces that shape our understanding of the world. On Friday, December 5, she brings her "map mash-ups" to the Whitney, and will produce 200 multiples to be given away during the program. When I went to one of the live blues performances there a couple of weeks ago, I noticed on my ticket, for which I paid $5, that if I became a member, that amount would be deducted from my membership fee. That's nice!

This week, DUMBOs First Thursday Gallery Walk is jam-packed with fun, free art events, and 21 galleries keeping their doors open late for the evening. powerHouse Books hosts its holiday extravaganza on Thursday, December 4, from 6-9pm. The annual gathering of pH's publishing family features appearances by acclaimed fine art photographers, photojournalists, documentarians, filmmakers, artists, and authors, with the musical stylings of singing photographer Arlene Gottfried and pH managing editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen. Free and open to the public, but please RSVP. If you can't get to pH on Thursday, try again on Saturday from 4-6pm for the launch of Ed Roth's Stencil 101 (Chronicle 2008). Visitors will see how easy it is to create unique gift tags and totebags - just in time for some crafty no-cost holiday giving. Please visit the website for information or call 866-99-ARENA.

Target is the biggest corporate sponsor of arts institutions coast to coast and it's biggest presence in New York can be felt at The Museum of Modern Art/MoMA and the Brooklyn Museum. Every Friday at MoMA, the $20 admission fee is waived from 4 -8pm.

On the first Saturday of the month, the Brooklyn Museum, which normally closes at 6pm, is free and open to the public from 5-11pm. This week the live music begins at 5pm with The Welfare Poets, who set their socially conscious lyrics to rhythms from Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the South Bronx. From 9-11pm, top DJs and the live percussionist of Brooklyn Renaissance's Manjinga Party present an eclectic selection of world, hip-hop, reggae, and funk music. In between are artist talks, hands-on art making, readings, performances, films, videos and more live music. Please check the website for infornation

That's just a few ideas for getting down with the arts in New York over next five days, so stay tuned to DARTs recession-proof guide for more.