6:30pm: opening reception and panel discussion for socialdocumentary.net's photo essay competition 'crisis + opportunity: documenting the global recession.' powerhouse arena, free (rsvp) >>
7pm-midnight: the lower eastside girls club mardi gras benefit ball features jonathan ames, cucu diamantes, music from nola's loose marbles and ny's hungry march band, two boots pizza, more. open rum + vodka bar 7-8pm. element, $22/adv, $30/door >>
7pm: ontological's richard foreman interviews howard bloom about his new book, 'the genius of the beast: a radical re-vision of capitalism' @ strand books, free >>
7pm: snow be damned! the l mag's mardi gras parade features a marching band, burlesque, and bike procession. starts @ mccarren park, then marches to brooklyn bowl for tunes by wavves and mndr. prizes! soco specials! free (rsvp) >>
7pm: union hall's fat tuesday party features new orleans funk from the high and mighty brass band, jambalaya, hurricanes, $3 abita pints. $20 >>
7:30pm: watch film clips of solo performances by jazz legends parker, armstrong, coltrane, davis, gillespie, more @ tribeca pac, free >>
7:30pm: ian finkel, 'the world's greatest xylophonist,' discusses his new book, bangs the crap out of his instument @ b+n lincoln triangle, free >>
8pm (thru 2/21): the cinekink naughty filmfest kicks off with a party and screenings of 'the 400 blow jobs' (1964) + 'sheep and the ranch hand' (2009). $15 tonight, $10 future screenings, $85/festival pass (obviously nsfw) >>
8pm: hear 7-minute jewish stories from ruth ellenson ('the modern jewish girl's guide to guilt'), anna jane grossman ('obsolete'), others at tonight's heeb storytelling event. galapagos, $10 >>
8:30pm: it's cookie time! director jeff kanew ('revenge of the nerds') leads the fun at 'troop beverly hills: the experience.' bell house, $20 >>
9pm: el perro del mar + taken by trees = a match made in heaven. lpr, $15 >>
9pm: who's your crawdaddy? play new orleans jazz @ radegast hall's mardi gras celebration, free >>
sales, deals, freebies
groupon alert! get $25 of global comfort food for $10 at el ay si (long island city) >>
get a free charcuterie plate at vanderbilt (prospect heights) with purchase of one non-hors d'oeurve menu item >>
get $25 restaurant.com gift certificates for only $3 thru 2/21 (use code 'enjoy' at checkout) >>
get an abhayanga massage at fineliving new york ayurveda for $25 (reg $78) >>
no car day trips: ski bus deals and packages from nyc >>
free mp3: wu-tang clan 'early grave (feat. odb + bad luck)' >>
free mp3: dios 'stare at the wheel' >>
free mp3: shout out louds 'fall hard' >>
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