ART OPENINGS: Ann Craven's latest Deer and Beer, will most likely feature new repetitive paintings (that is, her shtick is to repeat the same painting in multiples) of Deer and ... um ... Beer?

6 to 8pm // Klemens Gasser & Tanya Grunert, Inc. [524 W 19th] // Free

David Fox's Images of War, features recent monotypes part of an ongoing cycle of work. "Fox explores themes of war and human rights violations brought to the public's attention through the extensive media coverage of U.S. soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners and the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. In the legacy of Goya, these black and white images focus attention on the moment of violent contact between perpetrator and victim." - Jason Laning

6 to 8pm // George Adams Gallery [525 W 26th St] // Free

READING: Calvin Trillin, author of A Heckuva Job: More of the Bush Administration in Rhyme, heads to the Strand tonight to discuss the book. Some of what you might hear:

On the President's decision to go to war in Iraq ("Then terrorists could count on what we'd do: / Attack us, we'll strike back, though not at you")
On his religiosity ("He treats his critics in the press / As if they're yapping Pekineses. / Reporters deal in mundane facts; / This man has got the word from Jesus")

The book follows up his 2004 bestseller Obliviously On He Sails.

6:30 to 8pm // The Strand [828 Broadway at 12th St ] // Free

THEATER: If you've had enough of the Brits and the Sh
akespeare and the endless quirky series of one-acts, the arrival of the Hip Hop Theater Festival www.hiphoptheaterfest.org will be an ideal escape. Live From the Front, Jerry Quickley's multimedia flow based on his time in Iraq during the US invasion, kicks things off; tomorrow brings a night of excerpted works from a dizzying array of artists; plus there's a reading series, a master class in "breakin," and several provocative-sounding one-show-only productions. It's all only here through Sunday, so don't wait for the rave reviews! - Mallory Jensen

Various venues; see website for details and schedule // Tickets via Theatermania

MUSIC: Telenovela Star (8pm), Planes for Spaces (9pm), Takka Takka (10pm) and Higgins (11pm) play at the 2nd Beg Yr Pardon party tonight. Remember last time we told you that there would be a special guest, and to go? You probably didn't listen, and you missed Norah Jones' band El Mad Mo. Well this time we are telling you to go and eat some brownies dammit, and listen to Takka Takka, they're both delicious.

Listen: We Feel Safer At Night.mp3 - Takka Takka

8pm // The Delancey [168 Delancey St] // $5