Mark your calendar and make time to behold the city’s architecture and culture, or learn a little bit more about both.

Open House New York Weekend
Open House New York (OHNY) promotes appreciation for the city’s buildings by introducing audiences to distinctive examples of architecture, engineering and design, showcasing great new work as well as structures of historic merit. The annual weekend tour (October 15-16) includes architectural gems—like the Eero Saarinen-designed TWA Flight Center—that are rarely open to the public as well as architects’ offices and studios and private homes throughout the city. Visit the OHNY site for details and to reserve a spot on your favorite tours. Friday’s launch party kicks off the event.

Satan’s Seat: Prohibition Walking Tour
Big Onion introduces a new walking tour to a collection of quirky city walks. “Satan’s Seat” was created in conjunction with WNET New York Public Media in honor of the recent Ken Burn’s documentary Prohibition. The walk will explore the history, politics, culture and speakeasies of New York in the roaring ‘20s.
Kickoff tour: Saturday, October 15, 1 p.m.
Meet: Northeast corner of Bowery & Houston Streets, in front of the community garden
Tickets: $15 (seniors) - $18

City Harvest Bid Against Hunger
This walk-around restaurant tasting event for a very good cause will feature the culinary creations of some of the city’s most prized masters including Bill Telepan of Telepan, Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern and many more. In 2010 the event hosted over 900 guests and over 70 of New York City’s top restaurants, and raised over $1 million. Guests can bid on once-in-a-lifetime prizes like private cooking classes, wine events and exquisite catering.
Tuesday, October 18, 6-10 p.m.
Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street
Ticket prices vary

Cool Class: Introduction to Modern Furniture
Learn to tell your Eames from your Mies and Arts and Crafts from Deco at 3rd Ward Arts center. Participants in this five-session course will learn the history of modern design in Europe and America and put that knowledge to work with their own designs.
Tuesdays: October 25, November 1, 8, 15, 22 (Registration deadline is Oct. 12)
3rd Ward, 195 Morgan Avenue, Brooklyn
Tickets: $180 (members) - $225

Live Music Round-U
The CMJ Music Marathon brings a full slate of indie upstarts to the ears of hungry label execs; for less pop-oriented tastes, SONIC Festival showcases only music written in the 21st century by composers age 40 and under; a special performance by the Gotham Chamber Opera with Nico Muhly will feature chamber operas from the Baroque era, and a reunited Jane’s Addiction are at Irving Plaza for a pair of shows.