Creativity, ingenuity and fun shine some much-needed light on the dark days of winter.

LIGHT UP: White Box 12th Anniversary Benefit Auction
LIGHT UP: White Box 12th Anniversary Benefit Auction features pioneering artists considering the theme of light. Auction proceeds will benefit White Box upcoming exhibitions/programs as well as new initiatives to develop a multimedia laboratory and sustainable garden.
January 12, 7-9 p.m.
White Box, 329 Broome Street
Tickets: $100-$500; Signed and numbered Christopher Draeger photograph with each $250 ticket, Limited Edition Ushio Shinohara shirt with each $500 ticket.

Park Here at Openhouse Gallery
File this one under “what will those crazy kids think up next?” Park Here is a popup park complete with light-therapy lightboxes, an artificial lawn, “custom forest murals,” and other cool stuff you’d find in a real park, except, like, not. On weekends your favorite food vendors like Luke’s Lobster will be present to add to your pretend-we’re-not-having a blizzard experience.
January 8th to 30th, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry Street
Tickets: Open to the public and free

Screening & Live Event: Signal to Noise at American Museum of the Moving Image
The Museum’s inaugural Signal to Noise party will take over the building with a three-ring circus of live electronic music, moving image performances, and interactive art. Artists, hackers, musicians, and filmmakers will activate every area of the Museum late into the night.
January 15, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.
AMMI, 35th Avenue at 37th Street; Astoria, Queens
Tickets: $15; $20 door; $10 members

Discussion: Nan Goldin at 92Y
Photographer Nan Goldin has, for decades, shared her intensely personal, spontaneous, sexual and transgressive photographs of family, friends, and lovers; her work is heralded as a groundbreaking contribution to fine art photography.
Thursday, January 13, 8:15 p.m.
92nd Street Y, Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street
Tickets: $26