No matter what your cultural preference, this week promises a wealth of totally-worth-it reasons to put your snow boots back on.

Hare-raising
The Chinese Lunar New Year officially begins on February 3rd. Welcome the Year of the Rabbit with Sunday’s parade of firecrackers, floats, dragons and dancing in the streets of Chinatown. Event schedule via About.com. (Parade: Sunday, February 6, 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Canal Street South)

Screen Gems
This month brings a chance to view the work of some of the early 20th century’s most creative directors. Fritz Lang in Hollywood (Film Forum, through February 10) offers a full slate of the German expat’s melodramatic tales of shady, brazen outlaws, femmes fatales and floozies. Alloy Orchestra, Masters of Slapstick is a trio of short films from the silent era with live music from Alloy Orchestra. (Wednesday, February 2, 7 p.m., World Financial Center Winter Garden).

Ipanema to Indie
This year’s American Songbook series at Lincoln Center (through February 20) is as intimate and compelling as ever; This week’s greats include the boisterous Carolina Chocolate Drops, bossa nova ambassadress Bebel Gilberto and Joan Osborne. See series site for schedule. If you’d rather catch the latest in indie rock and hip-hop, Wavves and Best Coast (Wednesday, February 2, 7 p.m. Webster Hall; Thursday, February 3, 7 p.m., Music Hall of Williamsburg), and mashup DJ Girl Talk (Saturday, February 5, 7 p.m., Wellmont Theater) topped insiders’ best of 2010 lists.

If the Super Bowl Isn’t Enough…
Get sporty with Winter Jam 2011, a free annual winter sports festival sponsored by the city’s parks. Bundle up and slip and slide your way to the Nethermead in Prospect Park on Saturday, February 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a day of skiing, snowboarding events, a winter market (with free samples!) and more for the whole family.

Elixir Mix
Enjoy some non-frozen liquids while honing your bartending skills at the Urban Girl Squad Mixology Lesson at (fittingly) Polar Lounge (Thursday, February 3, 8-9:30 p.m.; $32) or join the Punk Rope Hot Chocolate Crawl for some well-deserved non-alcoholic indulgence (Saturday, February 5, 11 a.m.; $Free).

Family Affair
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Family Benefit, Exotic Journey: An Adventure on the Spice Route, offers kids of all ages the opportunity to enjoy creative activities in select Museum galleries and classrooms, as well as dinner, dancing, and live entertainment (Monday, February 7, 5-8 p.m., Metropolitan Museum; tickets: $75 and up).