June 26 LI planner: 10 top LI events

1. Dance outdoors

WHEN|WHERE 7 p.m. Wednesday, Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury

INFO 516-333-0048, oldwestburygardens.org

ADMISSION $10 (free ages 17 and younger)

Old Westbury Gardens kicks off its outdoor Picnic Pops series Wednesday with the '40s music of Vanessa Trouble and the Red Hot Swing, to which patrons are invited to take to the dance floor erected on the Gold Coast mansion's lawn. A swing dance lesson starts at 6:30 p.m. for the uninitiated.

Make it a full affair -- pack a picnic basket with goodies and bring lawn chairs. In between dancing and people-watching, take a twilight stroll of the gardens.

2. See Richard Belzer

Bay Street Theatre kicks off its summer Comedy Club series in Sag Harbor with "Richard Belzer's Special Victims Tour." The show, which is being shot for a documentary about the comedian and actor's life, has Belzer performing with the rock band Thieves and comedian Gary Shapiro.

WHEN|WHERE 8 p.m. Saturday, Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor. Series continues through Aug. 29 on mostly Monday nights.

INFO 631-725-9500, baystreet.org

ADMISSION $65

3. Tour Cherry Grove

Hop a ferry and head for Cherry Grove on Fire Island for a self-guided tour of some private gardens located in the summer community. The annual event is a chance to peek into the backyards of bay and oceanfront homes. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Garden Club table in the town center -- a wine and cheese reception follows the tour.

WHEN|WHERE Noon-4 p.m. Saturday.

INFO 917-715-2818 for tour; Sayville Ferry Service: 631-589-0810, sayvilleferry.com

ADMISSION $10 (plus $14 round-trip ferry)

4. Music -- at the golf course

Carlyle on the Green kicks off its summer series of Wednesday live music nights -- patrons can sit outdoors at cafe tables with views of the greens at Bethpage State Park.

WHEN|WHERE 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Carlyle on the Green, 99 Quaker Meeting House Rd., Farmingdale. Doors open 7 p.m.

INFO 516-501-9700, carlyleonthegreen.net

ADMISSION Free

5. Meet Pam Grier

The actress who starred in many of the "blaxploitation" classic films of the '70s, will be in Huntington for a special screening of Quentin Tarantino's American crime film, "Jackie Brown." The evening includes an interview with Grier, a signing of her memoir, "Foxy: My Life in Three Acts," and a reception.

WHEN|WHERE 7 p.m. Wednesday, Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington

INFO 800-838-3006, cinemaartscentre.org

ADMISSION $20

6. Jam with Buckwheat Zydeco

Trailblazing accordionist Zydeco takes the stage at the East End landmark, The Stephen Talkhouse.

WHEN|WHERE 8 p.m. Thursday, The Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett

INFO 631-267-3117, stephentalkhouse.com

ADMISSION $45 ($60 VIP)

7. Shakespeare -- from London

London's Globe Theatre is the quintessential site for seeing Shakespeare's plays. This summer, select movie theaters will screen four classic performances shot there in 2010. The series begins tomorrow with "The Merry Wives of Windsor" -- each screening includes a 20-minute historical perspective on the Globe with interviews with the actors.

WHEN|WHERE 6:30 p.m. Monday, at Farmingdale Multiplex, Westbury Stadium 12, Port Washington Cinemas and Island 16 Cinema De Lux in Holtsville.

INFO fathomevents.com

ADMISSION $15

8. Sarah Ferguson signs

The Duchess of York has a new book, "Finding Sarah," that reveals the highs and lows of her life in the spotlight through intimate diary excerpts and personal emails from friends and family. She appears Tuesday in Huntington to sign copies.

WHEN|WHERE 7 p.m. Tuesday, Book Revue, 313 New York Ave., Huntington

INFO 631-271-1442, bookrevue.com

ADMISSION Free ($25.99 suggested retail for book)

9. Family art workshop

Abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock's historic house still stands in East Hampton. Families are invited to take a guided tour of the home and see a brief film about the artist and his wife, Lee Krasner. Afterward, channel the inspiration to create your own artistic masterpiece out on the lawn to take home. Reservations required.

WHEN|WHERE 10-11:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, 830 Springs-Fireplace Rd., East Hampton

INFO 631-329-2811 (Friday) 917-502-0790 (Saturday), sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/pkhouse

ADMISSION $30 a person

10. Go to a carnival

Summer festival season is about to get into full swing. The St. Anthony's Family Feast and Festival kicks off in East Northport on Wednesday with rides, games, food -- plus a fireworks show at dusk.

WHEN|WHERE 6-11 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 6-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 3-9 p.m. Sunday, Trinity Regional School, 1025 Fifth Ave., East Northport

INFO 631-499-6824, newtonshows.com

ADMISSION $12 per day includes all rides, $25 for 3 days; free younger than 2; $2 coupon available online