This week fundraising events, provocative gallery exhibitions and documentary screenings that address the fantastic and the fundamental.

Story by Story Fundraiser
Skip the StairMaster and climb some steps for a good cause. This fundraising event for InMotion, an organization that provides free legal services to New York City women with a focus on abuse and domestic violence and reaching women living in immigrant communities, challenges participants to climb any or all of the 756 steps of the 42-story skyscraper at 1411 Broadway in Times Square to raise vital financial support and awareness.
Thursday, October 6 (Climber registration closes on October 5, 9 a.m.); Check-in, 5:30-6:45 a.m.
1411 Broadway at 39th Street

Canteen Magazine NYC Gala
Support Canteen Arts, Canteen magazine, and canTeens, a Harlem tutoring program by mixing and mingling at a smart, arty party. Back by popular demand, this annual fundraiser will again be held in Brooklyn Heights at the fabulous, art-filled home of Brooklyn Museum director Arnold Lehman and will offer hors d’oeuvres by Crave, cocktails by master mixologist Justin August, literary fortune-telling, free portraits and a silent auction.
Thursday, October 6, 7-10:30 p.m.
Tickets: $90-$1,000.00

Gagosian Gallery: Bob Dylan
Although Bob Dylan is best known as a singer and songwriter, he is also an author, film director, actor, radio broadcaster and commited visual artist who has only recently begun to exhibit his works publicly. A keen observer, Dylan is inspired by everyday phenomena in such a way that they appear fresh, new, and mysterious. The Asia Series paintings on view at Gagosian Gallery are a visual reflection on his travels in Japan, China, Vietnam, and Korea.
September 20-October 22; Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Gagosian Gallery, 980 Madison Avenue

Screening: American Teacher
Weaving interviews of policy experts and startling facts with the lives and careers of four teachers, American Teacher tells the collective story by and about those closest to the issues in our educational system-the 3.2 million teachers who spend every day in classrooms across the country.
September 30-October 6, see theater site for screening times
234 West 42nd Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue

Live Music Round-Up
This week brings a decade-by-decade nostalgia wave of beloved indie relationship-soundtrack artists including Elvis Costello and the Impostors and The Psychedelic Furs and Tom Tom Club at the Wellmont Theater, Portishead at the Hammerstein Ballroom, The Lemonheads performing “It’s a Shame About Ray” at Bowery Ballroom and Jens Lekman at Music Hall of Williamsburg. For a less pensive experience, Restoration Rocks music festival features Pharaoh Monch, Talib Kweli and the Brooklyn Philharmonic featuring Mos Def.