Today marks the kick-off of Asia Week New York, and if you haven’t made plans on how to tackle the ten-day affair, now is the time.  In addition to museum shows, events, and gallery exhibitions, no less than six auction houses are participating in the festivities, with sales from Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonhams, Doyle New York, Freeman’s, and iGavel Auctions.

Asia Week’s 46 participating dealers represent the top tier of international Asian art specialists, with galleries from Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, and the US showing at locations throughout Midtown and the Upper East Side.

For those of us still recovering from Armory Week, the idea of another New York art event of this scale so soon may be overwhelming. As always, artnet News is here to help with a list of some of the highlights.

Thursday, March 10

“Poeticizing Nature” 
Contemporary Asian art will be on view at the Surrey Hotel, an official Asia Week supporter, in an exhibition curated by Natasha Schlesinger, founder of ArtMuse and the hotel’s “art expert-in-residence.” Featured artists include Wonjung Choi and Ran Hwang.

The Surrey
20 East 76th Street

Meet the Author: Padma Lakshmi 
Author, model, and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi speaks about her new, deeply-personal memoir, at this event sponsored by the Indo-American Arts Council.

Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue at East 70th Street
7:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
$12 general admission

Friday, March 11

Asia Art Fair New York 
The third edition of the Asia Art Fair features 25 dealers, with art and objects from China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, the Himalayas, and the Middle East. Expect to see paintings, drawings, rugs, textiles, ceramics, carvings, sculpture, and jewelry.

Bohemian National Hall, 321 East 73rd Street
Friday, 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.; Saturday–Monday, 11:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.; Tuesday 11:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
$20 general admission

New Directions in Japanese Art & Architecture after 3/11 
Five years after Japan was simultaneously devastated by earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster, a panel of artists and scholars investigate the ongoing aftermath, and the innovations in art and architecture that have followed in the tragedy’s wake. The talk is timed to the opening of “In the Wake: Japanese Photographers Respond to 3/11,” which arrives at the Japan Society following its run at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Japan Society
333 East 47th Street at First Avenue
5:30 p.m.–9 p.m.
$35/$25 Japan Society members, seniors, and students

“Bridging Realms: Contemporary Tibetan Art”
Exploring contemporary Tibetan cultural and philosophy, this exhibition features the work of a number of artists living and working in Tibet, including Tashi Norbu, who is trained in both contemporary Western art practice and traditional geometric thangka painting.

Tibet House US, 22 West 15th Street
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Free, RSVP recommended

Saturday, March 12

“JADA 2016: An Exhibition by the Japanese Art Dealers Association“
Taking part in Asia Week for the eighth year in a row, the Japanese Art Dealers Association is presenting work from Erik Thomsen Gallery; Koichi Yanagi Oriental Fine Arts; Leighton R. Longhi, Inc. Oriental Fine Art; Mika Gallery; as well as Sebastian Izzard LLC Asian Art.

Ukrainian Institute of America
2 East 79th Street
Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Sunday and Monday, 11:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m.

Monday, March 14

Asia Week New York 2016 Reception
This annual, cocktail-attire reception at the Met provides intimate evening access to current exhibitions in the museum’s Asian art department. Among shows currently on view are “Monkey Business: Celebrating the Year of the Monkey;” “Encountering Vishnu: The Lion Avatar in Indian Temple Drama;” “Chinese Lacquer: Treasures from the Irving Collection, 12th-18th Century;” and “A Passion for Jade: The Heber Bishop Collection.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Avenue at East 82nd Street
6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Invitation only

Tuesday, March 15

The 2016 Legacy Dinner
Asia Society celebrates its 60th anniversary and the legacy of founder John D. Rockefeller III with this swanky gala event. Festivities include cocktail hour, a seated dinner, and a panel on “The Art of Collecting.” The galleries will be open throughout the evening for guests to enjoy the current exhibitions “In and Out of Context: Asia Society Celebrates the Collections at 60” and “Kamakura: Realism and Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan.”

Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue at East 70th Street
6:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
from $250

Thursday, March 17

Asia Week Celebration
One of the week’s biggest and most-anticipated events, the Rubin Museum’s annual party is known for generous food and drinks, and impressive performances, which last year included dancers dangling from silk in the museum’s multi-level stairwell. The festivities also afford a special look at the “Sacred Spaces” exhibition, which has doubled the size of the museum’s Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room.

The Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street
6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
$85