Dump and Run's giant garage sale

Recycled furniture, storage containers, small appliances, clothing, shoes, accessories, sporting equipment, decorations, books and many more useful items go on sale 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 21 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 22 at Helen Newman Hall gym. Proceeds benefit local nonprofit organizations. Free and open to the public. More information.

Asian elephant extravaganza

In collaboration with the Southeast Asia Program at Cornell and the Syracuse University South Asia Center, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse, N.Y., will celebrate Asian elephants and cultures, honoring the zoo's four Asian elephants -- Indy, Siri, Romani and Kirina -- Aug. 21, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Also featured: the Cornell Gamelan Ensemble performing music from Indonesia, ceremonial elephant face-painting demonstration, Bharatanatym dancing, puppet show, martial arts demonstration and Odissi dance. Included with regular zoo admission of $7 adults, $5 seniors and young adults 16-21, $4.50 children 3-15. Children under 3 are free. Information: 315-435-8511 or http://www.rosamondgiffordzoo.org.

Cinema celebration

Cornell Cinema offers free movies to new students with Cornell ID, Aug. 22-26 at Willard Straight Theatre. Screenings include such classics as "Some Like It Hot" and recent blockbusters "Get Him to the Greek" and "Iron Man 2." A special orientation to Cornell Cinema by Mary Fessenden, cinema director, and Christopher Riley, manager, will be held Aug. 23, 7-9 p.m. Also featured: Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa's "Stray Dog," called one of the greatest detective films ever made by The New York Times and introduced by Asian studies professor Brett de Bary, Aug. 25, 7-9 p.m. The showing kicks off a semester-long series of Kurosawa's greatest films in celebration of the centennial of his birth. Information: http://cinema.cornell.edu.

Simply sustainable

Local vendors from the Ithaca Farmers Market and Cornell-sponsored organizations highlight locally grown food, family-owned businesses and sustainability at the Ithaca Farmers Market and Sustainability Fair, Aug. 24, 1-4 p.m., Rawlings Green. The fair will be followed by an introduction to Cornell's sustainability initiatives by Michael Hoffmann, director of the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station, and student leaders of sustainability-related organizations, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the Carol Tatkon Center, Room 3330.

International studies fair

The first Language and International Studies Fair will be Aug. 24, 1-3 p.m. at Uris Hall, first floor, highlighting Cornell's numerous international programs and the many options in language learning and international studies on campus and abroad. Staff and faculty from the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies and from area studies programs focusing on Africa, Europe, Latin America, East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia will be on hand to answer questions and to discuss graduate funding opportunities. Information: http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/.

Stage open house

Interested in taking classes in theater, film or dance or auditioning or working backstage? Meet the faculty and staff of the Department of Theatre, Film and Dance, sign up for classes, take a tour and get information about auditioning at the department's open house, Aug. 24, 3-4 p.m., Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts lobby. Information: http://www.theatrefilmdance.cornell.edu.

Picnic on the Plaza

Enjoy lunch and mingle with deans, executives, professors, students, staff and President David Skorton on Ho Plaza, Aug. 25, 12:15-2 p.m., at the campus picnic. Open to Cornell students, faculty and staff. Information: http://rso.cornell.edu/welcomeweekend/.

Panelists discuss empathy

Held in conjunction with the 2010 Cornell-Community Read of Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" the Tompkins County Public Library will host a panel and public discussion on empathy, human bonds and how they are affected by science and technology. The discussion, "What Makes Ithaca Human?," will be held Aug. 26, 6-8 p.m. in the library's BorgWarner Community Room. Panelists are: Bruce Lewenstein, Cornell professor of science communication; Anke Wessels, executive director of the Center for Transformative Action at Cornell; and Peter Bardaglio, coordinator of the Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative and former provost and vice president of academic affairs at Ithaca College. The program will be moderated by Gary Stewart, director of Cornell's Office of Community Relations.

Free and open to the public. Information: call 607-272-4557 extension 248 or e-mail cwheeler@tcpl.org.

Consciousness considered

George Mashour, University of Michigan, will discuss "Disconnecting Consciousness," a lecture on information synthesis in conscious processing as well as its interruption during general anesthesia and related states, Aug. 27, 3:30-5 p.m., 202 Uris Hall. Open to students, faculty and staff.

Viva Las Vegas

Welcome Weekend's Casino Night, Aug. 27, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at Ho Plaza, will feature live music, free food and such casino-style games as poker, blackjack, craps, roulette and bingo. Prizes include a TV, iPods, webcams, headphones and DVDs. Free and open to students, faculty and staff. Information: http://rso.cornell.edu/welcomeweekend/.