• Garden of Hope Gala. Strang Cancer Prevention Center, 428 E. 72nd St., nr. First Ave., 6:30 p.m. Rufus Wainwright will perform to an audience that will likely include Mario Cuomo and Lauren Bush. Afterward they can all conference-call the Kennedys and talk about living in dynastic families.

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Waldorf=Astoria, 301 Park Ave., nr. 49th St., 8:30 p.m. Grandmaster Flash, R.E.M., Van Halen, and the Ronnettes will be inducted. It’s a little-known fact, but every time an event “honoring” rock is held in a fancy-pants hotel ballroom that’s closed to the public, the ghost of John Bonham gets kicked in the face by Satan. We blame you, Jann Wenner.

Or check out our Agenda listings for tonight, selected by New York's culture editors.