Daily Choices: What to do on Thursday, November 6 

LECTURE: Throughout the many holidays circulating during the winter season, pie remains a staple at family gatherings. Join Lift Bridge Book Shop for a discussion with writer Beth Howard about her book, “Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie.” 45 Main St., Brockport. 8 p.m. 637-2260. liftbridgebooks.com.

MUSIC: This might be a new one, but tonight Abilene (153 Liberty Pole Way, abilenebarandlounge.com) will be putting on a Reggae Christmas party, with DJ Ras Courtney and DJ Freak-A-Nature behind the deck, spinning your favorites in reggae, roots, and dub music. The even better news is the party is free for 21+, though unders will have to shell out a five spot.

SPECIAL EVENT: Celebrate with regional initiatives and projects receiving the “2012 Reshaping Rochester Awards.” Annually, the Rochester Regional Community Design Center honors projects that support the goals of citizen engagement and good design to improve the aesthetic, community, and economic attributes of our region. Garth Fagan will be the speaker for this year’s “Urban Observations.” $50, RSVP. 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Cutler Union, Memorial Art Gallery Campus, 500 University Ave. 271-0520. rrcdc.org.

MUSIC: Now on the hardcore-leaning Victory records, New Jersey metal mavens Ill Nino play classic chugga-chugga-squeal metal garnished with vocals that go from minor melody trance to a guttural birth. What sets the band apart — way apart — is its way-cool Santana-esque Latin breakdowns. It’ll give you whiplash. Arcanium opens. Ill Nino plays tonight, 7 p.m. at the Montage Music Hall, 50 Chestnut St. $10. themontagemusichall.com.

COMEDY: Prepare for the weekend the right way by loosening up with The Comedy Club. Watch comedian Brian Posehn tear up the club at 7:30 p.m. $15. 2235 Empire Blvd. 761-9080. thecomedyclub.us.

ART: Wind the week down with a more relaxed mindset by observing surrealist painter Debra Stewart’s “Imagination: Space and Time” exhibit at the Williams-Insalaco Gallery 34, Canandaigua campus of Finger Lakes Community College. 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Free. 3325 Marvin Sands Dr. flcc.edu.

MUSIC: The Ying Quartet takes to the stage at Hatch Recital Hall of the Eastman School of Music this week. The performance features 3 Bs, but at this concert, it’s Beethoven, Bartok, and American composer Kenji Bunch. The Grammy-winning ensemble has been a quartet-in-residence at the Eastman School of Music since 1997. Members are Janet Ying, violin; Phillip Ying, viola; David Ying, cello; and, since 2010, Ayano Ninomiya, first violin. Given the intimate size of Hatch Recital Hall and the popularity of the Ying Quartet, tickets are likely to sell out prestissimo. (The December 2 concert was sold out to subscription ticket holders of the Eastman-Ranlet Concert Series.)The Ying Quartet performs tonight, 8 p.m. at Hatch Recital Hall, Eastman School of Music, 433 E. Main St. $10-$20. 454-2100, ESM.Rochester.edu.