Special events

Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show, Feb. 19-22, Providence. Largest show of it's kind in New England. Theme: Gardens of the World. More than 30 exotic gardens representing countries around the globe, including the Australian outback, South America, Mexico, United States, Italy, France, Spain, and the Far East. Speakers: Ken Druse, Roger Swain, Karl Gercens, Paul Miskovsky. For kids: Marvelous Marvin, Lindsay Adler, and more. Preview Party on Feb. 18, benefits the Rhode Island Coomunity Food Band (401-942-6325). $17, discounts available through AAA. flowershow.com or 401-253-0246.

Oscar Party, Feb. 22, 4 to 6:30 p.m., The Peerless Building, 235 Westminister St., Providence. Screening nominated films that hailed from Rhode Island International Film Festival. $20, includes food, film, refreshments.

New England Home Show, Feb. 26 through March 1, Thurs., Fri., noon to 9 p.m., Sun.m, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Seaport Trade Center, Boston. Features over 500 of the newest products, experts, cost saving options, and innovative ideas. $9 adults online, $12 at door, $4 children 6-12, free children 5 and under. Buy one get one free Thurs. www.newenglandhomeshows.com

The Pendragons Magical Theatre, Feb. 28, 8 p.m., Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket, RI. Performs illusions such as levitation and Interlude, where a woman crawls through a man's chest. $21 to $31. 401-762-4545 or stadiumtheatre.com Medieval Revelry, Feb. 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 North Main St., Attleboro. River Heart will present songs and stories. Alan O'Hare, Celtic storyteller, will entertain in a firelit room. Participants invited to dress up in costumes inspired by the Middle Ages. Homemade soups, breads, and snacks available. $10 adults, high school students. Free babysitting provided. To reserve tickets call 508-222-0505 or email smpaquette@gmail.com.

Hold 'Em Poker Tournament, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Temple Beth Emunah, 479 Torrey St. at Pearl St., Brockton. Grand price minimum $1,000 American Express/Visa Gift checks. Bonus for early registration by Feb. 26. Black Jack admission, $2. $60 buy in. 508-583-5810 x. 6 or TBEevents.com

Rail-A-Rama Train Show XLI, March 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 31 Hampshire St., Mansfield. Displays, demonstrations, videos, operating layouts, children's U-Run play area, snack bar, Sunday brunch, and free parking. Free transportation from Mansfield commuter rail station to show on the Providence/Stoughton line only, call 617-361-4445 for more information. $5 adults, children 5-12, $1, children under 5 free. mysticvalleyrs.org

AAA Travel Marketplace, March 6, 2 to 9 p.m.; March 7, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; March 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Gillette Stadium, Patriot Place, Foxboro. Offers guests discounts on cruises, tours, drive vacations, and more. Patriot Palce discounts also available for that weekend only. $5 members, $ 10 non members. $2 off coupon available at AAA.com or AAA branches. www.aaa.com/aaa/240/sne/travel/marketplace2009/index.html?zip=02125.

Maple Days at Sturbridge Village, March 7 through 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Old Sturbridge Village. Saturdays and Sundays only. See maple surgaring as it was done in the early 19th century New England. Experience the entire sugar-making process, from tapping the trees to sugaring off in a household. osv.org or 800-733-1830.

The Maiden Heist, March 7, 6 to 9 p.m., Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. Film premiere, formal screening. VIP reception prior to screening with Director Peter Hewitt, Producer Rob Paris, and Writer Michael LeSieur, along with Christopher Walken and William H. Macy. Filmed in Worcester Art Museum. After party in museum, auction. $200 VIP reception, film screening, after party, $75 film screening, after party, $30 film screening. VIP RECEPTION, 6 p.m., Hanover Theatre; SCREENING, 7:30 p.m., Hanover Theatre; AFTER PARTY, 9 p.m., Worcester Art Museum.

FUNdraiser Mardi Gras Madness, March 7, 7 p.m. to midnight, Shaw's Center, Brockton. Includes Cajun cuisine, roving entertainment and music, dancing, and beads. Hot Tamale Brass Band will be performing. Ticket includes auctions and raffles. $60.508-230-3789 or 508-588-2700.

Flip out on Cancer, March 10, 8 p.m., Fusion 5, 105 Washington St., Foxboro. Fundraiser for American Cancer Society. Flair bartending competition. 21+. Raffles, auctions, and live music. Currently looking for donations for raffles. $10 cover, $20 to reserve a bar stool (front row seat to show). 508-543-0599

Smuckers on Ice's On the Edge, March 14, 3 p.m., Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence. Featuring Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen and bronze medalist Jeffrey Buttle. $25 and up, starsonice.com or 401-331-2211. Portion of each ticket benefits the Boys & Girls Club of America.

Chuck Klosterman, March 25, 7 p.m. doors, The Cavern Club at Hard Rock Cafe, 22 Clinton St., Boston. Spoken word, music and Q&A. rockonconcerts.com or 1-866-468-7619. Globetrotters, March 36, The Ryan Center, One Lincoln Almond Plaza, Kingston, RI. $102, $46, $32, $24. 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com

Globetrotters, March 28, Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence. $118, $52, $35, $28, $23. 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com

Flower Power, April 2 through 5, Attleboro Art Museum, Attleboro. 508-222-2644 or attleboroartsmuseum.org.

Big Apple Circus: Play On!, April 4 through May 3, City Hall Plaza, Boston. One ring circus. $20 to $65. 888-541-3750 or bigapplecircus.org.

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment, Aug. 1, 8 p.m., South Shore Music Circus, 130 Sohier St., Cohasset. $49.25 and $33.25. 781-383-9850 or www.themusiccircus.org.

Pay What You Weigh, 5 to 8 p.m., every Wed. through November, Emerald Sq. Mall, North Attleboro. Children weigh themselves at the mall and pay one penny per pound for dinner and one penny per pound for dessert. Minimum 50 cents. Simon Kidgits Kids Club mascot will be there, Dine-A-Saurus. Entertainment and crafts available. Must be Kidgits Club members. Nonmembers can sign up for $5 night of. DINNER PARTICIPANTS: Spikes Junkyard Dogs, Arby's, Master Wok, UMI of Japan, Subway; DESSERT: Dunkin Donuts, Autie Anne's, Mrs. Fields.

Poetry

Poetry in the Village, 3rd Wednesday of every month, 6 to 8 p.m., Blanding Library, Goff Memorial Hall, 124 Bay State Road, Rehoboth. Open Mic sign ups starts at 5:30, feature poets, refreshments.

Poetry at Main St. Cafe, last Wednesday of each month, 6 to 8:30 p.m., 122 Main St., Easton. poetryman@comcast.net

Brockton Poetry Series, third Saturday of each month, noon to 4 p.m., Brockton Public Library, 304 Main St., Brockton. Open mic, free poetry workshop.

Lectures

Evolution in the Post-Genomic Age, Feb. 26, 6 p.m., Harvard Museum of Natural History, Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford St., Boston. With Pardis Sabeti. Discusses how scientists are applying the principles of natural selection to mine the human genome. Free.

Voices from Wrcester's Past: Worcester's Rural Cemetery, March 1, 1:30 p.m., Museum of Work and Culture, Market Sq., Woonsocket, RI. National Park Service Ranger Ray Boswell gives lecture. Free. 401-769-9675 or rihs.org.

Survival of the Swiftist, Smartest or Fastest? Human Evolution 150 Years After Darwin, March 5, 6 p.m., Harvard Museum of Natural History, Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford St., Boston. With Daniel Lieberman. Free.

Bill Maher and Ann Coulter, March 10, 8 p.m., Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, Boston. Question and answer period follows. Part of the Speaker Series: The Minds that Move the World. $38 to $200. speakerseries2009.com or 866-348-9738.

Al Gore, March 30, 8 p.m., Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, Boston. Question and answer period follows. Part of the Speaker Series: The Minds that Move the World. $38 to $200. speakerseries2009.com or 866-348-9738.

Former deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and James Carville, May 27, 8 p.m., Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, Boston. With Charlie Rose interviewing. Question and answer period follows. Part of the Speaker Series: The Minds that Move the World. $38 to $200. speakerseries2009.com or 866-348-9738.

Al Sharpton, June 9, 8 p.m., Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, Boston. Question and answer period follows. With Lisa Ling and John Quinones; Soledad O'Brien interviewing. Part of the Speaker Series: The Minds that Move the World. $38 to $200. speakerseries2009.com or 866-348-9738.

Craft fairs/festivals

CraftBoston Spring 2009, March 27-29, The World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd., Boston. Featuring 175 contemporary craft artists. 617-266-1810 or craftboston.org.

Rummage Sale, March 27, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., March 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bradford Lewis Hall, The United Church, 30 Common St., Walpole Center. Features used clothing, jewelry, shoes, linens, and accessories. On Saturday fill a brwon grocery bag for $5. 508-668-0551.

Outdoor/gardens

Outdoor Photography Workshop, Feb. 26, March 5, 7, Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk. Get away from "auto" mode on camera, learn tips for tricky lighting situations, to control depth, motion, and other effects. Outdoor class follows two indoor sessions. Bring notebook and own equipment. Feb. 26, and March 5, 7 p.m., March 7, noon. $60 members, $80 non-members. Ages 16+. 401-949-5454 x 3041 or email programs@asri.org.

Cabin fever Hike, March 1, 1 p.m., Houghton's Pond, 840 Hillside St., Milton. Strenuous hike around Buck Hill. Lasts two hours, free. 617-698-1802 or mass.gov/dcr

Maple Sugar Days, March 7, 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Blue Hills Reservation, 695 Hillside St., Milton. Taste real maple syrup, ride a wagon for additional fee. Travel trail of time and meet characters demonstrating techniques from Native Americans, Yankee farmers, to modern day. Benefits the Trailside Museum. $5 adult, $3 children, free for children 2 and under. 617-698-1802 or mass.gov/dcr

Spring Ahead at Elm Bank, March 29, 1 p.m., 900 Washington St., Rte. 16, Wellesly. Easy stroll looking for skunk cabbage, mourning cloak butterflies, and other signs of springs. Ages 6 and up. Gather at parking lot C. Free. 617-698-1802 or mass.gov/dcr

Ponkapoag Mud Stomp, April 11, 1 p.m., Ponkapoag Golf Course, 2167 Washington St., Canton. Stomp through mud and puddles along the pond edge and woodlandson 4 mile trek. Lasts two hours. Ages 8 and up. 617-698-1802 or mass.gov/dcr

Blue Hills Skyline Hike, May 3, 9 a.m. Rugged 8 mile trek along Skyline Trail. Must be an experienced hiker. Sturdy hiking boots required. Bring lunch and water bottle. Ages 15 and up, lasts 5 to 6 hours. Free. Registration required. 617-698-1802 or mass.gov/dcr

Spring Wildflower Wander, May 9, 1 p.m., Ponkapoag Golf Course, 2467 Washington St., Canton. Search for woodland flowers as you hike the trails of Blue Hill.s Ages 12 and up, lasts 2 and half hours. Free. 617-698-1802.

Kite Festival, May 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., part of the Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center open house. Amazing view, history, and fun activities at the oldest continually operating weather observatory in the country. Free. 617-698-0562 or bluehill.org.

Mountain Bike Discovery Day, May 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Houghton's Pond Picnic Site #5, Blue Hills River Road, Milton. Guided rides for all ages and abilities. Skill clinics throughout the day. Bring own bike and helmets are required. Free. 617-698-1802 x 310.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walk, 8 to 10:30 a.m., every Tues. Meet at the Charlestown Mini-Super on Route 1-A. Led by Phil Budlong. Free.

New Dawn Earth Center, 75 Wrentham Rd., Cumberland, RI. 270 acre of wooded open space, wetlands, ponds. 401-333-1341 or newdawnearthcenter.org.

Borderland State Park, 259 Massapoag Ave., Easton/Sharon line. 508-238-6566 or www.mass.gov/dcr/events.htm.

Arts & crafts

Rag and Bone Bindery Studio Open House, 1088 Main St., Pawtucket. 401-728-0762 or ragandbone.com.

Community Quilting, every Thurs., 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck St., Lowell. 978-452-4207 x19.