"Tadpoles" ages 2 to 5 can enjoy crafts, games and nature at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Nature Center of Oakwoods Metropark near Flat Rock. The fee is $4 a child.
Children ages 6 to 10 can become "Nature NUTS" at 10 a.m. tomorrow with crafts, games and nature fun for $4 a child.
At 1 p.m. Sunday, "Snow Stories, Myths, and a Little Science" will teach children and adults everything they've ever wondered about snow. The fee is $3 a person.
Preregistration and vehicle entry permits are required for all the programs. To sign up, call 1-734-782-3956.
The "Crack O' Dawn Coffee Club" meets at 8 a.m. tomorrow at Marshlands Museum and Nature Center of Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown Township for coffee, doughnuts and a leisurely morning nature walk.
Learn about different kinds of animal feet during "Muskrat Club — Neat Feet" at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow. Children in kindergarten through third grade can learn how particular types of animal feet are designed to do different jobs. The fee is $2 a child.
The mysteries of Groundhog Day will be explored at 2 p.m. Sunday during "So,
What Did the Groundhog Say?" The age-old weather myth and other weather predictors found in nature will be explored. There is a $2 fee.
Preregistration and vehicle entry permits are required for all programs, which take place at the nature center. To register, call 1-734-379-5020 or 1-800-477-3189.
Basic ballroom dance and swing lessons for singles and couples will be held Tuesdays through March 18 at the Allen Park Community Center, 15800 White Street.
Instructor Shirley Blair will lead swing lessons from 7 to 8 p.m. followed by ballroom dancing from 8 to 9 p.m. The fee is $45 for Allen Park residents and $50 for nonresidents.
Call 1-313-928-0771 to register.
A Mardi Gras Celebration is on tap tomorrow at the Downriver Italian-American Club, 646 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte.
New Orleans-style band The Chefs of Dixieland will perform, and a Creole/ Cajun buffet will be served.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and dinner is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $30 for members and $35 for non-members, include party favors. Costumes are welcome.
Tables can be reserved for parties of 10 or more; all others will be seated where available.
Mail checks made payable to the Downriver Italian-American Club to Lina Giannotti, 14823 Williamsburg Blvd., Riverview, MI 48193.
For more information, call Giannotti after 6 p.m. at 1-734-283-7394 or Rita Dauss after 6 p.m. at 1-734-560-3875.
"The Dangerous Boys Club" will kick off at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Barnes & Noble, 3120 Fairlane Drive, Allen Park.
Based on the bestseller "The Dangerous Book for Boys," the club is for parents, teachers and youngsters looking for ways to keep boys engaged in reading and hands-on activities.
The club's launch will include activity sheets, prize drawings, giveaways and more.
Call Gayle Townsend for more information at 1-313-271-0688.
The Polka Booster Club of America presents its "Be My Valentine Dance" from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Msgr. Hunt Knights of Columbus Hall, 7080 Garling Drive, Dearborn Heights.
Dance to the sounds of the EZ Jones Band. Admission is $12 and includes beer, wine and pop. Call 1-734-422-1901 or 1-313-561-8389 for more information.
Artist Valerie Allen will demonstrate her craft and discuss mineral and modern pigments during the Downriver Arts & Crafts Guild's meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Southgate Veterans Memorial Library, 14680 Dix-Toledo Road.
Artists will discover how acrylics can stimulate their medium and help them become more versatile.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Maureen Cassidy Keast at 1-734-777-6109.
The Germania Club Downriver will hold its 2008 Karneval Festival Closing Dance from 7:30 p.m. to midnight Feb. 9 at the Germania Hall, 23156 King Road, Brownstown Township.
The Sorgenbrecher Band will provide musical entertainment. Admission is $6 at the door and includes traditional German food, beer, wine and spirits a la carte.
Call 1-734-479-4278 or visit www.germania club.com for more information. For reservations, call 1-313-320-4261 or 1-734-284-2908.
Tickets are on sale for the annual Daddy Daughter Dances offered by the Taylor Department of Parks and Recreation.
Fathers and their little girls in kindergarten through sixth grade can spend a Valentine-themed evening together from 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 9 at the William Ford Senior Activity Center, 6750 Troy, Taylor.
The event includes hors d'oeuvres, beverages, corsages for the girls, dancing and a keepsake photo.
Tickets are $20 for each father and daughter and $5 for each additional daughter. Purchase tickets at the Parks and Recreation Department, 22805 Goddard Road, Taylor. Call 1-734-374-3906 for more details.
Talented teens and tweens are invited to shine at the first Open Mic Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 15 at Bacon Library, 45 Vinewood, Wyandotte.
Come prepared to sing, recite a poem, tell a story or a joke. Refreshments will be served, and the top three performers chosen by the crowd will receive prizes.
Sign up in advance by calling the library at 1-734-246-8357.
Authors Dawn Marie Daniels and Candace Sandy will discuss and sign copies of their latest book, "Souls Revealed: A Souls of My Sisters Book of Revelations and Tools for Healing Your Life, Soul and Spirit," at 4 p.m. Feb. 16 at Barnes & Noble, 3120 Fairlane Drive, Allen Park.
Call the store for more information at 1-313-271-0688.
The Taylor Cultural Arts Commission and Friends of the Arts present the second annual Big Band Ball at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Grecian Center, 16300 Dix-Toledo Road, Southgate.
Entertainment includes Larry Huntington & the Skyliners with a special dinner performance by Girls' Night Out from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A silent auction will run from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tickets are $45 a person or $80 a couple and include dinner and dancing. A cash bar will be available.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. All proceeds benefit the Taylor Friends of the Arts.
Call 1-734-374-3906 for more information or 1-734-287-6318 to charge tickets by phone.
A country western dinner and impersonator review is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at VFW Post 552, 1125 Fort St., Lincoln Park.
Impersonators will include a faux Garth Brooks, Trace Adkins, Patsy Cline, Winona Judd, Tanya Tucker and Stevie Nix.
Tickets are $30 a person and include entertainment, dinner and an open bar. Proceeds benefit the post's building fund.
Buy tickets at the VFW post's bar or call Jim Bowens for reservations at 1-313-999-7890.
A night out with Tinseltown's A-listers is promised during "Oscar Night America" at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at the MJR Southgate Cinema 20, 15651 Trenton Road.
Come dressed to the nines in your most glamorous get-up or mimic your favorite movie star.
The red-carpet event includes hors d'oeuvres and spirits from more than 20 different local restaurants, as well as prime seats for a big-screen viewing of the 80th annual Academy Awards telecast.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Call the Southgate Community Players at 1-734-281-3108 to purchase tickets.
"Quilting Genius 2: The Improvisational Quilts of Susana Hunter" will be on display Feb. 15 to April 27 at the Henry Ford Museum, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn.
The exhibit, which is free with museum admission, features nearly 30 improvisational quilts by Susana Allen Hunter, an African-American quilter from Alabama.
The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for senior citizens, $10 for children. Members and children age 4 and younger are free. Visit www.thehenryford.org or call 1-313-982-6001 for more information.
Henry Ford Community College will offer free planetarium shows throughout the winter, beginning with "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening - A Winter Star Talk" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, now through Feb. 26 in the science building on HFCC's campus, 5101 Evergreen Road., Dearborn.
Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis and no latecomers will be admitted for safety reasons.
No reservations are required. Call 1-313-845-9628 for more information.
The Detroit Science Center is now showing the IMAX feature, "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs," a journey back to the age of the great pharaohs detailing why mummification was so important to ancient Egyptians.
Tickets are $11.95 for adults and $10.95 for children and senior citizens. Call 1-313-577-8400 for more information.
The Detroit Science Center is located at 5020 John R, Detroit.
Bring on the pain during "Fire & Ice" professional boxing at 7:30 p.m. today at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Lanardo "The Pain Server" Tyner and Vernon "The Iceman" Paris, two of Detroit's undefeated lightweights, will be among the boxers competing.
Tickets are $25 reserved and $15 general admission. Buy seats now at palacenet.com, The Palace box office and all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at 1-248-645-6666. Special front row, VIP and ringside seating is available.
Children can learn about their family's African-American heritage during "Every Family is a History Day" from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Detroit Children's Museum, 6134 Second Ave.
The Fred Hart Williams Genealogical Society will present programs for beginning genealogists throughout the day, including "Beginning Genealogy for Kids — Who Are You?" and "Exploring One Family's Story — How It Came to Be."
A monthly planetarium show, "Winter Night Sky," is set for 12:30 p.m. for children age 4 and older. Seating is limited.
Preregistration is required. Admission fees for the full program are $5 for non-members and $3 for members and Macy's Museum Adventure Pass participants. Call 1-313-873-8100 to reserve a spot.
Treat your valentine to a night on the town at the eighth annual Toast of Hockeytown from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Olympia Club at Joe Louis Arena.
Join the Red Wings team for a wine-tasting gala, strolling buffet, tours of the team locker rooms and silent and live auctions.
This year's event also will take place on the ice surface at Joe Louis Arena for fans to experience the players' view.
Tickets are $200 a person and proceeds benefit the Red Wings Foundation, which supports several local causes and organizations. Call 1-313-396-7524 to order tickets. Guests must be 21 years old to attend.
The Longhorn World Championship Rodeo stomps into The Palace of Auburn Hills at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and 8 p.m. Feb. 15.
Tickets, $23 for reserved and $15 for general admission, are on sale now at www.palacenet.com, the Palace box office and all Ticketmaster locations. Charge tickets by phone at 1-248-645-6666.
All seats for opening night are $12 in advance and $14 at the door with the exception of VIP seating.
Dine with one of the country's most revered presidents during "Dinner with the Lincolns" at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 1345 Gratiot Ave., Detroit.
Impersonators Fred and Bonnie Priebe will educate the audience about the life and times of President Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, during their presentation, "Now ... from the White House."
Tickets for the dinner and program are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12. Children age 5 and younger are free.
Reservations are required and can be made by visiting www.historictrinity.org or calling 1-313-567-3100.
The beat goes on as Blue Man Group brings its eccentric "How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.1" to The Palace of Auburn Hills at 8 p.m. Feb. 23.
Tickets, $50 and $77.50, are on sale at www.palacenet.com, www.ticketmaster.com, The Palace box office, all Ticketmaster locations or charge by phone at 1-248-645-6666.
How many planets are in our solar system? What is the definition of a planet? The New Detroit Science Center's Dassault Systemes Planetarium presents the new show "Nine Eight Planets and Counting."
New discoveries beyond Pluto are challenging and changing the concept of a planet. The show will present this continuing debate in an open-ended manner, while taking audiences on a tour of the solar system. The show runs through February.
Tickets are $11.95 for adults and $10.95 for children and seniors, and include admission to the Science Center, 5020 John R St.
"Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour" skates into The Palace of Auburn Hills from Feb. 29 to March 2.
Based on the wildly popular Disney Channel movies, the ice spectacular re-creates life at the fictional East High School. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. March 1 and 3:30 p.m. March 2.
Tickets are $28, $22 and $17, with specially price VIP and front row seats also available. Purchase tickets at The Palace box office and all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-248-645-6666.
Smucker's Stars on Ice Tour featuring Olympic champions Scott Hamilton and Sasha Cohen slides into The Palace of Auburn Hills at 7:30 p.m. March 15.
Tickets start at $25 and are on sale at the Palace box office, all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-248-377-0100.
The Harlem Globetrotters bring their "Magic As Ever" world tour back to The Palace of Auburn Hills at 3 p.m. April 6.
Tickets at $38, $28, $20 and $15 are on sale now at www.palacenet.com, The Palace box office and all Ticketmaster locations. Charge tickets by phone at 1-248-645-6666.
Bacon Memorial District Library, 45 Vinewood, Wyandotte, hosts a drop-in chess game from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays.
Find new and challenging opponents and pick up a move or two.
Heritage Decorative Artists of Southeast Michigan, a chapter of the International Society of Decorative Painters, meets bimonthly at the Westfield Activities Center, 2700 Westfield Road, Trenton.
The group shares ideas and new painting techniques in addition to sponsoring painting seminars with well-known teachers. All levels of painters are welcome.
For more information, call Debi Keeling at 1-734-422-9382, or visit www.heritagedecorativeartists.com.
The Downriver Council for the Arts, 20904 North Line Road, Taylor, has a book club, which meets from 1 to 3 p.m. the first Thursday of every month.
Snacks are provided, and donations are accepted. To learn more, call 1-734-287-6103 or e-mail dc4arts@cs-net.net.
Take a tour of the Henry Ford Estate-Fair Lane on the campus of the University ofMichigan-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen Road.
Tours are at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
The price is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors 62 and older and $6 for children ages 5-12. Children 4 and younger get in free.
Call 1-313-593-5590 for details.
See the birthplace of the Model T with a tour of the historic Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, 461 Piquette, Detroit.
Walk the same floors as Henry Ford, the Dodge brothers, James Couzens and other auto pioneers, where the first 10,000 Tin Lizzies were manufactured before the advent of the assembly line.
A National Historic Landmark, the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10, with free admission for ages 16 and younger.
Tours for groups of 10 or more are available by appointment. Call 1-313-868-2377 for reservations. For directions, visit www.tplex.org.
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