This Weeks Calendar

LOWCOUNTRY BLUES BASH: Feb. 12-16. Various times and venues. Free-$35. The 20th annual Lowcountry Blues Bash will feature more than 40 blues musicians and groups playing in restaurants, clubs, art galleries, the public library and other venues. Performances by Shrimp City Slim, Juke Joint Johnny and Drew Baldwin, Cotton Blue, Porkchop Meyer, Davis Coen, Jeff Norwood Trio and many others. Visit www.bluesbash.com.

SINGING VALENTINES: Feb. 12-14. $30-$50. The Charleston Barbershop Quartet and Southern Harmony Chorus are teaming up to visit various locations to sing two love songs and deliver a rose and a card. For each singing Valentine delivered, the choruses will donate $10 to MUSC's Children's Hospital. Call 884-3232 or visit www.charlestonbarbershopchorus.com.

MURDER MYSTERY WEEKEND: 4 p.m. Feb. 12-noon Feb. 14. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive. $555-$645 per person. Enjoy a weekend of food, fun and mystery during the resort's third annual Murder Mystery Weekend. This year's theme is "A Crime of Passion by the Seaside." Call 800-576-1570.

SOUTHEASTERN WILDLIFE EXPO: Feb. 12-14. Various locations. The 28th annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition is back with events taking place in Brittlebank Park, Marion Square, Gaillard Auditorium and the Visitor Center Bus Shed. Events include Dock Dogs competition, demonstrations, exhibitors, an oyster roast and an Evening with Jack Hanna. Visit www.sewe.com or call 800-654-2924.

"1 X 1" EXHIBIT: Through March 6. Redux Contemporary Art Center, 136 St. Philip St. The studio will host an exhibit featuring artwork by College of Charleston students and faculty members. 722-0697 or www.reduxstudios.org.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FORUM: 7-8 p.m. third Wednesday of each month. College of Charleston's Hollings Science Center, Room 112, 58 Coming St. Free. Networking at Mellow Mushroom afterward. www.alternativeenergy.meetup.com/147 or www.gogreencharleston.org.

ART DISCOVERY WALKING TOURS: 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St. $20. 90-minute tour highlights historic sites that have inspired artists for centuries. View artistic treasures at the Gibbes, then walk in the footsteps of the artists who created them. www.charlestonwalks.com or 729-3420.

BALLROOM DANCE CLASSES: 7-8 p.m. Thursdays. Ballroom Dance Club of Charleston, 1632 Ashley Hall Road. $30 per month. Each month, instructor Steven Duane will focus on a different ballroom dance. 557-7690.

BALLROOM DANCE PARTIES: Every weekend (except holidays). Creative Spark Center for the Arts, 757 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant. $10. (Cost may increase for theme or dinner parties.) An adult ballroom dance party with group lessons beforehand. 881-3780.

BRIDGE LESSONS: 3-5 p.m. Mondays. Bridge Center, 1740 Ashley River Road. $130 for 11 sessions. Lessons are for beginners. 556-4145.

BOOK LOVERS GROUP: 7-9 p.m. third Friday of each month. Dreamalot Books, 123-B S. Goose Creek Blvd. No specific book required. Simply show up with any book and bring a snack. 572-4188.

CAMELLIA WALKS: 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through March 27. Regular admission. Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Road. Enjoy the beauty of Middleton Place's 3,500+ camellias during these guided walks. Reservations required. 556-6020 or www.middletonplace.org.

CANOE AND KAYAK TOURS: 1-5 p.m. Fridays and Sundays and 9-11 a.m. Saturdays. $20-$30 adults, $10-$15 children. Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, 336 Sanctuary Road, Harleyville. Reservations required. 462-2150 or www.beidlerforest.com.

CAROLINA SHAG WORKSHOPS: Saturdays. Trudy's School of Dance, 830 Folly Road, James Island. $25 for two-hour lessons. For students at any level. Registration required. 795-8250.

CELTIC FIDDLE CLASSES: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Na Fidleiri and the Taylor Music Group will conduct preparatory classes for students not ready to join more advanced classes. 819-6961.

CHARLESTON CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE: 7 p.m. Second Tuesday of each month. Ryan's Room at Ryan's restaurant, 829 St. Andrews Blvd. jeannescla@aol.com.

CHARLESTON MUSIC CLUB: The club offers free music programs through May. 795-7842 or www.charlestonmusicclub.org.

CHOPSTICKS: 3-5 p.m. Fridays. Charleston County Main Library, 68 Calhoun St. All ages. Light classical music and favorite children's songs while kids color with friends. 805-6930.

CHORUS REHEARSALS: 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays. Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant. The Franke Chorus invites men and women to join. 654-5973, 881-1158 or 881-9691.

CHRISTOPHER'S READING ROOM: 4-4:30 p.m. Thursdays. Johns Island Library, 3531 Maybank Highway. Grades 6-12. Earn one Johns Island Library dollar for each session. 559-1945.

CYPRESS SWAMP TOURS: 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Middleton Place Outdoor Center, 4300 Ashley River Road. $55-$65. Kayak through a cypress swamp while learning about the plants and animals that thrive there. 266-7492 or www.middletonplace.org.

DANGEROUS BOOK CLUB: 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Charleston County Main Library, 68 Calhoun St. Explore something new every week from "The Dangerous Book for Boys." 805-6930.

DANGEROUS BOYS CLUB: 7:30 p.m. First Friday of each month. Barnes & Noble, 1716 Towne Centre Way, Mount Pleasant. Community leaders will host meetings based on activities from "The Dangerous Book for Boys." 216-9756.

DUAL ARTIST SHOW: Through February. Rick Rhodes Photography and Imaging, 1842 Belgrade Ave. The studio will host an exhibit featuring the artwork of Robin McCoy and David Ackerman. An opening reception will be 5-9 p.m. Friday and will have wine and hors d'oeuvres. 766-7425.

EARLY MORNING BIRD WALKS: 8:30 a.m.-noon. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Caw Caw Interpretive Center, 5200 Savannah Highway, Ravenel. $5, Gold Pass members free. Walk through habitats viewing birds, butterflies and other organisms. Preregistration encouraged, but walk-ins welcome. 795-4386 or www.ccprc.com.

EAST COOPER COFFEE CLUB: 10 a.m. Fourth Wednesday of each month. Franke at Seaside, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant. Bring a coffee mug and enjoy presentations by different speakers. Refreshments will be provided. 856-2166.

FAMILY FUN DAYS: 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 6, April 3 and May 1. Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Road. Regular admission plus $7 per family. Drayton Hall's new Family Fun First Saturdays program will allow families to learn about history in a fun, hands-on manner. This month's program will focus on "A Day in the Life of a Colonial Plantation." 769-2603 or www.draytonhall.org.

FOLLY BEACH BLUEGRASS SOCIETY: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. The Kitchen, 11 Center St. Bring an instrument and participate in an open jam. 345-1678.

"FORREST AT THE BEACH": Through Feb. 28. Corrigan Gallery, 62 Queen St. The gallery will host artist John Hull's first solo show, "Forrest at the Beach," a collection showcasing paintings that feature images of his dog, Forrest, on the beach. A reception will be 5-8 p.m. Friday. 722-9868 or www.corrigangallery.com.

FREE FRIDAY WINE TASTINGS: 3-6 p.m. Fridays. Lowcountry Wine and Spirits, 3642 Savannah Highway, Suite 140, Johns Island. 769-2722.

FREE SHAG LESSONS: 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Mojo's, 975 Bacons Bridge Road, Summerville. No partner needed for these free lessons. 214-0242.

tHE GATHERING BOOK GROUP: 7 p.m. Last Thursday of each month. Barnes & Noble, 1716 Towne Centre Way, Mount Pleasant. Call 216-9756 to find out this month's title.

GRASS-ROOTS CALL TO ACTION: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Fort Johnson Cafe and Coffee, 1014 Fort Johnson Road, James Island. Each Saturday, the group will present a speaker who will discuss a conversation-provoking topic. 810-0088 or grassrootscalltoaction@gmail.com.

"IN HER NATURE": Through Feb. 28. Plum Elements, 161 1/2 King St. "In Her Nature" will showcase work by Jonathon Brilliant, Julie Goldstein and Mayumi Oda. The artists use mixed media to express their different views of nature. 727-3747 or www.plumelements.com.

"LET'S DISCUSS IT" BOOK GROUP: 10 a.m. Third Friday of each month. Mount Pleasant Regional Library, 1133 Mathis Ferry Road. New members welcome. shgalos@juno.com.

LOOK! DRAW! PAINT!: 3:30 p.m. Thursdays. Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, 25 Ann St. $5. Artist Margaret Crane will teach children art history, drawing, composition and painting. Registration required. 853-8962, ext. 221.

LOWCOUNTRY BACKPACKERS CLUB: 7-8:30 p.m. Second Thursday of each month. Collins Park Clubhouse, 4115 Fellowship Road, North Charleston. The group meets to discuss past and upcoming trips, trail safety, low-impact and lightweight backpacking, photography and more.

"MILESTONES IN MODERN MEDICINE": Through April 30. Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 68 Spring St. The museum presents an exhibit made up of around two dozen documents involving Louis Pasteur, Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, William Mayo and other historic medical luminaries. 853-4651.

MODEL SHIP BUILDING: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or 1-5 p.m. Saturdays. Folly Beach Baptist Church, 77 Center St. Learn the ins and outs of model shipbuilding taught by William Thomas-Moore. 762-6280 or www.shipshapesgallery.blogspot.com.

MODERN DANCE CLASS FOR ADULTS: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays. Creative Spark, 757 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant. $12 per class/$40 per month. Jocelyn Nugent leads. 881-370 or www.creativespark.org.

MUSEUM, MUSIC AND MORE!: Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, 25 Ann St. $8 members, $10 nonmembers. Open to ages 5-12. The program gets children involved in performing arts with activities that offer interactive experiences with dancers and musicians. 853-8962 or www.explorecml.org.

OPEN STUDIO: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Last Tuesday of each month

The Meeting Place, 1077 E. Montague Ave., North Charleston. Free. Each class will feature a different project taught by professional artists. 745-1087.

PARENT/CHILD BALLROOM CLASSES: 6:30-7 p.m. Thursdays. G.M. Darby Building, 302 Pitt St., Mount Pleasant. $30 residents, $37 nonresidents. Parents and youths ages 5-9 will learn basic ballroom dance steps. 849-2061 or www.townofmountpleasant.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITS: Through March 13. Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, 161 Calhoun St. The institute presents two exhibits that feature related topics. Jonathan Torgovnik will showcase "Intended Consequences: Rwandan Children Born of Rape," and Heather McClintock will present "The Innocents: Casualties of the Civil War in Northern Uganda." 953-5680 or www.halsey.cofc.edu.

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30-8 p.m. First and third Thursdays of each month. Church of the Holy Cross, 299 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island. Psychologist Risa Mason-Cohen leads a support group. 769-0444.

"RHYTHMS OF INDIA": Feb. 8- March 10. The Art Institute of Charleston, 24 N. Market St. Photographer Yve Assad will showcase her work, which documents her experiences in India. An opening reception will be 6-8 p.m. Feb. 11. 727-3500.

SALSA CLASS AND PARTY: 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Arthur Murray Studio, 1706 Old Towne Road.

$8. Participate in a group salsa class for beginners and advanced participants followed by a practice party. 571-6500 or arthurmurray@bellsouth.net.

SALSA NIGHT AT SOUTHEND BREWERY: 10 p.m. Thursdays at Southend Brewery, 161 East Bay St. $4 cover. DJ Luigi mixes live. 853-4677.

SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE LESSONS: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston. Free. No partner is needed. 810-7797.

SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL TOURS: 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. S.C. Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf. $8 ages 2-11, $16 adults, $14 seniors 62 and older. Behind-the-scenes tours offer visitors a look at the efforts of the staff as it cares for sick and injured turtles through the Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Reservations recommended. 577-3474.

SQUARE DANCE CLASS: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston. 552-3630.

SUMMERVILLE WRITERS GUILD: 6:30 p.m. Last Monday of each month. Perkins Restaurant, 1700 Trolley Road, Summerville. Call Barbara Hill at 871-7824.

West Ashley Democrats' BREAKFAST MEETINGS: 8-9:30 a.m. Third Saturday of each month. Ryan's Steak House, 829 St. Andrews Blvd. 576-4543.

WHIZ KIDS: 3:30 p.m. Thursdays. Children's Museum of the Lowcountry, 25 Ann St. $5 per child/$25 per month. The museum is offering an after-school science program taught by Laura Buschman. 853-8962, ext. 221.

ZEN MEDITATION: 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays. Cheri Huber will lead the class, which will focus on meditation and discussion. Call Ramita Bonadonna at 224-2468.

ART COLLECTING LECTURE: 6 p.m. Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St. $10 members, $20 nonmembers. Learn the ins and outs of collecting art during this lecture by author and art consultant Barbara Guggenheim. A reception will follow. 722-2706 or www.gibbesmuseum.org/events.

ART HISTORY LECTURE: 7 p.m. Simons Center for the Arts, 54 St. Philip St. Free. Jaroslav Folda will present program entitled "Chrysography in Byzantine and Crusader Icons and Italian Panel Paintin." 953-3888.

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK: 6-8 p.m. Broad Street. "Blues on Broad" is the theme for this month's art walk. Four art galleries will serve as music venues for the Lowcountry Blues Bash and will feature blues-inspired artwork. The walk will feature performances by Juke Joint Johnny and Drew Baldwin, Freddie Vanderford and Brandon Turner and Davis Coen. Refreshments will be provided. 722-1944 or www.charlestongalleryrow.com.

PALMETTO PRIDE CLEANUP DAY: 8 a.m. Meet at Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center, 5821 Hwy. 17 N., Awendaw. Help clean up the Francis Marion National Forest during the annual Palmetto Pride Cleanup. Lunch will be served at noon. To volunteer, call 877-725-7733. www.fws.gov/seweecenter.

KAYAKING TRIP: Noon. Meets at Sea Kayak Carolina, 1731 Signal Point Road, James Island. Enjoy a trip down the Folly River with the Charleston Sea Kayaking Meetup Group. Kayak rentals are available for $30. 225-7969 or www.seakayakcarolina.com.

CLASSICAL KIDS CONCERT: 1 p.m. Chamber Music Charleston, 150 Meeting St. $10 adults, $5 children 3 and older. Chamber Music Charleston's string quartet will present its adaptation of the children's story "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot," using music by Brahms as well as illustrations. 763-4941 or www.chambermusiccharleston.org.

"FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD": 1-2 p.m. Wannamaker County Park, 8888 South University Drive, Ladson. $7 members, $9 nonmembers. View the night sky as escaping slaves would have seen it during this program by the Portable Planetarium. Pre-registration is required.

HAITI BENEFIT: 3 p.m.-midnight. The Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd., Isle of Palms. $5. Awendaw Green and The Windjammer are teaming up to help raise money to support relief efforts in Haiti by Water Missions International and the Red Cross. Artists who will perform include Becca Bessinger, Corey Webb, White Rhino, Dangermuffin, Rene Russell, Travis Allison and others. 886-8596.

"MOSES! LET MY PEOPLE GO": 5 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, 273 Meeting St. $10. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the one-year anniversary of its Spiritual Ensemble with a special concert. "Moses! Let My People Go: A Tribute to Moses Hogan" will honor the late composer and arranger who founded the Moses Hogan Chorale. Tickets are available at the Gaillard Auditorium Box Office. www.csospiritual.com.

OYSTERFEST: 6-10 p.m. Golf Club at Wescott Plantation, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, Summerville. $30. The Summerville-Oakbrook Breakfast Rotary Club will host its eighth annual Oysterfest, which will feature all-you-can-eat oysters, chili, shrimp and grits and a cash bar, as well as music by The Coppertones. Proceeds will benefit the Rotary's various causes. www.summervilleoakbrookrotary.com.

OYSTER ROAST: 6-10 p.m. George Miler Country Club, 400 Country Club Blvd., Summerville. $25. Support the SPCA at the 10th annual Downs Byrd Memorial Oyster Roast and Silent Auction. In addition to oysters, pizza will be available, as well as dessert and a cash bar. The event will also feature live music by DJ Wendell Nolan. 871-3820 or www.summervillespca.com.

"A CHOCOLATE AFFAIR": 7 p.m. The Citadel's Holliday Alumni Center, 69 Hagood Ave. $100 per person. This annual gala, which raises money for Communities in Schools, features gourmet catering, fine chocolates, a full bar, including chocolate martinis, silent and live auctions and live entertainment. 740-6793 or www.thechocolateaffair.net.

ART EXHIBIT OPENING: 5-8 p.m. 52.5 Records, 561 King St. Free. 52.5's 16 Penny Gallery will host a reception to celebrate the opening of a new exhibit by local artists BadJon and S.H.T!. The event will feature hors d'oeuvres by Guerrilla Cuisine and music by DJ Rocky Horror and DJ High Horse. 722-3525.

GARDEN CLUB MEETING: 10 a.m. 4300 Park Circle, North Charleston. The Council of Garden Clubs of Greater Charleston will hold a meeting, which will feature a lecture and demonstration on new National Council Floral Designs and will welcome guest floral designer Frances Thrash. 670-6061.

ST. LUKE'S RECITAL SERIES: 12:15 p.m. MUSC's St. Luke's Chapel, 181 Ashley Ave. Free. Enjoy a variety of compositions performed by organist Mary-Julia Royall and soprano Victoria Butcher. 792-6775.

CREATIVE RETIREMENT LECTURES: 1 and 2:30 p.m. St. Joseph's Family Center, 1695 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd. The Center for Creative Retirement presents two lectures. The first will be given by Kelly Thorvalson, a biologist with the South Carolina Aquarium, who will discuss the aquarium's Sea Turtle Rescue Program. The second will be presented by Dr. John Hakkila, a professor with C of C's physics department, who will talk about "Gamma Ray Bursts." 953-5488.

COUPON PARTY: 7-8:30 p.m. Charleston Jewish Community Center, 1645 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd. $10. Participants will learn how to start saving money on grocery bills by clipping coupons and will receive a free coupon divider and a Sunday paper. Refreshments will be provided. 571-6565 or www.charlestonjcc.org.

INTERNATIONAL PIANO SERIES: 8 p.m. Sottile Theatre, 44 George St. $20 adults, free to students and children under 18. Award-winning 15-year-old piano prodigy Micah McLaurin, a Charleston native, will perform a repertoire of Bach, Chopin, Haydn, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. 953-6575 or www.internationalpianoseries.org.

MEN'S BREAKFAST CLUB: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Lowcountry Senior Center, 865 Riverland Drive, James Island. Free to members, $7 nonmembers. This meeting's special guest speaker Cyrus Buffin, the writer responsible for the blog "Charleston Waterkeeper," will talk about Charleston's waterways. 762-9555.

KAYAKERS' SOCIAL: 7 p.m. Sea Kayak Carolina, 1731 Signal Point Road, James Island. Free. Get together with fellow kayakers and watch a program by the American Canoe Association entitled "Decide to Return: A Strategy for Safe Sea Kayaking." For reservations, call 225-7969. www.seakayakcarolina.com.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT: 7-8:30 p.m. Park West Pool, 1251 Park West Blvd., Mount Pleasant. Free. Enjoy an evening of swimming, fun and games. Floats and pool toys are encouraged. 856-2536.

FUSED GLASS WORKSHOP: 9 a.m.-noon today; 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 20. The Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. $75 members, $90 nonmembers. The museum will host Blue Heron Glass during this two-day workshop that will teach participants how to fuse glass together to create a quilt-like effect. The workshop is being held in conjunction with the museum's "Crazy Quilt" exhibit. 722-2996, ext. 235 or www.charlestonmuseum.org.

BOOK SIGNING: 10 a.m.-noon. The Preservation Society of Charleston, 147 King St. Mike Creel and Lynn Kelley, authors of "The Boykin Spaniel: South Carolina's Dog," will sign copies of their book. 722-4630 or www.preservationsociety.org.

CAT ADOPTion SPECIALS: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Pet Helpers Adoption Center, 1447 Folly Road, James Island. Pet Helpers will celebrate Valentine's Day by cutting cat adoption fees in half. Cats will be available for adoption for $50. Those who take advantage of the special will also receive a free cat first-aid kit. 795-1110.

BOOK SIGNING: 2-4 p.m. The Preservation Society of Charleston, 147 King St. Thomas J. Brown, editor of "City of the Silent: The Charlestonians of Magnolia Cemetery" by the late Ted Ashton Phillips Jr., will be available to sign copies of the book. Some of Phillips' relatives, including his mother, will be at the signing. 722-4630 or www.preservationsociety.org.

OYSTER ROAST: 5-8 p.m. The "Big Tin" next to Fort Moultrie, Sullivan's Island. $25 advance, $30 at door. Sullivan's Island Fire and Rescue will hold its annual oyster roast, which raises money for new equipment and other necessities. The event will feature all-you-can-eat oysters, fish stew and hotdogs, as well as a jump castle, live music and more. Guests should bring their own knives. Tickets are available at the Fire Station, Town Hall, Piggly Wiggle at Sea Island Shopping Center, Exit Realty and Simmons Seafood. 883-3198.

BLUES AND BBQ CRUISE: Boards at 5:30 p.m.; leaves at 6 p.m. from the Charleston Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St. $39.50 plus tax. Enjoy views of the harbor from the deck of the Carolina Belle while enjoying live blues by the Juke Joint Johnny Band and barbecue from Home Team BBQ. A cash bar will be available. 722-1112 or 800-979-3370.

DINNER SHOW AND FUNDRAISER: 6:30 p.m. Gullah Cuisine, 1717 U.S. Hwy. 17, Mount Pleasant. $30. Enjoy a Valentine's Day dinner show that will feature The Legends and Legacies Show Band. Guests will enjoy food prepared by Gullah Cuisine as impersonators portray Patsy Cline, Elvis and Willie Nelson. Proceeds will benefit The Magdalene House of Charleston. 881-9076 or www.myspace.com/legendsandlegaciestheshow.

GPC FILM SOCIETY: 7 p.m. Old North Charleston Picture House, 1080 E. Montague Ave. $2 members, $5 nonmembers. The Greater Park Circle Film Society will show "It Happened One Night," a 1934 Oscar-winning film directed by Frank Capra that stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. 628-5534 or www.parkcirclefilms.org.

"HEARTSTRINGS" CONCERT: 4 p.m. Marion and Wayland H. Cato Jr. Center for the Arts, 161 Calhoun St. $25. Celebrate Valentine's Day by enjoying the first public concert held in C of C's new arts center. "HeartStrings" will feature acclaimed musicians Lee-Chin Siow and Natalia Khoma, who will perform with the college's string students. The concert will kick off Charleston Music Fest. Proceeds will go towards scholarship programs for the string students. 953-0935 or www.charlestonmusicfest.com.

"THE VELVETEEN RABBIT": 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. through Friday; noon Saturday. Sottile Theatre, 44 George St. $8. The Robert Ivey Ballet presents the beloved children's tale. A tea party featuring a sandwich, cookies and a drink will follow the Saturday performance and costs an extra $5. 556-1343 or www.robertiveyballet.com.

"YANKEE TAVERN": 7:30 p.m. through Saturday and Feb. 11-13. Pure Theatre, 150 Meeting St. $20-$25. Pure Theatre presents this thriller, written by Steven Dietz and directed by Sharon Graci. The story follows a couple in a New York tavern, who find themselves caught up in a conspiracy. 723-4444 or www.puretheatre.org.

"THE MIRACLE WORKER": 8 p.m. through Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Footlight Players Theatre, 20 Queen St. $10-$25. The Footlight Players present their production of the story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, the governess who helped her learn to communicate despite being deaf and blind. 722-4487 or www.etix.com.

"RENT": 8 p.m. through Friday and Feb. 7, 11, 12 and 14. Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. $24.50-$32.50. This musical by Jonathan Larson, set in New York City's East Village, focuses on the victims of AIDS and their daily struggles to survive. 853-2252 or www.charlestonmusichall.com.

"MOMENTS OF JOY": 7 p.m. Friday. Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston. $33. Enjoy dinner and a show during this dinner theatre performance of a one-woman cabaret-style production. 740-5854 or www.northcharleston.org.

"MASTERPIECES OF DANCE": 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13. Sottile Theatre, 4 George St. $10-$45. The Charleston Ballet Theatre presents "A Lark Ascending," choreographed by acclaimed ballet choreographer Bruce Marks. 723-7334 or www.charlestonballet.org.

Editor's Note: The deadline for Preview Calendar items is noon Friday the week before the event takes place. Items submitted after the deadline will not be printed.

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