•ART

Abstract Art in South Carolina: 1949-2012 will open February 24 in the Lipscomb Art Gallery, S.C. State Museum and run through August 26. 898-4921 or southcarolinastatemuseum.org.

Columbia Museum of Art will host the 2012 Gala, the CHAIRity Ball, Friday, April 27, 7 p.m.-midnight to celebrate opening night of the museum’s spring exhibition, The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design. columbiamuseum.org/gala.

•BANQUET

The Columbia Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated will celebrate its annual Founder’s Day and Awards Banquet Saturday, February 18, Brookland Banquet & Conference Center, 1066 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia. 758- 2882 or 446-8939.

•CHILDREN/FAMILY

Girls Night Out, sponsored by EdVenture Children’s Museum and Coplon’s, a night of fashion, music, food, and fun, will be held March 1, 7 p.m., 701 Whaley Street. www.edventure.org or 400-1162.

Early Adventure programs offered by Historic Columbia Foundation, created for private groups of 10 or more children ages 3-8 years old, will be held March-August. 252-1770 ext. 24 or reservations@historiccolumbia.org.

•CHURCH/CHARITY

First Presbyterian Church Wednesday lunch and speaker series is held 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m., Jackson Hall, 1324 Marion Street. Free parking. 799-9062.

Annual Cinderella Project, co-sponsored by the S.C. Bar Young Lawyers Division and the Upsilon Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. which provides gently worn formal, bridesmaid and prom dresses for young women who lack the financial resources to buy a gown for their high school prom. Donations are being accepted through February 24 and can be dropped off at any of the following Columbia-area locations – Junior League of Columbia Headquarters, 2926 Devine Street; M Boutique, 2820 Devine Street; Richardson Plowden, 1900 Barnwell Street; Lexington Town Hall, 111 Maiden Lane, Lexington; Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce, 1248 Lake Murray Blvd., Irmo; Chapin Chamber of Commerce, 302 Columbia Avenue, Chapin; W. Metro Chamber of Commerce, 1006 12th Street, Cayce. A boutique will be held Saturday, March 3, 9 a.m.-noon, USC School of Law, 701 Main Street to give girls an opportunity to “shop” for dresses at no cost. Girls from all area schools are invited to attend and must bring their school ID. www.scbar.org/cinderella or 576-3736.

Xpress Faith Columbia, a 100 voice praise and worship choir and orchestra, will be presented at Spring Valley Baptist Church, 91 Polo Road, March 23, 24, and 25, 7:30 p.m. 736-0624 or www.xpressfaithcolumbia.com.

•CONFERENCE

2012 Palmetto Affordable Housing Forum, sponsored by the S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority will be held April 18-19, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. 896-9182 or www.RegOnline.com/SCHousingForum.com.

Ashland UMC Women’s Retreat,What’s In Your Purse? will be held Saturday, March 3, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Ashland UMC, 2600 Ashland Road. 798-5350, ext 14 or www.ashlandumc.com.

The New Path to Profit, developing a sustainability plan for your business seminar, presented by Sustainable Midlands and the Darla Moore School IMBA Net Impact Organization, will be held February 27, 2-4:30 p.m., Darla Moore School of Business, Lumpkin Auditorium, 8th floor, 1705 College Street. www.sustainablemidlands.org.

•DANCE

Relax, It’s OK 2B Single Valentine’s Gala will be held Saturday, February 11, 7 p.m.-midnight, Brookland Baptist Banquet and Conference Center, 1066 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 386-7114.

Friday Night Dances are scheduled for winter/spring 2012, 7:30-10:30 p.m., February 17, 24, March 9, 23, April 13, and 27, Capital Senior Center, Maxcy Gregg Park, 1650 Park Circle. 779-1971 or www.capitalseniorcenter.com.

Weekly Beginner Waltz Dance Lessons will be held at Yellow Rock Hall Sunday afternoons starting February 12, 3:30-5 p.m., 2211 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia. Beginner Shag dance lessons will be Sunday afternoons beginning February 12, 5-6 p.m. 791-9767.

•FESTIVAL

St. Andrews Woman’s Club will host its 31st Annual Bridal Showcase Sunday, February 26, 12-5 p.m., Cantey Building, South Carolina State Fairgrounds. www.SAWC-SC.org.

International Mother Language Day organized by Bangladesh Student Association at USC, will be held February 18, 6 p.m., Russell House Ball Room. bsa-usc@googlegroups.com or 719-7425.

•FOOD

Animal Protection League and the Lower Richland Ruritans will host a joint BBQ pork or chicken fundraiser dinner Saturday, February 11, 4-7:30 p.m., Lower Richland Ruritan Hut on Rabbit Run behind Lower Richland High School. 767-3715 or 369-9538.

The Palladium Society’s annual Chili Cook-Off will be held February 25, 5-8 p.m., SC State Fairgrounds, Ellison Building, 1200 Rosewood Drive. www.historiccolumbia.org.

•FUNDRAISERS

Spring Valley Education Foundation 26th Annual auction, Round up in the Valley will be held Saturday, February 11, 6 p.m., The Members Club at WildeWood, Tennis Complex, 90 Mallet Hill Road. supportspringvalley.org

•GARDEN

Mid-Carolina Camellia Society Winter Show will be held Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12, Mid-Town Mall Forest Acres (formerly Richland Mall). 261-1952.

•MUSIC

Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra & the USC Dance Company will present The Joy of Dance performance art program Sunday, February 19, 3:30 p.m., Harbison Theater at Midlands Technical College. LMSO.org.

City of Columbia is accepting submissions for the 22nd Annual Summer Concert Series in Finlay Park, held every Saturday night during the months of June, July, and August, 7- 10 p.m. Bands interested are asked to submit a media kit including a recent photograph, live recording, and bio of band. Deadline for submission is 5 p.m., Friday, March 16. Mail entries to City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Administration Office, Attn: Kim Mitchell, 1932 Calhoun Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or email to kcmitchell@colulmbiasc.net. 545-3117.

The Arts at Shandon will present Angela Blalock & Friend in concert 7:30 p.m., Friday, February 17, Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow Street. 771-4408.

Black History Month Concert with Min. Darryl Izzard and Benedict Gospel Choir will be held February 10, 7 p.m., Second Nazareth Baptist Church, 2300 Elmwood Avenue.

•OPEN HOUSE

Birthright of Columbia will host an open house to celebrate its 32th anniversary Sunday, February 12, 1-4 p.m., 1405 Gregg Street. agillhorton.birthrightcolumbia@gmail.com or 765-0165.

Midlands Technical College will host a Spring Open House Saturday, February 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the college’s Airport Campus. 822-6714 or www.midlandstech.edu/openhouse.

•RECYCLING

Keep the Midlands Beautiful, sponsored by AT&T Real Yellow Pages & Sonoco Recycling, encourages encourages Midlands residents to bring last year’s phone books to Midlands-area drop-off sites recycled, February 15-March 31. For a list of drop-off sites, visit www.keepthemidlandsbeautiful.org or call call 733-1139.

•SPORTS/FITNESS

Cupid’s Chase 5k Run, sponsored by Community Options will be held February 11, Finlay Park, 8 a.m. 750-8998 or cupidschase@comop.org.

Third annual “Race for the Place” 5K run/walk will be held Saturday, February 11, 8 a.m. The race route is in the Shandon area; the start line is at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. www.stlawrenceplace.org or www.strictlyrunning.com.

The 13th Annual CAPS (child and parent) Soccer Clinic will be held Saturday, February 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., USC Outdoor Soccer Complex, Stone Stadium, 1300 Whaley Street. 254-5996 or www.childrenschance.org.

Junior Tennis League (JTL) is holding registration for Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, and Newberry counties for summer tennis program for children sixth to 12th grades. Registration dates are February 4-May 4. 951-1888 or www.juniortennisleague.org.

Senior Resources will participate in the national 2012 March For Meals campaign beginning with the 9th annual 5K Run & Walk at Riverbanks Zoo March 3, 7:30 a.m. www.seniorresourcesinc.org.

Red Bank 5K – Lexington will be held Saturday, May 19, 8 a.m. to benefit Lexington YMCA’s Partners with Youth Campaign. www.runredbank.com or 348-1984.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society has opened registration for this year’s walk in Columbia. Walk MS: Columbia will be held Saturday, May 5, State Museum, 301 Gervais Street. To register, visit WalkingForMS.org, or call 1-800-FIGHT-MS.

Volksmarch, 5/10 K Historic Capital City Walk, with Asheville Amblers walking club will be held Saturday, February 11, 10:30 a.m., leaving from the Columbia Visitor Center, 1101 Lincoln Street.

•SUPPORT GROUP

Columbia Parkinson’s Support Group meets the third Sunday of every month (except June) 3-4 p.m., Lexington Medical Center Hospital, Lexington Medical Park Auditorium, 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia. 604-0061 or www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org.

NAMI Mid-Carolina, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, will offer “Family to Family,” a free series of 12 weekly classes structured to help caregivers understand and support individuals with serious mental illness while maintaining their own well being, beginning Tuesday, February 28, Dorn VA Hospital, Garners Ferry Road, 6:30 p.m. and Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Lexington at 6 p.m. 206-2916.

•THEATRE

Present Laughter, presented by USC Theatre and Dance, will be held February 17-25, Longstreet Theatre, 1300 Greene Street, Wednesday-Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 7 p.m.; first Sunday, 3 p.m., 11 p.m.; half-price performance February 25. 777-2551.

Original Works: The History of Queen Elizabeth I, by student Jeffrey Earl, presented by USC Theatre and Dance, will be held February 15-19, Benson Theatre, corner of Pickens and Whaley Streets, 8 p.m. 777-9353.

•VOLUNTEERS

Birthright of Columbia a pro-life emergency pregnancy service staffed by volunteers, will begin training for office volunteers beginning Tuesday, February 21, 6:30 p.m. and will run two successive Tuesdays, 1405 Gregg Street. 765-0165 or agillhorton.birthrightcolumbia@gmail.com.

Historic Columbia Foundation’s first new volunteer training class of 2012 kicks off February 13 with a total of ten sessions running through April 30. Each session lasts 90 minutes and begins at 10 a.m. historiccolumbia.org/site/calendar/ 2012/02/13/events/new-volunteer-training

•WORKSHOPS/LECTURES

“Lunch and Learn” is being held at the Capital Senior Center, 1650 Park Circle, second Thursday, 11:30 a.m. 779-1971.

Iota Omicron Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. will host its 8th Annual Youth Symposium Saturday, March 10, John H. Adams Gymnatorium on the campus of Allen University. 331-6761.

City of Columbia Art Center, 1932 Calhoun Street, will host a workshop on the essentials of Japanese pottery Saturday, March 24, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. 545-3093 or bloliver@columbiasc.net.

February Birding Programs at Congaree National Park include Birding Basics Workshop Saturday, February 11, 8:30- 11:30 a.m.; and Great Backyard Bird Count Program Saturday, February 18, 8:30-11:30 a.m. 776-4396, ext. 0, www.birdsource.org/gbbc/, or www.nps.gov/cong.

Better Choices, Better Health - Living Well South Carolina is offering workshops for people with chronic health conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and asthma. Capital Senior Center, 1650 Park Circle, February 9- March 15, Thursdays, 1-3:30 p.m. and March 29-May 3, Thursdays, 1-3:30 p.m.; Charles R. Drew Wellness Center, 2101 Walker Solomon Way, March 6-April 10, Tuesdays, 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. and May 2-June 6, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 898-0760.

Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands will offer a free, daylong training to help define the spectrum of sexual violence, list the effects of sexual violence, including symptoms of Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder, describe the manifestation of sexual violence in the rural and Latino communities, including the needs and barriers experienced by survivors of sexual violence in those populations, and understand cultural competence, specifically one’s own beliefs and how that manifests itself in the work that he/she does and its effects on survivors Friday, March 30, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Hal Kohn Memorial Library 1100 Friend Street, Newberry. bva@stsm.org or 790-8208.