February: what's happening where?

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ATLANTA

* Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. Fox Theatre, Feb. 27-0 March 2. Visit www.alvinailey.org for more information.

* A Song For Coretta. A new play by Pearl Cleage. 7 Stages. Through Feb. 17. www.7stages.org

BALTIMORE

* Black Heritage Art Expo. Sponsored by the African American Visual Arts Association. Baltimore Convention Center. Feb. 15-17. www.blackheritageartshow.com

BIRMINGHAM, Ata.

* 7th Annual Mardi Gras Celebration. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Visit www.bcri.org for more information. Feb. 5

CHICAGO

* George Washington Carver. A new exhibit covers Carver's entire life and career. The Field Museum. Feb. 1-July 6. www.fieldmuseum.org

CLEVELAND

* 17th annual Black Heritage Concert. Cleveland Institute of Music. Feb. 3. www.cim.edu

COLUMBUS, Ohio

First Thursday Arts: Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives. The King Arts Complex. Feb. 7. www.thekingartscomplex.com

CAPA: Harlem Gospel Choir. Southern Theatre. Feb. 22. www.capa.com

DETROIT

* Making Prints, Telling Stories: The Artistry of Margaret Burroughs. Exhibit celebrates the renowned artist on her 90th birthday. Coleman A. Young Exhibition Room. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Through May. 18. www.maah-detroit.org

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.

* Sistrunk Historical Parade and Festival-in-The Park. Visit www.sistrunkfestival.org for more information. Feb. 23.

HOUSTON

* Gem of the Ocean. Play presented by the Ensemble Theatre. Through Feb. 24. www.ensemblehouston.com

LOS ANGELES

* 16th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival. Magic Johnson AMC Crenshaw Theaters and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Feb. 7-18. www.paff.org A Tribute to Nat King Cole. Presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and George Benson. Walt Disney Concert Hall. Feb. 15.

MACON, Ca.

* Otis Redding: I've Got Dreams To Remember. Exhibit in his hometown commemorates 40th anniversary of Redding's death. Georgia Music Hall of Fame through Sept. 10. www.georgiamusic.org

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.

* Black History Month events. National Civil Rights Museum. Monthlong. www.civilrightsmuseum.org

MOBILE, Ala.

* Mardi Gras 2008. Mobile Bay is the home of the first-known Mardi Gras celebration in North America in 1703. Feb. 5. www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras.php

NATCHEZ, Miss.

* Richard Wright, the South, and the World: A Centennial Celebration. The 19th annual Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration. Ebony Executive Editor Emeritus Lerone Bennett Jr. is being awarded a Richard Wright Literary Excellence Award. Feb. 23. Conference dates are Feb. 20-24. www.colin.edu/nlcc

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NEW ORLEANS

* Mardi Gras 2008 features parades and revelry. Feb. 5. www.neworleanscvb.com

NEW YORK CITY

* Ellington Love Songs (Valentine's festival). Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Rose Theater. Feb. 14-16. www.jalc.org

NORTH BETHESDA, Md.

* Free to Sing: The Story of the First African-American Opera Company. World premiere original Strathmore concert production. Music Center at Strathmore. Feb. 16. www.strathmore.org

PHILADELPHIA

* 16th Annual African American Children's Book Fair. Community College of Philadelphia. Feb. 2.

ST. LOUIS

* Soulard Mardi Gras in St. Louis. Events through Feb. 5. * Othello. Play presented by the St. Louis Black Repertory Company. Edison Theatre at Washington University. Through Feb. 3. www.theblackrep.org Black History Heritage Month. A monthlong program at the Old Courthouse and Gateway Arch. Feb. 1-29.

SAN FRANCISCO

* Sonny's Blues. Play based on a short story by James Baldwin. The Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Feb. 5-March 2. www.lorrainehansberrytheatre.com

WASHINGTON, DC.

* Alvin Alley Dance Theater. John E Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Feb. 19-24. www.kennedy-center.org Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits. Exhibit. The National Portrait Gallery. Through March 2. For more information:www.nmaahc.si.edu

ISLAND DESTINATIONS: ARUBA

* Carnaval 2008. Grand Parade in Oranjestad, Feb. 3. Events through Feb. 5. www.visitaruba.com/attractions/whatson/carnival.html

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BERMUDA

* 2008 Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts. Various venues. Through Feb. 23. Visit www.bermudafestival.org for more details.

ST. LUCIA

* Independence Day. Feb. 22.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

* Trinidad Carnival 2008. Celebrating 170 years of Carnival. Carnival season events through Feb. 5. www.visittnt.com

NOTE: Sponsors may change dates or locations after the magazine has been published. Travelers should verify event information with local sponsors.

COPYRIGHT 2008 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale Group