The Souper Bowl of Caring is accepting food donations for area charities like the Houston Food Bank through Super Bowl Sunday at H-E-B, Kroger and Randalls. For more info, see www.souperbowl.org.

The Dominic Walsh Dance Theater's 10th anniversary season continues with a celebratory mixed-rep program at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-11 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts' Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby. Tickets range from $25 to $52 at 713-315-2525 or dwdt.org.

Harmony School of Innovation, a K-7th grade charter school, will launch the Harmony Hot Topics Interactive Panel Discussion Series with "Bullying Past and Present," 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 9, at the school's central office, 9321 W. Sam Houston Parkway South. The series is aimed at providing a forum where topics such as Houston's cultural diversity, health care, drop-out rates, and child abuse/neglect discussed by experts and attendees. For more information, contact Brittane Lewis at 713-541-3030.

Allegiance Bank Texas, 3963 Kirby Drive, will host a Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center donor coach 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 9. To donate or for more info, call 281-894-3286.

Expert Rosarians with the Houston Rose Society will demonstrate pruning techniques on bushes of all types 7:30-9:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Garden Center in Hermann Park, 1515 Hermann Park Drive. Admission is free, and all pruned bushes will be given away as prizes.

Mardi Gras! Galveston will celebrate 101 years on the island Feb. 10-21 with 26 concerts, 24 parades, 19 balcony parties and five elegant masked balls. Hot Chelle Rae, named the 2011 American Music Awards New Artist of the Year, will headline the live downtown performances. For more information and tickets, see www.mardigrasgalveston.com.

The West Houston Chamber of Commerce will present the 14th Annual Star Awards at 11:30 a.m. Fri., Feb. 10, at the Omni Houston Westside Hotel, 13210 Katy Freeway. H-E-B Houston Division President Scott McClelland will be the keynote speaker. Jazz pianist Gilbert Sedeno and the Yvonne Washington Trio will entertain during the reception and luncheon honoring developer David Wolff and his wife, Mary.

Help Our Military Endure (HOME), which sends comfort packages to active U.S. service personnel overseas, will hold an open house 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., Feb. 11, at the Atlas Building, 16821 Buccaneer, Clear Lake City near the Johnson Space Center. Donated items and cash contribution to cover costs will be accepted for a Valentine's Day shipment.

Inspiring Possibilities, a nonprofit organization that provides adaptive martial arts training to children and adults with special needs, will host a casino party fundraiser for its scholarship program 6 p.m.-midnight Feb. 11 at the Northwest Forest Conference Center, 12715 Telge Road, Cypress. For more, see www.inspiringpossibilities.org/.

The Annual Jail Break Run Half-Marathon, benefiting the Baytown Municipal Police Officers Association, steps off from the Main Street station at 7 a.m. Sat., Feb. 11. Funds raised help officers blindsided by a sudden illness or family tragedy and provide scholarships to students who hope to serve as officers one day. For more info, see www.jailbreakrun.org.

Spay/Houston and Adopt A Cat are hosting the "Diamonds Are A Girl's Last Friend" murder-mystery dinner 6-10 p.m. Sat., Feb. 11, at Super Happy Fun Land, 3801 Polk St. The event will include auctions and dancing. Tickets are $35 before Jan. 27 at http://spayhouston.org/Murder_Mystery_Dinner.html or $40 at the door. Proceeds will support the nonprofit spay/neuter clinic for dogs, cats, and rabbits and the no-kill cat shelter.

Moody Gardens in Galveston will mark the "Year of the Bat" 7-10 p.m. Feb. 11 with a special evening celebrating the mysterious and endangered creatures. A cocktail party, special guest speaker James Eggers from Bat Conservation International, and a tour of the Rainforest Pyramid will be among the highlights. Tickets are $50 for individuals or $90 for a couple. Proceeds will benefit bat conservation. Guests must be 21 or older. For more, see moodygardens.com.

The Houston Peace and Justice Center, the ACLU of Texas, Texas Families of Incarcerated Youth, and the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy will hold a discussion on the disciplinary system in Texas schools at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1805 West Alabama. For more info, see www.facebook.com/events/173679416067423/ or contact Gislaine Williams at 713-942-8146, Ext. 114.

Jenni's Noodle House, 602 E. 20th, will host a benefit "Celebrity Night" 5-10 p.m. Feb. 17 in support of the Aurora Picture Show. Aurora staff members will at as servers, and all tips collected will go to the nonprofit micro-cinema that presents artist-made, non-commercial film and video at assorted venues.

The Second Wind For Life Initiative will present "A Fashionable Taste" at 8 p.m. Sat., Feb. 18, at The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Drive. The fundraiser will include a fashion show and food tasting with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign. Tickets are $60 at www.secondwindforlife.org.

Brazoria County Master Gardeners will offer some 1,800 plants, including blackberries, strawberries, apples, avocados, figs, peaches, pears, plums, persimmons, pomegranates and mulberry, at their annual Fruit & Citrus Tree Sale 8 a.m.-noon Feb. 18 at the Texas AgriLife Extension Office, 21017 Highway 171, Angleton. Both standard and dwarf citrus for the Houston area will be available along with organic fertilizer. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions.

PerSys Medical, a company that provides training and products to the military, law enforcement, homeland security, EMS, and other medical agencies, will host a free community health and safety event 1-5 p.m. Feb. 19 at its facilities, 5310 Elm St. Activities will include CPR training, first aid instruction, a bouncy house, and an appearance by the Rockets' Clutch. All ages are welcome.

Canine Companions for Independence, which provides free service dogs to people with disabilities, will hold an informational evening 5-7 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 23, at La Quinta Inn and Suites, 1625 West Loop South. The free event will introduce the Canine Companions staff, human-canine teams, and volunteers with puppies in the program. Guests, who are encouraged to register at 760-901-4327 by Feb. 20, will learn how assistance dogs help human partners with tasks and hear about volunteer puppy raising. For more information, see www.cci.org/raisepuppy.

SpaceUp Houston will present the Second Annual SpaceUp Houston Unconference Feb. 25-26 at The Lunar & Planetary Institute, 3600 Bay Area Boulevard. The event will feature spontaneous sessions created by attendees, and participants will decide the topics, schedule, and structure. Tickets for adults are $25, and students 8-18 are free with adult registration. Breakfast, lunch, soft drinks, and snacks are included for attendees on both days. Saturday evening, a private reception at $10 per person will be followed by the "Explore the Solar System" Panel at which aerospace experts will discuss manned and unmanned missions and future plans.

The Masquerade Theatre will stage Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Feb. 17-25 in Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center. Tickets for the musical comedy based on the 1988 film are available at 713-868-9696 or www.masqueradetheatre.com.

NASA Astronaut and Eagle Scout Michael Fossum will headline an Eagle Scout Gathering at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Merrell Center, 6301 South Stadium Lane, Katy. For registration and more info, see www.samhoustonbsa.org/eagle-scout-association-houston.

La Porte High School's Project Graduation program will host a 5k run/walk at 7:30 a.m. Sat., March 3, at Sylvan Beach Park, 1 Beach St. Project Graduation is an all-night, drug-free, alcohol-free, fun-filled, parent-sponsored party provided to the senior class the night of graduation. Registration at Active.com includes T-shirts, refreshments, and prizes.

The San Jacinto Museum of History will host the San Jacinto Texas Independence 5K Fun Run/Walk at 7:30 a.m. March 3 at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Park in La Porte. Online registration is available at www.active.com. Proceeds will benefit the museum's educational programs.

Anthony Kearns, founding member of the Irish Tenors, will perform a solo concert at 3 p.m. March 18 at the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston. The concert supports Autism Awareness and Education. For tickets, see www.thegrand.com.

The western-swing band Asleep at the Wheel will perform at 8 p.m. March 23 at the Lee College Performing Arts Center, 200 Lee Drive, Baytown. The concert is the first to be funded by a Houston Endowment grant dedicated to financing operating costs related to audience development at the facility. Tickets are $35 at 281-425-6255.

The Second Annual Edgewater Dragon Boat Challenge is set for 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. March 31 at Edgewater Marina in Webster. Presented by the Texas Dragon Boat Association, the free, family-friendly event is aimed at promoting the tradition of dragon boating, increasing awareness of Asian and Asian-American cultures, and supporting a breast cancer survivor program.

The Sixth Annual Boots & Bling Gala is set for 6:30 p.m.-midnight Sat., April 14, at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center, 2301 North Millbend Drive. The event, which includes dinner, an open bar, dancing, and a live auction, benefits Including Kids, Inc., an organization that helps Houston-area children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Black tie is optional with boots-and-bling flair. The Mambo Jazz Kings will provide live music. For more information, call 281-852-0501.

The 2011 Relay For Life of Galveston will be held 6 a.m.-6 p.m. April 27-28 at Moody Gardens. For more on the American Cancer Society event, see www.relayforlife.org/galvestontx.

The Toolbox Bash, a fundraiser benefiting Habitat for Humanity Northwest Harris County, is set for 6:30 p.m. April 28 at Enchanted Cypress, 12603 Louetta Road. "Construction chic" attire is requested for the event, which will include dinner, dancing, construction-themed games and auctions.

A.L.A.Y.A. Ministries will host its inaugural Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS) Awareness Walk, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., May 5, at Kitty Hollow Park, 9555 Highway 6, Missouri City. ESS is a disorder that causes obesity and high blood pressure in women. Entry fee is $20 and includes a T-shirt and two meal tickets. For more information, contact Neiki Colquitt at 832-245-9082.

Hope Stone, which provides outreach and support services through dance and performance art, will premiere Kid's Play: An Opera In One Act at 7 p.m. May 5 at Stages Repertory Theatre, 3201 Allen Parkway. The one-hour production showcases 6- to 18-year-old members of the Hope Stone Kid's Play and YouthSound Ensemble.

Writers in the Schools will host the Young Writers Reading at 3 p.m. Sun., May 6, on the main stage at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney. Students from elementary and high schools will read their strongest works from the school year. For more info, see www.witshouston.org/.

The Writers in the Schools will host the Summer Creative Writing Workshops June 11-29, offering a supportive environment where children can explore the pleasure and power of reading and writing. The program is co-sponsored by Rice University and will be offered in six locations. For details, see www.witshouston.org/summer-programs.