10 Top Events for February

Along with Valentine's Day, February is packed with happenings in Buckhead. Here are 10 special occasions coming up, beginning with an outstanding musical event Tuesday night.

Franklin Pond String Quartet: Robert Spano, artistic director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, performs in concert Tuesday night with the Franklin Pond String Quartet, all ASO members.

Spano will perform the Schumann Piano Quintet with the group.  The program also includes quartets of Haydn and Shostakovich, and a movement of the Arnensky Piano Trio played by a student trio from Franklin Pond, a summer program for pre-college musicians.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Kellett Chapel at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, according to a news release from the church. Tickets, $10,  $5 for students, are available at the door.  Proceeds benefit the Franklin Pond program.

Tree planting: The will mark Arbor Day in Georgia with a tree planting event 1-3 p.m. Saturday.

Volunteers are needed to plant 300 bare root seedlings in a wetlands area that tends to be soggy. Those interested should meet at the cul-de-sac on Emma Lane and look for a red pickup truck to sign in, pick up trees and get directions. See the Web site for a map and directions. 

Participants should wear boots, and bring a hand trowel and a bag for the trees and picking up trash. For last minute weather checks and directions call 404-345-1008.

According to the Arbor Day Web site, Georgia's Arbor Day is the third Friday in February.

Great Conversations: A night of stimulating talk can be enjoyed Feb. 25 during the Great Conversation program to benefit the  Fine Arts Department.

The event, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Summerour Studio, will feature a variety of conversationalists who will be seated at tables for discussions of current events, or their individual specialties. Guests will be able to choose three conversatinalists and will be seated at a table of their choice. 

The conversationalists are  Frank Ski, radio host,  V-103; Ryan Gravel,  urban designer, Atlanta BeltLine Partnership; Laura Turner Seydel,   environmental advocate and chairperson, the Captain Planet Foundation; Stuart Snyder, president and COO, Turner Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media; Catey Hill, author of " Shoo, Jimmy Choo! The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less & Saving More"; Susan Crawley,  folk art, curator, High Museum of Art; Tom Junod, magazine writer;  Todd Murphy, visual artist;  Wes Gordon, couture fashion designer, Wes Gordon Collection; Stanley Romanstein , president, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Michael Shapiro, director of the  High Museum of Art; Denis Reggie,  Denis Reggie Photographers; Christine Lakin, actress;  Michael Gearon,  co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Phillips Arena; Perrine Prieur , sommelier and proprietor, Perrine's Wine Shop;  and a special guest  From Lifetime Network's "Army Wives."

For more information, see the school's Web site.

Pace Academy Fund-Raiser:  Heather Headley, who's won the Tony Award as an actress and the Grammy Award as a singer, will perform at Pace Academy's Diversity at the Table 2011 fund raising event Feb. 17 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta.

The event will raise money for Pace's public school initiative and Diversity Scholars Fund, according to a new release from the school.

Headley, who won the Tony for her performance in the Broadway musical "Aida," played the role of Nala in the original Broadway premiere of "The Lion King."

For more information, see the school's Web site.

Day of Dance: Women can dance for fun and their health at a special event Feb. 26 sponsored by Spirit of Women program.

The "Day of Dance for Health" at will include education, free health screenings, discussions with physicians, dance instruction and demonstrations and other activities, according to a Piedmont press release.

Participants can join  special performances and a line dance with Wild Bill's Wild Team, learn the cha cha and swing with Arthur Murray Dance Studio instructors, enjoy hip hop and jazz with the Atlanta Ballet, take in a belly dancing demonstration and learn basic Tai-Chi self-defense moves.

The free health screenings will include blood pressure checks, cholesterol and glucose screenings, sleep health assessments, stroke risk checks, diabetes and nutrition education and peripheral artery disease screenings. Piedmont physicians will answer health questions.

To register, visit the event's Web site.

Buckhead 5K Race: The first Buckhead LaAmistad 5K race will be run Saturday, Feb. 26, with the start and finish at The Gym at

The race will benefit LaAmistad, an after-school tutoring program for Latino students. The cost is $25 preregistration and $30 the day of the run. The 5K will begin at 9 a.m., with a fun run at 9:45 and a tot trot at 10 a.m.

To register, go to the gymatpeachtree.org

It's a big month for the Buckhead Theatre, the vintage landmark in the heart of Buckhead.

Broken Social Scene is in concert Thursday, with doors opening at 8 p.m.

Singer Pat Green arrives to perform on Friday, Feb. 18.

On Saturday, Feb. 19 the Celebrity Autobiography performance is on tap, with amusing readings from celebrities'  tell-alls.

The Old 97's round out the month with a concert on Feb. 25.