Calendar of Events

At the Knoxville Convention Center. Show hours: Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Dogwood Arts House & Garden show is the largest house and garden show in Tennessee for the do-it-yourselfer and the gardening enthusiast. It's a unique marketplace to shop, compare and save on a total selection of home and garden related products and services. The top landscape designers of East Tennessee create fascinating and unique gardens that provide ideas, tips and trends to enhance your outdoor living space. Whether you are contemplating building a new home or garden or sprucing up what you have the Dogwood Arts House & Garden show is where you'll find the must-haves for 2010. There's something for everyone and it is all under one roof. Information: 865-637-4561, www.dogwoodarts.com

The largest house and garden show in Tennessee will return in February with exhibits that have something for all your indoor and outdoor home improvement needs. The House & Garden Show will take place Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, TN. This year’s show will have more than 250 commercial exhibits displaying the newest and most innovative home and garden products of 2010. The House & Garden Show has a wide variety of exhibits for every do-it-yourselfer and gardening enthusiast with exhibits ranging from fencing and flooring to lighting and landscape. Visitors will enjoy three days of shopping, seminars and inspiration.

One of the highlights of this year’s show is the How-To-Stage. The How-To-Stage gives visitors the opportunity to watch and enjoy 12 do-it-yourself demonstrations. The Dogwood Arts Festival is proud to announce that HGTV’s John Ridding and internationally known gardener Ryan Gainey will be appearing on the How-To-Stage this year. The show will also have several other events throughout the weekend to help visitors perfect their home and garden skills. Gardens Galore offers visitors inspiration through unique and beautiful gardens designed by top landscape designers in East Tennessee. Roomscapes gives visitors a look at the top interior design trends with eight beautifully decorated rooms. The Flower Markets will provide visitors with products to help brighten and enhance their gardens. And last but not least, the Artisans in Action will give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at regional artists’ techniques. The show is sure to be spectacular and will give visitors inspirations for their new gardens or home, or help them improve what they already have. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (over 65), and $5 for youth (6-12 years old). Children under 5 get in free. For more information visit www.dogwoodarts.com, 865-637-4561.

Friday: YWCA, 420 Clinch Avenue, Knoxville
6:30 - 7:45 pm (Beginners) - Workshop: "Tango from Zero" --Trenner's skillful approach to Tango for those with no dance experience.
8:00 - 9:00 pm or later (Everyone) - Welcome Milonga: Social Tango Dance - Dance and socialize with old friends and meet new friends.

Saturday: Academy Ballroom, 4451 Kingston Pike, Knoxville.
Noon - 1:15 pm (All levels) Workshop: "Fundamentals, Part 1" --Tango through the lens of its Default Vocabulary
1:30 - 2:45 pm (All levels) Workshop: "Fundamentals, Part 2" -- Yin & Yang to Tango; Leader's Voice; Follower's Voice.
3:00 - 4:15 pm (Intermediate & Advanced) Workshop: "Tango Architecture" -- Chain Steps & Alterations
4:30 - 5:45 pm (All levels) Workshop: "Milonga from Zero"
9:00 pm - Midnight (Everyone) Milonga: Social Tango Dance - Dance and socialize.

Sunday: Academy Ballroom, 4451 Kingston Pike, Knoxville.
10:30 am -1:00 pm Brunch & Unguided Practice

Information: 865-579-1955, 865-406-3311, www.knoxvilletango.org

Opening night, February 19

1714 Andy Holt Avenue on the UT Campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.org

By Tom Griffin. A play about four, mentally challenged men who live in a home together in New England. Their social worker, Jack, is becoming burned out with his job, and his life. Lucien P. Smith and Norman Bulansky are mentally retarded. Barry Klemper is a brilliant schizophrenic who fantasizes that he is a golf pro, and Arnold Wiggins, the ringleader, is a hyperactive, compulsive chatterer, who suffers from deep seated insecurities and a persecution complex. This play is filled with laughter and compassion. A true contemporary comedy with a big heart. Roane State Theatre, Harriman. February 18-20, 25-27 at 7 pm; February 21 & 28 at 2 pm. All performances subject to change. Check website periodically for updated information. Information: 865-882-4567, www.roanestate.edu keyword: theatre.

By Tom Griffin
February 18-21, 25-28, 2010
A play about four mentally handicapped men who live in a home together in New England. Their social worker, Jack, is becoming burned out with his job, and his life. Lucien P. Smith and Norman Bulansky are mentally retarded. Barry Klemper is a brilliant schizophrenic who fantasizes that he is a golf pro, and Arnold Wiggins, the ringleader, is a hyperactive, compulsive chatterer, who suffers from deep seated insecurities and a persecution complex. This play is filled with laughter and compassion. A true contemporary comedy with a big heart. Roane State Theatre, Harriman. Admission: $7/10 (Student/Public). February 18-20, 25-27 at 7 pm; February 21 & 28 at 2 pm. www.roanestate.edu

By Terrence McNally and directed by Biz Lyon. Winner of the Dramatists Guild Hull Warriner Award. A critical and popular success, this bittersweet comedy combines poignancy and laughter as it traces the unlikely romance that begins to develop between two middle-aged "losers." NOTE: This production contains mature themes and language that may be unsuitable for children. Parental discretion is advised.
Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $10 plus fees for Thursday & Sunday; $15 plus fees for Friday & Saturday. For more information on the show: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com

Based on the novel by J. R. R. Tolkein. Performances: February 12 through 27, 2010. Located at 800 Tyson Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-599-5284, www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com, info@childrenstheatreknoxville.com.

It’s a rusty old machine gun, with tattered strap and battle-scarred wooden stock—not even very large by today’s standards. By itself, it’s not that impressive. But mention the name Sgt. Alvin C. York, and this war relic takes on special meaning. It represents “the flag on the hill,” a brave deed by a backwoods soldier who remained cool under fire, silencing machine gun nests that were raining a firestorm of bullets on Allied troops. York was the leader of seven men who captured 132 German machine gunners on October 8, 1918, in the Battle of the Argonne Forest in northern France. For this heroic deed, York received the National Medal of Honor and became the most decorated soldier of World War I. This M1908/15 Maxim light machine gun is documented as one of the German weapons confiscated on that day. This historic artifact will become the centerpiece of an already extensive exhibit at the Museum, revealing the man behind the medals—a simple and honest East Tennessee backwoodsman who used his fame to help others. A special exhibit at the Museum will include items on loan from the York family.

Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Clinton, TN 37716. Hours: February: 10 AM to 4 PM weekdays, 10 AM to 5 PM weekends; March: 10 AM to 5 PM weekdays, 10 AM to 6 PM weekends.Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

Open house and reception with the artist on February 5 from 6-8 PM. If you’ve visited the Performing Arts Studio lately, you’ve no doubt been drawn into “The Mind Mapping Project”, Zach’s exhibition of vibrant, intriguing mixed media paintings. We hope you’ll join us for a night of art appreciation! Knoxville Arts and Fine Crafts Center, 1127 Broadway Suite B, Knoxville, TN 37917. For information: 865-523-1401, www.cityofknoxville.org/recreation/arts

Paintings, watercolors, prints and drawings by Bruce D. Busey will be on exhibit at Regas Restaurant during the month of February. The exhibit is a part of Knoxville's First Friday ArtWalk. Also on exhibit will be acrylic paintings by Asheville artist, Sharon Trammel, Professor of Fine Art at Asheville Buncombe Community College. Works inspired by performers, personalities and events of Asheville, North Carolina. Website: www.sharontrammel.com. For more information contact: B. D. Busey, 865-379-8263 or 865-548-4253.

Regas Restaurant, 318 N. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37917. For information: 865-522-6055, www.thechophouse.com

Opening night, February 5

1714 Andy Holt Avenue on the UT Campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.org