February is the year's shortest month, but leap year makes this February a day longer than usual -- 29 days in which to celebrate all things numbered 29: Roman numeral XXIX, 29; the atomic number of copper, 29; Lady Gaga, 29; two dozen and five extra Valentine roses, 29.
1 Bake for Family Fun Month used to take all of February, but the latest convection oven turns it out toasty the first day.
DOTTED LINE
Samuel F.B. Morse's Gallery of the Louvre and the Art of Invention-- paintings by the 19th-century inventor of Morse code -- through April 18 at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville. Details at crystalbridges.org. Call (479) 418-5700.
Black History Month
SHADOW PLAY
2 Groundhog Day. But the groundhog isn't the only one looking for his shadow today:
• If George Washington sees his shadow, it means six more whacks at the cherry tree.
• If the mailman sees his shadow, it means the post office will be closed Feb. 15, George Washington's Birthday (observed).
• If the groundhog sees a mattress sale, it means a six-week nap.
BREATH OF FRESH AERIE
3 Eagle tours through Feb. 28 at Lake Dardanelle State Park. Details at arkansasstateparks.com. Call (479) 967-5516.
GONE POSTAL
4 Thank a Mailman Day, but the mailman should thank you. His job is 10 pounds lighter after the load of bills he drops at your house.
MULTIPLE WINNERS
Cheaper by the Dozen, Royal Players comedy through Feb. 7 and Feb. 11-14 at the Royal Theatre, Benton. Details at theroyalplayers.com. Call (501) 315-5483.
HERE IS YOUR SHRUBBERY
5 Monty Python's Spamalot through Feb. 7, 11-14 and 18-21 at the Victory Theatre, Rogers. Details at arkansaspublictheatre.org. Call (479) 631-8988.
LAWN PARTY
Jefferson County Master Gardeners' Home and Garden Show through Feb. 6 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Details at pinebluffcvb.org. Call (870) 534-1033.
LUCKY DUCKY
6 Lame Duck Day sympathizes with incumbent office-holders at the end of their terms. But some of these birds manage to kick their heels in spite of being lame.
"You know, it's just one small step from legacy to lame duck." -- Bill Clinton
"Being born in a duck yard does not matter, if only you are hatched from a swan's egg." -- Hans Christian Andersen
BEADS AND CIRCUSES
SoMa Mardi Gras Parade, noon through Little Rock's South Main district. Mardi Gras Ball, 7 p.m. at Villa Marre. Call (501) 412-3768.
Mardi Gras-style Eureka Gras Day Parade, 2 p.m. through downtown Eureka Springs. Mayor's Ball, 7 p.m. at the Basin Park Hotel. Details at eurekaspringsmardigras.com.
PUNT, PASS AND PASS OUT
7 Super Bowl Sunday with beer, pizza, Cheetos, beer, pretzels, beer, Ro-Tel dip, cheerleaders, beer, Coldplay -- and some sort of game.
MONKEY SHINES
8 Chinese New Year, the year of the red monkey.
"Just 'cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town." -- George Carlin
BEADY OR NOT
9 Mardi Gras in New Orleans and wherever "Carnival Time" is sung, purple beads are flung, and the King and Queen of Carnival are out and among.
EXCLAMATION POINT!
Mamma Mia! through Feb. 14 at Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville. Details at waltonartscenter.org. Call (479) 443-5600.
BRINGIN' ON THE HEARTBREAK
Def Leppard and Styx, 7 p.m. at Verizon Arena, North Little Rock. Details at verizonarena.com. Call (800) 745-3000.
PARASOL GONE PARA-SAIL
10 Umbrella Day is when a stiff breeze turns everybody into Mary Poppins.
BASKET CASE
11 Return Shopping Carts to the Supermarket Month. That's how it rolls.
Wobble, wobble, little cart,
As I wander through the mart,
Veer to left, and carom right,
Might we crash? I think we might;
Crooked frame and busted wheel --
You're the last thing I would steal.
TICKET TO RIDE
Community Theatre of Little Rock production, Bus Stop, through Feb. 14 and 18-21 at The Studio Theatre, Little Rock. Details at ctlr-act.org. Call (501) 410-2283.
TWEET #MILLET
12 National Bird-Feeding Month is when tweet dreams are made of thistle.
WASHINGTON DRIVES A LINCOLN
Abraham Lincoln's birthday, 1809.
BRUSH HOUR
Mid-Southern Watercolorists exhibition through April 27 at the Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock. Details at arkansasartscenter.org. Call (501) 372-4000.
MICE ON THE STIR
13 Disney Live! -- Mickey and Minnie's Doorway to Magic, 1 and 4 p.m. at Verizon Arena, North Little Rock. Details at verizonarena.com. Call (800) 745-3000.
SWEETHEART DEAL
14 Valentine's Day -- when roses say it all, moonlight gamblers risk it all, and losers-at-love darn it all.
THE OL' ROUND-AND-AROUND
Ferris Wheel Day -- a reminder that nobody stays on top forever, and nobody's down 'til the ride's over.
WASHINGTON SLEPT ON IT
15 George Washington's birthday (observed), the federal and state holiday (also observed).
Daisy Gatson Bates Day, the state holiday.
EYE-OPENING BREAKFAST
16 National Grapefruit Month celebrates the benefits of a morning shower.
AIR APPARENT
17 Freedom Flyers of the Tuskegee Airmen, free screening at 6:30 p.m. at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, Little Rock. Details at arkmilitaryheritage.com. Call (501) 376-4602.
MEANTIME, BACK AT THE SPREAD
18 Quilter's Retreat through Feb. 20 at Ozark Folk Center State Park, Mountain View. Details at ozarkfolkcenter.com. Call (870) 269-3851.
THE GILL TO SUCCEED
19 PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Is today your birthday? If so, remember the wise words of Mama Fish: "Boop boop dit-'em dat-'em what-'em choo!" Hang out on the stringer with fellow fishies Rihanna, 27, Feb. 20; Drew Barrymore, 40, Feb. 22; and Floyd Mayweather Jr., 38, Feb. 24.
HIGHS AND GLOWS
Cirque du Soleil: Toruk -- The First Flight, through Feb. 21 at Verizon Arena, North Little Rock. Details at verizonarena.com. Call (800) 745-3000.
Lanterns! Festival through Feb. 21 at Wildwood Park for the Arts, Little Rock. Details at wildwoodpark.org. Call (501) 821-7275.
TIN WHISTLE
20 How to celebrate Canned Food Month: on a tropical aisle with a can of fruit cocktail.
THE OL' ROUND-AND-AROUND AGAIN
Astronaut John Glenn orbits the Earth, 1962, to view Little Rock's Colonel Glenn Road from space.
DOG OVERBITES MAN
21 National Pet Dental Health Month: Rinse, spit, sniff, scratch, turn around three times, flop.
EXTRA SPRINKLES
22 Boost Self-Esteem Month, Expect Success Month and Cherry Month -- fame and fortune with a cherry on top.
TINKER BELLES
23 National Time Management Month, Women Inventors Month, and ways that women could invent to save time:
• One time and done forever, permanent permanent.
• Liquid Wrench for Spanx.
• "Him on a Whim" instant Mr. Right in effervescent powder form, just as easily washed away.
COOL UNDER PRESSURE
24 Beat the Heat Month forecast: Febrrrrrrrrrr-uary.
GONE TO THE DARK SLIDE
25 Little Rock Wind Symphony concert, "Darth Vader and Trombones!" at 7 p.m., Second Presbyterian Church, Little Rock. Details at lrwindsymphony.org. Call (501) 666-0777.
GRASS-ROOTS MOVEMENT
26 Arkansas Flower and Garden Show through Feb. 28 at the Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock. Details at argardenshow.org. Call (501) 821-4000.
HONEY OF A JAM
Million Dollar Quartet at East Arkansas Community College Fine Arts Center, Forrest City, remembering when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins jammed at Sun Records. Details at eacc.edu. Call (870) 633-4480.
GLASS, HOUSES
27 Depression Era and Vintage Glass Show and Sale, through Feb. 28 at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds Hall of Industry, Little Rock. Details at Arkansas Glasshoppers Inc., arglasshoppers.org. Call (501) 868-4969.
Home Show through Feb. 28 at Verizon Arena, North Little Rock. Details at Home Builders Association of Greater Little Rock, hbaglr.com. Call (501) 758-3646.
'B' SIDES
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra concert, "Bernstein & Brahms," 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 and 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at Maumelle Performing Arts Center, Maumelle. Details at arkansassymphony.org. Call (501) 666-1761.
CHECK-OUT TIME
28 Library Lovers' Month calls to say a cardholder at this address has a book or books overdue. And they don't believe the dog ate it. No dog could make it all the way through Moby-Dick, let alone Finnegans Wake.
MONDAY'S CHILD IS FULL OF WHOA
29 Leap Day! Once almost every four years, Leap Day comes along to make February a day longer than usual. But why-why-why did it have to be an extra Monday?
Coming next month: March! Call (501) 399-3633, write to Ron Wolfe, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 121 E. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or email
by Feb. 15 to suggest calendar entries or how to celebrate March as National Peanut Month, such as: Have a super-duper whooper goober time. Each event requires a phone number that is answered during business hours or by an answering machine that identifies the event or its sponsor.
Style on 01/26/2016