Events for the family

Chinese New Year Celebration

Traditional Chinese music, dancing & more. International House of Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut St.; 215-387-5125.

» READ MORE: www.ihousephilly.org

. $7; $5 students & seniors. 2/8 6 pm.

CoverGirl Outlast Bridal Challenge

Open to Philly brides only.

» READ MORE: Brides@OutLastChallenge.com

for info/registration. 30th Street Station, 30th & Market Sts.; 215-349-3147. 2/14 11 am.

Philadelphia Auto Show

Produced by the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia. Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St.; 215-418-4700.

» READ MORE: www.adagp.com

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$12; $6 children 7-12 & seniors; free for children 6 & under. 2/8 noon-10 pm. 2/9 9-10 pm. 2/10 9 am-8 pm.

23rd Annual Valley Forge RV Show & Sale

Valley Forge Convention Center, 1160 First Ave., King of Prussia; 888-303-2887.

» READ MORE: www.vfrvshow.com

. $8; free for children 12 & under. 2/8-2/9 10 am-8:30 pm. 2/10 10 am-5 pm.

The Bridal Event

Features giveaways, displays of bridal products & services, fashions, h'ors d'oeuvres samples & more. Presidential Caterers of Distinction, 2910 DeKalb Pike, Norristown; 610-275-7300.

» READ MORE: www.bridalevent.com

. $12 advance; $14 day of event. 2/10 noon-4 pm.

Bristol Cultural & Historical Foundation Tea

The theme for this year's annual tea is 'A China Experience.' Bristol Cultural & Historical Foundation, Inc., 321 Cedar St., Bristol; Reservations required: 215-788-9408. $15. 2/10 3 pm.

Family Festival

Conclusion of Bryn Athyn's parenting conference. Entertainment, music, crafts & refreshments. Lord's New Church, 1725 Huntingdon Rd., Huntingdon Valley; 215-947-3564. ww.caringformarriage.org. 2/10 2-5 pm.

11th Annual Fishing Tackle & Flea Market

Hosted by the Palmyra Fire Department. Charles Street School, Charles St., Palmyra; 856-786-0718, 856-786-3942, 856-829-0805. $3. 2/10 9 am-3 pm.

Atlantic City International Power Boat Show

Boat-related products & services, displays, seminars, children's area & more. Atlantic City Convention Center, 2001 Kirkman Blvd., Atlantic City; 609-646-1640.

» READ MORE: www.atlanticcityboatshow.com

. $15; $8 children 13-15; free for children 12 & under with paid adult. 2/8 11 am-8 pm. 2/9 10 am-8 pm. 2/10 10 am-5 pm.

*FREE*

Chocolate Lover's Weekend

Chocolate-themed weekend. Downtown Ocean Grove, 45 Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove; 732-774-1391.

» READ MORE: www.oceangrovenj.com

. Free; $5 per person for carriage rides. 2/9 10 am-5 pm. 2/10 1 am-3:30 pm.

*FREE*

Health & Safety Fair

Free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol & blood sugar. American Red Cross blood drive. Mansfield Township Elementary School, 200 Mansfield Rd. East, Columbus; 609-298-6114 for blood drive appt. Blood drive 9 am-2 pm. 2/9 10 am-2 pm.

*FREE*

Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman

Living history presentation in honor of Black History Month. Gloucester County Library-Logan Branch, 498 Beckett Rd., Logan Township; 856-241-0202. 2/11 7 pm.

Wild Lovin'

Program on courting & reproduction behaviors in various animals. Brandywine Zoo, 1001 N. Park Dr., Wilmington; 302-571-7747.

» READ MORE: www.brandywinezoo.org

. $15. 2/9 1:30-3:30 pm.

The Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company

Physical comedy, dance, juggling & creative inventions. Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington; 302-652-5577.

» READ MORE: www.fredgarbo.com

. $12-$16. 2/10 3 pm.

The Great Holtzie

Stand-up comedian for kids & the whole family.

» READ MORE: www.thegreatholtzie.com

. Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St.; 215-496-9001.

» READ MORE: www.heliumcomedy.com

. $10. 2/9 3 pm.

Opus Ditty & The Hoedown Gang

World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400;

» READ MORE: www.worldcafelive.com

. $10; $7 children 1-12; free for children under 1. 2/9 11:30 am.

Peter & Ellen Allard

Award-winning performers, musicians & educators specializing in music for young children. Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Rd., Elkins Park; 215-887-8700.

» READ MORE: www.kenesethisrael.org

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$10; $5 children. 2/9 6-7:30 pm.

Be-stro My Valentine

Menu includes cherries jubilee, crusty rolls & parlez vous stew. Kitchen Kapers East Gate Square, 1341 Nixon Dr., Moorestown; Reservations required: 856-778-7705.

» READ MORE: www.kitchenkapers.com

. $30. 2/9 10-11:30 am. 2/10 1:30-3 pm.

Cupid's Tea

Tea party, stories & Valentine's Day crafts for children. Reg. req. Cheltenham Art Center, 439 Ashbourne Rd., Cheltenham; 215-379-4660.

» READ MORE: www.cheltenhamarts.org

. $18. 2/10 1-3 pm.

Nature Valentines

Children's program featuring love-themed stories & crafts. Green Lane Nature Center, 1492 Gravel Pike, Green Lane; Registration required: 215-234-8497. $1. 2/13 1 pm.

Next-Door Neighbors

Children's program about the type of animals that may dwell locally. Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown; 610-277-3825.

» READ MORE: www.elmwoodparkzoo.org

. $14. 2/13 2-3 pm.

*FREE*

Registration for 9th Annual March Madness One-on-One Basketball Tournament

Sponsored by Cheltenham Township Parks & Recreation. Register by 2/15. LaMott Community Center, 7420 Sycamore Ave., LaMott; 215-635-3255.

» READ MORE: www.cheltenhamtownship.org/parks

. 2/8-2/15.

*FREE*

Rock Out: Celebrate Jewish Contributions to Music

Children celebrate the creative & musical contributions of Jews to popular culture by bringing their favorite Jewish rock hero "to life." Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue, 715 Paxon Hollow Rd., Broomall; 610-325-9248. 2/10 9:15 am.

Valentine Candy Making

Kids learn chocolate-making techniques & make their own Valentine candy. Tamanend Park, 1255 Second St. Pike, Southampton; Pre-registration required: 215-355-9781. $20. 2/9 10-11 am.

Valentines For the Critters

Children's program about what animals eat. Upper Schuylkill Valley Park, 1600 Black Rock Rd., Royersford; Registration required. $1. 2/14 1 pm.

A Wild & Wonderful Day

Children's programming about wild & domestic animals & animal preservation. Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown; 610-277-3825.

» READ MORE: www.elmwoodparkzoo.org

. Included in admission. 2/9 11 am-2 pm.

Camden Children's Garden

3 Riverside Dr., Camden; 856-365-8733.

» READ MORE: www.camdenchildrensgarden.org

. Butterfly house, maze, treehouse & more. $6; $4 ages 3-11; free for children 2 & under Tue.-Sun. 10 am-5 pm.

Garden State Discovery Museum

2040 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill; 856-424-1233.

» READ MORE: www.discoverymuseum.com

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Hands-on children's museum featuring an activity wonderland for infants through age 10. Chinese New Year - Calligraphy workshops & treasure hunts. 2/9 9:30 am-8:30 pm. The Many Colors of Islam - 45 drawings by Indonesian children describing what Islam means to them. Closes 3/12. $9.95; $8.95 seniors; free for children under 1. Sun.-Fri. 9:30 am-5:30 pm; Sat. 9:30 am-8:30 pm.

Insectarium

8046 Frankford Ave.; 215-335-9500.

» READ MORE: www.insectarium.com

. Ongoing: Arachnid Alley, Cockroach Kitchen, Working Beehive & more. $7; free for children under 2. Mon.-Sat. 10 am-4 pm.

Kix & Giggles Children's Playground

9356 Old Bustleton Ave.; 215-677-4140.

» READ MORE: www.kixandgiggles.com

. Attractions include a wrap-around gym, a rock wall, soft-play section for babies & toddlers, an outside seating area & more. Mondays 10 am-3 pm are reserved for children with special needs & their families. See website for more details. $6.95. Tue.-Thu. 10 am-8 pm; Fri.-Sat. 10 am-9 pm; Sun. 10 am-8 pm.

The Please Touch Museum

210 N. 21st St.; 215-963-0667.

» READ MORE: www.pleasetouchmuseum.org

. Arts & crafts, stories, theater, interactive exhibits, hands-on activities & more. Junior Jazz Festival - Programming introducing kids to the world of jazz. Kid-friendly concerts, dress-up opportunities & more. Closes 2/29. Scat Cat's Junior Jazz Jamboree - Interactive show about an alley cat learning the history of jazz. Closes 2/29. $10.95; free for children under 1. Daily 9 am-4:30 pm.

*FREE*

Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse

Intersection of 33rd & Oxford Sts. in E. Fairmount Park; 215-765-4325.

» READ MORE: www.smithplayhouse.org

. Three-story "play mansion" for children 0-5 yrs. old & huge outdoor play park (closed from Nov.-Mar.) for children 0-10 featuring the Giant Wooden Slide, the giant net climber, the Apollo spinner climber, the Biggo Duo swing & much more. Tue.-Sun. 10 am-4 pm. Children must be accompanied by adult.

Barnes & Noble

240 U.S. Hwy. 22, Springfield; 973-376-8544.

» READ MORE: www.barnesandnoble.com

. Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant:

Gotta Keep on Tryin'

. 2/9 2 pm.

Barnes & Noble

210 Commerce Blvd, Fairless Hills; 215-269-0442.

» READ MORE: www.bn.com

. Bob Delaney:

Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob

. 2/9 2 pm.

Borders Books & Music

515 Rte. 73 South, Marlton; 856-985-5080.

» READ MORE: www.bordersstores.com

. Dr. Jo Anne White:

How to Love

. 2/9 1-3 pm.

Borders Books & Music

4010 Dearborn Circle, Mount Laurel; 856-866-9090.

» READ MORE: www.borders.com

. William Guarnere & Edward Heffron:

Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends

. 2/10 2 pm.

Borders Books & Music

2343 E. Lincoln Hwy., Langhorne; 215-943-6600.

» READ MORE: www.bordersstores.com

. Ellie Slott Fisher & Paul Halpern:

Dating for Dads

. 2/9 2 pm.

Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields

8000 St. Martin's Lane; 215-247-7466.

» READ MORE: www.stmartinec.org

. Jim Wallis:

The Great Awakening

. 2/13 7:30 pm.

Free Library of Philadelphia - Central Branch

1901 Vine St.; 215-686-5322.

» READ MORE: www.library.phila.gov

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Chip Kidd:

The Learners

. 2/14 7 pm. Jim Wallis:

The Great Awakening

. 2/14 noon.

Giovanni's Room

345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.

» READ MORE: www.giovannisroom.com

. Dwayne Vernon:

My Man, My Boyz

. 2/10 5:30 pm. Robert Leleux:

The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy

. 2/12 5:30 pm.

Keswick Theatre

291 Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650.

» READ MORE: www.keswicktheatre.com

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Pasquale Varallo:

Poems for a Beautiful Woman

. 2/9 7 pm.

Perkiomen Valley Library

290 Second St., Schwenksville; 610-287-8360.

» READ MORE: www.pvlibrary.net

. Marie Lamba:

What I Meant

. 2/9 1 pm.

Robin's Bookstore

108 S. 13th St.; 215-735-9600.

» READ MORE: www.robinsbookstore.com

. Murali Balaji:

The Professor & the Pupil

. 2/9 6 pm.

The University of Pennsylvania - Kelly Writer's House

3805 Locust Walk; 215-573-9748.

» READ MORE: www.writing.upenn.edu/wh

. Al Filreis:

Counter-Revolution of the Word

. 2/11 6 pm. Ben Ratliff:

Coltrane: The Story of a Sound

. 2/13 6 pm.

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

1635 River Rd., New Hope; 215-862-2924.

» READ MORE: www.bhwp.org

. Life Beneath Us: The Ecology of Soil. $10; $8 students. 2/10 2-3 pm.

Boy Scout Headquarters

One Scout Way, Doylestown; 215-348-7205. buckscountybsa.org. Stephen Redding: Something More - Redding discusses his book. $35. 2/9 2-4:30 pm.

Burlington County Library

306 Main St., Riverton; 856-829-2476.

» READ MORE: www.rivertonlibrary.burlco.org

. Black History Month Event: Margaret Morris - Local minister, motivational speaker & writer will give a talk at the library. 2/9 2 pm.

Camden County Library - Voorhees Regional Branch

203 Laurel Rd., Voorhees; 856-772-1636.

» READ MORE: www.camden.lib.nj.us/voorhees/default.htm

. When Fiction & Non-Fiction Collide - Discussion of controversies & ethics issues that may arise when writing about reality. Reservations required. 2/13 7-9 pm.

Cheltenham Art Center

439 Ashbourne Rd., Cheltenham; 215-379-4660.

» READ MORE: www.cheltenhamarts.org

. Music as Muse: Gallery Talk & Tea. 2/10 2 pm.

Curtis Hall

Church Rd. & Greenwood Ave., Wyncote; 215-884-7675. From Africa to America: Genealogy of a Local Black Family - Black History Month lecture. 2/14 8 pm.

Free Library of Philadelphia - Central Branch

1901 Vine St.; 215-686-5322.

» READ MORE: www.library.phila.gov

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Willie Brown: Basic Brown - My Life & Our Times - The first African-American mayor of San Francisco discusses his book. $14; $7 students. 2/12 8 pm. Hayden Herrera: Frida Kahlo & Diega Rivera - Sacred Monsters - Art historian discusses Kahlo & Rivera's relationship as revealed through their art. $14; $7 students. 2/13 8 pm.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

1300 Locust St.; 215-732-6200.

» READ MORE: www.hsp.org

. Researching Your African-American Family History - Lecture, Discussion & Reception. Renowned lecturer, author & genealogist Tony Burroughs will present this program. 2/13 5:30-8 pm.

Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences

120 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven; 609-494-1241.

» READ MORE: www.lbifoundation.org

. The Ecology of Long Beach Island - LBIF Marine Biology instructor Dr. Laura McLellan speaks. 2/9 1:30 pm.

Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library

680 Radcliffe St., Bristol; 215-788-7891.

» READ MORE: www.buckslib.org/libraries/Bristol/index.htm

. African-Americans in the Gettysburg Campaign - Featured speaker will be Dr. James M. Paradis. 2/13 7 pm.

Robin's Bookstore

108 S. 13th St.; 215-735-9600.

» READ MORE: www.robinsbookstore.com

. Eugene Brown: Thoughts From the Heart & Soul. 2/11 6 pm. Shulamith Caine & Barbara Bernhoff Cavanaugh - Poetry reading followed by an open reading. 2/12 6 pm.

Serenity Gifts & Coffee

140 South Easton Road, Glenside; 215-884-4342.

» READ MORE: www.serenitygiftsandcoffee.com

. Afternoon of Poetry. 2/9 1-3 pm.

The University of Pennsylvania - Kelly Writer's House

3805 Locust Walk; 215-573-9748.

» READ MORE: www.writing.upenn.edu/wh

. Ed Lin & Lisa Chen - Poetry & novel readings. 2/12 6 pm. 2008 Bernheimer Symposium: Writing Books - Lunctime program & discussion led by Johanna Drucker. 2/13 noon.

Upper Merion Township Building Park

175 W. Valley Forge Rd., King Of Prussia; African American Journalists: Telling the Civil Rights Story - Performers, speakers, storytellers, music, dance, craft vendors, food samplings & more. 610-265-4805. 2/9 10 am-3 pm.

Ursinus College

601 E. Main St., Collegeville; 610-409-3000.

» READ MORE: www.ursinus.edu

. Major Jackson: Poetry Reading - Major Jackson is the associate professor of English at the University of Vermont. 2/14 7 pm.

Widener University

One University Place, Chester; 888-943-3637.

» READ MORE: www.widener.edu

. Mahogany Cafe - Black History Month spoken word event. 2/8 7 pm. Thomas Sayers Ellis - Poetry reading. Part of the University's Black History Month programming. 2/13 4 pm.

William Trent House Museum

15 Market St., Trenton; 609-989-3027.

» READ MORE: www.williamtrenthouse.org

. The Black History Month Program: Influence of African Slaves on Our Cuisine - Program/demo focuses on possible African influences on the produce grown in the Trent garden & the manner in which it was prepared. 2/9 2 pm.