The Olmsted Linear Park Alliance’s fifth annual Party for the Parks on Ponce will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Fernbank Natural History Museum.The gala’s theme, “Dream in Green,” captures the vision of a nearly complete, multi-year restoration of the historic park located on Ponce de Leon Avenue. According to this year’s co-chairs, Julie Ralston and Stephanie James, the “Dream in Green” event will feature live and silent auctions, offering beach and mountain getaways, fine artwork, rare wines, roundtrip airline tickets, and more. The evening includes live music, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and an IMAX movie screening. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1902, the linear park is reminiscent of other historical treasures by the famed architect, including New York’s Central Park and Asheville’s Biltmore Gardens. Tickets are available by calling (404) 377-5361 or visit www.atlantaolmstedpark.org.

The Fragile Kids Foundation will host Dancing for Our Stars on Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery. Join the fun and watch as local celebrities dance the night away in a friendly competition designed to benefit medically fragile children across the state of Georgia. Celebrities include Christine Pullara, host of Atlanta & Community on 11Alive; Derek Rackley, eight year NFL veteran and television sports analyst; Jerry Froelich, one of Atlanta’s top criminal and civil trial attorneys; and Laura Stone, Miss Atlanta 2010. Jovita Moore, WSB-TV anchor will serve as a celebrity judge. Tickets to the event are $100 each and include a gourmet dinner, drinks and dancing. All proceeds will benefit children living with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, severe genetic and traumatic disorders, Downs Syndrome and other conditions. For tickets, (770) 951-6115 or www.fragilekids.org.

Partnership Against Domestic Violence is hosting its annual Hearts with Hope gala on Staruday, Feb. 20, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead, 3315 Peachtree Road.The gala, which also marks PADV’s 35th anniversary, will feature a gourmet dinner, drinks, live and silent auctions and entertainment. Tickets for the black-tie-option event are $250 per person. Call (404) 870-9616 or www.padv.org for information.

The 23rd annual Southeastern Flower Show will be held Feb. 4-6 at Cobb Galleria Centre. There will be ideas for landscape design, workshops, children’s events, entertainment and a marketplace. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visit www.flowershow.org or www.sehort.org for tickets and further information.

The Savannah College of Art and Design and the Georgia Institute of Technology Digital Media Program will host the first Art History of Games conference Feb. 4-6. The three-day public symposium will bring together experts in game studies, art history and related areas of cultural studies to investigate games as an art form. The conference will be held at the Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Auditorium in midtown Atlanta, courtesy of the High Museum of Art. To see a complete list of featured participants and register to attend, visit www.arthistoryofgames.com or call (404) 253-2759 for more information.

Beginning Saturday, Feb. 20, you can look forward to seeing Girl Scout Cookie Booths at your local grocery and retail stores and inside your local Simon Malls during the month of March. All the favorites like Thin Mints and Tagalongs are back along with a new cookie, Thank U Berry Munch – a cripsy rice cookie with real cranberries. Boxes of cookies sell for $3.50 each and support service programs for the community. To find a cookie booth near you, visit www.gsgatl.com.

Trinity School’s Spotlight on Art will hold its 29th annual Artists Market Feb. 15-20. More than 9,000 pieces of fine and decorative arts, crafts, jewelry, and garden decorations from more than 350 established and emerging artists will be on sale. The six-day event is a magnet for art aficionados and casual collectors alike because of the wide selection of art for sale and the many different price points. The event is open to the public; admission and parking are free. at the Artists Market. Proceeds from Spotlight on Art 2010 will fund Trinity School student financial aid and continuing education opportunities for Trinity teachers. A donation will also be made to Families First, a non-profit organization chosen by Trinity’s sixth grade students as part of their experiential introduction to philanthropy. More information is available at www.SpotlightOnArt.com.

Book Prize-wining novelist Margaret Atwood will speak at Savannah College of Art and Design’s Ivy Hall Writers Series Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6:30-8 p.m. The series showcases authors of national and international acclaim by providing a forum in which the writers present and discuss their work.  Atwood’s novels include The Handmaid’s Tale, Cat’s Eye, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin and, most recently, The Year of the Flood. The events are free and open to the public at Ivy Hall, 1600 Peachtree St. www.artofrestoration.org.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Decatur will host its tenth annual English Afternoon Tea on Sunday, Feb. 14, in the parish hall with seatings at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tea, scones, sandwiches and sweets will be served. Tickets are $15 and the tea proceeds benefit community outreach programs which in the past have included Hagar House, Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry, Our House and Emmaus House.  Holy Trinity is located at 515 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur. For additional information, reservations and tickets, call (404) 377-2622.

The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation will host Cupid at the Castle Sunday, Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Rhodes Hall. Couples will be able to say “I do” during 15-minute wedding ceremonies for a fraction of the cost this Valentine’s Day. Couples can opt to exchange vows under the magnificent granite arches of the front porch overlooking Peachtree Street, or in the gorgeous Victorian-style Reception Hall. Weddings, commitment ceremonies and vow renewals are all available. Chaplain O’Keefe-West, an Irish wedding minister, will perform the ceremonies. Ron Jones Photography will be on hand to capture the moments of your most memorable day. Mini receptions will be held in the ornate parlor. The bakery at the Ponce de Leon Whole Foods Market will provide a special treat for each couple to share as they toast their love and prosperity. Wedding ceremony couples are asked to bring a valid marriage license. A maximum of 20 guests per ceremony is allowed. The cost per ceremony is a $200 donation, with all proceeds to benefit the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Call (404) 885-7812 to reserve your special time. Rhodes Hall is located at 1516 Peachtree St.

Collin Kelley

Collin Kelley has been the editor of Atlanta Intown for two decades and has been a journalist and freelance writer for 35 years. He’s also an award-winning poet and novelist.