Feb 19: Baby Dinos Opening Celebration
Austin Children's Museum, 2nd & Colorado
(512) 472-2499, austinkids.org

Make a hatching baby dino or "Recyclesaurus." Learn about paleo tools and play the "Dino Guessing Game." It's all part of the Baby Dinos Grand Opening Celebration, Saturday, February 19 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hands-on activities and talks by area dino experts are scheduled every half hour throughout the day. Click here for a schedule of the day's events.

Baby Dinos is a really fabulous interactive exposition running through May 13 that lets the whole family learn more about what and how dinosaurs roamed the earth. You'll meet a family of life-like robotic dinosaurs and discover clues to their ancient life stories, or look deep into the eye (sockets!) of a full size casting of a T-rex skull. You and your kids will spend hours exploring the big guys and more.

Speaking of hours of fun, registrations for Dinosaur Mania Spring Break Camp (March 13-18) are being accepted now for ages 4-6.

And while you're at the Museum, check out the new permanent exhibit dedicated to the dairy cow -- aptly named -- Missy Moo Moo.

Feb: Brit Noir at the Alamo
Alamo Drafthouse, 409 Colorado
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

This film is generally credited with creating what's known as British film noir. The Third Man, starring Orson Welles and Joseph Cotton, tops the British Film Institute's "BFI 100," a list of "the best British films ever." Co-sponsored by the Austin Film Society, this series is presented to complement the Ransom Center's exhibition "Writing Among the Ruins: Graham Green and Evelyn Waugh. For tickets to the 7:00 p.m. showing of this classic, go to originaldrafthouse.com.

Feb 18: Peru Negro
Hogg Auditorium, 24th & Whitis
(512) 477-6060, utpac.org

It's a carnival of dance, music and comedy that celebrates Peru's African legacy. The legendary troupe, Peru Negro, performs music orginated in the slave trade of colonial Peru and passed down through generations. Experience these dazzling dances, colorful costumes and electrifying rhythms! Tickets are $20 and $32.

Feb 18: Pilobolus Dance Theatre
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

The signature moves of Pilobolus will quite literally amaze you with entangling of bodies. These dancer/acrobat/magicians form living sculptures, employing the laws of physics to come up with human spectacles that defy gravity. If you like Cirque du Soleil or last year's Momix, this is your event! (May contain nudity, so this show is not appropriate for children.) Tickets are $31-$52.5 and available at startickets.com or by calling (512) 469-SHOW.

Feb. 18-27: Encuentros: Reflections of the Heart
Santa Cruz Center for Culture, 1805 E. 7th
(512) 478-9717, aztlandance.com

Warming everyone's heart for the Valentine season, the Aztlan Dance Company celebrates its 30th anniversary of cultural programming with an evening length showcase performance of Encuentros that features the Aztlan dancer's exploration of love and its many definitions. The show runs for two weekends; general admission tickets are a mere $12.

Feb. 20: Maria Full of Grace
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

You won't soon forget this wrenching performance. Catalina Sandino Moreno earned an Academy Award nomination playing a 17-year old girl so desperate to escape the poverty and boredom of her life in Colombia that she accepts an offer to serve as a "drug mule." The link above takes you straight to showtimes.

Still Running...

To 2/20: Kinsey, Paramount Theatre, austintheatrealliance.org
To 3/5: Bugs 3-D: A Rainforest Adventure, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com
To 3/6: Blown Sideways Through Life, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To 4/3: AIDA, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To Spring: The Young Black Stallion, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com
Ongoing: Texas the Big Picture, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com

Feb 17: Thursday Noontime Concert
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street
(512) 472-2445, centralpresbyterian.org

Shelly Chen introduces you to Chinese folk music.

Feb 17: Pacifica Quartet
Bates Recital Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 477-6060, utpac.org

The UT Performing Arts Center presents Pacifica Quartet, one of today's most dynamic and exciting string quartets. The New York Times raves the quartet is "brilliant" and "astounding!"

Feb 18: Strings Attached with Libby Kilpatrick
St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 E. 7th
(512) 477-9837, stringsattached.org

Share an evening with the refreshingly original singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist, Libby Kilpatrick, whose sailing voice and award-winning lyrics have earned her a huge following. She will be performing two shows with Will Taylor's Strings Attached Series at 7:30 and 10:00 p.m. Tickets, ranging from $15-35, are available on the web at stringsattached.org or the St. David's Bookshop.

Feb 19: Bruce Hornsby
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austinwinternights.com

The final performance of Austin Winter Nights features, three-time Grammy winner, Bruce Hornsby. This virtuoso borrows from jazz, pop, classical, bluegrass, rock and vaudeville to create his elegant, lyrical music. Tickets range from $37 to 62 and may be purchased at GetTix.net or by calling 1-866-443-8849.

Feb 17 (-Mar 26): Pocket Full of Posy
d berman gallery, 1701 Guadalupe
(512) 477-8877, dbermangallery.com

Opening Reception of d berman's showcase of Susan Whyne paintings happens February 17 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Pocket Full of Posy (All Fall Down) will be on display through March 26.

Feb 19 (-June 4): Maps Family Program
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com

Take an interactive virtual tour of the mapping and topography of Texas during the Grand Opening of Landmark Maps of Texas. Bureau of Economic Geology staff will guide you through Texas from deep inside the earth in 3-D views. In a fun, hands-on activity, locate your favorite Austin places on the map. The ongoing exhibit, on display through June 4, reveals the evolution of the shape of Texas as traced through 500 years of mapmaking, from the sixteenth century to the present day. You'll see more than 70 historic maps, several of which have never before been on display, as well as modern maps created with cutting-edge technology like holography and satellite imaging. Utterly fascinating! The exhibit is free with Museum admission - $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors/military and $3 for youth ages 5-18.

Feb 19 (-Mar 26): Guatemala City Dump
Women & Their Work, 1710 Lavaca
(512) 477-1064, womenandtheirwork.com

The Opening Reception for Guatemala City Dump: Life on the Rim features Dallas photographer Misty Keasler whose work depicts emotionally charged subjects with lyrical subtlety. The exhibit will be on display at Women & Their Work through March 26.

Still on display Downtown...

To 2/20: Andy Goldsworthy, Natural Installations, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 2/21: Jerry Garcia: A Visual Journey, Art on 5th, arton5th.com
To 2/24: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Remembered, Scarbrough Building, 101 W. Sixth Street
To 2/26: For the Love of Art, f8 Fine Art Gallery, f8fineart.com
To 2/27: Life Drawings, Arthouse at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
To 2/28: Paint the Town Red, Artworks, artworksaustin.com/
To 3/10: Hiroshi Watanabe: Faces and Places, Oswald Gallery, oswaldgallery.com
To 3/20: Writing Among the Ruins, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 3/27: Hollywood Portraiture, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 3/27: Fashion/Celebrity Photography, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 4/8: Mexico in Excellence: 21st Century, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 5/21: European Paintings: Open Storage, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 5/21: Contemporary Art from Chile, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 5/29: Bats in My World, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 8/28: Signs of the Times: Life in the Swingin' Sixties, LBJ Library & Museum, lbjlib.utexas.edu

Feb 19: Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square Park, 5th & Guadalupe
(512) 236-0074, austinfarmersmarket.org

When you shop at the Austin Farmers' Market you get fresh, delicious produce from the growers themselves. There are Hill country flowers, bath/beauty products, plentiful jelly, salsa, honey and hand-made crafts. Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visit austinfarmersmarket.org for more details about this week's fun.

Feb 19: 2005 Rodeo Austin Gala
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
(512) 919-3000, staroftexas.org

The Rodeo Austin Gala will be quite the party with an unlimited bar, 4-course meal, live entertainment and plenty of festivities. Three-time Female CMA Vocalist of the Year and Grammy award-winning artist Martina McBride, headlines the event. Tickets are $150 and going fast - call the STFR office at (512) 919-3000 for reservations. And don't forget to mark your calendar for this year's Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo, March 12-26. Go to staroftexas.org for your advance tickets.

Feb 23: Security & Maintenance Committee
8:30 a.m.
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
Chair: John Nyfeler; DAA Contact: Bill Brice
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

Click here to view the entire Downtown Calendar of Events.