SOCIAL CALENDAR

ANNUAL GROUNDHOG DAY CENSUS
FEB 2 Poor People's Pub, 33 Ocean Ave., Block Island, R.I. 401-466-2474. If on the island stop in and be counted. →

MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK FALL
feb 9-16 Lincoln Center, New York. Biannual fashion shows unveiling the latest looks of top designers worldwide.

5TH ANNUAL MARDI GRAS BALL
FEB 11 6:30 p.m., $78 pp. Linden Place Ballroom, 500 Hope St., Bristol, R.I. Rockin' Soul Horns Band, catered food, cash bar, auctions. RSVP by Jan. 31.→

SOCO AFTERHOURS
feb 16 6-9 p.m. Free. Ocean Explorium, 174 Union St., New Bedford, Mass. 508-994-5400. Catering by Russell Morin Fine Catering and entertainment.

PPAC ANNUAL GALA
feb 18 7:30 p.m., $250. Prime seating to see Mary Poppins plus exclusive post-show party. Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. 401-421-2997. Proceeds support the theater's ongoing restoration efforts.→

GOOD THINGS ARE WORTH PRESERVING
FEB 24 6:30 p.m. cocktails, 8 p.m. dinner, $1,000 pp, limited availability. Roughwood, 400 Heath St., Chestnut Hill, Mass. 617-994-5934. A dinner to benefit Historic New England. Guest of honor Arie L. Kopelman, vice chairman of Chanel, Inc. and chairman of the prestigious Winter Antiques Show in New York. →

SPECIAL EVENTS

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY
feb 3 Heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined.→

"TAKE THIS CHILD TO HEART" FUNDRAISER
feb 4 7 p.m. to midnight, $40. Country Club of New Bedford, 585 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth, Mass. 508- 994-9625x21. Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Valerie Stephens and Friends, DJ Lady K. To benefit the Foster Children and Teen Enrichment Fund. →

HAVE A HEART COCKTAIL PARTY AND AUCTION
feb 10 5:30-8:30 p.m., $85 Preview Party, $65 Main Event. Hotel Viking, 1 Bellevue Ave., Newport, R.I. 401- 846-0592. A benefit for homeless animals.→

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON
FEB 10 12-1:30 p.m., $TBA. Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin St., Providence. 401-330-1707. Speaker Joy Bauer, author and resident nutrition expert for NBC's Today Show.→

CHILL OUT & CHUCKLE
FEB 118 p.m., $15. Rachel's Lakeside, 950 State Rd. Dartmouth, Mass. 508-997-6536. A Junior Achievement of Southern Mass. comedy fund-raiser. Featuring comedians from Nick's Comedy Stop.→

NEW ENGLAND BOAT SHOW
feb 11-19 Adults $14. Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, 415 Summer St., Boston. Power, sail, education center, remote control sailing pond. 617-472-1442.→

VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER
feb 14 6-8 p.m., $49.95 pp. Reservations required. Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, Conn. 860-572-5969. Romantic candlelight, soft music, prix fixe menu, and a complimentary bottle of wine.→

THE RHODE ISLAND SPRING FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW
feb 23-26 Preview Party 6-9 p.m., $75. Show $18 adult (at the door), $16 advance. Rhode Island Convention Center, One Sabin St., Providence. 401-942-6325→