Published Feb. 22, 2007

Celebrate the Chinese 'Year of the Pig'

Ring in the New Year for a second time at the fourth annual Chinese New Year Celebration at Port Discovery.

Celebrate the "Year of the Pig" from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 24.

Special performances and activities include:

• Award-winning storyteller Linda Fang recants Tales from Ancient China. The stories have been collected from Chinese folk tales, historical anecdotes, Chinese opera and oral traditions and incorporate ancient Chinese costumes, props, songs and folk music into the performances. 1, 1:30 and 2 p.m.
• Tai Yim Kung Fu School's Chinese Lion Dancers: Watch two amazing acrobatic performances of the traditional Chinese Lion Dance. 1 and 1:30 p.m.
• Pet Faces in the Oasis: Meet Reika the Pot Bellied Pig in an interactive storytime.
• Dragon mask-making, Chinese Zodiac face painting and Year of the Pig keychain activity, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Port Discovery is at 35 Market Place in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Tickets are $10.75 for ages 2 and up. See the Web site to find out about a $5 parking deal on weekends.

For more info, call 410-727-8120 or visit www.portdiscovery.org.

Help Diego with his jaguar rescue

Join Diego, Nick Jr.'s action adventure hero, as he sets out in his brand new live show, "Go Diego Go Live! The Great Jaguar Rescue," opening Feb. 28 at the Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center in Baltimore.

It's the biggest party of the year, the Animal Carnivale, but things can't get started until the Chief of Carnivale makes a special sound. This year's chief is Baby Jaguar, who will use his special growl to start the party. But the Bobo brothers show up with a magic bottle that captures Baby Jaguar's growl. Without his growl, Baby Jaguar can't start the Carnivale. Diego and Baby Jaguar need the help of everyone in the audience to get to the Great Pyramid and get his growl back from the Bobo brothers.

Diego and Baby Jaguar head out on an adventure-packed quest to get Baby Jaguar's growl back. Along the way they rescue animals in the rainforest, dance through a coconut-tree forest, traverse a raging river with a giant waterfall, and are helped along by the special appearance of Diego's cousin, Dora.

In an exciting climatic scene, Baby Jaguar and Diego find the Bobos inside the pyramid and - with the help of the audience - get Baby Jaguar's growl back. As the sun sets on the exciting day in the rainforest, all the animals of the world meet at the Animal Carnivale and their Chief, Baby Jaguar, starts the big finale with his growl.

This Broadway-level production is interactive, with every child in the audience getting a Jaguar mask, which then is used to help rescue animals during the show. Audience members sing, do the cha-cha, travel down a rainforest river, and learn how everyone is special in their own way.

The show includes familiar songs from the TV show, plus 12 original new songs.

• WHAT: Go Diego Go Live!
• WHERE: Hippodrome Theatre, France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore
• WHEN: 7 p.m. Feb. 28; 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 1; 7 p.m. March 2; 11 a.m. and 2 and 5 p.m. March 3; and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 4.
• TICKETS: $40 to $65, plus service charges.
• WHERE BUY: By phone at 410-547-SEAT; online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; at Hippodrome Box Office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
• INFO: 410-837-7400 or www.france-merrickpac.com.

Monster Jam

Monster Jam bursts into 1st Mariner Arena for four shows. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24; and 2 p.m. Feb. 25.

Tickets are $20 and $25; $5 for children ages 2 to 12. To order, call 410-547-SEAT or visit www.ticketmaster.com. 1st Mariner Arena is at 201 W. Baltimore St. For more information, visit www.1stmarinerarena.com.

Get jazzed

Find your rhythm at All Jazzed Up! African-American Festival, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.

Art and music will be in harmony while you explore jazz, an art form with strong roots in African-American culture. Create instruments and jazz-inspired art, and go on a musical hunt through the museum. Visit the Baltimore Jazz Alliance Petting Zoo, lend your ear to performers such as Kevin Gift and Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, and dance with Olu Yemisi and Company dancers.

• Art activities, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Instrument petting zoo, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Kevin Gift performance, 11:30 a.m.
• Sparky and Rhonda Rucker performance, 1 p.m.
• Olu Yemisi & Company Dancers, 2 p.m.
• Winston Middle School Jazz Ensemble, 3 p.m.

The Walters is at 600 N. Charles St. Admission is free.

For information, call 410-547-9000 or visit www.thewalters.org.

SERC program

"B is for Bay" is offered at 9 a.m. Feb. 28 at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater.

"B is for Beaver" is the featured letter of the alphabet, with activities about different creatures, ecosystems, and plants of the Chesapeake Bay.

There will be a story, game and a craft. For ages 3 to 6 with an adult. Cost is $4 per child; no charge for accompanying adult. In the Reed Center. There is a limit of 15 students, so preregistration is required; call 443-482-2300.

For more information, visit www.serc.si.edu.

Dr. Seuss birthday

Celebrate Dr. Seuss' 103rd birthday with activities at local branches of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. For ages 2 to 12.

• Brooklyn Park Branch - 3:30 p.m. March 1. It's Seuss' birthday. Celebrate it with a book. Celebrate it with a box. Celebrate it in your socks. 1 East 11th Ave. 410-222-6260.
• Crofton Branch - 7 p.m. March 1. Everything Seussical from making a hat worthy of Bartholomew Cubbins to marching in the "Spantingler Seuss Band." Stories, crafts and a parade. 1681 Riedel Road. 410-222-7915.
• West County Branch - Feb. 26 through March 2, during branch hours. Special activities and displays; share your favorite Dr. Seuss book. 1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton. 410-222-6277.

For more information, visit www.aacpl.net.