CORK Wine Festival, April 3 and 5, Festival Plaza

|  SPECIAL EVENTS  |

MARCH 8: SOUTH HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY MAGNET SOUTHERN SOIREE, The event will include a live and silent auction, children’s art gallery, cash bar and live music by Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs. $25 individual tickets, $100 patron tickets (includes two admission tickets and two drink tickets), $150 corporate sponsorships. 7 p.m. Shreveport Yacht Club. Call 865-5119. 

MARCH 8: TIE’N UP BUSINESS 5K/10K KIDS’ FUN RUN, presented by the Bossier Chamber of Commerce. Registration fee: $25. 8 a.m. Race begins and ends at Christus Schumpert Louisiana Athletic Club. 

MARCH 15: KREWE OF ELDERS END OF MARDI GRAS PARTY, featuring cash bar, food for purchase, entertainment by A.J. Cascio and the Two Tone Blues Band. $6, open to public and members of all krewes. 6-10 p.m. Call 752- 9175, 631-8865 or 965-0856.

MARCH 15: FIFTH ANNUAL ARTINI PARTY, featuring live music, visual art, signature martinis and socializing served with a twist, along with food from 15 area restaurants and music from Super Water Symphony. $55 in advance and $65 at the door. 7 p.m. Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, Bossier City. Call 741-8310. 

MARCH 15: KIWANIS CLUB’S ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST, featuring all the pancakes, sausage, coffee, etc. you care to eat while helping the Kiwanis Club of Shreveport fund Key Clubs and Builders Clubs in area high schools and middle schools; live entertainment will also be provided. Also scheduled is the Kiwanis Pancake 5K Run at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast is $5 in advance, $6 at the door. 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. RiverView Hall, Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport. Call 458-5130. 

MARCH 15: SANDYSDANCE CENTER DROP IN AND DANCE PARTY, free dance lesson at 7 p.m.; dancing to the music of SandysDance Party, 7:30-10:30 p.m. SandysDance Center, 111 Dalton St., Suite 400, Shreveport. Call 465-4534. 

MARCH 18 & 19: 2014 ANNUAL MEETING FOR SHREVEPORT FARMERS’ MARKET VENDORS, Persons wishing to participate as a vendor in the Shreveport Farmers’ Market are urged to attend one of the following meetings: 9-10:30 a.m. March 18 or 6-7:30 p.m. March 19. RiverView Hall, 600 Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport. Call 455-5788. 

MARCH 22: SEVENTH ANNUAL ASEANA SPRING FESTIVAL: CHINESE FESTIVAL “YEAR OF THE HORSE,” The day will feature authentic Asian cuisine, Lion dance, music and band, Asian costumes, martial arts, Tai Chi musical instruments and more. Free. Noon to 5 p.m. ASEANA Asian Gardens, 800 Texas Ave., downtown Shreveport. Call 797- 4258 or 401-8078. 

MARCH 23: GALA OF THE ROYAL HORSES, The Royal Horses of Europe are some of the most celebrated in history, and this performance celebrates the tradition, athleticism and grace of these revered creatures. $27-$57. 3 p.m. CenturyLink Center, 2000 CenturyLink Drive, Bossier City. Call 1-800-745-3000. 

MARCH 25: MASTER GARDENER HORTICULTURE SERIES, Presented by the Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners, guest speaker Dr. Allen Owings with the LSU Ag Center will speak on “The Louisiana Super Plant Program,” highlighting the tough and beautiful plants that perform well in Louisiana landscapes. Free. Louisiana State Exhibit Museum, 3015 Greenwood Road, Shreveport. Call 698-0010. 

MARCH 29: CHAMPIONSHIP BULL RIDING, Eldorado Casino Resort presents the Tuff Hedeman Louisiana Shootout. $15-$45; children under 12, $7. 8 p.m. CenturyLink Center, 2000 CenturyLink Drive, Bossier City. Call 1-800-745- 3000. 

MARCH 29: BROADWAY COMES SOUTH, a gala fund-raiser to raise awareness of and funds for the Clista Calhoun Center and the Mansfield Female College. There will be historians in each room to inform guests of the history of the facility and Mansfield itself. Cocktails and entertainment by pianist Rocky Mattox begin at 6 p.m. The event also includes a silent and live auction with a catered dinner to be served. Tickets: $50, tables of eight $500. 6 p.m. 101 Monroe St., Mansfield. Cocktail attire or period attire. Call Carolyn Huckabay at 347-9560 or Van Reech at 540-7500. 

APRIL 3 & 5: CORK WINE FESTIVAL, Shreveport- Bossier’s premier wine-tasting event returns as a fundraiser for the Red River Arts Festival. It begins with the Premier Wine Dinner at Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport, 6 p.m., $150. The Riedel Glassware Seminar, 12:30 p.m. April 5, will show attendees how the proper glass can profoundly affect a wine’s bouquet and flavor, $$50, RiverView Hall. The headline event will feature more than 80 wines of various varietals for sampling, along with dishes from several of Shreveport- Bossier’s finest restaurants, $85 individual tickets, $1,350 for a reserved table for 10, Festival Plaza, downtown Shreveport. 

APRIL 4-6: PATTERSON CYPRESS SAWMILL FESTIVAL, a family festival featuring professional lumberjack shows, chainsaw carving, a cypress sawmill display, golf, fishing and softball tournaments, a passe’ partout (two-person saw) contest, arts and crafts, classic car and truck show, a street fair with rides and games, a fun walk, and food and drink booths. Admission: $5 per car on Friday, $10 per car on Saturday, $20 for weekend pass. Kemper Williams Park, Patterson, La. Call the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau at 985-395-4905, 800-256-2931 or visit www.cajuncoast.com/cypresssawmill. 

SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH: PROFESSIONAL CIVIL LAW NOTARIES ASSOCIATION, Learn about the association and various acts and documents a notary can prepare. Free. Sign-in at 6 p.m., meeting at 6:30 p.m. Southern Hills Business Association Conference Center, 9701 Baird Road, Shreveport. Call 797-4396. 

FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH: SHREVEPORT SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON, This group promotes boating fun, safety and education and meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Shreveport Yacht Club, 2905 Municipal Pier Road, Shreveport. Call 426-9484. 

SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS THROUGH MARCH 14: THEATRE PERSPECTIVES AND STAGE COMBAT, Two series of workshops are being offered. First, The Company Repertory Theatre will produce a series of workshops offering various approaches to acting, called “Theatre Perspectives,” with area performers offering experiences in approaches to Shakespeare, character development, auditioning, and stage movement. The second workshop, in Stage Combat, will be offered by experienced and qualified instructors from Louisiana Tech University. Acting workshops: $30 per weekend, or $100 for all four (not including Combat Workshop weekend), 10-a.m. Combat workshop: $50, March 1-2 noon to 4 p.m. East Bank Theatre, 630 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City. Call 741-8310. 

EVERY SATURDAY: YOGIE AND FRIENDS EXOTIC CAT SANCTUARY, Louisiana’s only rescue for abused, neglected and unwanted big, exotic cats is open every Saturday from noon-5 p.m. weather permitting until November. Yogie and Friends, 128 Fob Lane, Frierson. Call 795-0455. 

EVERY SATURDAY: CHESS GAMES, Test your skills at this classic board game every Saturday at noon. Free. Downtown YMCA, 401 McNeill St., Shreveport. Call Ken Wyzywany at 564-1372 or Matt Alexander at 655-2846. 

FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH: HIGHLAND OPEN STUDIO TOUR, Artist workshops and galleries are open for your perusal with art to make and buy. Free. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours start at 436 Topeka St. Visit http://www.restorehighland.com/. 

ONGOING: ABSOLUTE BEGINNER LINE DANCE CLASS, Learn popular line dances and burn calories. Casual dress. $8 per person. 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Monday. SandysDance Center, 111 Dalton St., Suite 400, Shreveport. Call 465-4534 or visit www.sandysdance.com. 

ONGOING: YOGA CLASSES, in the style of Krishnamacarya; all levels welcome. Class fee is by donation. Mondays and Tuesdays, 5:45-6:45 p.m. All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 9449 Ellerbe Road. Call 210-7203. 

ONGOING: DETOUR DOWNTOWN RUN/WALK/ BIKE/CRAWL CLUB, Each week, Detour members will meet at Overtime Sports Bar and then run/walk/bike as fast/ far as one would like down Clyde Fant Parkway then head back to Overtime Sports Bar for free non-alcoholic beverages and great drink and food specials. Detour Downtown provides an opportunity to stay active, connect with friends, network and meet new people. 6 p.m. Wednesdays. 200 Travis St., Shreveport. Call 673-0048 or visit http://www.shreveporthappyhour.com/detour/. 

ONGOING: SHREVEPORT GAME NIGHT, Every Wednesday, a small group gathers to play card and board games. Free. 7 p.m. Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas St., Shreveport. Visit www.ShreveportGameNight.org.