Black & White Ball
Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 15 Arlington St., Boston. 617-536-9640. 2/26: 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $75 advance, $85 at door. Silent auction, complimentary glass of champagne, music by the Ritz Roof Orchestra. Proceeds to the Junior League of Boston.

Tufts University Alumnae Hall,
Cohen Auditorium, Talbot Avenue, Medford campus. 617-627-3564. 4 p.m. Free. Tufts Orchestra Children's concert. Britten's A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Grieg's Incidental Music to Peer Gy nt. Chapel Series Goddard Chapel. via Tower door. 617-627-3427. Thurs. 12:30 p.m. 2/24: Ariel Wind Ensemble. 3/2: Clare Nielsen, flute; Elizabeth Skavish, piano.

Jazz Tap Jam
Arlington Center for the Arts, 41 Foster St., Arlington. 781-863-5098. 2/27: 6 p.m. beginners' jam for new improvisers; 7 p.m. circle jam, solo improvisers. Suggested donation $5. Jamie Larowitz Sherman, host; live music.

What Good Is Song? The Route to Roots
Marran Theater at Lesley College, 29 Everett St., Cambridge. 617-349-8579. 2/26: 8 p.m. Free. One-man show starring Lawrence Watson, singer, activist, and professor, Liberal Arts Dept. at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley College.

At Tufts University
Medford. 617-627-3564. All programs free. 2/24: 8 p.m., African grooves and Indian ragas by Natraj in Goddard Chapel. 2/25: 8 p.m., Take Part Take Pride, musical celebration features performances by Essence, Kiniwe, and the Third Day Gospel Choir in Cohen Auditorium, Talbot Avenue.

World Music at Tufts University
Talbot Avenue, Medford. 617-627-3564. Concerts at 8 p.m., free. Goddard Chapel on the Green, 2/24: Natraj with special guests African drummer Abubakari Lunna, percussionist David Locke; African, Indian, jazz. Cohen Auditorium, 2/25: Take Part Take Pride in honor of Black History Month with Essence, Kiniwe, Third Day Gospel Choir.

Wolfe-Tones
Irish-American Club, 177 West St., Malden. 781-324-5130. 2/27: 6 p.m., $30, $25 advance. Sponsored by Friends of Irish Freedom to benefit Irish charities.

Lawrence Watson presents What Good is a Song? The Route to Roots
Lesley College, Marran Theater, 29 Everett St., Cambridge. 617-349-8579, 617-349-8574. 2/26: 8 p.m., free. Celebration of African-American musical expression. With Workforce 2000.

Songstreet Winter Folk Festival
Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. 617-628-3390, 617-931-2000. 3/4: 7 p.m., $16-$18. Featuring Les Sampou, Kevin So, Lori McKenna, Cosy Sheridan, Christopher Williams, Erin McKeown, Vinal Ave. String Band.

Boogie, Balfa Toujours & Henry Butler Mardi Gras Party,
Featuring Eddie Pennington, Johnny Bellar, Wayne Henderson, John Cephas, & Phil Wiggins. The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, N.H. 603-436-2400. 3/23: 8 p.m., $22-$26, under 21, $16. Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. 617-876-4275, 617-931-2787. 3/24: 8 p.m., $20-$25. Presented by World Music.

Barbaros Erkose Ensemble _ Gypsy Music of Turkey
Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. 617-876-4275, 617-931-2787. 3/18: 8 p.m., $20. Presented by World Music.

An Evening with Joan Baez introducing Eliza Carthy Somerville Theatre,
55 Davis Square. 617-931-2000. 3/27, 3/28: 8 p.m., $27.50. Calvin Theatre & Performing Arts Center, 19 King St., Northampton. 413-586-8686, 800-THE-TICK. 3/31: 8 p.m., $22.50-$32.50.

Melrose Art Festival
590 Main St., Melrose. 781-665-5840. 2/27: noon-5 p.m. Free. 36 region artist exhibiting paintings, photography, pastels, sculpture. Live music by the Joe Mulholland Jazz Quartet.

Decorative Arts and Antiques Show
Castle at the Park Plaza Hotel, 64 Arlington St., Boston. 877-346-KIDS. 2/25-2/26: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 2/27: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10. Antiques, fine and folk art, paintings, collectibles, etc. Proceeds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.

Tufts University Art Gallery
Aidekman Arts Center, Medford. 617-627-3518. Wed.-Sat. noon-8 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m. Through 4/2: Millennium Messages, work by 27 artists, architects, and designers commemorating the millennium with original time capsules. Through 2/27: Selected Works, juried work by undergraduates in the Tufts University/School of the Museum of Fine Arts program.

Winchester Public Library
80 Washington St., Winchester. 781-721-7171. Mon.-Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Through 2/29: Pastel still lifes by Charles J. McCarthy.SCHOOLS & COLLEGES

Malden Public Library
36 Salem St., Malden. 617-324-0218. Wed.-Thurs. 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Through 3/2: The Other Side of the Wall, work by John A. Webster.

N.W. Barrett Gallery
53 Market St., Portsmouth, N.H. 603-431-4262. Mon.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m. Ongoing: paintings by Donald Everett Josephson. nu

Brickbottom Artists Gallery
1 Fitchburg St., Somerville. 617-776-3410. Thurs. 2-7 p.m., Fri.-Sun. noon-5 p.m. Through 2/27: Eye 4 Nature: Art of the Landscape, Kay Canavino, Rose Schechet Miller, Diane Novetsky, Martha Stone.

Arlington Center for the Arts
Gibbs Gallery, 41 Foster St., Arlington. 781-648-6220. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Through 3/24: Females You Can Only Imagine, Joan Baldwin, Mary Craig McLane.

Dom V and the Swing Out Big Band
Winchester Town Hall, 71 Mt. Vernon St. 617-520-3353. 3/4: 8:30 p.m., $10. Free swing dance lesson, 7:30 p.m.

Calvin Theater & Performing Arts Center,
20 Center St., Northampton. 413-586-8686, 800-THE-TICK. 3/4: 8 p.m., $20-$32.50. Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. 617-931-2000, 617-625-5700. 3/5: 7 p.m., $28-$35.

Matthias Lupri Quartet
Gallery Bershad, 99 Dover St., Somerville. 617-629-9400. 3/9: 7 p.m., free. Jazz vibraphone.

Jazz Tap Jam
Arlington Center for the Arts, 41 Foster St., Arlington. 781-863-5098. 2/27: 6 p.m, Beginners' Jam; 7 p.m., Circle Jam/Solo Improvisors, $5 suggested donation. Hosted by Jamie Larowitz Sherman with Mark Kross, piano, and Dave Whitney, trumpet.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel
15 Arlington St. 617-536-5700. No cover. Proper dress.Ritz Bar: Mon.-Sat. 6-11:30 p.m., pianist John Domurad.Ritz Lounge: Fri.-Sat. 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., Ron Zack Trio.

Arthur Griffin Center for Photographic Art
67 Shore Rd., Winchester. 781-729-1158. Tues.-Sun. noon-4 p.m. $3, seniors $2, students free. Through 4/30: Two Generations of Westons: Edward, Cole, and Brett, photographs.

Women Reading
Sanctuary, Arlington Street Church, 351 Boylston St., Boston. 617-371-7124. 2/25: 7:30 p.m., sign-up; 7:45 p.m., program. Open mike format for women reading in all genres, hosted by Deborah Repplier and Claire Robson. Feature, local writer Irene Glassman. $3, proceeds to the church.

Thoreau Reading
Gallery Bershad, 99 Dover St., Somerville. 617-629-9400, ext. 3. 2/26: 5 p.m., Verse Magazine's Young American Poets, with Peter Johnson, Geoffrey Nutter, and Peter Richards. Introduction by Brian Henry. Free.

Somerville H.S.
Class of 1950, Newton Marriott. 617-484-3386. 11/5. USS Philippine Sea, CV-47 Clearwater, Fla. 941-743-6827. 11/9-11/12.

Medford H.S.
Class of 1950, North Falmouth. 781-665-8198. 10/20-10/22.

Malden H.S.
Class of 1950, Ramada Rolling Green, Andover. 781-321-4348. 10/14.

Everett H.S.
Class of 1950, Spinelli's Function Facility, Route 1, Saugus. 617-389-3513. 6/4.

Vic Chestnutt and Kristin Hersh
Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. 617-864-EAST. 3/10: 7 p.m., $17, $15 advance. Presented by Middle East Productions.

Amnesty International Benefit Concert
Unitarian Universalist Church, 630 Mass. Ave., Arlington Center. 617-492-7828. 2/25: 8 p.m., $10 suggested donation. Featuring David Maxwell, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, Franc Graham, and Dave Herlihy.

Kendall Whaling Museum
27 Everett St., Sharon. 781-784-5642. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m. $4.50, seniors $3.50, $3 children. Fine arts, artifacts, photos, art of whaling. Ongoing: 100 Years, 100 Curiosities, celebrating 100th anniversary of the museum's collections; Whaling in the South Seas.

Whitman Public Library 100 Webster St., Whitman. 781-447-7613. Free. Winchester Public Library 80 Washington St. 781-721-7171. Free. ONGOING

Roxaboxen
Full Cup Cocoahouse for Kids, Parish Hall, All Saints' Episcopal Church, 79 Central St., Stoneham. 781-279-2039. 2/26: 2 p.m. $5. Adapted from Alice McLerran's children's book about the power of imagination. Recommended for children ages 5-12.

Amphitryon
Metcalf Hall of the Winchester Unitarian Church, 478 Main St., Winchester. 781-729-1409. 2/28-2/29: 7:30 p.m. Comedy to be presented by the Winchester Players in May.

Tufts Balch Arena Theater
Tufts University, Medford. 617-627-3493. The Skin of Our Teeth: 2/24-2/26: 8 p.m. $8, $5 with Tufts ID. Thornton Wilder play.

Phantom
Turtle Lane Playhouse, 283 Melrose St., Newton. 617-244-0169. Through 3/12: Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. $19, seniors Thurs. and students Fri. $13, group discounts available. Live orchestra. Yeston and Kopit adaptation of musical.

The Performance Cult
The Peabody House Theatre Cooperative, 277 Broadway, Somerville. 617-625-1300. Through 3/4: Thurs.-Sat. 8 p.m. $10. Story of a modern-day Faust by Vaclav Havel.