Phillips Academy
Cochran Chapel, Rte. 28, Andover campus. 978-749-4995. 2/25: 7:30 p.m. Free. Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Amadeus Ensemble, Corelli Ensemble.

Belmont Open Reading
Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St., Belmont. 617-484-4696, ext. 19. 2/27: 7:30 p.m. $6, students and seniors $4. Jane Flummerfelt conducts Haydn's The Seasons, open reading with soloists and orchestra. Singers welcome. Sponsored by Powers Music School.

Reading Public Library
64 Middlesex Ave. 781-944-2017. 2/26: 8 p.m. Free. Christiane Trio. Works by Mozart, Walther, Schumann, Matthews, Brahms.SCHOOLS

Dick Doherty's Comedy ClubsNorth Andover, Comedy Escape at the China Blossom,Comedy Escape at the China Blossom,
routes 125 and 133, North Andover. 800-401-2221. Fri.-Sat. 9:30 p.m. $10-$12. 2/25-2/26: Kevin Knox, Mike Koutrobis, Ted Barrett. 124 Boylston St., Boston. 781-729-2565. Thurs.-Sun. 9 p.m. $8-$10. Thurs.-Sat. standup, Sun. open mike night. 2/25-2/26: Mark Scalia Showcase. Rte. 28, Randolph. 800-401-2221. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 8 and 10:30 p.m. 2/25-2/26: Paul Nardizzi, John Fisch, Teresa Cragen. Pickering Wharf, Salem. 800-401-2221. Fri.-Sat. 9 p.m. $10-$12. 2/25-2/26: Tom Clark, Steve Faria, Walter Dixon.

Comedy Palace
11 E. Central St., Worcester. 508-792-1126. Fri. 9 p.m.; Sat. 8 and 10:30 p.m. $10. 2/25-2/26: Don Gavin, Mike Coleman, Darren Lacroix.Grill 93, River Road, Andover. 888-TO-LAUGH. Thurs. and Sun. 8 p.m., Fri. 9 p.m., Sat. 8 and 10:30 p.m. (hypnotist Joey DeVito at 10:30). $8 and $12. Sun., 8 p.m., Boston Comedy Showcase, $8. 2/25-2/26: Freddie Stone, Pete Costello.

Spay Day 2000
MSPCA Animal Shelter, 400 Broadway, Rte. 28, Methuen. 978-687-7453. 2/26: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Learn cat facts, spaying and neutering information, adopt-a-cat, pet gift basket raffle.

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.

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.

Massachusetts College of Art
McCoy Gallery, junction routes 114 and 125, North Andover. 978-837-5000. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Through 2/26: Saltwater Works, Clifford Smith.

Brooks School
Robert Lehman Art Center, 1160 Great Pond Road, No. Andover. 978-725-6232. Tues.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m.-noon, Sun. 2:30-5 p.m. Through 3/5: The Photograph as Icon, Susan Haas. College of the Holy Cross Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, Wocester. 413-545-3670. Tues.-Fri. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 2-5 p.m.

Boxford Village Library
Elm Street, Boxford. 978-887-READ. Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Through 2/28: oil paintings by Judy Gambale.

Phillips Academy
Addison Gallery of American Art, Rte. 28, Main Street, Andover. 978-749-4015. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m. Through 3/19: Riding 1st Class on the Titanic, photographs by Nathan Lyons. Through 4/2: Between Image and Object, prints by Robert Mangold.

Essex Art Center
56 Island St., Lawrence. 978-685-2343. Tues.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Through 2/18: Minernil, by Joffre Lefevre; Werks, by Eric Legacy; Narrative Sculpture in Clay, by Betty Ann Libby; and Observations of Hermeticism, by Eric Love.

Andover Historical Society Museum/Research Center
97 Main St. (Rte. 28), Andover. 978-475-2236. Tues.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon. by appointment. $4, children and seniors $2. Includes 19th-century period rooms and galleries in 1819 house; barn museum with 19th-century tools.

Les Zygomates
129 South St. 617-542-5108. Live entertainent Tues.-Thurs., 8-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 9 p.m.-midnight. No cover unless noted. 2/24, 3/2: Jinga Trio. 2/25: Chiara Givello. 2/26: Eula Lawrence. 2/29: The Alvin Terry Trio. 3/1: Ellen Cantarow.

Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology
Main (Rte. 28) and Phillips streets, Phillips Academy campus, Andover. 978-749-4490. Tues.-Sat. noon-5 p.m. Free. Closed major holidays. Ongoing: Mikwitemanej Mikmanaqi'k: Let Us Remember the Old Mi'kmaq, photographs taken in Mi'kmaw communities in the U.S. between 1930-1931 by anthropologist Frederick Johnson.

Addison Gallery of American Art
Phillips Academy, Rte. 28, Andover. 978-749-4015. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m. Closed major holidays. Free. Through 4/2: Between Image and Object: The Prints of Robert Mangold, retrospective of more than 120 prints by this minimalist artist. Through 3/19: Riding 1st Class on the Titanic! photographs by Nathan Lyons, founder of the Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, New York. 2/27: 2 p.m., panel discussion on Riding 1st Class on the Titanic! moderated by Anne. W. Tucker, curator of photography, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

WordsWorth Books Author Events
617-354-5201. Free. WordsWorth Reading Room, 3rd Floor, 30 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. 2/24: 6 p.m., Simson Garfinkle (Database Nation: The Death of Privacy in the 21st Century). Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge. 3/2: 5:30 p.m., E. L. Doctorow (City of God). Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway. 2/24: 6 p.m., Thomas Cahill (Desire of the Everlasting Hills).

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.

Poets Share Reading Series
Rhythm & Muse, 403A Centre St., Hyde Square, Jamaica Plain. 617-524-3816. 3/2: 7:30 p.m., Barbara Watkins; 8:30 p.m., Community open mike. Donations requested.

Newtonville Books Reading Series
296 Walnut St., Newton. 617-244-6619. 2/29: 7:30 p.m., Mameve Medwed (Host Family). Free.

Marsh Chapel Poetry Reading Series
Boston University, Robinson Room, 735 Comm. Ave., Boston. 617-353-3560. 3/1: 7:30 p.m., poetry reading by the Charles River Poets. Free.

Joiner Center Reading Series
UMass-Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd. 617-287-5850. 3/1: 4 p.m., Vietnamese authors Ly Lan and Phan Thi Van Anh. Free.

Emerson College Spring 2000 Faculty Reading Series various addresses.
West 1&2 Building, 80 Boylston St., 2nd floor, Boston. 617-824-8750. 3/2: 8-9 p.m., Richard Foerster (Cutting Flowers). Free.

Chapter and Verse Reading
St. John's Episcopal Church, Revere Street and Roanoke Avenue, Jamaica Plain. 617-524-2999 or 617-522-9093. 3/1: 7:30 p.m., Paul Folkman (Chrysalis and Other Poems), Tom Perrotta (Election), Allen West (Monologues in a Time Like September). Free.

Barnes and Noble at Boston University Author Series
Reading Room, Level 5, 660 Beacon St., Boston. 617-236-7460. 2/28: 7 p.m., Sherwin B. Nuland, (The Mysteries Within: A Surgeon Reflects on Medical Myths). Free.

Poetry Reading
Adams House, Lower Common Room, 26 Plympton St., Harvard Square. 617-547-4648. 2/29: 8 p.m., Doug Goetsch (Nobody's Hell), and Angelo Verga (The Six O'Clock News). Suggested donation $3.

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.

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

Wadsworth Atheneum
600 Main St., Hartford, Conn. 860-278-2670. Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $7, students and seniors with ID $5, ages 6-17 $3, children under 6 free. Free all day Thurs. and on Sat. before noon, timed tickets required for the Dali exhibit, $14, seniors and students $12, ages 6-17 $10, children under 6 free. Through 8/6: Calder in Connecticut: An Intimate View of an Endearing Revolutionary. Through 3/26: Salvador Dali's Optical Illusions, 60 dreamscapes (1926-1982). Through 4/9: Joseph Grigely/ Matrix 140. Through 6/4: Jacob Lawrence and Expressions of Freedom, presented by the Amistad Foundation at the Atheneum. 2/27: 1 and 3 p.m., Anasi, Spiderman of Africa! performance of African folktales by the Crabgrass Puppet Theater, $7, children $6.

Theater Workshops
Free. Registration required for most programs. Copley Square, Central Branch Boston 617-536-5400. 2/25: 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., Lift Up Your Voices and Sing, Black History Month program with Janice Allen. 2/27: 1:30 p.m. for ages 6-9 and 3:30 p.m. for ages 9-12: Matter of Fact, workshops introducing children to the building blocks of the universe through hands-on fun, discussions and demonstrations; registration required. Adams Street Branch, 690 Adams St., Dorchester. 617-436-6900. 2/24, 2/29 and 3/2: 3 p.m., chess instruction. 3/1: 3:30 p.m., reading readiness program for ages 3-5. Brighton Branch, 40 Academy Hill Road, Brighton. 617-782-6032. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Wed.: 4 p.m., creative drama, storytelling ages 6-11. 2/24: 7 p.m., Jorge Arce of the band Humano does one-man show on Afro-Caribbean culture. Charlestown Branch, 179 Main St., Charlestown. 617-242-1248. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Tues.: 10:30 a.m and 3:30 p.m., stories and films. Wed.: 11 a.m., toddler story time for ages 2-3. Fri. 10 a.m., story hour for ages 3-5. Codman Square Branch, 690 Washington St., Dorchester. 617-436-8214. Tues., Thurs.: 3 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Wed.: 10:30 a.m., tales for 2-year-olds (with adult). Fri: 10:30 a.m., short films for ages 3-6; 3 p.m., Funnybones Reading Club for ages 11-14. Through 2/25: 2 p.m., Black History Month film series. 2/29: 10:30 a.m., Mother Goose Time stories and songs for ages 12-23 months with adult. Connolly Branch, 433 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617-522-1960. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Wed.: 10:30 a.m., short films: How Many Days to America, Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain, The Mole and the Rocket, and Frog on His Own. Thurs.: 4:15 p.m., creative drama for ages 6-11. 2/28: 6:30 p.m., Black History Month pajama story time for families by Afro-American authors. Dudley Branch, 65 Warren St., Roxbury. 617-442-6186. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Tues.: 10:30 a.m., films for preschoolers. East Boston Branch, 276 Meridian St. 617-569-0271. Mon., Thurs: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Wed.: 10:30 a.m., preschool story hour. Fri.: 10:30 a.m., children's films. 2/24: 3 p.m., stories and songs with Valerie Stephens. Egleston Square Branch, 2044 Columbus Ave., Roxbury. 617-445-4340. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Mon.: 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m., preschool films and stories. Thurs: 4 p.m., Young storycatchers book group for ages 8-12; preregistrtion required. 2/24: 6:30 p.m., Derek Burrows tells stories from Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. Faneuil Branch, 419 Faneuil St., Brighton. 617-782-6705. Mon., Tues.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Tues.: 10:30 a.m., toddler story time. Wed.: 10:30 a.m., story time for ages 3-5. 2/24: 7 p.m., Pajama Storytime. 2/25: 3 p.m., African and Caribbean music with Alice Johnson and Andy Holiner. 2/26: 11:30 a.m., celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture with Jorge Arce. Grove Hall Branch, 5 Crawford St., Dorchester. 617-427-3337. Mon., Tues.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Thurs.: 10:30 a.m., films for preschoolers. Hyde Park Branch, 35 Harvard Ave., Hyde Park. 617-361-2524. Tues., Thurs.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Jamaica Plain Branch, 12 Sedgwick St., Jamaica Plain. 617-524-2053. Wed.: 10:30 a.m., story time for ages 18-36 months. 3/1: 4 p.m., Kid's Club stories, crafts, booktalks for ages 6-10. Lower Mills Branch, 27 Richmond St., Dorchester. 617-298-7841. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Mattapan Branch, 10 Hazelton St. 617-298-9218. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Mon.: 6 p.m., pajama story time. Tues.: 10:30 a.m., preschool story time. Fri.: 10:30 a.m., preschool videos. 2/24: 3:30-5 p.m., chess instruction. North End Branch, 25 Parmenter St., Boston. 617-227-8135. Mon.: 11 a.m., preschool films: Abiyoyo, Anansi the Spider, and Bringing Rain to Kapiti Plain. 2/25: 11 a.m., Black History Month stories, tales and songs with Valerie Stephens. Orient Heights Branch, 18 Barnes Ave., East Boston. 617-567-2516. Tues.: 10:30 a.m., preschool story time. Wed.: 10:30 a.m., toddler story time. 2/24: 3:30 p.m., movies for kids 6-12. South Boston Branch, 646 E. Broadway. 617-268-0180. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Fri.: 3:30 p.m., children's story hour. 2/26: 10:30 a.m., The History and the Adventures of Tom Thumb, comedy theater performance. South End Branch, 685 Tremont St., Boston. 617-536-8241. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. Mon.: 10:30 a.m., preschool story time. Tues.: 10:30 a.m., children's films. Thurs.: 5:15 p.m., creative drama for children. 2/24: 2 p.m., Map and Compass Program. Uphams Corner Branch, 500 Columbia Road, Dorchester. 617-265-0139. Mon., Wed.: 3:30-5 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8. 2/25: 2 p.m., Black History Month Scavenger Hunt for children up to age 14. 2/29: 3:30-5 p.m., chess instruction. West End Branch, 151 Cambridge St., Boston. 617-523-3957. Wed.: 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., preschool story time. Fri.: 10 a.m., preschool films. West Roxbury Branch Library, 1961 Centre St., West Roxbury. 617-325-3147. Mon., Wed.: 3 p.m., homework help for grades 3-8.

Ric Goldin
Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St., Haverhill. 978-374-6103. 2/24: 11 a.m., Goldin performs children's concert. $3. Presented by the Merrimack Montessori School.

Simpatico
Quannapowitt Players, 55 Hopkins St., Reading. 781-942-2212. Through 2/26: Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m. $12, seniors and students $11. Sam Shepard tragi-comedy.