Save the dates

’Tis the season — the social season, that is.

January through April is peak season on Longboat Key — the time of year when tourists, snowbirds and year-round residents converge at once on the island to flee the snowstorms up north to party in paradise.
Our calendars are getting fuller by the day for the 2014 winter/spring season. Here, we pick 10 can’t-miss events.

Cheers to an eventful 2014.

Go for the Cure Games Day
When: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29
Where: Longboat Key Club Harbourside
Dining Room, 3100 Harbourside Drive

Put your game faces on for this year’s Game Day, which benefits Breast Health Sarasota Inc.

The event features a buffet brunch and an afternoon of bridge, mahjong, canasta, gin, poker, Scrabble or whatever game you choose. The event is open to both men and women and Key Club members and nonmembers.

Last year’s Games Day showed it pays to play: The event raised more than $6,000 for breast-cancer treatment.

Cost is $40 to enter and $20 for brunch. For information, contact Marion Levine, [email protected] or Lorraine Kaplan, [email protected].

Taste of the Keys and Fashion Show
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5
Where: Longboat Key Club Harbourside
Dining Room, 3100 Harbourside Drive

We’re not sure what will add more spice to this event: the tastings from 17 island restaurants plus wine and soft drinks attendees will savor — or the 12 Longboat Key “celebrities” who will grace the runway wearing fashions from Main Street Traders.

The Longboat Key Garden Club organizes the event to raise money for environmental scholarships for college students, grants, educational programs and camp scholarships for children.

Cost is $50, which is tax deductible. Tickets are available at Design 2000, Exit Art in the Centre Shops and at the Chart House, Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Traders in Sarasota, and at the Harbourside Dining Room the night of the event.

Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas
When: 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14
Where: Longboat Key Club Harbourside Dining Room,
3100 Harbourside Drive

The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key will roll the dice with a new theme for its annual Valentine’s Day celebration. This year’s event will feature dinner, dancing and casino games.

If you hit the jackpot, you could win two grand prizes for long weekends for two to Las Vegas or the third prize of a Universal Orlando experience. Lazy Lobster will offer a raffle prize of dinner for 12.

Not the gambling type? This event is still a safe bet because it benefits local youths in need.

Tickets are $95.

38th annual Home & Garden Tour
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1
Where: Various homes throughout the Key
Cost: $25

The Longboat Key Garden Club is putting the finishing touches on this year’s Home & Garden Tour; as usual, this year’s event will spotlight unique residences on the Key.

This year’s homes will include a “green” home in Emerald Harbor, a cottage in the Longbeach Village, a renovated home in Hideaway Bay and one or two Country Club Shores homes.

The event raises money for Garden Club programs and scholarships.

Fifth annual Community Juried Exhibition
When: Saturday, March 1, through Wednesday, March 27
Where: Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art & Design, 6960 Longboat Drive S.

Check out work by local artists at the Fifth Annual Community Juried Exhibition at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art & Design.

The exhibition is open to all artists in the region. Prize monies will be awarded for Best in Show and first, second and third places for 2-D and 3-D artwork and photography. For detailed requirements, call 383-2345 or email [email protected].

Masquerade: Mardi Gras St. Armands Style
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 4
Where: St. Armands Circle

The Fat Tuesday fun begins with a Mardi Gras “strut” around the Circle, lead by the Dixieland band Joe Bruno’s New Orleans Hot Dogs, the Mardi Gras king, St. Armands “celebrities” and the Sailor Circus.

Entertainment will continue on the Circle throughout the evening, with face painting, tarot card readers, palm readers, jugglers, musicians and a healthy helping of restaurant specials.

Sarasota Open
When: Saturday, April 12, through Sunday, April 20
Where: Resort at Longboat Key Club’s Tennis Gardens, 3100 Harbourside Drive

The Sarasota Open is now in its seventh year as top tennis players will battle for $100,000 in prize money.

This year’s tournament will bring several new additions.

The Paragon Art Festival will take place during finals weekend April 19 and April 20. The high-end festival is expected to draw an additional 10,000 to 20,000 patrons, according to the tournament website, sarasotaopen.org. Also new this year is an Ultra VIP Area Experience for attendees and musical bands and entertainment throughout the event.

For tickets, call 809-8996.

Mote Party on the Pass
When: Saturday, April 19
Where: Mote Marine Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway
This event features food, wine and beer stations by the Sarasota-Manatee Originals and live and silent auctions to benefit Mote’s ongoing care and rehabilitation for sick and injured marine life. Tickets are $85.

Lynches Pub & Grub St. Patrick’s Day celebration
When: Friday, March 14 through Monday, March 17
Where: Lynches Pub & Grub, 19B N. Blvd. of the Presidents, St. Armands Circle

The luck of the Irish shines every year at Lynches Pub & Grub, and, this year, owners Chris and Ethna Lynch plan on four days o’festivities.

This year’s celebration is still in the planning stages, but the Lynches hope to get other Circle businesses involved in the celebration, according to Ethna Lynch.

Last year’s festivities drew more than 1,000 people and included bagpipers, step dancers and plenty of pints of green beer.

Save Our Seabirds Sunset Soiree
When: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 28
Where: Save Our Seabirds, 1708 Ken Thompson Parkway

Save Our Seabirds’ third annual bash benefits the birds.

The City Island bird-rescue facility treats approximately 2,000 birds per year, and the Sunset Soiree has become a major fundraiser for its efforts.

The event includes a catered buffet, entertainment, drinks and silent auction. Dress is sophisticated Sarasota casual.

Cost is $75. RSVP by March 14 by calling Save Our Seabirds at 388-3010.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]