LEISURE
ACT-SO ORIENTATION — Center for Creative Arts, 1301 Dallas Road. Information session for Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics, an academic and performance competition for black high school students with interests in performance arts, humanities, math/sciences or visual arts, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday. Free. 400-1400.
DEAF CHAT — Starbucks Coffee, 2217 Hamilton Place Blvd. Coffee and signed conversation for those with any level of hearing impairment and students of American Sign Language, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday. E-mail angel@ooltewahnursery.com or visit www.sayitinsign.info.
MARDI GRAS GALA — Begins at Sheraton Read House, 827 Broad St., ends at The Walden Club, 633 Chestnut St. Chattanooga Bach Choir’s annual Bourbon Street-style celebration includes jazz-led parade, mask competition and dinner, 5 p.m. March 7. $90 if reserved before Feb. 25, $100 after. 510-0333.
STARGAZING — Jones Observatory, 10 Tuxedo Ave. Spring programming most Sundays through April 17 features PowerPoint presentation, lights-down display of the night sky and open viewing on the 20.5-inch Cassegrain telescope. This week’s program: “Dobsonian Telescopes”; featured constellation is Gemini. Free. 425-4518.