April 1. Orchid Ball. Go back in time to when Bill and Marie Selby were starting their lives together at Selby Gardens' silver anniversary Orchid Ball, celebrating "The Age of Elegance." Starting at 6:30 p.m. on the Great Lawn of the Selby Estate at the gardens; tickets $250. 366-5731 ext. 236.

April 1-9. Sarasota Film Festival. The festival continues with parties galore; among those to plan for are the Night of a Thousand Stars, April 7 at Michael's On East (actress Gretchen Mol may be among the throng there); the Filmmakers Tribute Dinner, April 8 at the Longboat Key Club & Resort, paying homage to mega-successful producer Paula Wagner and another filmmaker not yet announced at press time (and followed by the Late Night Wrap Party); and the Luncheon under the Banyans at Selby Gardens, April 6. Among other possible Hollywood names being bandied about: Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne, director Mary Harron (The Notorious Bettie Page) and Entertainment Weekly film critic Lisa Schwarzbaum. Call 364-9514 for ticket options.

April 5. Pique-nique sur la Baie. Think citrus for this year's luncheon-fashion-show event, which is inspired by a French L'Orangerie. Fashions by Neiman Marcus, luncheon by Michael's On East, starting at 11 a.m. in the bayfront gardens of the Charles Ringling Mansion. Tickets $95; to benefit the Jane Bancroft Cook Library at New College of Florida. 359-4600.

April 12. Community Video Archives Hall of Fame Luncheon. Who will be honored at this year's event? We'll tell you: Ann and Alfred Goldstein, Virginia Toulmin, Anita Holec and Carl Weinrich, heralded for their volunteer work in Sarasota with videos recapping their achievements. In the Michael's On East Ballroom; call 365-7052 to see if any tickets remain.

April 20. Portrait of a Woman Fashion Show/Luncheon. Beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Michael's On East; tickets $65 for Art Center Sarasota members, $75 for nonmembers. 365-2032.

April 21. Purely Howard. The Asolo Theater salutes its outgoing producing artistic director, Howard Millman, with an evening celebrating his more than 20 years with the company. Cocktails, dinner and lots of toasts, starting at 6 p.m. at Michael's On East. 351-9010 ext. 4704.

April 27-30. Florida Winefest & Auction. Area children's charities benefit from this 16th annual event, but so do the attendees who enjoy winemaker dinners, food and wine seminars and much more. The weeks gets under way with those dinners, April 27, and up next are the Suncoast Showcase Brunch Tasting and gala dinner-dance, both April 28 at the Ritz-Carlton; the Showcase Lunch Tasting and Charity Auction, April 29, also at the Ritz; and the popular Sip & Shop, an alfresco wine tasting April 30 on St. Armands Circle. Call 952-1021 or (800) 216-6199 for ticket information.

May 4. Still Life in Motion Fashion Show. To benefit Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center and the Women's Resource Center, this show takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the Colony on Longboat Key and includes hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Tickets $60; 383-7576.