Happenings and Highlights of April

Art

Naples Museum of Art. American Women: A Selection From the National Portrait Gallery closes April 3. Continuing through May 1: Matisse, Picasso & Friends: Impressionism to Surrealism: Masterworks of French Painting and Sculpture From the Baltimore Museum of Art. Opening April 17 to run through July 31: Skin Tight: The Sensibility of the Flesh, exploring the radical innovations of designers through garments, photos and installations. Coming April 23-June 19: Passion for Drawing: Poussin to Cezanne: Works From the Prat Collection, showcasing 100 of the best works of French art between 1600 and 1900. Information: 597-1900.

Harmon-Meek Gallery. Continuing through April 9: Paradisus Series by Tobi Kahn. Opening April 10 to run through April 23: The American Woman: A 170-Year Survey, 1835-2005. Coming April 24-May 7: a 30-year retrospective of nudes by Milton Avery. Information: 261-2637.

Von Liebig Art Center. Naples Collects: A Richard Segalman Retrospective continues through April 16. Continuing through June 11: NAA Member Juried Exhibition. through June 11. Opening April 30 to run through June 11: a mixed media installation by Sandy Winters. Information: 262-6517.

Phil Galleries. Continuing through July 31: The Grand Tour in Miniature: British Royalty. Also on view through April 10: Edward Weston: Life Work. Information: 597-1900.

ARTgalleryflorida. The last in the gallery's Founders Gallery Series features mixed media/ collage and acrylic painting by Joan Dunkle, watercolor and mixed media paintings by Jeff Hultman, and mixed media paintings by Arlene Silberstein, April 1-16; reception 5:30 p.m. April 1. Information: 213-0248.

Marianne Friedland Gallery. Spring Fantasy features paintings, prints and works on paper by Milton Avery, Jules Olitski, Wolf Kahn, Al Held and Friedel Dzubas. Also on view: still-life works by Janet Fish, Jane Freilicher, Russell Drisch and March Avery, April 2-30. Information: 262-3484.

Phillips Gallery. The Southwest Florida Craft Guild exhibition takes place April 2-29; reception 4:30 p.m. April 3. Information: 395-0900.

Gallery Walk. Participating galleries on Fifth Avenue host this monthly walk from 6 to 9 p.m. April 3. Information: 261-7828.

Art League of Marco Island. The "Take Your Pic" scholarship program kicks off this month with a reception 7 p.m. April 9 and an exhibit featuring works by scholarship applicants April 17-23. Information: 394-4221.

Cape Coral Arts Studio. Work by Cape Coral's Cheryl Fausel is featured April 8-29; reception 5 p.m. April 15. Information: 574-0802.

Art League of Bonita Springs Center for the Arts. Florida Artists Showcase 2005 runs April 8-28; reception 6 p.m. April 8. Information: 495-8989.

Alliance for the Arts. Opening this month: Young Artists 2005, an exhibition of work by students in public and private Lee County schools. Elementary and middle school students are highlighted April 7-16; high-schoolers April 22-May 7. Also this month: Jazz Alliance Concert Series, April 30. Information: 939-2787.

BENEFITS

Guadalupe Center of Immokalee. A gala-auction is scheduled for April 2, followed by the Maynard Cup Golf Tournament April 3, both at Bonita Bay. Ticket information: 657-7711.

President's Celebration Gala. A Renaissance theme highlights this gala for the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, starting at 6:30 p.m. April 2 at Alico Arena. Dinner, a silent auction, dancing and costumes. Tickets $500; call 590-1067.

Talk of the Town. A dinner and fashion show (plus silent auction) to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Florida-Gulf Coast is set for 5 p.m. April 5 at Vineyards Country Club. Tickets $50; call 591-6270.

Naples Woman's Club Fashion Show/Luncheon. This event takes place April 6 at the Registry Resort. Ticket information:

262-6331.

Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Dinner. The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools' 18th annual dinner is set for 5:30 p.m. April 8 at Harborside Event Center. Tickets $150; call 337-0433.

Sweet Memories Chocolate Gala. Lots of chocolate to sample, plus silent and live auctions, at this event benefiting the Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer's Resource Center, 6 p.m. April 9 at Heritage Palms Country Club in Fort Myers. Tickets $55; call 437-3007.

NCN Healthcare Foundation Magnolia Ball. Dinner and dancing beginning at 6 p.m. April 9 at Wrenwood Farms. Ticket information: 436-4511.

Wanderlust. This benefit for Florida Gulf Coast University's Resort & Hospitality Management program includes a golf tournament April 15 at Raptor Bay in Bonita Springs and a travel auction extravaganza April 16 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Pointe Resort & Spa. Tournament info: 590-7717. Auction info: 275-5758.

Child Protection Team Gala. Return to Las Vegas with an evening of dinner, music and casino gambling, plus a few impersonators (yep, that's Elvis over there), 7 p.m. April 16 at the Naples Beach and Golf Hotel. Tickets $200; call 263-8383.

CROW Taste of the Islands. Lots of great food to nibble at this event for the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife,

April 24 at Gulfside City Park on Sanibel. Information: 472-3644.

Taste of Marco. More goodies for the gluttonous-especially those who'd like to help the Marco Island YMCA, April 25 at the Art League of Marco. Information: 394-3144.

Chocolate Extravaganza. WINK-TV's Trey Radel is master of ceremonies for this tasty event, which includes chocolate martinis, an auction, entertainment and more, 7 to 10 p.m. April 30 at Longstreth-Goldberg Art Gallery; proceeds benefit Project HELP. Tickets $100; call 649-1404 or 649-5660.

dance

Parsons Dance Company. Dance invention from the company headed by David Parsons, 8 p.m. April 5 at the Phil. Information: 597-1900.

Russian National Ballet Theatre of Moscow: Sleeping Beauty. The 55-member troupe brings to life Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, 8 p.m. April 12 at the Phil. Information: 597-1900.

Savion Glover: Improvography. A sizzling mix of tap, hip-hop, R&B, rock and funk from dance sensation Glover, 8 p.m. April 21 at the Phil. Information: 597-1900.

film

Fort Myers Beach Film Festival. The fifth annual Fort Myers Beach Film Festival runs April 21-25 and includes Films on the Beach, KidsFest, Filmmakers Luncheons and a Gala Under the Stars. Information: 765-0919, ext. 131.

miscellaneous

Celebrate Bonita! In honor of the City of Bonita Springs' birthday, this year's celebration includes performances by the Diamonds, the Alabama Blues Brothers and unicyclist-juggler Wade Henry, along with a rib cookoff, laser tag, pony rides and more. It all takes place from noon to 7 p.m. April 3 at the newly renovated Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. Information: 390-1000.

Evening on Fifth. Entertainment, browsing and that happenin' downtown feel, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 14 on Naples' Main Street. Information: 435-3742.

Lee Island Pirate Days Festival. April 23 and 24 at Centennial Park, celebrate the Fort Myers area's maritime heritage with a pirate marketplace, games and rides for children, and a sea spectacular featuring a cannon battle between two tall-ship schooners on the Caloosahatchee River; proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Information: 481-7231.

music

Southwest Florida Symphony Pops Series. Enjoy the Latin jazz of Nestor Torres April 1 and 2 at the Barbara B. Mann. Information: 418-1500.

Naples Philharmonic Pops Series. Listen to All-American Pops under the baton of Michael Krajewski, with xylophone soloist Bob Becker, 8 p.m. April 1 and 2, 2 p.m. April 2 and 3, at the Phil. Also this month: Bravo to Broadway! with conductor Donald Pippin and guest soloists Debbie Gravitte, Christiane Noll and Doug LaBrecque, 8 p.m. April 26-30, 2 p.m. April 30-May 1, at the Phil. Information: 597-1900.

The Lovin' Spoonful. Do you believe in magic? The Spoonful hopes so. They perform April 2 at Big Arts on Sanibel. Information: 395-0900.

Emerson String Quartet. In concert 8 p.m. April 2 at Moss Hall (Moorings Presbyterian Church). Information: 434-8505.

Naples Music Club. The club offers two performances this month: duo pianists Richard Bosworth and Laura Fernando in recital 3 p.m. April 3, and pianist Karen Davis 3 p.m. April 24, both at First United Methodist Church in Naples. Information: 513-0180.

Cassandra Wilson. Pure jazz sounds from contralto Wilson, 8 p.m. April 3 at the Phil. Information: 597-1900.

Larry Elgart and His Orchestra. Get Hooked on Swing once more, 8 p.m. April 4 at the Phil. Information: 597-1900.

Wynton Marsalis. Trumpeter Marsalis (the first jazz musician to receive the Pulitzer Prize in music) performs 8 p.m. April 6 at the Phil. Information: 597-1900.

A Night in Old Italy. Spend the evening with conductor/trumpeter Doc Severinsen, 8 p.m. April 8 and 9 at the Phil. Information: 597-1900.

Naples Concert Band. Join the band for an evening concert in Cambier Park April 8. Information: 263-9521.

Rising Stars Series. Sergieu Schwartz and prize-winning young violinists perform works by Bazzini, Paganini, Vivaldi and Wieniawski, with Tai Lin at the piano, 2 p.m. April 10 at the Norris Center. Information: 434-8505.

Naples Philharmonic Chamber Series. Classical to Impressionist features string pieces by Mozart, Rossini and Debussy, 3 p.m. April 10 at the Phil's Daniels Pavilion. Information: 597-1900.

Audra McDonald. Broadway dazzler McDonald (Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun) brings her talents to the Phil, 8 p.m. April 10. Information: 597-1900.

Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Violinists James Lhang and Malgorzata Larxycka perform Vivaldi's Four Seasons (Spring/ Summer) and Haydn's Symphony No. 94 (Surprise), April 10, with the chamber orchestra at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center. Information: (941) 625-5996.

Engelbert Humperdinck. The ever-popular Humperdinck returns to the Phil with his own particular brand of romance, 8 p.m. April 11. Information: 597-1900.

Gulf Coast Symphony. The symphony offers A Salute to the Flag,

8 p.m. April 14 at the Barbara B. Mann. Information: 481-4849.

Naples Philharmonic Orchestra Classical Series. Celebrated Symphonies features Mozart's Symphony No. 35 and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8,