December has become one of the busiest months of the year for movers and shakers, so get your shopping done early and plan to enjoy some of these events.
1: An Evening with Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of "No Ordinary Times: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt," 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at the Enoch Pratt Central Library. Benefits programs of Network 2000 and the Margot and Diane Dippold Collection at the Enoch Pratt. Tickets are $25 for reception and lecture; $45 for reception, lecture and book. Call (410) 783-8225.
1: The Maryland International Center's Governor's International Forum, 5:30 p.m., in the Constellation Room, World Trade Center. Salutes the outgoing governor, William Donald Schaefer, and welcomes the incoming governor, Parris N. Glendening. Tickets are $40. Call (410) 837-7150.
1: Baltimore Committee for the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, to honor former Gov. William Donald Schaefer, developer Richard A. Swirnow and artist Reuben Kramer, the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel. Tickets for this black-tie-optional dinner are a $1,000 donation. Call (410) 486-9303.
1: The Homeless Persons Representation Project's first benefit, at the Walters Art Gallery, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Tickets, $50, include reception and "Gauguin and the School of Pont-Aven" exhibit. Call (410) 685-6589.
2: The Baltimore Junior Association of Commerce's first annual SnowBall, at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, 7:30 p.m.-midnight. Dress is semi-formal. Tickets, $35, include music, cocktail food, and beer and wine. Tickets are available at the door, and everyone is asked to bring a new toy.
2-3: Six distinctive homes will be on the Guilford walking tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. All are decorated by floral designers. The Baltimore Symphony Associates sponsor this event, which will benefit BSO Youth Programs. Tickets are $15. Call (410) 783-8000.
3: The 14th annual KinderGala to benefit the Kennedy Krieger Institute, the Hyatt Regency, 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Dress is black tie; tickets are $275. Call (410) 550-9460.
3: Holiday memories for the whole family, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Maryland Historical Society. Children should bring their wish list to share with Father Christmas. Admission is $4 a person.
3: The Jane Austen Society of North America, Baltimore Chapter, Harbor Court Hotel, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Call (410) 284-6344.
3: Shoppers are asked to shop at Toys-R-Us, Towson Market Place, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Objective is to buy an extra toy for children at the House of Ruth. Call (410) 889-0840.
3: The Arthritis Foundation's sixth annual Baltimore Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Church Hospital. Call (410) 602-0160.
4: Santa Claus Anonymous Ice Skating Party, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Northwest Family Sports Center. Call Nick D'Alesandro, (410) 887-0272.
4: The Jewish Community Center Jazz Ensemble performs big band jazz, 3 p.m., at the center. Tickets are $2 for members; $3 for non-members. Call (410) 542-4900, Ext. 239.
4: Baltimore Zionist District's 51st annual Brandeis Banquet, the Hyatt Regency, 6 p.m. Honors Israeli Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich and the Jewish Times. Call (410) 602-1200.
4: Holiday fund-raiser for the Don Miller House and AIDS Interfaith Residential Services expansion, 5 p.m. at Kernewood, the home of Jacqueline and Robert Smelkinson. Tickets, $45, may be reserved by calling (410) 433-1109 by Nov. 21.
5: Beth Tfiloh Sisterhood's annual Donor Luncheon, with Trillium fashions and Dahne and Weinstein jewels, 11:30 a.m., Stanley Sagner auditorium. Call (410) 486-6569.
6: Annual meeting of Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland, with Baltimore Police Commissioner Thomas C. Frazier as guest speaker, 6 p.m., the Tremont Plaza Hotel. Tickets for dinner and program are $35. Call (410) 669-9000.
6: Annual Christmas Party, Baltimore County Retired Employees Association, noon-4 p.m., Crystal Chandelier Room. Tickets $19. Call (410) 592-8648.
6: Christmas Bazaar, noon-6 p.m., Mount DeSales Academy. Arts, crafts, silent auction and a spaghetti dinner. Call (410) 744-8498.
7-9: Yuletide at Hampton: Georgian mansion is decorated by local garden clubs to reflect 19th-century style. Free of charge, but tickets must be requested before Dec. 2. Call (410) 962-0688.
8: The Advertising & Professional Club of Baltimore honors Jim Robinson, CEO of Morgan Creek Productions, with its Distinguished Marylander Award, noon lunch, Stouffer Harborplace Hotel. Call (410) 938-2230 to reserve $30 tickets.
8: Santa Claus Anonymous Wine Tasting, the Peabody Library on Mount Vernon Place, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Tickets, $15 a person or $25 a couple, may be bought at area wine stores or by calling (410) 685-4830.
10: The Charles Carroll Candlelight Open House, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., in Annapolis. Admission $4. Tour is followed by a 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Mozart Musicale by the Annapolis Opera. Tickets are $22; reservations are a must. Call (410) 269-1737.
10: Christmas concert to benefit the Beans and Bread Meal program and Homeless Outreach, 8 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 8501 Loch Raven Blvd. Features Annapolis Chorale Chamber Chorus and Orchestra. Tickets are $10 for adults, $3 for children. Call (410) 547-5377.
10-11: Christmas in St. Michaels, includes house tours, breakfast with Santa, lighted boat parade, wood carvers, model trains and more. Proceeds go to the Bay Hundred Education Fund, the St. Michaels Fire Department Building Fund and the renovation of the public tennis courts. House-tour tickets are $15. Call (410) 745-5452.
10-11: Christmas at Mount Clare: the sights, sounds and smells of a traditional 18th-century holiday, noon-4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for children under 12. Call (410) 837-3262.
12: Candlelight Tour of Waverly Mansion, the mid-18th-century home of Gov. George Howard, begins at 6 p.m. The mansion, located at 2335 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville, has been decorated by Howard County garden clubs. Call (410) 313-5400 for tickets, $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for children.
13: Holiday Music Classic at St. Mary's Seminary, 5400 Roland Ave., 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Proceeds go to scholarship support for Union Memorial nursing students. Tickets for a light buffet and concert are $35. Call (410) 554-2662.
15: Fila USA All Sports Auction, with former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver as host,6 p.m., the Sheraton Inner Harbor. More than 150 items will be sold in the silent and live auctions. Dress is casual. Open bar and buffet supper. Tickets are $35 a person or $50 a couple. Call (410) 771-9000.
16-18: Junior League of Baltimore's annual Holiday Pops concert at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the Friends School Choir. All proceeds go to league projects. Call (410) 783-8000.
17: Charles Village Holiday House Tour, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Baltimore City, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $7.50 in advance or $10 the day of the tour. Call (410) 825-5353.
17: "The Gift of Dance," a benefit for Anna's House, performed by Dance Dynamic North and South, 7 p.m., Fallston High School. Tickets, $5, can be bought at the door or by calling (410) 838-5551.
17: The Kent County Arts Council and the Emmanuel Church Concert Series present the Handel Choir of Baltimore singing "The Messiah," Tawes Theatre at Washington College in Chestertown, 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for students and children. Call (410) 778-7849.
18: Hilton Elementary School's Christmas variety show, with Ruby Glover, Andre Browne and others, to benefit after-school programs, 7:30 p.m., Hopkins' Shriver Hall. Call (410) 396-0634.
18: The Bel Air Road Lodge 2265, Order Sons of Italy, Christmas dance, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Sky Room, 1515 Martin Blvd. Open bar, full dinner and music by Tony Luciano. Call (410) 668-6127 for tickets, $26.
18: Ten houses will be open for the Holiday House Tour of Federal Hill and Otterbein, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Call (410) 675-6750 for $10 tickets.
20: World's Largest Office Party, Hyatt Regency, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Proceeds go to Santa Claus Anonymous and the WQSR children's fund. Admission price is $5. Live entertainment, cash buffet and bar.
31: New Year's Eve Mexican Fiesta to benefit the American Diabetes Association, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Lista's on the waterfront. Tickets, $55, include dinner buffet, beer, sangria and margaritas. Call (410) 526-2900.
31: An Evening in Monte Carlo, the first gala New Year's celebration at the Stouffer Harborplace Hotel. Proceeds go to the Baltimore Reads program. Tickets, $250 a couple, include parking, open bar, seated dinner, auction and a night of gambling. Call (800) 535-1201.
31: Crystal Ball, to benefit the South Baltimore Homeless Shelter. 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m., the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Black tie optional. Tickets, $125 each, include dinner, parking, live entertainment and a wonderful site to watch the midnight fireworks. Call (410) 752-5917.