Social lions have a plethora of spring activities from which to choose. In fact, April and May are such busy months on the social scene -- luncheons, dinners, black-tie galas -- that I'll have to fill you in on June events later.
APRIL:
1: Baltimore Burn Ball to benefit the Baltimore Regional Burn Center Foundation, tickets $150, 7:30 p.m., Harbor Court Hotel, black tie, (410) 550-0895.
1: Mildred Mindell Foundation's Crystal Ball to benefit the University of Maryland Cancer Center, $100, 7:30 p.m., Martin's West, black tie, (410) 338-3398.
2: A Spring Splurge benefit for Downtown Baltimore Child Care, food, wine and silent auction, tickets $20, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Evergreen Carriage House on North Charles Street, (410) 669-1010.
4: Executive Women's Golf League dinner, $27 for members and $32 for non-members, 6 p.m., Turf Valley Country Club in Howard County, (410) 494-9744.
5: Parents Anonymous of Maryland 20th anniversary dinner, $100, 6 p.m., Stouffer Harbor Place Hotel, business attire, (410) 889-2300.
6: Rites of Spring Preview Party to benefit National Center for the Treatment of the Hand and Upper Extremity at the Union Memorial Hospital, $75, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Maryland State Fairgrounds, (410) 554-2662.
7-9: Rites of Spring Show and Sale opens at 10 a.m. at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, $5, (410) 554-2662.
8: Elkridge Harford Point to Point Races, tickets: patron finish-line parking and two party tickets $100, subscriber $50, general admission $10. First race 1:30 p.m., Atlanta Hall Farm, Monkton. Write to Elkridge Harford Hunt Club, 2950 Pocock Road, Monkton, Md., 21111.
8: Baltimore Choral Arts Society third annual Benefit Auction with cheese, dessert, cappuccino and cash bar, $10, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Towson State University Student Union, black tie optional, (410) 523-7070.
8: Concert Artists of Baltimore Gala with buffet dinner, silent and live auctions, champagne dessert, music by Concert Artists, $65, 7 p.m., Ward Center for the Arts, St. Paul's School, (410) 235-2138.
12: Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland celebrates 145 years with an exhibit of materials collected during those years, buffet supper, $50, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., George Peabody Library, (410) 669-9000.
14-16: Annual Ocean City Flower Show, tickets $3 for adults and $1.50 for children 6-12, Ocean City Convention Center, (410) 543-4637 for hours.
15: "A Taste of the Shore" benefits the Grant-A-Wish Foundation and includes a flower show, a celebrity auction and Eastern Shore specialties prepared by local restaurants and caterers, $25 advance or $30 at the door, 8 p.m.-midnight, Ocean City Convention Center, (410) 543-4637.
15: My Lady's Manor Steeplechase with a champagne reception at Ladew Topiary Gardens after the races, $150, $75 and $25, first race 3:30 p.m., (410) 557-9570.
18: Baltimore City Commission on Aging and Retirement Education and the Waxter Center Foundation Open House at the Waxter Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., will showcase services available, (410) 396-7274.
19: 16th annual Ocean City Character Bowl Party benefit for the Ocean City Paramedics Foundation and the Worcester County Humane Society, $5, 6 p.m., Sheraton Hotel, call Dick Pairo at (410) 213-0022.
22: Grand National Steeplechase, Butler, first race 3:15 p.m., prerace luncheon to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at noon, $25, (410) 771-9000 for luncheon reservations. In addition, parking tickets include paddock $140, subscriber $75, general admission $30 day of race or $20 before race day.
22: The Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Dorchester County Tour, day tickets may be bought for $20 at first house visited or by calling the Pilgrimage headquarters, (410) 821-6933.
22: St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation's Gala '95 Rendezvous in Paris, benefit for Cardiac Catheterization Lab at St. Joseph Medical Center, $175, 7 p.m., Hyatt Regency Hotel, black tie, (410) 337-1397.
22: 1995 Shock Trauma Gala, $200, 7 p.m.-midnight, Towson Center, black tie or dress uniform, (410) 328-8778.
22: The Baltimore Symphony Associates Decorator Showhouse Preview Party at the Cloisters, garden tented for a seated dinner, 7:30 p.m., $100, black tie optional, (410) 561-8781 or (410) 828-9561.
23: The Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Caroline County Tour, day tickets may be bought for $20 at first house visited or by calling the Pilgrimage headquarters, (410) 821-6933.
23: Villa Assumpta Auxiliary 17th annual Luncheon and Fashion Show benefit for School Sisters of Notre Dame in residence at Villa Assumpta, $23, 11:30 a.m., LaFontaine Bleu, (410) 252-8310.
28: Second Annual Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Catholic Charities, $75, 7:30 a.m., Pine Ridge Golf Course, bull roast after tournament, (410) 592-3162 or (410) 477-3511.
29: Lifesongs for AIDS 1995 Beaux Arts Ball, $75, 8 p.m., Baltimore Museum of Art, black tie with mask or outrageous costume, (410) 243-7787.
29: Maryland Hunt Cup, Worthington Farms, 4 p.m., $30 parking passes must be bought prior to race day from stores in northern Baltimore County. Prerace luncheon tickets, $35 and $15 for children under 12, do not include cost of parking, sponsored by the Maryland Historical Society and the Valleys' Planning Council, (410) 685-3750, Ext. 317.
29: The Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Charles County Tour, day tickets may be bought for $20 at first house visited or by calling the Pilgrimage headquarters, (410) 821-6933.
30: The Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Baltimore County/Rockland Tour, day tickets may be bought for $20 at first house visited or by calling the Pilgrimage headquarters, (410) 821-6933.
MAY
3: The Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Carroll County, day tickets may be bought at first house visited or by calling the Pilgrimage headquarters, (410) 821-6933.
3: Meals on Wheels gourmet adventure featuring food prepared by 22 chefs, $100, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Harbor Court Hotel, business attire, (410) 558-0932.
4: Baltimore Museum Antiques Show preview party at the museum with dinner buffet and unlimited admission throughout the show, $85, 6 p.m.-10 p.m., cocktail dress, (410) 396-6314.
5: Young Collector's Evening at the Baltimore Museum Antiques Show with cocktail buffet and dancing, $50, 6:30 p.m., (410) 396-6314.
6: The Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Baltimore City/Canton Tour, day tickets may be bought for $20 at first house visited or by calling the Pilgrimage headquarters, (410) 821-6933.
6: A Sweet Deal will benefit the Epilepsy Association of Maryland with light supper, wine and champagne in addition to tasting dozens of desserts, $75, 8:30 p.m., Evergreen Carriage House, black tie optional, (410) 828-7700.
10: The Flower Mart sponsored by the Women's Civic League, admission free, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., new location at the War Memorial City Hall Plaza, (410) 837-5424.
13: Third annual Empty Bowls gala, folk singer Arlo Guthrie will make an appearance, Maryland Food Committee benefit, $100, 7 p.m., black tie or 1969 garb, Boumi Temple, (410) 366-0600 Ext. 121.
13: 49th Annual Goodwill Embassy Tour in Washington, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., embassies of Croatia, Greece, Indonesia, Venezuela are included on self-guided tours as well as the Chancery of Finland, tea and cookies served at the Chancery of Japan. Tickets $25 in advance or $35 on day of tour, (202) 636-4225, Ext. 1226 or 1220.
18: The Preakness Celebration's 1995 Triple Crown Ball, to benefit CollegeBound Foundation and a Maryland horse community charity, Stouffer Harborplace Hotel, black tie, tickets $275, 7:30 p.m., (410) 783-2905.
19: Baltimore Chapter of the American Diabetes Association second annual Wine Affair, Evergreen Carriage House, 8 p.m., Constantine wines, hors d'oeuvres, desserts, tickets $45 advance or $50 at the door, (410) 526-2900 or (800) 232-3662.
20: "Gardens, Past and Present," sponsored by Historic Annapolis, is a tour of a dozen Annapolis gardens, plus a sale of plants propagated from local specimens in the William Paca garden, noon-4 p.m., advance admission prices for members and groups of 10 or more, $10; advance for non-members $12; day-of-tour tickets $15 for everyone including children, (410) 267-7619.
20: Stand-up comic Rabbi Bob Alper's comedy concert, Dalsheimer Auditorium at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, 8 p.m., advance tickets $20, tickets at the door $25, includes dessert reception, (410) 764-1587.
21: Tasting at the Station, an international wine and gourmet food event, benefits Maryland International Center, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., Green Spring Station, tickets $35, (410) 837-7150.