Today"Celebrate the Solstice" Exhibit on the short days and cold weather of winter runs through Jan. 28 at Artists Gallery, American City Building, 10227 Wincopin Circle in Columbia. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call 410-740-8249 or go to artistsgallerycolumbia.com.

"Eastern Tibet Photo Exhibition" Photography by Rich Stokes. Yolanda Koh will exhibit watercolors at the gallery, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia, through Feb. 6. There will be a reception 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. today with refreshments and music. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. Call 410-730-3987 or 301-596-4883.

MondayPassport services The Passport Acceptance Facility at Howard County Library's East Columbia branch at 6600 Cradlerock Way offers passports and passport photos from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Call 410-313-7700.

ThursdayOn exhibit The Columbia Art Center opens its winter season with the "Maryland Society of Portrait Painters" exhibit in the Main Gallery and "Pat Dillion Paintings" in the Window Gallery. The exhibits runs through Feb. 14 at 6100 Foreland Garth. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays- Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays- Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. A reception for "Pat Dillion Paintings" will be held 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the art center and a reception for the "Maryland Society of Portrait Painters" exhibit will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 410-730-0075 or go to columbiaartcenter.org.

Friday"Fame" The Drama Learning Center will present the musical based on the motion picture and television series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Jan. 21, 22 and 23 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 17. Performances will be at Red Branch Theatre Company, 9130-I Red Branch Road, Columbia. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Group rates available. Call 410-997-9352 or go to dramalearningcenter.com.

SaturdaySongwriters showcase Local songwriters Ian Collins and Timmy Han will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the One World Coffeehouse at Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students. A portion of the proceeds help those in crisis. The coffeehouse is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia. Call 410-381-0097, e-mail OneWorldCoffeehouse@uucolumbia.net or go to uucolumbia.net.

Future"Children on Board" Howard County's annual child care information fair, sponsored by the Howard County Office of Children's Services, will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 23 at Ten Oaks Ballroom, 5000 Signal Bell Lane in Clarksville. Information on child care and preschool programs will be available, along with contact with teachers and program directors. There will also be representatives from community service organizations that provide programs and services to the county's young children. In addition, the 2010 Early Childhood Education Guide will be given out. Call 410-313-1940 for more information.

Piano concert Pianists Alison Matuskey and Michael Adcock will present a recital of music written for four hands in "4-Play!" at 8 p.m. Jan. 23. The performance is being presented by the Chalice Concert Series of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia and will be at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way in Columbia. Tickets are $20, $12 for students and free for children younger than 12. There will be a pre-concert lecture at 7:15 p.m. on the composers and compositions in the program. Call 410-381-0097 or go to uucolumbia.net.

Daddy-Daughter Sweetheart Dance On Jan. 30, Dad (or a special adult) can escort his "princess" for an evening of dancing, refreshments, crafts and more at the Kiwanis Wallas Recreation Center, 3300 Norbert's Way, Ellicott City. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for 4- to 6-year-olds; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for 7- to 11-year-olds. $40 fee includes cost of one adult and one child; $20 for each additional daughter. Call Karen Bradley at 410-313-4635.

Senior Olympics The Maryland Senior Olympics will be held Feb. 13 at the Gardens Ice, 13800 Old Gunpowder Road in Laurel and at the National Capital Curling Center, adjacent to the Gardens Ice House. Event features ice hockey, figure skating and curling, with competition open to anyone 50 and older. Admission is free. To register or for more information, call 410-222-4257.

Announcements for the datebook can be sent by mail to The Baltimore Sun in Howard County, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278; by e-mail to howard.events@baltsun.com; or by fax to 410-332-6455.