SPECIAL EVENTS Upcoming FIESTA DE LOS VAQUEROS. Tickets for the Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo, February 21 through 25, are available at all Dillard's ticket outlets, neighborhood community centers and malls, Eastside City Hall, Centennial Hall, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona Hatters and the Rodeo Grounds box office. The Rodeo parade begins at 9 a.m. Thursday, February 22. Call the parade office at 294-1280 for parade and rodeo information. WINE TASTING. Charles Buckley of the Kunde Estate Winery in Sonoma Valley, California, presents an evening of wine tasting and light hors d'oeuvres at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, in the Metro Room at Presidio Grill, 3352 E. Speedway. Various reds and whites will be described and sampled. Cost is $20 per person. Reservations and advance payment required. Call the RumRunner at 326-0121 for reservations and information. OPERA GUILD BENEFIT. The Opera Guild of Southern Arizona hosts the annual Ole Grand Opry Benefit at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at the Savoy Opera House, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road. Regalos Musicales de Amor (Musical Gifts of Love) is performed by the Sonoran Trio, featuring baritone Reynaldo Romo, tenor Adar Garcia, bass Juan Aguirre and pianist Jose Solorzano. No-host cocktails are served at 5:30 p.m., followed by dancing from 6 to 7 p.m. with Dean Armstrong and the Arizona Dance Hands. The musical program begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, $11 of which is tax deductible. Proceeds benefit the Guild's assistance fund. Reservations and pre-payment must be received by February 27. Call 297-1492 for information. STAR AWARDS. SPEAK, Supporting and Promoting Ethics for the Animal Kingdom, hosts its second annual Star Awards animal-rights awards banquet at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Ramada Inn-University, 1601 N. Oracle Road. The event, co-hosted with Arizona People for Animal Rights, honors business owners, the media and activists who have helped animals through their courage and commitment. Captain Paul Watson, co-founder of Greenpeace, is the guest speaker. Cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the ceremony. Advance tickets are $30 if purchased before March 1. Tickets are $35 thereafter. Call Roberta Wright at the SPEAK office at 883-2488 for reservations and information. Events This Week MAYORAL ROAST. Tucson Centers for Women and Children honor Tucson Mayor George Miller at their 20th anniversary celebration Wednesday, February 21. Evening beginns at 6 p.m. with a reception at the Tucson Hilton East Hotel, 7600 E. Broadway. Mayor Miller is being honored for his efforts to reduce Domestic Violence in Tucson. Cartoonist David Fitsimmons has created a special "roast" in irreverent honor of the mayor. Western author Jane Candia Cole is the guest speaker. Cole will also sign copies of her books during the reception. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. Call the Tucson Centers for Women and Children at 795-8001 for reservations and information. TUCSON TIMES SQUARE. United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Arizona hosts the second annual Tucson Times Square benefit dinner Saturday, February 17, at the Radisson Suite Hotel, 6555 E. Speedway, with music, dinner, dancing and a silent auction. Call UCP of Southern Arizona at 577-6979 for information. DOWNTOWN SATURDAY. Experience art and culture with exciting street performances, live music and self-guided historic and art tours all day Saturday, February 17. During the day the Children's Museum hosts Saturday Artworks, with arts and crafts projects for the whole family using recycled materials. Storytelling highlighting Latino culture gets underway at The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St. It's a musical potpourri this evening with Michael J. Olson and Pulse World Music Ensemble at the Ronstadt Transit Center. The UA School of Music Ensemble performs at Bero Gallery and One Heartbeat restores rhythm in Arizona Alley. Stefan George and Anna Duff perform at Winsett Park on Fourth Avenue. Rancho Venado horse and wagon rides depart from the transit center throughout the evening. Pick up a program of events at the information booth at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Congress Street. Call 624-9977 for events and information. RED WINE AND RODEO. The American Institute of Wine and Food hosts Red Wine and Rodeo, a wine tasting kick-off for Rodeo Week from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, February 18, at Ventana Grill, 6866 E. Sunrise Drive. Cost is $35, $25 for AIWF members and their guests. Reservations recommended. Please call during the evening and on weekends. Call Ron Skinner at 577-3295 for reservations and information. CHILIFEST '96. Old Tucson Studios hosts Chilifest '96, benefiting the Ronald McDonald House, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 17. The annual Chiliheads of Arizona Cook-Off, restaurant and celebrity competitions, and musical performances by Sam Taylor, Trick Rider, The Karl Kappler Quintet and Out of the Blue gurantee this will be the hottest spot in town. The Arizona Old-Time Fiddlers' Association, Sunshine Generations children's dance troupe and Ronald McDonald will also entertain. Tucson firefighter calendar models will be among the judges of the event. Tickets are $6.95, $3.95 children, available at all Dillard's ticket outlets. COINS OF THE REALM. The Tucson Coin and Stamp Show meets from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, February 18, at Marketplace USA, 3750 E. Irvington Road. Collectibles such as coins, stamps, tokens, post cards and sports cards will be available to buy, sell and trade. Free appraisals, admission and parking. The Tucson Stamp Club meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month in the Armory Park Senior Center, 220 S. Fifth Ave. Browse and trade at 6:30 p.m., with meeting following at 7:45 p.m. Call 743-0429. SPORTS CARD SHOW. A sports card show is held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. February 16 and 17, and from noon to 6 p.m. February 18, at El Con Mall, 3601 E. Broadway. Sports cards, comics, POGS, sports memorabilia and autographs are featured. Buy, sell and trade. Free admission. OPEN-AIR MARKET. Experience the charm of a European style open-air market from 2 p.m. to dusk Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, at Plaza Palomino at Swan and Fort Lowell roads. The gourmet food fair features fresh produce, herbs, coffee, arts and crafts, live music and more. Call 795-1177 for information. Out Of Town RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL. Take a voyage back to the days of knights and chivalry at the Arizona Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace, continuing through March 24 at Gold Canyon Ranch west of Florence Junction. This 25-acre re-creation of a 16th century European open-air market features music, dance, comedy, food, drink, arts, crafts and jousting tournaments. Advance discount tickets are available at all Fry's grocery stores for $10.95, $3.95 for children. Children 5 and under are free. Admission is $11.95, $4.95 for children at the gate. Visitors to the Festival are encouraged to dress in costume. Take Hwy. 89 north to Florence Junction, and head west for seven miles on Hwy. 60/89 to the Festival gate. Call (520) 463-2700.

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