Chance to ogle gems? Priceless

Tucson

Feb. 8-11: All that glitters won’t be just gold at the winter Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. There will also be opal, azurite, malachite, crocoite and many other sparklers. Treasure hunters can sift among the offerings of more than 200 retail dealers and drool over exhibits from private and museum collections.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 8-10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 11. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. $7, children 14 and younger free; (520) 322-5773, www.tgms.org.

San Francisco

Feb. 16-18: The 40th California International Antiquarian Book Fair, billed as the world’s largest, features more than 200 booksellers from around the globe. Highlights include a rare-books “roadshow” with free appraisals; rare travel, voyage and exploration books; plus a renowned collection of calligraphy.

3-9 p.m. Feb. 16, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 17, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 18. Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th St. Tickets are $15 Friday (valid for the weekend), $10 Saturday and Sunday; (800) 454-6401, www.sfbookfair.com.

Watsonville, Calif.

Feb. 24-25: The fine art of quilt making is celebrated at the Symphony of Fabric and Thread, orchestrated for display at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. It’s the Pajaro Valley Quilt Assn.’s 29th annual showcase of quilts and needle arts. There will be more than 450 quilts on display, plus wearable art, a merchants mall, a fashion show and an auction of quilts.

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, California 152. $7 adults, $6 students and seniors, children under 12 free; (831) 753-2654, www.pvqa.org.

-- Amy Hubbard

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