ST. LOUIS: MARDI GRAS, SPORTS AND SCIENCE WARM UP WINTER

ST. LOUIS Forget winter. For the next three months, nearby St. Louis welcomes spring with a toasty lineup of special events that will warm even the coldest heart. Here's a sample:

Soulard Mardi Gras (Feb. 22-March 2)

Get ready to catch traditional "Fat Tuesday" beads at the parade, listen to the best blues and jazz in the Midwest and sample cajun and Creole cooking from Soulard's restaurants. The historic neighborhood just south of the Gateway Arch brings St. Louis' French heritage to life each year for the best Mardi Gras celebration outside New Orleans. For more information, call (314) 771-1238.

Missouri Valley Conference Basketball ~Tournament (March 7-9)

Hoops are hot in March at the St. Louis Arena as the Diet Pepsi Missouri Valley Conference Tournament kicks off round two of "Arch Madness." Teams from Northern Iowa, Drake, Creighton, Bradley, Illinois State, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Southwest Missouri State, University of Tulsa, Wichita State are competing for the eight tournament spots. For ticket information, call (314) 291-7600.

Tropical Rainforest Exhibit (Through April 5)

The Smithsonian's acclaimed exhibit "Tropical Rainforests: A Disappearing Treasure" comes to the newly expanded St. Louis Science Center. Visitors will learn about the plants and people of this endangered ecosystem through displays, special events and hands-on activities. The St. Louis Zoo and the Missouri Botanical Garden, both of which offer environmental~~~~ and ecological attractions, join the Science Center in bringing this timely exhibit to St. Louis. For more information, call (314) 289-4400.

St. Patrick's Day Parade (March 14)

Put on your shamrocks! Everybody's Irish as thousands of St. Louisans fill downtown streets to watch the 23rd annual parade. A five-mile certified run precedes the parade. For more information, call (314) 231-2598.

Homebuilders Home & Garden Show (March 1~-22)

You don't need a green thumb to enjoy hundreds of exhibits and demonstrations at the Cervantes Convention Center. Learn more about landscaping, gardening, and raising your own vegetables. For more information, call (3140 994-7700.

Mid-America Jazz Festival (March 20-22)

The 11th annual festival features the best in local and national jazz bands at the Stouffer Concourse Hotel. For more information, call (314) 469-0255.

St. Louis Flower Show (April 23-26)

Welcome spring with the show's dramatic garden vignettes, judged flower entries, boutiques and seminars on ways to get ~more from your garden. The annual show takes place at Queeny Park. For more information, call (314) 997-3407.

St. Louis' professional theaters and acting companies also have full schedules of locally produced and touring drama, music and dance during February, March and April. Call ahead for tickets for these exciting performances:

Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, (314) 968-9380 "A View from the Bridge" February 5-March 6; "Almost September" March 11-April 10.

Muny Broadway Series at the Fox, (314) 361-1900 "A Chorus Line" March 3-8'; "Lost in Yonkers" April 21-26.

St. Louis Black Repertory Company, (314) 534-3807 "A Story of the Old Days" February 7-March 1; "Shakin' the Mess Outa Misery" April 16-May 17.

Dance St. Louis, (314) 961-5535 Paul Taylor Dance Company, Feb. 7-8; Mazowsze, Feb. 21-22; Joyce Trisler Danscompany, March 27-28; Jof~frey Ballet, April 10-12; Michael Moschen in Motion, April 24-25.

For a free St. Louis Calendar of Events, call 1-800-247-9791 and ask for the St. Louis Sampler.