Be an Oscar Watcher or Attend a Concert, Opera or Flower Show

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening. It’s your time. Take it.

Each week, we’ll tell you about great ideas to give you a much-deserved break and make your life a little easier—maybe a whole lot easier.

Continuous Showing of Oscar's Best Movie Nominations  

Before the Oscar winners are announced on ABC Sunday evening, all of the 10 "Best Movie" nominations can be seen at AMC Parkway Pointe 15, 3101 Cobb Parkway at Interstate 75. This theater is one of only 15 in the nation showing all 10 of these movies in the marathon format.

The movies will be shown from 10 a.m. Saturday through around 8:30 a.m. Sunday. The 24-hour marathon pass costs $50, which includes a free $20 AMC gift card to buy food and drink since no outside food and beverages are allowed.

Oscar Night America fundraiser on Sunday

Atlanta's only officially-sanctioned Oscar party will take place in next-door Cobb County on Sunday night.

The 7:30 p.m. event will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, on Akers Mill Road at I-75. Due to construction around the facility, you should allow for parking delays.

Viewing party tickets are $25 with proceeds going to the Center for Family Resources based in Marietta. Black tie is optional.

For more than 50 years, the Center for Family Resources has helped low-income families with employment, education and housing services; leadership development programs; mentoring opportunities and temporary financial and food assistance.

Last year's Oscar Night America-Atlanta event raised more than $255,000.

Ticketholders will watch the telecast in a theatre setting and experience an evening of entertainment with hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, raffle, photo booth and a dance floor.  

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.atlantaredcarpet.com.

Relay for Life Gospel Concert

The 2011 Relay for Life Gospel Concert will feature the Steadfast Quartet and Heirborn at 6 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

All of the sales go to the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life of Paulding County.

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at Bellamy Funeral Home at either the Hiram or Powder Springs locations. (The Hiram location is at 3551 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, and the Powder Springs location is at 4405 Marietta St.)

There also will be door prizes and giveaways. For more information, contact Tommy Deavers at 770-401-7901 or Tonya Farist at 404-626-7587.

Porgy and Bess at Cobb Energy Centre

The Atlanta Opera will present The Gershwins' "Porgy and Bess" beginning this weekend through next weekend at the Cobb Energy Centre.

Showtimes are Saturday at 8 p.m., Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., March 4 at 8 p.m. and March 6 at 3 p.m. Running time is about three hours.

Before each show, an optional one-hour program will be presented to discuss the show. There will be no late seating. Again, construction delays should be considered.

"In Charleston, the struggling occupants of Catfish Row live a life of hard work and tough times, yearning for a better life and great love," according to the Atlanta Opera website. One of the most famous songs from this American opera is "Summertime" by George Gershwin.

Southeastern Flower Show at Cobb Galleria

The Southeastern Flower Show will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Galleria Parkway, near I-75 at I-285 this weekend.

Hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The "In Tune with Blooms" theme features a partnership with the Atlanta Opera.

Ticket prices are $15 in advance before Thursday, $18 for general admission and $7 for students. Admission is free to Southeastern Horticultural Society members.