Predators Foundation Wine Festival and Tasting. Featuring more than 200 higher-end wines, beer and a spirits tasting and an extensive silent auction with more than 200 items. Tonight's event also will include culinary delicacies and a photo opportunity with GNASH. A VIP dinner & tasting will take place in the Patron Platinum Club. It will feature a five-course dinner with wine pairing and hand-crafted wines. The VIP event begins at 6 p.m. and is $200 per person. VIP guests may attend the Wine Festival prior to the VIP dinner. Bridgestone Arena. Information: www.predators.nhl/club/page.htm

APRIL 17-MAY 2

Brentwood City Commission Early Voting

8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road; Brentwood Municipal Center, 5211 Maryland Way; Williamson County Administrative Complex, 1320 West Main Street, Franklin. Information: 790-5711.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

Wilson County Chamber Business After Hours

5-6:30 p.m., Genesis Career College, 1505 Noah Court, Lebanon. Information: 453-7066.

50 Shades of Pay: Tales of Forbidden Deeds under the Equal Pay Act

April’s Third Thursday Labor & Employment Law Breakfast Briefing at Baker Donelson, 8 a.m., 211 Commerce. Space is limited for this complimentary program and breakfast. RSVP by April: [email protected].

Bellevue Chamber Lunch Meeting

Guest speaker is Davidson County Clerk Brenda Wynn, who formerly was director of community outreach for U. S. Rep. Jim Cooper. 11:30 a.m., the Pavillion at Harpeth Hills, 9090 Hwy 100.

April 18-21

Southern Women’s Show

It’s all about shopping, creative cooking ideas, healthy lifestyle tips, trendy fashion shows and great celebrity guests. Plus, learn about travel destinations, home décor and improvement ideas, and business opportunities. Nashville Convention Center: 601 Commerce Street, Nashville. Schedule and Information: SouthernWomensShows.com

April 18-25

44th annual Nashville Film Festival

Named one of the top five in the U.S. by Brooks Institute, and an Academy Award qualifier, The Nashville Film Festival has become one of the premier showcases for the best new work of American and international filmmakers. The festival screens films that represent the creative risk filmmakers take to tell powerful and important stories innovatively. All showings held at Regal Green Hills Cinema. Complete lineup available at NashvilleFilmFestival.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19

Franchise Business Network Meeting

Baker Donelson will host the International Franchise Association’s Quarterly Franchise Business Network lunch meeting. This complimentary networking event, which brings together franchisors, franchisees and industry suppliers for substantive programming and conversation on the latest business and legislative developments in the franchise world, will feature the following speakers and topics:

  • Andria Herr, Hylant Group: Health Care Reform – The True Market Impact
  • Andrea Powers, Baker Donelson: Understanding The Employee Time Clock and Related Party Rules of the Affordable Care Act
  • Steve Gross and Dixie McCurley, Trusted CFO Solutions: How to Virtualize your Back Office With Real-Time Dashboards

Space is limited; RSVP by Monday, April 15 via email to [email protected].

Social Enterprise Shared Interest Group

The new Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Social Enterprise Shared Interest Group launches March 19 at centresource, 1313 4th Avenue North, Germantown. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 743-3063.

Ask the Expert: Live!

The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to launch a new three-part series called Ask the Expert: Live! aimed at delivering ideas, business strategies and secrets for success from local industry experts. The experts have been chosen from different industries to facilitate well-rounded and valuable conversations to equip you with the knowledge to help grow your business. Bring plenty of business cards for the connections you will make. 8:30-10 a.m., Goodwill Industries of Middle TN, Inc., 937 Herman Street, Nashville. Information: nashvillechamber.com, 743-3063.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Nashville Earth Day Festival

Families can celebrate Mother Earth and become more environmentally alert at this free event, which features live entertainment. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Centennial Park. Information: nashvilleearthday.org.

Watkins Community Education Open House & YART Sale

Open House for the Watkins Community Education department, with hands-on activities and demos to preview the summer 2013 Community Education session. YART Sale features original art by students and faculty. 1 to 4 p.m., Watkins College of Art, Design & Film, 2298 Rosa L. Parks Blvd., Nashville. Information: 383-4848, Watkins.edu/community.

Foundation Fighting Blindness Vision Walk

Raising funds to drive research to provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. 9 a.m. registration, 10 a.m. Walk. Bicentennial Mall. Information: fightblindness.org

West 70 Arts Cruise

Pegram is a showcase for the gifts and treasures of local artists, craftsmen, musicians and farmers. Art demonstrations, music, local flavors and homegrown produce. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Information: [email protected], 646-6644.

Baptist Baby Fair

New and expectant parents will find educational seminars, exhibits and demonstrations about infant safety, education, health and nutrition, exercise, maternity wear, baby clothing, furniture and other products and local resources. New this year, Baptist Hospital will offer educational resources on new and emerging birth options that include tub labor, family-centered caesarian section and limited doula services. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Information: 256-2158, ext. 139.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration

The Nashville Shakespeare Festival presents Bardaroo!, a free musical birthday celebration for the Bard April 21 at Cumberland Park. The event, 2-6 p.m., marks William Shakespeare’s 449th birthday. It’s also part of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s year-long silver anniversary festivities. Information: http://nashvilleshakes.org/.

MONDAY, APRIL 22

NashvilleNext Speaker Series

Greater Nashville Association of Realtors-sponsored events will feature nationally known experts addressing a number of important issues including regionalism, smart growth and environment. Information: nashvillenext.net. Sessions include:

  • April 22 – Topic: Infrastructure/Smart Growth. Theme: The High Cost of America’s Inefficient Development Patterns. Speaker: William Fulton, AICP, vice president & director of policy development & implementation, Smart Growth America. 5:30 p.m., Nashville Children’s Theater, 25 Middleton St., Nashville.
  • May 6 – Topic: Regionalism. Theme: Regional Partnerships to Achieve Local Viability. Speaker: Amy Liu, Senior Fellow, Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution. 5:30 p.m., Nashville Children’s Theater, 25 Middleton St., Nashville.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

Business Bootcamp

This five-session course, sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship, Lipscomb University, will show you how to work on your business and stop working in your business. Session 1 (7:30-10:30 a.m.) is “a 30,000-foot perspective on business basics: from operations to outsourcing; brand development to time management; and strategic planning and determining your critical success factors. Sessions 2-5 (7:30-9:30 a.m., April 30, May 7, 14, 21) offers “a deeper dive into all things business – focusing on strategic planning, business development, brand and image, human resources, corporate culture and leadership. All sessions: Lipscomb University, Ezell Building #234, One University Park Drive, Nashville. Information: Information: nashvillechamber.com, 743-3041.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

Celebration Summit for Tennessee Scholars

For the past 10 years, more than 25,000 students have graduated as Tennessee Scholars. Attendees at this event can learn the history of Tennessee Scholars and how to participate. 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., AT&T, 333 Commerce Street, Nashville. Information: tnchamber.org, [email protected].

TUESDAY, MAY 14

Chipping in for Children

The first annual Nashville Chipping in for Children tournament raises money for the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville. The tournament is being held at Gaylord Springs Gold Links. 10 a.m. Information: Chippinginforchildrengolf.com, (866) 386-6687.

THURSDAY, MAY 16

Festival on the Fairway

Proceeds benefit the Rochelle Center & Progress, Inc. Foursomes will enjoy this colorful golf scramble at which every hole provides an opportunity to eat, drink and test your skills. 1:30-6 p.m., Pine Creek Golf Course, 1835 Logue Road, Mt. Juliet. Information: eventbrite.com/event/5601175266

May 19-20

Music City Center Grand Opening

Grammy-winning artist and Nashville resident Sheryl Crow will headline the Music City Center grand opening and free outdoor concert on Monday, May 20. Festivities are open to the public during the two-day celebration beginning May 19. Performing with Crow will be The Time Jumpers, Vince Gill, the Fisk Jubilee Singers and Mikky Ekko. The concert is set for 6-9 p.m., followed by fireworks. A free open house will take place both Sunday and Monday.