Feb. 12 weekly planner: Top 10 LI events

1. Meet A-Rod

Is it baseball season yet? Not exactly -- although pitchers and catchers for New York's teams report next week for spring training in Florida. Before then, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez makes a rare appearance on Long Island to meet fans and sign autographs at Steiner Sports, Roosevelt Field.

A-Rod was 32 in 2007 when he became the youngest player to reach 500 home runs in the major leagues. These days, he's also the highest-paid player, netting $29 million this season. Fans can bring photographs, baseballs, jerseys, bats and other memorabilia to be signed by No. 13.

2. 'Chocolat' on Valentine's Day

Grab your sweetheart and celebrate Valentine's Day with a screening of the Academy Award-nominated film "Chocolat" starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, whose character has moved to a small French village to open a confectionary shop. After the screening, stick around for a reception with chocolates, champagne, wine and cider -- plus flowers for your valentine to take home.

3. Harlem Globetrotters

"Tiny" Sturgess, the world's tallest professional basketball player (he checks in at 7-foot- 8), joins Jonte "Too Tall" Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever (5-foot-2) for a night of antics and artistry on the court, along with veterans "Flight Time" Lang and the team's showman, "Special K" Daley.

4. Gearing up for Oscar

The 84th annual Academy Awards will be bestowed on the stars in Hollywood Feb. 26. Good news for those who haven't seen all the nominated films: Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is hosting free screenings of a dozen feature-length films (plus other nominees in short film categories). Among the highlights: "The Help" (7:30 p.m. Friday), "Bridesmaids" (1 p.m. Saturday) and "Ides of March" (1 p.m. Feb. 19). Seating is first-come, first served.

5. Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon's annual four-day event encourages bird lovers all over the United States and Canada to keep tally of what species of birds they see. Anyone can participate simply by bird-watching in their own backyard Friday to Feb. 20 and uploading the results at birdsource.org/gbbc.

If you'd rather take an outing with a group, various state parks along the Fire Island National Seashore are hosting special weekend events -- don't forget your binoculars.

6. Winter Antiques Fair

Summer's almost weekly antiques fairs are a long way off. Still, you can browse tables filled with finds such as vintage hats, die-cast toys and china when more than 50 exhibitors gather in the ballroom at the Marriott in Hauppauge. Among the show's highlights: a display of paintings dating to the '30s.

7. 'Fiddler on the Roof'

A traveling version of the Tony Award-winning musical will be staged for two performances only at Tilles Center. The show, which tells the story of a Russian family struggling to balance old and new traditions, stars John Preece as the milkman Tevye.

8. Aaron Lewis -- of Staind

The lead singer and rhythm guitarist for hard-rockin' Staind is touring in support of his 2011 solo EP, "Town Line," whose single, "Country Boy," is up for two Academy of Country Music Awards. Yes, you read that correctly -- Lewis has taken a turn toward country.

9. Country Thursdays

Add this to the growing list of places to hear country music: the Paramount's new "Country Thursdays" party is a night of pure country flair with live music from County Line, line dancing lessons and even mechanical bull rides.

10. Meet soap stars

Two stars from ABC's long-running soap opera "General Hospital" make a joint appearance to discuss their characters on-screen and meet fans for photos and autographs -- they are Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) and Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos III).