Sept. 18 weekly planner: 10 top LI events

1. Garlic Festival

WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, Garden of Eve, 4558 Sound Ave., Riverhead

INFO 631-722-8777, garden ofevefarm.com

ADMISSION $3 (free younger than 6)

Garlic pasta . . . garlic popcorn . . . garlic ice cream? Indeed -- the stinking rose is on center stage at Garden of Eve's annual celebration.

The outdoor event is a venerable smorgasbord of garlic-tinged foods. Now in its eighth year, the festival has a garlic marketplace, where more than 10 varieties of fresh garlic are sold by growers, as well as crafts and other wares. Check out the garlic-themed games for kids and live bluegrass music.

Feeling inventive? Enter your homemade dish in the garlic cooking contest.

2. Kendra Wilkinson

The reality star, "Dancing With the Stars" contestant and former Playboy Mansion resident discusses the ups and downs of being a new mom in "Being Kendra: Cribs, Cocktails and Getting My Sexy Back." She'll sign copies Tuesday at Book Revue in Huntington.

WHEN | WHERE 6 p.m. Tuesday, Book Revue, 313 New York Ave., Huntington

INFO 631-271-1442, bookrevue.com

ADMISSION Free

3. Bulb sale

So long, summer -- but now's the time to plant for spring. For the first time, Old Westbury Gardens is hosting a sale of bulbs specially selected by its horticultural staff that will bloom in 2012. Home gardeners can pick up tulip bulbs that will flower in shades from dark purple to white as well as other varieties such as snowdrops and scillas.

WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Sept. 25, Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury

INFO 516-333-0048, oldwestburygardens.org

ADMISSION $10 ($5 ages 7-17); fees for bulbs vary

4. Adam Graves

Meet former left winger Adam Graves, who helped the Rangers win the Stanley Cup in 1993-94. His No. 9 jersey was retired in 2009 in a ceremony at Madison Square Garden. He'll meet fans and sign memorabilia at Steiner Sports in Garden City.

WHEN | WHERE 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Steiner Sports Store, Roosevelt Field

INFO 800-242-7139, steinersports.com

COST $65-$75 per autograph

5. Pickle Festival

It's a long-running tradition in Greenlawn -- pickles are the stars of their own festival, with 100 large barrels of kosher and garlic dills alongside new pickles (they're crisper) and those flavored with horseradish and mustard. The setting? A historic working farm.

WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 24, John Gardiner Farm, 900 Park Ave., Huntington. Rain date Sept. 25

INFO 631-754-1180, gcha.info

ADMISSION $3 (free younger than 12)

6. Roger Daltrey

The Who's lead singer continues his tour performing the legendary rock opera "Tommy" from start to finish. He's joined by guitarist Simon Townshend, the younger brother of The Who's Pete Townshend.

WHEN | WHERE 8 p.m. Friday, Nassau Coliseum

INFO 800-745-3000, nassaucoliseum.com

ADMISSION $44-$129.50 ($7 parking)

7. Star-watching party

The Custer Institute celebrates the stars at its annual Astronomy Jamboree, a two-day event that takes you around the universe with speakers and programs. Festivities begin Friday with poetry readings, a concert and stargazing session (weather permitting). The next day, a series of expert speakers kicks off at 2 p.m., with a keynote address at 8 by bestselling science author Dava Sobel.

WHEN | WHERE 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, 1-10 p.m. Sept. 24, Custer Observatory, 1115 Main Bayview Rd., Southold

ADMISSION $45 ($15 keynote speech only)

INFO 631-765-2626, custerobservatory.org

8. Relay race

The annual Bethpage Ocean to Sound Relay sends teams of eight runners scurrying on a scenic 50-mile relay course that stretches from Jones Beach to the North Shore. Each runner takes a 5- to 7-mile leg of the course, which runs through Seaford, Massapequa, Farmingdale, Huntington and Lloyd Harbor. Runners celebrate with a post-race party with food and music Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay.

WHEN | WHERE 8 a.m. Sept. 25, Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh

INFO 516-349-7646, glirc.org

ADMISSION $400 a team or $40 individual (registration deadline Saturday)

9. Chess tournament -- for kids

Chess fanatics in grades kindergarten through 12 will square off at the fifth annual Usdan Chess Challenge. Participants will play four games in the U.S. Chess Federation-rated tournament -- trophies will be awarded to the top five finishers.

WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m., Sept. 25, Usdan Center, 185 Colonial Springs Rd., Wheatley Heights

INFO 631-643-7900, usdan.com

ADMISSION $35 registration ($25 advance), plus $16-$24 U.S. Chess Federation membership.

10. Cruise the Hamptons

Consider it a real life version of Trivial Pursuit. Vintage car owners are invited on a 60-mile cruise through the back roads of the Hamptons. Along the way, you'll answer trivia questions or search for clues to the next checkpoint -- the team that crosses the finish line first with the most correct answers wins. It's all to benefit The Retreat, a Hamptons-based domestic violence nonprofit.

WHEN | WHERE 8:30 a.m.-noon Sept. 24, starting at The Retreat Boutique, 2101 Montauk Hwy., Bridgehampton; lunch follows at the Bridgehampton Motoring Club, 3 Tradesman's Path

INFO 631-329-4398, theretreatinc.org

ADMISSION $175 for driver and navigator (includes lunch), $45 per extra passenger