Orchid Show and Plant Sale: At least 25,000 different varieties of orchids from throughout the world will be on display at the Scottish Rite Memorial Center in Mission Valley, March 17-19. The event, known for its luxurious and color-rich displays, will attract more than 8,000 spectators. Tickets are $6 at the door. The Scottish Rite Center is located at 1895 Camino del Rio South in Mission Valley. (619) 583-3804.

Shamrock: The Gaslamp District turns green with San Diego’s hottest block party. Over 40,000 square feet of green Astroturf will blanket the Gaslamp. Drink specials and traditional Irish fare will be featured at many locations, including Maloney’s, Martini Ranch and the Shaker Room. Free rides home will be offered anywhere in San Diego County to anyone with a Shamrock wristband. Tickets are $20. The party runs from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight. (619) 233-5008.

The Twilight of the Golds: If your parents knew everything about you before you were born, would you be here? That is the question posed in this topical drama. All is well when Suzanne Gold and her close New York family discover that she is pregnant, until a prenatal test reveals that the baby will most likely be gay. The news forces the entire Gold family to confront issues of bigotry, evolution and the limits of love. The play runs March 18-April 9. Opening night tickets on March 18 are $37, which includes a post-show cast party. Tickets are $23 to $27 for all regular performances. (619) 220-0097 or www.diversionary.org.

Bad Date Dinner Theatre: This show is a slate of one-act comedies that take a humorous view of dysfunctional relationships. The evening will include pieces by G.B. Shaw, Alan Ball and A.R. Gurney Jr. Dinner, consisting of an appetizer, entrée and refreshments, will be available at the adjacent Mediterranean Café, located at 112 Washington St., from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets for dinner and show are $22 to $27. Performance only tickets are $15 to $17. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. at the Get Wireless Store, located at 116 Washington St. (619) 297-7309.

Thread: San Diego’s premiere fashion and lifestyle event hits Balboa Park with more than 100 emerging fashion designers. The event features runway shows, an art show, DJs and a martini bar. Retail buyers can pick up the hottest new lines. The event runs 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the San Diego Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. www.threadshow.com.

David Gray: The talented British singer-songwriter takes the stage at Copley Symphony Hall at 8:00 p.m. to promote his seventh studio album, Life in Slow Motion. Aqualung opens. The British band has a similar folk and electronica-inspired sound. The Copley Symphony Hall is located at 750 B St. Tickets are $37 to $47. (619) 220-TIXS.

Menopause the Musical: As part of its 50-city tour, the play comes to the California Center for the Arts in Escondido at 7:30 p.m. Four women – a power woman, an earth mother, a soap star and an Iowa housewife – come together at a Bloomingdale’s lingerie sale, and have nothing in common but a black lace bra and hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, chocolate binges, not enough sex, too much sex and plastic surgery. Parodies of 25 of the top Baby Boomer songs of the ’60s and ’70s will be performed. Tickets are $45 to $50. The show will benefit the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition San Diego Chapter. The California Center for the Arts in Escondido is located at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. in Escondido. (800) 988-4253.

Tab Hunter: The former teen idol and recording artist reveals how it felt to appear on and off screen with the biggest leading ladies of his day while dealing with the reality of being gay in a time when the word did not exist. The event is part of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture’s Distinguished Authors Series, in alliance with J*Pride. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. The David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre is located at 4126 Executive Dr. (858) 362-1348.

San Diego Uncorked Happy Hour: Tower 23 Hotel at JRDN restaurant hosts an evening of wine tasting. This event is sponsored exclusively by Tobin James winery and there will be great deals all night on their wines. In addition, JRDN has created an exclusive menu of appetizers to pair with the Tobin James wines. Pay per the glass with no entrance fee. JRDN is located at 723 Felspar St. in Pacific Beach. (858) 270-5736.

Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market: Browse and shop at this farmer’s market that features approximately 80 booths containing a variety of select fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, cheese and flowers, including specialty items and tasty treats. The farmer’s market runs from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., and is located in Ocean Beach at the 4900 block of Newport Avenue. (619) 279-0032.

Beth Orton: The British singer-songwriter takes the stage at the House of Blues. Her music is a unique blend of acoustic folk with the electronic beats of trip-hop, creating a fresh, distinct fusion of roots and rhythm. Orton collaborated with Ryan Adams and the Chemical Brothers on her new album, Comfort of Strangers. The show starts at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The House of Blues is located at 1055 Fifth Ave. (619) 220-8497.

Art at 6: The inaugural event, a monthly showing of art at Kimpton’s Hotel Solamar, features a silent auction showcasing paintings created by the young artists of A Reason to Survive (ARTS), a San Diego-based nonprofit providing free creative arts programs to children. The event takes place from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and a hosted wine bar will be available to all guests. Hotel Solamar will donate all proceeds from the evening to ARTS. The Hotel Solamar is located at 435 Sixth Ave. (619) 295-8232.