It finally looks like Arctic temps and the scrape of snow shovels may soon disappear for another eight months or so, and, as always, the city springs into action.

Seeing green: This year’s Making Brooklyn Bloom event (Saturday, March 12 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave, Brooklyn; free before noon, $8 after) focuses on the ways gardening can build communities and strengthen relationships among neighbors, with fifteen workshops covering topics like rooftop farming, citizen science, and caring for street trees. If your idea of green things runs more to leprechauns (or dyed beer), get a head start on the public-nuisance-making at any of the Village Pourhouse St. Patty’s Day Pub Crawls. Check here for schedule and tickets.

Spring benefit gala action: The social whirl is in full effect with plenty of opportunities to dine and dance with stars and socialites to help a good cause. The top of this week’s crop includes the Taste of Success fundraiser to benefit Streetwise Partners (Thursday, March 10, 7-10 p.m.; Providence Lounge, 311 West 57th Street; tickets and info here.), a culinary and beverage tasting event which promises a chance to sample the city’s best food, wine, beer and spirits. The Pediatric Cancer Research First Annual Benefit Event at MoMa (Wednesday, March 9, 7:30-10:45  p.m.; MoMA, 11 West 53rd Street; tickets and info here.) features a performance by Regina Spektor, a private viewing of Picasso’s Guitars exhibit, an outstanding hors d’oeuvres menu and desserts by Michael Laiskonis, Executive Pastry Chef at Le Bernardin.

The spring antiques shows: As the seasons return, so do the Pier Antiques Show (March 12th-13th, 10 a.m. -6 p.m., 12th Avenue at 55th Street; $15) and Antiques and Art at the Armory (March 10-13; full schedule here; $20.) extravaganzas, assuring that dealers and collectors–and just-lookers–get their fix of old, good things.