The Arts Council of Moore County has the perfect event if you are looking to plan something special for your Valentine.

The Arts Council and Pinehurst Resort will host the "Heart and Soul of Jazz" (formerly "Jazz 'n' January") event on Valentine's weekend, Friday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Carolina Hotel at Pinehurst Resort.

As the Arts Council's most glitzy fundraiser, "Heart and Soul of Jazz" will present two great jazz performers: Freddy Cole Quartet on Feb. 9 and the Tierney Sutton Band on Feb. 10.

Tickets for "Heart and Soul of Jazz" can be purchased by calling the Pinehurst Resort Services desk at 910-235-8415.

The $65 ticket (or $110 for both nights) includes the concert ticket, a meet-the-artists dessert reception, and a chance for a door prize.

The door prize for Friday night is a $1,000 shopping spree at Lyne's Furniture Gallery in Pinehurst. The door prize on Saturday night is a weekend stay at one of ClubCorp's other properties in the U.S.

Pinehurst Resort is offering a pre-concert dinner in the Carolina dining room each night for $30 (tax and gratuity included), and a special $179 per person per night rate, which includes a concert ticket, reception, accommodations, breakfast, dinner, and champagne delivered to your room in celebration of the Valentine's holiday.

The purpose of this weekend of great jazz is to benefit the Arts Council and its many programs and services presented throughout Moore County. Some of these programs are offered to Moore County schools, such as our Performing Arts in Moore Schools (PAMS) Program, which presents at least one professional performing artist or company in every Moore County school.

"The Arts Council also gives our young people the opportunity to display their artistic talents in the Campbell House Galleries as part of the annual Young People's Fine Arts Festival and to share their acting talent on stage during the annual Summer Theatre Camp and various youth productions throughout the year," says Chris Dunn, executive director. "Without this event, the Arts Council would not be able to fulfill its mission: support, promote, and encourage arts and arts education throughout Moore County.

The major sponsors of this two-day event are Pinehurst Resort, Progress Energy, and American Airlines.

Sponsors of the post-concert, meet-the-artists reception are BB&T and Wachovia. Lyne's Furniture Gallery will provide a door prize for a lucky audience member.

For more information on events presented by the Arts Council, call 910-692-4356, e-mail acmc@pinehurst.net, or visit www.artscouncil-moore. org.