THURS., NOV. 16

Elegant Luncheon Calabasas Women's Connection hosts Holiday Sweets Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Calabasas Inn, 23500 Park Sorrento. Ellen Ansok from Cakes By You demonstrates chocolate dish. Guest speaker Adrienne Di Camillo, management consultant, "How to Live a Fairy Tale Life." Music by Pat Johnson. $24. RSVP Helen, (818) 348-5247 or Joan (818) 341-8684.

Rose In Bloom Ventura County Rose Society meets Cowan Conference Center, 550 Airport Way, Camarillo. 7 p.m., "little rose show." 7:30 p.m., Ron Ota, AIFD, owner of Flower Power in Camarillo, presents program on flower arrangements. Lending library available, refreshments served. Visitors welcome. www.venturarose.org.

Take A Hike Chaparral Chatter explores riparian, grassland, redshank communities of Cold Creek Preserve, 8:30 a.m. Moderately paced fourhour hike has stream, towering oaks, open chaparral, birdsongs, vistas. 800foot elevation. Bring hiking boots, hat, water, snack, sunscreen. Meet Lower Stunt High Trail. Sponsored by Mountains Restoration Trust. (818) 591-1701, Ext. 203.

Floral Design Learn floral design in the Sogetsu style, 9:30 a.m., garden center, Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, enter 350 W. Gainsborough Road, Thousand Oaks. First, third Thursday of each month. $15 for class, $10 for flowers or $50/month. Camille, (805) 498-7421.

Flower Power Joyce Clunis shows how to use flowers in holiday decorations at Pleasant Valley Garden Club meeting, 9:30 a.m., Camarillo Seventhday Adventist Church, 3975 Las Posas Road. Refreshments served at 9 a.m. Sandy Roth (805) 4845484, Sue Ingram (805) 482-0494.

New In Town? Camarillo Newcomers Club meets 11 a.m., lunch at noon. Whale's Tail restaurant, 3950 Blue Fin Circle, Oxnard. Bunny Vreeland, board certified clinical hypnotherapist, presents "The Power of SelfTalk." Learn to reprogram self-talk to achieve positive actions. $15 members, $17 guests. Lunch reservations, (805) 4823290. Club information, (805) 386-4079.

Whodunit Grace Brethren High School presents Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap," 7 p.m., today through Saturday. Grace Brethren Church, 2900 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley. $10 advance, $13 at door. (805) 522-4667.

Open Sesame Royal Drama Players present "40 Thieves," 7 p.m., today through Dec. 2. Multipurpose room, Royal High School, 1402 Royal Ave., Simi Valley. Some matinee shows at 2 p.m. Adapted from "Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves." Refreshments available. $6 to $12. Angie Lopez, (805) 404-4736.

FRI., NOV. 17

The Final Frontier "Star Clusters" Trail to the Stars. Explore largest objects in the known universe from the comfort of a neighborhood park. Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve. 7 to 9 p.m. Meet at Victory trailhead (Victory Boulevard, west of Valley Circle Boulevard). Bring water, jacket, flashlight covered in red cellophane. For all ages. Free, $1 for parking. (310) 454-1395, ext. 153, www.LAmountains.com.

Outer Space Ventura County Astronomical Society hosts Dr. Marc Rayman from JPL, 7:30 p.m., Vista Elementary School, 2175 Wisteria, Simi Valley. Rayman speaks on NASA's Deep Space 1 and Dawn missions. (805) 520-9666.

Artistic Survivor Bruce Kanegai (high school art teacher, karate instructor, TV "Survivor") demonstrates the art of "perspective" 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. Sponsored by Simi Valley Art Association. $5 donation. Anne Cannata, (805) 526-6215 or Edith Wells, (805) 526-3012.

SAT., NOV. 18

Flea Market Angels in Agoura inaugural Flea Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Agoura High School's teacher parking lot. Shopping, baked goods for sale. All proceeds to Casa Pacifica home for abused and neglected children. (818) 408-9038.

Gingerbread Houses Westlake Junior Women's Club hosts 25th annual Gingerbread Fundraising Boutique today, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and tomorrow, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., St. Maximilian Church, 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake Village. 35 vendors show handmade wares and baked goods, desserts for sale. Also, silent auction for Gingerbread House Competition items. Event proceeds go to many local charities. Leisa Schwartz, (818) 865-0401.

Kids' Concert Conejo Valley Children's Concert Series presents Norman Foote and his songs, props, zany humor and wordplay, 9:30 and 11 a.m., 6:30 p.m., Scherr Forum Theatre, Countrywide Performing Arts Center, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $7, $10. All tickets by mail. (805) 388-3021.

SAT., NOV. 18

Ballroom Dancing Thousand Oaks Dance Club meets in ballroom, Goebel Senior Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Doors open 7 p.m., dancing 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Music by The Starlighters. $5 members, $7 nonmembers. Singles, couples welcomed. Light refreshments. (805) 381-2744.

Eye On The Birdie Birding field trip at Ahmanson Ranch with Conejo Valley Audubon Society. Leave Rancho ParkandRide 8 a.m. or north end of Kanan Road, 8:30 a.m. Bring water, jacket. See sparrows, hawks, oak titmouse, warblers, woodpeckers, more. Dee Lyon, (805) 499-2165.

Oaks Chamber Singers Oaks Chamber Singers with Royal Oaks Festival Orchestra presents Requiem by John Rutter, German arts songs by Louis Spohr, Korean boat songs and arias. 8:15 p.m., St. Paschal Baylon Church, 155 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. $20, $16. (805) 499-1913.

We Love Computers See Microsoft's newest operating system, Vista, at Channel Islands PC User Group general computer club meeting, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo, 1500 Temple Ave. Meeting is open to the public, free. www.cipcug.org.

Funds For Children AlmaVia of Camarillo hosts fifth annual holiday boutique, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2500 Ponderosa Drive North. Handmade crafts, gift items, homemade jams, baked goods. Proceeds benefit children at Casa Pacifica crisis and treatment center. (805) 388-5277.

Learn About Avians Mountains Restorations Trust hosts November Youth Naturalist Program, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Headwaters Corner, 23075 Mulholland Hwy., Calabasas. Children ages 8 to 12 examine bird pellets, bird bones and feathers through microscopes. Guest speaker brings live birds for observation. View birds with binoculars. Preregistration required. Fee $15. Susan Haugland, (818) 591-1701, ext. 181.

Support Missions Mission Council of Emmanuel Church hosts annual Christmas Mission market 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 588 Camino Manzanas, Thousand Oaks. For sale: luncheon items and handcrafted goods from natives of developing countries. Youth Ministries also provide children's activities, car wash, bake sale to finance mission trip. (805) 498-4502.

Creativity Unleased

Studio Channel Islands Art Cen

ter presents seventh annual

Juried Membership Exhibition, "Outside the Box." Opening reception 4 to 6 p.m., CSUCI campus, building 18, Ventura Street,

Camarillo. (805) 383-1368.

Gifts For Sale

Conejo Valley Mom's Club and

Out-back's fifth annual Holiday Boutique, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,1040 Even-star, Westlake Village. Unique gifts, raffle, bake sale. (805) 375-1064.

Bibliophiles Friends of the Calabasas Library hosts quarterly book sale, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 23975 Park Sorrento. Adult fiction, nonfiction, children's books, audio books, movies at $2 and less. (818) 225-7616.

Swing Your Partner Ripsnorter Square Dance Club hosts plus level square dance with A-1 tip. 7 p.m. rounds, 8 p.m. squares. Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St. $6 donation. Ed and Beth, (805) 482-3201.

Learn About Wildlife Biologist Richard Posey lectures on recreation in California's National Wildlife Refuges and Condor Recovery Program, 2 p.m., National Park Service Visitor Center, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Free. (805) 370-2301.

New Homes For Pets Petstop Rescue fundraiser garage sale, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3004 Kilaine, Simi Valley. All proceeds help abused pets find new homes. Denise Esswein, (805) 526-4472.

SUN., NOV. 19

Cities' Concert Community concert and jazz band performs music from Mozart and movies, 5 p.m., Willow Elementary School, Agoura Hills. Sponsored by city of Agoura Hills Department of Community Services, Las Virgenes Unified School District, city of Westlake Village. (818) 597-7361.

Hanukkah Boutique Congregation B'nai Emet hosts annual Hanukkah Boutique, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4645 Industrial St., No. 2C, Simi Valley. For sale: gifts, jewelry, books, toys, clothing, food, housewares, art work, Judaica items. Meridith, (805) 581-3723.

Run Dog Run Second Annual Rabid Dog Run. 5K, one-mile Fun Run and Walk, Tierra Rejada Farms, Moorpark. All proceeds benefit Deirdre Malafronte Foundation (scholarships to children who have lost a parent). Children's activities, raffle, prizes to racers. January Ornellas, (805) 5539520. www.active.com.

MON., NOV. 20

Gal's Night Out Moorpark Women's Fortnightly Club hosts evening meeting, Gal's Night Out, 7 p.m., at home of Suzy Lesiak. Several vendors will show gift items for holiday shopping. Lesiak, (805) 530-1577.