THURS., MAY 10

Showcase Of Stars Chaparral Middle School hosts Showcase of the Stars, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., 280 Poindexter Ave., Moorpark. Teacher open house, art, music, poetry, theme-basket raffles, live auction, food. (805) 378-6302.

Geo Hazards Conejo Gem & Mineral Club meets 7:30 p.m., HIllcrest Arts Center, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Topic: Scott Simons of Moorpark College talks on geological hazards. Youth program during business meeting. Free, public welcome. Becky Williamson, (805) 532-1916.

FRI., MAY 11

Really Big Show Fireside Concerts presents annual Ed Sullivan-like Variety Show, 8 p.m., Borchard Community Center, 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park. 11 acts by members of Southern California Songmakers. $5 donation at door. Proceeds to Songmakers, nonprofit supporting acoustic music. Bob Kroll, (805) 499-3511.

Bravo For Women Ventura County chapter, National Association of Women Business Owners hosts ninth annual Bravo Awards Luncheon, "Celebrating the Power of Women," 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Moorpark Country Club, 11800 Championship Drive. Local women honored for community service. $80. Tickets www.nawbovc.org.

We've Got Rhythm Simi Valley Council on Aging hosts bimonthly dance, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Moore Music plays. Doors open, dance instruction 7 p.m. $6, proceeds to senior programs. (805) 583-6041.

Cuban Casino Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley in Canoga Park hosts fundraiser, third annual "Club de Cuba," 6:30 p.m., Warner Center Marriott Hotel, Woodland Hills. Casino gaming, music, dancing, dinner, silent and live auctions. $100. Jan Sobel, (818) 610-1054.

Youth Appreciated Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge No. 2477 honors youth with Italian Nite dinner, 6 p.m., 158 Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks. Award presentation 6 p.m. Scholarships given, essay winners announced, Scouts recognized. Open to public. $10, no RSVP needed. (805) 496-2477.

SAT., MAY 12

Argentine Tango Argentine Tango social dancing, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Paiva Dance Academy, 2636 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $10 includes refreshments. Orlando Paiva Jr., (805)496-7620, www. paivadanceacademy.com.

Nature Painting Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains hosts paint-out. Meet 10 a.m. in parking lot, Malibu Creek State Park, 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Malibu. Enjoy mountain vistas, treelined paths, Malibu Creek and more. Bring own supplies, water. Restrooms available. Free parking. Carole Garland, (310) 338-0333, carolegarland@sbcglobal.net.

Family Fun City of Ventura Community Services Department Cultural Affairs Division hosts annual Kids Swap Meet, noon to 3 p.m., and Festival in the Park, noon to 5 p.m., Barranca Vista Center and Park, 7050 Ralston St., Ventura. Music, theater performances, clowns, cultural activities, face painting, art projects, moon bounces, food vendors. Free. Swap meet for children to trade or sell gently used toys, clothes, bikes, books. Kathryn Dippong-Lawson, (805) 644-6542, kdippong@ci.ventura.ca.us. www.cityofventura.net.

Archery Club Conejo Valley Archers shoot every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, Tapo Canyon Park, Simi Valley. Rain or shine. Equipment, instructors provided. All ages welcome. $3/four hours shooting. (805) 530-1339, www.cvarchers.org.

Cruisin' The Conejo Conejo Valley Cyclists, Boy Scout Troop 753 host 23rd annual Cruisin' the Conejo ride in Thousand Oaks area. Rides of 12 to 100 miles. Registration 6:30 to 9 a.m. Rides begin 7, 8, 9 a.m. Single riders $10, tandem $60, children $10. Proceeds provide free bikes, helmets to students in need. For locations (805) 961-2508, www.cvcbike.org.

Tea Party Democratic Women's Council hosts Mother's Day tea, garden party, 1 to 4 p.m. at private home on Westlake Island. Tea, wine, sandwiches served. Informal fashion show. Jewelry, beauty items for sale. Hats encouraged. $25. RSVP (805) 497-1003.

Bet On A Winner Blue Gavel Scholarship Casino Night fundraiser, Westlake Yacht Club, 32123 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. No-host bar 6:30 p.m., casino games 7 p.m. Texas Hold'em tournament. $50. Randy DeMaio, (805) 373-2524.

For The Kids Topanga Children's Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Music, dance, theater, children's art activities, local vendors, unique performers. $5. Benefits Topanga Co-op Preschool. www.topangachildrensfestival.com.

SUN., MAY 13

Celtic Harpist Conejo Valley Chapter of The American Harp Society Inc. presents Patric Ball, Celtic harpist and storyteller, 2:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 32111 Watergate Road, Westlake Village. $10 adults, $5 seniors, children 12 and younger. (805) 379-5610, conejovalleyharp@aol.com.

Music Of Van Dyke Dick Van Dyke performs in, emcees annual benefit concert for local high school choral programs, 4 p.m., Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Five high school choral groups, quartets, Harmony Oaks chorus also perform. $11, $18, $25 tickets at Civic Arts Plaza box office, www.gotchaticket.com. Neil Penny-witt, (805) 499-6456.

Mother's Day Dance Ventura County Chapter USA Dance Inc. No. 4022 hosts May dance party, House of Dance, 3007 Bunsen Ave., Ste. E, Ventura. American tango dance lesson 2:20 p.m. Open dancing 3 to 5:30 p.m. Lana Flora, DJ, plays big band CD music. Dance hosts for single women, refreshments, raffle, drawing, roses for ladies. $10 general admission, $7 USA Dance members, $5 youth. (805) 646-6271.

Nice Meal

For Mom Boy Scout Troop 127 hosts 44th annual Mother's Day breakfast, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Malibou Lake Lodge, 29033 Lake Vista Drive, Agoura Hills. Ham, eggs, pancakes, juice, coffee, tea, milk. Door prizes, pianist performs. Adults $5. Seniors, children 12 and under $3. Nancy, (805) 496-0138.

MON., MAY 14

Due By Noon Reservations due by noon for Simi/ Moorpark Republican Women's Club meeting 11:30 a.m. Fri., May 18, The Vineyard, 2525 Stowe St., Simi Valley. Guest speaker Cyrus Nowrasteh, awardwinning miniseries writer, producer, director. $18. RSVP Karen Dyer, (805) 529-0581.

Video Makers Thousand Oaks Videomakers meets, 7:30 p.m., Commercial Capital Bank community room, 973 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. Topic: comparison of DV, HDV, HD formats. Bob Forward, (818) 6421560; Lee Agnew, (805) 494-9590.

Phalaenopsis Expert Conejo Orchid Society meets 7 p.m., Westlake Village City Hall, 23300 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village. Guest speaker: George Vasquez, Phalaenopsis orchid expert. Orchid care session, refreshments, plant raffle. Jana, (805) 2782205; Marian, (818) 889-1895.

TUES., MAY 15

Potluck Lunch Westlake Village Newcomers Club hosts potluck lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., member's home. News on upcoming events, social time. For residents of 91361, 91362 or 91377 ZIP codes. Free. RSVP Kathy Brehm, (805) 371-1220; Susan Bevan, (805) 557-4993.

WED., MAY 16

Democratic Delegates Simi Valley/Moorpark Democratic Club meets 7 p.m., Simi Valley Library community room, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. Program: club members share experiences as delegates at Democratic State Convention in San Diego. (805) 306-1959.

Guitar Music Ojai Concert Series presents acoustic guitarists, singers Nancy Moran & Fett, 7 p.m., Ojai Valley Woman's Club, 441 E. Ojai Ave. No reserve seating. $15 advance, $18 door, children 14 and under half price. RSVP for $5 child care. www.ojaiconcertseries.com.

THURS., MAY 17

Cinco De Mayo Mixer Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts Cinco de Mayo Mixer, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Sagebrush Cantina,23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas. No fee. (818) 889-3150.

Time To RSVP Reservations due for Westlake Vil

age Republican Women Federated meeting, Wed., May 23, Westlake Vil

age Inn, 31943 W. Agoura Road, Westlake Village. Social time 6:30 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m. Guest speaker Dr. Robert G. Kaufman, au

hor, scholar, Pepperdine University professor of public policy. $55. Mail checks to WVRWF, 1125 Lindero Canyon Road, A-8 Box 102, Westlake Village, CA 91362.

Brandeis Women Officer installation luncheon for Brandeis University National Women's Committee, 11 am. to 2 p.m., El Caballero Country Club, 18300 Tarzana Drive, Tarzana. En

ertainment: Jewish storytelling his

orian David Epstein speaks on "Gunfight at the OK Corral and other Jewish Stories." $45 for luncheon. RSVP Muriel Eiduson, (818) 346-4647; Phyllis Greenwald, (818) 883-8377.

Chamber Open House Calabasas Chamber of Commerce hosts spring open house, Chamber Courtyard mixer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, 23564 Calabasas Road. Free, RSVP required. (818) 222-5680

Writers To Read California Writers Club, San Fernando Valley hosts "open mike"

or writers, 7 p.m., Borders Books, second floor, 6510 Canoga Ave., Canoga Park. Family appropriate content. Sign up OpenMike@Calwriterssfv.com. www.calwriterssfv.com.

FRI., MAY 18

Singing Cowboys Conejo Cowboy Festival, today and

omorrow, Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Pre-show entertainment 7 p.m. Show 8 p.m. Reception with hors d'oeuvres, coffee, no-host bar 10:30 p.m. both nights. Music, poetry, yodeling, rope tricks, comedy. $25 one night, $40 two-day pass.

805) 495-3715.

Old St. Rose Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District hosts dedication of restored Old St. Rose of Lima Church, 4 to 6 p.m., Strathearn His

orical Park and Museum, 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley. Ceremony 5 p.m. Refreshments, enter

ainment.

Hold'em Tourney Westlake Village Junior Women's Club hosts second annual Casino Night and Silent Auction gala

undraiser, Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks. Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres 6:30 p.m. Dinner, Texas Hold'em Poker tournament, craps, blackjack, pai gow and Let

t Ride 7:30 p.m. Public welcome.

nformation, tickets at www.westlakejuniors.org.

Spring Tea Agoura Newcomers Club will host annual Spring Tea 11 a.m. For location, information, RSVP, call (818) 991-6590.

Saturn Studies Ventura County Astronomical Society meets 7:30 p.m., multipurpose room, Mesa Union School, 3901 Mesa School Road, Somis. Guest speaker: David F. Coppedge, systems administrator for Cassini Mission to Saturn, Titan at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (805) 642-5166.

SAT., MAY 19

Crawling Critters Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area hosts lecture se

ies program, "Things that Slither, Swim or Crawl," 2 p.m., National Park Service Visitor Center, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Biologist Gary Busteed discusses impacts of urban development on rep

iles, amphibians. Free. (805) 3702301, www.nps.gov/samo.

Dems' Fundraiser Democratic Club of Conejo Valley hosts Wine for Winners fundraiser, 8 to 10 p.m., private home in Dos Vientos. Wine for tasting and purchase, live jazz music, desserts and coffees, raffle. $40, $30 students, fixed income. Reservations required. (805) 675-8785.

Love Strawberries 24th annual California Strawberry Festival, today and tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Strawberry Meadows, College Park, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Live bands, children's entertainment, appearances by Strawberry Shortcake. Adults $12. Seniors 63 up, active military and dependents with ID $8. Children 5 to 12 $5. Children 4 and under free. Free on-site parking. Amtrack, shuttle service. (888) 2889242, www.strawberry-fest.org.

Darfur Benefit Genocide Awareness Club of Oaks Christian School hosts "Dancing for Darfur" fundraising dance, 8 to 11 p.m., Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 880 S. Westlake Village. For high school students with ID. Tickets samfiala423@msn.com.

Model Train Swap Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society hosts model railroad swap meet, 7 to 10 a.m., Santa Susana Park, pavilion west of depot, 6503 Katherine Road, Simi Valley. Adults $2 donation; children free. Then visit Depot Model Railroad and Museum open house, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donation requested. www.santasusannadepot.org.

Seniors Celebrate Conejo Recreation and Park District sponsors Celebration of Life Senior Festival, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Information booths, lunch served with RSVP. Free admission. Lunch $3 seniors 50 and up, $5 nonseniors. (805) 381-2744.

Malibu Gardens Malibu Garden Club hosts its 10th annual Garden Tour, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., various sites in Malibu. Docents, landscape designers at location. $25 tax-deductible donation includes refreshments. Tickets (310) 455-1558, www. malibugardenclub.com.

High School Concert Thousand Oaks Teen Center hosts high school concert, 7 to 11 p.m., 1375 E. Janss Road. Bands: Shiny Toy Guns, American Eyes, others. High school students only. $12 at door. (805) 494-5156.

Dance To Aristocats Thousand Oaks Dance Club hosts dance, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Goebel Senior Center ballroom, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Doors open 7 p.m. Music by The Aristocats. Singles, couples welcome. Light refreshments served. $5 members, $7 nonmembers. (805) 381-2744.

SUN., MAY 20

Matilija Poppies Conejo Valley Botanic Garden hosts annual Matilija Poppy Festival, 1 to 5 p.m., nursery area, Conejo Valley Botanic Garden, 350 W. Gainsborough Road, Thousand Oaks. Speakers, tours, children's activities, plant sale, free popcorn. Free admission. (818) 889-2835.

Party In Park Conejo Valley Day Care Association hosts ninth annual Stand for Children Day "Party in the Park," 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Conejo Creek Park North. Food, entertainment, children's crafts, rock wall, kid's train, fishing prize pool, paint box city, water bomb battle zone. Free, for whole family. (805) 857-4436.

MON., MAY 21

Make Reservations Reservations due for West Valley Republican Club event, 3 to 5 p.m., Sat., May 26, Sagebrush Cantina, 23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas. Guest speaker Hector M. Barajas, communications director, California Republican Party. Free, open to public. "Cantina tray buffet" served after program. RSVP Mary Hawkins, (818) 591-1071.