The Month Ahead

If you like to plan ahead, this monthly feature will be your guide and calendar. Just snip it out of the paper and attach it to the fridge.

To contribute suggestions for next month’s calendar, send a letter by Feb. 17 to the Month Ahead, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001.

For information, call 653-7570.

Art Demonstration / Dinner

Wednesday, Feb. 2

The Westlake Village Art Guild will present a demonstration by guest artist Elin Pendleton at the dinner art demonstration meeting at 6 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The social hour will begin at 6 p.m.; dinner will start at 6:30. The demonstration begins at 8 p.m. Dinner tickets are $17 for members, $22 for nonmembers. Tickets for the demonstration only are $2 for members, $4 for nonmembers. Reservations or information: 498-7859.

Old Chinatown Tour

Saturday, Feb. 5

The city of Ventura presents a tour of what was once an Asian-American Chinatown from 1 to 3 p.m. beginning at the Albinger Archeological Museum, 113 E. Main St. This distinctive section of town once boasted restaurants, laundries, shops, a volunteer fire brigade and ornate Taoist temple. The tour will explain why Asian Americans came and their role in the prosperity of Ventura. Tickets are $7. Information: 658-4726.

Candlelight Wine Tasting

Feb. 5, 6

The Leeward Winery’s annual Candlelight Winter Barrel Tasting will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the winery, 2784 Johnson Drive, Ventura. Guests will be able to taste several barrel samples in the wine cellar, which will be illuminated by candles. Nona’s Courtyard Cafe will serve soups and breads to match the wines. Free. Information: 656-5054.

Faculty Recital

Sunday, Feb. 6

The Cal Lutheran University Music Department will present a faculty recital at 4 p.m. at the Preus-Brandt Forum, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. The recital will feature pianist Dorothy Schechter, guest artist Eric Kinsley on piano and Melissa Phelps-Beckstead on violin. They will perform works by Scarlatti, Shekhter, Shubert and Grieg. Free. Information: 493-3151.

Reagan Museum Car Show

Sunday, Feb. 6

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum will hold a car show from noon to 5 p.m. at 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. A VIP reception, at $15 per person, includes an all-you-can-eat western-style barbecue, western music, viewing of three elite vehicles, a Reagan Country license plate holder, and admission to the library and museum. The car show is free. Information: 522-2977.

Poetry Workshop

Monday, Feb. 7

The Ventura County Reading Assn. presents children’s author Nikki Grimes at its winter workshop from 4 to 8 p.m. at the James F. Cowan Conference Center, Camarillo Airport, 275 Pleasant Valley Road. Grimes’ topic, “The Power of Poetry,� will be followed by a session on language and literacy. A catered dinner will be served. Tickets are $25 for member teachers, $45 for nonmember teachers, and $35 for nonmember parents, students or adults. Membership is included in ticket price. Information: 493-1861.

Tall Ships Tour

Feb. 8-13, 20, 21

Ventura Harbor Village will feature dockside tours of the tall ships “Lady Washington� and “Hawaiian Chieftain� from 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 8 in front of Milano’s and Hornblower’s restaurants, 1559 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. Entertainment will be provided by Mallory and McCall on the promenade. The boats will offer one-hour dockside programs, three-hour educational voyages and battle reenactments. Free on grand arrival day Feb. 8. Cost and times for other days and information: 644-0169.

Student Art Exhibit

Wednesday, Feb. 9

The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley will hold its second annual “Hang With the Best� student art exhibit from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Edwin Janss Jr. Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks. The exhibit is for all middle and high school student artists. Prizes for first, second and third in both middle and high school divisions will be presented, as well as Best of Show. A People’s Choice Award will be selected by ballot and announced at the end of the reception. Information: 381-2747.

Multimedia Reception

Saturday, Feb. 12

The Carnegie Art Museum will hold a Chinese New Year reception for an exhibit titled “Enter the Dragon� from noon to 3 p.m. at the museum, 424 South C St., Oxnard. The reception features an art exhibit, dance, martial arts and painting demonstrations sponsored by the Ventura County Chinese-American Assn. The reception is free for members, $3 for nonmembers. Information: 385-8157.

Chinese New Year

Sunday, Feb. 13

The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley will host a Chinese New Year celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery, 2331 Borchard Road, Newbury Park. The celebration features costumed Chinese dancers, Chinese calligraphy and painting demonstrations, knotting jewelry demonstrations as well as Chinese food and merchant booths. Free. Information: 498-4390 or https://www.conejoarts.org.

The Who’s ‘Tommy’

Feb. 15-20

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and Theater League will present the Who’s “Tommy� at 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The show runs at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The musical was originally created and composed by the Who’s lead guitarist, Pete Townshend. Tickets range from $29.50 to $38.50 and are available at the box office or through Ticketmaster. Information: 497-8616.

Plant Society Lecture

Feb. 16

The Channel Islands chapter of the California Native Plant Society will hold an educational seminar on “The Flora of Northeastern California� at 7:30 p.m. at the Dudley House, Ashwood Avenue and Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Speaker will be botanist Gary Schoolcraft. Free. Information: 989-3808.

Scandinavian History

Feb. 18, 19

Cal Lutheran University will host a two-day program titled “The Vikings: Westward Expansion and Settlement� at the Scandinavian Cultural Center in the Pearson Library, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. The program, which will go from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, will include many noted speakers and performers, including Richard Hall, Birgitta Wallace, Kristen Seaver, Olaf T. Envig and Rolf Kristian Stang. Registration or information: 493-3151.

Tales of Ventura Ghosts

Saturday, Feb. 19

The city of Ventura will offer the Phantoms and Folklore Bus Tour from 7 to 9 p.m. The tour will feature ghost stories about various landmarks, including the Olivas Adobe, Ortega Adobe and Cemetery Park. Bring warm coats and flashlights. The tour begins at Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli St. The bus will leave promptly at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 per person. Advance registration is required. Registration or information: 658-4726.

Musical ‘Gold Rush’

Saturday, Feb. 19

The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and Performances to Grow On present the new musical “Gold Rush� at 11 a.m. in the Scherr Forum Theater, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The musical, by Theaterworks / USA, tells the story of two families who set out for California during the Gold Rush. Tickets, at $12 for children and $14 for adults, are available at Adventures for Kids, by phone charge, through Ticketmaster and at the box office. Tickets or information: 650-9688.

Peddler’s Fair

Feb. 19, 20

The Chaparral School auditorium is hosting a Peddlers Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. The fair will feature collectibles, home bake-sale items, coffee, antiques and crafts. There will be free parking at the Park and Ride lot next door. Free. Information: 646-7808.

The Music of Beethoven

Saturday, Feb. 26

The Conejo Valley Symphony Orchestra presents “Beethoven X 3� at 8 p.m. at the Calvary Community Auditorium, 5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village. The all-Beethoven concert will feature guest artist Daniel Pollack performing Piano Concerto No. 3. The conductor is Howard Sonstegard. Tickets are $25. Information: 526-7216.

Song and Dance

Saturday, Feb. 26

Brigham Young University’s Young Ambassadors will present “Curtain Time: Celebrating a Century of Song and Dance� at 7:30 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Tickets are $5 general admission and $10 reserved. Proceeds will help provide BYU scholarships for local students. Tickets or information: 493-2958.

Food and Wine Festival

Sunday, Feb. 27

The 15th annual Ventura County Food and Wine Festival will be held from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at The Oaks mall, 222 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. The festival is sponsored by the Conejo Valley Rotary Club to benefit local and international charities. Attendees will receive a souvenir wine glass and have the opportunity to sample delicacies from more than 100 restaurants, wineries and food distributors. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. Information: 371-1500.

Business Forecaster

Monday, Feb. 28

Cal Lutheran University will host speaker Bill Knoke, who will speak on “Bold New World: The Essential Road Map to the 21st Century,� at 10 a.m. at the Samuelson Chapel, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. He will share his predictions for the business world in the 21st century and discuss how he thinks that technological advances are propelling us into the age of “everything everywhere.� Free. Information: 493-3151.

Compiled by

ALEX FIELD / Los Angeles Times