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 Jan. 19 to the Month Ahead, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001.

For information, call 653-7570.

Museum Christmas Exhibit

Jan. 2-9

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s “Christmas Around the World” exhibit will be on view from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 40 Presidential Drive, near Simi Valley. The exhibit is a collection of 25 trees decorated to represent cultures and traditions from around the world. Admission to the museum and library is $5 general, $3 senior citizens, free children 15 and under. Information: (800) 410-8354.

Fillmore Train Rides

Sunday, Jan. 2

The Fillmore & Western Railway will offer train rides at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. leaving from 351 Santa Clara Ave., Fillmore. The cost is $16 adults, $14 senior citizens, $8 children ages 4-12 and $5 children under 3. Information: (800) 773-TRAIN (773-8724).

Art Demonstration, Dinner

Wednesday, Jan. 5

The Westlake Village Art Guild will hold a dinner featuring an art demonstration by Patti Marker-White at the Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. preceded by a social time. The cost is $17 members and $22 nonmembers. The demonstration will begin at 8 p.m. The cost is $2 members, $4 nonmembers. Information: 498-7859.

Book Signing, Lecture

Saturday, Jan. 8

Virginia Cornell will speak at a meeting of the Simi Valley American Assn. of University Women at 10:30 a.m. at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. She will sign copies of her latest book, “The Latest Wrinkle.” Refreshments will be served. Information: 526-8008.

Elvis Party, Singles Dance

Saturday, Jan. 8

The Super Singles Dance and Social Club is holding an Elvis Presley birthday party and ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s dance from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at the Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. There are prizes for the best-dressed for each decade, a twist contest and a Hula-Hoop contest. The cost is $8 members and $10 nonmembers. Information: (800) 672-6122.

‘Red Wine for Breakfast’

Jan. 8, 15, 22

Robin Westmiller will be signing her book “Red Wine for Breakfast” at 4 p.m. Jan. 8 at Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; 3 p.m. Jan. 15 at Barnes & Noble, 160 Promenade Way, Westlake Village, and 3 p.m. Jan. 22 at Waldenbooks in The Oaks mall, 222 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Information: 373-0596.

Children’s Book Reading

Jan. 12-13

The Ventura County superintendent of schools presents a reading of the children’s book “Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” at noon at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Fred Kavli Theater, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. The reading will be performed by the book’s author, Judith Viorst, and will be set to music. Tickets are $10 or $6 each for a group of 10 or more. Information: 388-4411.

Hoagy Carmichael Salute

Thursday, Jan. 13

The Civic Arts Plaza Foundation will present “The Hoagy Carmichael Centennial Celebration” at 8 p.m. in the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Fred Kavli Theater, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Tickets range from $21.50 to $36.50. Information: 449-2787.

Dance at Senior Center

Saturday, Jan. 15

The Thousand Oaks Fifty Plus Dance Club will hold a dance from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Cost is $5 members, $7 nonmembers. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Music will be provided by the Starlighters. Light refreshments will be served. Information: 381-2744.

Improv Comedy Troupe

Jan. 15-16

Santa Susana High School’s Improvisational Comedy Troupe will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 and 2 p.m. Jan. 16 in the Scherr Forum Theater at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. The show is directed by Peggy Albrecht. Tickets are $10, $6 for students. Information: 449-ARTS (449-2787).

Moorpark College Theater

Jan. 20-22, 26, 28, 29

The Moorpark College theater arts department will present William Mastrosimone’s “Extremities” in the Studio Theater, 7075 Campus Road. Show time is 7:30 p.m. except for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26. Tickets are $10, $8 for students, $6 for senior citizens and children, $5 matinee. Information: 378-1400.

One-Woman Play

Friday, Jan. 21

The Carnegie Art Museum presents “A Night of Drama With Helena Hale” at 8 p.m. at 424 South C St., Oxnard, featuring the one-woman play “Kathe Kollwitz: Through Her Heart.” Admission is $15. Information: 385-8157.

Discovery Artists

Jan. 21-22

The New West Symphony presents the Discovery Artists concerts at 6:15 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, and 6:15 p.m. Jan. 22 in the Kavli Theater at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Both performances will begin with a jazz festival and end with a classical concert that begins at 7:30 p.m. The concerts will feature young soloists and musical groups from the Ventura County area. Tickets are $18. Information: 497-5880.

Conejo Theater Play

Jan. 21-Feb. 19

The Conejo Players Theater presents the comedy “It’s Only a Play” at 8 p.m. at 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. There will be a matinee at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 23. The play was written by Terrence McNally and directed by Mark Robley Johnson. Information: 495-3715.

Jamie Foxx in Concert

Saturday, Jan. 22

The Oxnard Performing Arts Center presents Jamie Foxx in concert at 8 p.m. at the center, 800 Hobson Way. Foxx was a member of the television show “In Living Color” and has appeared in various films. Tickets are $25 in advance, $27.50 the day of the show. Tickets or information: 486-2424.

Benefit Casino Night

Saturday, Jan. 22

The Thousand Oaks High School Band and Color Guard will hold a “Millennium Casino Night” from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the North Ranch Community Center, 1400 N. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. This is a fund-raiser for the music program. Advance tickets will be available for $25 until Jan. 18. Tickets after that are $30. Participants must be at least 21 years old. Information: 529-0979.

‘The Gizmo Guys’

Saturday, Jan. 22

Performances to Grow On presents “The Gizmo Guys, Jugglers Extraordinaire” at 7 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center’s Scherr Forum Theater, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Tickets are $12, $10 for children. Tickets: 449-2775. Information: 646-8907.

‘Frasier’ Actor in Ojai

Saturday, Jan. 22

The Ojai Playwrights Conference will feature a benefit reading of “Disgruntled Employees” by Kevin Crowley at 8 p.m. at the Nordhoff High School cafeteria, 1401 Maricopa Highway, Ojai. The reading will feature David Hyde Pierce, known for his role as Niles Crane on “Frasier.” Tickets are $50. Information: 640-0400.

Improv, Sketch Comedy

Saturday, Jan. 29

The Tangent Comedy and Improv and Sketch Group will perform “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Temple” from 7 to 10 p.m. at Congregation CBE, 4645 Industrial St., No. 2C, Simi Valley. Refreshments will be served. Tickets are $15 in advance or $17.50 at the door. Information: 581-3723.

Musician-Storyteller

Sunday, Jan. 30

Performances to Grow On presents musician and storyteller Jennifer Armstrong in concert at 4 p.m. at the Oak Grove Pavilion, 220 W. Lomita Ave., Ojai. The concert is designed to provide an alternative to the Super Bowl. Tickets--at $6 for children and $8 for adults--are available at Adventures for Kids, Serendipity Toys, the Ojai Coffee Roasting Co. and by phone at 650-9688.

Compiled by ALEX FIELD, Los Angeles Times