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

For information, call 653-7570.

Fish Tales

Jan. 2 and Jan. 30

Ella the Storyteller will share stories about fish at 2 p.m. Saturday and Jan. 30 at the Gull Wings Children’s Museum, 418 W. 4th St., Oxnard. The presentations are part of the museum’s “Fish are Fish . . . But Dolphins Are Mammals” month. $3.50 general, free for children under 2. Information: 483-3005.

Librarian of Congress

Thursday, Jan. 7

James Billington, librarian of Congress of the United States, will speak at 11 a.m. at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, near Simi Valley. The presentation will kick off the quarterly Reagan Forum series of discussions for 1999. $35. Information: 522-2977.

Cat Show

Jan. 9-10

About 200 entries are expected in an all-breed cat show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at Seaside Park, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. $3 general, $2 seniors and children. Information: 524-0790.

Women Artists

Jan. 9-Feb. 20

The work of about 35 women artists from Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties will be on display in the “Womenswork” exhibit at the Art City Gallery, 31 Peking St., Ventura. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Free admission. Information: 648-1690.

Tango

Sunday, Jan. 10

A company of 25 dancers and musicians will present international touring production “Tango Buenos Aires” at 2 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. $35, $25 and $15. Tickets: 449-ARTS or 583-8700.

Big Band Tribute

Tuesday, Jan. 12

The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra will be featured in the Big Band ’99 concert at 8 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Vocalist Nancy Knorr, the Dorsey Dixieland Band and the Pied Pipers vocal group also will perform. $30, $25 and $20. Tickets: 449-ARTS or 583-8700.

Sailing Adventures

Thursday, Jan. 14

Lin and Larry Pardey, who have twice sailed around the world, will discuss life at sea in their talk, “Champagne Cruising on a Beer Budget,” at 7:30 p.m. at the Ventura College Theater, 4667 Telegraph Road. The presentation will kick off the college’s four-show sailing adventure series. $39 advance, $44 at the door for the series; $10.50 advance, $12 at the door for individual programs. Tickets: 654-6459.

Prodigy Concert

Jan. 15-16

Music prodigies as young as 9 will be featured in a New West Symphony concert at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd; and at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. $7-$18. Tickets: 497-5880.

Conejo Youth Orchestra

Sunday, Jan. 17

Conductor Carol Alexander will lead the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra in concert at 2 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The Conejo Valley Youth Strings ensemble also will perform. $9 general, $7 students age 18 and younger. Tickets: 583-8700 or 449-ARTS.

King Observance

Monday, Jan. 18

Spiritual leaders, government officials and the general public will participate in a Freedom March beginning at 8 a.m. at Plaza Park, 5th and C streets, Oxnard. The march will conclude at the Performing Arts Center at 800 Hobson Way. A program featuring youth speakers, gospel music and scripture readings will begin at 9 a.m. at the arts center. Assemblyman Roderick Wright (D-Los Angeles) will speak. $3 for the program. Information: 486-2424.

Bernard Shaw Play

Jan. 22-Feb. 28

The Santa Paula Theater Center will present George Bernard Shaw’s “Candida” at 125 S. 7th St. The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays. $12.50 general, $10 seniors and students, $6 children 12 and younger. Tickets: 525-4645.

Comic Mystery

Jan. 22-Feb. 20

The Conejo Players will present “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” a spoof on traditional dramatic mysteries, at 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. $10-$17. Tickets: 495-3715.

Whole Foods Talk

Saturday, Jan. 23

Registered dietitian Marilyn Joyce will lead a workshop on “The Miraculous Healing Power of Whole Foods” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wellness Community Valley-Ventura, 530 Hampshire Road, Westlake Village. The Wellness Community offers educational programs for cancer patients and their families. Free. Information: 379-4777.

Chinese Art

Jan. 23-Feb. 21

The Ventura County Chinese-American Assn. will present its fifth annual art exhibit at the Carnegie Art Museum, 424 South C St., Oxnard. The show will include Chinese brush painting, calligraphy and carvings. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. $3 general, $2 seniors and students, $1 children 6-16. Information: 385-8157.

Ballroom Dance

Sunday, Jan. 24

The Ventura chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dance Assn. will host a dance from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Dance lessons will be offered from 2 to 3:15 p.m. The College of the Canyons Studio Jazz Ensemble will provide big band swing music. $8 general, $5 club members. Information: 496-4122 or 642-2023.

Latino Leadership

Saturday, Jan. 30

El Concilio del Condado de Ventura will host the ninth annual Latino Leadership Awards dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road, Oxnard. Seven people will be honored for their contributions to the betterment of Ventura County’s Latino community. Proceeds will support El Concilio’s youth violence prevention program. $60. Information: 486-9777, Ext. 228.

Talent Show

Saturday, Jan. 30

Dave Ciniero and Bob Adams of KVEN-AM (1450) will host their annual Dave & Bob Talent Show at 7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. $5. Tickets: 486-2424.

Elvis Benefit

Saturday, Jan. 30

Elvis impersonator Raymond Michael will present his 11th annual show to benefit his alma mater, Cal Lutheran University, at 8 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Proceeds will go toward performing arts scholarships. $10-$35. Tickets: 449-ARTS or 583-8700.

Compiled by

LEO SMITH / Los Angeles Times