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 Nov. 18 to the Month Ahead, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001.

For information, call 653-7570.

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Day of the Dead

Tuesday, Nov. 2

The Inlakech Cultural Arts Center will hold its 16th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration from 4 to 9 p.m. at Cesar Chavez School, 224 N. Juanita St., Oxnard. A procession will leave Colonia Park, next to the school, at 6 p.m. and make its way through the Colonia area. The Aztec dance group Nahui Ollin will lead the parade, followed by the Skeleton Band of Teatro Inlakech. There will be live performances at the school after the parade. Free admission. Information: 486-7063.

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Time Chief

Tuesday, Nov. 2

Walter Isaacson, managing editor of Time magazine, will speak at a Reagan Forum lecture at noon at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. A buffet lunch will follow. $35. Tickets: 522-2977.

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Art Show

Nov. 4-28

The Thousand Oaks Art Assn. will present “Art and Soul,” its seventh annual membership show, at the Thousand Oaks Community Gallery, 2331 Borchard Road, Newbury Park. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5. Regular gallery hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Free admission. Information: 498-2319.

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One-Act Plays

Nov. 4-6 and 10-13

The Moorpark College performing arts department will present the Fall ’99 One-Act Play Festival in the Studio Theatre on campus, 7075 Campus Road. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 and 1:30 p.m. Nov. 10. The program will consist of short plays directed by students. $5. Tickets: 378-1485.

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Food Comedy

Saturday, Nov. 6

The Dell’ Arte Players will present “Out of the Frying Pan,” a comic look at the history of the United States through food, at 7 p.m. at Happy Valley School’s Zalk Theatre, 8585 Ojai-Santa Paula Road, Ojai. $8 adults, $6 children. Tickets: 650-9688.

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Conejo Players Musical

Nov. 6-Dec. 11

The Conejo Players Theatre will present “Here’s Love,” the Meredith Willson musical based on “Miracle on 34th Street,” at 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Show times are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays. $17 opening night (including a post-performance champagne buffet); $10 Thursdays, $12 Fridays and Sundays, $14 Saturdays thereafter. Tickets: 495-3715.

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Craft-a-Rama

Sunday, Nov. 7

Hundreds of arts and craft items will be on sale at the Conejo Valley Historical Society’s 22nd annual Donna Fargo Memorial Craft-a-Rama from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Thousand Oaks Recreation Center, 2525 Moorpark Road. There will be food and entertainment. Free admission. Information: 499-7526.

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Patriotic Concert

Sunday, Nov. 7

The 562nd Air Force Band (the Air National Guard Band) will perform patriotic music in honor of Veterans Day at 1 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. A presentation of colors will be given by the 23rd Marines Weapons Company 2nd Battalion stationed at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme. Free. Information: (800) 410-8354.

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Indie Film Fest

Nov. 10-14

The second annual Channel Islands Indie Film & Video Festival will be held at the Century Downtown 10 theater in Ventura, the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center, Oxnard College and Paseo Camarillo Cinemas. The festival will open with a showing of the independent film “Luminarias,” about four Latina women looking for love in Los Angeles, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Century Downtown 10. Schedule and tickets: 385-7844.

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Symphony and Ballet

Nov. 12-13

The New West Symphony will present an “Homage to Strauss” at 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, and 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The Channel Islands Ballet Company will also perform. $12-$55. Tickets: 581-9940.

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‘A Christmas Carol’

Nov. 12-Dec. 19

The Elite Theatre Company will kick off the holiday season with a modern-day version of “A Christmas Carol” at the Petit Playhouse in Heritage Square, 730 South B St., Oxnard. The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. $22 for opening night (including a buffet reception); $12, $10 senior citizens and students thereafter. Reservations: 483-5118.

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Book Fair

Nov. 13-14

The third annual Children’s Book Festival will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13 and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. New and used books will be available for purchase. Entries from a children’s postcard design contest will be on display. Free admission. Information: 526-1735.

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Concert Band

Sunday, Nov. 14

The Ventura County Concert Band will present “A Liberty Fanfare,” a tribute to veterans, at 3 p.m. at the Ventura High School auditorium, 2155 E. Main St. The program will include marches, military songs and other patriotic tunes. The Pure Joy Moving Company swing dancers will also perform. Free. Information: 641-5200 or 642-5871.

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Camerata Pacifica

Nov. 14 and 20

The Camerata Pacifica will perform compositions by Brahms and Bach in concerts at 8 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., and 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at Temple Beth Torah, 7620 Foothill Road, Ventura. $25. Tickets: (800) 557-BACH.

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Folk Concert

Tuesday, Nov. 16

Small Potatoes, the eclectic vocal and instrumental folk team of Jacquie Manning and Rich Presioso, will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club, 441 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. The duo’s repertoire includes Irish, country, blues, cowboy and swing influences. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets: 646-5163.

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‘Smokey Joe’s Cafe’

Nov. 16-21

The Theater League will present the Grammy Award-winning musical “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. The show, nominated for seven 1995 Tony awards, will run Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. $29.50-$38.50. Tickets: 583-8700.

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Chamber Music Concert

Saturday, Nov. 20

Husband-and-wife violinists Peter-Martin Weimar and Heidi Modr-Weimar will perform as part of the Ventura Chamber Music Series at 8 p.m. in the Ventura City Hall foyer, 501 Poli St. They will be backed by piano accompaniment. $15. Tickets: 643-1751.

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Gems and Minerals

Nov. 20-21

The Oxnard Gem and Mineral Society will hold its 30th annual Galaxy of Gems Show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21 at the Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. There will be displays, demonstrations, silent auctions and a country store. Free admission. Information: 984-9512.

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Compiled by LEO SMITH / Los Angeles Times