THURS., MARCH 31

For Italian-Americans

Bella Vita Italian-American Club will host a dinner and entertainment by "Jest for Phun" at 6:30 p.m. at St. Julie Billiart Parish Hall, Newbury Park. The social club organized to share pride in Italian ancestry and culture. $10. (805) 446-9225

FRI., APRIL 1

Equestrians Compete

Galway Downs International Horse Trials will feature dressage at 7 a.m. today, cross-country at 8 a.m. tomorrow and show jumping at 8 a.m. Sunday at 33801 Los Corralitos Road, Temecula. $10 per day. (858) 794-5312

SAT., APRIL 2

ScanFest Preview Fun

Barnes & Noble at the Promenade in Westlake Village will help California Lutheran University usher in its globally charged ScanFest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with food samples and demonstrations. Lovers of Scandinavian culture, history, traditions and food won’t want to miss this.

Contemporary Ballet

La Danserie, a contemporary ballet company, presents European classicism with a modern sensibility at 7:30 p.m. in the Scherr Forum at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. $20-$24. (805) 449-2787

A Salute to Swing Era

State Street Ballet will present "Ballroom," a salute to the Swing era, at 8 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Cal State Northridge. $15 to $45. (818) 677-2488

Square Dance

Pi-R Square Dance Club hosts rounds 7 to 8 p.m. and squares 8 to 10:30 p.m. tonight at Borchard Community Center, 190 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park and on Sat., April 30 at Goebel Senior Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. $6. (805) 492-1442

Dance Club

Thousand Oaks Dance Club hosts dances from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Goebel Senior Adult Ballroom Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks tonight (featuring the Rhythm Kings) and on Sat., April 16 (featuring Starlighters). $5 to $7. (805) 381-2744

Strauss Ranch Stroll

Docent will lead a leisurely exploration of the history and terrain and native flora of Peter Strauss Ranch, 30000 Mulholland Hwy. (at Troutdale Drive), Agoura from 10 a.m. to noon. (805) 370-2301

Wine Tasting Event

The New JCC at Milken, 22622 Vanowen St., West Hills hosts a Wine Tasting Series with Syrah Wines from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. open to ages 21 and above. $25 to $35. (818) 464-3269

Food and Wine Festival

Malibu Wine Classic hosts Food and Wine Festival to benefit ChildHelp USA from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Sunset Restaurant at Zuma Beach in Malibu. Wineries from Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Ventura County will showcase their wines and Malibu-area restaurants will provide signature dishes. $50 advance purchase, $70 at the door. (866) 462-2838

Pavley in Calabasas

State Assemblywoman Fran Pavley (D-Woodland Hills) will visit the Calabasas Farmers’ Market at 23504 Calabasas Road in Old Town Calabasas from 9 to 11 a.m. to meet local residents and discuss topics of community concern.

SUN., APRIL 3

CLU Choir in Concert

California Lutheran University Choir will present a benefit concert featuring a varied program of contemporary music at 4 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Proceeds benefit church’s organ completion fund. $10 to $15. (805) 493-3305

Art for Nature Lovers

From noon to 4 p.m. 30 members of Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore will showcase their "plein air" paintings created in parks throughout the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in a garden setting at Mountains Restoration Trust’s Headwaters Corner, 3815 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Calabasas. Free.

MON., APRIL 4

DAR Events

Conejo Valley Chapter, National Daughters of the American Revolution, will meet at noon in the Barn meeting room at the Reyes Adobe historical site, 5464 Reyes Adobe Road, Agoura Hills, when they will present the historical site with various vintage items. Bring lunch, take a tour of the house, barn and grounds. On Fri., April 8 they will be planting three trees at the site at 8 a.m. (805) 532-1148

Ice Cream Social

Sign-up is required by today for the Ice Cream Social from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Fri., April 8 at the Goebel Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Ice cream and musical entertainment open to all ages. $1. (805) 381-2744

TUES., APRIL 5

A Steinbeck Classic

Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division Theatre Department will present John Steinbeck’s "The Grapes of Wrath" at 7:30 p.m. from tonight through Sat., April 9 in the Smothers Theatre on the campus at 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu. $6 to $15. (310) 506-4522

Breakfast RSVP

RSVP is due by today for the Thousand Oaks Republican Women’s Federated brunch on Sun., April 10 at Sherwood Country Club, 320 W. Stafford Road, Thousand Oaks. Reception is at 11:30 a.m. and brunch is at 12:30 p.m. Event to honor Kenneth Starr of Pepperdine. $49. (818) 889-4839

Learn About Computers

Goebel Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks: "Free Introduction to Computers" is a two-part hands-on class for beginners offered: April 5 and 7 or 19 and 21 or 25 and 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. or from 4:30 to 6 p.m. April 11 and 13. (805) 381-2744

Art Demonstration

Sadegh Aref will be guest artist for Westlake Village Art Guild beginning with social hour and registration at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and painting demonstration at 7:30 p.m. at Clarion Palm Garden Hotel, 495 Ventu Park Road, Newbury Park. Artist will donate his painting to an audience member. Demo only $5 to $7, with dinner $23 to $28. (805) 379-5655

Hummingbird Lore

Westlake Village Garden Club meets 9:30 a.m. at Westlake Village City Hall, 31200 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village. Hummingbird expert Tom Kaminski will present a video and answer questions about hummingbirds. Guests welcome. (805) 496-9509

THURS., APRIL 7

Cloggers Dance

Conejo Valley Cloggers meet 6:45 p.m. at Old Meadows Park, 1600 Marview Drive, Thousand Oaks. All ages, all levels taught. $3 to $5 per session. (805) 527-6185

CHS Music Carnival

From 4 to 10 p.m. tonight and from noon to 10 p.m. tomorrow and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, the Colossus Calabasas Music Carnival will be staged at Calabasas High School, 22855 W. Mulholland Hwy. as a fundraiser for the school’s music department. Carnival rides, smaller kiddie rides, game booths, food,live entertainment. 24 tickets for $10 advance purchase, or 24 for $16. (818) 704-0675

Fashion Show

Volunteer League of San Fernando Valley presents a Spring Fashion Show and Boutique at Marriott Warner Center, 21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills. Boutique and silent auction at 10 a.m. and lunch/fashion show by celebrity designer Sterling Capricio at noon. Proceeds will help needy kids. $75. (818) 785-4134

African Violets

Thousand Oaks African Violet Society meets 7 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 667 Camino Dos Rio, Thousand Oaks. Culture class and program on different aspects of growing African violets. Visitors and their plants welcome. (805) 581-0014

GOP Gals Salute Vets

Woodland Hills Republican Women unit meet 10:30 a.m. at Calabasas Inn, 23500 Park Sorrento Drive, Calabasas. Meeting is dedicated to World War II veterans in their membership. They’ll hear from Silver Star medal winner Joe Pietroforte in the afternoon. (818) 346-7390

Woodworkers Meet

Conejo Valley Woodworkers Association meets 7 p.m. at Redwood Middle School, 233 W. Gainsborough Road, Thousand Oaks. A representative from Shepherd Tools will discuss the history of hand planes, their use and adjustment and will demonstrate how to build a plane using one of their kits. (805) 492-2968

FRI., APRIL 8

‘Stuart Little’ Visits

Young Artists Ensemble presents the E.B. White classic children’s fable "Stuart Little," about an adventuresome human-like mouse, tonight through Sun., April 24 at Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. and 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun. $9 to $13. (805) 381-1246

Rain Forest Journey

The David Taylor Dance Theatre of Colorado presents "Rainforest," a magical journey through different levels of life in a tropical rain forest, at 7:30 p.m. in Kavli Theatre at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. $16 to $22. (805) 449-2787

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’

Conejo Players Theatre, Inc. presents the classic comedy thriller "Arsenic and Old Lace" at 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri.-Sat. tonight through May 8 with 2 p.m. matinees on Sun., April 10 and May 8 at 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. $14-$18. (805) 495-3715

SAT., APRIL 9

CVD Casino Night

Conejo Valley Neighborhood for Learning presents a Casino Night fundraiser from 7 to 11 p.m. at Westlake Yacht Club, 32123 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village to promote Conejo Valley Days Grand Marshal candidate "Bounty Hunter Brenda" (Brenda Hunter). Public invited to come dressed to suit the theme of "Old West Heroes and Villains," with prizes for best costumes. $90. (805) 496-9035

Grad Nite Garage Sale

Agoura High School’s Safe and Sober Grad Nite committee will host annual garage sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the teachers’ parking lot, 28545 Driver Ave., Agoura Hills, proceeds to benefit Agoura High’s Class of 2005. (818) 991-0095

Arbor Day Celebrated

City of Thousand Oaks hosts an Arbor Day/Earth Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Conejo Creek Park North, behind Thousand Oaks Library, featuring arts and crafts, compost and paper-making workshops, kids’ activities and entertainment, all with an environmental theme. Chumash tree-blessing ceremony, PAUSE4kids Art-a-Thon where kids can make art projects from recycled materials, Tidepool cruiser, Reptile Family and Movie Dogs plus much more. Free. (805) 449-2117

Scandia Festival

California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks: The campus is host to the ScanFest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow, honoring CLU’s Norwegian roots and paying tribute to international communities of the world. Music by Incendio and others, Viking Village, Swedish Royal Court, Tivoli Gardens for kids, marketplace and food. One-day and two-day passes available ranging from $6 to $15. (805) 493-3712

Kids to Discover Fun

Moorpark College Child Development Center hosts "Discovery Day" for parents and kids ages 2 to 10 on the center’s patios and grounds on Moorpark College campus, 7075 Campus Road. Sunshine Band entertains noon to 1 p.m. Toymaker Gene West will visit. $3 to $5. (805) 378-1401

Spring Fest

The Acorn Newspapers and the Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce will host 2005 Spring Fest and Business Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Oak Park Community Center, 1000 Kanan Road, Oak Park, featuring kids’ activities, food sampling from top local restaurants, live music and other entertainment, merchant booths, raffle. Free admission. (818) 889-3150

Dance Workshops

Learn to dance classic Swing and hot Salsa with beginners’ lessons from instructor M.C. Callaghan from 2 to 4 p.m. (Swing) and from 4 to 6 p.m. (Salsa) at the Agoura Hills Recreation Center, 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Agoura Hills. $20 per person per lesson. (818) 597-7361

Stamp Collecting

Youth Stamp Day is from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Goebel Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks and will introduce kids to the world of stamp collecting. Free. Ages 6 to 16. (805) 381-2744

SUN., APRIL 10

Round Meadow Fun

Round Meadow Elementary School, 5151 Round Meadow Road, Calabasas hosts a Carnival plus live and silent auctions at a fundraiser at 11 a.m. (818) 883-6750

MON., APRIL 11

Special Ed Advice

Oak Park Special Education Advisory Committee meets 7 p.m. in lecture room at Oak Park Library on OPHS campus, 899 N. Kanan Road. Fran Arner-Costello and Kelly Berg will discuss "Parent Professional Communication Styles." (818) 865-8564

FRI., APRIL 15

Astronomical Society

Ventura County Astronomical Society will hear from Peter Wilson, a product engineer at Lumicon, discussing "The Contracting Universe," painting a portrait of the other side of the expanding-universe saga, that of a universe falling together, at 7:30 p.m. in Forum Auditorium on Moorpark College campus, 7075 Campus Road. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow, the society will host a celebration of National Astronomy Day at Sycamore Plaza, 3006 Cochran St., Simi Valley featuring displays, demonstrations. At 8 p.m. in the Charles Temple Observatory at Moorpark College there will be a presentation, "Enjoying the Evening Sky." Free admission to all events. (805) 520-9666

SAT., APRIL 16

Bike Safety Seminar

From 9 a.m. to noon safety experts from Liberty Mutual Group of Westlake Village, Agoura Cycles and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will present a Bike Safety Fair at Willow Elementary School, 29026 Laro Drive, Agoura Hills. (800) 345-4584, ext. 235

Simi Historian Honored

Strathearn Historical Park and Museum, 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley: From 3 to 6 p.m., the public is invited to festivities honoring longtime Simi Valley historian Pat Havens in celebration of her 40 years of dedication to preserving the city’s history. Event will feature a barbecue, live music, tours of historic buildings, silent auction and salute to Havens. $30 per person. Reserve: (805) 584-4453

SUN., APRIL 17

Garden & Patio Tour

Westlake Village Garden Club hosts its 32nd annual Garden & Patio Tour from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring tours of outstanding gardens in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park. $15 includes a self-guiding map to sites; kids under 12 free. (805) 371-7471

MON., APRIL 18

CERP Open House

CERP will host its third annual Open House from 6 to 8 p.m. at Calabasas City Hall. Meet fire and sheriff’s representatives, see gas and electric shut-off demos, learn fire extinguisher operation training and more. (818) 878-4225, ext. 294

TUES., APRIL 19

Seniors’ Book Club

Agoura Hills Senior Recreation Program (SRP) hosts a book club for ages 50 and up from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Agoura Hills Recreation Center, 30610 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Agoura Hills. Today they will discuss Dan Brown’s "Angels and Demons." Participants must bring their own copy of the book and must be member of the SRP program ($12 annual fee). (818) 597-7361

THURS., APRIL 28

Ventura Music Festival

With the theme "Music in Motion" the Ventura Music Festival will be presented today through Sun., May 8 in historic and architecturally unique venues throughout the city of Ventura, featuring 12 concerts. For a complete schedule and ticket information, call (805) 648-3146

SAT., APRIL 30

Oak Park Garden Party

Oak Park Community Garden celebrates its one-year anniversary with a Spring Fling from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on northwest corner of Sunnycrest and Kanan Road. The fundraiser includes a silent auction and sale of unique plants. (818) 889-3518