THURS., FEB. 22

Roses In Bloom Ventura County Rose Society meets at Cowan Conference center, 550 Airport Way, Camarillo. 7 p.m. Visitors welcome. Janet Sklar (818) 993-6622, Dawn-Marie Johnson (805) 523-9003.

Big Business Moorpark and Simi Valley Chambers of Commerce sponsor annual Business Expo. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Grand Vista Hotel, Simi Valley. Local businesses exhibit products, services. Food, beverages, door prizes, giveaways. Free, open to public. (805) 526-3900, www. simivalleychamber.org.

FRI., FEB. 23

Laugh With The Bard High Street Arts Center presents "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged," a comedy based on Shakespeare's works, 8 p.m. tonight through March 25, 45 E. High St., Moorpark. Friday and Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. $15 adults, $12 seniors, students, $8 children 12 and under. (805) 529-8700.

Rock The Oaks "Rock the Oaks 7," seventh annual concert of local bands for Conejo Valley teens. 7:30 p.m., Scherr Forum Theatre,Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Bands: Blacklist, Kerascene, Priscilla Eve, Full Switch Coma. $15. (805) 449-ARTS (2787). Ticketmaster (805) 5838700, www.ticketmaster.com.

Dance The Night Away The Simi Valley Council on Aging sponsors dance, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Dance instruction 7 p.m. Music by the Windsors. Door prize drawings, refreshments. $6. All proceeds benefit programs for seniors. (805) 583-6041.

Speaker Series Ventura County Speaker Series with nonprofit U.S. Tour of Duty presents Scott Ritter and Jeff Cohen. 7 p.m., Oak Park Community Center, 1000 Kanan Road. Ritter is author of "Target Iran," "Iraq Confidential" and senior weapons inspector in Iraq. Cohen is author of "Cable News Confidential," MSNBC onair commentator. $10 donation. Books available for purchase, signing. marypallant@sbcglobal.net.

SAT., FEB. 24

Mardi Gras Party Second annual Ventura Mardi Gras Celebration, 1 to 5 p.m., The Greek, Ventura Harbor Village. Live Zydeco music, beads, belly dancers, prizes, king cake, gumbo, buffet, nohost bar. Prizes for best costumes. $25 at door, $10 ages 6 to 12, free under 5. Mardi Gras Century Bike Ride, 7 a.m., The Greek. 25 to 100mile rides. Buffet breakfast for fee. All proceeds to Ventura County bike trail development, The Arthritis Foundation, Habitat for Humanity New Orleans. (805) 815-5258.

Yucks Aplenty Comedy Sportz improvisation game, G Building, Agoura High School, 28545 Driver Ave. Doors open 6 p.m. JV, Varsity teams play 7 p.m. Pizza, baked goods sold during intermissions. For all ages. $5 general admission, $3 with ASB card. (818) 879-6542.

'Grease' Is The

Word Midnight showing of "Grease" with part of proceeds benefitting Oak Park High School Grad Nite, Westlake Twin theaters. $10. Barbara Petrie (818) 706-8923.

See Rare Lichens Lichenologist Kerry Knudsen of UC Riverside gives lecture on lichens of the Santa Monica Mountains, 2 to 4 p.m., National Park Visitors Center, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Lichens are plants growing on rocks and trees. Knudsen discusses his latest discoveries, displays specimens from local area. (805) 370-2301.

Monte Carlo Night Rotary Club of Simi Sunset presents Monte Carlo Casino Night and Poker Tournament fundraiser for local nonprofits, 6 p.m., Lost Canyons Golf Club, Simi Valley. Blackjack, roulette, craps, gourmet food, dancing to live band, cigar bar, silent and live auctions. $75 for dinner, entertainment. $175 for admission, poker tournament. Black tie optional. Jan Meek (805) 277-0057.

Bet On A Winner St. Maximilian preschool hosts fundraiser, "Casino Royale," 5801 Kanan Road, Westlake. Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction 6:30 p.m. Dinner, live auction, gaming, poker tournament 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. $85 includes admission, play dough, raffle ticket, 2 drinks, dinner. Additional raffle tickets $1. (818) 874-1241.

Glass Bead Art The Ventura County Handweavers and Spinners Guild meets 9:30 a.m., 701 S. Del Norte Blvd., Units 115, 120, Oxnard. Slide show on contemporary glass jewelry, including works by bead artists. Free, open to public. Chris Villalovos (805) 527-1915.

'Manchester Sonatas' Ensemble Bella Musica performs "Manchester Sonatas," 7:30 p.m., Samuelson Chapel, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks. Also, quartet, trio sonatas on program. $18 general admission. $15 seniors, Early Music Society members with ID. Free with CLU ID. (805) 493-3306.

Rack 'em

Thousand Oaks Teen Center

hosts Parent/Teen Pool Tournament, 1 to 4 p.m., 1375 E. Janss Road. Low competi

tion billiard. Winners get trophy. $20/team, includes

barbecue tri-tip lunch. Register at www.thousandoaksteencenter.com.

SUN., FEB. 25

Cool Jazz Simi Valley Jazz Club presents Mark Tortorici and the Torchlighters 3 to 4 p.m., Paul's Italian Villa, 2585 Cochran St., Simi Valley. Music, dancing to traditional jazz, songs from the '20s to '50s, 1 to 5 p.m. Jammers may sign up for sets. Members $6, nonmembers $9 at door. Cathy Scotti (805) 341-0856.

Fab Four Follies High Street Theater Foundation opens musical melodrama, "The Beatles Slept Here," The Secret Garden restaurant, 255 E. High St., Moorpark. Through March 30. Benefit gala today, auction, prizes. Fridays, 6:30 p.m. dinner, 7:30 p.m. show. Sundays, noon brunch, 1 p.m. show. $85 opening gala. Regular shows $50 with meal, $15 play only. (805) 529-7580.

Classical Strings The Valley Committee for the Philharmonic presents salon featuring cellist David Garnet of the Philharmonic, accompanied by Junko Ueno Garrett. 2:30 to 5 p.m, 4500 Park Monaco, Calabasas. $30. Wine and cheese reception follows recital. RSVP Emily Priest (818) 222-4422.

Discover Malibu

Park Docents lead introductory tour/walk of Malibu Creek State Park, 10 a.m. to noon. Learn about century-old oaks, Native American, cinematic, geological, historical sites. Meet in lower parking lot. Rain date Sat., March 24. (818) 889-6238.

Road Trip Conejo Valley Audubon Society visits Santa Barbara hotspots. Group leaves Los Posas Park-and-Ride 7:30 a.m. Trip leader is Oscar Johnson. Rain cancels. Dee Lyon (805) 499-2165.

MON., FEB. 26

4-H Fun Mt. Boney 4-H Club of the Conejo Valley meets 7 to 9 p.m., Thousand Oaks location. Educational program for youth ages 5 to 19. Sample projects offered: rabbits, poultry, hiking, sewing, quilting, gardening, more. Jenean Bass jeneanbass@adelphia.net, Susan Trockey stdesign@adelphia.net.

WED., FEB. 28

Play Guitar Ventura County Classical Guitar Society meets 7 p.m., Recreation & Park Senior Center, 1605 Burnley, Camarillo. Bring guitar, share music. Free, public welcome. (805) 482-6224, www.vccgs.com.

Veggie Tales Conejo Valley Garden Club meets 9:30 a.m., United Methodist Church of Thousand Oaks, 1000 E. Janss Road. Stan Hakes discusses composting. Darcy Lober gives tips on vegetable gardening. Brenda (805) 497-2949.

Republicans

Network Ventura County Republican Party hosts mixer, 7 p.m., Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. Special guest speaker, raffle, hors d'oeuvres. $20. RSVP by Feb. 23. Natalie Panossian (805) 2172465. F

Moms Make Friends MOMS Club of Westlake (Moms Offering Moms Support) hosts playgroup for new moms,10 a.m. to noon, Morrison Park. RSVP (818) 974-3319.