THURS., MAY 10

Showcase Of Stars Chaparral Middle School hosts Showcase of the Stars, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., 280 Poindexter Ave., Moorpark. Teacher open house, art, music, poetry, theme-basket raffles, live auction, food. (805) 378-6302.

Geo Hazards Conejo Gem & Mineral Club meets 7:30 p.m., HIllcrest Arts Center, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Topic: Scott Simons of Moorpark College talks on geological hazards. Youth program during business meeting. Free, public welcome. Becky Williamson, (805) 532-1916.

FRI., MAY 11

Really Big Show Fireside Concerts presents annual Ed Sullivan-like Variety Show, 8 p.m., Borchard Community Center, 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park. 11 acts by members of Southern California Songmakers. $5 donation at door. Proceeds to Songmakers, nonprofit supporting acoustic music. Bob Kroll, (805) 499-3511.

Bravo For Women Ventura County chapter, National Association of Women Business Owners hosts ninth annual Bravo Awards Luncheon, "Celebrating the Power of Women," 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Moorpark Country Club, 11800 Championship Drive. Local women honored for community service. $80. Tickets, www.nawbovc.org.

We've Got Rhythm Simi Valley Council on Aging hosts bimonthly dance, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Moore Music plays. Doors open, dance instruction 7 p.m. $6, proceeds to senior programs. (805) 583-6041.

Cuban Casino Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley in Canoga Park hosts fundraiser, third annual "Club de Cuba," 6:30 p.m., Warner Center Marriott Hotel, Woodland Hills. Casino gaming, music, dancing, dinner, silent and live auctions. $100. Jan Sobel, (818) 610-1054.

Youth Appreciated Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge No. 2477 honors youth with Italian Nite dinner, 6 p.m., 158 Conejo School Road, Thousand Oaks. Award presentation 6 p.m. Scholarships given, essay winners announced, Scouts recognized. Open to public. $10, no RSVP needed. (805) 496-2477.

SAT., MAY 12

Argentine Tango Argentine Tango social dancing, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Paiva Dance Academy, 2636 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. $10 includes refreshments. Orlando Paiva Jr., (805)496-7620, www. paivadanceacademy.com.

Nature Painting Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains hosts paint-out. Meet 10 a.m. in parking lot, Malibu Creek State Park, 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Malibu. Enjoy mountain vistas, treelined paths, Malibu Creek and more. Bring own supplies, water. Restrooms available. Free parking. Carole Garland, (310) 338-0333, carolegarland@sbcglobal.net.

Family Fun City of Ventura Community Services Department Cultural Affairs Division hosts annual Kids Swap Meet, noon to 3 p.m., and Festival in the Park, noon to 5 p.m. Barranca Vista Center and Park, 7050 Ralston St., Ventura. Music, theater performances, clowns, cultural activities, face painting, art projects, moon bounces, food vendors. Free. Swap meet for children to trade or sell gently used toys, clothes, bikes, books. Kathryn Dippong-Lawson, (805) 644-6542, kdippong@ci.ventura.ca.us. www.cityofventura.net.

Archery Club Conejo Valley Archers shoot every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m, Tapo Canyon Park, Simi Valley. Rain or shine. Equipment, instructors provided. All ages welcome. $3/four hours shooting. (805) 530-1339, www.cvarchers.org.

Garden Party Democratic Women's Councihosts Mother's Day tea, garden party, 1 to 4 p.m. at private home on Westlake Island. Tea, wines a n d w i c h e s served. Informafashion show. Jewelry, beauty items for sale. Hats encouraged. $25RSVP (805) 4971003.

Bet On A

Winner Blue Gavel Scholarship Casino Nighfundraiser, Westlake Yacht Club, 32123 Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. No-host bar 6:30 p.m., casino games 7 p.m. Texas Hold'em tournament. $50. Randy DeMaio, (805) 3732524.

For The Kids Topanga Children's Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Will Geer T h e a t r i c u m Botanicum, 1419 NTopanga Canyon Blvd. Music, dance, theater, children's art activities, local vendors, unique performers. $5. Benefits Topanga Co-op Preschool. www. topangachildrens festival.com.

SUN., MAY 13

Celtic Harpist Conejo Valley Chapter of The American Harp Society Inc. presents Patric Ball, Celtic harpist and storyteller, 2:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 32111 Watergate Road, Westlake Village. $10 adults, $5 seniors, children 12 and younger. (805) 379-5610, conejovalleyharp@aol.com.

Music Of Van Dyke Dick Van Dyke performs in, emcees annual benefit concert for local high school choral programs, 4 p.m., Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Five high school choragroups, quartets, Harmony Oaks chorus also perform. $11, $18, $25 tickets at Civic Arts Plaza box office, www.gotchaticket.com. NeiPenny-witt, (805) 499-6456.

Breakfast For Mom Boy Scout Troop 127 hosts 44th annual Mother's Day breakfast, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Malibou Lake Lodge, 29033 Lake Vista Drive, Agoura Hills. Ham, eggs, pancakes, juice, coffee, tea, milk. Door prizes, pianist performs. Adults $5. Seniors, children 12 and under $3. Nancy, (805) 496-0138.

Mother's Day Dance Ventura County Chapter USA Dance Inc. No. 4022 hosts May dance party, House of Dance, 3007 Bunsen Ave., Ste. E, Ventura. American tango dance lesson 2:20 p.m. Open dancing 3 to 5:30 p.m. Lana Flora, DJ, plays big band CD music. Dance hosts for single women, refreshments, raffle, drawing, roses for ladies. $10 general admission, $7 USA Dance members, $5 youth. (805) 646-6271.

MON., MAY 14

Due By Noon Reservations due by noon for Simi/ Moorpark Republican Women's Club meeting 11:30 a.m. Fri., May 18, The Vineyard, 2525 Stowe St., Simi Valley. Guest speaker Cyrus Nowrasteh, awardwinning miniseries writer, producer, director. $18. RSVP Karen Dyer, (805) 529-0581

Video Makers Thousand Oaks Videomakers meets, 7:30 p.m., Commercial Capital Bank community room, 973 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. Topic: comparison of DV,

SAT., MAY 12

Cruisin' The Conejo Conejo Valley Cyclists, Boy Scout Troop 753 host 23rd annual Cruisin' the Conejo ride in Thousand Oaks area. Rides of 12 to 100 miles. Registration 6:30 to 9 a.m. in parking lot at 2504 W. Hillcrest Drive. Rides begin 7, 8, 9 a.m. Single riders $10, tandem $60, children $10. Proceeds provide free bikes, helmets to students in need. (805) 961-2508, www.cvcbike.org/cruisin HDV, HD formats. Bob Forward, (818) 642-1560; Lee Agnew, (805) 494-9590.

Phalaenopsis Expert Conejo Orchid Society meets 7 p.m., Westlake Village City Hall, 23300 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village. Guest speaker: George Vasquez, Phalaenopsis orchid expert. Orchid care session, refreshments, plant raffle. Jana, (805) 2782205; Marian, (818) 889-1895.

TUES., MAY 15

Potluck Lunch Westlake Village Newcomers Club hosts potluck lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., member's home. News on upcoming events, social time. For residents of 91361, 91362 or 91377 ZIP codes. Free. RSVP Kathy Brehm, (805) 371-1220; Susan Bevan, (805) 557-4993.

WED., MAY 16

Guitar Concert Ojai Concert Series presents acoustic guitarists, singers Nancy Moran & Fett, 7 p.m., Ojai Valley Woman's Club, 441 E. Ojai Ave. No reserve seating. $15 advance, $18 door, children 14 and under half price. RSVP for $5 child care. www.ojaiconcertseries.com.

THURS., MAY 17

Cinco De Mayo Mixer Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts Cinco de Mayo Mixer, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Sagebrush Cantina,23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas. No fee. (818) 889-3150.

Time To RSVP Reservations due for Westlake Village Republican Women Federated meeting, Wed., May 23, Westlake Village Inn, 31943 W. Agoura Road, Westlake Village. Social time 6:30 p.m., dinner 7:30 p.m. Guest speaker Dr. Robert G. Kaufman, author, scholar, Pepperdine University professor of public policy. $55. Mail checks to WVRWF, 1125 Lindero Canyon Road, A-8 Box 102, Westlake Village, CA 91362.

Brandeis Women Officer installation luncheon for Brandeis University National Women's Committee, 11 am. to 2 p.m., El Caballero Country Club, 18300 Tarzana Drive, Tarzana. Entertainment: Jewish storytelling historian David Epstein speaks on "Gunfight at the OK Corral and other Jewish Stories." $45 for luncheon. RSVP Muriel Eiduson, (818) 346-4647; Phyllis Greenwald, (818) 883-8377.

Chamber Open House Calabasas Chamber of Commerce hosts spring open house, Chamber Courtyard mixer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Calabasas Chamber of Commerce, 23564 Calabasas Road. Free, RSVP required. (818) 222-5680

Writers To

Read California Writers Club, San Fernando Valley hosts "open mike" for writers, 7 p.m. Borders Books, second floor, 6510 Canoga Ave., Canoga Park. Family appropriate content. Sign up O p e n M i k e @Calwriterssfv.com. www.calwriterssfv.com.

FRI., MAY

18

Singing

Cowboys Conejo Cowboy Festival, today and tomorrow, Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Pre-show entertainment 7 p.m. Show 8 p.m. Reception with hors d'oeuvres, coffee, no-host bar 10:30 p.m. both nights. Music, poetry, yodeling, rope tricks, comedy. $25 one night, $40 two-day pass. (805495-3715.

Old St. Rose Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum, Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District hosts dedication of restored Old St. Rose of Lima Church, 4 to 6 p.m., Strathearn Historical Park and Museum, 137 Strathearn Place, Simi Valley. Ceremony 5 p.m. Refreshmentsentertainment.

Hold'em Tourney Westlake Village Junior Women's Club hosts second annual Casino Night and Silent Auction gala fundraiser, Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks. Cocktailshors d'oeuvres 6:30 p.m. DinnerTexas Hold'em Poker tournamentcraps, blackjack, pai gow and Leit Ride 7:30 p.m. Public welcome. Information, tickets awww.westlakejuniors.org.

Spring Tea Agoura Newcomers Club will hosannual Spring Tea 11 a.m. For location, information, RSVP, cal(818) 991-6590.

Saturn Studies Ventura County Astronomical Society meets 7:30 p.m., multipurpose room, Mesa Union School3901 Mesa School Road, SomisGuest speaker: David F. Coppedgesystems administrator for CassinMission to Saturn, Titan at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (805) 642-5166SAT., MAY 19

Crawling Critters Santa Monica Mountains NationaRecreation Area hosts lecture series program, "Things that SlitherSwim or Crawl," 2 p.m., NationaPark Service Visitor Center, 401 WHillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. Biologist Gary Busteed discusses impacts of urban development on reptiles, amphibians. Free. (805370-2301, www.nps.gov/samo