thursday 10|17Shylock, Russian Ballerinas, and a Slam or Two
CALIFORNIA PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL Lots and lots of stuff is on the agenda for this 12-day cultural funfest, with events held in Carmel, Monterey, at CSUMB and elsewhere. This week''s highlights include a Big Sur poetry slam and the Welch-Hancock duo banging it out on the organ and piano Friday; Stars of the Moscow Ballet Saturday; the twisted antics of The Second Hand Sunday; and Shylock, a one-man tour de force by Bay Area actor Ron Campbell on Monday and Tuesday. (See story pg. 32).

Today through 10/27, various venues. For details and schedule call the CPAF box office at 642-9049 or visit www.californiafest.org.

friday 10|18
Elephants in the Vestibule

ENSEMBLE MONTEREY DOES BABAR In 1931 the French painter Jean de Brunhoff published his children''s book about an orphaned elephant who goes to Paris, becomes a gentleman, and returns home to be crowned King of the Forest. Tonight the beloved tale gets a new treatment, a musical one, as Lisa Ledin of Classical KBOQ narrates the story set to Francis Poulenc''s charming score for 14 instruments. Following is Charles Griffes'' Three Tone Pictures and Henryk Gorecki''s Little Requiem for A Polka. Taken together it''s an evening of unusual offerings--exactly the sort of thing in which the flexible and innovative Ensemble Monterey specializes.

8pm. Madonna del Sasso Parish, 320 E. Laurel, Salinas. 8pm Saturday, Church of Religious Science, 400 W. Franklin, Monterey. $22/$18 students/seniors. 333-1283.

saturday 10|19
Get Krazy With College Students
KELP KRAZE CSUMB''s fourth annual Kelp Kraze features a giant inflatable obstacle course, human bowling, sumo wrestling, a climbing wall, a clown, a dunk tank, a NASCAR simulator and other wonders to thrill you, or at least make you very dizzy. In addition, there''s a tour of the Hidden Secrets of Fort Ord, showing off interesting and seldom-seen historical spots. A multi-ethnic array of food will be available, but may we suggest you eat after engaging in the human bowling? Kids and adults alike will enjoy this day of fun and games (except, possibly, those with a fear of clowns), so come on down and party with the Sea Otters.

Tours begin at 9am, the Kraze at 11:30. Sixth St., CSUMB Campus, Seaside. Parking free, tour $5. 582-4141.

United Nations

NPS INTERNATIONAL DAY Okay, let''s get down to business and start talking about food--spanakopita, calzones, dolmathes, kim chee, paella, curries, barbecue. Because, speaking for ourselves, the lure of tents and booths serving up giant steaming plates of aromatic and exotic comestibles is a very powerful one indeed, and this event is a great time and place for an exotic food junkie to get a fix. Every year the Naval Postgraduate School holds an International Day, at which the well-travelled (and probably homesick) denizens of foreign countries who have come here to study the military arts gather to form a tiny little United Nations. This year''s event features the usual riot of color, costumes and music from Italy, Turkey, Thailand, Greece, the Ukraine, Singapore, Albania, Brazil, Mongolia, Korea and many more countries, plus an added treat: a performance by San Francisco''s Thailand Folkloric troupe. All in all it''s an irresistible opportunity to travel the world without having to pay the airfare.

Noon-4pm. La Mesa Elementary School, Sylvan near Aguajito, Monterey. Free. 656 2186.

Sand City Brushes Up Its Image

WEST END CELEBRATION Sand City rolls out the carpet for its burgeoning community of artists with a five-hour party along Ortiz Avenue, featuring food, dancing, street performers, artists'' studio tours and music by Red Beans and Rice, John "Broadway" Tucker and the Big Sur Natives. The festivities conclude with a juried art show. (See story pg. 51).

1-6pm. Ortiz Ave., Sand City. Free. For information visit sandcity.org/arts.

Old Fighter Aces Never Die, They Just Fly To Marina

MARINA AIR FAIRE AND FLY-IN It seems that folks never tire of craning their necks upwards to watch a streaming strip of silver metal streak across a blue sky. There will be plenty o'' streaming today at the former Fort Ord airfield, where fighter aces and vintage military planes of all kinds will be front and center to honor local World War II veterans. On tap are close formation fly-bys of P-51s and Stearman Bi-Planes and a display of vintage, contemporary and experimental war planes. How''s about a ride in a 1943 Beechcraft Twin, or a 1940s Stearman open cockpit bi-plane? Get out the white silk scarf! Kids'' activities, a raffle and silent auction, and a car show will round out the day. Somewhere on the grounds, a Fighter Ace Symposium is scheduled for 1pm, where World War II fly-boys will talk about their experiences and sign autographs afterwards.

10am-4pm. Marina Municipal Airfield, Neeson Rd., Marina. Free. For more information visit www. Marina-air.com.

Only In The Movies

MAKING MOVIES Warning: The following only sounds like a movie. It''s the honest to goodness truth. A man named Mikael Forsberg walks into the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur. He tells library director Magnus Toren his tale of growing up on a farm in Sweden. One day he said to himself "Enough! I am going to do what I always have dreamed of--make movies!" So he leases his farm, gets a Fulbright scholarship to pay for his education at the USC Film School and flies off to Hollywood. Cut to present time, back at the Henry Miller Library. Forsberg says he''s on his way to Australia to film the aborigines west of Alice Springs. After that, he''ll jet to Egypt for a film festival showing his USC thesis, titled Blue Caviar. You''re a bright movie buff. You know how this story ends. Toren asked to screen Forsberg''s Blue Caviar, and a mini-film fest of sorts was born. Other films being shown tonight include 19 at 11 by Mike Schwartz, These Wild Woods, by Ben Hudnut, and Near You by Chris Halmo. Film directors will be present, and will participate in a panel discussion before and after each film. Still not convinced? There will be popcorn, champagne, and possibly, cotton candy for all.

7pm. Outdoors at the Henry Miller Library, Highway One in Big Sur. $10 minimum donation. For more information call 667-2574 or visit www.henrymiller.org. Rain cancels!

sunday 10|20
Get a Wild Hair

SPCA WILD CELEBRATION Over the last 20 years the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals here in Monterey County has rescued and rehabilitated some 36,000 animals, from bobcats to seabirds. To mark the occasion the association of animal lovers will throw a big party in Carmel Valley. Live music, food and wine will be available. Actress Betty White is expected to be on hand to celebrate as well. The evening will be capped off with the release into the wild of some rehabilitated great horned owls.

2pm to 5pm. Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley. Tickets are available $40 in advance or $45 at the door. Call 373-2631 or 422-4721x244 for reservations.

Butter

y, Chewy, Oaky...
TASTE OF CARMEL Today presents a good opportunity to consider the act of making choices. Choices between a vast array of scrumptious dainties offered up by 20 Carmel restaurateurs. Choices between liberally flowing vintages from 15 Monterey County vintners. Choices between whether to spend all your cash stuffing the benefit drawing box in order to win 12 overnight stays at Depot Hill in Capitola, or whether to release all those Ben Franklins in the live auction for two tickets from London to Venice on the Orient Express. Many difficult choices. One good time.

2-6pm. Bernardus Lodge, 415 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley. $75. 624-2522.

tuesday 10|22
Horns A-Plenty

NEW CENTURY SAXOPHONE QUARTET Four saxophones performing Bach''s epic "Art of the Fugue"? It turns out that group comprising soprano, alto, tenor and bariton saxes is perfectly suited--some say better so than the modern string quartet--to play the Baroque master''s work. (See story on page 44.)

8pm. First United Methodist Church, Sunset and 17 Mile Drive, Pacific Grove. $22/$15 students. 625-2212.