thursday 7|3

"July 4" Picnic 11:30am. A barbecue chicken picnic is held to celebrate Independence Day, one day early, with live music by the Cypressaires. Sally Griffin Senior Center, 700 Jewell Ave., Monterey. 375-4454.

Puppet Theater 1pm. Monterey County Free Libraries host P&T Puppet Theater doing a magic performance and play for kids of all ages. Seaside Library, 550 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. 899-2055.

Cool Fun 2:30pm. The Monterey Public Library invites kids ages 3 and up to enjoy the "squeaky clean" family show by the Bubble Lady. Free. 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 646-3934.

Pet Training Lecture 6:30pm. The Monterey County Animal Services Center offers a free pet adoption "Q&A" session. No pets please. Reservations welcome. Animal Services Center, 160 Hitchcock Rd., Salinas. 769-8850.

Calligraphy Guild 7-9pm. Sea Scribes, the Monterey Bay calligraphy group, meets for a demonstration and short business meeting. Park Lane Residence, 200 Glenwood Cir. Monterey. 625-3742.

friday 7|4

Valley Heritage 9am. The 4th of July celebration in King City includes a parade, old-fashioned entertainment, historic displays, kids games, and a classic car show. San Lorenzo Park, King City. 385-1484.

Asilomar Dinner 4:30-7:30pm. Celebrate the 4th of July at Asilomar Conference Center with a family barbecue buffet of barbecued chicken, tri-tip and salmon. $15/adults, $12/kids. 372-8016.

Radio DJ in Theater 8pm. Former KWAV DJ Jack Peterson performs two comedy shows on 7/4 and 7/5 at the Barbary Coast Theater. 230 Hoffman St., Monterey. $8/adults, $5/military. 655-4992.

saturday 7|5

Walk and Run

7:45am. The Fifty-Plus Association has a walk and run at Lovers Point. Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove. 625-3627.

Beach Clean Up 9am. Monterey seeks volunteers to clean up local beaches after the 4th of July festivities. Help make sure that trash is not washed out to sea. Meet at Del Monte Beach. Tools and lunch are provided. 646-3719.

Haber Cup 9:30am. Quail Lodge hosts a charity golf tournament to also celebrate the grand reopening of the resort. An awards dinner follows that night. 8000 Valley Green Dr., Carmel Valley. (888) 828-8787.

Drill Teams Competition 1pm. The Peacemakers Drum and Drill Corp hosts teams from all over California in a "Peninsula Battle of the Drills." $5/person, free/kids under 5. Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. 394-9378.

Weed Bash 1-4pm. The ongoing French Broom weed assault continues along Highway 1 in Big Sur, sponsored by the California Native Plant Society. Meet at Brinton's Hardware in Carmel to carpool to the east side of Point Lobos. 384-1376.

Contra Dance 7pm. A special couples contra dance by Laura Light and George Paul is held at 4:30pm ($5), followed by a potluck dinner at 6pm. Regular contra dance lesson begins at 7:10pm, and contra dancing continues until 10:30pm with caller Greg McKenzie. Monterey YMCA, 6000 Camino El Estero, Monterey. $8/non-members, $7/members, $/students.

La Ida Cafe Anniversary 8pm. Kalisa's La Ida Cafe celebrates its 45th anniversary tonight with a party featuring Peter Meuse and his gypsy-style entertainment. $5. 851 Cannery Row, Monterey. 644-9316.

sunday 7|6

Cachagua Market Noon-5pm. The monthly event at the Cachagua General Store includes wine-tasting, music, crafts and organic foods. The community market continues on the first Saturday of the month through summer. 18840 Cachagua Rd., Cachagua. 659-1857.

California Summer Music 7:30pm. A public concert by the classical music faculty in the California Summer Music workshop at Robert Louis Stevenson School is held to benefit the scholarship program. Donation $20. RLS Keck Auditorium, 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. (415) 753-8920.

monday 7|7

Laughlin/Las Vegas 6am. A weekend trip to Laughlin and Las Vegas is planned for 7/7-10. Bus transportation, buffet meals, accommodations and casino time is included. Sign up and meet at the Firehouse Recreation Center. 1330 E. Alisal St., Salinas. $128-143. 758-7900.

International Business Conference Pre-registration required for a one-day seminar on global strategy, hosted by the Monterey Institute of International Studies. A panel of international "gurus" discusses current issues, the global economy, international competition, and more. MIIS Fisher Graduate School of International Business, Pacific Street, Monterey. 647-6521.

tuesday 7|8

Animal Volunteers 6:30-8pm. Potential volunteers for the Animal Friends Rescue Project are invited to a presentation about the group. Reservations suggested. Monterey Senior Center, 280 Dickman Ave., Monterey. 333-0722.

Films in the Forest Dusk. The Outdoor Forest Theater Guild continues its summer film series with A Night at the Opera starring the Marx Brothers. Mountain View and Santa Rita, Carmel. $5/person. 626-1681.

Poetry Circle 7pm. Patrice Vecchione hosts an open mic for high school poets in the Community Room at the Monterey Public Library. 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 646-3949.

wednesday 7|9

Films in the Forest Dusk. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) is the featured film "under the stars," presented by the Theater Guild. Outdoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita and Mountain View, Carmel. $5. 626-1681.

Housing Advocacy 6-7:30pm. A free tenant workshop is offered in Spanish at the King City Library by the Housing Advocacy Council. Learn your rights and responsibilities before a problem occurs. 424-9186.

Art Talk 7pm. Artist and teacher Dick Crispo gives a talk on his art and life as an artist. His new exhibit is on display at the Carmel Art Association. Dolores and 5th, Carmel. 624-6176. ext. 12.

Antarctic Marine Science 7pm. A lecture on the human impacts in Antarctica is given by a panel of experts from Moss Landing Marine Labs. Learn about living at McMurdo Station, the largest base on the continent. Free. MLML Seminar Room, 8272 Moss Landing Rd., Moss Landing. 771-4100.

thursday 7|10

Cowboy Dance 11:30am-3:30pm. One Man Band performs live dancing music at a cowboy dance sponsored by the city of Seaside. Lunch included. $3/person. Oldemeyer Center, Hilby Avenue, Seaside. 899-6809.

Pieces of Shakespeare 2:30pm. Cindy Womack of Pacific Repertory Theater performs scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream for kids ages 5 and up. Free. Monterey Public Library Community Room, 625 Pacific St., Monterey. 646-3934.

summer for kids

Drop In and Play The Parent Center offers parent/child participation classes every Tuesday and Wednesday, and fourth Saturdays. Parenting information and activities are provided, 1-2:30pm, 3-5pm and 9:30am-12:30pm bilingual. Salinas Adult School, 20 Sherwood Pl., Salinas. 753-4273.

Lyceum of Monterey County Fun classes in art, science and theater are offered by the Lyceum. Pre-register for "The World of Watercolors" 7/7-7/11; "Rainbow Recipes" (Science for Kindergartners) 7/8-7/10; "Rainforest Adventure" 7/14-7/25; "Harry Potter" (theater workshop) 7/14-7/25; and "Mixed Media Masterpieces" 7/21-7/25. The Lyceum, 372-6098.

Krafty Kids Monday, 7/7. Pre-registration required for a Monterey Recreation class, letting toddlers explore crafts and painting activities. The four-week class is each Monday, 2-3pm. Archer Park Center, 542 Archer St., Monterey. 646-3866.

Youth Music Program Applications are being taken for a weeklong music program at York School, taught by Chamber Music Monterey Bay. Classes for students in 4th-8th grades are available in string ensemble, and advanced chamber ensemble and string ensemble. 625-2212, 624-9541.

Summer Food for Kids From June 9-Aug. 1, breakfast and lunch are served to needy children under age 18 at the Boys and Girls Club, while schools are out for the summer. Breakfast: 8-9am, lunch: noon-1pm, weekdays. 1332 LaSalle Ave., Seaside. 394-5171.

ongoing events

Wheelchair Program Senior Wheels USA Program has free power wheelchairs for qualifying seniors and disabled people. (800) 246-6010.

Feel the Beat 7pm. Drum circle meets each Monday, no drum required. Sing, dance, chant or drum your heart out. Free. Unitarian Church, Aguajito Rd. at Hwy. 68, Carmel. 624-7404 or 643-2298.

Belly Dance Classes Ongoing Tuesday and Wednesday classes at Hartnell College in Salinas and the Carmel Ballet Academy in Carmel. Egyptian, Persian, Gypsy and Turkish techniques. Call 643-2775 for details.

Foreign Student Exchange DM Discoveries seeks a host family for a 17-year-old high school student from Germany, or students from Vietnam or Brazil. Call for details, (877) 417-9600.

Afro-Latin Jazz Dance Weekly classes combine dance techniques of jazz, funk African and Latin dance for those aged 8-18. Monday through Friday afternoons, call to pre-register. Pacific Grove Recreation Department, 515 Junipero, Pacific Grove. 648-5730.

Monterey Actors Studio Ongoing auditions for newly formed theater group focusing on theater games, voice, music, improv and movement. Saturdays, 11:30-1:30, St. James Episcopal Church, 381 High St., Monterey. 784-0646.

Argentine Tango Classes Beginner's class at 7pm, intermediate at 8:10pm, at the Pacific Grove Art Center each Thursday. 394-1520 or visit www.tangomontereybay.com. 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove.

Yoga For Every Body Abhaya Bonnie Bragg teaches techniques that melt away tension and soothe the soul. Tuesday classes in Salinas and Friday classes in Pacific Grove, call for times and locations. Also featured are pre-natal yoga classes for expectant mothers. 643-YOGA.

Cribbage Club Cribbage enthusiasts meet every Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Oldemeyer Community Center, 986 Hilby, Seaside. Call 883-0963 for details.

Certified Farmers' Market at MPC Every Thursday from 2:30-6pm at Monterey Peninsula College, Parking lot A, 930 Fremont St., Monterey. 384-6961.

Marina Farmers' Market Everyone's Harvest (Cosecha Para Todos), a weekly farmers' market in Marina Sundays from 10am-2pm. Fresh produce, baked goods, arts and crafts. Marina Transit Station, 280 Reservation Rd., Marina. 384-6961.

Old Monterey Market Place This year-round, rain or shine market takes place every Tuesday from 4-8pm. Vendors offer a wide variety of fresh produce, flowers, arts, crafts and jewelry. Alvarado Street, Monterey. 655-2607.

Historic Monterey Walking Tours Guided tours of downtown Monterey focusing on California's history from 1842-1849 begin daily at 10:30am. The 2pm daily tour focuses on California's history from the 1820s to the 1840s. Free. 649-7118.

Carmel Heritage Walking Tours Saturdays at 9:30am, join the Carmel Heritage Society in touring and learning about the town's history. Meet at the First Murphy House, Lincoln and Sixth, Carmel. 624-4477.

Poetry Workshop Every Wednesday from 6:30pm at Bookworks, at 667 Lighthouse Ave. in Pacific Grove. Call Ryan at 373-3829 for more information.

Meditation for Peace 7pm, last Sunday of the month. Unity Church hosts a public meditation session to encourage peace. Free. Unity Church, 601 Madison St., Monterey. 649-1835.

Summer Swim Lessons Salinas Recreation-Park Department offers swimming classes for all ages and levels every weekday at the Salinas Municipal Pool. 758-7370.

Belly Dance Classes Learn belly dance technique, posture, group and solo work, and choreography in three levels of classes, ongoing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Encore Boutique, 125 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-1700.

announcements

Coast Weekly Deadline The deadline to include information in the "8 Days" calendar of events is Tuesday at 5pm, two weeks before the event. Calendar Editor, 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955. calendar@coastweekly.com. Fax: 394-2909.

Animal Photo Contest The Animal Friends Rescue Project photo contest is now open. Categories include best cat, best dog, and best duo or group. Deadline is 7/15. Multiple entries OK, each costs $10. PO Box 51083, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. 333-0722.

Rape Crisis Hotline Hotline service to the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities is being extended June 1 by the Monterey Rape Crisis Center. A TTY line is available, 373-7546. Call MRCC at 373-3955 for details.

Volunteers Sought The Volunteer Center of Monterey offers a stunning variety of volunteer opportunities, from crisis line volunteering to delivering meals. Call them at 757-3208 or 800-408-9191.

Steinbeck Agricultural Volunteers Volunteer docents are needed for the soon-to-open Valley of the World Agricultural wing of the National Steinbeck Center. Call 775-4726.

Housing Advocates The Housing Advocacy Council of Monterey County seeks volunteers to speak at tenant education workshops. Training provided, bilingual (Spanish) a plus. Call Pauline at 424-9186.

Docents Needed The Center for Photographic Art is looking for volunteer docents to greet visitors to the gallery and inspire others to learn about fine art photography. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. 625-5181.