Full Moon Kayak Tours 4pm-7pm. Kayak on the beautiful Elkhorn Slough by moonlight, witness one of the last remaining wetlands in California. Friday also. Reservations required. Monterey Bay Kayaks, 2390 Hwy 1, Moss Landing. 373-5357.

Winter Concert 7pm. Pacific Grove High School Music Department holds their Winter Concert, featuring the String Orchestra, the Concert Band and the Jazz Band. Pacific Grove Middle School Auditorium, 835 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 646-6590, ext. 204.

Dance Concert 7:30pm. Carmel High's dancers present K-Dance. $7 adults, $5 students and seniors. Golden Bough Theater, Monte Verde and Eighth, Carmel. Kristine Tarozzi: 624-1821, ext. 365.

saturday 12|21

Holiday Open House 11am-2pm. Wild Thyme Deli hosts a holiday open house, promising fun for everyone. 445 Reservation Rd., Marina. 884-2414.

Sleigh Rides Noon-2pm. Get a chance to take a 15-minute ride in a beautiful sleigh led by Belgian horses. Board at Monterey Antiques and Gifts at 449 Alvarado St, Monterey. 655-8070.

Pet Adoptions Noon-2pm. Cats and dogs are waiting to be adopted, and SPCA volunteers will be on hand to assist with the process. For those who want a pet, this is the perfect chance to meet the purr-fect match. Outside Monterey Antiques and Gifts at 449 Alvarado St,, Monterey. 655-8070.

Choral Music Performance Noon-2pm. Kids from the Monterey School District serenade the holiday crowds with Christmas songs and band performances. On the balcony at Viva Monterey, 414 Alvarado St., Monterey. 655-8070.

Contra Dance and Workshop 7:10. Show up for the beginners' workshop, or just come for the dance at 7:30. Caller Warren Blier teaches and Bog An Lochan will play tunes as you dance the night away. $8 non-members, $7 members, $4 students. YMCA, 600 Camino El Estero, Monterey. 372-7528,

ongoing events

(Call ahead for any Christmas week changes)

Personal Growth Workshop Weekly meeting each Saturday to explore the healing and growth aspects of writing. 11:30am. Limited space, call ahead to Frank Losik, 784-0646.

Belly Dancing Extravaganza Every Friday night at Kalisa's La Ida Cafe. Seating starts at 8, show begins at 9 and goes on until midnight or later. Kalisa's, 851 Cannery Row, Monterey. 656-0957.

Belly Dance Classes On-going 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.

Dancing Classes Salinas School of Dance offers this Tuesday morning class for adults from 11am-12pm and Saturday class of reels, jigs and shoe dancing for kids. 40 West Gabilan St., Salinas. 424-4655 or www. Salinasdance.com.

Afro-Latin Jazz Dance Weekly classes combine dance techniques of jazz, funk African and Latin dance for those aged 8-18. Performance opportunities available. 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.

Friends of Acoustic Music Those with instruments and/or who sing are welcome to join in every Saturday from 2-5pm at Sculpture House & Gardens Gallery, Highway 1, Carmel Highlands. 624-2476.

West African Drum Classes Features authentic rhythms and culture from Senegal. Drums available. All skill levels, drop-ins welcome. $15, $5 drum fee. Classes held Thursdays from 7:30-9pm at Salinas Valley Yoga, 248 Main St., Salinas; and Fridays from 6:30-8pm at Chautauqua Hall, 16th and Central, Pacific Grove. 754-8779.

Peace Vigil The Peace Coalition of Monterey County holds a vigil for peace every Sunday from noon to 2pm at Window on the Bay Park, Monterey; the Salinas Action League holds a peace vigil every Friday from noon to 1pm outside the Salinas Post Office; and the Women's League for International Peace and Freedom passes out anti-war information every Monday from noon to 1pm outside Morgan's Coffee and Tea in Monterey. The public is invited to stop by or join the vigil.

Toastmasters Meetings Positive learning environment for speaking, listening and leadership skills. Meetings are Thursdays at 6:45 am at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel. Call 372-7515.

MPC Certified Farmers' Market Every Thursday from 2:30-6pm, this farmers' market sells produce, crafts, fresh food and much more. Monterey Peninsula College, Parking lot A, 930 Fremont St., Monterey.

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 St., 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.

Carmel Walks 10am and 2pm Tue-Fri., meet outside the Lincoln Inn (Lincoln and Ocean Ave.) for this two-hour walk through historic Carmel. $20, reservations encouraged. 624-2700.

Family Night The Monterey Recreation and Community Services Department hosts evenings for teens and their families to play, talk, eat and enjoy. Billiards, ping-pong, foosball, video games and more. 5-8:45pm. Monday: Monterey Youth Center, 777 Pearl St., Tuesday: Casanova-Oak Knoll Park Center, 735 Ramona Ave., Wednesday: Hilltop Park Center, 871 Jessie St., Thursday: Archer Park Center, 542 Archer St. 646-5665.

Poetry Slam 8pm. The Rubber Chicken Poetry Slam and Open Mic night is here every second and fourth Wednesday to rock your world with its mix of irate feminists, high schoolers and homeless people. $2 to slam, $5 to watch. Morgan's Coffee and Tea, 498 Washington St., Monterey.

Poetry Workshop Every Wednesday from 6:30pm at the Little House in Jewell Park, come share and improve your poetical rants. Call Ryan at 373-3829 for more information.

Grief and Loss Meeting Ongoing, free group for anyone who's lost a loved one, held at the VNA office at Ryan Ranch. For more information, call Carol Owen at 758-8243.

Meditation for Peace 5:30pm, Sundays. Unity Church hosts this event held by Emphasis on Communication, a new weekly meditation session to encourage peace. Free. Unity Church, 601 Madison St., Monterey. 649-1835.

Christian Singles Fridays at 7:30, meet and connect with other Jesus-loving singles. Call Carolyn Chaney at 784-0207 for information.

announcements

"All Ears" Contest Teenaged kids are invited to enter this contest 150 words or less to describe what you'd say to someone special (famous or not) if you could. Get onto paper what's on your mind and in your heart. Prizes for doing so range from two thousand to ten thousand dollars split between the winners and their respective schools. For rules and information, go to the Inverness website at www.invernesscorp.com/contest or call 212-757-6880.

Book Fund Donate money to the Pacific Grove Public Library for books. You may specify what type of purchases you'd like to be made with your contribution. For more information about how to help, visit them at 550 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove.

Hartnell Registration Spring semester registration has begun and continues until January 23rd. For further information about courses and in-person registration, call 755-6711.

Be a Buddy Best Buddies Citizens matches adults with developmental disabilities with volunteer buddies for friendship. Want to help out? Call 393-9185.

Support York While Eating Visit Bahama Billy's in the Carmel Barnyard and help support York School's financial assistance programs. Dec 1-23, Bahama Billy's gives 20 percent of sales to York.

Blankets for Animals The Monterey County Animal Services Center needs towels and blankets to keep homeless animals warm this winter. Bring donations to 2840 Fifth Avenue in Marina, or call 442-3857.

Monterey Fireman's Association Donations of toys accepted to assist families in need. Any of the three Monterey fire stations will take your donation of toys for needy children. 646-3905.

Carmel Art Association Drive The CAA is asking for donations of food and toys for the Monterey County Food bank. Drop-offs can be made in the bin in the CAA foyer, Dolores and Sixth, Carmel. 624-6176.

Food For Fines Monterey and Pacific Grove Libraries will forgive any library fines for a can of food to be donated to the Monterey County Food Bank. Bring non-perishable food items to either library and have all your transgressions forgiven. Amnesty ends Dec. 31.

Holiday Poinsettia Sale Proceeds benefit Door to Hope, a non-profit agency providing alcohol and drug treatment services to women. Free delivery of three or more. Call 758-0181.

Prevent-a-Litter Become a sponsor of the Animal Friends Rescue Project. A one-time donation of $1,000 is all it takes to become a lifetime friend of AFRP. 333-0722.

Apples for Alzheimer's Buy apples and help support the Monterey County Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Monterey 647-9890, Salinas 757-0531, King City, 385-8813.

First Night Monterey To order admission buttons, find out more, or somehow become a part of First Night Monterey (the sober festival to ring in the New Year) call 373-4777.

Housing Volunteers The Housing Advocacy Council needs volunteers to speak at tenant education workshops throughout the county. Knowledge of Spanish a plus. Call 424-9186.

Homework Pals Monterey Public Library is seeking volunteers for their homework assistance program. Volunteers must be able to commit to at least two hours a week. Training and materials provided.

Salinas Recreation The city of Salinas offers a wide assortment of classes, including a Tuesday & Thursday after-school program, piano lessons, mother and child music classes, self defense and martial arts classes, and talent shows. Call 758-7352 for details.

Sports Center Events Many fun, exciting, educational, athletic events are offered by the city of Monterey through the Sports Center. Call or visit for more information. Monterey Sports Center, 301 East Franklin, Monterey. 646-3730.

Meals at the American Legion The American Legion Post #41 serves barbecue every Monday evening, $6.50 steak lunches every Wednesday, $5 All-You-Can-Eat Breakfasts on the first and third Sundays of the month and 50-cent hot dogs on Thursday evenings. Everyone is welcome. 1011 Veterans' Way (at the top of Jefferson), Monterey.