**thursday 8|14

How Much Is That Piggy In the Window?

COUNTY FAIR AND CONCERTS Today through Sunday, the county fair continues at the Monterey Fairgrounds, with musical and theater performances, a circus, a petting zoo, pony rides, and plenty of food. Home Baker Alert: Friday at 7pm is the apple-pie contest, followed by a cake contest Saturday at 7pm, and a berry-pie contest Sunday at 5pm.

The fair is also this week's hottest venue for live music, with national acts front and center on the Garden Stage. Tonight at 7:30pm, Latin jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo, a former touring member of Santana's band, will get the crowd dancing with his orchestra. (see story p. 36) On Friday at 7:30pm, get funked up with Tower of Power, a horn-heavy funk and soul group famous for hits like "What Is Hip?" and "Soul Vaccination." Saturday's show features The 10,000 Maniacs, one of the most popular alternative acts of the early '90s. Though original singer Natalie Merchant is no longer with the group, replacement vocalist Oskar Saville continues to belt out hits like "Trouble Me" and "These Are Days."[ST]

All day today through Sunday. (Concerts tonight through Saturday at 7:30pm on the Garden Stage.) Monterey Fairgounds, 2004 Fairground Rd., Monterey. $8/adult, $7/seniors, $4/children (6-12), free/children under 5. 372-5863.

Check Out That Ferrari!

VINTAGE CAR WEEK Model Ts and Mustangs will be cruising up and down the Peninsula while historic race cars peel out at the track as concours, concours, and yet another concours bring a lot of fancy chrome to town this weekend.

--Kick-starting the auto frenzy Thursday is the Pebble Beach Tour, a kind of appe-teezer to Sunday's Concours D'Elegance--more than 100 classic and fabulous cars tool around Pacific Grove, Monterey, and along 17 Mile Drive this morning, before parking along Ocean Avenue in Carmel while their owners partake of lunch. This will be the only chance the rabble gets to eyeball these beauties for free--they'll be on show Sunday from 9am-4pm at the actual Concours D'Elegance in Pebble Beach, which this year will showcase the cars of Ettore Bugatti and celebrate the centennials of Buick and Ford. $100 admission, in advance only; call 372-8026.

--More cars can be seen Friday at the Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally. Vintage cars begin lining up at 1pm on Lighthouse Avenue and at 6:30pm take off for their tour of PG, Monterey and Carmel, before returning to PG for a 7:30pm awards dinner. $45 per driver, $55 includes dinner; dinner only $20 adults, $10 children. Call 647-6355.

--Also on Friday, check out the US debut of the Lamborghini Gallardo at the Concorso Italiano, taking place from 9am-4:30pm at Seaside's Black Horse Golf Course. While the newest speed mobiles are smoking their tires, visitors can check out the Italian fashion show and listen to the classical music of Marco Missinato. Don't miss the Ferrari-Maserati competition, new this year. $60 at the door; call 206-232-0725 or visit www.concorso.com.

--If you'd rather buy then look, bring your wad to Quail Lodge on Friday for a Bonhams & Butterfields auction of antique sports cars. With enough cash, you can walk away with a mint 1960 Mercedes-Benz. (415) 861-7500.

--Finally, Friday and Saturday at the Laguna Seca Raceway, The Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races celebrates 100 years of Ford racing cars. More than 11,000 square feet of exhibit space will display the history of Ford racing, including some of the earliest and most important racing cars every built. The cars will not only be on display but also in action as many of these old-school cars compete in 14 separate races over two days. (800) 327-7322. [ZS]

Sense and Nonsense

NASH AND DA VINCI Carmel actor Taelen Thomas has made quite a career out of one-man-plays about famous people. I'm particularly fond of his Jack London--I think he is, too. Tonight he takes to the Cherry Center stage as early 20th-century master of nonsensical verse Ogden Nash, who wrote TV scores and lyrics, lectured, and published all manner of deliciously silly writings when he wasn't penning outrageous poetry. On Saturday, Thomas revives his one-man presentation of Leonardo da Vinci, the original Renaissance man who, Thomas insists, was also quite the prankster. Knowing Taelen, that aspect of da Vinci should figure prominently in the show. [SF]

7:30 tonight and 2pm Saturday. Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Guadalupe at 4th, Carmel. $10. 624-7491.

So Many Books, So Little Time

LIBRARY BOOK SALE I once strolled from Carmel Woods into downtown Carmel for the annual Carmel Library book sale. Inside All Saints Church, I became so excited by the sheer number of good quality used books, I promptly bought three bags full, then remembered I had to lug them all back up the hill. Such is the quandary at this three-day bookworm extravaganza, beginning with a members'-only (Friends of Harrison Memorial Library) preview today from 11am-4pm. On Friday and Saturday, the doors open at 10am, revealing tables and shelves of novels, reference texts, music records and tapes, collectibles and more in every category imaginable, at great prices. All proceeds benefit the FHML, which benefits the Carmel libraries. I'll remember to bring my car this year. [CC]

Thursday, 11am-4pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am-6pm. All Saints Episcopal Church, Lincoln and 9th, Carmel. 622-0442.

**friday 8|15

Aloha Salinas!

KEHAU'S HULA OHANA Looking to extend the joy of this unseasonably warm "summer," or just dream you're in Hawaii? Surf over to Sherwood Hall in Salinas for a hula dance show and hoike (concert) by Hawaiian music legends The Makaha Sons. A local group of 175 dance and music students, starts the evening with live music and Tahitian drumming featuring Ho'omana and the Sons of the Mapuana. The Makaha Sons, who have been sharing their Hawaiian passion with worldwide audiences for 27 years, perform at 8:15pm. The men in the trio have been friends since high school: "Moon" Kauakahi on six-string guitar, Jerome "Boogie" Koko on 12-string guitar, and John Koko on upright bass. Hawaiian arts and crafts will be available also as the sights and sounds of the islands soothe your nerves. [CC]

3pm, booths open; 6:30pm Hula Ohana dance and drums; 8:15pm Makaha Sons. 940 N. Main St., Salinas. $28/adult, $33/reserved. Kids under 5 are free with an adult. 758-7477, 384-3209.

**saturday 8|16

Brush Up

ART SUPPLY SALE AND BBQ Ever seen how much a tube of cadmium red costs? It may just be oil paint but it ain't cheap. Art supplies can be expensive and you might be looking for that particular hue they don't make anymore. Check out this opportunity to pick up previously owned art equipment at the Carmel Art Association's "Brush With Fate" sale and barbecue. Musical entertainment provided by the Alta California Dance Company, which will dance to early 1840s-era California music. [AS]

10am-3pm. Barbecue 11am-1pm; music and dance from noon to 2pm. Free. Carmel Art Association Gallery, Dolores between 5th and 6th, Carmel. 624-6176.

Doe Say Me

JOHN DOE SHOW John Doe has been many things. Through the '80s, Doe was a punk rock icon who helped kick-start West Coast punk rock with his band, X. By the mid-'90s, Doe was a film actor with a resume that included roles in Roadside Prophets, Georgia and Boogie Nights. Recently, Doe played a dad on the WB network's show Roswell. Also, for the past 14 years, Doe has been staking out a claim in singer/songwriter territory with his solo releases. Get to know this true American original in an intimate setting surrounded by art and redwood trees. (See story, p. 38) [ST]

3pm. Henry Miller Library, 29 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, Big Sur. $15. 667-2574.

Eat Drink And Be Merry

DINING WITH FRIENDS Eat (or cook) all in the name of charity at this annual fundraising event for John XXIII AIDS Ministry, a non-religious, nonprofit organization that provides housing opportunities and emotional or end-of-life services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Monterey County. Early in the evening, volunteers serve invited guests a meal at home or at a restaurant. In the past, groups have organized large spaghetti dinners, BBQ or breakfast buffets, restaurant-catered affairs and potlucks. In return for the meal, guests bring a donation for John XXIII. Then at 9pm, all the hosts and guests gather at the Embassy Suites for dessert, wine and dancing, and an announcement is made of how much money was raised. Last year's Dining With Friends raised more than $21,000. [JL]

9pm. Embassy Suites Hotel, 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside. To host or attend a dinner, or for more information, call 655-1737.

Walk to Eat, Eat to Walk

EARTHBOUND FARMS CHEF WALK Take a guided stroll in what began as a backyard garden and has become the biggest "grower and shipper of organic produce in North America. " Chef Todd Fisher, owner of Hullabaloo in Salinas and formerly of Montrio in Monterey, will be leading today's walk through Earthbound's organic fields, after which he'll prepare a meal with the food that was picked that day. Participants take home a box of their own hand-picked organic produce. [AS]

*10am. Earthbound Farms, 7250 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley. $30, checks can be made out to the Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County. No credit cards. 625-6219 or consult www.ebfarm.com. *