[ Baltic bash ]

1. West Coast Latvian Song Festival will bring Lats of lyrics, dance, theater and art to Ventura this week

Since 1962, Latvians living in the U.S. have come together every four years for Baltic music and revelry. The 15th West Coast Latvian Song Festival alternates between several cities; this year, Ventura gets the hosting honors. The cultural festival, running today through Sunday at various locations, will feature Latvian music, theater, art and children's activities.

A highlight will be a performance by the Latvian folk dance ensemble Saime, which will participate in a folk dance program at Ventura High School on Saturday. The award-winning group — its name means "community" in Latvian — performs regularly in Latvia and at folk dance festivals around the world. In addition to its Ventura High appearance, Saime will perform a nonfestival concert at 11 a.m. Sunday at Plaza Park in Ventura.

Here's the rest of the festival schedule:

Today: Opening ceremonies, 4 p.m. in the Crowne Plaza Hotel's upper ballroom, and "Letter from LA," an original two-act musical performed in Latvian, 8 p.m. at Buena High School.

Friday: Activities for kids 12 and younger, including a performance by Dzeguzite, a youth music ensemble from Latvia, 11 a.m. at Crowne Plaza; concert of Latvian music by Riga Academy Choir and pianist Juris Zvikovs, 3 p.m. at San Buenaventura Mission; and "Letter from LA," 7 p.m. at Buena High.

Saturday: Readings of Latvian poems, 9:30 a.m. at Crowne Plaza; "Paradise Resort," a one-act comedy performed in Latvian, 1 and 8 p.m. at Buena High; and a folk dance program featuring 200 dancers, 4 p.m. at Ventura High.

Sunday: Church service, 8 a.m. at Crowne Plaza; and a concert featuring a 200-voice choir performing new and traditional works, 3 p.m. at Ventura High.

Ongoing: "Small Wonders from Latvia" exhibit at the Artists' Union Gallery, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday; and Arts and Crafts Fair, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Crowne Plaza.

Tickets, $5 to $35 for individual events, will be available during the festival at the Crowne Plaza's information center, or in advance at http://www.westcoastlatviansongfest.org. (The information on the Web site is presented in Latvian; click on the "English" tab on the home page if Latvian is Greek to you.)

For information, call 216-0612.

[ blues note ]

2. In memory of Mike

The local blues scene has been a shade bluer since April 8. That's when Michael Miller, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for Ventura band Blue Stew, died in his sleep at age 56. Friends and family will remember the beloved bluesman during a party from 6 to 10 tonight at The Greek at the Harbor in Ventura Harbor. Various bands will perform, including Blue Stew, which competed this year at the International Blues Challenge in Tennessee. Reservations requested; call Julie at 985-6339.

[ shop talk ]

3. Big Bad T.O. store

Thousand Oaks' new castle of retail swank, Nordstrom at The Oaks mall, will open its doors to salivating shoppers Sept. 5, but you can get a sneak peak at the store during a pre-opening gala Wednesday that will raise funds for the Alliance for the Arts and Centennial Guild of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The evening will feature cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, a fashion presentation and a concert by the always stylish Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. 7 to 10 p.m., 346 W. Hillcrest Drive. $100. Reservations: 449-2604 or http://www.shoptheoaksmall.com.

[ tomato harvest ]

4. Roaming for Romas

Produce buyers will be seeing red when they engage in a little Roma rage at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark this weekend. This is civilized rage, however: the Pick Your Own Roma Tomatoes event. Tomato hunters pay 20 cents per pound for Romas that they pick and tote themselves in containers brought from home. Those who want prepicked tomatoes must order and pay one day in advance; the cost doubles to 40 cents per pound. 6 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, 3370 Sunset Valley Road. 529-3690; http://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com.

[ artists['] abodes ]

5. Creative quarters

Santa Barbara artists, who need only look outside their windows for inspiration, will let the public inside their inspired walls this weekend. The seventh annual Santa Barbara Studio Artists' Open Studio Tour is slated from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with more than 40 award-winning visual artists participating. Tickets and maps for the self-guided tour will be available at the Arts Fund, 205 Santa Barbara St. $20. A reception will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Arts Fund. 899-8854; http://www.santabarbarastudioartists.com.