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EXHIBIT: San Diego Museum of Man displays intricately embellished gourds. "The Graphic Gourd: Carved Cucurbits of South America." Through Jan. 5, 1998. 10am-4:30pm. $3-$5. Balboa Park. 239-2001.

EXHIBIT: Maritime Museum features paintings of John Stobart in "A Celebration of Pacific Maritime Heritage." Through May 10. 9am-8pm daily. $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and military, $2 for children up to 12. N. Harbor Dr. & Ash. 234-9153.

EXHIBIT: UCSD's University Art Gallery presents Gary Hill's "Tall Ships," an interactive projective video installation. Through December. Tues.-Sat., 11am-4pm. Free. 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla. 534-0419.

EXHIBIT: The Mingei International Museum of Folk Art presents "Dolls - Mirrors of Humanity," featuring more than 200 objects. Through August 1998. Tues.-Sun., 10am-4pm. Members, free; guests, $10. 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park. 239-0003.

EXHIBIT: "Recent Works" by Lenore T. Hughes. David Zapf Gallery, 2400 Kettner Blvd. Through Dec. 13. Thurs., Fri., Sat. Noon-5pm. 232-5004.

EXHIBIT: SDSU's 1997 Faculty Art Exhibition. University Art Gallery. Through Dec. 10. Free. 594-4941.

EXHIBIT: The San Diego Museum of Art presents "Matisse: Florilege des Amours de Ronsard - A Celebration of French Renaissance Poetry." Through Feb. 1. Balboa Park. 232-7931.

EXHIBIT: "Festival of Lights," a handcrafted collection of unique menorahs, candles, mezuzot, and festive Judaica. Gallery Alexander, 7850 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Through Dec. 13. 459-9433.

EXHIBIT: "Ginger Bread Lane at Horton Plaza," a display of more than 30 festive window designs. Through Dec. 24. 238-1596.

EXHIBIT: The San Diego Natural History Museum presents "Cats! Wild to Mild," an in-depth exploration of felines. $6. 9:30am-4:30pm daily. Through Jan. 4.232-3821.

EXHIBIT: "Geoffrey James: Running Fence." Museum of Contemporary Art, 1001 Kettner Blvd. Through Jan. 14. Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm, Sun., noon-5pm. $4 for adults. 454-3541.

EXHIBIT: "Under the Dark Cloth: View Camera in Contemporary Photography." Museum of Photographic Arts. 10am-5pm daily. Through Dec. 7. $4. 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. 238-7559.

ON STAGE: The San Diego Repertory Theater presents a musical version of Charles Dickens'"A Christmas Carol." $10-$30. Through Dec. 24. Lyceum Theatre, Horton Plaza. 235-8025.

TOUR: Learn about San Diego’s original Italian neighborhood on a two-hour walking tour. Saturdays, noon-1:30pm. $15 includes guided tour and lunch. 1704 India St. 632-1199.

TOUR: Old Town Trolley Tours teams up with Mystery Cafe to present Trolley Follies, a nighttime interactive mystery tour aboard a rubber-wheeled trolley. Thurs-Sun, 6:30pm. $38-40. Through Dec. 28. 544-9225.

WALK: Free history walks led by San Diego Park & Recreation Dept. Every Wednesday noon. Plaza del Panama, Balboa Park Information Center. 239-0512.

WALK: Offshoot Tours offers free horticulture and historical one-hour walks every Saturday at 10am in Balboa Park. 235-1121.

WALK: Walkabout International "Merry Go Round." Walk along the harbor, through Downtown, up Banker's Hill and across bridges. Sun., 8am. Meet at the carousel, Park Blvd. and Zoo Place. 565-7212.

EXHIBIT: "Men Behind Gates," paintings by Paul Ecke, opens. The FrameMaker gallery. Through Jan. 20. 10am-7pm daily. 2215 India St. 234-0846.
LECTURE: Opera lecturer Dr. Nicolas Reveles presents "A Look at the Opera Season," an introduction to San Diego Opera's 1998 season. 3916 Normal St. Free. 692-2077.

PERFORMANCE: SDSU's School of Music and Dance presents New Music Ensemble, featuring 20th century vocal and instrumental works. Free. Noon. Smith Recital Hall on campus. 594-6020.

PERFORMANCE: UCSD Jazz Ensembles, directed by Jimmy Cheatham. $5. 8pm. Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD.

SHOW: "The Sky Tonight" planetarium show. Reuben Fleet planetarium. Telescope viewing follows. 7 & 8pm. $3 for adults, $1.75 for juniors. 238-1233.

ON STAGE: The Old Globe Theatre presents the Young Globe Co. in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. $12-$14. Dec. 4-7, 11-13. Cassius Carter Center Stage, Balboa Park. 239-2255.

PERFORMANCE: The UCSD Singers perform excerpts from Handel's "Messiah," and other selections. 8pm, Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD. Free.

PERFORMANCE: Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on 1997 Holiday Pops Tour featuring a sing-along and Santa visit. 8pm. $18-$63. SDSU's Cox Arena. 594-6947.

EVENT: The 20th Annual Christmas on the Prado. More than 20 museums and cultural organizations in Balboa Park will be open free of charge. Dec. 5-6, 5pm-9pm. 239-0512.

EXHIBIT: Annual Poinsettia Display in Balboa Park's Botanical Building includes more than 300 poinsettias. 10-4pm. Free. Closed Thursdays. Through Jan. 5. 235-2300.

PERFORMANCE: UCSD Wind Ensemble performs at Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD. $5. 8pm.

EVENT: The City of San Diego Park and Recreation Dept.'s Disabled Services Program presents the 15th Annual Holiday Carnival. War Memorial Building in Balboa Park. Free. 525-8247.

EXHIBIT: Sumner and Dene Creations presents photogravures by Edward S. Curtis, American Wild West photographer. Through Dec. 30. 4010 Goldfinch, Mission Hills. 688-5969.

PERFORMANCE: The All American Boys Chorus performs seasonal favorites. Seaport Village. Noon & 2pm. Free. Dec. 6, 13, 20. 235-4014.

PERFORMANCE: The Singing Christmas Tree, featuring 125-plus Gateway Baptist Singers. Seaport Village's West Plaza. Free. Dec. 6-7, 13-14. 235-4014.

PERFORMANCE: The La Jolla Chamber Music Society presents the Pacifica Quartet string ensemble. 7pm, Sherwood Auditorium, La Jolla. $15. 459-3728.

PERFORMANCE: The La Jolla Presbyterian Church Concert Series presents "The Many Moods of Christmas" and Vivaldi's "Gloria." 5:30pm, and 8pm. 7715 Draper Ave. Freewill offering. 454-0713.

PERFORMANCE: Winter Choral Concert, performed by the SDSU Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. $5. Smith Recital Hall, SDSU. 594-6884.

PERFORMANCE: The La Jolla Chamber Music Society presents Andreas Haefliger in a solo piano recital. 8pm. $27.50. Sherwood Auditorium, Museum of Contemporary Art. 459-3728.

PERFORMANCE: The Invisible Circus (Le Cirque Invisible), a theatrical event mixing magic and comedy, returns to the La Jolla Playhouse. Through Dec. 21. $21-$37. Tues.-Sat, 8pm., Sun., 2pm. 550-1010.

LECTURE: International gem hunter Gary Bowersox speaks on "Gems Along the Silk Route," his explorations in the Hindu Kush mountain range of Afghanistan. $8. 7pm. San Diego Natural History Museum. 232-3821, ext. 203.

EXHIBIT: Reception for artists in Robson Gallery exhibit. 5-9pm. Exhibition through Jan. 7. 535 Fourth Ave. Gallery hours Tues.-Sat. 11am-6pm or by appointment. 234-7356.

PERFORMANCE: The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet presents "The Snow Queen," a classic ballet of the story by Hans Christian Andersen. $6. Dec. 12, 7pm; Dec. 13-14, 3pm. Casa del Prado Theater, Balboa Park. 233-3060.

EVENT: "Holiday in the Park," Old Town's annual Holiday celebration, with strolling musical entertainment, costumed 19th century townspeople, and old-fashioned holiday decorations. Free. Dec. 12-13, 6pm-9pm. 220-5422.

CONCERT: San Diego Master Chorale performs Handel's "Messiah." 8pm tonight at St. Paul's Downtown, and 7pm tomorrow at St. James By-The-Sea, La Jolla. $8-$20. (888) 848-7326.

EVENT: Seaport Village's "Breakfast with Santa," featuring a photo with Santa, live entertainment and a goody bag. 9am, Harbor House. $7.50. Dec. 13, 20. Reservations required: 235-4014, ext. 105.

PERFORMANCE: "The Nutcracker," the classic holiday spectacle, presented by the California Ballet Company of San Diego. Dec. 13-14, Poway Center for Performing Arts; Dec. 20-24, San Diego Civic Theater. 560-6741.

PERFORMANCE: Lamb's Player Theatre and the Hotel Del Coronado offer "An American Christmas," a turn-of-the-century feast and celebration. Through Dec. 28. $75-$85. 437-0600.

ON STAGE: "The Other Christmas," a theater/dance work, the tale of an inner-city girl's search for the true meaning of Christmas. $17.50. Dec. 18-19, 8pm; Dec. 20, 2pm and 8pm; Dec. 21, 2pm and 7pm. City College Theatre. (760) 632-5340.

PERFORMANCE: Hermann Prey, German singer, performs Schubert's Die Shone Mullerin. 7pm, Sherwood Auditorium. $35. 232-7636.

EVENT: "Santa's Science Lab," a hands-on family science program about life at the North Pole, opens at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Through Dec. 31. $7.50, adults; $4, children. 534-FISH.

EVENT: The 16th Annual Holiday Bowl Parade. Free to the public; reserved grandstand seating, $7.50. From the City Administration Building, along Harbor Drive, to Seaport Village. 10am.

EVENT: 20th Annual Holiday Bowl. Pre-Bowl events 4pm, game 5pm. Qualcomm Stadium. 283-5808.

RESOLUTION RUN: Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the 28th annual Downtown YMCA 1-mile and 5k runs. 12:15pm. Free. Balboa Park, Sixth & Laurel. 232-7451.