BEST BETS

Dwight Yoakam

Dwight Yoakam, Country Music's singer/songwriter/guitarist-cum-actor has recently released a fan-friendly 25-song compilation of his most popular tunes done only with acoustic guitar at dwightyoakamacoustic.net. Yoakam will be playing most of those songs, with and without his band, when he appears locally. Known for such hits as chart toppers, "I Sang Dixie," "Honky Tonk Man," and "Streets of Bakersfield," the latter a duet with one of his heroes, Buck Owens, is soon to release a new studio album in the fall.His new film, "South Of Heaven, West Of Hell," also due out this fall, he co-wrote with Stan Bertheaud and will star Bridget Fonda, Peter Fonda, Billy Bob Thornton, and Paul Reubens. Westbury Music Fair.September 1, 8 P.M. Tickets: $37.50, (631) 888-9000.

Beethoven Festival

Friends of the Arts Long Island Summer Festival presents again its highly acclaimed Beethoven Festival. Marking its 19th Anniversary, expect an innovative program of continuous and simultaneous performances in a variety of attractive venues. Musicians will perform the master's most thrilling chamber music. September 3. Noon to 6 PM., Planting Fields Arboretum. Info: 922-0061. Tickets: All tickets $25 which provide entrance into various sites: Hay Barn, Coe Hall,. Children's event:(11:15-12:15 P.M./Marionnet Motions & Beethoven Bagatelles) Intended for kids ages 5-8. Children: No fee for children's program only.

Special Events

Comic - Gallagher

Veteran comedian Gallagher suffered a mild heart attack and had to postpone his July schedule. He will appear August 30 at 8 P.M. All tickets for July 6 will be honored on August 30. Westbury Music Fair. Tickets: $30.Tickets/Info: 334-0800.

Bird's eye view

Join a naturalist on an early morning Migrating Birds nature walk through the fields and woodlands to view the birds in their natural habitats. Participants have rare opportunity to watch a bird-blander at work, and observe seldom seen species of warblers and wrens. Sponsored by Friends for Long Island's Heritage, walks begin at Bill Paterson Nature Center. Muttontown Preserve, East Norwich. September 9. 8:30-11:30 A.M. Admission: $3 per person; children under 13 free. Pre-registration required. 571-8500.

A real "Highland Fling"

Old Westbury Gardens and the Long Island Scottish Clan MacDuff will host a day of traditional Scottish Games including Scottish dance and music performances, demonstrations and competitions and specialty crafts and food. Scottish bagpipe music and highland dancing, as well as caber tossing, sheepdog trials and putting the stone competitions will be enhanced with traditional foods such as fish & chips, Scottish pie, scones and other Scottish and Gaelic goods that are offered for sale. August 26, 8 A.M.- 5 P.M.The Games are included in special admission rates to Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury. Adults $10; Seniors (+62) $4. Children $3. Additional fee for a tour of Westbury House. Info: 333-0048.

Talks and Tours

Talks & Tours series during month of September offers informal talks and tours on various aspects of gardening and decorative arts. September 3: Butterflies in the Garden. Master Gardener Jack Pine will take you on tour through grounds of Old Westbury Gardens to point out plants for both attracting butterflies and feeding their larvae. Meet at the Beech Tree by West Porch of Westbury House? unless otherwise noted and are free with Gardens admission. 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. Admission to Gardens only: Adults/$10; children 6-12: $6; seniors 62+: $8. Info: 333-0048.

Arts & Crafts Fair

End summer with a bang at C.W. Post/LIU, Arts & Crafts Labor Day Fair. Outdoors on campus grounds, featuring art, photography, hand crafted jewelry, ceramics, wood, leather, glass, and many gift items. September 2 & 3. 11 A.M. - 6 P.M. Rain or shine. Free admission and parking. Refreshments.

Theatre

Phantom revisited

Phantom: The American Musical Sensation, music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Arthur Kopit, is not the Andrew Lloyd Webber version. Yeston and Kopit are creative team behind Tony Award-winning musical "Nine." Promoters suggest this version offers a more "dashing Phantom, a more romantic storyline, and a different ending." The Gray Wig alumni repertory theater group. Hofstra University, John Cranford Adams Playhouse. September 8 - 24, weekends only: 8 P.M. Friday, Saturday and 2 P.M. Sunday. Tickets: $22, $20 (seniors and students). Box Office/Info: 463-6644.

Barrymore!

Shortly before his death, legendary actor John Barrymore has rented a stage to prepare for a comeback performance of Richard III. What is in store for audiences, however, is a peek into the troubled mind and memoirs of this theatrical giant. The '97 Broadway run of this biographical (Barrymore) won Christopher Plummer a Tony Award for Best Actor. Broadhollow Theater, 200 Stewart Ave., Bethpage. Tickets: $12. (631) 581-2756.Through September 17. Fridays: 8:30 P.M., Saturdays: 8:00 P.M., Sunday August 27 & September 10 at 7:00 P.M. Thursdays, August 24 & September 10: 8:00 P.M.

MUSIC

Righteous Bros!

The rich harmonies of the Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield will be joined by Ben E. King on stage. Medley and Hatfield sang together one night and the rest is history: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," "Just Once In My Life," "Unchained Melody," and "Ebbtide." Ben E. King is best known as the voice behind the pop classic "Stand By Me." Westbury Music Fair. August 29, 8 P.M. Tickets: $40, (631) 888-9000.

Harvest musical festival

Labor Day Weekend, visitors to Old Bethpage Village Restoration will experience a variety of entertaining historic musical performances in the spirit of mid-nineteenth century Long Island. Old Bethpage Village. Admission: $6/adults $5/children 5-12. No charge for parking. Info: 572-8400.

Tito Puente tribute

A tribute to Tito Puente, featuring the Tito Puente Orchestra, Dave Valentin, Bobby Sanabria and Ascension will celebrate his contribution to American music. The exuberant percussionist, bandleader and five-time Grammy Award winner shared his charisma and talent through his marriage of Latin music and jazz. Friends of the Arts Summer Festival. August 26 8 P.M. Planting Fields Arboretum. Info: 922-0061. Tickets: Advance/$37 & $27 through Ticketmaster (631) 888-9000 and $22/general admission lawn seating. Children under 12, free on the lawn with ticketed adult.

High noon

Canon Noontime Concert Series "In a Shady Glade" continues at Eisenhower Park. Bring your lunch and a chair. August 30 "Big Band Association." Info: 572-0253. Concerts held in shady area adjacent to Parking Fields 6 & 6A. Admission: Free.

Art

Pas de 'dance'

Dance as a form of art is celebrated in a multi-media art exhibit, "Dance, Dance, Dance" featuring works from Degas, Hockney, Arman, Mapplethorpe, Picasso, Renoir and Derain. The exhibit reflects international visual interpretations of dance from the 1890s on, from impressionism to American realism, from basic folk to the avant garde. A second exhibit, "Fabulous Jewels" can also be viewed which showcases the history of designed jewelry from 1875 to 1960. Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn. Through September 17.

Contemporary impressions

An exhibition of American artist Howard Behrens, a master of contemporary impressionistic landscapes and waterviews, can be viewed at Central Galleries, 420 Central Ave., Cedarhurst through end-September. Inspiration for Behrens comes mainly from his travels. Whatever his subject, he presents a world of physical beauty, bathed in sunlight and touched by sea breezes. Hours: 10 A.M. - 6 P.M. Monday - Saturday; 12-6 P.M. Sunday; 10-9 P.M. Wednesday. Admission is free. Info: 569-5686.

Pollock to Wyeth

As a companion to the Hans Namuth: Portraits exhibition, museum shows works by many of the famed artists captured by Namuth's lens, among them Jackson Pollock, Isamu Noguchi, Roy Lichenstein, Willem deKooning and Andrew Wyeth. Heckscher Museum, Main Street (Rte 25A) and Prime Ave., Huntington. Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. Admission: suggested donation $3 adults/$1 children. Info: (631) 351-3250.

The Spiritual in Art

Islip Art Museum presents The Spiritual in Art and includes work by several contemporary artists whose work is informed by their own spiritual philosophies and practices. Painting and mixed media works are represented in this exhibition. Call for additional related events. From September 20. Brookwood Hall, 50 Irish Lane, E. Islip. Info: (631) 224-5402. Call for hours and admission.