Best Bets

Engelbert Humperdinck

His name comes from the 19th century Austrian composer who wrote "Hansel & Gretel." His voice comes from heaven, and he has been a legend in the international music industry for over thirty years. Engelbert Humperdinck will perform songs from his current CD and old favorites such as "The Last Waltz," "A Man Without Love," Love Is All," "Winter World of Love," "Am I That Easy To Forget" and "After The Lovin." November 17-19. Westbury Music Fair. Tickets: $37.50, (631) 888-9000.

Teddy Bear Tea Party

Three Teddy Bear Tea's for children, ages 2-6 welcome kids and their favorite cuddly companions. Tasty snacks, sing-a-longs and a big bear parade cap off this holiday spectacular. (Festival of Trees) at EAB Plaza, Uniondale. November 11, 9:30-11 A.M. OR 12:30-2 P.M. OR 3:30-5 P.M. Reservations required. Tickets: $12 per person...bears free of charge! 378-2000 x 233 or www.northpole.com.

Topsy Turvy meets Yum-Yum

"The Mikado," the popular Gilbert & Sullivan operetta was first performed at the Savoy Theatre in London in 1885 and proved to be one of Gilbert & Sullivan's most popular, enduring compositions.Tilles Center. November 17, 8 P.M. Tickets: $42 (seniors $39). TillesCharge 299-3100 or www.tillescenter.org.

Special Events

Purrrrfect expo

The Long Island Pet Expo returns with the largest collection of pets, pet products and pet services under one roof. View dogs, cats, fish, birds, small animals, reptiles, rabbits, horses and some very special animal surprises. Nassau Coliseum. November 9-12. Thurs.: 4:30 P.M. - 10:30 P.M., Fri.: 10 A.M. - 10:30 P.M., Sat.: 10 A.M. -10:30 P.M. and Sun.: 10 A.M. - 6:30 P.M. Adults: $8, children under 12: $3. Info: 889-6000.

It's a jungle in there

Kids never seem to tire of Disney ice shows. "Disney's Jungle Adventures on Ice" roars into Long Island with a high-energy ice spectacular for adventurers of all ages. Disney's Academy Award-winning music and a "re-mastered 'Jungle Book' score is set to a hip new swing beat," say promoters. Expect selections from other Disney hits such as "Tarzan" and "The Lion King." Nassau Coliseum. November 14-29. Tickets: $14, $18, $25, $45. Showtimes & TickMaster Charge (631) 888-9000.

Gymnastics champions

The stars of the Sydney Olympics will perform live and feature the USA Men's and Women's Olympic teams and international medalists of the Sydney games. Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. November 31. 7:30 P.M> Tickets: $45, $35, $25, $19.50 (631) 888-9000.

Culture Kids

Circus, drums, marionettes and the world's most acclaimed dance and opera troupes are featured in Culture Kids, a lively six-part performance series. For children 5-8. Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn Harbor. 10 AM Saturday mornings. Through May 19. Tickets: Individual performances/$20. Full series: $105. Info/schedule: Michelle Schneider 484-9338.

Festival of trees

A spectacular array of designer decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces, and ginger-bread houses creates a fantastic holiday wonderland for visitors. Continuous entertainment, a 10,000 square foot children's wonderland, shops and special events. Long Island Festival of Trees.Clark Center and Campus Center, SUNY Old Westbury, Rte 107, Brookville. November 24, 25, 26. Hours, admission and info: 378-2000 ext. 230.

Opera conference

"Contemporary Opera at the Millennium" brings together performers, composers, scholars and opera professions to share their ideas and talents in a variety of forums: a key-note address, sessions of scholarly papers, round table panel discussions and performances. Hofstra Cultural Center. November 16-18. Registration for all three days: $75, $60/seniors, $35/non-Hofstra students. November 17 banquet priced separately. Info: 463-5669.Tickets for November 17 opera "No Easy Walk To Freedom," on the life of Nelson Mandela, is included in registration. Tickets for Mandela opera only: $25.

Theater

Children's theater

Through the magic of musical theater, favorite children's classics come to life in Sleeping Beauty on November 11, American Family Theater's Babes In Toyland on December 2, and Valley Forge Dance's The Nutcracker on December 28. All 4 shows only $30. Individual shows: $12.50. Westbury Music Fair box office, and Tickmaster: (631) 888-9000.

50's music

"Forever Plaid" celebrates the goofy reincarnation of four male singers killed in a car crash on the way to their first big concert, and now miraculously revived. Includes a series of well-loved pop hits as "Three Coins In The Fountain," "Moments To Remember," "Catch A Falling Star," and "Heart and Soul." The Stage, 2222 Hewlett Ave., Merrick. November 13-December 12. Tickets: $15. Seniors/$10 on Sundays only. Reservations: 868-6400.

'Pippin'

Musical "Pippin" presents a modern flavor and leading player tells the tongue-in-cheek story of Pippin, son of the 8th-Century King Charlemagne, who is on a quest to find his true calling in life. Cultural Arts Playhouse, 714 Old Bethpage Rd., Old Bethpage. Through November 25. Call for times. Tickets: $18/adults, $16/seniors, students. Matinee: $15. 694-3330.

Music

Top this!

Feel every beat of her heart as Gladys Knight performs along with the Four Tops. Her exquisite voice, and the dramatic choral arrangements of The Pips, transcended countless musical fads, achieved mainstream and international success in the mid-70s. Memorable records include: "Every Beat of My Heart," "Letter Full of Tears," "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," "The Nitty Gritty." Westbury Music Fair. November 24 & 25, 8 P.M. Tickets: $50, (631) 888-9000.

New York Philharmonic

Christoph Eschenbach leads the New York Philharmonic in a program of Brahms and Dvorak. Soloists for the evening are violinist Glenn Dicterow and cellist Carter Brey. They perform a program which includes Brahms' Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9. Tilles Center. November 112, 8 P.M. Tickets: $58, $42. TillesCharge 299-3100, www.tillescenter.org.

Art

Dali and friends

Two Surrealism exhibitions "Dali: Works on Paper" and "Surrealism" offer rare opportunity to experience locally the works of the century's artistic masters of dreams and the unconscious. Through January 14. Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn Harbor. Hours: Tues.-Sun. 11 A.M.-5 P.M. Admission: $/adults, $3 seniors, $2 children. Docent-led tours, 2 P.M. each day except Sun. Info: 484-9337.

Pollock to Wyeth

Aaron Copeland's New York, shows the sharp contrasts of New York City as a sleepy seaport with the angular, soaring thrust of skyscrapers, the speed and complexity of the subway system and sometimes the serene pleasures of the city's leafy parks. (Through January 7). Aaron Copeland's America will celebrate his distinctively American contributions to classical music. Exhibition includes depictions of the composer by a diverse group of American artists and photographers, and also by an exploration of Copland's American spirit and its parallels in the visual arts through the inclusion of works by artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Dali, O'Keefe, Benton, Weber, Wood, and Hartley among others.( November 4 through January 21.) 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.

Faculty art

Multi-media exhibition of works by the NCC Art Faculty, features all aspects of art that is taught in the NCC art department. Through November 14. Nassau Community College Firehouse Gallery. Mon.-Tues. 10 A.M.-4 P.M.; Wed.-Thurs. 11 A.M.-7 P.M.; Fri. 10 A.M.-2 P.M.; Sat. 12-5 P.M. Info: 572-7165.

Friends and colleagues

A special exhibition, Four Artists, Four Objects, Ten Years, features the artwork of four contemporary American female artists and their still-life paintings through December 15. Showing the work of Janet Fish, Sondra Freckelton, Nancy Hagin and Harriet Shorr, four talented painters who are friends as well as colleagues. Emily Lowe Gallery. Hofstra University. Admission is free. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.; Sat.,Sun. 1 P.M. - 5 P.M. Closed on holiday weekends. Info: (516) 463-5672.

Looking forward

A special exhibition "Toward the New: American Abstract Artists" traces the history of the American Abstract Artists, a revolutionary group founded in 1936. The group's mission is to ensure that galleries and museums continue to display the work of American artists who create in the abstract style. In keeping with the mission, Hillwood Art Museum will present the most recent work of several current members through November 12. C.W. Post Campus. Open Mon.-Fri., 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. and until 7:30 P.M. on Tues.; Sat.-Sun. 11 A.M. - 3 P.M. Info: 299-4073 or www.liu.edu/museum.

Russian artist

Exhibition of the works of Russian artist Viktor Shvaiko depicts street scenes all across Europe. Shvaiko, who has a book out on his life, is best known for his hand embellished limited edition serigraphs on canvas. Shvaiko grew up in cold war Russia and studied art in prestigious art schools before traveling and eventually emigrating to the United States. His artwork hangs in museums in Russia and the Ukraine. Through mid-November. Central Galleries, 420 Central Ave., Cedarhurst. 569-5686.