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Special Events

Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, is holding sidewalk office hours for constituents to bring questions, ideas and solutions regarding state legislative issues that affect their community. June 12, 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Menlo Park Farmers' Market, Chestnut Street between Santa Cruz and Menlo avenues, Menlo Park. Call 650-688-6384. senatorsimitian.com

Sunset Magazine Celebration Weekend will feature cooking demos, home and garden ideas and more. June 4 and 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $16; $12 seniors; kids under 12 free. Sunset Headquarters, 80 Willow Road, Menlo Park. www.sunset.com/cw

Nativity Carnival Carnival rides, game booths, food court, beverages and a silent auction, benefiting Nativity School. June 10-12, 5-11 p.m. Free. 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. www.facebook.com/nativitycarnival

Arrillaga Family Recreation Center Re-grand Opening A celebration of the Re-Grand Opening of the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. There will be an opening ceremony, tours of the new building, classroom demonstrations and more. June 4, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, 700 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Call 650-330-2200. www.menlopark.org

On Stage

'Annie' Woodside Elementary School's annual tradition of an operetta production performed by the 8th grade class. June 2-4, 7-9:30 p.m. $12/adults, $10 children. Sellman Auditorium, 3195 Woodside Road, Woodside.

'[title of show]' TheatreWorks presents the new musical "[title of show]" written by a pair of undiscovered writers about a pair of undiscovered writers writing a new musical. June 1-26, with evening and matinee performances. $24 (for students)-$42. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. www.theatreworks.org

Talks/Authors

'Artists & the Creative Process' 2011 Djerassi Program resident artists Aaron Hamburger from New York City and Lena Lapschina from Lagenlois, Austria, perform and speak about their work. June 6, 7 p.m. Free. Reservations required. Palo Alto Children's Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

'Financing Alternatives: Where's the Money?' A discussion of funding options for companies. June 9, 3-6:30 p.m. $20-50. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, 1100 Marsh Road, Menlo Park. Call 408-960-3807. financingalternatives-FullCal.eventbrite.com

Chris Adrian discusses his new novel, "The Great Night," a retelling of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." June 1, 7 p.m. Members free. General admission requires purchase of event book or a $10 gift card. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers.com

Emma Donoghue discusses her novel, "Room," about a mother who keeps her son inside one room. June 2, 7 p.m. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.

Melissa Marr discusses her new novel, "Graveminder," a story about the living, the dead and a curse that binds them. June 3, 7 p.m. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.

Community Events

'Eating for Health' Bauman College, Eucalyptus Magazine and the Stillheart Institute host a dinner and nutrition discussion with Dr. Ed Bauman and Chef Sitarani Brian. Reservations required. June 15, 6-9 p.m. $55. Stillheart Institute, 16350 Skyline Blvd., Woodside.

Day of the Horse Meeting Woodside-area Horse Owners Assn. invites area residents and equestrians to its meeting June 1 at Folger Estate Stable in Wunderlich Park. Carriage Room Museum tour, 5-6 p.m. Meeting at 6 p.m.: Day of the Horse logo apparel trunk show and sale, rider registration, raffle ticket sales and more. No charge. Folger Estate Stable, Wunderlich Park, 4040 Woodside Road, Woodside. Call 650-728-5064. www.whoa94062.org

Spring Down Open Horse Show Classes from beginner lead line to more advanced hunter/jumper. June 5, $15/class. Free to observers. Spring Down Equestrian Center, 725 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-851-1114. www.springdown.com

Kids & Families

'Shark Storytime' "I"m a Shark," by Bob Shea and "Shark Vs Train" by Chris Barton will be presented in this storytime event for kids. June 5, 11:30 a.m. Free. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers.com

World Oceans Day at MSI The Marine Science Institute will celebrate World Oceans Day with activities including docent tours of its aquarium and classroom facilities. Visitors can also take a two-hour trip on the Bay aboard the 90-foot R/V the Robert G. Brownlee. Admission to the aquarium is free; prices for Bay trips are listed online. Advance registration required. June 4, 10-5 p.m. Marine Science Institute, 500 Discovery Parkway, Redwood City, Ca, 94063. Call 650-364-2760. sfbaymsi.org

Et Alia

African Drumming with Onye Onyemaechi Drummer and performer Onye Onyemaechi performs. Born in Nigeria, he has played and toured in the United States and Europe, conveying African culture and village values. June 16, 10-11 a.m. Free. Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside. Call 650-851-0147. www.smcl.org

Salon Menlo: 'Mildred Pierce' The Salon Menlo program celebrates the fictional and cinematic character Mildred Pierce through film clips from the 1945 Joan Crawford film and readings from the 1941 James Cain novel. Nick Szegda and Lauren John lead the discussion. Pie will be served. June 5, 1-4 p.m. Free. Recreation Center, 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Call 650-522-4088.

Silicon Valley Symphony Fourteen-year-old violinist Stephen Waarts will perform the Violin Concerto in E Minor by Felix Mendelssohn with the Silicon Valley Symphony performing. Michael Paul Gibson will also conduct Rossini's "L'Italiana in Algeri" overture, Vaughan Williams' "Thomas Tallis" and Prokofiev's "Classical Symphony." June 3, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $20 general; $15 seniors/students; free for children 12 and under. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 330 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park. Call 415- 287-6002.

Dr. Seuss Rare Editions 2011 Tour This exhibition of art by Dr. Seuss highlights works from the private reserve of the publisher, including "Elephant Presenting a Flower to a Bird" and "My Petunia Can Lick Your Geranium," plus sculptures executed in the 1930s. Through June 30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Peabody Fine Art Gallery, 603 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park. Call 650-322-2200. www.peabodyfineart.com

'Springtime Novelettes' The Bayer Ballet Company presents "Springtime Novelettes." June 12, 1 and 4 p.m. $20. Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton. Call 1-800-838-3006.

InnVision Garden Gala Held at a private home in Atherton, the InnVision Garden Gala will feature specialty food and wine, live entertainment and a live auction. Funds raised at the Garden Gala will benefit InnVision Peninsula Programs to provide a full continuum of care for homeless families and individuals in the area. June 5, 2-5 p.m. $150. Private home, Atherton. Call 408-380-8721. www.InnVision.org