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Special Events

Connoisseurs' Marketplace Midsummer festival with live music, art, crafts, chefs' demos, festive food and drink, microbrews, margaritas, organic and green products, collector car show and a kids' fun zone. Presented by Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. July 20-21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Santa Cruz Avenue., Menlo Park. miramarevents.com Volunteers are needed. Visit tinyurl.com/CMPvolunteer. Call 650-325-2818. menloparkchamber.com

Reining By The Bay The second stop of the "Triple Crown" of West Coast Reining Shows is held at the Horse Park at Woodside. The show benefits the Peninsula Humane Society/SPCA. July 18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Horse Park at Woodside, 3674 Sand Hill Road, Woodside. www.reiningbythebay.com

On Stage

'Curse of the Starving Class' Stanford Summer Theater's production of Sam Shepard's "Curse of the Starving Class," directed by Rush Rehm. July 19-Aug. 12, Thu.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. $25 general, $15 for seniors and students. Pigott Theater, Memorial Auditorium, Stanford. Call 650-723-0485. sst.stanford.edu

'For the Greater Good,' or 'The Last Election' The Tony-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe continues its 53rd season with "For the Greater Good," or "The Last Election." Michael Gene Sullivan directs this musical satire about "true" American values. Live music 30 minutes before showtime. 6:30-8 p.m. Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway St., Redwood City. www.sfmt.org

TheatreWorks launches its 43rd season with the world premiere of "Upright Grand," a play with live music by playwright Laura Schellhardt. "Upright Grand" plays through Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m. $24-$73. Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-463-1960. www.theatreworks.org

Talks/Authors

A Photographic Tour of New Zealand Frances Freyberg Blackburn's color photographs feature landscapes from across New Zealand's North and South Islands, including limestone formations along the west coast, fields of multicolored lupine in Otago, Waikato's rolling green hills and sunsets, and the windswept beaches of Northland. July 24, 1:30-2:30 p.m. $2 for members, $3 for others. Little House Activity Center, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 650-326-2025, ext. 229. www.penvol.org/littlehouse

Author: Mark Zepezauer -- 'The CIA's Greatest Hits' The day before General David Petraeus took over as the 20th CIA director, federal prosecutors announced that they were dropping 99 investigations into the deaths of people in CIA custody, leaving just two active cases they're willing to pursue. July 18, 7 p.m. free Redwood City Downtown Library, 1044 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City. Call 324-4321. www.keplers.com/event/mark-zepezauer

Wind, Energy and Wildlife: Wind energy is expected to provide 20 percent of U.S. power by 2020. High numbers of bird carcasses at some wind farms raise concerns about turbines' environmental effects. Statistician Manuela Huso discusses tools to estimate wildlife fatalities and help identify options for monitoring and mitigation. July 26, 7-8:30 p.m. US Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-329-5000. online.wr.usgs.gov/calendar

Classes/Workshops

Encounter I: Music and the Listener At this Music@Menlo program, Ara Guzelimian, provost and dean of the Juilliard School, examines music making at its most fundamental level. July 20, 7:30 p.m. $44 adult; $20 student. Menlo School, Martin Family Hall, 50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney hosts a career night for those interested in exploring a career as a financial adviser. July 19, 5:30 p.m. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, 2882 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park. Call 1-650-926-7152. www.mssb.com/careers

Clubs/Meetings

Non-Fiction Book Club Book enthusiasts discuss "The Buddha in the Attic" by Julie Otsuka. This book presents the stories of six Japanese mail-order brides whose new lives in early 20th century San Francisco are marked by backbreaking migrant work, cultural struggles, and the prospect of wartime internment. July 19, 1-2:30 p.m. Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-851-0560. www.smcl.org

Concerts

Music on the Square Super Diamond is a Neil Diamond tribute band. July 20, 6-8 p.m. Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City.

Clarinetist Anthony McGill returns to Music@Menlo to perform a recital with pianist and Chamber Music Institute director Gloria Chien. July 22, 10:30 a.m. $75 adult; $35 student. Stent Family Hall, Menlo School, 50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton.

Family and Kids

Portola Valley Library Infant Storytime Rhymes, songs, lap play and short stories for the very young. For infants 0-18 months old. July 2-30, 11-11:30 a.m. Portola Valley Library, Portola Valley. Call 650-851-0560. www.smcl.org

Portola Valley Library Rocks! Carol Corden will talk about cool and interesting rocks. Participants can pan for gold, identify rocks and participate in a rock swap. For all ages. July 19, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-851-0560. www.smcl.org

pstyle:calendartext>Wild Things, Inc. will share real wild animals and teach about wildlife. July 17, 3-4 p.m. Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road, Woodside. www.smcl.org

Live Music

Jennifer Scott Sextet - Vocal Jazz Jennifer Scott is a Vancouver-born vocalist and jazz pianist specializing in jazz, blues and world music. July 23, 6-8 p.m. Downtown Jazz, 2600 Block of Broadway, Redwood City. www.redwoodcity.org/events/jazz.html

Et Alia

Movies on the Square - The Karate Kid July 19, Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City.

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