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From Roopa Mahadevan melding classical Indian vocals and jazz at Meyhouse Palo Alto to a festival of plays written in 48 hours that pair up Shakespeare characters and influencers, this weekend offers some exciting and unexpected combos. Browse for crystals, spell kits and “witchy crafts” at the Metaphysical Night Market or catch story time with a scientific twist at Books Inc. Palo Alto as Stanford professor Helen Blau reads from her picture book “Stem Cells to the Rescue.” Plus BanjerDan brings bluegrass, folk and more to Red Rock Coffee’s 2nd Story series.
Roopa Mahadevan and Frank Martin
Stanford grad, Fulbright scholar, composer, teacher and Indian classical and crossover vocalist Roopa Mahadevan keeps busy. Among other things, she leads the ensemble Roopa in Flux, directs the Navatman Music Collective and sings for Bharatanatyam and modern dancers. Her accomplished musical career (The New York Times called her a “stirring voice”) has taken her to the likes of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and SFJazz, and she performs at Palo Alto’s Meyhouse Jazz with jazz pianist Frank Martin this week.
April 6, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Meyhouse Jazz, 640 Emerston St., Palo Alto; $50; meyhousejazz.com.
Metaphysical Night Market
Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company hosts an evening dedicated to offering tarot readings, crystals, candles, incense, antiques, spell kits, jewelry, “witchy crafts” and all sorts of other enchanting, mystical goods from local artisans. The all-ages Metaphysical Night Market (curated by The Whimsy Market) anticipates participation from more than 40 vendors, and food trucks will be on site (in addition to Devil’s Canyon brews, of course).
April 4, 4-9 p.m., Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company, 935 Washington St., San Carlos; free; tinyurl.com/MPMarketSanCarlos.
BanjerDan
Red Rock Coffee’s 2nd Story series continues its focus on bluegrass with a performance by Santa Cruz-area acoustic musician Dan Mazer, who goes by BanjerDan. Mazer is primarily a (five-string) banjo player, as you may have guessed by his name, but also sings and plays the guitar, mandolin and dobro as well. In addition to bluegrass, Mazer has a love of folk, jazz, classical and country, and has performed internationally and across the U.S. as a solo artist, in bands (including with J.B. Beverley & The Wayward Drifters), in theatrical productions and even with symphony orchestras.
April 5, 7-9 p.m., Red Rock Coffee, 201 Castro St., Mountain View; donations accepted; redrockcoffee.com/2nd-story.
Helen Blau
Story time gets a scientific twist this week, when stem cell scientist and Stanford professor Helen Blau comes to Books Inc. Palo Alto to share her picture book “Stem Cells to the Rescue.” Told in rhyme, the book, with illustrations by Margery J. Fain, covers the importance of stem cells, how they work, and the ways that scientists are researching how to make them work even better. Blau, who directs Stanford’s Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, and Fain, who went on to become a research biologist, scientific illustrator and children’s book author, met as doctoral students at Harvard University. They reconnected years later and were inspired by their grandchildren to create the book to “amaze and delight kids everywhere about the extraordinary things stem cells can do in our bodies,” according to Books Inc.’s website.
April 6, 11 a.m., Books Inc. Palo Alto, 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto #74; free; booksinc.net/event/2025-04-06/helen-blau-books-inc-palo-alto.
48-Hour Play Festival: “Shakesfluencer”
Shakespeare couldn’t have guessed how literal his words might become when he wrote “all the world’s a stage,” but centuries later, social media has allowed us all to become people with public parts to play, and some who are good enough at those roles to make a living at it. Silicon Valley Shakespeare and Foothill Theatre Arts are devoting their 11th annual 48-hour play festival to the theme of “Shakesfluencer,” with short plays that explore what happens when the Bard’s memorable characters meet up with modern-day influencers. Teams of writers and directors will spend most of the weekend crafting a short performance that pairs up a Shakespeare play with an influencer — elements they’ll be assigned at random. The teams must also incorporate a required line of dialogue, a particular prop and a surprise, according to the rules on Silicon Valley Shakespeare’s website. The public will get to check out these newly minted works at a performance on Sunday, where audiences can choose their favorite.
Plays will be performed April 6, 7 p.m., at Lohman Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Blvd., Los Altos Hills. Admission is $15. foothill.edu/theatre.
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