Issue date: February 24, 1999
"The Gate of Heaven," uplifting play of hope and human spirit starring actor/playwrights Lane Nishikawa and Victor Talmadge, presented by Stanford Lively Arts, Feb. 26-27, 8 p.m., in Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Tickets $28, $25 (youth and student discount). Call 725-ARTS.
"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Frank Loesser's musical satire, in the Studio Theater, Foothill College, El Monte Rd. at Hwy. 280, Los Altos Hills, Feb. 26-Mar. 21. Evening performances Feb. 26, Mar. 5-6, 11-13, 18-20, at 8 p.m. Matinees Feb. 27, Mar. 7, 14, & 21, at 2 p.m. Signed performance for the deaf and hearing-impaired Mar. 5, 8 p.m. Tickets $15, $12, $10. Parking $2, in lots A & E. Call 948-4444.
Hillbarn Theatre: "From Drips to Divas," a semi-autobiographical musical comedy revue, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $13. 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. Call 349-6411.
"To Kill a Mockingbird," at Hillbarn Theatre, through Feb. 27. Fri. & Sat. performances at 8 p.m.; Thurs. Feb. 25, 8 p.m. Tickets $15, $13. 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. Call 349-6411.
Music
"The Threepenny Opera," based on John Gay's "The Beggars Opera," is presented by the Stanford University Depts. of Drama and Music, Feb. 26-27, at 8 p.m. Tickets $12, $10, $8. Call 725-2787.
Music at Kohl Mansion presents "Mastering the Art of Chamber Music" with the Alexander String Quartet: performance and discussion about the life and music of major composers. Suitable for ages 12 and up. Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10, $5, family $15. 2750 Adeline Dr., Burlingame. Call 343-8463.
Foothill College Gospel Choir teams with four South Bay choirs to present the tenth annual "Make a Joyful Noise" gospel concert, Feb. 27, 7 p.m. Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, El Monte Rd. at Hwy. 280, Los Altos Hills. This performance will be signed for the deaf and hearing-impaired. Tickets $10, $8, $6, ages 6 and under free. Parking $2, in lots A & E. Call 948-4444.
Palo Alto Philharmonic presents a symphony concert Feb. 27, 8 p.m. celebrating great Russian themes, featuring Dan Levitan, principal harpist of the San Jose Symphony, and Michail Gelfandbein, principal cellist fo the Leningrad Philharmonic for 25 years. Programs includes works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Gliere, Borodin, and Tchaikovsky. Admission $10, $6. Cubberly Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. Call 857-1691.
Central America benefit concert: "Rebuilding After Hurricane Mitch," Feb. 27. Central American buffet, 6:30 p.m. Music, song and dance of the Americas, 8 p.m. Dance troups and musicians from Mexico, Peru, Boliva, Venezuala, and more. Tickets: adults $25, or $15 concert only; children $15, or $10 concert only. First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, 625 Hamilton St. Call 322-4240.
Masterworks Chorale will perform Mozart's "Coronation Mass in C Major" along with the West Coast Premiere of Mark Carlson's Mass, "Christ and Majesty," for chorus, orchestra and organ, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. & Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 600 N. Delaware, San Mateo.Tickets $18, $12. Call 574-6210.
Schola Cantorum and the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, along with guest pianist Paul Hersh, join forces to perform a concert entitled "Glorious Fantasies," Feb. 27, 8 p.m. (pre-concert talk at 7:15 p.m.) and Feb. 28, 2 p.m. Spangenberg Theatre, Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto. Works include Vivaldi's "Gloria," Beethoven's "Choral Fantasy," and Haydn's "Te Deum." Tickets $18, $13, $6. Call 254-1700.
Russian Pianist Emiliya Serebrennikova gives benefit recital. Works by Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin and Paul Fink in a benefit recital for the "Music in the Schools" program. Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. Palo Alto Cultural Center, Embarcadero at Newell. Call 326-5596.
St. Patrick's Seminary celebrates its centennial with a concert and reception Feb. 28, 3 p.m., featuring the fine voices of the Peninsula Women's Chorus. Reception follows at Riodan Hall, 4:15 p.m. to honor local civic and business leaders. 320 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park. Call 327-3095 or 325-5621.
Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society concerts: Feb. 28, Brad Mehldau, formerly of theJoshua Redman Quartet, in a solo piano performance, with guitarist Randy Vincent, 4:30 p.m. Contribution $18. Miramar Beach House, off Hwy. 1 between Magellan and Medio, north of Hwy. 92, in Half Moon Bay. Call 726-4143.
Schwungvoll, a new music ensemble, presents "Modern American Connections," Feb. 28, 3 p.m. at Ladera Community Church, 3300 Alpine Rd., Portola Valley. Chamber music by Copland, Carter, Ligeti andStravinsky. Tickets $12, $8. Call (415) 759-5018.
San Jose Museum of Art presents Sunday Jazz: Winter concert series features jazz in the main lobby, 3-5 p.m. every Sunday through March, free with admission; Feb. 28, the Lady Bo sings the music of Stevie Wonder. 110 South Market St., San Jose. Call (408) 271-6840.
Music at Stanford: Feb. 25, Stanford Wind Ensemble, Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 8 p.m., tickets $8, Stanford students free. Feb. 26, University Singers perform Mozart's "Requiem," Memorial Church, 8 p.m., tickets $8, $4. Feb. 28, Early Music Singers, "The Courts of the French Kings," Memorial Church, 2 p.m., free. Mar. 2, Beth Harrison, organist, Memorial Church, 8 p.m., tickets $8, Stanford students free. Mar. 3, St. Lawrence String Quartet, works by Haydn, Schumann and Beethoven, Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 8 p.m., tickets $12, $6. Call 725-ARTS.
Barbershop singing and Sweet Adelines practice at Cubberley Auditorium, 4000 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to come listen, or even try out. Call 1-800-876-SING.
Dance
Big Band Dance: Come and swing at Menlo-Atherton High School Jazz Band's 15th annual Big Band Dance, Mar. 5, 8:30-11:30 p.m. Open to the public. Tickets $17.50, $10 over age 65. "J" Building, 555 Middlefield Rd., Atherton. Call 325-6150.
Dance at the YWCA of the Peninsula: Contra Dance Society (English style folkdance), meets the second, fourth & fifth Sat. of every month, 7:30-11 p.m., no partner necessary. Country Western Dance Intermediate and Advanced classes meet Thurs. through Mar. 18, 7:10-8:10 p.m., drop in for $6. More Country Western Dancing every second and fourth Fri., lessons from 7:30-8 p.m., open dance 8-11 p.m., $6 drop-in fee or $3 after 10 p.m. Irish Folk Dancing meets Tues. 8-10 p.m., Feb. 23-Apr. 6, $63, drop-in $10. Tuxedo Junction meets every Wed. with a ballroom dance lesson from 7:15-9 p.m. and open dancing 9-10:30 p.m., drop-in $6. Ceili Dance (Irish Folk Dance) meets every 3rd Sat. 8-11 p.m., drop-in $8. Classes held at YWCA, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. Call 494-0972.
Dance to the great music of the 1930's and 1940's on the last Sunday of every month, 1-4 p.m. at Avenidas, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. Live band, open to public, singles welcome. Free parking. Tickets $3. Call 326-5362.
Do Your Own Dance, relaxed and informal creative expression. Individuals move to music from around the world, each dancing his or her own way, with or without partners. Wed. 8:15-9:30 p.m., Cubberley Community Center, L3, 400 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. $5 drop-in. Call 322-1420.
Ballroom dancing at Little House, with live music by Mike Johnson and his "Sound Wizards," Thursdays 7-9:30 p.m. $3. Basic Country Western line dancing lesson, Thursdays 6-7 p.m., $1.50. Call 326-2025.
Stanford International Dancers, class followed by request dancing, Fri., 8-11 p.m., at 425 W. Evelyn Ave., Mt. View. Soft-soled shoes. Fee $5, $6 live music nights. Feb. 26, Hungarian. Call 966-1775.
Film/TV
Premiere of A&E-TV biography of John Steinbeck, Feb. 27, 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. at the National Steinbeck Center, 1 Main St., Salinas. Sponsored by San Jose State University. Admission $7, $6, members free. Program includes remarks by Thom Steinbeck, the author's son, and the film's director/producer Morgan Neville. Reception follows 1:30 showing. Call (408) 924-4588.
Stanford Theater, 221 University Ave., Palo Alto. George Cukor Film Festival Feb. 12-May 7, films include "Holiday," "The Philadelphia Story," "A Star is Born," and "My Fair Lady." Beautifully restored 1925 movie house showing the classics, including silent films. Live organ music on the Wurlitzer organ before and after each film. Schedules of movies for the next two or three months are available at the theater. Admission $6 adults, $4 seniors over 65, and $3 for children. Call 324-3700.
The films of Val Lewton are presented by the Stanford Humanities Center, a Thursday night film series at the newly opened Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts auditorium, Stanford University, 7 p.m. Mar. 4: "The Seventh Victim." Mar. 18: "The Ghost Ship." April 1: "The Curse of the Cat People." Call 725-1517.
The Stanford Channel presents programs of educational and local interest on channel 51, available on Cable Co-op, TCI, SUNet Video, and STV. Check website for schedule, http://tsc.stanford.edu/tsc/. Call 723-5100.
Listings for movies shown in local theaters can be found in the Almanac online edition at www.calmanac.com. Click on Current Issue and check under Movies near the bottom of the list.
Auditions
Going Places
San Mateo Expo events: Sewing, Quilting and Craft Expo, Feb. 26-28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., admission $6. California Art & Rubber Stamp Festival, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., admission $4, or $5 for both days. Expo Center, Delaware St. off Hwy. 92, San Mateo. Parking $5. Call (415) 512-5000, category #7850.
For Families
Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre presents plays for families and kids of all ages: "Thumbelina," Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. Tickets $9.50. 550 E. Remington Ave., Sunnyvale. Call (408) 245-2978.
"My Father's Dragon," is presented by Peninsula Youth Theatre as part of their "Stories on Stage" series, Feb. 26, 9 a.m. & 11 a.m., Feb. 27, 1 p.m. Tickets $3-$5. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Castro & Mercy Streets. Call 903-6000.
Menlo School Summer Opportunities Fair, Feb. 27, 1-4 p.m., for ages 8-18. Meet camp directors and investigate trips and programs such as wilderness and worldwide touring, sailing, ranch programs, music, language, community service and more. Menlo School, 50 Valparaiso, Atherton. Call 800-622-2347.
Palo Alto Children's Concert Series presents Trio Phoenix on Feb. 27, 1 p.m. Classical music for young audiences. Palo Alto Cultural Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell Rd. Tickets $6, $4. Call 329-2527.
Family Connections Preschool is expanding and has more room for families with children ages 0-5 in the East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park communities. Family Connections is a non-profit free parent participation preschool located at Belle Haven School in Menlo Park. Parents may attend bilingual classes three mornings a week. Call 369-6467.
Do you like to help people? Are you a good listener? Volunteers are needed to staff the Parental Stress Hotline and Teenline, which provide free, confidential listening and referral services to parents and teenagers. These crisis hotlines are programs of Family Service Mid-Peninsula. Extensive training provided. Applications accepted now for the April training. Call 326-6576.
Onetta Harris Community Center: Reading room, gymnastics, karate, youth & adult basketball leagues, Project Read tutoring, computer lab, aerobics/fitness classes, and after school care for ages 6-13. 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park. Habla espanol. Call 329-0145.
Hidden Villa is open to the public Tues. through Sun. from 9 a.m. to dusk. Activities, guided Sunday farm tours, wilderness trail hikes. Parking $5. 26870 Moody Rd., Los Altos Hills. Call 949-8650.
Ardenwood Historic Farm: Open year round for picnics, farm tour, craft demonstrations. Discount admission: Family Saturdays, $1 adults, $.50 children (excludes special events). Attractions include horse drawn train ride, $1; house tour, $3, $2. Blacksmith demonstrations on alternate Saturdays. Regular admission includes attractions, $7.50, $5.50, $5. Ardenwood Blvd. in Fremont, near Hwy. 84 and the Dumbarton Bridge. Call (510) 796-0199.
The Tech Museum now open at its new home at 201 South Market St., San Jose. Visit the technical interactive exhibits, as well as the Grand Lobby, the Tech Store, and Cafe Primavera. Hours: Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets for either exhibits or IMAX, $8, $7, $6 each; combined tickets $13.50, $12.50, $10. Call (408) 294-TECH.
Friday morning coffee at the Bechtel International Center at Stanford. Meet international visitors and residents from the Stanford area and nearby communities; children are welcome. Every Friday, 10 a.m.-noon. Call 723-1831.
Coyote Point Museum: off Hwy. 101 in San Mateo. New exhibit: "Earthquirks," through Apr. 25. Feb. 27: Museum Highlights for Teachers workshop, 1:30-3:30 p.m., $5, $3. Hawk talks, Sat., 2 p.m.; otter feeding, Tues.-Sun., 12:15 p.m. Park entrance fee $4. Museum entrance fee, $3, $2, $1, children under 4 free. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Presidents' Day, Feb. 15, noon-5 p.m. Call 342-7755.
Exploratorium, at the Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco. New exhibit: "Frogs," through Sept. 12. Ongoing activities: Play Lab for children 4 and under. Admission $9, $7, $5, $2.50, children under 3 free. First Wed. of the month is free. Hours: Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Weds. to 9 p.m. Open all Monday holidays. Call 563-7337.
Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. Bilingual storytime, stories in Spanish and English, first Sat. each month, 10:30 a.m. Toddler storytime (ages 2-3), Wed. 10:30 a.m.; preschool storytime (ages 3-5), Thurs. 10:30 a.m.; pajama storytime (all ages), Wed. 7 p.m. Baby storytime (up to 18 months), advance sign-up requested, Tues. 11 & 11:30 a.m. Persian Folktales storytime, all ages, second Sat. of the month, 10:30 a.m. Call 858-3464.
Redwood City Library, Schaberg Branch, 2140 Euclid Ave. Preschool story time for ages 3-5, Mon. 10:30 a.m. Toddler story time for ages 1-3, Mon. 11:30 a.m. Call 780-7010.
Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road. Preschool storytime for ages 3-5, Friday, Feb. 19, 11 a.m. Registration required, enrollment limited to 30. Call 851-0560.
Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road. Infant story time for ages 4-14 months, for babies and their caregivers, Wed. 10:15 a.m., through Mar. 10. Toddler story time: Wed., 11 a.m., ages 18-36 mos. with adult. Hours: Mon. 1-9 p.m., Tues.-Wed. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Thurs. 1-6 p.m., Fri. 1-5 p.m., Sat. 1-5 p.m. Book sale on the first Mon. of every month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Call 851-0147.
For Kids
"Build a Crystal Radio!" Workshop for 9-12 year olds at the Museum of American Heritage, Saturdays Mar. 6-27, 10 a.m.-noon. $40, $25 members. Learn about basic radio theory, and build a crystal radio set to take home. 341 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. Call 321-1004.
Youth Irish folk dancing at the Mid-Peninsula YWCA, for boys and girls over 4 years of age. Variety of solo and group dances. Tuesdays, Feb. 23-Apr. 6, 7-8 p.m. $49. 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. Call 494-0972.
Aikido for teen women ages 13-18 at the YWCA in Palo Alto, Tues. & Thurs. Feb. 23-Apr. 8, 5-6 p.m. Aikido is a non-competitive Japanese martial art. $70. 4161 Alma St. Call 494-0972.
Menlo Park's Boomin' Teen program, made for the teens by the teens and only the teens! Join "City Teens": Participate in community projects, plan events, meet other teens who care about their city; limited space, pick up an application today. Ski & snowboard trips, free tutoring at The Hub Mon.-Thurs., 3-6 p.m., monthly dances, movies one Friday a month, bowling league begins in Feb. 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Call 858-3473.
Outdoors
Visit Ano Nuevo State Reserve and see the largest mainland breeding colony of northern elephant seals. SamTrans is offering a round-trip bus ride and three mile walk at the reserve with a trained naturalist for $12. Weekend trips depart from the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo at 9 & 10 a.m., through Feb. 28. Entire trip takes approx. 6 1/2 hours. Call to reserve, 508-6441.
Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District docent-led hikes. Feb. 25, Edgewood County Park, "Early Season Plant Walk," 10 a.m.-1 p.m., meet at Day Camp entrance. Daniels Nature Center open weekends, 11 a.m.-4 p.m, near Russian Ridge parking lot, Hwy 35 and PageMill/Alpine intersection. Call 691-1200 or 691-2153.
Bicycle Sundays, Canada Road closed to vehicles every Sunday except holiday weekends, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Open only to non-motorized activities: bicycling, rollerblading, walking (strollers allowed). Canada Road between Hwy. 92 and Edgewood Rd. Call 368-6283.
Planting for the Second Hundred Years: Regenerate native California oak populations on Stanford lands; fieldwork Sats. 9am-noon. Call to register, 323-7333.
Hidden Villa volunteers sought for its organic Community Supported Agriculture Program, Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., to help with harvesting and planting, followed by potluck lunch. Call 949-8655.
Gardening
Gamble Garden Center presents: "Beginning Landscaping Part 3: Understanding Your Soil Type," with Gamble horticulturist Don Ellis, Feb. 24, 6-7:30 p.m. $15, $12. "Beginning Landscaping Part 4: Basic Irrigation," with UCCE Horticulture Associate Katherine Jones, Mar. 3, 6-7:30 p.m. $15, $12. 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. Call to reserve, 329-1356.
Filoli lecture series presents Rosamund Wallinger of Upton Grey gardens, who will profile the history of gardening and Gertrude Jekyll and her gardens in a slide lecture, Feb. 26, 1 p.m. Tickets $20, includes refreshments and access to the house and gardens. 86 Canada Road, Woodside. Call to reserve, 364-8300, ext. 508.
Books & Authors
Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Authors' evenings at 7:30 p.m. unless noted: Feb. 25, Jim Knipfel, "Slackjaw." Feb. 26, George R.R. Martin, "Clash of Kings." Mar. 1, Paul Davies, British theoretical physicist, "The Fifth Miracle." Mar. 2, Susie Bright, "The Best American Erotica 1999." Mar. 3, Lenny Bernstein, jazz photographer, "Jazz Profiles." Sunday Night Poets meet 1st Sun. at 6 p.m. for open mike readings; sign-up begins at 5 p.m. Call 324-4321.
Printers Inc. Bookstore, 310 California Ave., Palo Alto. Authors' evenings at 8 p.m. unless noted. Feb. 24, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, "Sister of My Heart." Feb. 25, Edward Humes, "Mean Justice: A Town's Terror, a Prosecutor's Power, a Betrayal of Innocence." Call 327-6500.
Classes & Lectures
Palo Alto Adult School classes. Cook with Lou Pappas: "Spring Party Dinner," Feb. 24, 6-9 p.m., $20 + $15 materials fee. Palo Alto Adult School, El Camino & Embarcadero Rd. Call 329-3752.
Gary North, Ph.D., millennium bug watcher and historian, will share his predictions for Y2K with the community Feb. 24, 6 p.m. at the College of San Mateo, Building 18, room 76. Anyone interested in hearing his perspective on the Y2K problem is welcome to attend. Free. 1700 Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo, just off Hwy. 92. Call 574-6268.
1999-98 Jing Lyman Lecture Series: Professor Mary Felstiner, visiting scholar, Instititue for Research on Women and Gender and Professor of History at San Francisco State, speaks on "When One of Us is Ill," Feb. 24, noon. The Donald Kennedy Room, Haas Center for Public Service, next to the IRWG, Stanford University. Free. Call 723-1995
Basic Internet Workshop at Portola Valley Library, Feb. 24 or Mar. 3, 10-11:30 a.m. Four students per workshop. Free. Call to register, 851-0560.
USGS public lecture: "The Digital Draining of Lake Tahoe," demonstrating the computer techniques that allowed USGS scientists to map the lake's bottom surface, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. Second floor auditorium, Building 3, USGS campus, 345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park. Free. Call 329-4011.
African American History Month lecture series at Foothill College: Feb. 25. Guest speakers will discuss ancient, colonial, and contemporary history focusing on the African Diaspora. Noon-1 p.m., Room 25, Library Building. El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills. Free. Call 949-7282.
Benefit lecture for KFJC, Foothill College's radio station, will feature conspiracy theorist and author, Dr. Leonard Horowitz, Feb. 26, 8 p.m. Dr. Horowitz will speak on his latest book, "Emerging Viruses: AIDS and Ebola--Nature, Accident, or Intentional." $10 donation, parking $2. 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills. Call 949-7099.
"Does Prayer Heal?" A lecture on spirituality by Evan Mehlenbacher, Feb. 27, 3 p.m., at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, 201 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park. Call 508-1079.
"Taxation for Artists," workshop at the Palo Alto Art Center, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 1313 Newell Rd. $30. Call 329-2366.
The Thomas Merton Center presents author Anthony Padovano in a two part workshop, "Setting Standards: Using the Parables of Jesus to Build a Church," Feb. 27-28, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 600 Colorado, Palo Alto. $25. Call to register, 854-1539.
"Europe After the Euro," half day conference presented by the World Affairs Council, Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration 8:30 a.m. Panel discussions will explore the fiscal, economic and political impact of Europe's move to a unified currency, and the implications for the United States. $15, $10, students with ID free. Hewlett Packard Co. Building 20 auditorium, 3000 Hanover St., Palo Alto. Call (415) 982-2541.
League of Women Voters transportation forum: "Wheeling & Dealing: Strategies for the New Millennium," Feb. 27, 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Woodside Methodist Church, Watters Hall, 2000 Woodside Road. at Alameda, Redwood City. Speakers: Denise de Ville, President and CEO of SAMCEDA and Howard Goode, SamTrans Deputy General Manager. Call 325-5780.
Wallace Stegner lecture series: Mar. 1, Robert Redford in conversation with Michael Krasney. Mar. 18, Galen Rowell, renowned nature photographer. May 12, Ann Zwinger, acclaimed author and naturalist. 8 p.m. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Castro & Mercy Streets. Series subscriptions $75-$300. Single tickets $20 (Mar. 1 tickets only, $50). Call 903-6000.
Museums on the Move: The Bay Area Faces the Millennium, a lecture series at the new Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University. Mar. 2: Panel discussion, "What is Our Future?" with Jacquelynn Baas of UC Berkeley Art Museum, Katherine Crum of Mills College Art Museum, and Thomas Seligman of the Cantor Center. 7 p.m. Annenberg Auditorium, `Nathan Cummings Art Building. Call 723-3788.
Basic internet workshop at Portola Valley Library, Mar. 3, 10-11:30 p.m. Class limited to four. 765 Portola Road. Call 851-0560.
The Life Mapping Institute will host a series of workshops featuring local author Bill Cohen ("Life Mapping: A Unique Approach to Finding Your Vision and Reaching Your Potential"), and will meet on Weds., 7-8:30 p.m. at Cubberley Center Room A-4, 4000 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. $5. Call 322-2298.
Grant writing classes for nonprofit organizations, Peninsula Community Foundation McClellan Funding Information Library, 1700 S. El Camino Real, #201, San Mateo. "Giving Meaning to Your Board," Feb. 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $40. "Introduction to Grant Seeking and Proposal Writing," Mar. 4, 9-11 a.m., free. "Getting Started in Planned Giving," Mar. 4, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $40. Call 358-9780.
Career Action Center, Suite 100, 10420 Bubb Rd., Cupertino. Classes, workshops to improve job-hunting skills. Call (408) 253-3200.
Magic of Palo Alto offers free classes in applying ecological methods to everyday living: New classes begin in Jan., such as Creating Community, Beyond Illusion, Planning for Living, Yoga and Friends. Non-profit, volunteer opportunities: Fruition distributes bare-root fruit trees through schools and charities to teach care of urban tree crops; Liveable Cities works to improve noise, plant and tree care, and make streets safer. Dancing and music making every Sat. with vegan supper, 8-10 p.m. Call 323-7333.
Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center offers mediation training at the Foothill College, Middlefield Campus in Palo Alto. Call for schedule and fees, 424-8600.
Clubs & Meetings
Vegetarian potluck is now being run by the Vegetarian Foundation, a non-profit educational organization. This month the dinner will be held in Palo Alto Mar. 20, 6:30 p.m. Both vegetarian and vegan food is welcome and you need not be vegetarian to attend. Call for information and location, (408) 929-1143.
Humanist Forum meeting at Stanford University, Feb. 28, 10 a.m. "Social Scientists and Evolution Theory," by speaker Carl Degler, of the History Department. Old Student Union Clubhouse. Call 424-8626.
American Business Women's Association, Palo Alto Charter Chapter, meets monthly at Mac's American Grill, 325 Main St., Los Altos. Social networking hour at 54:45 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. $19. Feb. 24: Guest speaker is Darcy Sewaick, "Enhancing Your Professional Image." Visitors welcome. Call to reserve, (408) 288-9873.
Daughters of the American Revolution meet the first Wed. of the month to research our early American ancestors. Friendly group would like to assist newcomers. Next meeting Mar. 3. Call 494-1866.
Stanford Palo Alto Users Group for PCs (SPAUG) meets last Wed. of the month, 7:30 p.m., Palo Alto Elks Club, 4249 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. Call 493-9307.
Leads Club of Palo Alto: Local business women meet weekly over breakfast to exchange referrals and leads to help each other's business success, Tues. 7:30 a.m., at The Cookbook Restaurant, Town & Country Village, El Camino Real & Embarcadero, Palo Alto. Call 851-8040.
Rotary Club of Woodside-Portola Valley meets in Fellowship Hall, Woodside Village Church, 3154 Woodside Rd., Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and fellowship. Guests welcome. Call 851-8195.
Newcomers Club in Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside, open to residents new within last five years. Variety of activities include: bridge, book discussion, lunches, tennis, wine tasting, walking, moms and tots, dinners, gardening. Call 854-9646.
Mothers Club of Menlo Park and Palo Alto meets second Tues., Mar . 9, 7 p.m., at Lucie Stern Center, Community Room, 1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. First meeting free, membership $36 a year. Newsletter, playgroups, guest speakers, babysitting co-op, family activities. Call 306-8182.
Menlo Park Civil Defense Radio Club meets at the Menlo Park Recreation Center, 800 Alma St., the first Fri. of the month at 7:30 p.m. Call 326-4908 or 322-4952.
Health
Woodside Fire Protection District is offering free CPR classes every 3rd Saturday of the month. Classes will be held at Station 7, located at 3111 Woodside Rd. Call to register, 851-1594.
Reiki classes at the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, Tuesdays 7-8 p.m. Alleviate stress, negative patterns, fatigue, discomfort from injuries, and side effects from medical treatments such as chemotherapy. Drop-in, $11. Fitness center, JCC, 655 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto. Call 493-9400.
Lip-reading classes for the hearing and hard of hearing, to improve speech understanding and communication, through Foothill College Adaptive Learning Division. Registration is ongoing. Latecomers welcome. Groups meet at sites in Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto and Portola Valley. Call to sign up, 949-7672.
Bone density screening available at Sequoia Hospital's screening clinic, second and fourth Thursdays of the month, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Painless ultrasound of the heel assesses risk of osteoporosis and/or fractures in women of all ages. $35. 333 Main St., Redwood City. Call for appointment, 367-5998.
The Alzheimer's Association information and referral service provides access to services, literature and assistance on issues around dealing with Alzheimer's disease to the public. 330 Distel Cir., Los Altos. Call 962-8111.
Sports & Fitness
YWCA daytime fitness classes: Stretch, Tone & Trim, Mon.-Wed.-Fri., 8:30-9:30 a.m. Easy Exercise, Tues.-Thurs., 9:15-10:15 a.m. Beginning/intermediate Yoga, Mon. 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Drop-in $5, or sign up for a series. Call 494-0972.
Effective Cycling in Menlo Park: The League of American Bicyclists offers a newly revamped curriculum in their Effective Cycling 10 hour introductory Road I Course. Ride more safely, confidently, and effectively. On-site workshops available. Call for schedule, 858-3363.
Fifty-Plus Fitness: Walk and run, Stanford campus, meet at Track House, Angell Field, just west of stadium on Galvez St., fourth Sat., 8:45 a.m. Walk and run, Portola Valley, meet at Alpine and Willowbrook, first Sat., 7:45 a.m. Bike ride, Palo Alto, places and times vary, first Sun. Hike, Portola Valley's Windy Hill, meet at Alpine and Willowbrook, second Sat., 7:45 a.m. Walk, run and bike, Portola Valley through Arastradero Preserve, meet at Alpine Beer Garden on Alpine Rd., second Sun., 8:45 a.m. Walk and run, Half Moon Bay, meet at Princeton Harbor 4 1/2 mi. north of Half Moon Bay at the fishing pier across from harbormaster building, third Sat., 8:45 a.m. Walk, Stanford Shopping Center, meet at Nordstrom parking lot, 4 p.m., every Tues. Racewalk, Mountain View, meet at Shoreline Boathouse, Shoreline Blvd., every Sun., 8:30 a.m. Open to non-members. No charge. Web site: www.50plus.org. Call 323-6160.
Support Groups
Young Survivors Group: Support for young individuals (ages 30-55) grieving the loss of a spouse, meeting Tuesdays 7:30-9 p.m. Mar. 1-May 4. Sliding fee. Led by Dr. Sue Shaffer. 800 Menlo Ave. Suite 121, Menlo Park. Call to register, 323-1535.
Women Healing Together, a support and healing group for women who have experienced sexual assault, molestation, or abuse, with Melissa Miller, MFT. Thursday evenings, Mar. 4-Apr. 22. $30 per session, reduced fee spaces available. Call (408) 576-8333.
Mid-Peninsula Lyme Disease support group meets monthly in Portola Valley. Call for schedule of meetings and more information, 851-1787.
Compulsive overeaters are invited to attend a one-hour Sat. 9 a.m. weekly meeting of Overeaters Anonymous (OA), at Trinity Parish Church, Laurel & Ravenswood, Menlo Park. The meeting is a safe place to share experience, strength and hope. OA is not a diet club, and there are no dues or weigh-ins. Call 568-3214.
Bay Area Alzheimer's Association meets the second Thurs. of the month, Mar. 11, 7-8:30 p.m. Rosener House Adult Day Care Center, 1060 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 1-800-660-1993.
Working with Arthritis workshops: For working age people with arthritis, fibromyalgia and other musculoskeletal conditions. First Tues. of every month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Blake Wilbur Clinic, Stanford University, 900 Blake Wilbur Dr., Rm. W1084. Call 493-5000, ext. 64476.
Grief support: VNA & Hospice offers a Bereavement Support series, a no-cost eight week support group to help heal grief at the death of a loved one, meeting Mondays at 6 p.m. Visiting Nurses Assoc., 700 S. Claremont, Suite 220, San Mateo. Pre-registration required. Call 685-2821.
Sequoia Hospital: Caregivers support group, first and 3rd Mon. 4:30-6 p.m.; Parkinson's disease support and education for patients and caregivers, third Fri., 2-3:30 p.m. Free. Call to register. 333 Main St., Redwood City. Call 367-5998.
Parents Without Partners, Shoreline Chapter, now serving the Palo Alto/Menlo Park areas, meets Saturdays, 5 p.m. at Cook's Seafood restaurant, 751 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 1-888-828-6555, ext. 9600.
Pet loss support group at Peninsula Humane Society, meets second Thurs., Mar. 11, 7-9 p.m., 12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo. Free. Call 340-7022, ext. 384.
Benefits
Seniors
The S.O.S. group (Singles Over Sixty) meets Friday evenings 7-9 p.m. at the Redwood City Veterans Memorial Senior Center. Potluck dinner 3rd Friday of the month. Friendly group discusses topical subjects and enjoys outings. No charge to attend, all are welcome. 1455 Madison Ave., Redwood City. Call 366-3265.
Birding workshops at Little House: "Winter Potpourri," Mar. 8 & 13, 7-9 p.m. $20 each. 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call to register, 326-2025.
Menlo Park Senior Center, 110 Terminal Ave. (at Onetta M. Harris Community Center). Habla espanol. Belle Haven free health advice clinic, screenings, and blood pressure checks; gentle exercise group; Walk for Health, Mon.-Wed.-Fri. at 8 a.m. Recreation room open Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat. noon-4 p.m. Call for more information, 322-4570.
Little House classes: "Mars and Venus on a Date," Mar. 13, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., $69. Call 326-2025.
Little House senior center, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Health screenings by appointment. Discussion group Mondays, 10-11:30 a.m., $2. Movies, Mon. & Thurs., 1 p.m., admission 50 cents. Feb. 25, movie, "Smoke Signals." Feb. 28, slide show, "Canyon Lands," 1:30 p.m. Call 326-2025.
Senior Friendship Day, free senior program every Wed., 9:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m., at Cubberley Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Crafts, exercise, bridge, lunch, sing-along, dancing. Feb. 24: Positive body fitness. Call 856-7750.
Avenidas, the Palo Alto Senior Center, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. Health screenings, appointments required: Feb. 25, audiology, 10-11 a.m. Skin cancer screening by appt. "Senior Touch" massage, Wed. & Fri., 10 a.m.-3 p.m., $15/half hour. Free blood pressure check without appointment, every Thurs., 9:30-11:30 a.m. Health library hours Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monthly computer class registration held Feb. 19, 2-3 p.m. Call 327-2811.
Gallery
Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road. Art by Bonny Novesky will be on display through the month of February. Call 851-0560.
Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Rd., Woodside. Johanna Carr will display her watercolor and acrylic paintings throughout Feb. Hours: Mon. 1-9 p.m., Tues.-Wed., 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Thurs. 1-6 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Call 854-8436.
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Lomita Dr. & Museum Way, Stanford University. Inagural exhibit runs through Mar. 28: "Picasso, Graphic Magician," prints from the Norton Simon Museum. Included are 120 prints with rare working proofs and major print suites. Docent tours offered Wed. at 12:15 p.m. and Sat. at 2 p.m. Hours: Wed.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs. until 8 p.m. Closed Mon. & Tues., and major holidays. Free. Visit the bookshop and cafe. Call 723-4177.
Center for Integrated Systems and the William Gates Computer Science Buildings, Stanford University, exhibiting paintings by James Heron and prints by Seung Chul Lee through Apr. 8. Hours: Weekdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 725-3622.
Stanford University Art: Campus outdoor sculpture walk, first Sun. of month, Mar. 7, 2 p.m., meet at front of Main Quad at Palm Drive. Memorial Church tours: Fri., 2 p.m. New Guinea Sculpture Garden, wooden and stone sculptures created on-site by New Guinea carvers, at Santa Teresa and Lomita Dr. Call 723-3469 or 725-0142.
Palo Alto Cultural Center, 1313 Newell Rd. Exhibit, "The Print is Cast," collection belonging to Harry W. and Mary Margaret Anderson, featuring cast or formed works in paper, plastic, and lead. Exhibit runs through Apr. 25. Lecture on this exhibit by Karin Breuer, curator of FAMSF, Mar. 23, 7:30-9:30 p.m., $6, $5. Call 329-2366.
Koret Gallery, Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, 655 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto. "We Are Family," Bay Area artists and art camp participants present images of family in a variety of media, through Mar. 14. Call 493-9400.
Gallery House, 538 Ramona St., Palo Alto. New works in clay and bronze by Pola Harrel & paintings by Glynis Chaffin-Tinglof will be exhibited through Feb. 27. Hours: Tues.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Call 326-1668.
Gallery Europa, 611 Emerson St., Palo Alto. Oil paintings by Yuri Grigorian, Sergie Ponamarov, Michail Tscherniavski, and pastels by Krzysztofa Zwierz-Ciok, through Mar. 4. Hours: Mon.-Wed., Sat.-Sun., noon-6 p.m.; Thurs.-Fri., noon-8 p.m. Call 473-6522.
Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona St., Palo Alto. Main Gallery, "Absolutely Abstract," all media, through Feb. 26. Elizabeth Norton Studio, Kathy Roberts' photography, through Feb. Studio One, students of Edith Smith, through Feb. Gallery hours, Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 7-9 p.m., and Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 321-3891.
Smith Andersen Editions, 440 Pepper Ave., Palo Alto. "Gihooly Today," assemblages and prints by David Gihooly, through Mar. 3. Hours by appt. Call 327-7762.
Hoover Institute, Hoover Tower at Serra and Galvez Streets, Stanford campus. Exhibits on the life of President Herbert Hoover and rotating archival exhibits. Open Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 723-3666.
Office of Release on Own Recognizance Program announces a new exhibition space, 303 Bradford St., Redwood City, in conjunction with the Arts Council of San Mateo County. Now exhibiting outdoor "plein air" landscape paintings by Sally Cunneen, through February. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 593-1816.
Historical Interest
The San Mateo County Historical Museum has reopened at its new site, the Old Courthouse, 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City. Exhibits include miniature recreations of railroad lines, horse-drawn carriages, and the courthouse rotunda topped by a stained-glass dome. Programs will be offered the first Sat. of the month. Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission $2, $1, under 6 free. Call 299-0104.
Museum of American Heritage at the historic Williams House and Gardens, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. New exhibit: "Building Excitement: A Century of Construction Toys." Permanent exhibits of electrical and mechanical devices from the past century, as well as the popular general store exhibit. Free admission. Open Fri.-Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Call 321-1004.
Menlo Park Historical Association presents monthly programs, publishes a monthly newsletter, sponsors ongoing historical preservation projects. Office and archives located in the Merrill History Room at the Menlo Park Library, corner of Alma and Ravenswood Ave. Open 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Tues. & Wed. New members welcome. Call 858-3368.
"Notre Dame: 75 Years on the Peninsula," education history exhibit at the San Mateo County Historical Association Museum, College of San Mateo, 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd., San Mateo. Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Call 574-6441.
Historic district walking tours with Palo Alto-Stanford Heritage docents: Professorville, first, third and fifth Sat.; Downtown Palo Alto, second and fourth Sat. Tours begin 10 a.m. at Forest Ave. Downtown Library. Donation $2. Call 299-8878.
Woodside Store, Kings Mountain and Tripp roads, Woodside. Exhibit, pioneers, loggers, storekeepers and families. Tues., Thurs, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., Sun., noon-4 p.m. Call 574-6441.
Lathrop House, 627 Hamilton St., Redwood City. Historic home built in 1863, Redwood City Heritage museum, open Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 365-5564.
Et Alia
Palo Alto Unified School District Job Recruiting Fair, Feb. 27, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet teachers and administrators and talk to them about job opportunities in the Palo Alto Adult School, Parent Education/Preschool, English as a Second Language and other adult ed. programs. Certificated teachers may also enquire about job opportunities in K-12 Palo Alto schools. PAUSD District Office, 25 Churchill Ave., Palo Alto. Call 329-3869.
World Day of Prayer retreat, Mar. 5-6 at the Redwood Institute for Spirituality, Education and Nurture (RISEN) in Los Gatos. $70 includes lodging and 3 meals. Call 851-8282, ext. 157.
BizWorld seeks volunteers to teach students grades 3-8 about business and entrepreneurship. Free training workshop Mar. 10 in Redwood City, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Call 368-0777.
Stanford's Bechtel International Center needs volunteers to invite new scholars and students from abroad into their homes for an occasional meal, sporting event or other hospitality. Call 326-5252 or 322-7782.
Second Harvest Food Bank seeks volunteers from the community to help sort food every Wed. & Thurs., 7:30-9:30 p.m. Ages 14 and up. 1051 Bing St., San Carlos. Call (415) 610-0800.
Menlo Park Farmer's Market, year-round, Sun., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. parking plaza between Chestnut and Crane behind Wells Fargo Bank. Fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, flowers, organic olive oil and olives, juice. Benefits local charities through Lions Club. Seasonal offerings include crabs, artichokes, persimmons, dried fruit, and greens. Call (408) 688-8316.
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