Issue date: September 15, 1999
On Stage
"As Bees in Honey Drown," TheatreWorks' West Coast premiere of a Douglas Carter Beane play, through Oct. 3, at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Castro & Mercy streets. Tues. 7:30 p.m.; Wed-Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 2 p.m. and/or 8 p.m. Call 903-6000.
"Pride's Crossing," TheatreWorks' Northern California premiere of the Tina Howe play, through Sept. 19, at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, Castro & Mercy streets. Tues. 7:30 p.m.; Wed-Fri. 8 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 2 p.m. and/or 8 p.m. Call 903-6000.
Music
Barbershop singing and Peninsulaires practice at Cubberley Community Center, 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
Brazilian dance workout with Anita Lusebrink, sponsored by the city of Palo Alto Arts and Culture Division. Sept. 13-Dec.9, Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. Call 329-2527.
Dance to the great music of the 1930s and 1940s 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. Sept. 17 and 24, Balkan/Greek with Neal Sandler. Call 966-1775.
Film/TV
Stanford Theater, 221 University Ave., Palo Alto. Restored 1925 movie house shows the classics, including silent films. Live organ music on the Wurlitzer organ. Schedules available at the theater. Admission: $6 adults, $4 seniors over 65, and $3 for children. Call 324-3700.
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. Also, for movie times, call 32-MOVIE.
Auditions
For Families
Belle Haven Library, 415 Ivy Drive, Menlo Park. Call (650) 858-3464.
Redwood City Library, Schaberg Branch, 2140 Euclid Ave. Preschool story time for ages 3-5, Mon. 10:30 a.m.
Atherton Library, 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane. Hours: Mon.-Wed., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Thurs.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. hours, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Fall baby storytime for babies 4-12 months at 10 a.m. Weds. Sept. 15- Oct. 6; toddler storytimes at 11:15 a.m. Weds. Sept. 15-Nov. 10; preschool storytime at 3:30 p.m. Weds. Sept. 15-Nov. 10. Pajama storytime for kids 3-6 years ay 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Nov. 9. Registration requested; call 328-2422.
Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road. Call 851-0560.
Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road. 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. Infant storytimes for 4-14 months at 10 a.m. Wed. Sept. 15 and 22. Toddler storytime for 18-36 months at 11 a.m. Weds. Sept. 15 and 22. Call 851-0147.
Storytellers at Kepler's regale families with their favorite picture books and read-alouds Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 324-4321.
Palo Alto Junior Museum features the exhibit, "Messages," which runs through Feb. 27, 2000. Interactive exhibit and program series explores aspects of human, electronic and animal communication. Free admission. 1451 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. Call 329-2111.
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.
San Jose Museum of Art invites families to participate in special activities in conjunction with their exhibit, "Surroundings: Responses to the American Landscape," on view through June 11, 2000. "Take a Hike!" is a multimedia interactive game, a virtual hike through landscape art, and offers perspective from the artist's point of view. "Do the Whitney Walk" is an award-winning gallery game. Games are free with admission, $7, $4, ages 5 & under free. Hours: Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free the first Thurs. of every month. Free to seniors the first Tues. of the month. Half-price from 5-8 p.m. on Thurs. Docent tours every day at 12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. 110 South Market St., San Jose. Call (408) 271-6840.
Hidden Villa is open to the public for farm tours Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. $5 per person, ages 2 and under free. Birthday party packages available on Sundays at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m., $8 per person, maximum 20. 26870 Moody Rd., Los Altos Hills. Call 949-8653.
Ardenwood Historic Farm: Open year round for picnics, farm tour, craft demonstrations. Discount admission: Family Saturdays, $1 adults, 50 cents 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, 201 South Market St., San Jose. Visit the technical interactive exhibits including "Center of the Edge: Voice, Video and Virtual Connections" through Dec. 31. IMAX movies currently playing: "The Living Sea," and "Everest." "Everest en Espanol" plays Sundays at 4 p.m. Multilingual tours offered on the third Sun. of the month, in Spanish, Mandarin and Vietnamese, every hour at New Venture Hall, free with admission. Hours: Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets for either exhibits or IMAX, $8, $7, $6 each; combined tickets $14, $13, $11. 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. "Patterns in Nature," family activity days including crafts, games and activities. Ongoing activities: 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. Call 342-7755.
For Kids
AYSO Kinder League for kids 4-1/2 to under 6 as of July 31, 1999. Registration for Saturday program Sept. 18, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Program runs Sept. 25-Oct. 30. Call 854-6194.
SOLO Swim Club season starts Sept. 13 at Burgess Pool in Menlo Park with registration and short swim for new members ages 5-18. Swim starts at 4 p.m. Call 851-9091 for information.
Menlo Park's Boomin' Teen program, made for teens by teens. Teens participate in community projects, plan events, make friends. Limited space. Other activities include ski & snowboard trips; free tutoring at The Hub Mon.-Thurs., 3-6 p.m.; monthly dances; movies one Friday a month; bowling league. 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Call 858-3473.
Outdoors
Join Trailheads, a hiking group that takes a 4-8 mile moderate hike every other Sunday in open space preserves, county and state parks, and other Bay Area sites. Meet at the Egan Jr. High parking lot at 9 a.m., 100 W. Portola off San Antonio Rd., Los Altos. $45 for 5 hikes, or $12 drop-in. Sponsored by the city of Los Altos Recreation Dept. Call 568-6915.
Volunteer gardeners, greeters, and people to help with animal chores, sustainable building projects, painting, wood splitting, and more, at Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Rd., Los Altos Hills. Call 949-8655.
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Take the Dumbarton Bridge to Fremont, exit at Thornton Ave., turn south for about a mile to the Refuge entrance on the right. Free hikes and activities for all ages. Call (510) 792-0222.
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.
Gardening
"Our Farm", a nonprofit supported agriculture project in Woodside, offers a four-hour permaculture learning tour by Farmer Dave, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., first Sat. of the month. 834 West California Way, Woodside. $10 donation suggested. Children welcome. Bring a picnic lunch, water, sun hat and boots. Classes in permaculture available at various times. Call to reserve, 365-2993.
Tea at Gamble Garden Center, Wed., Sept. 15, 2-4 p.m. Enjoy homemade savories and sweets, and take a free docent tour of the garden afterward. $12.50 per person, advance reservations required by Sept. 10. Call 329-1356.
Books & Authors
Diane Middlebrook on the art and science of writing biography, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Redwood City Library Community Room, 1044 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City. Free.
Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Authors' evenings at 7:30 p.m. unless noted: Sept. 15, novelist Ron Hansen. Sept. 16, mystery writer Elizabeth George. Sept. 18, humorist Dave Barry. Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m., teacher/parent night with representatives from children's publishers to introduce new books. Call 324-4321.
Classes & Lectures
Avenidas panel discussion on independent living for senior citizens, Sept. 22, 7-9 p.m. at Avenidas, 450 Bryant Street, Palo Alto. $5. Call 327-2811, ext. 51.
Building Resilient Communities, a talk by Robert Theobald sponsored by the Foundation for Global Community. Sept. 16, 8 p.m. at the Center for the Evolution of Culture, 222 High St., Palo Alto. Call 328-7756 for reservations.
Grant writing classes for nonprofit organizations, Peninsula Community Foundation, McClellan Funding Information Library, 1700 S. El Camino Real, #201, San Mateo. 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. Dancing and music making every Sat. with vegan potluck supper, 8-10 p.m. Visit Web site www.ecomagic.org, or 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.
Foothill College registration for Fall classes, 4000 Middlefield Road., Palo Alto. Information: www.foothill.fhda.edu or call 949-7325.
YWCA offers Fall classes in bridge, dance and fitness, exercise for women who have had breast cancer, and workshops for women entrepreneurs. Call 494-0972.
Stanford continuing studies program, Stanford University, now accepting registration for fall evening and weekend classes. Information: www.continuingstudies.stanford.edu. Call 725-2650.
Clubs & Meetings
Bilingual Spanish/English Toastmaster Club meets Wednesdays in Redwood City. Participants develop communication and leadership skills. The club meets at 7 p.m. at Fair Oaks Senior Center, 2600 Middlefield Rd. Call 323-2808.
Sunset Toastmasters provides a positive and supportive way to improve your communication and leadership skills. Meetings are 1st & 3rd Thurs. of every month, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. at the Allstate Research and Planning Center, 321 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park. Call 833-6241.
Prayer around the cross using the music of Taize, held every third Thursday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Vallombrosa Center, 250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. Call 325-5614.
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 5:45 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m. $19. Visitors welcome. Call to reserve, (408) 288-9873.
Daughters of the American Revolution meets the first Wed. of the month to research early American ancestors. Newcomers welcome. Call 494-1866.
Stanford Palo Alto Users Group for PCs 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. 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 365-4242.
Mothers Club of Menlo Park and Palo Alto meets second Tues. of each month, 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
Managing your hearing loss: lip-reading 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, 949-7673.
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 of the Mid-Peninsula offers daytime and evening fitness classes. Sign up for a class or drop in for $5-$6. 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. Call 494-0972.
Effective Cycling in Menlo Park: The League of American Bicyclists offers 10-hour introductory courses to teach safe, effective cycling. On-site workshops available. Call for schedule, 858-3363.
Fifty-Plus Fitness: Members meet for walks and runs at Stanford, Portola Valley, and other locations. Places and times vary. Open to non-members. No charge. Web site: www.50plus.org. Call 323-6160.
Support Groups
Weekly support group for the bereaved at Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. The "Good Grief Support Group" meets Thurs., 6-7:30 p.m. in the Parish Center, Fulton & James Ave., Redwood City. Call (650) 366-3802.
Compulsive overeaters: One-hour Sat. 9 a.m. weekly meeting of Overeaters Anonymous (OA), at Trinity Parish Church, Laurel & Ravenswood, Menlo Park. No dues or weigh-ins. Call 568-3214.
Bay Area Alzheimer's Association meets the third Thurs. of the month, 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., 7-9 p.m., 12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo. Free. Call 340-7022, ext. 384.
Benefits
Horse trials to benefit the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy. Sept. 17-19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dressage, jumping, and dog agility/herding demonstrations. Admission free. Parking $5. Call 306-0561.
AIDS Community Research Consortium benefit cocktail party, swing dance and silent auction, Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Rd., San Carlos. Sept. 18, 8 p.m. Limited tickets. $75. Call 364-6563.
American Girls Doll parties to benefit Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Allied Arts Guild Restaurant, Sept. 17-Sept. 19. Tickets $15, avail. by mail from Palo Alto Auxiliary, 75 Arbor Rd., Menlo Park. Call 324-2588.
Book Fair, to benefit the Menlo Park Library and its programs, Sept. 18-19, Menlo Park Library grounds and Council Chambers; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday. Thousands of books, videos and cassettes for sale. Auction, 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Seniors
The Senior Peer Counseling Program offers free counseling services to adults age 55 and over who are troubled with loneliness, depression, grief, anxiety, family problems, coping with illness, or other problems associated with aging. Call 573-3571 (English) or 573-2257 (Espanol).
What's New in the Law: Jack Jorgenson offers a free class to discuss new or changing legal issues and Supreme Court cases, on the first and third Thurs. of each month, 9-10 a.m. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.
Let's Talk Together": Peninsula Volunteers Little House invites all women to a drop-in group meeting Mon. 10-11:30 a.m. to discuss any and all topics of interest to women. $2 per session. 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.
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.
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. Information: 322-4570.
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. Forum lectures Wed. 11 a.m.-noon. Sept. 15: medical ethics. Hot lunches $4 Mon.-Fri. 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. Wed., Sept. 15, "Behind the scenes at La Comida." Sept. 22, "Tax Strategies." Hot lunch $1.75. Call 856-7750.
Avenidas, the Palo Alto Senior Center, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. Health screenings, appointments required: 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 classes open to ages 49 and up. Call 327-2811.
Art Entries Sought
Historical Interest
"The Missions of California," a collection of watercolors by Barcelona artist Antonio Miret, is currently being displayed through Oct. 1 at the San Mateo County Historical Museum, 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City. All 21 missions are represented. Admission $2, $1, under age 6 free. Call 299-0104.
The San Mateo County Historical Museum, 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, 1-4 p.m. 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. 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.
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
Partners in Learning volunteer tutors needed to help with English language training, literacy, and citizenship at Palo Alto and Sequoia Adult schools. Orientations: Sept. 9 and Sept. 15. Information: 364-9718 or www.volunteerinfo.org/partners.html.
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 third Wed., 7:30-9:30 p.m. Ages 13 (in 9th grade) and up. 1051 Bing St., San Carlos. Call (415) 610-0800.
Menlo Park Farmers' Market, year-round, Sun., 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Parking plaza between Wells Fargo Bank and Trader Joe's. Cooking demonstrations, music, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, flowers, organic olive oil and olives, juice. Benefits local charities through Lions' Club. Call 941-4808.
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