Calendar

Christmas tea lunches at the Old Farmhouse, Yerba Buena Nursery. Thurs.-Sat., Dec. 16-18, noon. $25. Reservations required. Holiday gifts available at Garden Shop. Call 851 1668.

Atherton Library holiday open house. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Wed., Dec. 15, noon-8 p.m., refreshments. Harpist Margaret Kahn plays Celtic selections, 12:30-2:30 p.m. 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, Atherton. Call 328-2422.

Lathrop House, historic landmark, decorated for the holidays with Victorian decorations, $3. Marshall Street at Hamilton, Redwood City. Call 325-5564.

Ladera Community Church, holiday service featuring the Church children's choir. Sun., Dec. 19, 9:30 a.m. 3300 Alpine Rd., Portola Valley. Call 851-5481.

Christmas at Filoli. Two gala parties, shopping, music, dancing and daily buffets. This year includes "Christmas Fantasy," an exhibit of 19th and 20th century Christmas memorabilia. Filoli, 86 Canada Rd., Woodside. Information and reservations: call 3654-8300, ext. 508.

Benefits

Menlo School presents Opera and concert artist, Nathan Gunn. Thurs., Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. Arias, seasonal songs, an appearance by Menlo School Select Choruses. Stent Hall, Menlo School, 50 Valpariso Ave., Atherton. Benefit for school's Chorus and Fine Arts Department. $35. reserve by calling 330-2001, extension 2333.

Flea market to benefit Foothill Theater Guild. Sat., Dec. 18, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Foothill College, parking lot F, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills. Park in lot A, $2 for parking. Call 948 6417.

Nativity School, Christmas tree fund-raiser. Trees, wreaths and garlands. Corner of Oak Grove and Laurel St., Menlo Park.

Stanford Shopping Center. Tree of Dreams, Choose a "dream tag" from decorated tree to benefit Ronald Mc Donald House. All Wrapped Up, complimentary gift wrap raises funds for Ronald McDonald House, donations. Santa photos, portion of proceeds will go to Boys + Girls Club of the Peninsula, through Dec. 24. 180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. Call 617-8585.

On Stage

Mini Nutcracker, with Ragazzi Boys Chorus. Sat., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. $5/$10. Carrington Hall Auditorium, Sequoia High School, Redwood City. Call 345-8485.

Peninsula Ballet Theatre, "Nutcracker," through Dec. 19. Meet dancers on stage after the show. $12/30. San Mateo Performing Arts Center. Call 340-9448.

Bus Barn Stage Company. "Greetings," by Tom Dudzick. Holiday inspiration and humor in an exploration into the nature of reality, through Jan. 2. $15/$18; $9 for preview performance on Dec. 2. Bus Barn Theatre, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Call 941-0551.

Theatreworks stages a comedy by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, "You Can't Take It With You," through Jan. 2. $20/$37. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. Call 903-6000.

Hillbarn Theatre. "A Little Night Music," by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler, through Dec. 18. $18/$20. 1285 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. Call 349-6411.

Burlingame Community Theatre, "Babes in Toyland." Fri., Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 18, noon and 4 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 19, noon. $8/$12. Burlingame High School Theater, 400 Carolan Ave., Burlingame. Call 794-3159.

Music

Menlo Park Community Chorus. Seasonal favorites, solo by soprano Gae Sares, and audience sing-a-long. Sat., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 19, 3 p.m. $6/$8, children under 13 free. Appreciation Hall, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills. Call 948 4444.

The Gryphon Carollers, concert of carols and seasonal music. Dec., 18, 8 p.m. $14. Palo Alto Unitarian Church, 505 E. Charleston Rd., Palo Alto. Call 493-2131.

Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. Works by Beethoven and Mozart. Featuring prize-winning violinist, Tanya Gabrielian, a senior at Mountain View High School. Sat., Dec. 18, 8 p.m. Tickets, $8/$10, at box office half an hour prior to performance. Spangenberg Theater, Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Rd., Palo Alto.Call 856-3848.

Families & Kids

Pocket opera. "Alice in Opera Land," musical play to introduce children to opera. Sun., Dec. 19, 2 p.m. $12/$20. Second Stage, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Call 903-6000.

Gingerbread houses. Exhibit of festive creations, Dec. 18-Jan. 2. Museum admission $1/$3, along with $4 per car admission to park. Coyote Point Museum, San Mateo. Call 342-7755.

Phillips Brooks School annual Christmas program for grades 1-5. Thurs., Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m. Bethany Lutheran Church, 1095 Cloud Ave., Menlo Park. Call 854-4545.

Trinty Parish. Children's Christmas, preschool pageant and family service. Sun., Dec. 19, 9:10 a.m.; Christmas play and family service, Dec. 24, 5 p.m. 330 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2083.

Valley Presbyterian Church. Family service and children's pageant, Sun., Dec. 19, 10:30 a.m. 815 Portola Rd., Portola Valley. Call 851-8282.

Cinderella, Palo Alto Children's Theatre, through Dec. 18. $2/$4. Children's Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. Call 329-2651, Tues.-Sat., 1:30-6:30 p.m.

Puppet show, "Rapunzel and Curious George." Sat., Dec. 18, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Good for children ages 3-7, must be accompanied by an adult, $7. Carriage House, Gamble Garden Center, 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. To reserve tickets call 329-1356, 9 a.m.-noon.

Holiday Camp. Swimming, field trips, art-n-crafts, sports and cooking. Session 1: Dec 20-24, session 2: Dec. 27-31, grades K-3, $130; grades 4-5, $145. Sequoia YMCA, 1445 Hudson St., Redwood City. Call 368-4168.

Drama camp, during winter vacation. Age 8 and older, acting, singing, dancing, improv and stage make-up. 2 week session, Dec. 20-30, Mon.-Thurs. $175. Peninsula Youth Theatre, 2500 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View. Call 988-8798.

Theater workshop, offered by Peninsula Youth Theatre, topic is scenic design. Jan. 15, 2-5 p.m., age 11 and older. $40, plus show ticket. Reservation deadline, Dec. 18. Call 988-8798.

Baseball camp, hitting and defense, ages 12-18; pitching, ages 13-18. Dec. 20-22, Dec. 27-29. Cost $110. per session. Stanford University. Call 723-4528.

Nursery school openings. Open Gate Nursery School, Parent Cooperative, has space for 3 & 4 year olds starting in Jan., MWF, 1-3:45 p.m. Corner of Brewster and Lowell, Redwood City. Call 369-6833.

Musical storytime, ages 3-Kindergarten, Wednesdays, Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, 4 p.m. Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Rd. Call 851-0560.

Menlo Park Library Storytime. Babies up to 18 months, 11 and 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays; Toddlers age 2-3, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays; Pajama storytime for all ages 7 p.m., Wednesdays; Preschool, ages 3-5, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. Call 858-3464.

Portola Valley Library. Musical storytime, age 3-kindergarten. Wednesdays, 4 p.m. Free. 765 Portola Rd., Portola Valley. Call 851-0560.

Woodside Library. Infant storytime, ages 4-14 months, Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Toddler storytime, ages 18-36 months, Wednesdays at 11 a.m. 3140 Woodside Rd. Woodside. Call 851-0147.

Seniors

Holiday dinner at Little House. Members, their families and friends invited. Sat., Dec. 25, noon. Advance ticket purchase recommended, $6.60 members, $7.50, guests. 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.

Lectures at Little House. Wed., Dec. 15, 11 a.m.-noon, "Where to Live; Housing Options on the Peninsula." Free. 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.

Happy New Year. 1999 senior's "New Year's Eve Day Bash." Fri., Dec. 31, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Live music, dancing, buffet, raffle and champagne toast. $10. Cubberley Community Center Auditorium, 4000 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. Call 329-2418.

Big band dance. Dance, or listen to holiday music by The Los Altos Big Band. Sat., Dec. 18, 2-4 p.m. $2/$4. Avenidas, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. Call 326-5362.

Lectures & Classes

Parent education classes. Winter classes include a variety of programs for parents of infants, children and teens. Registration through Dec. Call 688-3608 for catalogue. The Children's Health Council, 700 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park.

Palo Alto Art Center. Sign up for new classes, walk-in registration begins Tues., Dec. 14. Classes for adults and children, plus open workshops and studio facilities. 1313 Newell Rd., Palo Alto. Catalog and information call 329-2366.

Foothill College winter quarter starts Jan. 3. New student registration through Dec. 28. Call 949-7325.

Auditions

Theatreworks, auditioning for the 2000/2001 season. Age 9 to adult. For information or an appointment call 463-7171, Dec. 6-17. Auditions will take place Jan. 23-Feb. 5.

Film/TV

Film group at Menlo Park Library. Tues., Dec. 21, 7 p.m. 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. Call 858-3464.

Movies at Little House, Mondays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. in the auditorium at 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Thurs., Dec. 16 , "Election." Mon., Dec. 20, "Down in the Delta." Admission: 50 cents. Call 326-2025.

The Stanford Channel shows programs of interest to the community on cable channel 51. For schedule, call 723-5100.

Stanford Theater, 221 University Ave., Palo Alto. Restored 1925 movie house shows classics, including silent films. Live organ music on the Wurlitzer organ. Schedules available at the theater, $3/$6. 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.

Et Alia

Mystery readers group, Wed., Dec. 15, 7:15 p.m. Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park Call 858-3464.

Farmers' Market, Menlo Park, year-round, Sun., 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Parking plaza between Wells Fargo Bank and Trader Joe's, downtown Menlo Park. Cooking demonstrations, music, fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and flowers. Benefits local charities through Lions' Club. Call 941-4808.



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