Around Town Around Town (March 10, 2004)

Talk: Peninsula's old-time gardens

Dr. Judith Taylor will talk about her book "Tangible Memories: Californians and their Gardens 1800-1950" in an illustrated lecture to be given at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, at the San Mateo County History Museum, 777 Hamilton St. in Redwood City.

The Peninsula gardens of D.O. Mills, George Howard and William Ralston are among those featured in the book.

Dr. Taylor, who was born in London and educated at Oxford, traveled all over California seeking old gardens. The discovery of Harry M. Butterfield's "California Gardens of Memory," an unpublished manuscript from the University of California's archives, became the basis for her book.

She will sign copies after the lecture. For more information, call 299-0104.

Life with the Bohemians

British author Virginia Nicholson will give a talk, "Among the Bohemians: Experiments in Living 1900-1939," at the Filoli estate in Woodside at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 16. The talk is co-sponsored by Filoli and the Royal Oak Foundation.

Ms. Nicholson is the granddaughter of Vanessa Bell, the sister of celebrated author Virginia Woolf. In her illustrated lecture, she will discuss the way of life of a generation of artists, poets, writers, and composers who became rebels and free spirits in the post-Victorian age.

At the reception following her lecture, Ms. Nicholson will be signing copies of her book. Admission is $20 and reservations are required. For more information, call Mary Nicoll at 800-913-6565 or e-mail lectures@royal-oak.org.

Pancake breakfast is a Woodside benefit

The public is invited to eat a hearty pancake breakfast at the Woodside fire station from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 13, and help cover expenses for students who will spruce up a needy person's home.

Each year Woodside School eighth-graders participate in Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit organization formerly known as Christmas in April. This spring the class plans to spend a day working on an elderly woman's property in East Palo Alto.

To cover anticipated expenses, students will serve pancakes, bacon, sausage, orange juice and coffee Saturday, March 13. Woodside firefighters are the volunteer master chefs.

The Woodside fire station is at 3111 Woodside Road. Meal tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children.

Bowling/skating party March 18 at Ice Oasis

The Woodside Recreation Committee is taking its job seriously this week, sponsoring not one but two social events for Woodside residents.

On Thursday, March 18, families are invited to go ice-skating together from 3 to 5 p.m. at Ice Oasis in Redwood City. Pizza, hot chocolate and drinks are included in the price of $5 per person.

To sign up, call member Andrea Merten at 529-0314.

Then on Saturday, March 20, from 8 to 10 p.m., the committee is hosting a Woodside Bowls party at AMF Redwood Lanes in Redwood City.

The cost is $20 per person and covers pizza, soda, beer, and prizes.

To sign up for that party, call member Tom Salles at 400-3815 or e-mail tootallto@earthlink.net.

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