Woodside playhouse up for auction at benefit event Woodside playhouse up for auction at benefit event (May 04, 2005)

Gary Ahern of Woodside is putting the final Italian details on his playhouse titled "Under the Tuscan Sun," just in time for the annual "Dreams Happen" playhouse display at Stanford Shopping Center.

The display of kid-size playhouses opens Saturday, May 7, and runs through June 10. The playhouses will be auctioned at the "Dreams Happen" gala to be held Saturday, June 4, to benefit Rebuilding Together Peninsula, formerly known as Christmas in April.

Mr. Ahern is co-chairman of the project, together with Tracy Prim of Los Altos. Mr. Ahern, an architect and owner of Focal Point Design, has been building "Dream Houses" since 1999.

"I'm a big kid at heart and really enjoy putting myself into the shoes of a child to envision and create the ideal playhouse," he says.

Jude Kirik of Pacific Peninsula Architecture and Brad Smith of Pacific Peninsula Group are building a garden playhouse titled "Planter's Delight."

Richard Schoelerman of Boyd Construction is creating the "Fairy Tale Cottage," which will be the only playhouse to be raffled at the auction. Raffle tickets may be purchased from the concierge at Stanford Shopping Center.

Other playhouses include "Krazy Kottage," "Cavalry Quarters," "Castlegard" and "Le Petit Maison."

The June 4 gala will include a moonlight supper provided by the center's restaurants, a chance to bid on the playhouses, and dancing. Tickets are $90 per person. To purchase tickets, call 366-6597.

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