Shopping spree benefits nonprofits Shopping spree benefits nonprofits (October 26, 2005)

Eight local nonprofit agencies will participate in Bloomingdale's ninth annual shopping benefit Thursday, October 27, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Bloomingdale's in the Stanford Shopping Center.

Customers purchase a $10 ticket at the door the day of the event that entitles them to 15 percent savings on almost every item throughout the store. The nonprofit agencies will sell the $10 tickets before the event.

The store will be open to the public throughout the day.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Mark Sullivan, chef of the Village Pub in Woodside, will give cooking demonstrations with tastings. CeCe Long will give an aromatherapy demonstration between 11a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Dining Circle on 2.

At noon models from Family Service's Hillsborough Auxiliary will model fall fashions in the New View on 1 department. A fashion show with complimentary cocktails will take place at 6:30 p.m. in New View on 1.

The participating organizations, which will receive the total ticket proceeds plus bonus donations from Bloomingdale's, are: Community Breast Health Project, Family Service Agency of San Mateo County, Kara, Pathways Home Health, Hospice & Private Duty, Peninsula Volunteers, Inc., Stanford Health Library and TheatreWorks. TheatreWorks' funds will be used for education and new works programs.

For information, call 463-2167.
'Rodin by Moonlight'

Five hundred glowing votive candles, two reflecting pools replete with fountains, and gardenia-adorned topiaries greeted guests October 1 at the "Rodin by Moonlight" fundraiser for the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.

The nearly 400 guests who attended included chairman Melissa Badger and her parents Duncan and Shirley Matteson of Menlo Park. Mr. Matteson's Greater Bay Bancorp was the signature sponsor of the event.

Honorary chairmen were former Secretary of State George P. and Charlotte Shultz.

Allied Arts tea for the holidays

Allied Arts Restaurant will kick off the holiday season with an afternoon tea on Monday, November 7. There will be two seatings: 1:30 and 3 p.m. The cost is $16.50 and reservations are requested.

Lunch will be served that day at noon only. Holiday luncheons will begin on Monday, November 14, with 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. seatings.

All proceeds from the restaurant benefit Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For reservations call 324-2588. The restaurant is located at Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road in Menlo Park.
Portola Valley talk: Jewish life in West

Author and editor Ava Kahn will come to Portola Valley's Historic Schoolhouse on Thursday, October 27, to present a slideshow and lecture on her book, "Jewish Life in the American West."

The Berkeley author's talk begins at 7:3O p.m. This is a free event, open to the public, and sponsored by the Friends of Portola Valley Library. The Historic Schoolhouse is located at 765 Portola Road.

Ms. Kahn, a visiting scholar at the California Studies Center at the University of California, Berkeley, emphasizes in her research the role of women in shaping Jewish history in the West.

Her publications include "Jewish Voices of the California Gold Rush: A Documentary History 1849-1880."

Her recent illustrated book provides new perspectives on life in the West from the 1840s to the 1920s by examining the life experiences of Jewish men and women who migrated to the West, settled in cities and farms, and became leaders in the Jewish and larger secular community.

The Portola Valley Library, now located on the Corte Madera School campus at 4575 Alpine Road, features a display of Ms. Kahn's books and related writings.
Picasso Ensemble performs Sunday

The Picasso Ensemble, with Menlo Park pianist Josephine Gandolfi, will present a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 30, at the Palo Alto Art Center.

Other members of the ensemble are mezzo soprano Wendy Hillhouse, violinist Susan Brown, and flutist Lars Johannesson.

The ensemble will perform music for instrumental trio by Haydn, Ibert and Martinu; songs by Debussy; arias by Bach for singer and instrumental ensemble; and newly composed vocal chamber works by Redwood City composer Karen Robinson.

The texts of Ms. Robinson's songs were written by bilingual students of Castro Elementary School in Mountain View, then adapted for the ensemble. The collaboration was the result of a poetry and music project at the school in which Ms. Gandolfi and Ms. Robinson participated last spring.

Admission to the concert is $14, general; and $12 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at the door.

The art center is at 1313 Newell Road, at Embarcadero, in Palo Alto. For more information, call 463-4940.

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