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Community Events
City of Menlo Park Kite Day Kite flying, face painting, snow cones, bounce houses and hot dog lunch. Appearance by “Mega Fish,” a 46-inch giant kite. May 7, noon. Free. Bedwell Bayfront Park, 1600 Marsh Road, Menlo Park. www.menlopark.org/kiteday
Woodside Soapbox Derby Woodside families race their own easy-to-build and personalized gravity-powered cars. Barbecue and music. Prizes and T-shirts awarded. Visit website for how to obtain car kit. May 15, noon. $250 car kit; $10 barbecue; free for spectators. Woodside Town Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside. woodsidesoapboxderby.com
Dine Out: Benefiting Meals on Wheels On May 17, many local restaurants donate percentage of day’s meal sales to Peninsula Volunteers Inc.’s Meals on Wheels, which helps to feed homebound seniors. Visit website for participating restaurants. May 17. www.penvol.org/dineout/index.cfm
Filoli Flower Show “California Then and Now 1916-2016.” Visit website for details. May 5, 5:30-8 p.m.; May 6 and 7, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; May 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Filoli, 86 Ca<0x00F1>ada Road, Woodside. filoli.org/flower-show/
Creating Bee-Friendly Garden May 5, 7 p.m. Free. Redwood City Public Library, Downtown Library, 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City. www.cnps-scv.org
Theater
‘An Afternoon With ‘Ty Cobb’ Norm Coleman performs one-man show impersonating baseball great Ty Cobb. Hot dogs, popcorn and Crackers Jacks. May 10, 1:30 p.m. Free. Little House Activity Center, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. www.penvol.org/littlehouse
Menlo School: ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ Outdoor production of Stephen Sondheim musical. Appropriate for all ages. May 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13, 8 p.m. $5-$10. Menlo School, Outdoor Stage on the Quad, 50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton. www.menloschool.org/arts/drama.php
Palo Alto Players: ‘Into The Woods’ Musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. May 5, 7:30 p.m., May 6 and 7, 8 p.m., May 8, 2 p.m. $35-$49. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. www.paplayers.org
‘The Republican Party in Pieces: A Comedy (In Fragments)’ Stanford Classics in Theater stages play set at Republican National Convention that combines scraps of ancient Greek tragedy with modern political sound bites. Audience chooses candidate best suited to make America great again. Some language inappropriate for children. May 13-14, 8 p.m. $5. Elliott Program Center, 589 Governor’s Ave., Stanford. scit.stanford.edu
‘When the Rain Stops Falling’ Family saga that takes audience back and forth through time and around the globe. May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14, 8 p.m. $15-$30. Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City. www.dragonproductions.net
Concerts
More Joy! Makes Sweet Music Featuring Iris Harrell, Ann Benson and others, More Joy! concert weaves together “A Prairie Home Companion” style, Silicon Valley storytelling, and eclectic music performances. Reception follows. Cover charge benefits YWCA’s “Make A Room In Your Heart” program. May 7, 7:30 p.m. $10. Ladera Community Church, 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley.
West Bay Opera: “Madama Butterfly” free preview with piano One-hour event with cast members and piano accompaniment. May 12, 8 p.m. Free. Lucie Stern Ballroom, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. www.westbayopera.org
Wu Han-Setzer-Finckel Trio Emerson Quartet violinist Philip Setzer joins David Finckel (cello) and Wu Han (piano), Music@Menlo’s artistic directors, in performing piano trios by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Brahms. May 8, 6 p.m. $20-$52. Menlo-Atherton High School, Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park. musicatmenlo.org
Talks & Authors
Public Forum: Candidates for 24th Assembly District League of Women Voters forum. May 10 at 7 p.m. Free. Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin St., Mountain View. mountainview.gov/librarycalendar
‘Human Trafficking Happening Here’ Betty Ann Hagenau, executive director of Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition, discusses modern-day slavery and how to identify human trafficking in daily life. May 4, 7 p.m. Free. Woodside Road United Methodist Church, 2000 Woodside Road, Redwood City. www.smcdfa.org/calendar
Tuolumne River Film and Culture Fest with theme of “A river lost, a river saved, and the battles yet to come.” Featured guest: Mark Dubois, who chained himself to boulder in effort to save Stanislaus River. May 9, 6:30 p.m. $8-$12. Menlo-Atherton High School, Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton. www.tuolumne.org
Woodside Arts & Culture Committee: ‘Story Telling’ Author Kristin Delaplane and biographer Duffy Jennings on how to write memoirs, record oral histories and present genealogy as exciting story. May 6, 7 p.m. Free. Woodside Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside. woodsidetown.org/artsandculture/arts-culture-committee-events
Family
Author Andy Griffiths leads youth on wild storytelling adventure when he shares his latest, “The 52-Story Treehouse,” for middle-grade readers. May 6, 6 p.m. Free. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. www.keplers.com
Author Matthew Jobin discusses “The Skeleth,” sequel to his fantasy adventure “The Nethergrim.” May 10, 7 p.m. Free. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. www.keplers.com
AYSO Menlo Park & Atherton Soccer Registration Boys and girls born between Aug. 1, 1997, and Jan. 31, 2012 can register for AYSO Soccer Menlo Park & Atherton. New players should attend walk-in registration. Returning players can register online. No tryouts, and all participate, regardless of level. May 14, 10 a.m. $100- $150. Hillview Middle School Library, 1100 Elder Ave., Menlo Park. www.mpsoccer.org
Family Fun Day at Ronald McDonald House at Stanford Petting zoo from Jasper Ridge Farms, face painting, Kids Spa, arts and crafts, magic show. May 7, 2 p.m. Free. Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, 510 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto. www.ronaldhouse.net/news/events.php
Galleries
Open studio with artists Leslie Lambert, Peggy Forman, Jan Schacter and Nina Else. May 7-8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Jan Schachter’s studio, 190 Golden Hills Drive, Portola Valley. www.janschachter.com
Portola Art Gallery: ‘Behind the Lines’ Watercolor paintings by Yvonne Newhouse of San Mateo. Monday-Saturday, May 2-31, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free. Portola Art Gallery, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. portolaartgallery.com
Food & Drink
Facebook Farmers Market Fresh produce, local artisans, food trucks, cooking demonstrations, craft beer and wine, live music, Kid Zone. Open to public. Check website for dates and themes. Saturdays, year-round, 2 p.m. Free admission. Facebook, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park. www.facebook.com/facebookfarmersmarket
Portola Valley Farmers’ Market Thursdays, year-round, 2-6 p.m. Free. Portola Valley Town Center, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. pvfarmersmarket.com
Lessons & Classes
Successful Searching with Thomas MacEntee San Mateo County Genealogical Society Spring Seminar will feature Thomas MacEntee, a tech guy and genealogical professional, who will give four lectures explaining new technologies to help with genealogical research. May 7, 9 a.m. $37-$48. Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, 1105 Valparaiso Ave., Menlo Park. www.smcgs.org
ESL Evening Conversation Club Wednesdays, May 4-June 1, 5 p.m. Free. Menlo Park Library, Downstairs Meeting Room, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. www.menlopark.org/547/Project-Read-Menlo-Park
ESL Morning Conversation Club Wednesdays, May 4-June 1, 10:15 a.m. Free. Arrillaga Family Gymanisum, Conference Room, 600 Alma St., Menlo Park. www.menlopark.org/547/Project-Read-Menlo-Park
The Pacific—Homeric Tales of a ‘Peaceful Sea’ Historian Michael Svanevik teaches class telling forgotten tales about watery wilderness of Pacific Ocean, an arena of international competition for centuries. Wednesdays, May 4-June 8, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $45 general; $12 drop in. Little House Activity Center, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. www.penvol.org/littlehouse
Teens
Author Sarah J. Maas discusses “A Court of Mist and Fury,” an action fantasy sequel to “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” May 4, 6:30 p.m. $10-$25. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. www.keplers.com
Teen Improv Night At free event led by M-A High teacher DJ Zwicker-Sobrepena, participants play games as they learn about theatrical improvisation using teamwork, imagination and spontaneity. Advance registration required. May 6, 6:30 p.m. Free. Menlo Park Main Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. menlopark.org/teens
