Theater
Palo Alto Players Presents: ‘Shakespeare in Love’ Adapted from the Academy Award-winning film, “Shakespeare in Love” is a witty romance. In this fictional story, young playwright William Shakespeare is in love with a woman who pretends to be a man to perform onstage. Directed by Lee Ann Payne. Jan. 18-Feb. 3, times vary. $42-$52. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. paplayers.org
‘The Revolutionists’ “The Revolutionists” is a comedic play about four women who lived boldly in France during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Through Feb. 10, 8 p.m. $18-$37. The Dragon Theatre, 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Presents ‘Frost/Nixon’ TheatreWorks Silicon Valley kicks off the new year with Tony and Olivier Award-nominated drama ‘Frost/Nixon.’ With America caught in the riptides of Watergate and Vietnam, Nixon and a British talk-show host clash in a series of TV interviews that will determine the president’s legacy. Through Feb. 10, times vary. $40-$100. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. theatreworks.org/201819-season
Concerts
Sundays with the St. Lawrence St. Lawrence String Quartet presents its “Sundays with the St. Lawrence” series, a matinee array of chamber outings in many modes. On Jan. 20, the modern JACK Quartet joins in for a series of new works. Jan. 20, 2:30 p.m. $32-$68. Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford. Search events.stanford.edu for more info.
‘Music of the Americas’ with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra “Music of the Americas” features Latin American music by the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra with Quinteto Latino. Jan. 20, 3:30-4:15 p.m. Free. Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. theSFCO.org
Branford Marsalis Quartet The Branford Marsalis Quartet performs at Stanford. Jan. 16, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $42-$72. Bing Concert Hall, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford. arts.stanford.edu/event
‘Celtic Harps, Rare Instruments and Wondrous Stories’ Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter perform on two Celtic harps, the Swedish nyckelharpa, the Ukrainian bandura, the cittern and more. They perform traditional instrumental music from Sweden and Ireland as well as original compositions. Jan. 20, 3-5 p.m. $22-$30. Filoli Gardens, 86 Old Canada Road, Woodside. filoli.org
Fred Hersch Trio A member of the jazz world’s piano pantheon, Fred Hersch is a musician who has been active for over three decades as an improviser, composer, educator, bandleader, collaborator and recording artist. Jan. 18, 7 and 9 p.m. $55-$80 Stanford University’s Bing Studio, 327 Lasuen St., Stanford. Search events.stanford.edu for more info.
‘Instrument Petting Zoo’ Menlo Park Library hosts a musical program followed by a chance for children to get a feel for the instruments. Jan. 17, 7-8 p.m. Free. Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. menlopark.org
Master Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra Program 2 This program includes Mendelssohn’s “Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Saint Saens’ “Havanaise” featuring Christine Lee on violin, and Villa-Lobos’ “Fantasia for Saxophone” featuring Robin Lacey. Jan. 19, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Palo Alto High School Performing Arts Center, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto. Search brownpapertickets.com for more info.
Oshman Family JCC Presents Ordinarius Brazilian music group Ordinarius will perform popular songs from Brazil as well as pop songs from artists such as Stevie Wonder and the Beatles. Jan. 17, 8-9:30 p.m. $30-$35. Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. paloaltojcc.org/Events/ordinarius
Film
Film Screening: ‘True Conviction’ Stanford Arts hosts a screening of “True Conviction,” a documentary that follows a new detective agency in Dallas, run by three exonerated men who all spent decades in prison. Jan. 17, 6 p.m. Free. Oshman Hall, 355 Roth Way, Stanford. Search events.stanford.edu for more info.
Film Screening: ‘Birders: The Central Park Effect’ The Menlo Park Library screens a documentary about the hidden world of America’s most famous park, and the wild birds, and equally colorful New Yorkers, who schedule their lives around the rhythms of migration. Jan. 23, 7-8 p.m. Free. Menlo Park Main Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. menlopark.org/birds
Talks & Lectures
Cafe Scientifique: ‘Climate and Innovative Paths to a Sustainable Future’ Cafe Scientifique meets monthly to discuss a variety of science topics. This month’s speaker is Steven Chu, professor of physics and of molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford University. Jan. 17, 6-9 p.m. Free. HanaHaus, 456 University Ave., Palo Alto. Search eventbrite.com for more info.
Bay Area Avian Science Research The Menlo Park Library hosts a talk by San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory executive director Yiwei Wang, who discusses current projects, and the conditions birds face in the Bay Area. Jan. 22, 7-8 p.m. Free. Menlo Park Main Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. menlopark.org/adults
‘Free Public Talk on Black Holes, Exploding Stars, and the Runaway Universe’ UC Berkeley professor Dr. Alex Filippenko will give a nontechnical talk on “Black Holes, Exploding Stars, and the Runaway Universe.” Part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series, now in its 19th year. Jan. 23, 7-8:30 p.m. Free. Foothill College, Smithwick Theater, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills.
Rob Reich with Larry Kramer Author Rob Reich, professor of political science at Stanford, speaks with colleague and former dean Larry Kramer in a discerning look at the real impact of charitable giving. Jan. 17, 7:30-9 p.m. Free. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Search eventbrite.com for more info.
Evelyn Skye in conversation with Dana Elmendorf Kepler’s Books hosts a launch party of the book, “Circle of Shadows,” Evelyn Skye’s new fantasy series. Skye will be in conversation with Dana Elmendorf, author of “South of Sunshine.” Jan. 20, 3-4:30 p.m. Free, RSVP Requested. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Search eventbrite.com for more info.
Tara Sim with E.K. Johnston Kepler’s Books hosts the launch of “Firestarter,” author Tara Sim’s conclusion to the the Timekeeper trilogy, set in an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, where a damaged clock can fracture time, and a destroyed one can stop it completely. Sim speaks with E.K. Johnston, author of “That Inevitable Victorian Thing.” Free, RSVP requested. Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Search eventbrite.com for more info.
Family
Cow Spa Day Hidden Villa prepares an aromatic spa day for its eldest cow, Cleo. Participants can harvest fresh herbs from the garden, prepare a plant-based fly repel spray and then enter the cow pen with supplies to rub and pamper Cleo. Jan. 19, 1:30-3 p.m. $15. Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills. hiddenvilla.org
Museums & Exhibits
Alphabete: The World Through the Eyes of Frederic Bruly Bouabre The Cantor Arts Center displays Frederic Bruly Bouabre’s artwork. The exhibit shows Bouabre’s original pictographic alphabet and brightly colored postcard-size illustrations. Through Feb. 25, times vary. Free. Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions
‘Blackboard’ “Blackboard” brings together works that imitate, resemble or feature a blackboard, to consider the relationship between art and education. The “blackboards” on view interrogate schooling, authority, literacy, form and color. Through Jan. 27. Free. Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions
The Dancing Sowei: Performing Beauty in Sierra Leone This exhibition focuses on one spectacular work in the Cantor’s collection — a sowei mask, used by the women-only Sande Society that is unique to Sierra Leone. Ongoing until December; Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays-Sundays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thursdays 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions
Do Ho Suh: The Spaces in Between In this exhibition, artist Do Ho Suh uses a chandelier, wallpaper and a decorative screen to focus attention on issues of migration and transnational identity. Through Feb. 25, times vary. Free. Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions
Kahlil Joseph: ‘BLKNWS’ Kahlil Joseph, a visiting artist in the new Presidential Residencies on the Future of the Arts program, presents his work “BLKNWS,” a two-channel video projection that blurs the lines between art, journalism, entrepreneurship and cultural critique. Through June 16, times vary. Free. Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions
‘Painting Nature in the American Gilded Age’ The Cantor Arts Center’s exhibition considers how nature was depicted by American artists from the 1880s to 1910, an era of unprecedented industrialization and urban development. Through landscapes, portraits and still lifes, the exhibition delves into the importance of nature for artists and the public. Through Aug. 25, times vary. Free. Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way, Stanford. museum.stanford.edu/exhibitions
Public Tour: Outdoor Sculpture Walk, Museum Trained docents take visitors on a walk among the diverse collection of outdoor sculpture surrounding the Cantor Art Center. Meet at the entrance to the museum. Tours are held rain or shine. No reservations needed. Third Sunday of each month, 11:30 a.m. Free. Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Drive, Stanford. arts.stanford.edu/event/26721
‘Vintage Toys: It’s Child’s Play!’ The museum presents a variety of antique toys that belonged to children in the past. This exhibition covers the origins of playtime, toy factories, toy trains, builder toys and more, and aims to evoke childhood memories over the decades. Through Feb. 17, times vary. Free. Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. moah.org
Portola Art Gallery Presents ‘Artistic Journeys’ The Portola Art Gallery presents “Artistic Journeys,” a joint exhibition by Inna Cherneykina and Jan Prisco. The exhibition of oil and pastel paintings includes colorful still life and landscape scenes from the artists’ collections. Through Jan. 31, Mondays-Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Portola Art Gallery, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park.
Free TV Station Tour Midpen Media Center hosts a public tour of the local public access station. The studio is full HD and ready for creating community programming. Content filmed may be featured on cable television. There are also youth programs. Jan. 22, 6-7 p.m. Free, RSVP. Midpen Media Center, 900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto. midpenmedia.org/workshops/orientation
Food & Drink
Portola Valley Farmers Market Portola Valley Farmers Market offers locally grown organic produce, prepared foods and artisan crafts at the town center, with parking available. Thursdays, 2-5 p.m. Free. Portola Town Center, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. goodrootsevents.com/portola-valley-farmers-market.html
Health & Wellness
Classic Moms Run Club: A Running Support Group The classic Moms Run Club meets weekly for six weeks to job and chat for 3 miles. Weekly topics are given for the group to discuss, but the discussion topics are flexible. Through Feb. 9, Saturdays, 8 a.m. $60 for all six meetups per participant. Lake Lagunita, Mayfield and Lomita, Stanford. kjerstinelson.com/moms-run-club
Outdoor Recreation
Greenhouse Specialty Tours Tour Filoli’s historic greenhouses with a Filoli docent. Learn the history of the greenhouses and nursery, their historic and present uses and view the plant collections. Through Feb. 16, Fridays and Saturdays, 2-3:30 p.m. $15. Filoli Gardens, 86 Old Canada Road, Woodside. filoli.org/event
Mushroom Specialty Tours Filoli’s mushroom hikes are intended for visitors new to the world of mushrooms and enthusiasts interested in discovering what fungi are fruiting on Filoli’s nature preserve. Visitors learn about the important ecosystems of fungi and how to spot mushrooms on the forest floor. This 90-minute hike traverses 2-3 miles of uneven terrain including moderate hills. The trails are not stroller or wheelchair accessible. Bring water, walking shoes and clothing for light rain. Heavy rain cancels the hike. Children 5 and older are welcome to attend. Through Feb. 16, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $15. Filoli Gardens, 86 Old Canada Road, Woodside. filoli.org/event/mushroom-specialty-tours
POST Hike at Lower La Honda Creek Peninsula Open Space Trust hosts a moderate 6-mile hike through the grasslands of Lower La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. Managed by MidPen, this preserve features forests and redwoods to the north, and hilly grassland to the south. Jan. 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, Redwood City. Search eventbrite.com for more info.
Fundraiser
‘Grassroot Soccer 3v3 Tournament’ At this event, attendees can play soccer, eat barbecued food and support Grassroot Soccer, a nonprofit that works to educate kids about AIDS in Africa. With the purchase of registration, attendees get a T-shirt, lunch, a raffle ticket and a day of playing. Register at impact.grassrootsoccer.org/shs2018. Jan. 19, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. $50. Sacred Heart High School, 150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton. impact.grassrootsoccer.org/shs2018
Business
Ask the Career Advisor Jobtrain career advisers offer one-on-one help to those that drop-in. Services range from career guidance to assistance with job searching. Jan. 23, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Jobtrain, 1200 O’Brien Drive, Menlo Park. Search eventbrite.com for more info.
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