MEETINGS, MUSIC, THEATER, FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Special Events Menlo Park Library December Book Sale. Located in the downstairs meeting room, this sale will feature holiday books, fiction and mystery titles, history and religion books, art and collectible books, and much more. Sun., Dec. 6, noon-4 p.m. Free. Menlo Park Public Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. Call 650-330-2530. www.friendsmpl.org Assemblyman Ira Ruskin hosts town hall Meeting in Palo Alto on Dec. 3. The public is invited to discuss legislative and community issues. 6-7:30 p.m. Palo Alto City Hall, Council Chambers, 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto. Spring Down Open Horse Show. Dec. 6 is Spring Down’s winter horse show. $15/ class. Spring Down Equestrian Center, 725 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-8511114. www.springdown.com The 22nd Annual Christmas Creche Exhibit. Five hundred nativities from 80 countries; live holiday music with concerts in the evening; Children’s Room has crafts, nativity costumes and marionette shows at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. daily. Dec. 5-9, noon-9 p.m. Free. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3865 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. www.christmascreche.org Schola Seraphica. Members of the Catholic Churches of Menlo Park join forces with the St. Francis High School Chamber Choir in a Christmas concert Dec. 6 at St. Patrick’s Seminary. Choral music from Gabrieli and Mendelssohn will be sung. 2:30-4 p.m. $20general/$15seniors-students. St. Patrick’s Seminary, 320 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-323-8328. “’Twas the Night Before Christmas� ballet. The Dancers Repertory Theatre and Menlo Park Academy of Dance present an “alternative to ‘The Nutcracker.’� Thee 75-minute ballet includes costumes, sets and the familiar cadence of the “’Twas the Night Before Christmas� poem. Sun., Dec. 6, at 1:30 and 4 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 12, 4 and 7 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 13, 1:30 and 4 p.m. $20 general, $12 for seniors and children under 12 Woodside Performing Arts Center, Woodside High School, Churchill Avenue and Woodside Road, Woodside. Call 650-3235292. www.twasthenight.org Emerald Cities. This exhibition of decorative and religious arts explores Thailand and Burma’s shared culture. Fri., Dec. 4, 7-8 p.m. Free. Atherton Library, 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, Atherton. Call 650-328-2422. www.smcl.org/libraries/ath/events/
Talks/Authors Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director, Library of Alexandria. Dr. Serageldin will give two talks: 2 p.m.: “The New Library of Alexandria: A Beacon of Knowledge.� 4:30 p.m.: “For a Better Dialog Between the West and Muslims.� Refreshments will be provided after the second lecture. Wed., Dec. 2, 2-6:30 p.m. Free. Dinkelspiel Auditorium, 471 Lagunita Drive, Stanford. Call 650-736-9538. “The Metamorphoses of Tintin; or Tintin for Adults.� The English translation of the first critical study of the canonical Tintin cartoons. Wed., Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. free. Kepler’s, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers.com Mexican Cooking Demonstration. New Yorker Nicole Salgado plunged into her life in the Queretaro region of Mexico and recently authored a cookbook featuring The Bajio’s Bounty. Salgado will demonstrate some of her recipes, and also discuss the food plants traditionally used in this area of Mexico. Wed., Dec. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road, Woodside. Call 650-851-0147. www.smcl.org
For all listings This Calendar contains partial listings of community events. To see all listings, go to TheAlmanacOnline.com and on the green navigation bar on the left, click on “Community Calendar.�
Note: More holiday listings start on Page 14.
Community Events
Be a Go-To Grandparent. Join author Donne Davis, contributor to “The Art of Grandparenting,� for coffee and conversation about becoming a go-to grandparent whether near or far from grandchildren. Fri., Dec. 4, 9-10 a.m. Free. Atherton Library, 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, Atherton. Call 650328-2422. www.smcl.org Finishing Touches: A Holiday Tour of Fine Homes. The Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula hosts tour of four homes in the west Atherton area, a holiday marketplace, raffles, prizes. Dec. 5 and 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Sacred Heart Prep School, 50 Emilie Ave., Atherton. Call 512-653-4027. Holiday Festival. The German-American International School hosts its annual Holiday Festival on Dec. 5 in Menlo Park. Students perform traditional holiday songs. Holiday market, arts and crafts tables, a cafe, a German sausage and bake sale, and even Santa may drop in. 2-5 p.m. Free. GermanAmerican International School, 275 Elliott Drive, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-8617. www. germanamericanschool.org Holiday Tree Lighting. Rosewood Sand Hill will welcome the beginning of the holiday season on Thu., Dec. 3, when the hotel’s 30-foot holiday tree is illuminated. Dickens-era costumed carolers, hot cider and sweets. 5-7 p.m. free. Rosewood Sand Hill, 2825 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park.
Concerts Menlo-Atherton High School Choir will perform a seasonal concert on Sat., Dec. 5, in the Menlo Park City Council Chambers. Choir Director Patrick Maier has selected songs from around the world. 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Menlo Park City Council Chambers, 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Call 650-330-2512. www.menloparklibrary.org Redwood Symphony Concert. Eric Kujawsky conducts Redwood Symphony in Stravinsky’s complete “Firebird Ballet� (with supertitles), Rota ‘s “Trombone Concerto� (Garo Gagliano, trombone) and Rossini’s “Semiramide Overture.� Sat., Dec. 5, 8-10:30 p.m. $10 (student), $20 in advance, $25 at door, free for children under 12. Canada College Main Theatre, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd,, Woodside. Call 650-366-6872. www.redwoodsymphony.org
Kids & Families Mothers Together’s Christmas Breakfast. The Mothers Together fellowship, teaching and prayer group holds its annual Christmas Breakfast. Limited childcare available with registration. Tue., Dec. 8, 9-11:30 a.m. $15 before Dec. 1; $20 after Dec. 1 Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, 950 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park. mppc.org Tree Treasures. San Mateo County History Museum will offer Tree Treasures, where children can make old-fashioned holiday tree ornaments to take home. Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. Call 650-299-0104. www.historysmc.org
Et Alia Small treasures: fine art for every budget. Portola Art Gallery presents “Small Treasures� for the month of December. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Portola Art Gallery, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. www.portolaartgallery.com Ring in the Holidays. The SFSU (San Francisco State University) Handbell Choir will perform a variety of holiday tunes. In Courtroom A, under the stained-glass ceiling. Sat., Dec. 5, 1-2 p.m. Free. San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City. Call 650-299-0104. www.historysmc.org Write Night: Teen Writing Workshop. Get writing advice from five published authors. Open to those ages 12 and up, no registration required. Tue., Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Free. Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. Call 650-330-1530. www. menloparklibrary.org/children.html
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SHOP LOCAL this holiday season Thanks. December 2, 2009 N The Almanac N 29