Arts & Entertainment PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL
Worth a Look
comes to town with his band “the not ready for naptime players.” Roberts has scheduled two concerts that day, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at Smithwick Theatre at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. Call (650) 969-9506. Music will likely include songs from Roberts’ most recent CDs, “Meltdown” and “Pop Fly.” And does that kid ever catch a pop fly? Check out the concert (or listen online at www.justinroberts.org).
Books
Barbara Kingsolver
Joyce Goldschmid
Lucy Littlewood and Martin Gutfeldt are among the singing storytellers in Bus Barn Stage Company’s holiday show “A Christmas Pudding.”
Theater
Novelist Barbara Kingsolver, author of “Pigs in Heaven,” “Poisonwood Bible,” “The Bean Trees” and other books, will speak at Menlo-Atherton High School’s new performing-arts center next Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. She’ll focus on her new novel, “The Lacuna,” about an American-born, Mexican-raised man finding his identity during the war years of World War II. Set in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, the novel ranges from a coastal tropical jungle to the metropolis of Mexico City to the rising superpower in the north. It imagines encounters with Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Leon Trotsky reaching backward to Mexico’s Aztec heritage and forward to socialist ideologies. The high school is at 555 Middlefield Road in Atherton, with the free talk organized by Kepler’s Books. For more information, go to www.keplers.com or call 650-324-4321.
Art
‘A Christmas Pudding’ So, Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Charles Dickens and Mark Twain walk into a theater... That could make a good joke, but it’s probably a better play. Good thing. Bus Barn Stage Company’s new holiday show, “A Christmas Pudding,” incorporates writings by the above authors, along with melodies and carols such as “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” and “The Holly and the Ivy.” The show was created by David Birney. Directed by Bus Barn’s artistic director, Barbara Cannon, a cast of 12 will sing and tell stories, accompanied by cello, flute, guitar and piano. The show previews on Thursday, Nov. 19, and then runs through Dec. 19 at 97 Hillview Ave. in Los Altos. Show times are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., with a few Wednesday and Sunday performances thrown in. Tickets range from $24 for the preview to $32 for opening night. For details, go to www.busbarn.org or call 650-9410551.
Japanese calligraphy Shoko Kazama, official calligrapher of the Zen temple Kencho-ji in Kamakura, Japan, comes to Palo Alto this month for free demonstrations, as well as a local solo exhibition of her work. This Saturday, Nov. 14, Kazama holds two free presentations and workshops (the same program will be repeated) at 2 and 4 p.m. in studios A and B at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road. The events include question-and-answer sessions and the opportunity to have Kazama create Zen calligraphy for audience members. Attendees may bring a white T-shirt or small cloth. To RSVP for the event, e-mail ykishimoto@earthlink. net. Meanwhile, Kazama is also exhibiting her art at the downtown Palo Alto Kimura Gallery, which shows Japanese prints, antiques and folk art. The show is at 482 Hamilton Ave. through Nov. 30. For more information, call 650-322-3984. Lastly, Kazama is also planning a demonstration at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple at 2751 Louis Road on Nov. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call 650-856-0123.
Family Justin Roberts
A&E DIGEST
Todd Rosenberg
The kid’s coach sends him to the outfield, where it’s hard to pay attention. How can you, when there are dandelions and a quirky squirrel, and “cotton-candy clouds that look like elephants”? The familiar situation makes for a cheerful, head-bouncing song, “Pop Fly,” by children’s entertainer Justin Roberts. He calls his music Justin Roberts brings his “kindie” rock. On Sunday, Nov. 15, “kindie” rock for families to the ramblin’ musician Foothill College for two concerts on Nov. 15.
PROKOFIEV PROGRAM CHANGE... Russian pianist Alexander Toradze, who was scheduled to perform at Stanford University this weekend as part of Stanford Lively Arts’ Prokofiev Project festival, has canceled due to emergency knee surgery. For tonight’s piano concert, former Toradze student Vakhtang Kodanashvili will fill in for Toradze and perform the Piano Sonata No. 6, op. 82 (instead of Sonata No. 7). For the Nov. 14 orchestral concert, Nikita Abrosimov — a member of the Toradze piano studio at Indiana University South Bend — will fill in on the Piano Concert No. 2. Both concerts are at 8 p.m. in Dinkelspiel Auditorium, with tickets priced at $40/$46 for adults and $10 for Stanford students. Go to livelyarts. stanford.edu or call 650-725-ARTS.
CIVIC CENTER, 250 HAMILTON AVE. BROADCAST LIVE ON KZSU, FM 90.1 CABLECAST LIVE ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS CHANNEL 26 (TENTATIVE) AGENDA-SPECIAL MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS NOVEMBER 16, 2009 - 6:00 PM 1. 2. 3. 4.
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Quarterly Update High Speed Rail 7:30 or as soon as possible thereafter Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Rosemary Ralston Upon Her Retirement Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Jannette Huber Upon Her Retirement Approval of a Contract with Xxx Inc., in the Amount of $Xxx for Construction of Greer Park Renovation and Pump Station Replacement - Capital Improvement Program Project PE09002 Approval to Utilize the State of California CALNET II (CALNET 2) Contract for Telecommunication Services with AT&T for City-Wide Telecommunications Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $350,000 Approval of a Utilities Enterprise Fund Purchase Order with DitchWitch Bay Area in the Amount of $285,945 for Delivery of an All Terrain Directional Boring Unit – Capital Improvement Program Projects GS-02013 and GS-03007 Finance Committee Recommendation to Accept City Auditor’s Fiscal Year 2010 Work Plan with Risk Assessment Adoption of Two Resolutions: (1) Adopting a Compensation Plan for Management and Professional Personnel and Council Appointees and (2) Amending Section 1701 of the Merit System Rules and Regulations to Incorporate the 20092010 Compensation Plan for Management and Professional Personnel and Council Appointees Approval of Three City Attorney Office Contracts Adoption of an Ordinance Approving and Adopting a Plan of Improvements to the Junior Museum & Zoo to Construct a New Bobcat Exhibit and to Replace Fencing and Walkways – Capital Improvement Program Project AC-10000 Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Mei Wong Upon Her Retirement Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Sridhar Bilgiri Upon His Retirement Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Sandra Domingo Upon Her Retirement Adoption of a Resolution Expressing Appreciation to Adam Nowak Upon His Retirement Adoption of a Resolution of the Expressing Appreciation to Jerzy Siegenfeld Upon His Retirement Status Report on California Avenue Street Improvements and Recommendations for Community Engagement Regarding Removal of City Owned Street Trees and Approval of Recommended Action Plan for Community Engagement and Board and Commission Review of Tree Replacement and Other California Avenue Street Improvements Including Addition of New Street Furniture, and Street Repaving and Restriping (continued by Council Motion on October 05, 2009)
17. Public Hearing Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 18.08.040 (the Zoning Map), Chapter 18.30(C) (the Ground Floor (GF) Combining District), and Chapter 18.18 (the Downtown Commercial Community (CD-C) Zone District) to Modify Restrictions on Ground Floor Uses in the Downtown Area (continued by Council Motion on November 09, 2009) 18. Public Hearing Approval of a Tentative Map and Record of Land Use Action to Create Six Commercial Condominium Units Within an Existing Office Building at 164 Hamilton Avenue STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Finance Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 7:00 PM regarding 1) Auditor’s Office Quarterly Report as of September 30, 2009, and 2) 2010 Budget Update and 2009 Financial Update
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