Calendar

Benefits

Autumn Horse Trials, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri.-Sun., Sept. 15-17, at the Horse Park in Woodside, 3674 Sand Hill Road. Free admission, parking $5/car. Call 306-0561.

8th Annual Heart Walk at Redwood Shores Lagoon on Fri., Sept. 15, 11:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m., and in Coyote Point Park in San Mateo on Sun., Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Call the American Heart Association at 259-6802.

Tailgate party on Sat., Sept. 16, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Lawn Bowling Green on Embarcadero at Cowper, Palo Alto. Benefits the Senior Day Health Program. Tickets $25 adults, $20 seniors, $10 children 4-14. Call 326-6452.

Sand Hill Road Challenge, soap-box race benefiting local teens, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sun., Sept. 24, Sand Hill Road from I-280 to Branner Dr. Free admission. Visit www.sandhill.org or call 365-3180.

On Stage

"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" runs Sat., Sept. 16, through Sun., Oct. 1, at Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Opening night 8 p.m. Sat. with gala, $24. Wednesday-Saturday 8 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. matinees Sept. 17 and Oct. 1, $20-22. Paid preview 8 p.m. Friday, September 15, $16. Visit www.paplayers.org, or call 329-0891.

"Master Class". Charlotte Cornwall portrays opera diva Maria Callas through Sun., Sept. 24. 7:30 p.m. Tues., 8 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., and 2 and 7 p.m. Sun., $20-$38. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. Call 463-1950.

"The Miracle Worker" plays Hillbarn Theatre Fri., Sept. 15, through Sat., Oct. 12. Showtimes 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun., Sept. 17 and 24; 8 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 5. Tickets: $17-20; opening night tickets: $22 Fri., Sept. 15. 1285 E. Hillsdale, Foster City. Call 349-6422.

"Jesus Christ Superstar", by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Fri., Sept. 22, through Sun., Oct. 8, at San Mateo Performing Arts Center, 428 Peninsula Ave., San Mateo. $23 regular, $20 students and seniors. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. (except Oct. 5), some Sat. and Sun. matinees at 2 p.m. Visit www.pclo.org or call 579-5568.

Music

Golden Bough presents music of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales at 8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 16. Art Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell at Embarcadero, Palo Alto. Tickets at the door, $12 general, $10 seniors and students. Call 329-2527.

Chamber music concert sponsored by the California Bach Society features Rob Diggins on baroque violin at 4 p.m. Sun., Sept. 17, at First Lutheran Church, Homer and Webster, Palo Alto. Tickets $25. Visit www.calbach.org or call 299-8616.

Opera Overviews. Musical preview/lecture of Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Tsar's Bride" 8 p.m. Tues., Sept. 12, at Palo Alto Senior Center, 450 Bryant St. Douglas Moore's opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe" discussed 8 p.m. Tues., Sept. 19. Each $7. Call 369-7168.

Smokin' Hams play bluegrass 7:30-9:30 p.m. Fri., Sept. 22, at the San Mateo County Historical Museum, 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City. $10 museum members, $12 nonmembers. Call 299-0104.

Families & Kids

Pooch Pageant. Registration deadline is Sat., Sept. 16, for the Rotary Club's third annual Pooch Pageant, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Sept. 23, at Portola Valley Town Center, 765 Portola Road. $25 entry fee per dog in three categories. Call 851-7078.

Rancho Day recreates life in California Rancho era, ca. 1820-1850. Hands-on activities, displays, costumed dance groups, authentic food and drink, and story-telling by stage coach driver "One Eye Charlie" offered noon-4 p.m. Sat., Sept. 16, at the Sanchez Adobe, 1000 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica. Admission $1. Call 359-1462.

Hispanic scientists honored Sat., Sept. 16, with local Robotics team, Mexican dancers and youth mariachis at opening of month-long exhibit on Hispanic contributions to technology. IMAX film "Mexico" in Spanish 4 p.m. Sat. and in English 4 p.m. Sun. at 201 South Market St., San Jose. Museum hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; admission with IMAX show $13-16. Visit www.thetech.org or call (408) 294-7167.

Autumn stories with singer, dancer, storyteller Yolanda Rhodes, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 16, Hidden Villa, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Admission: $8 adults, $6 children or $24 for a family of four. Reservations required. Call 949-8653.

Storytime at Strybing Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Golden Gate Park, for ages 4-8. "A-Peeling Tales of Fruits and Vegetables" at 10:30 a.m. Sun., Sept. 17, with guided walk for families. Free at Strybing Arboretum, Ninth Ave. and Lincoln Way, near the Golden Gate Park museums in San Francisco. Call (415) 661-1316.

Latin American music for children of all ages performed by Colibri at 3:30 p.m. Mon., Sept. 18, at Atherton Library, #2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane. Free. Call Children's Librarian Marcia Elias at 328-2422.

African stories, music and dance in a family concert featuring Masankho Banda 1 p.m. Sat., Sept. 23. Art Center Auditorium, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. Tickets at the door only: $6 general and $4 children and seniors. Call 329-2527.

Storytimes at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. 10:15 a.m. Weds. for toddlers, 2-3 years; 11:15 a.m. Weds. for babies up to 23 months; Pajama Storytime, 7 p.m. Weds. for all ages; 11:15 a.m. Thurs. for preschoolers, 3-5 years. Free. Call 858-3464.

Storytimes at Woodside Library, 3140 Woodside Road, include musical storytime Tues. at 4 p.m. for preschoolers through grade 3, a program for infants ages 4-14 months (with an adult) Weds. at 10 a.m., and toddler storytime Weds. at 11 a.m. Free. Call 851-0147.

Arthur in Atherton. Arthur the Aardvark featured 7 p.m. Tues., Sept. 19, during weekly Pajama Storytime at Atherton Library, #2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane. Guests ages 3-6 are invited to wear pajamas and bring a favorite soft toy. Weds. storytimes for babies 4-12 months at 10:30 a.m., Toddler Storytime at 11:15 a.m. for ages 2-3, and Preschool Storytime at 3:30 p.m. for ages 3-6. Free, registration is requested for all series. Call Children's Librarian Marcia Elias at 328-2422.

Youth Theatre Conservatory. Registration deadline Fri., Sept. 15, for "Creating a Character" 10-11:30 a.m. Sats., Sept. 23-Oct. 28. For ages 6-9, $100. Also offered, "Monologue Magic" 9 a.m.-noon Sats., Oct. 7 and 14, ages 10-14, $45 one day, $75 both days. San Mateo Central Recreation Center, Central Park, E. 5th Ave. Offered by Peninsula Civic Light Opera. Call 579-5680.

Seniors

55 Alive class for mature drivers offered 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Weds., Sept. 13, and Fri., Sept. 15, at Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. All insurance companies must provide a premium discount to graduates. Cost is $9. You must attend both classes for DMV certification. Call 326-2025 x230.

Little Shop Sale. End of Summer Clearance at Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Fri., Sept. 15. Call 326-2025.

Little House Forum on "Speech, Language and Learning Services for Seniors," 11 a.m.-noon Weds., Sept. 13. Free. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.

Golf Workshop. Learn fundamentals, rules, etiquette and practice at afternoon workshop, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 14. Bring a golf club. Fee $14. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.

England revisited. Slide lecture series on England's West Country with Vanessa Thornton, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Fridays. On Sept. 15, Devon and Cornwall, Tintagel, Glastonbury and Exeter Cathedral. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. No fee for members. Call 326-2025.

90+ Birthdays. Avenidas celebrates birthdays of all "nonagenarians and better," 2-3:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 16, with refreshments and pianist Larry Martin. Free, open to public. 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. Call 326-5362 to reserve your space.

Travel through Japan slide show with Bob Ahrens, 1:30 p.m. Sun., Sept. 17, at Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Free, open to public. Call 326-2025.

Movies at Little House. "Tumbleweeds" 1 p.m. Mon., Sept. 18. Admission: 50 cents. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.

Readers Theater. Dave Ward Players presents old radio scripts 11:15-11:45 a.m. Weds., Sept. 20. La Comida will provide lunch for seniors at a cost of $1.75. Sign in by 10:30 a.m. for lunch. Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 856-7750.

Local history. Local author and preservation advocate Phyllis Butler will discuss "Old Santa Clara Valley: Ranchos, Roots, and Peninsula Trails" at Avenidas, 2 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 21. Free, open to public. 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto. Visit www.avenidas.org or call 326-5362.

Senior TalkLine is for seniors who feel isolated, depressed, or just want to talk. Call 327-3333 daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. This free call is a service of Family Service MidPeninsula.

Health & Fitness

Heart Forum. Fred Luskin, Ph.D., on "The Role of Religious and Spiritual Factors in Health: What a Heart Patient Needs to Know," 7 p.m. Weds., Sept. 13, Terman Community Room, A.L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, 655 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto. Free, open to the public. Call 494-1300.

Beginning Tai Chi Chuan classes offered by Redwood City Parks and Recreation. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tues., Sept. 19-Dec. 12, at 1120 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City. Call 780-7311 for fees and information.

Senior Health lecture on "How to be Heart Smart," 10:30 a.m. Weds., Sept. 20, at Redwood City Library, 1044 Middlefield. Free. Call 780-7026.

Healthy Aging conference, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 23, at the Oracle Conference Center in Redwood City. $15, includes box lunch. Call the Alliance for Aging Independently at 321-6736.

"The Immune System in Health and Disease: A Short Course for Non-Scientists," 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Sept. 23, UC Berkeley Extension Center, 1991 Broadway, Redwood City. $175. Call (510) 643-8093.

Books & Authors

Writers and readers at Kepler's. Witold Rybczynski extols the humble screwdriver in "One Good Turn," Thurs., Sept. 14. Poets Michael C. Ford and Sharon Doubiago read Fri., Sept. 15. "Best American Science Writing" with contributors, Mon., Sept. 18. John Phillip Santos' meditation on emigration, "Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation," Tues., Sept. 19. All at 7:30 p.m., all free. Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 324-4321.

Authors at Printers Inc. Author readings at 8 p.m.: "Take Me With You" by Brad Newsham, Weds., Sept. 13; "Jew Boy: A Memoir" by Alan Kaufman, Thurs., Sept. 14; "The Math Gene" by Keith Devlin, Mon., Sept. 18. Finding Your Spiritual Path reading group discusses "Generation J" with author Lisa Schiffman, 8 p.m. Tues., Sept. 19. 310 California Ave., Palo Alto. Free. Call 327-6500.

Book discussion group at Menlo Park Library meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month. Book for Weds., Sept 13, is "Women of Silk" by Gail Tsukiyama. Free. 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. Call 858-3468.

Menlo Park Library Book Fair. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. and 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sun., Sept. 16-17, in front of the Council Chambers at Laurel and Alma Sts. Written auction for special items until 11:30 a.m. Sun., oral auction at 1:30 p.m. Sun. Call 325-3001.

Home & Garden

Decorative Arts at Filoli, Weds., Sept. 13 through Thurs., Sept. 21, showcases chairs, Chinese and Japanese costumes, needlepoint, quilts and pillows. Preview gala, 6-9 p.m. Weds., Sept. 13, $150/person. Daily admission 10 a.m.-3 p.m., $15/person. Lectures on Care and Preservation of your Home Treasures, American Quilts, French Couture, English Needlework, 20th Century Chairs, and other topics at $10/person. Garden luncheons Thurs.-Sun., Sept. 14-17, $30/person. Filoli, 86 Canada Road, Woodside. Call 364-8300 x508 for program days and times.

"Eccentric Gardens of England and the USA" with Robert Kouric, sponsored by the Western Horticultural Society, 7:30 p.m. Weds., Sept. 13, Loyola School multipurpose room, 770 Berry Ave., Los Altos, off Springer. Free. Call 327-9522.

Menlo Art League presents an oil demonstration by guest artist Brigitte Curt, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 14, at the Menlo Recreation Center, 700 Alma St. Free. Call 322-0148.

Hand Weavers. Show & Tell of summer projects at first fall meeting of Black Sheep Hand Weavers Guild, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 14, First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton at Webster St., Palo Alto. Fee for guests: $5. Visit www.textilelinks.com/blacksheep or call (408) 267-8933.

Gardening classes for fall are now starting at Common Ground, 2225 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. "Double Digging and Garden Bed Preparation," 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and Bio-Intensive Economic Mini-Farming" 2-4 p.m., both on Sat., Sept. 16. Each $15. Call 328-6752.

Et Alia

Gem & Mineral Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. and Sun., Sept. 16-17, Community Activities Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City. Free. Call 589-3505.

Open Space hikes this week include "Explorer Hike" through Purisima creek Redwoods, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Weds., Sept. 13; "Autumn Bounty" on Long Ridge, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Sat., Sept. 16; "Stairways to Heaven," 6:30-9:30 p.m., Sat., Sept. 16 (reservation required); and "Fall Landbirds," 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sun., Sept. 17. Free. Call 691-2150.

Pet Loss Support Group meets 7 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 14, at the Peninsula Humane Society's facility at 12 Airport Blvd., next to Coyote Point Park in San Mateo. Free. Call 340-7022 for information.

"Italian Legacy in the Mother Lode" exhibit opens Tues., Sept. 19, runs through Feb. 25, 2001, at San Mateo County Historical Museum, 777 Hamilton, Redwood City. $2 adults, $1 seniors and children, and free for under 6. Call 299-0104.

OICW Open House and BBQ with jazz, tours of job-training center, 4-7 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 21. Free. Opportunities Industrialization Center West, 1200 O'Brien Dr., Menlo Park. RSVP: 462-6300.

"Stories on Stage" auditions, 2 or 6 p.m. Sat., Sept. 16, or 6 p.m. Sun., Sept. 17, at Peninsula Youth Theatre, 2500 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View. Prepare a short prose monologue. Performances typically fourth Fri. and Sat. every month Oct.-May. Visit www.pytnet.org or call 988-8798 for fees and information.

Breakfast Seminar on "In the Company of Women: Gender and the Organization -- Building Process in Start-Up Firms" at Tresidder Union, Stanford University, 7:15 a.m. Tues., Sept. 26. Register by Weds., Sept. 20. $40/person includes breakfast. Call 723-1995.