Calendar

Benefits

Autumn Pleasures at Filoli, 86 Canada Road, Woodside, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7. Tickets by reservation: $15 adult admission, $1 children under 12. BBQ lunch $12, child's bag lunch $5. Call 364-8300 x508.

Woodside Vaulters National Championship and World Equestrian Games bronze medal teams demonstrate, with BBQ lunch and silent auction, noon to 3 p.m. Sun., Oct. 8. 3375 Tripp Road, Woodside. Tickets: $10 adult, $5 child, include lunch. Call 473-9906 or 851-7012 for advance tickets, or buy at the gate.

Kitchen Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7. Five Palo Alto kitchens for $25. Benefits Avenidas and its services for seniors. Call 326-5362 or 322-1000.

"Viva L'Italia" festival evening of Italian food, wine, and song in support of the Congregational Concert Series, 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7, at First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, 1985 Louis Road at Embarcadero. Tickets: $30. Call 856-6662.

Cheetah Conservation Fund co-founder Laurie Marker visits the Bay Area with information and wild cats, including cheetahs. Presentation in private home in Los Altos, 1-5 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7, $100/person, children over 12 welcome. Then in Foothill College auditorium, El Monte Road at I-280, Los Altos, 10:30 a.m. Sun., Oct. 8. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children 5-12, no children under 5 allowed. Visit www.cheetah.org or call (408) 354-4035.

Linda Ellerbee speaks at YWCA's Professional Women's Luncheon Tues., Oct. 10. Registration and social hour 11-11:45, luncheon and speaker noon-1:30 p.m., book signing 1:30 p.m., all at Exhibit Hall 3, McEnery Convention Center, San Jose. Requested donation, $150 or more. Call (408) 295-4011 x216.

Children's authors including Elisa Kleven, Teri Sloat, and Jeff Savage will read and sign their books 7-9 p.m. Weds., Oct. 11, at Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos. Advance tickets $15 at Kepler's Books of Menlo Park, Linden Tree in Los Altos, and Milo's Toy Chest in San Carlos. Tickets at the door: $17. Proceeds go to Family Connections, a preschool for low-income families. Call 369-6467.

On Stage

"I Hate Hamlet" presented by Menlo Players Guild, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sun., Oct. 6, 7, 12-14, 19-21, and 2 p.m. Sun., Oct. 15, and Sat., Oct. 21. Tickets $12/$15, buy-one-get-one-free Thurs. Burgess Theatre, 601 Laurel St., Menlo Park. Call 322-3261.

"Arcadia" by Tom Stoppard offered through Oct. 21 by BusBarn Stage Company, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Shows at 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., Oct. 8, and 7 p.m. Sun., Oct. 15. Admission: $20 Fri. and Sat.; $15 Thurs. and Sun. Visit www.busbarn.org or call 941-0551.

"The Miracle Worker" plays Hillbarn Theatre through Sat., Oct. 12. Show times 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; 8 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 5. Tickets $17-20. 1285 E. Hillsdale, Foster City. Call 349-6422.

"Jesus Christ Superstar", by Andrew Lloyd Webber, 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.

One-acts at Canada College through Sun., Oct. 8, in Flex Theatre. Performances 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., Oct. 5-7, with 2 p.m. matinee Sun., Oct. 8. Canada College is just off I-280 at 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Woodside. Tickets: $10 general, $9 students and seniors, at the door or reserve by calling 306-3396.

"Die Fledermaus", Strauss' flirtatious operetta, sung in English by San Francisco Opera's touring company, Western Opera Theater, 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 6. English supertitles. Memorial Auditorium, Stanford campus on Serra St. across from Hoover Tower. Tickets: $34, $28, and $22, youths 15 and under half-price, student discounts. Visit http://livelyarts.stanford.edu or call 725-ARTS.

Western Ballet dances a new Foehringer work along with the Grand Pas de Deux from "Don Quixote" and Alonzo King's "Handel Trio." Fri. and Sat., Oct. 6 and 7, at Gunn High's Spangenberg Theatre, Arastradero at Foothill Expwy. Visit www.westernballet.org or call 903-6000 for ticket prices and times.

Los Lupenos de San Jose: Hispanic Dance and Music open the SGI Family Concert Series with free shows at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sun., Oct. 8, at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. Limited seating: first-come, first-served, the day of the concert only. Visit www.mvcpa.com or call 903-6000.

Music

Opera preview. West Bay Opera Guild previews "La Traviata," 8 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 5, at Palo Alto Cultural Center, 1313 Newell Road. Maestra Mary Chun will discuss the opera, and principal singers will present selected arias. Free. Call 253-2588.

Jazz at the Plaza. Modern jazz guitar master Mark Elf plays free concert, 6-8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 6, at City Center Plaza, Redwood City, corner of Main St. and Middlefield Road. Call 369-9365.

Vivaldi, Holst, Mozart offered by the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra at 8 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7. Spangenberg Theater on Gunn High campus, 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto. Tickets: $8, $10, at the door. Call 856-3848.

Violin and piano concert with Olivia Hajioff and Helene Wickett, 8 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7, Palo Alto Cultural Center, 1313 Newell Road. Tickets: $10 general, $8 student/senior. Call 329-2527.

Families & Kids

Community resources for families and children at "Putting Children First," 5-8 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 5. Free forum on social, health, legal and educational services. Free consultations with a family law attorney, family therapist or counselor. Complimentary food and beverages, free child-care. Simultaneous program translation in Spanish and Tagalog. Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster at El Camino Real, Redwood City. Call 599-1519.

Chess for fun children's event at the Atherton Library, #2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, 6-7:30 p.m. Weds., Oct. 4. Attendees should know the basic chess moves and be in the second grade or above. UCSF Expert Dennis Myers will teach basic rules and strategies of chess (like castling and en passant), and then all the children will have an opportunity to play chess. Free. Call 328-2422.

Oktoberfest at Little House. Families and friends are invited to enjoy the pretzels, beverages and music of Ye Olde Towne Band, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun., Oct. 8. Admission is free. The celebration continues Thurs., Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. with a Sauerbraten and Apple Strudel dinner. Tickets for the dinner are $6.50 for members, $7.50 for guests. 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.

Pony club show. The Woodside Pony Club Classic, for all levels and ages, begins at 8:30 a.m. Sun., Oct. 8. Entry fee is $12/class. Show in two arenas at the Horse Park at Woodside, on Sand Hill Road a half mile west of I-280. Call Show Secretary Sandy Hall at 747-0173.

SF's Exploratorium open on Mon., Oct. 9 (Columbus Day), special holiday hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. New exhibit Oct. 7-Jan. 1 features "The Changing Face of Women's Health." The Exploratorium is regularly open Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets range from free (children under 3) up to $9 for adults. At the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon St. Visit www.exploratorium or call (415) 563-7337.

Friday the 13th fun around Alpine Pond at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. Activities for families with kids ages 4-11. 6-10 p.m. Fri., Oct. 13. Reservations required and limited to 6 people/party. Admission: $3 each. Call 691-1200.

Seniors

Little House Forum on "Senior Arterial Health," 11 a.m.-noon Weds., Oct. 4. Free. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.

Animals of Foothills Park discussed by Rangers Michelle and Lee on Weds., Oct. 4, 11:15-11:45 a.m., during Cubberley Community Center's weekly Senior Friendship Day. La Comida provides $1.75 lunch for seniors. Sign in by 10:30 a.m. for lunch. 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 856-7750.

50 Plus Fitness Association sponsors free 3-hour Hike Sat., Oct. 7, meet at 7:45 a.m. at Windy Hill parking lot, set out at 8 a.m. For more information, visit www.50plus.org or call 323-6160.

Songs on Sunday. The Grace Notes Music Club sings at 1:30 p.m. Sun., Oct. 8, at Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Free. Call 326-2025.

Movies at Little House at 1 p.m. "My Dog Skip," Thurs., Oct. 5. "The Cradle Will Rock," Mon., Oct. 9. Admission: 50 cents. Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park. Call 326-2025.

Books & Authors

Writers and readers at Kepler's. Author visits at 7:30 p.m.: Mark Salzman, "Lying Awake," Weds., Oct. 4; Michael Chabon, "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay," Thurs., Oct. 5; Susan Vreeland, "Girl in Hyacinth Blue," Fri., Oct. 6; Anne Perry, "Slaves of Obsession," Tues., Oct. 10. Also, at 3 p.m. Sun., Oct. 8, Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson, "Dune: House Harkonnen." Spanish Book Group discusses "Los de abajo" by Mariano Azuela at 7:30 p.m. Mon., Oct. 9. All free. Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 324-4321.

Authors at Printers Inc. Open mike poetry reading, 7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 5. Book Group discusses Kazuo Ishiguro's "Remains of the Day," 7:30 p.m. Weds., Oct. 4. Author Readings at 8 p.m.: Linda Rae Hermann, "The Kennedy Legacy: It's Time to Fulfill It," Weds., Oct. 4; Jane Lazarre, "Beyond the Whiteness of Whiteness," Tues., Oct. 10. 310 California Ave., Palo Alto. Free. Call 327-6500.

Francisco X. Alarcon, Chicano poet and educator, reads at the Waverley Writers meeting 7:30-10 p.m. Fri., Oct. 6. Free. He will lead a workshop on Sat., Oct. 7. Friends Meeting House, 957 Colorado, Palo Alto. Call 424-9877.

Book discussion group at Menlo Park Library meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month. Book for Weds., Oct. 11, is "Debt to Pleasure" by John Lanchester. Free. 800 Alma St., Menlo Park. Call 858-3468.

Lectures & Classes

Elders of color and strategies for long-term care will be discussed by Gwen Yeo, Ph.D., executive director of the California Council on Gerontology and Geriatics, noon-1 p.m. Weds., Oct. 4, in the Cypress Room, Tresidder Union, Stanford. Free and open to the public. Call 723-1995.

Gertrude Atherton. A three-hour course on the life and writings of this famous Peninsula author, 9 a.m.-noon Sat., Oct. 7, at Canada College, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City. Course code C800Y08, fee $29. Register by calling 574-6149.

Thomas Merton's writings on ecumenical spirituality inspire a weekend program at St. Ann Chapel, 541 Melville Ave., Palo Alto. Dr. Anthony T. Padovano will discuss Merton's life and work, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 6, and lead a retreat, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7, including a screening of "Winter Rain," Dr. Padovano's play about Merton. Fee: $35 for the weekend, $15 Fri. only, $20 Sat. only. Bring a bag lunch. Call 960-0995.

Knee health. Sports medicine specialist Donald R. Bunce, M.D., discusses "New Ideas for Old Knees," 7 p.m. Tues., Oct. 10, at the Pacific Athletic Club, 200 Redwood Shores Parkway, Redwood Shores. Admission: $10 general, $5 Fifty-Plus Fitness Association or Pacific Athletic Club members, free for Fifty-Plus Lifetime members. Call 323-6160.

Homes and Gardens

"Electrifying the household: boon or bane?" Diane Claerbout will discuss the effects of electricity in the home at 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 5, at the Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto. Free for members, $5 non-members. Visit www.moah.org, or call 321-1004.

Gardening class at Common Ground, 2225 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. "Still Time to Plant," 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7. Fee $15. Call 328-6752.

Bulb clinic 1-3 p.m. Sun., Oct. 8, at Roger Reynolds Nursery, 133 Encinal Ave., Menlo Park, with Steve van Dongen of the Langeveld Bulb Company. Also, bulb layering and dish garden planting with Darcee Rogers of Kellogg/Cascade, 1-5 p.m. Bulbs and containers for sale, answers are free. Call 323-5612.

Et Alia

Los Altos Fall Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. and Sun., Oct. 7-8, South Parking Plaza between First St. and San Antonio Road. Chef's Galley with cooking demonstrations, classic car show, Children's Alley, scarecrow contest, arts and crafts, food and drink. Free admission and parking. Call 948-1455.

Open Space hikes. Explorer hike at Duvenek Windmill Pasture, 10:45 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Weds., Oct. 4. Hike up Windy Hill to view "October Above Portola Valley," 8:30-11:30 a.m., or take "A Walk on the Ridge" at Long Ridge, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Thurs., Oct. 5. Bring your baby for an easy stroll to see "Farm Babies" at Rancho San Antonio, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 10. All free. Call 691-2150.

Courts and players sought by Woodside Recreation Committee for its next S.W.A.T. (somewhat awful tennis) tournament Sat., Oct. 14. Mixed doubles matches begin at 8 a.m. at Woodside Elementary School, 3195 Woodside Road. Blind matches will be sent to other courts in the area. Deadline for entering is Tues., Oct. 10. Fee is $40 for Woodside residents, $45 for non-residents, and $20 for the awards dinner only. Call 851-3171 or 851-1482.

Volunteer opportunities through Community Impact. Serve meals at St. Anthony de Padua, 3500 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sat., Oct. 7, or at Bread of Life, 1852 Bay Road at University Ave., East Palo Alto, 1:30-5 p.m. Sun., Oct. 8. Visit www.CommunityImpact.org or call 965-0242.