Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Calendar

Visit AlmanacNews.com/calendar

for more calendar listings

Special Events

Memorial for Coach Ben Parks The life of Coach Ben Parks will be celebrated Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Menlo Atherton High School.

Book Swap and Ice Cream Social The Friends of the Portola Valley Library will be hosting a book swap and ice-cream social. Bring a book to swap and get a treat. This event will be held outdoors, weather permitting. Sept. 14, 3-4:30 p.m. Portola Valley, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-851-0560. www.smcl.org/en/content/portola-valley

On Stage

Magician David Gerard performs a mix of psychology, misdirection, magic and showmanship. Sept. 22-23, 8-9:30 p.m. $15. The Dragon Theater, 535 Alma St., Palo Alto. Call 650-516-7459.

'Sense and Sensibility' Tue.-Wed.: 7:30 p.m.; Thu.-Fri.: 8 p.m.; Sat.: 2 p.m., 8 p.m.; Sun: 2 p.m., 7 p.m. Through Sept. 18, $19-$69. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. theatreworks.org

Talks/Authors

'Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America's Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda' Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker of The New York Times tell the story of how a group of analysts within the military, at spy agencies, and in law enforcement has fashioned an innovative and effective new strategy to fight terrorism, unbeknownst to most Americans. Sept. 18, 2 p.m. Free to members. Admission requires purchase of event book or $10 gift card. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers.com

'Artists & the Creative Process: Art in Motion' This lecture from Djerassi Program resident artists at the Palo Alto Children's Theatre features Andee Scott (choreographer, Austin) and Simon Zoric (media artist, Australia). Reservations required for this free event. Sept. 19, 7 p.m. Free. Palo Alto Children's Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-747-1250. www.djerassi.org

'Inventors Teach You How To Sell Product Ideas' Inventors Steve Fisher and Tami Galt offer tips on selling inventions to investors. Sept. 17, 9:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $30. Tech Shop, 120 Independence Drive, Menlo Park. Call 650-964-1576. www.inventorsalliance.org

'The Dolphin in the Mirror: Exploring Dolphin Minds and Saving Dolphin Lives' Diana Reiss presents her new book on dolphin intelligence Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m. Free to members. General admission requires purchase of event book or $10 gift card. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers.com

Local author Blake Charlton presents his new novel, "Spellbound." Sept. 16, 7 p.m. Members free. Admission requires purchase of event book or $10 gift card. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.

Josh Rolnick presents his new book, "Pulp and Paper," Sept. 15, 7 p.m. Free to members. General admission requires purchase of event book or $10 gift card. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.

Local author Patricia J. Machmiller's "Autumn Loneliness" is a compilation of 300 letters translated from the Japanese, letters written by a married couple, deeply in love and separated by a crisis in their life in 1967. These two people were destined to become the founders of the Yuki Teikei Haiku Society in San Jose. Sept. 20, 7 p.m. Members get in free. General admission requires purchase of event book or $10 gift card. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers.com

William Carter presents a new book of photographs and autobiographical text. Sept. 14, 7 p.m. Free to members. Admission requires purchase of event book or $10 gift card. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers.com

Classes/Workshops

'Love & Logic Parenting Class' Instructor Janada Clark teaches parenting tips on remaining calm and dealing with issues. Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. $150. Encinal School TERC room, 181 Encinal Ave., Atherton. Call 650-400-4798. www.janadaclark.com

Free Portrait Painting Demonstration The public is invited to a free painting demonstration by local painter Decker Walker. He will be demonstrating portrait painting in oil with a live model. Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-noon. Free. Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-321-0220. www.portolaartgallery.com

Concerts

'Mozart & Haydn: A Tale of Two Cities' Works of Mozart and Haydn will be performed. Sept. 22, 8-10 p.m. $90, $77, $64, $51, $25. The Center for Performing Arts, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton. Call 415-252-1288. www.philharmonia.org

Joel The Band, a tribute to Billy Joel, performs Sept. 16, 6-8 p.m. Free. Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City.

Pianist Thomas Schultz will perform a program including music by Beethoven, Schumann, Busoni and Hyo-shin Na. Sept. 17, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $25-$15. St. Bede's Episcopal Church, 2650 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park. Call 650-854-6555. stbedesmenlopark.org

Kids & Families

'Teddy Bear Picnic and Toy Health Check' Kids are invited to bring a teddy or favorite stuffed friend for a storytime, toy health check and picnic. All stuffed friends will receive a Certificate of Health. Sept. 21, 3-4 p.m. Portola Valley Library, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. Call 650-851-0560. smcl.org

Dancing Story Time Gerald the giraffe just wants to dance but his long, spindly legs buckle whenever he starts to boogie. That is until he finds his own sweet tune and then there is no stopping him. Sept. 18, 11:30 a.m. Free. Kepler's, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Call 650-324-4321. www.keplers.com

Preschool Storytime Songs, stories and activities for kids ages 3-5. Mondays, 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Free. Atherton Library, 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane, Atherton. Call 650-328-2422. www.smcl.org

Et Alia

Monday Night Big Band The College of San Mateo Monday Night Big Band returns to Oak City Bar & Grill on Sept. 19, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Mike Galisatus conducts this group of professional musicians. No cover charge. 1029 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.

CA Coastal Cleanup Join volunteers at Bedwell-Bayfront Park. Bring gloves, a filled water bottle and buckets for debris collection. Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-noon.. Free. Bedwell-Bayfront Park, Marsh Road @ Bayfront Expwy, Menlo Park. Call 650-814-3412. www.flowstobay.org

2011 Coastal Clean-up Day on Redwood Creek (Redwood City) Save The Bay is co-sponsoring this creek-cleanup event with Redwood City. Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Directions will be provided upon registration., Redwood City. Call 510-452-9261 ext. 109. www.saveSFbay.org/volunteer

'Date Night' film Phil and Claire Foster are a suburban couple slogging through their daily lives. But a case of mistaken identity sets off an outrageous chain of events. Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m. Free. Courthouse Square, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City.