Home Front Home Front (February 11, 2005)

INVEST IN REAL ESTATE? . . . Coldwell Banker agent Dianne Vernon and Catherine Ballantyne, a senior financial specialist, will offer a real estate investment seminar tomorrow, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Absolute Mortgage Banking, 550 California Ave., Palo Alto. Focus of the free seminar is an economic forecast of Palo Alto real estate and how to leverage current investments for higher rates of return. Walk-ins welcome, but RSVP to assure space by calling (650) 493-7700, ext. 125.

GIFTS OF THE WINTER GARDEN . . . Filoli will kick off its season with a celebration Tuesday, Feb. 15 through Saturday, Feb. 19, which features tours and camellia-pruning demonstrations, tea ceremonies, lectures, display of French soft-paste porcelain and an exhibition of Asian brush painting and decorative arts. Visit www.filoli.org for the full schedule of events, or call (650) 364-8300, ext. 508.

ON JAPANESE GARDENS . . . Jack Tomlinson, who worked with the Japanese architect on the master plan for the Hakone Garden in Saratoga, will talk about "Japanese Gardens: History and Design" at the next meeting of the De Anza Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. The meeting is held in Room 12 of the Hillview Community Center, 997 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Visitors are welcome. For information, visit www.deanza-ars.com.

DREAM HOMES . . . Douglas Dolezal will talk about "Extraordinary Spaces: Creating the Home of Your Dreams" on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6-8 p.m. at Miller/Dolezal, 3000 Alpine Road, Portola Valley. Space is limited; RSVP to (650) 529-2700, or e-mail jmurphy@millerdolezal.com. The lecture is sponsored by F. Schumacher & Co., Bloomingdale's, Cowtan and Tout and Wroolie & Company.

ATTN: DO-IT-YOURSELFERS . . . Home Depot's February free classes include: Power Tools: You Can Use a Miter Saw to Cut Molding and Trim, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.; You Can Install Easy Flooring Solutions, Thursdays, 7 p.m.; You Can Install a Faucet, Fridays, 7 p.m.; You Can Update Your Countertops and Cabinets, Saturdays, 10 a.m.; You Can Measure, Cut and Install Molding and Trim, Saturdays, 2 p.m.; and You Can Have Fun with Color and Faux, Sundays, 2 p.m. Drop-in classes include hands-on practice sessions. Home Depot is located at 1781 E Bayshore Road, East Palo Alto. For information, call (650) 462-6800.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.