Worth a Look
MUSIC

Sopranos Lea Suzanne McIntosh and Margaret Genovese, mezzo soprano Sally Porter Munro and accompanist Marcie Stapp are performing at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts at 500 Castro St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

Call (650) 903-6000 or go to www.mvcpa.com.

West Bay Opera's birthday party

It's the 50th anniversary for Palo Alto's West Bay Opera, and the organization is celebrating this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At the free party, held in the parking lot of the Elks Lodge at 4249 El Camino Real in Palo Alto, there will be a hedge maze, exhibits, and operatic performances. A children's performance of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" is set for 11:30, and familiar arias will be sung at 12:30 p.m.

The company's season begins Oct. 14 with "The Magic Flute." For more information, call (650) 424-9999 or go to www.WBOpera.org.

STREET FAIR

'To Life!'

The mix of performers includes the Jewish rap group the Original Jewish Gangsters, the choral group HaShirim, and the "Jewish American Idol" singing competition for kids ages 6 through 17. And then there's the food.

The annual "To Life!" Jewish cultural street festival comes to California Avenue in Palo Alto this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., bringing everything from falafel to fine art to traditional dance.

More information is at www.ToLifeFestival.org.

ART

Clay and photography

Barbara Brown's "Clay, Water & Stone" will keep company with Romain "Ago" Agostini's "Greetings from Anywhere" at an exhibit opening Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Gallery House, 320 California Ave., Palo Alto.

Brown's work includes ceramic vases, wall tiles, water holders and bamboo hangers for home or garden, while Agostini will show travel and landscape photos.

The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call (650) 326-1668 or go to www.galleryhouse2.com.

THEATER

"The Night of the Iguana"

Even with a small theater, the industrious Pear Avenue Theatre folks have managed to create a verandah in the Mexican rain forest on stage. This will come in handy when the Tennessee Williams classic "The Night of the Iguana" opens at 8 p.m. this Friday.

The show runs through Oct. 2 at the theater at 1220 Pear Ave., Unit K, in Mountain View. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $10 to $25.

For more information, call (650) 254-1148 or go to www.thepear.org.

"I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"

Theater-goers may let out a rueful chuckle of recognition when watching Palo Alto Players' production of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," which opens Saturday night after a Friday preview performance.

The musical, with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts, looks at the rocky road of relationships, including agonizing first dates, heartbreaking bridesmaid dresses, and video dating.

Show times are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., through Oct. 2. The performances are at the Lucie Stern Theatre at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, and tickets range from $18 to $29. Call (650) 329-0891 or go to www.paplayers.org.

FAMILY

Children's storytelling

On Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m., Char Pribuss, the founder of the nonprofit group Paintbrush Diplomacy, will tell children's stories from around the world and talk about her experiences with kids and art in many countries.

There will also be children's art activities and art and baked goods for sale at the event, which takes place at the United Nations Association Gift Shop at 552 Emerson St. in Palo Alto.

For more information, go to www.paintbrushdiplomacy.org.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.