Weekend Preview Weekend Preview (October 12, 2005)

THURSDAY

"Cloud 9," a play by Caryl Churchill, opens tonight at the Pear Avenue Theatre, presented by Dragon Productions and Theatre Q. The play moves from 19th-century Africa to 20th-century England, with each actor playing male and female roles. Opening night tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors; other nights cost $15/$10. The play runs through Oct. 30 at 1220 Pear Ave., Unit K, in Mountain View. Call (650) 493-2006 or go to www.dragonproductions.net.

The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch celebrates its tenth anniversary this year at the Palo Alto Art Center at 1313 Newell Road. About 5,000 glass pumpkins created by 30 California artists are on display outside in the grass at the center this week, and they go on sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Glass-blowing demonstrations will take place throughout the week. There will also be a pre-sale cocktail party from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday; tickets are $250 per couple. Call (650) 329-2366 or go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/artcenter.

The Mohr Gallery at the Community School of Music and Arts is displaying installations, paintings, prints and ceramics by Lori Coan, Bryn Pennington and Hua Zhang through November. The gallery is at 203 San Antonio Circle in Mountain View and is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Call (650) 917-6800 or go to www.arts4all.org.

"Construction Toys in Motion" is the title of a current exhibit at the Museum of American Heritage, showing an array of metal erector set toys. The museum is at 351 Homer Ave. in Palo Alto and open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (650) 321-1004 or go to www.moah.org.

FRIDAY

A benefit movie premiere of "The Californians," a new romantic comedy starring Noah Wyle and Illeana Douglas, is set for 7 p.m. at Spangenberg Theatre at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. Filmmakers Jonathan Parker and Catherine Di Napoli will host a question-and-answer period after the film. The $25 tickets for the premiere, which was organized by Corte Madera School in Portola Valley, include popcorn and a soda and benefit Trust in Education, a nonprofit group aiding villagers in Lalander, Afghanistan. For more information, call (650) 851-4545 or go to www.trustineducation.org.

Cheryl Battiato's paintings and prints will get the royal treatment with a reception tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Institute for Research on Women and Gender in Serra House, 556 Salvatierra Walk, Stanford University. The exhibit of her work runs through Jan. 11, and the gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (408) 297-8348 or email ccbatt@yahoo.com for more information.

"The Magic Flute" opens West Bay Opera's 50th anniversary season tonight at 8 p.m. at the Lucie Stern Theatre at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. The production runs through Oct. 23, with 8 p.m. performances on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees. Tickets are $75 on opening night and $50 on other days, with youth tickets at half-price. Call (650) 424-9999 or go to www.wbopera.org.

"The Power of Nightmares," a 180-minute film produced by the BBC, will be shown at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 505 E. Charleston Road in Palo Alto. The movie argues that the concept that we are being menaced by an organized terrorist network is a myth, and that politicians are building their power on that myth. Suggested donation is $5 to $10, and the film will be followed by a discussion. Call (650) 326-8837 or go to www.peaceandjustice.org.

A sidewalk fine art and crafts festival is planned for today and Saturday in downtown Menlo Park, along Santa Cruz Avenue just off El Camino Real. Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, the ninth annual festival includes Zen-inspired collages, jewelry, photography, wood sculptures and paintings. Artists will be on hand. Call (650) 325-2818 or go to www.pacificfinearts.com.

SATURDAY

Between Waters Gallery celebrates its first anniversary at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. There will be a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. for Los Altos Hills painter Nancie Crowley, Menlo Park artist Steve Finch, who makes vessels from alabaster and sandstone; and Los Altos artist Sally Shaps, who creates jewelry. Allied Arts is at 75 Arbor Road. Call (650) 323-6362 or go to www.betweenwatersgallery.com.

TOPAZ, an ensemble of musicians combining classical, chamber, contemporary and tango genres, will give a 7:30 p.m. concert to benefit the outreach programs at All Saints' Episcopal Church. The event is at the church at 555 Waverley St. in Palo Alto, and its program will include "Two Tangos" for flute and strings by Astor Piazzolla and the chamber jazz work "Gracias a Dios!" by TOPAZ co-founder and violist Mimi Dye. A reception with the artists will follow the concert. Tickets are $25 at the door. Call (650) 380-0962 or go to www.topazmusic.org.

The Book Arts Jam includes a book arts exhibition, panels and discussions on how artists create books, demonstrations in such media as leather, paste paper and printmaking; and hands-on activities. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. Go to www.bookartsjam.org.

"Anything Goes!" is a 6 p.m. event raising money for TheatreWorks -- with the help of ornate costumes ranging from Grecian goddess outfits to cancan dancers' getups. Besides attending a cocktail hour and sit-down dinner, guests will also choose an outfit from TheatreWorks' huge costume shop to wear that evening. The event is in the company's scene shop at 1110 Hamilton Court in Menlo Park. Individual tickets are $250 to $500, and tables are $2,500 to $5,000. Call (650) 463-7152 or email sarah@theatreworks.org.

SUNDAY

The St. Lawrence String Quartet plays the first of three concerts at Stanford Lively Arts in Dinkelspiel Auditorium at 2:30 p.m. The program includes Debussy's "Quartet in G Minor" and Osvaldo Golijov's "Yiddishbbuk," a reflection on the Holocaust. Tickets are $44/$40 for adults and $22/$20 for Stanford students. Call (650) 725-ARTS or go to livelyarts.stanford.edu.

The Andyland Band offers up finger plays, sing-alongs and dance for children at the Community School of Music and Arts at 230 San Antonio Circle in Mountain View. The 2 p.m. concert is intended for very young children, and the 4 p.m. show is for school-aged kids who can sit through a one-hour concert. The events are free. Call (650) 917-6800 or go to www.arts4all.org.

ART
Using vintage steel dollhouses and other metal materials, artist Harriete Estel Berman has created towers of teacups, fanciful kitchen appliances and a sculpture of 32,400 blades of metal "grass."

MUSIC
"Ayre," a song cycle woven from 15th-century Spanish folk tunes by composer Osvaldo Golijov, comes to Stanford Lively Arts on Oct. 23.

MOVIES
Reviews of "Elizabethtown," "Domino," "Good Night and Good Luck" and "The War Within."

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