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By Rebecca Wallace

About this blog: I grew up in Menlo Park and have long been involved with both local journalism and local theater. After starting my career as an editorial intern with The Almanac, I was a staff reporter for the Almanac and the San Mateo County Ti...  (More)

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Why October is the best

Uploaded: Oct 10, 2013
June is perfect for writing about outdoor concerts. In January, we get to rate the top hits and lowliest stinkers of the past year's movies. December's dandy if you like Britten.

But October. October is aces here on the A&E desk. All the arts groups have shaken off the summer sleepies, and calendars are full of concerts, exhibits, film festivals, random people playing the kazoo. It's a scientific fact that kazoos sound the best in October.

And Halloween is my all-time favorite holiday. (Secret: You will immediately get my attention with a Halloween press release, even in June.)

Hence, my listicle:

The Top Ten Reasons Why October Is The Best Month on the Arts Desk

1. There are always plant sales. People love fall plants. That means I get to type words like sisyrinchium and ceanothus, and advise readers to go to cool places like Common Ground and Hidden Villa and Foothill. Look, Mom. I bought you a mimulus.

2. Weather cooling off, time for quilts. CSMA is about to open an exhibit of quilts made by people at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View who were learning to stitch while waiting to find a job. Naomi Zamir started the project as a way to help people practice their English and ended up with an art exhibit.

3. Weather still warm, time for opera outside. Bring on the simulcast of San Francisco Opera's "Falstaff," people of Stanford Live. And expect crowds at Frost Amphitheater.

4. Press releases with borders of clip-art candy corn.

5. Restaurant reviews with pictures of soup.

6. Plays with names like "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and Takes the Cake." Well played, Peninsula Youth Theatre.

7. The pepper trees turning red here on Cambridge Ave. Green-and-white striped pumpkins at Mollie Stone's. Subway's seasonal veggie footlong: The Brocctober. (I made up the last one.)

8. Bluegrass and fruit pie. Redwood Bluegrass Associates is having twins on Oct. 26. Yep, you heard that. The concert season starts with an evening of the Canote Brothers, a Seattle duo playing old-time music replete with fiddle, banjo, buitar and ukulele. RBA puts on shows nearly every month in Mountain View, always with pie.

9. Squash.

10. I've got two more months to practice my high C until sing-along "Messiah" season. See you soon at MemChu and the MVCPA.
Democracy.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by T. Biedrzycki, a resident of College Terrace,
on Oct 11, 2013 at 10:53 am

Love the new look for the blog Rebecca! Congrats and keep it up -- thanks for all you do. I know it is not arts specifically, but as far as an event, I'm wondering if you could detail out where the best local pumpkin patches are to take kids?


Posted by T. Biedrzycki, a resident of College Terrace,
on Oct 11, 2013 at 10:54 am

Love the new look for the blog Rebecca! Congrats and keep it up -- thanks for all you do. I know it is not arts specifically, but as far as an event, I'm wondering if you could detail out where the best local pumpkin patches are to take kids?


Posted by Rebecca Wallace, a Palo Alto Online blogger,
on Oct 11, 2013 at 10:57 am

Rebecca Wallace is a registered user.

Thanks very much, T.! As it happens, I'm working on a story about local Halloween events that should be published soon. So glad you're enjoying our new website.


Posted by Anita Felicelli, a resident of Rex Manor,
on Oct 13, 2013 at 7:48 pm

Hi Rebecca,
Love #7 and #8. My husband is a fan of bluegrass and I'm a fan of pie - we'll have to see about going to the Canute Brothers.


Posted by Rebecca Wallace, arts & entertainment editor of the Palo Alto Weekly,
on Oct 14, 2013 at 8:45 am

Rebecca Wallace is a registered user.

Thanks, Anita! Two great things that go great together. Hey, that could refer to both bluegrass & pie, and to the brothers. :)


Posted by anne, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood,
on Oct 15, 2013 at 9:39 pm

@Anita,
The pie at RBA concerts is a reason to attend all on its own!


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