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Publisher: William S. Johnson Editor: Jocelyn Dong Holiday Spirit Editor: Linda Taaffe Art Director: Kristin Brown Writers: Alexandria Cavallaro and Fiona Kelliher Photographers: Michelle Le and Veronica Weber Vice President Sales/Marketing: Tom Zahiralis Marketing and Creative Director: INSIDEINSIDE THISTHIS ISSUEISSSUE Shannon Corey Advertising Sales: Elaine Clark, Connie Cotton, 7 GOING SHOPPING? Rosemary Lewkowitz, VK Moudgalya, Don’t forget your smartphone Ken Sorensen and Caitlin Wolf 16 SWEET! CONTACT US Pros share dessert recipes Embarcadero Media: The Almanac, Mountain View Voice, Palo Alto Weekly PARTY MAKEOVER 21 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306 Ring in the season with a private 650-223-6500 tasting party AlmanacNews.com, MountainViewOnline.com, PaloAltoOnline.com 27 HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS ©2017 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. A local’s guide to special events Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

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6 Holiday Spirit 2017 Courtesy of Quattro Courtesy

Piamonte Sunrise Sorbet.

Chefs from Madera, Quattro and Simmer + Sauce Sweet! share their favorite holiday dessert recipes

by Fiona Kelliher dumplings and jams — but at work, it’s all about essert always wins during the “evoking the feeling of holidays, whether you’re serving a homestyle” while staying Dhomey favorite or an adventurous true to Quattro’s Italian new dish. We spoke with local chefs from roots. The chef graduated Menlo Park’s Michelin-starred Madera from the Baking and Pas- restaurant, popular foodie blog Simmer + try Arts program at John- Eric Keppler Sauce and the Four Seasons’ Quattro Res- son and Wales University taurant for their favorite seasonal dessert in Rhode Island and previously worked as recipes. executive pastry chef at La Patisserie in Cupertino. In the restaurant, his Piamonte ERIC KEPPLER, QUATTRO Sunrise dessert includes a chocolate hazelnut cream, hazelnut crumb and orange Chef Eric Keppler, executive pastry chef reduction sauce. “The fall flavors, for me at the Four Seasons’ Quattro Restaurant in being orange, nuts and chocolate, just East Palo Alto, has a soft spot for wintry scream fall and cozying up here while the classics. After growing up in Pennsylva- nia, the holidays make him crave apple Continued on page 8

Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 7 Continued from page 7 special thing to have that relationship with farms nearby,” he said. His apple cold comes in. It’s just that whole seasonal tart tatin is a “classical representation” of vibe,” Keppler said. the typical apple tart. “Try it with differ- Piamonte Sunrise Sorbet ent apples to make it sweeter or tarter,” he said. • 1 1/2 cups mandarin orange juice • 1/4 cup white granulated sugar Apple Tart Tatin • 1 1/2 teaspoons corn syrup BASE: • 1/2 teaspoon Cointreau (orange liqueur) • 1 sheet puff pastry • powdered sugar In a small pot over medium, heat half of the orange juice with sugar and corn syrup until sugars dissolve. Remove from Bake a 10-inch circle of defrosted puff pas- heat and add remaining juice and Coin- try for 10 minutes at 380 F. Place parch- treau. Chill until completely cooled, and ment paper on top, layer a sheet pan on pour mixture into ice cream maker. Pro- the paper and press down to flatten. Bake cess and store in freezer for 4-6 hours. 20 more minutes with the sheet pan cover- ing the pastry. Remove the sheet pan and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. Let HYNN YAM, MADERA cool, coat with powdered sugar, and bake Hynn Yam, executive at 500 F for 4-7 minutes to caramelize. pastry chef at Madera, APPLE TATIN: says that his interna- • 3 lbs. (about six) golden delicious apples tional background helps (or other baking apple) him approach the craft • lemon juice as needed “in a globally inclusive • 2 1/2 cups sugar way.” After stints at Hong Kong’s three Michelin- Hynn Yam • 3 1/2 cups hot water star L’Atelier de JoÎl Ro- • 2 vanilla beans buchon and Swine Hotel, he eventually • 2 cinnamon sticks moved on to the Rosewood Hotel Beijing • 1/2 cup sugar and oversaw six restaurants and two • 5 teaspoons pectin NH banquet halls. Now at the Silicon Val- ley Rosewood, he finds that the farm- Peel and dice apples into 1/2-inch cubes ers’ markets are hard to beat. “It’s a very and place into water and lemon juice. Heat sugar, stirring constantly, until dark golden. Add hot water, vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks. Add apple cubes and simmer for about 15 minutes or until apples are tender. Let cool, remove vanilla and cinnamon and strain out caramel mixture. Mix sugar and pectin together and toss with strained apples. Place apples into a 9-inch greased cake pan. Bake for about 15-18 minutes at 340 F.

Continued on page 13

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12 Holiday Spirit 2017 Courtesy ofCourtesy Andrea Potischam

Sweet potato tart.

Continued from page 8 ideas to home cooks and document her favorite CRUMBLE: recipes despite having • 1 stick butter at room temperature left the formal business. • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar This holiday season, Po- • 1 cup cake or all-purpose flour tischman will be making a sweet potato tart Andrea Mix all ingredients together until crumbly. instead of the classic Potischman Bake at 350 F until golden brown. pumpkin pie. Sweet po- Place apple mixture on top of puff pastry tato filling, she said, “is a flavorful, slight- base and toss crumble on top. ly less sweet, and subtle alternative that is actually loaded with protein and fiber.” ANDREA POTISCHMAN, Sweet Potato Tart SIMMER + SAUCE DOUGH: After training at the French Culinary • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour Institute and working at New York estab- • 2 sticks unsalted butter, cold, diced lishments like Montrachet and the Centu- • 2 tablespoons sugar ry Club, Andrea Potischman brought her • 1/4-1/2 cup ice water expertise to Menlo Park, where she moved • dash of salt with her family in 2009. Her food blog Simmer + Sauce aims to provide quality Continued on page 14

Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 13 Continued from page 13 until mealy. Add the water in a steady stream until the dough comes togeth- FILLING: er. Form the dough into a round disk • 2-3 large sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 and refrigerate in plastic wrap for 30 cups cooked and puréed) minutes. On floured surface, roll into • 1 cup light brown sugar a 14-inch round and press into a 10- • 3 eggs inch tart pan. Refrigerate the tart shell • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream for 15 more minutes. Peel cooled pota- • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract toes and puree for about 1 minute un- • 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon til smooth. Combine the sugar, eggs, • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg cream, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, • 1/4 teaspoon salt salt and mace in mixing bowl. Whisk in about 1 1/2 cups of sweet potato • pinch of mace puree. To assemble, place the chilled tart shell on a baking sheet and pour Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line a bak- the filling into the shell. Bake for 15 ing sheet with aluminum foil. Scrub minutes. Reduce the temperature to the sweet potatoes and use knife to 350 degrees F and bake until the fill- pierce in several places. Wrap them ing is firm and slightly puffed around in aluminum foil and bake for 45-60 the edges, about 35-40 minutes. Cool minutes until soft. Pulse flour, sug- completely before slicing. Q ar, salt and butter in food processor

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394 State St. 5853 Winﬁeld Blvd. Los Altos San Jose 650-559-8281 408-281-3219 Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 15 Going shopping? Don’t forget your smartphone

Retailers turn to tech to give shoppers a customized in-store experience

by Alexandria Cavallaro 16 Holiday Spirit 2017 magine venturing down- Simon Mobile App sends cou- town or to the mall this hol- pons, sales alerts and other re- Iiday shopping season with- wards to users’ mobile phones out having to stand in checkout as they shop. It rewards them lines, wait for a sales associate with loyalty points, which can or wander the aisles hunting for be used for shopping discounts a particular item. Your dressing and other perks, just for visiting. room is ready before you arrive, The 1.4-million-square-foot a personal shopper is waiting to outdoor mall and its retailers assist you, and you’re automati- offer an array of apps that es- cally eligible for discounts just sentially turn your smartphone for walking through the door. into a personal in-store shop- These conveniences may seem ping assistant that can help you like a dream but are actually a with everything from gift ideas reality in Palo Alto. to locating an item and scanning More and more, local retailers its price to having it delivered to of all sizes are turning to digi- your home. The center and its tally based services like con- retailers are consistently updat- cierge bots, smart mirrors and ing services as new technology app-based loyalty programs to becomes available. give shoppers a personalized in- “We work really hard to have store experience with many of a seamless experience between the same conveniences of online our digital and physical of- shopping. ferings,” said Rachel Roberts, Stanford Shopping Center direc- ‘CUSTOMIZED’ SHOPPING tor of marketing and business development. Studies show that 82 percent of shoppers use their phones to research products, compare ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE prices and download coupons The mall recently launched a while shopping in a physical new program that uses artificial store, and digital interactions intelligence to assist shoppers: now influence 56 cents of every the “Concierge Bot.” The mo- dollar spent in brick-and-mortar bile program “talks” to shop- stores, according to a 2016 re- pers through a chatbot on Face- port from Deloitte Consulting. book Messenger. Through their Stanford Shopping Center’s smartphones, users can ask the push to blend the digital and bot about store hours, special traditional in-store shopping events and daily promotions. experience is immediately ap- The bot can even provide gift or parent as soon as shoppers walk into the center: The mall’s Continued on page 18

Shoppers at Neiman Marcus can use the department store’s “Memory Mirrors” to take 360-degree videos of themselves in various outfits that can be saved to their phones for side-by-side comparisons. Courtesy of MemoMi Labs.

Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 17 Continued from page 17 SMART MIRRORS outfit recommendations based on a user’s Neiman Marcus’ mobile app takes com- history and style preferences. For now, the parison shopping to a new level. Shoppers bot can be used primarily only to answer are able to model items in a “Memory Mir- questions, but according to a press release ror,” which takes 360-degree videos that from mall owner Simon Property Group, can be saved to their phones for side-by- more “smart” capabilities will be added in side comparisons. The technology rolled coming months so that, by next season, into dressing rooms as a pilot program in users might be able to ask their bots to 2015 and expanded to the cosmetics de- assist them during more steps of the shop- partment last year. ping process, such as finding what stores And for those who prefer to interact carry a specific brand or item. with an actual store employee, Neiman Marcus’ app lets customers text, email or video chat with the sales associate of their RESERVE, SCAN, PURCHASE AND TRACK choosing from a mobile directory that lists Stanford’s four big department stores — employees by department and languages Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and spoken. Neiman Marcus — are among the mall’s retailers that have their own in-store apps. Users can bypass sale associates and use GIFT DATABASES their phones as scanners to find promo- It’s not just the big chain stores that are tions, prices, availability, and size and turning to tech, either. Leaf & Petal bou- color options while they shop the aisles. tique on California Avenue and De Novo Despite some glitches, shoppers have giv- Fine Contemporary Jewelry on University en these apps good reviews overall. Avenue are among the smaller retailers The stores are continuously updating that are using digital databases to help and improving these apps. Nordstrom, customers find the perfect gift. for example, added its Reserve Online & Both stores maintain wishlists and Try In Store pilot program at Stanford in shopping histories that include customer August. Now, shoppers can reserve cloth- information like style preferences and ing items via their phones, and within two sizes. hours, the store will send a text notifying “We have a lot of women who come in them when their items are ready for the and try things on to get ideas,” said Cherry dressing room. LeBrun, owner of De Novo Jewelry. “We Roberts said this program works well keep a record of that, then the husband for consumers who like to browse online will come in ... and we pull out the pieces but want to do their actual shopping at (for them) ... and it works out nicely for brick-and-mortar stores, where they can everybody.” feel and try on clothes. She said customers also can pre-shop “This creates a convenient and easy al- online before coming into the store. ternative for those with limited time, “ she At Leaf & Petal, customers can email said. ahead to let the store know what they’re Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s also have up- shopping for and the staff will pull togeth- dated their apps so shoppers can skip the er a variety of items, including gift sug- checkout line by using their phones to scan gestions, based on information provided and purchase items in the dressing room or to them. from the racks while they shop. Items are Valerie Rice, shopkeeper at Leaf & Petal, delivered the same day, and customers can said a little bit of technology combined track the delivery from their phones. with personal attention to their loyal

18 Holiday Spirit 2017 Leaf & Petal boutique on Palo Alto’s California Avenue maintains a database of each customer’s shopping history that can be used to help family and friends figure out the perfect style and fit when selecting gifts. Here, sales clerk Carrie Hussussian shows store owner Rick Takahashi and manager Catherine Costa a blouse she’s selected using the database during a demonstration of how the system works. Photo by Veronica Weber.

shoppers has gone a long way at the boutique. “That’s kind of the beauty of the smaller store. We IN-STORE have a lot of repeat customers that we’re just very SHOPPING APPS familiar with,” she said. “We’re here to listen and be their personal stylist.” Many retailers now have their own shopping apps PERSONAL SHOPPERS IN STORE, AT HOME to provide customers a While traditional retailers are turning to tech to more personalized in-store customize the shopping experience, tech stores are experience with many of using the digital space to provide an added human the same conveniences touch. Fry’s Electronics, in Palo Alto’s California of online shopping. These Avenue district, is trying a pilot program with Sam- apps essentially turn your sung this holiday season that pairs customers with smart phone into a per- personal shoppers — real people, not bots. Customers can book a free appointment with a sonal in-store shopping Samsung expert online through Eventbrite.com assistant that can help you (search “Fry’s personal shopper”). The expert will with everything from gift wait at the store’s entrance at a specified appoint- ideas to locating an item ment time and then assist the customer with any in- and scanning its price to store Samsung products. The expert can also make a having it delivered to your house call to help set up purchased products. home. Most apps are free “There are other personal shopper programs that and can be downloaded to offer services within the retail environment, but this Apple or Android phones is among the first to extend that experience outside through the App Store or the store,” said Louis Masses, director of public rela- Google Play. (Search the tions at Samsung. Q Associate Editor Linda Taaffe contributed to this article. retailer’s name to find the app). Menlo Art and Frames 865 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park (650) 323-1097 Home for the Holidays

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20 Holiday Spirit 2017 Photo by Veronica Weber Veronica by Photo

Timothy Woods, co-owner of Timothy Adams Chocolates, demonstrates how to make chocolate during a private tasting party for Quora employees Nicole Dahan, left, Elynn Lee, center, and Jackson Mohsenin. Guests sip prosecco, nibble sandwiches or cheese-and-cracker combinations and learn to make at least three types of bonbons. Party with taste Local chocolatiers, winemakers let you ring in the season with private tasting parties by Fiona Kelliher even the most ardent hosts. Between choco- nce after a chocolate-tasting party, late making, wine pairings, tea tastings and a woman told Alegio Chocolaté co- coffee workshops, there are a variety of op- owner Panos Panagos that he had portunities to avoid the headache of plan- O ning and cleanup this holiday season — ruined chocolate for her. Now that she had tried Alegio’s handcrafted offerings, free and some tastings may change perceptions from soy lecithin and vanilla, she could of food and holiday entertaining altogether. never enjoy store-bought chocolates in the Panagos said the thrill for guests is ex- same way. ploring a seemingly traditional food togeth- “Ninety percent of what people think er in a completely new way. Groups banter they know about chocolate — guess what over flavors they’re unsure of and can enjoy — it’s wrong,” said Panagos, whose shop is “chocolate’s mysteries” together. among a handful of businesses in the Palo During tasting parties at Alegio Choco- Alto area that offers private holiday tasting laté, which are held on site for up to 25 peo- parties on site. ple, the chocolatier guides guests through These nontraditional parties allow party- what Panagos calls “real” chocolate, which goers to savor artisan treats without wash- he says has only four ingredients or fewer. ing a single dish — a scenario that attracts Continued on page 23 Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 21 THE DREYFUS GROUP

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640 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park, CA · Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. 22 Holiday Spirit 2017 Vince Robledo, sommelier and director of sales, pours wine at Byington Vineyard & Winery’s Los Altos Tasting Room in downtown Los Altos. The newly opened tasting room offers private tasting parties that can be personalized. Photo by Michelle Le.

Continued from page 21 combinations and learn to make at least The Bryant Avenue shop uses cacao ex- three types of bonbons under the tutelage clusively from plantations in Príncipe and of co-owner Timothy Woods. São Tomé, where Alegio’s grower and busi- For Woods, who has worked in choco- ness partner Claudio Corrallo produces late shops as far-flung as Amsterdam and cacao the owners say descended from the Vienna, the experience is all about mak- island’s first cacao tree population. ing people comfortable in a new situation. At the tastings, patrons first sample a real Between the beverage offerings and dietary cocoa bean to recognize chocolate’s “base” restrictions, every aspect of the workshop is flavor, which Panagos says is overtaken by adjustable, “just like in real life,” as he put it. vanilla in most commercial chocolate. Then The group typically makes one dark they taste a 100 percent pure chocolate chocolate ganache, one milk chocolate ga- bar, followed by 80 percent, 75 and so on, nache and a rocky road with homemade guessing at flavors that Panagos introduces marshmallows, which Woods says is par- later. In the middle of the session, he passes ticularly fun to mix together with nuts. around non-Alegio chocolate to compare. During the holidays, he likes to include a “We don’t have the tradition, for exam- peppermint bonbon in the session. ple, that we have with wine,” Panagos said. “It’s getting a group of people together “We all know about wine; it’s easy to spend around the kitchen table and forming a $150 on a fine bottle of wine for a night community,” Woods said. “And it’s mak- with a special person. But when it comes ing food approachable. Instead of having to chocolate, my goodness, people don’t someone lecturing at you, it’s complete know. People think they can buy chocolate participation.” at Trader Joe’s for $1.99.” Those who want to skip the chocolate- Across the street, Timothy Adams making process also can enjoy a more tradi- Chocolates provides an entirely dif- tional tasting session; Woods and his partner ferent experience through the shop’s Adams Holland host “Bonbons and Bubbly” chocolate-making workshop. During the parties for up to 50 people at the store. two-hour session, guests sip prosecco, The idea to offer bubbly arose after nibble sandwiches or cheese-and-cracker Continued on page 24

Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 23 Photo by Natalia Nazarova Natalia by Photo

Guests at Timothy Adams Chocolates are taught how to make a variety of chocolates during the shop’s private tasting parties. Alegio Chocolaté also offers a variety of handcrafted chocolates.

Continued from page 23 Street tasting room is meant to “bring our- Holland hosted a wine and bonbons tast- selves down the mountain” and provide a ing for a Stanford event and noticed that the lounge feel for friends and businesses to guests only discussed other wine tastings socialize, said Vince Robledo, sommelier they had been to in the past. The novelty and director of sales. of tasting bubbly — which most people Robledo said the newly opened Tasting haven’t experienced formally — allows Room had not yet hosted any private tast- people to relax more, giggle and open up, ing parties, but planned to offer them this Holland said. season. Private tastings can be personal- Tastings include two champagnes and ized based on guests’ desires and levels prosecco paired with a pistachio praline of wine knowledge. The Tasting Room’s bonbon, a dark cream caramel and a dark- monthly wine-tasting workshops provide on-dark chocolate bonbon, though they are an idea of the types of events the facility frequently updated. offers: “Intro to Wine Tasting;” cheese and Meanwhile the new Los Altos Byington chocolate pairings; winemaking (during Winery’s tasting room is preparing for wine which guests have a wine-blending com- workshops and monthly chocolate pairing petition); and blind tastings in the style of parties and private tasting parties as the sommelier exams. holiday season begins. In 2013, Los Altos Vineyards acquired PRIVATE TASTING PARTIES & Byington Winery in Los Gatos, and last WORKSHOPS June opened the tasting room as an outpost of Byington. While the winery overlooks Timothy Adams Chocolates the edge of the Santa Cruz mountains and 539 Bryant St., Palo Alto includes an idyllic hiking trail, the Main Chocolate-making workshops (which

24 Holiday Spirit 2017 include buffet and beverages) available for for available discounts to non-businesses. up to 40 people starting at $75/person, six More information: 650-324-4500 or days a week by reservation. “Bonbons and 510-459-3149 | alegio.com Bubbly” parties available at the store for up to 50 people or off-site anytime. Los Altos Tasting Room More information: 415-755-8923 | 366 Main St., Los Altos timothyadamschocolates.com Private tastings; Tuesday classes with sommelier Vince Robledo is available for Alegio Chocolaté $40/person; monthly chocolate-pairing 522 Bryant St., Palo Alto session available at same price. For more Chocolate tastings available by appoint- information, call 408-354-1111, option 3 | ment at for up to 25 people. See Groupon byington.com/los-altos-tasting-room/ Q

At-home tasting-party essentials FOR CHOCOLATE TASTINGS chocolate you serve it with: Pair lighter chocolates with lighter and sweeter wine; • Include two varieties of each: dark, milk full-bodied wines should be paired with and semi-sweet chocolate. darker chocolates; champagne and spar- • Serve the chocolate at room temperature. kling wine compliment all chocolate • Provide guests with half ounce to an types. ounce of each type of chocolate (the • Serve wine lightest to darkest and dry equivalent of two squares from each bar). to sweet. • Panos Panagos of Alegio suggests pro- • Provide lemon water, pretzels, plain viding guests with the strongest or dark- bread, or crackers between pairings so est chocolate first and then gradually add- guests can cleanse their palates. ing more variety as the evening continues. • Vince Robledo of the Los Altos Tast- “Guests should feel that the progression ing Room suggests that hosts acquaint is natural, much like wine tasting, and themselves with “classic” wine pairings should be exposed to more eccentric fla- via online resources and beginner books. vors later on in the session,” he said. “The No. 1 most important rule in wine is • Provide some simple, savory snacks. drink what you like,” he said. Q • Serve lemon water between tastings so guests can cleanse their palates. • When in doubt, always follow the motto “keep it as simple as possible,” suggests Adams Holland, co-owner of Timothy Adams Chocolates.

FOR CHOCOLATE AND WINE PAIRINGS

• Pick the chocolate flavors you plan to serve before choosing your wine. • Wine should be as sweet or sweeter than the

Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 25 LYNN Wishing you a NORTH Prosperous Holiday Season 4th Generation Resident Serving the communities oof Los Altos, Mountain View, Lynn North Sunnyvale and Cupertino SRES, President’s Club

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The Almanac Holiday Mountain View Voice Fund 2017 2017

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26 Holiday Spirit 2017 Carolers, Steel Pan Band, Musical Toy Sol- ‘Tis the season ider Guard and Merry Mariachi Band. Where: 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Your guide to local holiday Palo Alto. happenings When: Afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas Eve. ere’s a look at some holiday ac- Information: bit.ly/StanfordHolidayEvents tivities in the Palo Alto area. For more activities, check out the SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY H What: Those who shop at small retail stores Weekly’s Arts & Entertainment section at PaloAltoOnline.com/arts. in local downtown areas will receive discounts or other perks as part of the annual PHOTOS WITH SANTA nationwide “Small Business Saturday” event What: Santa will be at Stanford Shopping that American Express launched in 2010 Center daily through Christmas Eve to take in the hopes of reminding people to “shop photos with children. small” and support local businesses during Where: Center Pavillion, 660 Stanford the holiday shopping season. American Ex- Shopping Center, Palo Alto. press gives cardholders a $10 credit when When: Through Sunday, Dec. 24. (A spe- they spend $10 or more at participating cial breakfast with Santa will take place on stores, and some retailers are offering addi- Dec. 2.) tional discounts. Information: bit.ly/SantaPhotosStanford. Where: Small retail stores in Menlo Park, Mountain View and Palo Alto. LIVE HOLIDAY MUSIC When: Saturday, Nov. 25. What: Stanford Shopping Center is host- Information: To find participating stores, ing a variety of free musical performances go to bit.ly/PaloAltoShopSmall. during the holiday season, including performances by Holiday Festival Strings, Dickens Continued on page 28 Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 27 Continued from page 27 The Memorial Church Choir and Stanford MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS: A MUSICAL Chamber Chorale will perform. Where: What: Madeline and her friends embark on a Stanford Memorial Church, 450 Christmas adventure in this musical adapted Serra Mall, Stanford. When: Friday, Dec. 8, 7:30 - 9 p.m. from Ludwig Bemelmans’ book. Information: Where: Main stage, Palo Alto Children’s The- atre,1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. events.stanford.edu/events/710/71077/ When: Nov. 30 - Dec. 17. GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING Cost: $12 - $14. What: Information: Executive Pastry Chef Eric Keppler bit.ly/MadelineTickets teaches parents and their children how to TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONIES decorate a gingerbread house like a pro dur- Palo Alto ing “Quattro’s Perfect House.” A festive candy bar, light bites, coffee, tea and soft drinks will What: The City of Palo Alto’s annual celebra- be available to enjoy throughout the event. tion of the lighting of its 60-foot-tall tree with Where: Quattro at the Four Seasons, 2050 bands, choirs and art activities. Hot drinks University Ave., East Palo Alto. and treats available. When: Sunday, Dec. 10, 10:30 a.m. Where: Lytton Plaza (University Avenue at Cost: $110 per family of four (two adults, Emerson Street). two children). When: Friday, Dec. 1, 5:30 - 7p.m. Information: 650-470-2889. More information: 650-463-4900. HOLIDAY FAMILY DAY Mountain View What: Free art-making and performances for What: The City of Mountain View’s annu- participants ages 5 to adult. al tree-lighting celebration will feature live Where: Palo Alto Art Center, 1213 Newell music, refreshments and the arrival of Santa Road, Palo Alto. Claus. When: Sunday, Dec. 10, 2 - 4:30 p.m. Where: Civic Center Plaza, 500 Castro St. Information: When: Monday, Dec. 4, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. bit.ly/HolidayFamilyDayPaloAlto More information: 650-903-6331. CHRISTMAS TREE LANE Menlo Park What: Christmas Tree Lane has been a Palo What: The City of Menlo Park’s annual tree- Alto yuletide tradition since 1940, when lighting celebration will feature live enter- homeowners spontaneously decided to deco- tainment, free hot cocoa and the lighting of rate two blocks from Embarcadero Road to the holiday tree. Seale Avenue with Christmas trees and lights Where: Fremont Park (Santa Cruz Avenue & for the community to enjoy. Visitors can park University Drive). on adjacent neighborhood streets and stroll When: Friday, Dec. 1, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. down the street’s sidewalk or turn off their car More information: 650-903-6331. headlamps to drive slowly down the street. Where: Fulton Street (off Embarcadero FESTIVAL OF LESSONS Road) Palo Alto. What: Stanford University’s Department of When: Lights are displayed from 5 - 11 p.m. Music, Office for Religious Life will hold its nightly for two weeks during the holiday sea- annual Festival of Lessons and Carols ser- son, starting approximately the week before vice this holiday season. This free service of Christmas. Advent and Christmas readings and music is Information: christmastreelane.org. based on the famous service held annually at King’s College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Continued on page 30 28 Holiday Spirit 2017 I have been busy in your neighborhood! If you are thinking of buying or selling, call me!

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650-917-5811 Direct terricouture.com [email protected] Top 1% Coldwell Banker CalBRE #01090940 Palo Alto Weekly Mountain View Voice The Almanac 29 Continued from page 28 Information: brownpapertickets.com/ event/3090404 HANUKKAH CELEBRATION What: Hanukkah celebration with free ‘NORTH POLE REVIEW’ musical performances, arts and crafts for What: The Fratello Marionettes perform children, face painting, dreidel games, “The North Pole Review.” The 30-minute candle lighting and a special Hanukkah holiday variety show will feature high- puppet show and sing-along. kicking antics of the Russian Trepak Danc- Where: 660 Macy’s Plaza, Stanford Shop- ers, the graceful ice skater Crystal Chande- ping Center, Palo Alto. lier and the dazzling acrobatic penguins. When: Thursday, Dec. 14, 5:30 - 8 p.m. There also will be arts and crafts, refresh- Information: bit.ly/StanfordHolidayEvents ments and goody bags for children. Where: Gamble Garden Carriage House, WINTER CONCERT What: 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto. The Choral Project performs its When: Sunday, Dec. 17, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. annual holiday concert, “Winter’s Gifts: Cost: Members $30 child/$25 adult; non- Family,” with the San José Chamber members $35 child/$30 adult; $40 day of Orchestra. Where: show. First Presbyterian Church, 1140 Information: Tickets available at Cowper St., Palo Alto. gamblegarden.org or 650-329-1356. Q When: Saturday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m. Cost: General admission: $35; senior admission: $25; student/alumni: $10.

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