The Sobrato family has signed the Warren Buffet pledge to donate at least 50 percent of its wealth to charity and philanthropic causes, and has already donated more than $314 million to local agencies. The Sobrato Center for Non-Profits is a huge office and warehouse complex which is home to more than 70 nonprofits, including TheatreWorks, which makes good use of the offices, rehearsal, storage and classroom space. At the Anything Goes gala, after a sumptuous dinner of prime filet of beef and lobster tail washed down with delicious wines from J. Lohr, it was auctioneer Larry Schnyder’s turn. The lots ranged from a walk-on part in TheatreWorks’s forthcoming production of “Emma” to two industry-only passes to New York city’s Festival of New Musicals, including meet-and-greet with producers and artists. The most exciting and truly priceless item was the opportunity to become the subject of a new song written and produced by Broadway composer Andrew Lippa, and this sold for $15,000.
4th of July Celebration at The Pier: 3-9:30 p.m, Pier 39, Live entertainment on Entrance Plaza Stage featuring Tainted Love, the best of the 1980s live from 3-6 p.m, Fireworks 9:30 p.m, www.pier39.com, Blue & Gold Fleet Cruise: 8:15 p.m, (alcohol free) and 8:30 p.m, from Pier 39; also boardings at 8, 8:20 and 8:40 p.m, from Pier 41, Cash-only snack bar available, Boarding will start 30 minutes prior to departure, $85-$430, www.blueandgoldfleet.com, Hornblower 4th personalized dance girls bracelet-kids/girls/teen/children/ladies/women-ballerina/ballet shoes dance recital/birthday/holiday gi of July Cruises: Celebrate the Fourth of July with a scenic San Francisco Bay Cruise, Choose from a Beer Lunch Cruise with free-flowing beer or a Premier 4th of July Dinner Cruise with premium open bar, four-course dinner and front-row seats to the San Francisco fireworks show, www.hornblower.com..
Norris started writing soon after, and his teachers — including author Susan Straight, who became a mentor at UC Riverside — took notice. “Brother and the Dancer” is his first novel. The book grew out of a series of short stories he began in 2003; eventually, he decided to merge them, with the characters’ ties becoming “a kind of organic linkage.” Norris is still an avid reader. His interests are wide-ranging, and one of his passions is street lit. He’s become an authority on the genre and is the editor of a recently released book of critical essays titled “Street Lit” (Scarecrow Press).
Sculpture should inspire, entertain, uplift and provoke, says Middlebrook, who has recently retired from teaching at SJSU, And his pieces decidedly fill that bill, His concepts are often environmentally inspired–a lament personalized dance girls bracelet-kids/girls/teen/children/ladies/women-ballerina/ballet shoes dance recital/birthday/holiday gi for the harm we’ve done the universe and a cry to reverse that damage, For example, the sculpture “Golden Opportunity Lost” is his reaction to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, It looks like a parachute aloft, with an egg shape at its apex, Don’t worry that you can’t see the egg, You’ll find it as part of another sculpture in a different area of the grounds..
The Volker Strifler Band (Club Fox Blues Jam) 7 p.m. Wednesday. Club Fox, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City. $5. 650-369-7770 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller. Pear Avenue Theatre. Through Sunday. Pear Avenue Theatre, 1220 Pear Ave., Mountain View. $15-$30. 650-254-1148 or www.thepear.org. “The North Pool.” TheatreWorks. Through April 3. Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. $24-$79. 650-463-1960 or theatreworks.org. “Separate Tables.” Hillbarn Theatre. Today through March 27. Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. $32. www.HillbarnTheatre.org or 650-349-6411.
