By Lina Broydo
San Francisco Symphony Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon
February 17, 2024 at 5p.m.
Welcome the Year of the Dragon with the San Francisco Symphony and enjoy this beloved annual celebration of music and the pre-concert lobby festivities and entertainment at the spectacular Davies Symphony Hall.
The concert, conducted by Mei-Ann Chen, with violin soloist Paul Huang, draws upon a wide range of Asian traditions, spotlighting vibrant artists and music to commemorate the holiday. Dinner sponsors will enjoy an enhanced experience with delectable receptions and the celebratory lavish banquet following the concert.
Proceeds from the Lunar New Year celebration support the Symphony’s artistic, education, and community programs, benefiting tens of thousands of people.
Information
415-864-6000
Davies Symphony Hall at 201 Van Ness in San Francisco
Photos courtesy of the SF Symphony
Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing in Mountain View
Spark your memory and go back in time as you visit the world renowned Computer History Museum (CHM) in Mountain View. Visitors to CHM are often excited to locate the first computer they owned or worked on now on view at this signature exhibit: Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing.
Is it the Palm Pilot handheld? A Cray-1 supercomputer, or a PC like an Apple I or II? A PDP-8 minicomputer? Or, maybe a massive mainframe like the IBM 360, or a computer game like PONG? Come on in and find your era. P.S. While you’re there, check out a few selected artifacts related to the Apple Mac, launched 40 years ago (can you believe it?!).
Information
650-810-1010
CHM
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd. in Mountain View
Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” Arrives to Opera San Jose
February 17 through March 3, 2024
Join Opera San Jose as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary season by presenting “Rigoletto”, one of the most famous operas in the world.
Boasting some of opera’s most memorable music by Giuseppe Verdi (one of my most favorite composers) including his signature aria “La Donna a Mobile,” this gripling work follows the hunchback jester Rigoletto, his beautiful daughter Gilda and the licentious Duke of Mantua whose callous treatment of women sets into motion misidentifications, murder, and tragic self-sacrifice. More than I can handle today…
Information
408-437-4450
operasj.org
California Theatre
345 South First Street in San Jose
Photo courtesy of Opera SJ
Jack London State Historic Park presents “Eliza Shepard: Matriarch and Jack London’s Silent Partner”
March 3, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Don’t miss a truly fascinating two-part program perfectly timed for Women’s History Month, and it is not to be missed! Jack London’s stepsister Eliza Shepard along with Jack’s wife Charmian, was indispensable in operating and preserving Jack’s Beauty Ranch and the property that became Jack London State Historic Park. If you are a Jack London’s fan and an avid reader of his literature, enjoy the special presentation by Jack London State Historic Park as it presents “Eliza Shepard: Matriarch and Jack London’s Silent Partner.”
This two-part program in the park’s House of Happy Walls Museum will explore the backstory of Beauty Ranch and how Eliza Shepard became his bookkeeper, lawyer, contractor, and ranch manager, while also championing women’s and veterans’ rights as an activist and community leader. Letters and telegrams between Jack and Eliza and Eliza and Charmian will bring to life the energy and diligence required to build and then secure the enchanting Beauty Ranch. Surprise revelations and quirky details bring the no-nonsense Eliza to life. The first part of the program will be presented by Elisa Stancil Levine, author of the book “Jack London State Historic Park” (available at the park’s bookstore), who began researching Eliza’s life in 2005.
“As a volunteer at the park, I became fascinated by Eliza, her tireless efforts, her history, and her personality. Without Eliza, we would not have the park today,” Levine said. After a brief intermission, the second half of the program will present how Eliza became matriarch of the Shepard family and how her influence is felt even today. Although Eliza died in September 1939 her legacy continues. Her son Irving continued her work at the ranch and his descendants own and manage the 160 acres and 120 vines in the center of the park. Great grandson Brian Shepard will tell Eliza’s story from the family’s point of view. In an intimate conversation with Elisa Stancil Levine, a fireside chat with Brian will take attendees on a trip down memory lane as he recalls some of the stories of Eliza that have been handed down over the years.
Women’s History Month is the perfect time to acknowledge Jack London’s legacy.
Information: Seating at this event is limited. The event space can be reached only by stairway.
For more information about access, call (707) 938-5216.
Tickets are $20, in addition to park admission ($10 per vehicle, up to nine passengers).
Purchase tickets at https://jacklondonpark.com/events/eliza-shepard-2024/. https://jacklondonpark.com/events.
