Events Around the Bay – Week of May 1, 2017

Say it With Beautiful Roses

May 6 through May 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If it’s spring, it must be the perfect time for a visit to the blooming Russian River Rose Company, located in the heart of Sonoma County’s wine region. Stroll in the glorious gardens of more than 650 varieties of roses from Bulgaria, France, and Iran, take part in the making of genuine rose water and rose oil as you listen to a fascinating presentation on the history of the world of perfume. Be treated to a high tea-style experience by sampling elegant edible delicacies infused with roses and rose water such as rose petal sandwiches, rose jams, rose water sorbet, and baklava. Observe the creativity of the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists as they sketch the real roses as their life rose models.  Treat the favorite lady in your life to the Russian River Rose Company’s aromatic Mother’s Day celebration featuring the fragrant Perfume Rose Harvest Tours, and an afternoon tea.

Tickets and Information
Prices start at $2
707-433-7455
www.russian-river-rose.com
The Russian River Rose Company
1685 Magnolia Drive, Healdsburg
No Pets or Picnics

Photo courtesy of Mikala Kennan

Happy Mother’s Day Celebrations with Edible Excursions

May 14

There is more to Mother’s Day festivities than just breakfast in bed. Treat your mom to a delicious culinary journey via walking tours of San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland created with love by Edible Excursions. The tours offer intimate culinary strolls through the culturally diverse Mission District, a fabulous food tour of the Ferry Building with a complimentary chocolate tasting for Mom, a sailing visit to Alcatraz with a guaranteed return back to San Francisco, and a tour of Oakland’s hippest culinary gem Temescal with a complimentary champagne cheer for Mom, as well a visit to Berkeley’s hidden gourmet treasures. Private tours are available. I hope my kids will treat me to this fun tour.

Tickets and Information
For more details and reservations contact Lisa@EdibleExcursions.net
415-806-5970
www.edibleexcursions.net
Edible Excursions
71 Cuvier Street in San Francisco

Photo courtesy of Edible Excursions

Music and Space

May 19 & 20, at 8 p.m. Pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m.

Peninsula Symphony concludes its 2017 concert season with a very unique journey through the solar system, guided by renowned Bay Area astronomer Andrew Fraknoi in a performance that melds music, NASA photography, story-telling, and the magic of Gustav Holst’s wildly popular and influential masterpiece, The Planets. Nancy Bloomer Deussen completes our trip around the planets with Transit of Venus, under the masterful baton of Mitchell Sardou Klein, the symphony’s conductor and music director. An introduction and gallery of dramatic space images will be provided by Fraknoi for both The Planets and Transit of Venus. Also featured: the debut performance of William Langlie-Miletich, the winner of the 2016 Irving M. Klein International String Competition (the first-ever winner on double bass!) in the Bottesini Bass Concerto No. 2. Definitely a concert not to be missed. Also check out The Planets Student Art Contest. The winner will get a complimentary ticket to the concert and see their art displayed during performances.

Tickets and Information 
Prices range from $10 to $45
650-941-5291
www.peninsulasymphony.org
May 19: San Mateo Performing Arts Center
May 20: Heritage Theatre, Campbell

Photo courtesy of Peninsula Symphony

Vintage Cookbooks

May 9, at 2 p.m.

The San Jose Woman’s Club is presenting a very interesting and unique program on the “History of Cookbooks,” featuring cookbook historian and author Lori Hughes, who will discuss the art of collecting cookbooks. You are welcome to bring one of your own collectible cookbooks for a verbal appraisal by the author. Just one? I must have at least a dozen cookbooks showcasing memorable pages with my own fingerprints and food stains reflecting on the good old days when I used to cook, rather than make reservations. Times definitely have changed on my culinary journey. The San Jose Woman’s Club has been a formal organization since 1894, when nine women first gathered to discuss forming an alliance. At that time, women across the nation were forming clubs to study and discuss various topics of importance.

Tickets and Information
Admission: $5
408-294-6919
www.sjwomansclub.org
San Jose Woman’s Club
75 South 11th Street in San Jose

Photo courtesy of the San Jose Woman’s Club

Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England, she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, with no borsch or piroshky on her home cooking menu. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out, mostly sushi.