Events Around the Bay – Week of October 24, 2016

Thomas Chugs In
October 29-30, at 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Little engineers won’t believe their eyes—or their ears—as they take a 20-minute ride with everyone’s favorite Thomas the Talking Tank Engine, and his best friend Percy, as they visit the Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton for a thrilling Halloween adventure. At the station there will be entertainment, storytelling, cookie decorating, temporary tattoos, face painting, videos, train play tables, photos with Sir Topham Hatt, pick a pumpkin (small pumpkins for little ones), visits to the Thomas store and many more fun-filled exciting activities for the entire family. Rides depart hourly. Children are encouraged to take a ride in their Halloween costumes. Ghosts and goblins are invited too. Boo!

Tickets and Information 
Prices from $20 to $24
866-468-7630
www.roaringcamp.com
5401 Graham Hill Road in Felton.

Photo courtesy of Roaring Camp

Grape Expectations and a Barrel of Fun
Daily through October 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It’s harvest time in Napa Valley. Jump in a barrel of freshly picked grapes, than add your grape-stained footprints to a white “I stomped at Grgich Hills” T-shirt. All guests 21+ will also enjoy a glass of Grgich Hills Estate wine in a monogrammed GoVino wine glass that you can take home as a souvenir. Take a seat, relax, and enjoy a private tasting on the winery’s beautiful patio or in one of the exquisite rooms located in the winery. Your host will guide you through five limited production and specialty wines paired with artisan cheeses. Make a weekend getaway out of it: sip new releases and special selections, visit lovely restaurants, take a bike ride and enjoy the beautiful fall colors of the scenic neighboring valleys. No need to travel to Tuscany, Italy. It is all here in our backyards.

Tickets and Information
Prices from $15 to $50
www.grgich.com
Grgich Hills Estate
1829 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA

Photo courtesy of GHE

2016 Induction Class of San Jose Sports Hall of Fame
November 2, at 5:30 p.m.

The brilliant athletes of the Bay Area will be honored at a festive induction ceremony at the annual San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Enshrinement Banquet at SAP Center in San Jose. The 2016 induction class of legendary athletes include Doug Wilson, San Jose Sharks General Manager and Former Captain of the San Jose Sharks hockey team; Mike Bruner, Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion in Swimming;  Raymond Townsend, first Filipino-American NBA basketball player; and Aly Wagner, the US Women’s National Soccer Team player, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. The ceremony is organized by the San Jose Sports Authority, a non-profit organization, and will benefit Special Olympics of Northern California and High School Sports Programs.

Tickets and Information
Individual tickets start at $300
408-288-2936
www.sjsa.org
SAP Center at 525 West Santa Clara Street in San Jose

Photo of Doug Wilson courtesy of SJSA

Yuja Wang Plays Chopin with The San Francisco Symphony
November 2 – 4

One of the best young pianists in the world, who is known not only for her piano virtuosity, but also for her glamorous fashions, Wang will dazzle the audiences in her performance of Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto in a special program (where you will never see patrons dozing off) at the stunning Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. “She seems to have everything: speed, flexibility, pianistic thunder and interpretive nuance,” writes the New York Times. The concert’s repertoire also includes Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas’ original composition “Agnegram” as well as the symphony’s presentation of Bruchner’s expansive Seventh Symphony. This is truly an evening of dynamic music.

Don’t miss Michael Tilson Thomas conducting Brahms’ Symphony #2 on October 27 – 30;  The Dia de los Muertos Community Concert with Mariachi Flor de Toloache on November 5, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m; The Warsaw Philharmonic with Seong-Jin Cho performing Chopin’s First Piano Concerto on November 6 at 7 p.m.

Tickets and Information
415-864-6000
https://www.sfsymphony.org
Davies Symphony Hall, at Grove Street between Van Ness and Franklin Streets

Photos of Yuja Wang courtesy of SF Symphony

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.