Saratoga Sampler

Early-bird special was a cool summer idea

By Mary Ann Cook

HEAT WAVE: When the record-breaking heat wave struck in mid-June, knocking out power throughout Saratoga, including the lineup of Big Basin restaurants, many restaurateurs went gamely on, including Marc Masek of La Mere Michelle.

An early-bird special prix fixe drew a roomful of faithful French eaters from their steaming houses. After all, even if they were equipped with air conditioning at home, it obviously wasn't operational at that juncture.

"We cook with gas, so we're OK (for food preparation)," said host Marc, son of owners Michelle and Joseph. But Masek also doubles as chef and admitted he was glad he wasn't doing kitchen duty that night. Since it was over 100 degrees outside, what must it have registered in the kitchen?

NEW STAGE: The newest theater around is the Theatre on San Pedro Square, which opened a couple of weeks ago. Now playing there through July 23, is a musical version of Romeo and Juliet. Its founder and artistic director is Saratogan Gary De Mattei.

De Mattei studied acting and directing in New York with Uta Hagen and also worked at the American Musical Theatre in San Jose and with the Eureka Theater in San Francisco. He served as a production manager for the San Jose Cleveland Ballet.

Bay Area composer Ed Goldfarb wrote the jazzy pop/rock score for the production of the Shakespearean classic with Tony Panighetti and Eve Cohen in the starring roles. Goldfarb comes to San Jose directly from the Beach Blanket Babylon team.

The TSP theater seats 199 and De Mattei has been overhauling the space, which formerly housed the Comedy Club, for the past nine months--a fitting gestation period. He intends to put together an eight-play season for the fall and winter. The theater's number is 408.283.0200.

HALL OF FAME: Steve Wozniak, who combined a central processing unit with a keyboard and disk drive that has color and graphic capabilities when he invented the Apple II, will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in September in ceremonies in Akron, Ohio.

The personal computer he invented became affordable and ushered in a new era and a new highway called information. Others to be inducted include Walt Disney, four other men and one woman.

The Apple II was patented in 1979. More than half the people in the U.S. now have access to a computer, according to a national science foundation poll.

FRIENDLY FACE: Gary Hagen, who works at Safeway and has been cited in this column for his all-round genuine friendliness and caring alerts us to the fact that another one-time employee at Safeway died suddenly this spring. Her name is Carol Grindstaff and she died of a heart embolism at the end of March.

She was friendly and well-known, Hagen reports. Though their Safeway tenure didn't overlap, he knew her from her regular appearances at the store. Her husband had gone out to get take-out food for dinner and came home to find her dead. She will be sorely missed, particularly by longtime customers.

GALA RESULTS: Paula Wienkoop of Saratoga, who was chairwoman of the gala at the Hayes Mansion that raised money and awareness for Hospice of the Valley, reports that the event raised $180,000. The gala met the goal she had set for the annual doings.

TEAMWORK: Local chapters of the Lions and Rotary clubs teamed up to present a $10,700 check to help equip the A.J. Robinson Foundation mobile testing van. The van screens for hearing and vision problems at schools and senior centers.

It travels to the Saratoga Senior Center twice a year to offer testing to seniors and to numerous schools throughout Santa Clara and San Benito counties. Lions' volunteers help to staff the van. Barbara Major, president of the Saratoga Lions, was one of the check presenters.

NEW OFFICERS: Shir Hadash installed new officers recently. They are Jim Katzman, president; Gary Bronstein, treasurer; Susan Fredkin, vice president, programs; Arthur Harris and Marjorie Freedman, vice presidents, education.

Others are Blanche Frolichman, secretary; Leslie Vasque, member-at-large; Sylvia Katzman, ex-officio member. Continuing board members are Dale Bergman, Robert Berman, Debbie Coutant, Denise Levy, Shell Rubenstein, David Slesnick.

ON SALE NOW: It's time to sign up for the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Concert series for 2000-2001. "The series will feature the jazz group Side Street Strutters on Sept. 10, at 4 p.m.; Violinist Linda Wang on Nov. 12; the San Jose Wind Symphony on Jan. 21; and pianist Cristiana Pegoraro on April 22. All concerts, except the one in September, are at 2:30 p.m. Season tickets cost $40 for adults; $35 for seniors; and $10 for students. A family membership plan is offered for $85. Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Concert Association is sponsoring the program. For tickets, call Ray Strong at 408.377.1106, or Lea Frey at 408.356.5698.

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