MUSTARD WALK: The third annual Mustard Walk celebrating Saratoga's orcharding history will be held Feb. 8, 11 a.m.3 p.m., in and around the Warner Hutton House. Docents will lead tours through the mustard fields, and paintings and historical displays of orcharding will be on view.
Kay Duffy will demonstrate painting and other artists will display their work. Donkey-cart rides await the children, thanks to Ann and Rick Waltonsmith's burros. Musicians slated to perform are Les Landin's Skillet Lickers, Lee Ann Welch's fiddlers and the Celtic group Slaint.
Paul Conrado will pour his award-winning wines as will other vintners. Jan Furman from the Butter Paddle will demonstrate recipes incorporating mustard. Leah Novakovich and sons Matt and George will be on hand with their products; Matt will answer orchard questions.
Tour docents include veterans Beth Wyman, Norm Koepernik and Willys Peck, as well as Jill Hunter, Jean Barrick, Rose Marie Dippel, Pat Bailey, JoAn Lambert, Julie Tomlin and Jim Stallman. Lee Murray is arts commission liaison. Bob Louden will host a Saratoga Historical Foundation table.
The Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission is the Mustard Walk sponsor, and members planning the project are Phylis Ballingall, chairwoman, Bailey, Conrado, Koepernik, Tom Lowdermilk and Peck. Bob Semichy will line up a parade of antique autos.
Heavy rain cancels the doings, but light rain doesn't daunt the action. The artists are posted outside, but will move to the city hall overhang in case of rain.
AT LIBRARY: Audition will be held Feb. 5 for the artists whose work will be on display on the Library Art Wall for the coming year. The exhibit is changed every other month. Artists are to submit four to five samples of their work on a 3 x 5-inch photograph, slide or Polaroid.
Submissions need to be received at city hall by Jan. 29, addressed to Kim Saxton-Heinrichs, staff liaison to the Saratoga Arts Commission. The phone number is 408.867.1251. Applications are available at www.saratoga.ca.us/arts.htm and at the Community Center.
Submissions will not be returned but will be retained by the arts commission for ongoing consideration.
The artwork now on display at the library is by Yoju, Japanese-born artist who lives in Saratoga. Her work is a blend of Oriental and Western, both abstract and representational. Included are water prints and gouache.
Arts commission members are Tracy Halgren, president, and Lee Murray, vice president. Others are Mary Lou Taylor, Betty Peck, Lisa Pontier de Mattei, Geetanjali Arunkumar and Mary Ann Henderson.
There are two openings on the arts commission. Contact Saxton-Heinrichs for the application process. Commissioners are selected by the city council through interviews.
HELP FOR ADD: Local psychologist Mark Steinberg has co-authored a new book called ADD: the 20-Hour Solution. The book was written to help those with attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder understand the condition and their options.
The Steinberg solution is to use an EEG, a machine that measures brainwaves, to help patients reprogram electrical patterns in the brain. The machine generates neurological feedback that helps patients learn to control their mental and emotional states, according to Steinberg.
ADD and ADHD sufferers have trouble focusing and behaving appropriately. Steinberg's phone is 408.356.1002 and his website is www.marksteinberg.com.
DIG OUT YOUR DOLLS: Coppélia, the SJ Silicon Valley Ballet playing Feb. 58, is a comedy about an eccentric toymaker who tries to make one of his dolls come to life. At the Feb. 8 performance, attendees are invited to bring a favorite doll to compete for prizes.
Ballet-company sweatshirts, pointe shoes worn by dancers in the company, tickets to performances and gift certificates to doll shops are among the prizes.
Tickets, $22$68, are available by calling 408.288.2800 or visiting www.balletsanjose.org.
JEWELRY WORKSHOP: Dawn Hart will teach Found Object Jewelry with Polymer Clay workshop Jan. 31, 10 a.m.5 p.m. at Palo Alto High School, room 806. Class registration is through 650.329.3752 or http://www.paadultschool.org. Cost is $69.
Students need to bring a nonporous working surface and found objects of their choice. Using techniques learned in this class, students can make fine art, buttons, scrapbook covers, frames or cabinet hardware.
STUDENT PRODUCTION: Saratoga High will present The Philadelphia Story Jan. 30 and 31 and Feb. 7 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. at Los Gatos High. Tickets are $9, adults; $7 students. One can check out this generation's Jimmy Stewart, Kate Hepburn or Cary Grant.
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By Mary Ann Cook