Week Ahead: Tasting with Wine Editor; Kid Writing Workshops; Travel Talk with Expert Frommer!

Monday, Nov. 18    

• Special City Council Meeting. 6 p.m.

• Holiday Wine Pairings. Balsam Hill, 1561 Adrian Road, Burlingame. 6 p.m.

•  Chap*Book: Writing Workshop for Teens. Cubberley Community Center Room A-6. Two- part writing workshop for teens using writing prompts and improvisational exercises to create their own chapbook of art and poetry. For grades 6-12 only.  Registration is required for each workshop.   

• Wine Tasting with Jon Bonne, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Editor. Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. 7 p.m. From the front lines of the California wine revolution, Bonné shares the fascinating stories, philosophies and techniques of the innovative producers who are rewriting the rules of contemporary winemaking.

• Classic Jazz Treasures with Jazz Saxophonist Loren Schoenberg. Community School of Music and Arts, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View. 7 p.m. 

• Writing Workshop - Kids. 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lucie Stern Community Center. Free workshop by Communication Academy to learn writing skills to help kids ace essays.Registration required.

• Mushroom Morsels and Forays Cooking Class.  50 Embarcadero Rd Palo Alto. 6:30 p.m. Learn to prepare mushrooms in Mushroom Risotto, Portobello Mushroom Burgers, Mushroom Hazelnut Soup with Marsala Wine.

• Free Financial Planning Seminar - "Investment Basics". 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Palo Alto. Free.

• November by David Mamet. 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City. 8 p.m. A lesbian, a turkey lobbyist, and a Native American walk into the White House... it's not a bad joke, it's "November" by Mamet ("Glengarry Glen Ross").

• Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director - Frommer Travel Media. 7 p.m. Schultz Cultural Hall, Oshman Family JCC, Palo Alto.  Looking for a fresh take on budget travel? Award-winning writer Pauline Frommer has been traveling since she was four months old and has been working with her travel guru father, Arthur, for the past 17 years.

• Free Homeowner Workshop: Energy Efficiency Rebates. 1044 Middlefield Road, Redwood City. 6:30 p.m.

• Cooking Class - Thanksgiving Sides & Pies. Let’s Cook! Santa Cruz, 2880 Research Park Dr., Ste. 200, Soquel. 6:30 p.m.

• November by David Mamet. 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City. 8 p.m.

• Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Day. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Palo Alto residents only.

• Founder's Hike. David Schooley, founder of San Bruno Mountain Watch, will lead hikes into Owl and Buckeye Canyons. 

• HOLIDAY GIFT BOUTIQUE! ALL SAINTS' CHURCH - 555 Waverley Street, Palo Alto. Gift selections from 20 vendors! Beautiful jewelry, purses, fragrances, hand woven scarves and hats, and art work from Nicaragua. To support aid and recovery efforts in SE Mexico and All Saints' outreach programs. 

• November by David Mamet. 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City. 8 p.m.

• Global Gift Fair - Perfect Holiday Shopping. Pop Up Store @ Menlo Park Presbyterian, 950 Santa Cruz Ave. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Habitat Stewardship Talk. Brisbane Library. 1 p.m.

• Hanukah on Ice. Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos. 6 p.m. Indoor ice skating, holiday activities, games and food, Kid Zone with bounce houses. Free admission and free skates.

• Upside-Downton Abbey.  Mountain View Center for Performing Arts. 4 p.m. Lamplighters spoof the award-winning British television series Downton Abbey in their much-anticipated Annual Gala. 

• Global Gift Fair - Perfect Holiday Shopping. Pop Up Store @ Menlo Park Presbyterian, 950 Santa Cruz Ave. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

• November by David Mamet. 2120 Broadway St., Redwood City. 2 p.m.