Events Wrap-Up

Back to Basics: The California Society of Printmakers "Back to Basics," the current exhibition at Falkirk salutes traditional printmakers working in a variety of media from the California Society of Printmakers. The California Society of Printmakers, now in its ninetieth year, reflects a diverse aesthetic, cultural and technical spectrum. Work in intaglio, relief printing, including woodcut and etching, mezzoprints and collagraphs, silk screen, lithography and mixed media prints using these processes is included in the exhibition.

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Phantom of the Opera Masquerade Ball Thrills San Rafael The Phantom visited Falkirk for an elegant evening of opera, dance, food and spirits... and raised funds for Falkirk's public programs. On November 6, 2004, Falkirk played host to an exciting evening of haunted revelry for the adult aficionado of opera and masques. Featuring members of the San Francisco Opera including Russian Soprano extraordinaire Olga Chernisheva, this was an opportunity for masquerading folk to come get a taste of the opera in an intimate Victorian setting. Revelers got to meet and greet the entertainers, who also included roving magician Peter Morrison, exotic dancer Solimeno, bass Sergey Zadvorny, tenor Monti Zanetti, and pianist Svetlana Gorzhevskaya. An Affair to Remember offered four courses of exquisite victuals and martinis and wine were offered in the macabre lounge, complete with live sinister organ music and a projection of the original Phantom film. Non-stop entertainment and an imaginatively decorated Phantom's Lair had party-goers smiling the entire evening.

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SAN RAFAEL FOOD and WINE FESTIVAL Local restaurants and winemakers let you taste their creations on August 15. Steven Restivo Event Services, LLC and the Historic Falkirk Cultural Center are presenting the 3rd Annual San Rafael Food & Wine Festival on Saturday, August 15, 2009 from 11 AM to 5 PM. Festival-goers will enjoy food from area restaurants and sample wines from 25 of the region’s outstanding boutique wineries. Admission to the event is free. Attendees may choose to purchase an all day sampling pass or individual servings of food and beverage. The Festival will also showcase local artists. While viewing the artwork and tasting the gourmet fare, attendees will hear smooth jazz and classical music by the areas’ best musicians. The Falkirk Cultural Center provides the perfect backdrop for this celebration of the region’s food, wine and art. For more information or to participate visit www.SRESproductions.com or call 800-310-6563. For more info, visit: http://www.sresproductions.com/san_rafael_food_and_wine_festival.html For parking information, visit: http://www.cityofsanrafael.org/Assets/Parking+Services/Map+Downtown+Parking.pdf

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Mad Hatter's Spring Tea Party Falkirk's Mad Hatter's Tea Party takes place on a Saturday and Sunday in April. This past year's Tea Party was Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, 2009. The Tea Party has 2 sittings, Noon and 3pm each day. Thanks to everyone who came! Check back in January for 2010 dates. Make a date for tea with Alice, the March Hare, Door Mouse and Mad Hatter for a decidedly unique and unorthodox tea complete with tea sandwiches, hot chocolate, and desserts. Enjoy the theatrical company of characters in original costumes from the Stark Ravens Historical Players, as they entertain and cause smiles and giggles in Falkirk's elegant Victorian setting. This event sells out; please make your reservations early! COST: $27.50 for adults, $22.50 for children. Includes goodie bag for child. Bring your camera for great photos! Reservations required by calling 485-3333.          Sign up for email notifications for future family events and teas by emailing cory.bytof@ci.san-rafael.ca.us or calling 415-485-3436 and leaving your name and email address slowly and clearly twice for accuracy. And don't forget about our Alice in Wonderland Spring Festival on April 4! Please see our EVENTS section for more information on this fun, outdoor event!

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Marin's Glorious Glass Pumpkin Harvest, October 25 & 26 The Glass Pumpkin Harvest is taking a year off. See you in 2010! Our premier event! Hand blown glass pumpkins fill the lawn with amazing color and artistry. Thousands of hand blown glass pumpkins, each one unique, each one a work of art, will be on display as if they had magically grown on the Falkirk lawn. A fundraiser for Falkirk and Seacology! The artists will be there to talk with, and there will be on-site glass blowing demonstrations as well. Proceeds benefit San Rafael's own Falkirk Cultural Center and Seacology, an environmental organization dedicated to protecting island environments and cultures throughout the world. Admission is free. Pumpkin prices vary. See you October 25 & 26!

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Alice in Wonderland Spring Faire Whimsical family fun: the Alice in Wonderland Spring Faire! Saturday, April 4, 2009 Full of life sized characters and unique activities! New extended hours: 1pm-4pm. GO ASK ALICE! Come celebrate spring on the Great Lawn at Falkirk. Live entertainment, arts and craft activities, refreshments and more are in store for kids of all ages. Lively characters in Wonderland costumes are authentically presented by the Stark Ravens Historical Players, which will also lead a parade and perform live scenes from the musical Alice. Other entertainment includes: Live music by Tim Cain and Miss Kitty Arts and crafts table for making masks and mad hats; and NEW! High Touch, High Tech Science Made Fun activities Great fun for Mad Hatters and Mad Scientists alike! TIM CAIN, MISS KITTY & THE STARK RAVENS WILL PERFORM Activities include the Go Ask Alice advice booth, croquet games, sack races, and the infamous Lobster Quadrille COST: $5 per person. Pay at the gate and bring your camera. No reservations, but don’t worry, there is plenty of room! This event takes place on Saturday, April 4 this year, from 1pm-4pm (new, extended hours!). Bring a picnic, bring your friends, and bring your sense of wonder and fun! Falkirk’s grounds are a wonderful place to celebrate spring. Sign up for email notifications for future family events and teas by calling 415-485-3436 and leaving your name and email address slowly and clearly twice for accuracy. Special thanks to D’ Lynne’s Dancewear, and all our wonderful volunteers!

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The Art of the Ballad, Jazz Event Too Beautiful for Words, the Art of the Ballad featuring Basie Orchestra alum Jamie Davis and Trio in our historic parlor October 7. On Friday, October 7 at 8pm, the smooth baritone of Jamie Davis set the stage for an evening of romantic jazz ballads reminiscent of Johnny Hartman, Frank Sinatra and Joe Williams. Presented by Washington Mutual Home Loans. JAMIE DAVIS, VOCALISTE & COUNT BASIE ALUMNUS

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Operatic Ensembles - Falkirk presents up and coming Bay Area opera performers in an evening of intimate opera, December 8 - Tuesday, December 8 at 7:30pm The Guzik Foundation and San Francisco Opera vocal coach Svetlana Gorzhevskaya present an operatic ensemble program featuring selections from classic operas as well as lighter fare including pieces from Broadway musicals. Falkirk's Parlor is a wonderfully elegant and historic venue for an intimate experience of this grand art form. You have never experienced opera in such an intimate and elegant setting if you have never experienced opera at Falkirk. It's like having your own private concert in your home. That is, if your home happens to be a restored 1888 17 room Queen Anne Victorian Mansion. Svetlana Gorzhevskaya Ryan Lee Nelson Gorzhevskaya has performed and taught internationally, including in Iceland for former Russian President Gorbachev, as well as in Italy, Russia, and throughout Europe. She travels to Italy each spring to teach at the Institute of Music, often bringing students to perform concerts in Moderna and Rome

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Falkirk Celebrates 30 Years with Historic Lawn Party On Saturday, June 26 over 800 of Falkirk’s closest friends came by to celebrate the history that is Falkirk. "1888 - Falkirk's 30th Anniversary Victorian Lawn Party" was an exercise in gratitude for the City of San Rafael. This event was a community celebration, spotlighting the folks who saved Falkirk thirty years ago and featuring many of the organizations that have partnered with and supported Falkirk throughout the years. This was a volunteer driven event with over 40 volunteers, many in costume thanks to D' Lynne's Dancewear on 4th Street. The turn-of-the century event featured historic characters and displays, entertainment, poetry readings, flower arranging, carriage rides, period games and crafts, a children's area and more! During a ceremony midway through Saturday's event Vice Mayor Cyr Miller, dressed in full Victorian attire, presented official Certificates of Appreciation to several of the people who originally saved Falkirk in 1974. The ceremony began with the ringing of the bells at the Presbyterian Church across the street. The church and the bells are significant in Falkirk's history; the land for the church was donated by Ella Nichols Park who built Falkirk in 1888, and the bells were donated by Captain Robert Dollar who lived at Falkirk from 1906 until his death in 1932. Eloise Jonas, grandniece of Ella Nichols Park, came in a dress and parasol that belonged to her grandmother, Ella's sister. Curt and Rosa Maria Hayden, Kim Haney and Melville Dickson represented the Dollar family. And former mayor, Lawrence Mulrany bore witness to the City's acquisition of the house while he was on the City Council. One of the highlights of the event was the celebrity dunk tank. Celebrants got the chance to dunk parking enforcement officer Vicki Dennis and the Director of Community Development, Bob Brown. County Supervisor Susan Adams couldn't get her money out fast enough to try to dunk Bob Brown to the delight of all who witnessed it. Other highlights included a wonderful crew of pirates, the Sea Dogs, who caroused around the grounds singing songs and performing pirate skits as well as the magic of Tobias the Adequate (Matthew Legare). It was a magical day of Victoriana, with over 40 actors in costume singing songs, performing magic tricks, offering photo opportunities and picnicking on the lawn. There was even a Victorian Toy and Candy Shoppe courtesy of Cheshire and Co., as well as an historic hair-braiding booth by Vallejo Music Theater. The Mall at Northgate sponsored the Children's Stage lead by Little Productions' Barbara Davis and including Desert Dave's Exotic Reptiles and Storyteller David Ponkey among others. The San Rafael Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored the carriage rides, which were a big hit all day long. The emcee for the event was none-other than Marin County's local historian du jour, Lionel Ashcroft, acting as Andrew Carnegie. What a delight! Especially when he introduced actors Robert and Dianna Young portraying the historic figures of the house, Robert and Margaret Dollar. Marin Poetry Center, the longest tenants of the house, had a poetry booth and recited poetry from the main stage as well. And the event closed with a last minute addition and special treat: opera singer Geraldine Reicher sang two closing songs a cappella. The Cultural Affairs Service League, Falkirk's longstanding volunteer auxiliary group, ran the food and beverage booth which included deluxe box lunches donated by Falkirk's finest caterers, as well as watermelon, lemonade and pie slices sold after the pie contest was finished. The pie contest was a big hit and was judged by the Marin Independent Journal's Leslie Harlib and PJ Bremier as well as Upper Crust Pie's Chris Milne. Double Rainbow had the best seller that day: root beer floats. And the San Rafael Fire Association ran the barbecue and donated profits to Falkirk as well. This was a fine compliment to the antique fire carriages, fire truck and police vehicle that adorned the grounds. It was a lovely afternoon and a fitting tribute to this startling Victorian beauty, Falkirk Cultural Center. Special thanks to sponsors: D' Lynne's Dancewear, Double Rainbow Ice Cream, Mall at Northgate, Marin Independent Journal, North Bay Portables, Republic Electric, Safeway, San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, United Markets, and all the wonderful caterers who donated box lunches to the event.

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Pirate Party For kids 5 and up and their adult shipmates at the Historic Falkirk Mansion! "Ahoy There Matey" Tis time to SAVE THE DATE to come party like a Pirate in 2008! We be a meetin at 12 noon and 3 pm fer some swashbuckling fun, grub and kiddie spirits. Dates and times TBA for October 2008. RSVP to the Capt once reservations are open (about August) Then chart yer course fer the Falkirk, get yer pirate booty & drink up me hearties. Pirate Garb Ain't Optional (but leave yer weapons on yer ship!) Sees ye there.....aarrgghh! For kids 5 and up and their adult shipmates (adult must accompany child) $20 a person. Advance reservations required 485-3333. Food, live entertainment, fun activities and goodie bag included. Bring your camera! Miss this party you bildge rat and you will walk the plank... PS - where does a pirate do his banking? Wells Faargh-go, of course!

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Jazz Masters Take Their Art into the Classroom Thanks to the generous donations of business sponsors and individuals Falkirk was able to host our first-ever Public Programs fundraiser on September 27, 2003. We raised nearly $10,000 enabling us to continue to offer unique cultural and arts programming in an atmosphere you won't find anywhere else in Marin. One of our goals was to raise funds while simultaneously serving teens. Through our Jazz Masters Workshops 70 San Rafael teens attended workshops with esteemed local jazz musicians of international acclaim. Workshops were presented at San Rafael High, Terra Linda High and Davidson Middle School. Students got to learn from and perform with Michael Aragon, Harold Jones and Mel Martin. Combined, these musicians have recorded and performed with the likes of Count Basie, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie and many others. They all were extremely gracious and willing to share the breadth of their knowledge with the kids of our community. Thank you Michael, Harold and Mel. And thank you to all of those folks who supported us in our fundraising endeavor. Major Sponsors: CJAM Productions, Greg Knell and Applied Graphics, Buehler Vineyards, California Land Title, Jackson's Hardware, Washington Mutual, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Mission San Rafael Rotary Club, and Scopazzi's Restaurant.

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Library Centennial Celebration The San Rafael Public Library is turning 100! Come celebrate the birthday of this historic Carnegie institution on January 25 and enjoy historic activities at Falkirk too. Carnegie Centennial Celebration Sunday, January 25, 2009 Program of Events At the Library 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., Bagpipe Prelude 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Library Is Open 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Carriage Rides to Falkirk (weather permitting) 3 p.m., Reenactment of the Original Dedication In the Reading Room Mayor Al Boro as Judge Frank Angellotti Library Board Member Sean Prendiville as Judge William Morrow City Librarian David Dodd as Vincent Neale In the Reading Room: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Scottish Music In the Children's Room: Author Tina Stolberg Signing Copies of 100 Years Ago in San Rafael: A Front Row Seat for Lizzie 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., String Games and Stories with Ruth Stotter At Falkirk Cultural Center - Hosted by Actors portraying Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dollar 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Falkirk Is Open 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Bagpipe on the Porch In the Parlor: Period Music and Sing-along with Leslie Harlib In the Foyer: Discovering History with Kelly Brisbois of Marin History Museum In the Dining Room: Andrew Carnegie as Portrayed by Lionel Ashcroft on DVD In the Galleries: The Fine Art of Marin Agriculture: Landscape and Portrait Photography by Ken Smith

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Teddy Bear/Magic Toy Box Tea Holiday Teas SOLD OUT! - Please sign up for email notifications for future teas. SOLD OUT - SIGN UP FOR EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS SO YOU DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE FOR THE SPRING TEA OR NEXT YEAR'S HOLIDAY TEA! See below. The second weekend in December is a teddy bear tour de force at our elegant Queen Anne Victorian with an old-fashioned afternoon tea for families. This event is hosted by the Cultural Affairs Service League and takes place inside the house with antique tea settings, live music and fun activities. Home made tea sandwiches and sweets are served, along with hot tea, hot chocolate, and other beverages. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy or other life-like toy (and parent or grandparent!) for a Holiday tea to remember. Bring your camera and dress up for fun for an elegant child-friendly afternoon. Activities often include life-sized Toys, a fun raffle and opportunities for photos with your bears and friends (bring your camera!). Get your reservations early as space is limited. Everybody loves tea time at Falkirk! By reservation only - reservations can be made by calling 415.485.3333 after the dates are announced. $27.50 Adults, $22.50 children. SOLD OUT And don't forget to come to the Dickens Family Holiday on December 16! Click here for more information: http://www.falkirkculturalcenter.org/event.html?eventid=10

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