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It’s the height of the Cold War and secret agents are everywhere, manipulating the chess players for their own ends while each plays their own secret games. Director Eric Inman has found a talented group of performers to voice Rice’s difficult music, especially Lena Hart (the assistant), Joseph Brunicardi (the American), Zachary Franczak (the Russian) and Rebecca Pingree (the Russian’s estranged wife). All have fabulous voices, with the duet between Hart and Pingree on “I Know Him So Well” particularly memorable.

Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch: Montalvo Service Group hosts its annual brunch, catered by Pat Smith’s Extravaganza Catering, May 10; seatings at 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m, and 12:30 p.m, Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga, $70 adults/$35 children, ages 3-10 years, Reservations are required by May 1 to montalvoarts.org or 408-961-5858, Lord of the Rings Live In Concert: Howard Shore’s Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” score will roar to life when performed by ballet shoes, ballerina present, greeting card, girls card, ballet, ballerina 250 Symphony Silicon Valley musicians in this first-ever live performance, Audiences can opt to watch one or more of the three movies, April 16-20, 7-11 p.m, San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 S, Almaden Blvd., San Jose, $60-$330, 408-286-2600, lotrssv.org..

A bed turning will highlight the fun event. Bed turnings were popular in the “olden days.” When a woman wanted to display all the quilts she had many over the years, she would invite all the ladies in town over for refreshments and a bed turning. Before the guests arrived, she, with a helper, would place all her quilts on top of her bed — one at a time — as if it were the only quilt on the bed. As a result, only one quilt could be seen at a time. When the ladies arrived, they would all gather around the bed to see the hostess’ lovely quilt work and to hear her describe each one as she folded the top of the quilt to the bottom of the bed so she could show and tell about the next one.

Admission to the festival is free and parking is available around the park, Proceeds from the festival will benefit local charities, For more information, call (408) 615-3140 or visit SantaClaraArtAndWine.com, All two-dimensional mediums will be accepted including oils, ballet shoes, ballerina present, greeting card, girls card, ballet, ballerina acrylics, watercolors, pastels and mixed media, Pre-registration is encouraged, with a mail-in registration deadline of Sept, 10, Registration applications and rules can be picked up at the FAA Gallery, at 37697 Niles Blvd., or from FremontArtAssociation.org, For more information, call David at (510) 656-4256..

Another don’t-miss tip from the locals is the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, which really ought to be called something more like Oceanside Garden Nirvana. The incredibly beautiful 47-acre gardens include flowers, succulents, pine trees and redwoods, dotting an emerald green expanse of canyons, bluffs and wetlands. Even if you don’t know your dahlias from your rhododendrons, a stop here is a delightful romp through one of the most picturesque gardens you can imagine. Even my little one enjoyed it, although the homemade ice cream she tucked into at the cafe certainly didn’t hurt. The gardens are also a prime spot to pick up a souvenir, perhaps a delicate glass butterfly for your yard or a hand-crafted wind chime, something to remind you of the carefree coastal bliss of your Mendocino getaway.